Which Decade Has Produced the Worst Music - Poll

[Neurotic Guy]

Sixties were by far the best.

Worst is hard to say.  I think now is bad, 90's were bad, 80's very bad, late 1970's were also bad (but early 70's were great).

In fairness, there is obviously amazing talent in every decade.  What separates the decades in my memory are the genres that characterize the popular music of each decade.   I believe the greatest talent of the 60's also dominated the popular music scene of the decade. I don't think the same is true for any subsequent decade.  Folks say there is a tremendous amount of great stuff out there currently that doesn't get play time -- I believe that is true for every decade after the 60's. But , in the 60's, the great stuff was the stuff that got recorded and played.  60's popular music captured an incredible time, really inspired a generation and laid the groundwork for so much yet to come (musically and otherwise).  Incidentally, the 50's was also a great music decade.

[jambr380]

I am just about 30, so I was not around in the 70s, but I have heard enough 'classic rock' to make me want to puke. I hate all that crap from the 70s. Lyrically, at least the stuff that is STILL on the radio, everything is so simple and repetitive. Sure, I guess there were some great guitarists, but I just can't take it anymore. Throw in the obvious, disco (which really did start the techno of today- not my thing, but many people are into it), and you have a decade of music that is just not my thing.

I understand that the 80s were also lyrically irrelevant, but at least punkrock really exploded in the 80s and now it is a very thoughtful, intelligent genre. The problem with today's music is everybody is making albums and it is watering down music that is actually good.

[guava_wrench]

Kinda nonsensical question. There is always plenty of great music being produced if you know where to look and if you are open to new things.

I answered the 70s, because there was so much great British music in the 80s. I think we are definitely in a golden age right now because the Internet has allowed far more bands to get their music out and we aren't limited to what is marketed by big labels.

[JHTruth]

Kinda nonsensical question. There is always plenty of great music being produced if you know where to look and if you are open to new things.

I answered the 70s, because there was so much great British music in the 80s. I think we are definitely in a golden age right now because the Internet has allowed far more bands to get their music out and we aren't limited to what is marketed by big labels.

I'm not sure this is a good thing. I don't know why people think that every idiot out there who fashions themselves a superstar talent can record their trash and put it out there is a good thing. At least labels can help filter so much of the trash..

[perks-a-beast]

If you're talking about which one has the worst mainstream music then this decade (by far) takes the cake.

Here's a lyric from the most popular song in the country right now: "Let's have some fun, this beat is sick. I want to take a ride on your disco stick." Are you serious? Disco stick? That's possibly one of the worst songs ever. ever.

The terrible thing about this decade is that thanks to MTV and marketing, awful bands such as fall out boy(commercial crap) have a bigger following than great bands like Vampire Weekend, My Morning Jacket, Queens Of The Stone Age, ect.

[Brickowski]

1980's.  Hated disco.  Not even Counting Crows could make up for that crap.

The current decade isn't so hot either but there is a smattering of good stuff. I like Radiohead and Tool, for example.

Disco is associated with the 70's and the Counting Crows are associated with the 90's.

You're right: August and Everything After was released in 1993.  I thought it was earlier.

As for disco, it came in after 1975.  1975-76 was really the tail end of the "classic rock" era with the Eagles' Hotel California and the Band's final concert in November, 1976 (filmed by Scorcese as "The Last Waltz").

I still love watching "The Last Waltz".

Hey my apologies for stating the music decade differences, I should have pm'd you.  please accept a TP as my apology.

No apology necessary.  You were right.

[BballTim]

If you're talking about which one has the worst mainstream music then this decade (by far) takes the cake.

Here's a lyric from the most popular song in the country right now: "Let's have some fun, this beat is sick. I want to take a ride on your disco stick." Are you serious? Disco stick? That's possibly one of the worst songs ever. ever.

The terrible thing about this decade is that thanks to MTV and marketing, awful bands such as fall out boy(commercial crap) have a bigger following than great bands like Vampire Weekend, My Morning Jacket, Queens Of The Stone Age, ect.

  The good news is, thanks to the internet, you can get through life without knowing a thing about mainstream music.

[jackson_34]

There was this great article a while back (can't exactly remember where from unfortunatley) saying that with 00's almost finished, there hasn't really been a supergroup/s as there were in the other decades. (60's Beatles, 70's Led Zeppelin, ETC...). I know bands like like U2, Radiohead have continued throughout this decade, but their popularity is built from their origins.

The argument can be made that Coldplay fill that mould, but they really haven't influenced musical progression in the way other said bands have.

Having said that I wouldnt say the 2000's have been the worst, nor would I actually label any other decade the worst because it's just such a hard thing to justify. 

What does make me cringe in current music is the influence of the visual side of the music now. As perks-a-beast has said, That Lady Gaga is unorigional, basic as it comes pop music. The only reason it gains popularity is the fact she tries to shock in the visual aspect. See Below... 

[celticmaestro]

I'd have to say this decade. Good music is a rarity nowadays.

[CoachBo]

Agreed. The past decade has produced very, very little in the way of worthwhile music.

[Celtics17]

The last 10 years is definitely the worst, no supergroup, rap, and basically just no good rock n roll. I think that like a lot of things in our country, it may have reached its acme around the mid 70's to sometime in the 80's. This kind of follows a "coming of age" of the baby boom generation. Most good rock is going to come from a twenty something or thirty something group and the baby boom generation supplied a ton of this, especially in the 70's and 80's. It's just a byproduct of so many more people around to choose from so the overall talent base is better. It's kind of like pro basketball, it probably reached its zenith in the mid 80's as well. I think the 70's had the best. I live 30 miles north of Branson, Missouri and have listened to a ton of acts from the 50's and they are pretty good as well.

[RAcker]

You have great stuff like Radiohead and interesting shifts by the likes of The Flaming Lips in the past 10 years...however, overall, this decade has really been terrible in terms of good new music. 

Thank goodness for the above named and some long living groups like U2 or solo artists like Beck or we'd be in a cultural music coma.  Thanks, Britney. 

[Rondo2287]

I think the only musicians that have really contributed alot this past decade are Eminem, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake, and I guess coldplay is decent too

[RAcker]

I think the only musicians that have really contributed alot this past decade are Eminem, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake, and I guess coldplay is decent too

Eminem and Jay-Z musicians?  They are artists...I would agree with that.  Radiohead?

[Rondo2287]

Not a huge fan of Radioheads music, but I do think their, "you pay us what you think our album is worth," was revolutionary and could be a really big contribution to this decade