Why is modern music so awful

[jamcat]

I have searched for the most horrible music albums and google AI also recommended me "Philosophy of the world" by the Shaggs". The Album was released in 1969 and reissued several times

The Shaggs were indie rock pioneers. 20 years before the Pixies and the Dead Milkmen. And Helen was pretty tight on drums.

[HAL76]

I have searched for the most horrible music albums and google AI also recommended me "Philosophy of the world" by the Shaggs". The Album was released in 1969 and reissued several times

The Shaggs were indie rock pioneers. 20 years before the Pixies and the Dead Milkmen. And Helen was pretty tight on drums.

I totally understand that there are different perspectives on their works. Many people here also adored Heino and e. g. "Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss" was so popular that everybody knows it. But all that doesn´t mean to me that my laughter is inappropriate.

However, as I've seen, some people find "Don't Worry Be Happy," for example, horrible and have put it on lists of the most horrible songs ever, and I personally can't understand that at all. So, I have complete understanding for anyone who thinks differently ;-=|

[CrystalWizard]

Musical taste is such a subjective subject. Not a huge fan of the Shaggs but they are so bizarre it's hard not to like them a little bit. Fine outsider music.

[npdc]

One of the main problems with today's music is poor melodies. Summer passed and I can't remember a single tune to whistle. Now that's a serious problem.

[ians]

For me, it's the fact that everything is so overproduced. There is no room for off timing or tuning or mistakes, Some my favourite music is all of those things, it actually sounds like real people playing together with all the defects that go with it.

[Bunny_boy]

For me, it's the fact that everything is so overproduced. There is no room for off timing or tuning or mistakes, Some my favourite music is all of those things, it actually sounds like real people playing together with all the defects that go with it.

As a counter-argument, I would suggest Michael Jackson's 80s/90s output, records produced by Mutt Lang and Trevor Horn as much earlier examples of ultra pristine, flawless records. Or even Loveless by MBV.

[Gamma-UT]

As a counter-argument, I would suggest Michael Jackson's 80s/90s output, records produced by Mutt Lang and Trevor Horn as much earlier examples of ultra pristine, flawless records. Or even Loveless by MBV.

Well, almost. But Trev and the gang were nearly there:

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 10.50.10.png

[Bunny_boy]

As a counter-argument, I would suggest Michael Jackson's 80s/90s output, records produced by Mutt Lang and Trevor Horn as much earlier examples of ultra pristine, flawless records. Or even Loveless by MBV.

Well, almost. But Trev and the gang were nearly there:

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 10.50.10.png

That's just progress though, I think. If it were today Horn's productions would be flawless (and probably are).

There is something to be said for musicians not playing in the same room. But that's not a new thing, unless Stevie Wonder is even more talented than I believe him to be?

[Menji]

Nice to see people discussing this. $. and exploitation are the cause.

[Bunny_boy]

Nice to see people discussing this. $. and exploitation are the cause.

I would argue that money and exploitation have always been part of the music business and are highly documented

[wagtunes]

Define awful

[Awats]

If in doubt, 1-4-5-6 will work.

[lunardigs]

Define awful

Pain inducing.

[ksandvik]

I actually like the current UK trend of moving the electronic dance music more and more into the atonal / polyrhytmic arena where the palette to make music is suddenly much bigger. Yes, old music is fine, but this is 2025.

[rj0]

Why is some modern pop music so awful ?

The same reason some pop music has always been aweful.

Next.

Not in the 80ies.
...
Dire Straits
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I'm not sure how I would categorize it. Thoughts?