Passed the point of buying new music?

Firstly, we know, it's old news, secondly, suggesting that ALL modern recordings sound bad on cd is nonsense, there are plenty that sound very good and lastly, so what? We were talking about music, not formats.

I will admit to hardly buying any music from more recenty artists, and this is for one main reason; I already own 100s of CDs and LPs that I've never played.

I think we convince ourselves that there is nothing good in modern music, because we have heard so much music in the past. I was convinced a few years ago that all modern music was awful, but I started to listen to 6 music, and I realised how much good new music there was out there. 

Modern chart music is pretty awful, but 80s chart music was pretty awful too. A big percentage of chart music over the years has been cak, so my advice would be to go to something like Spotify, look up someone you know and like from the past, and check out the links from there to see if it will lead you to some new bands.

Almost all modern pop and rock music suffers from reduced dynamic range as a result of the loudness war. There are however plenty of exceptions to this.

Take for example Eric Bibb's music which has some of the best quality recording and mastering that I've ever heard. His albums are modern (1999-2011) and there is absolutly no compression of the dynamic range whatsoever. Even if you don't like his style of music it's worth having a quick listen to a few of his songs just to hear the sound quality. Clicky

+1 for Radio Paradise

+1 for 6music

Also worth investigating the very canny and heart-warming Bandcamp.com: 1000s of new artists from 100s of genres - 'doom', 'chiptune' and 'witch house', anyone? - available for hassle-free streaming or download (AAC, Ogg, FLAC, ALAC 16/44), many of which are free or name-your-price.

See: What is Bandcamp?  

My problem is once I start exploring the long tale, there's too much choice. I like a good chiptune, but good stuff is hidden by a lot of dross (in almost all genres, not just chiptunes).

Personally, I've discovered more new music than ever, especially over the last 2-3 years with the event of Spotify and a subscription to http://www.directcurrentmusic.com/

There are some wonderful British singer/songwriters out there... Kate Walsh, Lucy Rose, Ben Howard, Rachel Sermanni, The Staves, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, James Vincent McMorrow, Karine Polwart, Paper Aeroplanes and Gabriella Aplin to name but a few.

Not to mention some from across the pond like Bon Iver, Barnaby Bright, Joshua Radin, Joshua Hyslop, The Civil Wars and Ingrid Michaelson.

I love music!

Mac

It is not just cds though, most modern recording do not sound good, even vinyl. Hopefully the tide will turn soon away from loudness.

Yes there are exceptions like Eric Bibb but most have suffered even genres like folk and vocals have gone loud. I did find a small record compamy called Lost Highway Records that seems to have some high quality recordings, not much choice but you may find a few you like. Telarc is another good record company to check out. DR is not everything I have some large DR cds but they sound awful, all boom and tizz.

You could try AccuRadio as well plenty of channels several for each different genre, for example 5 for Adult Alternative Rock.

I agree. The difficult part is finding good stuff. I always check out any music that people recommend to me. I've also found some good new music by clicking on the links that you get in Spotify and YouTube.

Good point.

Sounds like me.  My children were born in 2001 and 2003 and for a few years I had neither the inclination nor the opportunity to listen to anything new.  Radio 2 drive time was about it.  But a few years ago, I wanted to listen again and so made the effort.  A pair of headphones plugged into my laptop when working and I would listen to Radio 3 first thing, then switch at 10:00 to listen to Fearne Cotton on Radio 1, or trawl through MySpace.  I found lots of new artists I liked, as well as catching up with old favourites. I also stumbled across an article in The Times about George Pringle which led me to a number of female acts.  And now my children are taking an interest in music, I get to listen to new chart stuff via Chart Show TV or Capital.  Most doesn't bother me, but there will always be a gem hidden away somewhere.  And I watch Later with Jools Holland.  There's often someone good on there.  I first saw Adele on there.

So new acts I've discovered via these sources and bought CDs from are the likes of Michael Buble, Paloma Faith, Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling, Florence + the Machine, Doll and the Kicks, George Pringle, Olivia Broadfiled and, my favourite, Marina and the Diamonds.  Apart from my wife liking Michael Buble and Paolma Faith no one liked the new stuff, until the children took to the Elecra Heart album by Marina and the Diamonds.  In fact my daughter often asks me to play it in the car when I'm taking her and her firends somewhere!

And there is always the BBC Sound Of... list every year.  From this year's list I like Haim, Laura Mvula, Tom O'Dowd, Little Green Cars (I think that's their name).  Or the Mercury Music Prize list.

The music is there, you just have to find it.

You could always start again

Jack! Long time listener, first time caller! Man, 4 and a half years, has it really been that long?

I haven't discovered any band of 'recent times' that I have liked, however most of my favourite bands do still release an album every 3-4 years so there is always something to look forward to!

It's great to stumble across a band from yesteryear that you somehow missed previously as you have a whole back catalogue to collect and enjoy - the Smashing Pumpkins being my latest 'find' (not that old but I was a teenager in the 90's!)