I vowed that when I grew up, I would not be so narrow-minded and would have an open mind to the music that my own children would listen to.
For the next 20 years, I would hold to that vow. During the 1980s, I was into U2, The Police, and the dozens of "New Wave" bands that were popular during that time.
When it turned to the 1990s and I started reaching middle age, I still had an ear for the music of the day. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, none of that stuff fazed me. I actually liked most of it.
However, the past 10-15 years has been an utter wasteland music-wise. There is virtually nothing in the "Top 40" these days worth listening to. And I'm not some old man who reminisces about music "in my day". I'm more than willing to hear new sounds. Sometimes I find good music on the college stations like Arcade Fire and The Decemberists. But nothing groundbreaking. Nobody seems to be writing great pop songs anymore or producing classic albums that you listen to all the way through.
Speaking of 90’s, Liz Phair has apparently held up pretty well, she was a favorite of mine at the time. From three years ago at The Paradise in Boston, “Johnny Feelgood.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoqQrwu5j0s