This is what people say to me all the time when this topic comes up. So I say, "OK-- Like what?" So they send me links and give me recommendations. And it always turns out that I don't care for it. Not that it not be considered "good music" to them or someone else-- EVERY piece or type of music appeals to SOMEONE (witness rap or electronic music or J-pop or any number of other things), but it doesn't appeal to me (and apparently not to a lot of other people).
I like old songs by old artists because (a) it is good music (creative in lyric and melody and well-performed or delivered), or (b) it is comparable in style to what I already love.
For me personally (for example), show me the modern day Creedence, or Chicago, or Earth, Wind, and Fire. Show me the artists that are making Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers type new material. Where are the heirs to the Motown, Atlantic, Philly, and Stax sounds? Not imitations or covers, but what that music would be if it had been allowed to develop and flourish? That's what I would call good music.
They got their music from classic, blues, blue grass, traditional music with classic time signatures and Melodie’s that appeal to the soul
New musicians would do well to go back.
Same as film and story telling. They want us to like villains and to not look for conflict.
Doesn’t work.
A newish group that was very good was The Civil Wars (Joy Williams and John Paul White), but they broke up. I still listen to their Barton Hollow CD.
I like songs from the “Hamilton” musical like The Schuyler Sisters and The Room Where it Happens. Very catchy and tuneful.
The good modern symphonic music is often in movie scores. Hans Zimmer, Rachel Portman, Alexandre Desplat, Danny Elfman, et al. are very talented.
Good new music has to carve its own territory. So nobody is doing the things in your last paragraph worth listening to, because that would be just a rehash, and that’s not good. You basically made an unachievable desire. You want them to have that old sound but not imitate... That music has been allowed to develop and flourish. And change. Because that’s what happens.
Oh kids today are really jazzin and rockin it y’all...
Try this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGBdikVtN2o
The point is that you gotta look for new music from new mediums. The music industry is trying to make money, not music. So they’re going to do formula jams.
Listen to new music with new ears. Like the first time you heard it. The way you heard Foghat, Heart, Foreigner and Fleetwood Mac.
Check out Fire under Water
https://youtu.be/hE0rgl1jA28
This is Who we are now!
https://youtu.be/IIxU1m_Qe_8
Crank it out the car window at 70mph...
Enjoy the new tunes when you get tired of the talkers.