The early part of the decade started off strong. My favorite being the import of an emerging electronic scene that included Zero Seven, Air, Paul Oakenfold, etc. Even Moby hit his stride. Things got dull around '02. But the rise of streaming radio, YouTube, Pandora and loads of other online avenues opened the floodgates by '07. We're no longer limited to what the radio dictates, and the public can actually contribute to the success of a band by creating demand.

That said, today's artists definitely seem to be more self-focused and artistically driven than making public commentary and stimulating debate.

As the host of a monthly Meetup where we discuss music and artists, it HAS been re-invigorating to see that even Dylan loyalists, industry veterans, and mainstream divas can find enjoyment and relevance when listening to the same artists. Clearly we've been suffering from access issues until now.

To my point earlier, there's always been a great mediocre middle in pop music - from 60s bubblegum pop to 70's dreg like the Carpenters or KC and the Sunshine Band, 80s hair bands, 90s boy bands to the 00's Britneys, Beyonce's, Mariah's and the rest of their ilk. It's all bad. That said, nowadays you can find John Adams or Steve Reich or Nico Muhly or any number of other artists if you go online to look. Back when most people had just a mall outlet store in their town, choices were much more limited.

My best of the decade video playlist, posted at MusicVagabond:
http://musicvagabond.tumblr.com/post/283274317/songs-of-the-decade-during-the-past-10-years-i

Although "music" and "the music industry" are definitely enmeshed, this question reveals the separation between the two: it's been an awesome decade for music and a terrible decade for the industry.

The industry doesn't want to/hasn't been able to shake its model, but it's gonna have to figure something else out. Technology has irrevocably changed audience access, and there simply have to be other ways to fuel the music economy.

The whole U2 argument is ridiculous. Talk about a completely irrelevant band. The fact that they are no longer selling as many records isn't surprising--they have nothing new or interesting to say and their albums are bloated studio disasters. I am glad that this decade has brought down the mega bands, leveling the playing field so that they have to compete with younger, more interesting and more resourceful acts who don't feel like if they dont have a huge recording budget their album can't be made. I don't feel bad that people can't be millionaires from music, it doesn't jibe with my idea of music as art.

The best music will never be on the radio, top 40 radio that is. The talent and desire for great music will never fade; what the masses buy unfortunately and where the big money is is in comparison to good movies & box office hits. This will all never equate to real art and talent. This decade of music brought us more than we even know, i'm sure.

I respect my friends tastes & constantly read & educate myself.

However, to end this...a good pop song is always fun.

Ken, some of my favorite hip-hop music was from this decade. You can't deny that artists such as Outkast, The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, J Dilla, Madlib, MF DOOM, Danger Mouse and even Kanye West continued to innovate and make great music throughout the decade. Even artists on the fringes of the genre, such as Gorillaz, M.I.A., Flying Lotus, Four Tet, The Avalanches, Girl Talk, and plenty of others pushed our idea of what Hip-Hop music could be. And don't forget about new genres, such as mash-up and dubstep.

The two callers are both right. There is lots of music, plenty of it great. But it's like the erosion of the middle class, sure there are the few big big bands still but the vast number of bands get a tiny bit of sunlight once in a while, then are completely obscure.

re: Snoop! Not a big Rap fan but this decade I missed De La Soul, Diggable Planets and Arrested Development. Maybe I missed them last decade too though. But liked Lupe Fiasco Kick Push, sure there would be lots of good stuff still if that were my genre and I had all the time in the world; there is just sooooo much, to y'all's point.

Pete don't worry that happens to me every time... John's blog is always definitive and it's easy to post in the heat of the moment prior to reading.

Hey Ken: [18] Jon Pareles just recommended that you check out the new Raekwon, "Only Built for Cuban Linx, Pt. II."

http://www.myspace.com/raekwon

Anyone else have 2000s hip hop and rap recommendations for Ken? Let's help the guy out.

I still need SOMEONE to guide me. I love 107.1 the Peak, which has great DJ's who play old and new.

Hunting the internet for music is too much work!!!

The problem with music today is that ANYONE can get their name out there today, and there's great cache today for being an unheard of act. It's incredibly difficult to sift through all these indie bands who all strum the same chords and play similar melodies to find true gems. Additionally, there are fewer absolute gems because we see today that success is not garnered through mastery of one's instrument and songcraft, but getting a few friends together and "jamming" in people's basements or abandoned warehouses.

If there's one factor that tips my opinion toward "worst" it's the popularity of Autotune--in both its intended and the "Cher" uses. This needs to go away pronto!

than 46

I am substantially younger then 46.

I miss record stores too. They were happy places!

I thought the 1990s were a bad decade for music but the 2000s was the worst. Ending the year with Lady Gaga as the biggest winner of 2009 just shows what lack of substance there is these days.

I'm not judging the decade's music by independent bands but those artists like Black Eyed Peas & Nickelback whose music was inescapable. Just dance music and same old stuff is rehashed. Will the 2000s be known as the decade of Emo? Shudder.

Wait, the guy who says the best album of the decade was made by U2 is the one sayin' there's no good music nowadays? Maybe this is more a question of taste eh? I think the climate is superb for the scrappy, proactive, independent musician(s) making music out there and there is PLENTY of amazing stuff. We just have new ways that it's being presented.

I think it is the worst for Music that is being promoted. I have several musician friends that are making the best music and they don't get radio play and little press.

I mostly listen to rock but something came to mind when I was flipping through the late night shows over the last week when I watched interviews and performances with 50 cent and Snoop Dogg. I felt the music was horrible and during the interview they never even mentioned making music. They talked about colognes, GPS systems, and other things they are promoting. It sounds like music comes last and the product reflects this.

I'm fine with them marketing their products but I don't think we should call them musicians or rappers. Businessmen would be more accurate.

I think it's sad for Hip Hop and music in general. I miss Wu Tang, and Tribe Called Quest and how much do you even hear Jurassic 5. There is some real substance there and they just seem to have cared more. Most Record labels seem to just care about ease of promotion and unfortunately consumers still eat it up.

music is still good. lots of good bands out there depends on where you're looking. money is a disaster. record companies are getting what they deserve for over-charging for CDs to us suckers throughout the years. only feel sorry for musicians. musicians have to play live to survive these days.

Years from now there'll inevitably be this decade's equivalent of 'Nuggets', cobbled together from all the demos, vanity recordings, etc facilitated by advancements in home recording. Just like how the 80s was a miserable decade musically if you follow top 40, but very interesting if you include hardcore movement; this decade's redeeming music is still below the radar... and I'm not talking about Indie 'iPod' Rock. I think a lot of that too-cute music will seem as irrelevant years from now like Air Supply and 'Soft Rock'.

I think the concern I have about the current music scene is that people are so reliant on the technology that they don't collaborate as effectively anymore. They can sit at home with their computers and play with files. You lose the creativity of the recording studio and multiple influences.

Also, younger players aren't learning alongside veterans as much as they used to. There is less opportunity to earn your chops.

how the great music really is these days, soundcheck let us know yesterday, presented lists of the best music for 2009. it is very bad. very bad and this is not a matter of taste. maybe it is the matter of lack of taste or taste for mediocre music, played by mediocre artists. fortunately there is decent and interesting music out there. it is very hard to find it. thanks for "new sounds". i hope i'm not kissing anybody's behind, but in this era of information overload and disinformation even the snippets of good sounds is important and pointing the right direction.

I think the concer I have about the current music scene is people are so reliant on the technology that they collaborate as effectively anymore. They can sit at home with their computers and play with files. You lose the creativity of the recording studio and multiple influences.

Also, younger players aren't learning alongside veterans as much as they used to. There is less opportunity to earn your chops.

Does no one know how to count at this point? The end of the decade comes at the end of 20 10. Please notice the last two numbers on NEXT year "10." 2000 was not the beginning of a count from zero to one. 2000 was the LAST of the 100 year count that began with 1901. That last zero in 2000 is in what is known as the "tens" place. There is no "zeros" place in our numbering system.

U2 is a weak case to use. If there is any band with the material resources and the clout to put out a well-crafted album, it's U2. More likely that Bono and the boys are a little tired.

Just noticed that most of what I wrote above has already been said in John's blog. Oh well....

Just noticed that most of what I wrote above has already been said in John's blog. Oh well....

The music I've been listening to this decade - mainly the NYC Downtown scene- has remained fascinating and exciting, with great musicians starting their own labels and putting out their work undiluted by corporate interests (and commercial interests in some cases). There's an amazing amount of good music out there at the moment and it's easier and easier to get hold of. And I still buy cds - they've cheaper than they were ten years ago when I had far less money to spare than I have now - and when musicians are in charge of packaging too, the cover designs takes on greater importance to the project too.

The mainstream has always veered between pretty bad and truly grim - perhaps it's just more 'everywhere' now. But, anyway, 'swimming in the mainstream is such a lame dream' as Black Flag once put it.

The UK is stricken by banal retreads of 'classic pop/rock' forms at every turn and 'soul music' with its soul removed with surgical precision, but shouldn't this in turn be an inspiration for decent artists? As in the years before punk, the 'music industry' (an appalling notion) is bloated and flatulent, a lumbering, struggling dinosaur. It's the perfect time for musicians with vision and integrity to create their own paths - the audience will be there. Perhaps not the vast ones of the past, but smaller, better ones.

The music I've been listening to this decade - mainly the NYC Downtown scene- has remained fascinating and exciting, with great musicians starting their own labels and putting out their work undiluted by corporate interests (and commercial interests in some cases). There's an amazing amount of good music out there at the moment and it's easier and easier to get hold of. And I still buy cds - they've cheaper than they were ten years ago when I had far less money to spare than I have now - and when musicians are in charge of packaging too, the cover designs takes on greater importance to the project too.

The mainstream has always veered between pretty bad and truly grim - perhaps it's just more 'everywhere' now. But, anyway, 'swimming in the mainstream is such a lame dream' as Black Flag once put it.

The UK is stricken by banal retreads of 'classic pop/rock' forms at every turn and 'soul music' with its soul removed with surgical precision, but shouldn't this in turn be an inspiration for decent artists? As in the years before punk, the 'music industry' (an appalling notion) is bloated and flatulent, a lumbering, struggling dinosaur. It's the perfect time for musicians with vision and integrity to create their own paths - the audience will be there. Perhaps not the vast ones of the past, but smaller, better ones.

The music I've been listening to this decade - mainly the NYC Downtown scene- has remained fascinating and exciting, with great musicians starting their own labels and putting out their work undiluted by corporate interests (and commercial interests in some cases). There's an amazing amount of good music out there at the moment and it's easier and easier to get hold of. And I still buy cds - they've cheaper than they were ten years ago when I had far less money to spare than I have now - and when musicians are in charge of packaging too, the cover designs takes on greater importance to the project too.

The mainstream has always veered between pretty bad and truly grim - perhaps it's just more 'everywhere' now. But, anyway, 'swimming in the mainstream is such a lame dream' as Black Flag once put it.

The UK is stricken by banal retreads of 'classic pop/rock' forms at every turn and 'soul music' with its soul removed with surgical precision, but shouldn't this in turn be an inspiration for decent artists? As in the years before punk, the 'music industry' (an appalling notion) is bloated and flatulent, a lumbering, struggling dinosaur. It's the perfect time for musicians with vision and integrity to create their own paths - the audience will be there. Perhaps not the vast ones of the past, but smaller, better ones.

The music I've been listening to this decade - mainly the NYC Downtown scene- has remained fascinating and exciting, with great musicians starting their own labels and putting out their work undiluted by corporate interests (and commercial interests in some cases). There's an amazing amount of good music out there at the moment and it's easier and easier to get hold of. And I still buy cds - they've cheaper than they were ten years ago when I had far less money to spare than I have now - and when musicians are in charge of packaging too, the cover designs takes on greater importance to the project too.

The mainstream has always veered between pretty bad and truly grim - perhaps it's just more 'everywhere' now. But, anyway, 'swimming in the mainstream is such a lame dream' as Black Flag once put it.

The UK is stricken by banal retreads of 'classic pop/rock' forms at every turn and 'soul music' with its soul removed with surgical precision, but shouldn't this in turn be an inspiration for decent artists? As in the years before punk, the 'music industry' (an appalling notion) is bloated and flatulent, a lumbering, struggling dinosaur. It's the perfect time for musicians with vision and integrity to create their own paths - the audience will be there. Perhaps not the vast ones of the past, but smaller, better ones.

The pop music world has changed in such a way that a "Bob Dylan", "Beatles" or "Beach Boys" can not exist today.
The system would not support them and they couldn't make a living. The pop stars of the past weren't better musicians they were just born in to a more sympathetic environment.

By definition if you don't get paid for what you do, you are an amateur. The internet has created a system, by definition, where only amateurs can exist in pop music.

High Art and classical music will still progress at a cinsistent pace, like always.

Dave

Hey Soundcheck listeners! We'll be monitoring your comments during the show today -- and reading a few of them on the air.

Have things improved or declined in music since 2000? Use an example: Are things better/worse for fans, artists, music companies, quality, art, access, cost, etc.?

I think it's been a decade where much of music has been stripped of context entirely - both in consumption and production.

No album, just singles. No artwork or packaging, just download. No regional isolation, timeslotted show, record store or radio station cultural sense of place or flavor; people listen online or digitally to mixes they make easily from any and everywhere - immediate, cheap or free, and with minimal effort. This means no difficult decisions for what to make a choice for, and what to do without. All this together has led to the devaluation of music as a viable product.

On the flip side for a would-be artist, you didn't have to either wait to work in a pro $tudio, or amass large $oundboards, vintage farfisas, arrays of mics, holy grail amps, racks of effects... because DAWs are cheap and sound great out of the box, rich with extras for immediate full sound. But again you lose the context of searching from store to store, experiencing the environment of talking to experts about what to get and why, learning how to use things in a pro environment, working up to a sought after sound over time and effort and investment. So you and countless thousands of others can all step right into equally decent sound just by shelling out a very reasonable sum, and that evening you can incorporate a respectable gamelan and an accordion and tympani and bongos into your recording without having a clue how to really play these things or the culture they come from. Then just distribute over the web, and blog and tweet your fingers off, I guess. So the musician has lost the community and knowledge of the studio, the network of A&R, the marketing department, label distribution.... just another musician operating in isolation in a vast disorienting sea - the playing field is arguably as level as it's ever been, but there are so many, many players! Rebuilding some kind of context with reaching fans seems to be a key.

Definitely the worst of times. Our increasingly tabloid society has permeated every level of culture including music. Yes, there were great artists making great art - Ornette Coleman, John Adams, Radiohead, Animal Collective and Tinariwen, for example. But given all of the political and social strife in this decade, no one artist responded with a truly profound musical statement to match.