at what age do most people stop liking new music

[Busterrr!]

I wonder if opportunity has something to do with it.

As a young man in the late 80s, I made it my mission to discover music I had not heard before, old and new alike, eschewing the popular in favour of obscurities from the 60s and 70s. But then I had the time to leaf through the second hand vinyl in the Bridgwater branch of Plastic Wax Records; the time to listen; the time to go to record fairs; the time to sit with friends and to talk about our 'discoveries'.

But as we get older and other of lifes priorities or distractions rear their head, the time and opportunities become less.

That's what is good about G'bury, it allows me time out from business and family to once again explore, find and discuss.

Age does have one huge advantage 'though. Old prejudices no longer obstruct my explorations, the need to maintain a loyalty to a particular genre no longer holds sway over my path and I am free to choose without other's opinions and pre-conceptions forcing me in any one direction. This alone has opened up huge swathes of rich musical deposit both historic and fresh.

Open minds are the key, and to those who say, "If you don't like new music then you are no music lover", consider the fact that just such a blinkered vision might itself prevent you from enjoying music in your future, be it old or new.

[strudders]

I wonder if opportunity has something to do with it.

As a young man in the late 80s, I made it my mission to discover music I had not heard before, old and new alike, eschewing the popular in favour of obscurities from the 60s and 70s. But then I had the time to leaf through the second hand vinyl in the Bridgwater branch of Plastic Wax Records; the time to listen; the time to go to record fairs; the time to sit with friends and to talk about our 'discoveries'.

But as we get older and other of lifes priorities or distractions rear their head, the time and opportunities become less.

That's what is good about G'bury, it allows me time out from business and family to once again explore, find and discuss.

Age does have one huge advantage 'though. Old prejudices no longer obstruct my explorations, the need to maintain a loyalty to a particular genre no longer holds sway over my path and I am free to choose without other's opinions and pre-conceptions forcing me in any one direction. This alone has opened up huge swathes of rich musical deposit both historic and fresh.

Open minds are the key, and to those who say, "If you don't like new music then you are no music lover", consider the fact that just such a blinkered vision might itself prevent you from enjoying music in your future, be it old or new.

[Busterrr!]

Being from Burnham myself, I remember Mike's well. My mates and I would often cycle home from school and spend an hour there, talking about which album we were going to buy next, looking at the album cover artwork and listening to what was being played before disappearing up to the 'Pav' for pinball, a can and a sneaky cig.

Edited January 31, 2009 by Busterrr!

[strudders]

Being from Burnham myself, I remember Mike's well. My mates and I would often cycle home from school and spend an hour with mates, talking about which album we were going to buy next before disappearing up to the 'Pav' for pinball, a can and a sneaky cig.

[Ricochet]

Now its all downloads... not quite the same. (Q Ricochet!)

[Aphex's twin]

My old man is coming to Glastonbury this year for the first time since 1971. He is 61 and still finds new music that he likes and asks me to put on his iPod.

[BobbyG]

My old man is coming to Glastonbury this year for the first time since 1971. He is 61 and still finds new music that he likes and asks me to put on his iPod.

[glastoman417]

My record shop was Mikes Music in Burnham-on-sea. He would order anything we asked. Great to have a shop where you could read in Sounds a band you liked the sound of and have it in a few days.

Now its all downloads... not quite the same. (Q Ricochet!)

[Homer]

Slightly off topic but regarding younger people who are into music, as 'indie' music has been popularised in recent years, I really don't think a lot of them really are that into it anyway.

It's increasingly got on my tits over the last year or so, when I go to an indie club, the amount of people who actually stand around on the dancefloor chatting, barely dancing and certainly not singing along.

Bascially there are probably the same number of younger people who are genuinely really into new music but indie has been swollen by a lot of scenesters who are more interested in standing around looking cool than creating any sort of atmosphere by looking interested or - gasp - joining in.

I'm 32 for christ's sakes - it really annoys me that in my advancing years, that I should find the scene so dull and lacking in life!

Edited January 31, 2009 by Homer

[glastoman417]

define new music?

[glastoman417]

I'm 32 for christ's sakes - it really annoys me that in my advancing years, that I should find the scene so dull and lacking in life!

[blue&white]

There are a load of perceptive posts here. Strudders asks "what is new music?" and I think this hits the nail on the head.

I'd focused on "new" being new bands, such as Fleet Foxes, but the key is that new music could actually be "old", in that an artist has been around for years.

Over the last 12 months I've discovered acts sich as Joe Bonamassa, Cat Power and Laura Viers, all of whom have a whole number of albums to their name that had passed me by, and I'd also add in things like Joy Division and Jesus & Mary Chain who, at the time, just didn't register with me.

Thinking back to my teenage days, the time to sit, listen and talk to friends about music has moved on, and been replaced by discovering music through things like myspace and bands fans blogs making recommendations.

The deterioration in the quality of music stores is also a factor, you can forget about finding anything outside the mainstream there .

That is why Glasto is such a great event, especially if you suspend thoughts about only seeing acts you've heard about. Over the times I've attended I think I've discovered something "new" every time, and I'd encourage everyone to take this approach, but I guess on this site I'm talking to the converted!

Roll on June!

[.jay.]

the day you stop liking new music is the day you stop liking music and it's actually questionable that you ever really liked music at all imo

[alibear]

This is an awesome thread. I'll have to read the replies properly when i'm dying on the sofa with slightly blurred vision and a red wine hangover...

My dad's 62 and always asks my brother and me to recommend new bands to him. I'm sure he's got half my CD collection in his car! He doesn't like everything I suggest but I love the fact he keeps up to speed. He'll always mention new artists he's heard on Radio 2 or somwhere to me as well.

Really hope i get to meet some of you this year - sounds like we could put the musical world to rights!

[Originalshez]

For me, a lot of it is down to my dad. He used to just give me a CD or 2 and say 'check this out'. Bought me the likes of Dark Side Of The Moon, Who's Next, What's Going On, Pet Sounds, whuch when I was 12 (I'm now 20) were all things I'd never heard of. After listening to those, I checked out a few other things, and my musical taste expanded. The music itself wasn't new, but it was new to me, and sounds more fresh to my ears now than some of the stuff being released now. It's all subjective, I consider Tubular Bells 'newer' than the Killers first album, simply because I got it a couple of weeks ago and am still discovering what it's all about.

[angelofharlem]

I was also born in the 50s and still listen to all the bands I used to like in the 70s such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, Neil Young, AC/DC etc and still see them whenever they tour, however, it does annoy me when people my age seem to be stuck in the past as a lot of my friends are. I am always getting into new music and have favourites from the 80s, 90s and today. Luckily I have one friend of my age who is the same as me, for example she has recently got into the Courteeners and I have recently got into Gaslight Anthem and Fu Manchu. We are always finding new things that we like and I'm sure we will be when we are collecting our pension! So I would say that there is no age when you stop liking new music (or there shouldn't be!)

[young561952]

As someone who was born in 1951 and has grown up through 6 decades of differing music, am I in a minority for people my age in saying that I've always loved listening to whatever is the "new" music of a particular time.

Having seen so many music styles come and go and found something from most that I have enjoyed, I find it amusing that so many seem to reach an age when they suddenly stop listening to anything new because it's different to what they grew up with.

Reading the posts on here over the years, I've seen so many from people wanting to see their favourite bands from years ago on the main stages.

A lot seem to be having a go because the bands of the day,whatever their musical style, are the ones who are selected to play.

Surely the point of going to glastonbury is for the experience of coming across something different, not planning your weekend round watching as many of your favourite bands from your past or who you saw when a teenager as you can.

I can understand younger people wanting to see a famous band from yesteryear just to see what the fuss was all about so why don't older people feel the same about new bands.

Sure you might not think much of them but at least you should give them a chance to try and change your mind about them.

My wife and I were lucky enough to come across some really great young bands in recent years and are going to see 4 bands, who were little known 1 year ago, on the NME Shockwaves tour tomorrow.

This is only a cpl of months after seeing loving the Nick Cave and Bad Seeds gig in November.

Enough for now so feel free to let us know how you feel and we look forward to some interesting results.

KEEP MUSIC LIVE.

[glastoman417]

hello folks wifey of bairn here. i just had to reply and say how very very much we enjoyed glastonbury, 3 years in a row after this year yaheeeee! We never reallly thought we'd ever get our ambition fulfilled but it has, 3 times!

We loved the people watching, the bands,the other stuff that goes on all round the site, its like another planet. Who cares about the mud and the smells!

Despite my disability and worrying if i'd be able to get around, i was DETERMINED to miss NOTHING.

This year our older daughter is accompanying us, after 2 years of trying to persuade her hubby with no luck, she's coming with us , with her ain wee tent.

i was fortunate enough to recover and get the all clear after having breast cancer 6 years ago. glastonbury was on my list of things to do before i fall off the planet lol.wow what an experience!

many many thanks to Michae Eavis for making this possible. i will treasure my memories,of the people we met,bands we saw/heard,trash city wow!,do do visit it, u wont be disappointed!

[Magic Bus]

hello folks wifey of bairn here. i just had to reply and say how very very much we enjoyed glastonbury, 3 years in a row after this year yaheeeee! We never reallly thought we'd ever get our ambition fulfilled but it has, 3 times!

We loved the people watching, the bands,the other stuff that goes on all round the site, its like another planet. Who cares about the mud and the smells!

Despite my disability and worrying if i'd be able to get around, i was DETERMINED to miss NOTHING.

This year our older daughter is accompanying us, after 2 years of trying to persuade her hubby with no luck, she's coming with us , with her ain wee tent.

i was fortunate enough to recover and get the all clear after having breast cancer 6 years ago. glastonbury was on my list of things to do before i fall off the planet lol.wow what an experience!

many many thanks to Michae Eavis for making this possible. i will treasure my memories,of the people we met,bands we saw/heard,trash city wow!,do do visit it, u wont be disappointed!

[souldancer]

As someone who was born in 1951 and has grown up through 6 decades of differing music, am I in a minority for people my age in saying that I've always loved listening to whatever is the "new" music of a particular time.

Having seen so many music styles come and go and found something from most that I have enjoyed, I find it amusing that so many seem to reach an age when they suddenly stop listening to anything new because it's different to what they grew up with.

Reading the posts on here over the years, I've seen so many from people wanting to see their favourite bands from years ago on the main stages.

A lot seem to be having a go because the bands of the day,whatever their musical style, are the ones who are selected to play.

Surely the point of going to glastonbury is for the experience of coming across something different, not planning your weekend round watching as many of your favourite bands from your past or who you saw when a teenager as you can.

I can understand younger people wanting to see a famous band from yesteryear just to see what the fuss was all about so why don't older people feel the same about new bands.

Sure you might not think much of them but at least you should give them a chance to try and change your mind about them.

My wife and I were lucky enough to come across some really great young bands in recent years and are going to see 4 bands, who were little known 1 year ago, on the NME Shockwaves tour tomorrow.

This is only a cpl of months after seeing loving the Nick Cave and Bad Seeds gig in November.

Enough for now so feel free to let us know how you feel and we look forward to some interesting results.

KEEP MUSIC LIVE.

[ReMember]

the advice is to find a new band a week and you realise that actually all new music is just a s good as it ever was.

[Boris]

I do make a regular effort to listen to whatever bands are being banged on about on NME or especially who are booked up for the festies I'm going to. It's a never ending pleasure to discover new and interesting stuff. I do find it sad how a lot of people seem, as has been said, to stop being interested any more once they hit 25 or so and spend the rest of their lives listening to the same old crap over and over again. Obviously Peely was the greatest exponent of a constantly expanding open minded love of music and got me into many many things I never would have otherwise known about. When I was a teenager I used to wander into my favourite record shop and often choose something just cause of the cover or because I had heard of one of the musicians. I got into Swans cause I thought the cover was interesting and they ended up being one of my all time favourites. Very often it-s a family tree thing too... e.g. I liked The Birthday Party so of course I liked These Immortal Souls and Crime & the City Solution, & therefore Lydia Lunch, and so Sonic Youth etc.

Anyway I do play a lot of stuff- about 5 hours on weekend nights and with things like Last FM and Spotify its getting easier and easier to hear new stuff... you don't even need to download it anymore!...it's just working out what to choose!

Onwards & Upwards anyway. For all the medium pleasures on the way, like The White Stripes or Astralasia there will always be the occasional true genius joy like The Arcade Fire or Elbow to blow you away once more!

[drewsstrat]

Good thread; I'm 40 (1968) - grew up with first album Trex, listened to 70's glam stuff, remember where I was when Bohemian Rhapsody video came out and queen was on telly from hammy odeon; then started gigging in 1982 (Hawkwind St Davids Hall Cardiff!) and was heavily into the Quo and developed a taste for heavy rock (deep purple, monsters of rock every year etc);

Growing up widened my appreciation for good music; My taste was widened and I diversified my gig going - although not loosing my liking of all things heavy - Actually in the late 80s and 1990's I saw Deacon blue, U2, Michael Jackson etc, (at his not so wierd peak) , the stones, then onto the new wave of rock - manics , stereophonics, etc; I was by then open to anything new and interesting

Nowdays I basically enjoy most good bands - At Glasto in 2007 I loved Kaiser Chiefs, Killers, Artic Monkeys, Amy Winehouse, the who, Arcade fire ; -

I'm glad to report that these bands do not alienate those who are a bit older - I think maybe music is reinventing itself - I guess most of these bands and more all have influences from the generation before them - Actually maybe record companies are realising that to maximise profits they need bands who's attraction can span the age bands - kids coming to see bands with their parents is much more common now than when I was a teen - Those days music was a means to be different to the parents, and the better the band the more the parents hated them (sex pistols, the smiths etc)

Now Corporate music machine means making money money money; The wave of reforming bands have now forfilled this by plugging back catalogues to a new younger market whilst keeping diehards happy; Some (eg crowded house, dare I say it, take that) have made a decent effort to a serious reformation by actually bringing out some good new stuff. Others just want to squeeze more cash and can't be arsed to do anything new - I'm glad to report most of these reformations have been shortlived.

In short let your ears decide - don't stop listening to stuff you like, don't stop going to their gigs - I've people in the crowd between ages 3- 80 when I went to glastonbury last; Only music can bring people together like that

[benisright]

My problem isnt with older people not giving new music a chance

Its young people not giving older music a chance.

Im 20.

[Mardy]

Hmm, I dunno. While I, like everyone else on here, am pretty much obsessed with music, and spent far too much time listening to it, thinking about it, downloading new bands and all of that, i can clearly understnd why some people drift away. I listen to a lot of new music, some of it I love, some of I don't, lots of it sounds very derivative and all that, but my point is slightly different. Music has, i think, a special resonance for the defining moments of your youth. Inevitably, most of those take place when you're younger. You can remember the soundtrack to losing your virginity, to the summer you spent hanging around the arcades with your mates, the first album you bought with your first pay packet, all of that.

So, yeah, I love some new music, I hear new things all the time, but it's not just about quality, even shit music can move you with its revelance and resonance to your life and the events in it.