They announced Grammy nominations, and I've never felt so out of it. A lot of the artists in the more popular categories are strangers to me. And Robert Plant is doing country? WTF?
I might attribute getting musically stuck to getting older, but I don't think that's it. When I discover something I'm into, I get really into it. But the discovery is a problem. Radio started to suck, and simultaneously, the iPod in the car phenomenon began. Those two things combined to limit my exposure to new things unless I looked really hard.
Granted, some of what has been dished out to become popular hasn't interested me anyway. The whole pop-punk-emo thing isn't that interesting to me (Fallout Boy, Paramore, etc.), and what I'd call the new college rock (anything from the Last Kiss soundtrack) didn't consistently grab my attention. Still Amazon's MP3 store does make some good recommendations now and then. Today it suggested A Fine Frenzy to me (which is apparently one person), and I think I like what I hear.
I bought the Dido and Keane albums that came out while we were in Florida today. Hopefully I'll dig those. If only Imogen Heap were closer to getting her new album out!
I often wonder about the 'discovery' aspect of music in today's climate. Everything is so fragmented and personalized that finding new music seems nearly impossible compared to the past. I suspect the 'kids' are finding it somehow and that I'm just losing touch with how music spreads.
Which leads to the age thing. No only in terms of finding and using the music, but in finding new music to like. I think the first sign of moving on to that 'next stage' in life is not 'getting' the music that's popular. For me that started three of four years ago and has only gotten worse with each passing year.
For me the combo of change and age means I find less and less new music to like and find myself sticking with the old stuff more and more.
I think Gonch hit the nail on the head. It's not that I don't get exposure to new music through Ian and, to some extent, Gordon (you can't work at Guitar Center and not be exposed to new music). Not to mention I get some exposure by working on a college campus.
But the older I get, the less new music I like unless it's from the artists I've liked for years.
I use what I like today as a springboard to what I may like tomorrow. There are several well maintained websites providing information just ripe for the taking.
I'll use Imogene Heap as an example. I looked her up on allmusic.com and learned about nine other artists listeners consider similar, eight artists that influenced her (many of whom I have never heard of), and two that she influenced.
This is now a list of 19 artists to explore.
With 19 "leads" you just may find one you like.