I understand though, Nikki Minaj really sucks. Might even be the worst lyricist I've ever heard. And there's a lot of other garbage besides. The English mainstream is in a pretty sordid state right now, however, I think there's still good English pop being produced.
Oh, and I also like Andrew Bird a lot. I forgot him.
Hmm, I dunno. There may be good pop and there may not be--I really haven't listened to enough to know, but I've been hanging out some other places where a lot of soundtracks tend to be posted and, well... hurmph. I read the lyrics and know I already just don't want to listen, because it's all so
ugly.
Part of it is also my rampant nostalgia for France, which is making me kind of exorbitantly bitchy right now. I hadn't realized just how much of my personality had been shaped by that country's culture until I stopped being exposed to it.
I'm not just going to step out and say "French music in general is better," since I've definitely heard a lot less of it, but it seems that a lot of the mainstream is far less interested in being catchy and a bit more interested in saying something. Haven't heard any autotuned French voices, either.
Eh. I'm pretty sure I'm at least 5 years behind the times, so I may just be continuing in my nostalgia for things long-gone.
I sort of also feel the same way about books, right now (though not movies. No way), so I'm suspecting it may just be a cultural-longing thing.
You also forgot Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath.
No, I don't think I did.
There's plenty of good music. You just have to look for it. It's rare to find any on the radio. Most of the music I listen to I found through word of mouth, random genre-targeted downloading, and following associations between bands.
Last time I found a new American artist I liked was... more than 8 years ago. So, I dunno, maybe.