Everyone seems to bitch about the quality of music in the music stores.  Why do you think that is?  Could it be because people are so stupid that they'll buy whatever the recording companies want to shove down our throats this week?  It seems like every gangster who can put two words together has a rap album on the shelves.  Every chick with a nice ass has a CD out with a poster of her half naked hanging on the wall.  (Not that I'm against posters of half naked chicks!)

Now, don't get the idea that I'm just complaining because I'm getting old.  It's not that I just want to hear music from my era.  I don't necessarily need to hear raging guitars in my music either.  There are newer artists that I do like.  Coldplay.  Nickelback.  I could go on with several others right off of the top of my head.  However, there are also other new bands like Umphrey's McGee that AREN'T as well known that should be signed to major label deals because they write real music.  Not synthesized crap for the masses.  They're not singing about putting a cap in someone's ass or about how many times they've been shot.  They're music isn't based on samples of someone else's music.

It's like the way things were when the record companies were signing any band that came out of Seattle.  If you wore a flannel shirt and could whine about how your rich mommy and daddy wouldn't buy you a BMW you'd get signed.  Now, any rapper or "diva" who can sound like Snoop Dog or Mariah Carey can get a record deal.  In the meantime, folks like Dream Theater, Yes, Spock's Beard and other artists who are creating music with thought, heart and feeling are relegated to minor label status because the record companies have no interest in promoting a band that actually creates something original.

There are several solutions to the problem.  One of those solutions is peer to peer programs like Kazaa, Bit Torrent or WinMX.  These programs allow you to download music, even whole albums or discographies for free.  Then, if you find an artist you like and want to listen to for longer than a week, you can go out and buy the CD.  This way, you're supporting the musicians that really make a difference to you personally.

Another solution is to listen to satellite radio, rather than broadcast radio.  Satellite radio allows you to choose a music format that you really like and you don't have to listen to the same songs over and over again.  Internet radio is similar in that you can choose stations that play only the kind of music you want to listen to.  Some stations only play the artists you want to hear!

Any solution that you choose should be one that rebels against the big recording companies.  They're the one's that don't give a rat's ass about the artists and are screwing them out of their money anyway.  It's time to force the major labels to listen to the public and sign and release artists and music that WE want to hear.  Not the flavor of the week crap that we've put up with for far too long.  We've become complacent people and we need to stand up for our right to hear quality music.  The major labels won't do a damn thing until we force them to change their ways.  It's always been a money issue.  If we take away their incentive to release crap and reward their efforts to release creative original music, be it rap, R&B, metal, easy listening, progressive or whatever, as long as it's original and creative, we should buy it. 

Stop buying your kids the flavor of the week crap and get them interested in creative music.  Help them along.  Don't push your choices on them.  Sit down and listen to what they're listening to.  If you find something of real value there, encourage them.  If you find it to be slick, over-produced pap, explain to them that there is better music to be heard and help them find it!

Music is an important part of most people's lives.  Let's get back to supporting creativity and originality.