Virtually every "new" track I get sent these days sounds incredibly like something else - it's either a rap over stolen samples of a great old pop hit or a version of an old song.

Now is this because, as I get older, I've heard more?

Or is it illustrating a vast lack of imagination in the creative skills of young people?

Even the much hailed "new" stars (Libertines in the early Doherty era) sounded like previous acts (Buddy Holly).

Interesting point.

In western music, there are only so many chord sequences and progressions to be played and at a certain age, we will have heard them all before.
What we have to realise is that , they are new to a whole new generation and these progressions need to have the same enthusiasm delivered into them as the first time we heard them, be it, new lyric, or passionate playing and sound.
The world of music ran out of chords years ago, the world of a joyfully delivered tune should never run out of gas.

I'm going to risk the wrath of everyone in music and state that in days gone by, the question was "is it a great song?". Now I ask myself, "is a great record?".

Why? Because it is no longer enough to write a song and submit a demo for the "big" treatment. The two are done in tandem thus the whole creative process has changed. There will be things that turn out dull and things that turn out brilliant.

Does it not suggest there is no one out there in the music industry, who can take the lead when encouraging budding musicians/ singers to do anything other than take the sheep's path ?

I grew up watching JK on "No limits" with a fantastic diversity of music, most of which he broke through his incessant plugging and encouragement.


How much of this stuff is just put together in 4 minutes on a computer anyway ?

The question is JK, does any of it sound like it was yours originally ?

No It happens to me all of the time.
I think I even "invent" or imagine memories . recently I heard a demo from new band. I was moved to tell them that I really liked what they had "done with one of my all time favourites" ( The In Crowd) and enquired about the royalties negotiations.
I was firmly put in my place and told that it was completely their own creation "I am in with the out crowd , I go where the out crowd go".. How silly of me.

Its not just me either. I recently heard of a chap in Thailand who has a " memory" of writing a poem called " Babyshambles" in 1970.
Strange isnt it?