I just did something I rarely do these days, but used to do all the time. I looked at the official UK chart on the Radio 1 section of BBC sounds. As befits my current status as an old person, I knew perhaps three or four of the tunes. I certainly didn’t recognise the song at number one. For all that, I think 2019 has been a classic year for music, an absolute belter.
I realise this is not always the popular view from my generation and those all around it. It never was. It is the norm to like only the music that was around when we were young and to moan about how crap it is nowadays. It wasn’t true then and it isn’t true now.
I am thinking about compiling my favourite new albums of the year and it’s not easy. The albums from Jordan Rakei, Flying Lotus, Nerija, Metronomy, Anderson.Paak, Steve Lacy are battling it out for the not particularly prestigious honour of my number one record of 2019, alongside classics from two ‘senior’ artists called Bruce, Messrs Springsteen and Hornsby. And that’s me just scratching the surface with the new releases. There are many, many more to be considered.
The reason I listen to so much new music is BBC 6 Music. The station embraces a huge variety of genres and, by opening my mind, I’ve also opened my wallet a great deal more. As well as buying great albums, I’ve bought a bunch of great new singles, too, from the likes of Pixx, Panda Bear, Penelope Isles, Gaz Coombes and Little Simz. I am happier listening to music than I have ever been in my life. And as well as enjoying new music, I can still sink back into my armchair and listen to the heritage music of the past. Not that many years ago, that’s all I did.
Don’t believe anyone if they tell you that today’s music isn’t any good compared to the old days. It really is as good, as bad, as indifferent, as stellar as it always was. The reason this era is the best ever is because we have all the music that’s ever been made to listen to in addition to lots of gorgeous new stuff. The best place to find new music, as well as the best from the past, is 6 Music. Try it. You’ll like it.
