is music moving away from meaningful content?

When I think of narratives in music, I think of things like The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol, Me and Bobby McGee. Generally these tend to be older songs, but that isn't always true. A friend of mine in a lil band in South Carolina put out a song called "Waiting" that is very much a narrative albeit not in the same sense of some of the stuff you've listed.

Rap was really heavy on narratives. Ice-T's 80s and 90s releases were replete with them. I recall a friend telling me that was why he bought all of Ice-T's stuff. Bone's Down '71/The Getaway was pretty keen in that regard, but hell even that was released twenty years ago. Good god, has it really been that long already? Eminem does some good narratives, though lately they've seem to be fewer and more far between, these days.

Maybe it has something to do with age and perception, as well. Or alternatively it could have to do with improvements in the general condition such that recording studios are available to more people with less talent?

I'm really trying hard to defy you. I love to play the devil's advocate, but I can't really think of a lot of modern examples of narratives or album experiences. Rock Plaza Central did a pretty amazing "science fiction concept album about six-legged robotic horses in the midst of an existential crisis". That is about the closest I've come to a good album experience as of late though it doesn't feature many direct narratives.

I think harmony, rhythm, and all that pretty much appeals in general. The voice and mind are just two more instruments to be heard, and as with any other there are good players and bad players.

/ramble

/r/Music Thread Parent