There are a few interesting artists with integrity popping up here and there, but you may agree that music is recently somewhat generic and unoriginal. I really enjoy hearing a band make an album that wasn't typecast, something they didn't purposely write as a hardcore, emo, metal, or trip hop album. I'd imagine there was a point in time when artists wrote music without boundaries, but bands today settle for doing what they are told. That is complete BULLSHIT! As an artist, you have an obligation to create what you feel and express yourself however you want. I find it hard to believe that all these new rock bands so conveniently enjoy the same bland, uninteresting, radio friendly garbage as your average 13 year old girl (although they share the same taste in clothing). When a bunch of overdressed guys get together to write something similar to what is already popular at that time, you know you'll end up with the same thing over and over. The utter lack of integrity, originality, and honesty in modern music out weighs any chance of hearing something written from the heart. Healthy influences are nonexistent, not many people have appreciation for rebellious musical revolutionists like Frank Zappa, John Lennon (remember theat album cover with him and Yoko Ono naked? People hated that), and even Marilyn Manson (in his day, Manson did something interesting, different, and culturally offensive). Bands are still heavily influenced, but its by specific genres, which grow stale from being overplayed and simply fade away. Few bands choose to truly express art freely, and I believe that is what is holding music back these days. I'm as fascinated as I am disgusted by the majority of people today. The lack of integrity and honesty in art, music, politics, and other functions of society continues to cripple free speech and our freedom of choice. People are afraid to question authority, a concept responsible for centuries of underrated leaders, heroes, and revolutionaries. These great minds were all once seen as outsiders and shit disturbers at one time or another, so why has there been such a decline in integrity lately? As much as I disagree with the views and choices of my peers, I'm just as fascinated and annoyed by their reasons. Some of the most ridiculous shit I've ever heard of happened because of the influence of a small minority of hypocrites. Make up your own mind, be youself, think for yourself, and don't conform to what society says is acceptional. What the fuck do they know? If you let people like George W. Bush and Oprah tell you how to raise your kids (she has no fucking kids, by the way), how to lose weight, how to fuck, and how to eat, you'll only contribute to the machine, a group of tyrants and shady, overpaid corporate reapers sucking away your rights and opportunities. The over glorified pod people/robots we put in charge of America literally piss all over our constitutional rights, breaking the backs of a working class generation just trying to have a good time, only so that they can wipe their asses with the money leeched from our cold, dead fingers. These same assholes are responsible for decades of watered down entertainment and the censorship of tv, radio, literature, and anything else you're exposed to. The social mainstream has done nothing to help those who need help the most, while the counterculture that fueled the 60's grows smaller by the minute. So many people these days give into that consulation prize called fame, and why wouldn't they? That is, since record company executives ultimately decide whether the world hears you or not, and being original and avante garde seems to get you no where, fast.