Opinion: Who says music isn’t good any more?

The former Bee Gee Robin Gibb unveiled a plaque at the London home of Dusty Springfield a couple of weeks ago. At the ceremony he commented, “There’s been no one to match her. This includes the United States as well – they can’t come close to her. Today they just pose as singers.” Last October, Sir Elton John was at it too: “Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same. Contemporary pop isn’t very inspiring." Come off it, you two, great new music is out there. It’s constantly coming into view.

It’s not just Gibb and John. Stick the words “why music isn't good anymore” into Google and variations of the same gripe hog multiple screens. We’ve all heard people say “music was best in the Eighties”, “nothing is as good as (insert name from the past here)”, blah blah, etc.

Complaining there’s nothing good since Seventies country-rock? Shut up. Ever heard of Fleet Foxes? Moaning that arty Eighties quirk-pop is unsurpassable?What about MGMT’s terrific Congratulations? Convinced that psychedelic sunshine pop peaked with The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds? Come out from under that rock and check out Denmark’s Treefight For Sunlight. As for you Robin Gibb, you should be ashamed that Adele hasn’t touched you. Sir Elton John – direct yourself towards John Grant’s masterful album The Queen of Denmark (listen to John Grant’s “Where Dreams Go to Die” below).

Of course, music from the past will always shine and it’s never far from me. But that doesn’t mean anything more recent can’t be as meaningful, as great. But what’s better than a new thrill? You can even go and see them live.

So far this year there’ve been highlights aplenty. An album by Gyratory System turned up a couple of months ago and intrigued. Off to see them I went, and they intrigued even more. There was Viscera by Norway’s Jenny Hval: incredible album, incredible live. The striking Rayographs album came out of the blue. Papercuts’ recent Fading Parade was so emotive, utterly wonderful. It could go on. All my take, but it might be other types of music.

Watch Papercuts performing Fading Parade's “Do You Really Wanna Know”

It’s infuriating hearing once-vital artists – or anyone else: relatives, friends, whoever – saying these things. The “it was better in my day” syndrome isn’t confined to music, but the music you grew up with is a particular signifier. It could have soundtracked first love, first pizza, first break-up, first drug experience. It could be the pivotal moment when David Bowie draped his arm around Mick Ronson on Top of the Pops or your first truly transporting live show. It becomes embedded. But there’s a point for some when the seeking stops and the past – their past - becomes the only benchmark.

This griping isn’t limited to what’s current. Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone on BBC 6Music is an essential listen. Yet the spirit of openness that the show revels in can piss his listeners off. He reads out letters asking, “Why do you play that free jazz rubbish?” The writers probably want two hours of Seventies prog that either validates or repeats the experience they had as a kid. Yet another symptom of the old gittish “better in my day” syndrome.

Everything new or around now isn’t terrific – of course it isn’t. How could it be? But there’s a bloody huge amount of vital stuff out there. Last December I compiled a list of favourite albums of 2010. I thought it’d perhaps total 15. I ended up with 30 – two and a half per month of the year. All significant pieces of work. Someone else could have chosen 30 totally different things. I could have chosen more.

So, Sir Elton John, Robin Gibb, thanks for your contribution. “Saved by the Bell” and “Rocket Man” will always be great. Live in the past if you want, but why should we bother with what you’re doing these days? And to any other moaners, pause before you spout off. But you probably won’t, as nothing could possibly be as good as Led Zeppelin. Or Television. Or…

Listen to “Where Dreams Go to Die”, from John Grant’s Queen of Denmark album