how has rock music changed over the years? same with country and pop? does anyone know?

To the people above (and eventually below), there have been musicians writing worthless pop ditties since the '60s. This is not a new occurrence.

EDIT: @crzygrl: I'm going to respond to your comment point by point.

"country.. i have no idea. it all is bad in my opinion."

Skip.

"now... as for rock. what songs lack today is talent. classic rock featured true instrumental talent, with all sorts of solos for guitar, synthesizer, sometimes even drum solos."

So there are no talented players? None? Really? That's the conclusion you arrived at? So when I listen to virtuosos like Devin Townsend, or even fairly skilled players like Buzz Osborne, Josh Homme, Tim Sult, and Steve Albini, I'm imagining it?

Solos have their place, but they are not a necessity, drum solos doubly so. A solo should advance the piece, and when it does not, it can be done without.

"also lyrics weren't always just about love. now almost all songs are about the usual overhashed themes of love, acquiring it, losing it, or lacking it."

Almost all? Somehow I doubt your credentials, because I could, off the top of my head, name dozens of songs released only in the last year that disprove this.

"now, music caters to mainstream radio popularity."

It has ALWAYS done this. The Beatles weren't a bar band, you know.

"people do not require songs with talent and insight, just a new song every minute, even if they all sound alike (which they do)."

Again, there have always been mindless pop songs, and the public have always devoured them. This is nothing new, so stop acting like it is.

"to create songs this quickly, musicians have had to cut back the time taken to write a song, thus leaving out better things and sticking with the tried-and-true."

This sounds more like conjecture than a supported statement. Got any proof that musicians are spending proportionately less time writing songs?

"all rock songs now are mostly just chords played by the musicians, never any good solos. songs have been simplified, cut down in time (you never hear a modern song over 5 minutes long),"

Stoner metal proves every single one of these wrong.

"and made into a pattern which can be, and is, followed by people with no true talent or creativity. in short, rock has gone down a long way in quality."

Tell me the pattern and I'd be happy to rip it apart as well.

The production of records (cd's) are a major reason......they use more compression on the recordings, giving them a stronger sound. The studios have state-of-the-art mixers and microphones to do this, but they are, at the same time, not really capable of capturing the sounds of the 50's and 60's. Also, many recording components were changed from "analog" to "digital".

country.. i have no idea. it all is bad in my opinion.

now... as for rock. what songs lack today is talent. classic rock featured true instrumental talent, with all sorts of solos for guitar, synthesizer, sometimes even drum solos. also lyrics weren't always just about love. now almost all songs are about the usual overhashed themes of love, acquiring it, losing it, or lacking it. now, music caters to mainstream radio popularity. people do not require songs with talent and insight, just a new song every minute, even if they all sound alike (which they do). to create songs this quickly, musicians have had to cut back the time taken to write a song, thus leaving out better things and sticking with the tried-and-true. all rock songs now are mostly just chords played by the musicians, never any good solos. songs have been simplified, cut down in time (you never hear a modern song over 5 minutes long), and made into a pattern which can be, and is, followed by people with no true talent or creativity. in short, rock has gone down a long way in quality.

Music has officially been ruined because no longer do musicians write lyrics and sing about subjects that they are passionate about but instead write cookie cutter, bubblegum pop ballads with the soul purpose to sell records.

country in particular is being ruined by these posers like rascall flatts and crap. The people at labels and lawyers are ruining it.

orginality is gone. everyone is ripping off someone else. most sound the same. no one is really coming up with anything that sticks out. it kinda of blends with the rest.