I believe pop music has gone way down hill since the 90s. I’m sure my feelings are pursuaded by the fact that I’m different than I was when I left high school. I say high school because that’s just about the end of okay pop music and the beginning of listening to more alternative sources of music. However, through all the crap (N’Stynk, Backs#!+ Kids, etc.), there have been personal exceptions that I have made.

Here’s a short list of people and songs (guilty pleasures) that I have enjoyed.

Vanessa C – A Thousand Miles
Ivy – Edge of the Ocean
Britney S – Baby One more Time
Avril L – I’m With You
No Doubt – Running
No Doubt – Simple Kind of Life
Dido – White Flag
Evanescence – Bring me to Life
Black Eyed Peas – Where is the Love
Baby Bash – Suga Suga

Why Britney?? Only for that VERY first song will I make this exception. When it came out, that tune and her sex appeal was unstoppable. I, as well as the rest of America’s youth, knew she was here to stay. After that song, however, it was ALL downhill for her vocally.

There are a few other songs that I could include in this list but it’s not that big of a deal to me. I think, however, that about 95% of the rest of the music from 1997 to now has just been 90% crap. I won’t diss 100% of any song because there’s always a groundbreaking quality about many songs. But I would always rather listen to alternative sources of music than most of the crappy pop artists during that time period.

So what’s a nice alternative selection of contemporary music to listen to these days? Man, there are plenty, however I’ll list just a few of my favorites.

Nickle Creek – When You Come Back Down
Norah Jones – Sunrise
Nichole Nordeman – Legacy
Andrew Peterson – The Chasing Song
Coldplay – Amsterdam

Feel free to list your favorites if you are so inclined. This world could use some better alternatives to Justin T. and Hilary D.