If you take the best of yesterday and compare it with the formulaic dross of today, it will always make the present time look awful. I grew up in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Most of the popular music back then was rock and roll (not known for originality or invention), with some simple ballads thrown in - oh! and there were a few comical songs in the mix, as well. Compared to the very best on offer from previous generations, it was dire - but the previous generations produced a lot colourless empty rubbish, too. We forget that crap, and just remember the good stuff.
It's only "popular" (ie. commercial, make-a-quick-buck) music. Look there for quality, and you will always find mountainous slag heaps containing extremely rare nuggets.
John Colter.