What’s the BEST DECADE for music? (tier list)

What is the best decade for music in rock, pop, hip hop and more? Find out in this tier list! The best decade for music.
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[@ceejluige4816]

"Would you choose to listen to 80's music?" I do everyday.

[@ironclaw79]

Yep I pick sade and tears for fears just yesterday

[@curly_wyn]

Nope.

[@segapena5033]

Yup from metal to new wave it's 80s just about everyday. Even bands like Metalucifer are playing in the sound of 80s NWOBH

[@jsalmons84]

You are crazy to say the 70’s is F tier. The birth of funk, punk, electronic, soul, country and rock were at their zenith. The greatest pop songs of all time. Seriously.

[@mramisuzuki6962]

70s was peak for “Black music imho. Since Motown lost its grip on black artists it was a serious boom. The 70s suck is a very I was born in the Northwest take.

[@andrewdehne8932]

Someone with your take would say zenith.

[@JetWindTV]

The 1970s gave us some of the most noteworthy work of Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Elton John, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Queen, Jim Croce, The Guess Who, James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, Bob Marley, The Who, T. Rex, The Clash, etc. To act like these acts didn't play a role in the sound of the 1990s and even today is insane.

[@Skycladatdusk78]

S - 1980s 1990s A - 1970s 2000s B - 1960s 2010s C - 1940s 1950s Too early to rank the 2020s for me but I'm liking lots of underground metal and surprisingly some country. I agree on current hip hop, not into the lore and vibe aspects.

[@mavez6322]

this is the real list

[@HotStrange]

I would maybe swap the 2010s and 2000s but it’s very close. Otherwise I agree entirely.

[@DjDolHaus86]

I completely agree with this list

[@marcusduran4399]

There’s not a single take I disagree with on this list. However I will say, it almost feels like there’s two sides to the current hip hop environment. Opium records have done something weird to the genre but the side of it that holds Kendrick, JID, J Cole, Little Simz, Denzel Curry, is totally alive and well.

[@Riddler1212]

This is a much better list for me. 👍

[@FupaLipa]

The real reason 70s is S tier is for the Soul. Al green, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Sly and the family stone. Legendary shit.

[@dancegregorydance6933]

Don’t forget THE Stevie Wonder! Funny you mentioned it, I’ve been listening to a lot of 70s soul lately.

[@cyrollan]

Isaac Hayes, Barry White

[@mccallosone4903]

and the funk. singer/songwriters too

[@roballan1024]

70s is underrated in my opinion. I grew up in the 2000s and loved modern music at the time, but man i fell in love with the psychedelic hard rock of Zeppelin, the Beatles, Pink Floyd. Later on I dived into Big Star, and Bad Company. It's a bit cringe at times, but a lot of 70s music is so groovy, not to even mention soul music and funk from that time. Who doesn't like at least a few songs from every 70s Stones album. Anyway, I grew up downloading songs one by one on a dial up connection, and falling asleep at 2:00AM listening to infomercials for Time Life Best of The 70s Collection on TV, which is how i became an unironic Seals And Crofts fan.

[@acinoralas9107]

Short list of 70s bands I came up in outrage after watching this lol The Beatles , Led zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Rush, Deep Purple , Zappa, Kansas, Queen, the rolling stones, journey, Styx, Bowie, Elton John , Ray Charles, Foreigner, Chicago, Boston , Jefferson Airplane, Blue Oyster Cult, Iron Maiden, ZZ Top, CCR, ELO, Earth wind and fire , Reo speedwagon, Judas Priest, Iron butterfly, the greatful dead, Wings ,Cream , Bob Dylan, Joe Crocker , Bill Withers, BTO, The Police , BB King, Santana , Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers , the eagles , Hall and oats , Simon and Garfunkel , Jethro Tull, Yes, King Crimson , Genisis, the who, moody blues, Uriah Heep, Toto, Abba, bee gees, sonny and char, The Allman Brothers Band, The Osmonds, the Jackson 5 , Diana Ross , Johnny Cash , Elvis presley, Dolly Parton , Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr.

[@dudewiththehacky]

I agree, I also think the 60's were as well. It was a big transition decade. Floyd, Zeppelin, and Stones all started in the 60's and the Beatles were almost exclusively 60's, but all their great solo stuff was in the 70's. There is a lot of good stuff in those decades that I'm surprised he glossed over. Rock was at the top of its game and the creation of metal was huge in the 70's.

[@JHAN1212]

2010s was when metal took itself way too seriously and every album cover was just some cryptic gray oil painting.

[@ryanshinermusic]

To be fair, that’s when album covers also stopped mattering completely because they just appear as a square on Spotify

[@grandmaxtarkin3567]

Or randomly and unfittingly vibrant oil paintings

[@slayabouts]

And metal still takes itself too seriously

[@danydzn]

it should be taken as a joke?

[@aidanparker7536]

Alright buddy, first of all how dare you - the devil wears pradas ‘dead throne’ is not grey 2nd of all fuck ya 😂😂

[@isaacjamesbaker]

The 90s was like a fever pitch. Looking back its so cool how much weird stuff got really popular.

[@joshabreu1156]

90s was criminally underrated for years because people who grew up in 70s and 80s bitched about it and now that 90s nostalgia is in its a bit overrated. All decades as a whole are mid. There's good and bad from each, from the 40s till now

[@Woohoo76]

From Primus to Bjork

[@michaelhymson8074]

yes, THIS is the point. you can find cool/weird music in any decade. but only in the 90s, was the cool/weird shit very popular.

[@kingschlamiel]

People forget for every Pantera or Nirvana there was at least 10 Soul Asylums or Cherry Poppin Daddies

[@austins.2495]

lol why did you have to remind me about Cherry Poppin Daddies

[@virgilflowers9846]

Lol. I mean you’re right. But I do kinda like some of Soul Asylum’s stuff

[@maxmeggeneder8935]

Soul Asylum had one great song. so they´re definately not the worst band.

[@stewartdowouis9218]

Soul Asylum has an entire box sets worth of material before that big hit. Several records. Good stuff (if you’re into Replacements type stuff).

[@mangogoat4691]

90s is the best, EASY

[@xneurosiis]

The 90s was absolutely insane for music and culture. Not even talking about grunge, pop/skate punk, or nu-metal. I mean how MUCH stuff came out between the years 1990 to 1999. Technology moved so fast, especially with the internet becoming so ubiquitous. It was like someone flipping on a light switch going from the early 90s to the late 90s. Suddenly we were so plugged into the world and a lot of people were connected in ways they weren’t before.

[@Mofos_of_Metal]

I think Finn is secretly placing the 90s so high based on his love for Blind Guardian and Iced Earth, and the 2000s so high for his love of Dream Theater's Train of Thought and Nevermore's This Godless Endeavor.

[@MetalGildarts]

Lol

[@L.D.1]

Wow you gotta be a new viewer

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

😆😅🤣🤣🤣😅😄😁😆

[@markshadows3667]

80s for sure. Not just saying that because that's when i grew up. But a decade that gave us New Order, The Smiths, The Cure, Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode, etc. Its hard to top.

[@jaredblair9239]

S Tier

[@edwardmorris3453]

All of those are English bands. They were ahead of the curve. The problem I see with Finn is an early exposure to "heavy" music which acts like a drug and delivers dopamine rushes and kills off parts of the brain. A person who grows up listening to heavy metal and rap loses, this is my theory anyway, the ability to appreciate music that fails to deliver those dopamine hits. Finn also failed to differentiate 80s pop from 80s alternative. Lumping The Cure in with Madonna is absurd. Madonna's "music" is, of course, terribly dated, as "music" of that variety is by its nature. I think pop music began to degenerate around '86 or '87. The stuff from the late 80s aged worse than the stuff from the mid 80s. Frankly, anyone who thinks Lourde holds up better than the Thompson Twins doesn't know how to listen to music. I wonder if that dumb movie, The Wedding Singer, didn't warp public perception of that decade. You know how there are people who think country songs have lyrics about getting my dog back or some shit? People who never actually listen to that genre think it's all Hank Williams and Patsy Kline. There are people who have the same idea about the 80s.

[@hurricane_valence]

And of course these albums Rich Springfield - Tao The Dream Academy - The Dream Academy Howard Jones - Dream into Action A-ha - Stay On These Roads Pet Shop Boys - Please Peter gabriel - So, Melt Kate Bush - The Dreaming, Hounds Of Love, The Sensual World Madonna True Blue Stevie nicks - The Wild Heart, Bella Donna, Rock A Little Cyndi lauper - True Colors The Cure - Disintegration.

[@hurricane_valence]

Agreed Europeans were ahead there times Without them, I don't know how the 80s would have looked in music.

[@michelvoortman4725]

Grown up in the 90's. Really a 90's kid, but I have to say the 70's. Everyone was in a band, the musicianship was through the roof. I mean Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Bowie, the Who, Deep Purple, Steely Dan, Supertramp, Queen, Fleetwood Mac etc. Not all is my cup of tea, but it's just so sophisticated in the way it's arranged.

[@roballan1024]

I agree, it's so entirely different and evolved from 60s music. The production and musical ability was so tuned in, everything got more sophisticated, and genres began to differentiate

[@Dropkickpunk76]

It's all personal preference. I was a kid in the 80's and a teenager in the 90's. Both hugely important decades in music. Looking back 70's actually had a lot of interesting stuff. You can't deny the genius of Black Sabbath. There would be no grunge or metal music without them. Led Zeppelin. Etc.

[@Vivi_9]

Anyone who rates the 70s lower than an A is clearly biased!

[@TonyHavenMusic]

UK in the seventies was absolutely off the charts 📈 if we included 67 68 69 in it then it would be without question a crazy 13 years of creation that hasn’t been recreated yet

[@hrotha]

I think it's interesting that everybody can immediately identify whether an album was recorded in the 60s, the 70s or the 80s from the sound alone, each of those decades have some very specific production styles (partly but not exclusively determined by the technology available at the time). But from the mid 90s on, albums have sounded relatively similar. This probably started with big bands recording on a big enough budget but by the early 00s everybody could achieve more or less the same sound once we switched to doing everything digitally. Obviously there's still a lot of variance and different trends there, but I still think it's largely true that what we consider 'good production' has changed relatively little since the mid 90s, and that this sets modern music apart from everything that came before the 90s

[@Woohoo76]

Xerox

[@bzchoy]

I can definitely tell if a metal album has been recorded in the late 90s, 2000s or 2010s.

[@vlcheish]

As far as recording bands go it peaked in the 90s while still using analog tape and having access to amazing studios with giant Neve consoled costing what a house did plus you had more money available for professionals working on the album all the way from recording to the mastering. Production went down hill in the 2000s when record budgets vanished and bands started recording via pro tools in these tiny studios trying to mimic things via Pro Tools. Obviously I am only talking about higher end recording, digital has allowed for the masses to get very good sounded albums at the indie level of budget. The facts are you still don't hear anything today that sounds as good as Metallica's black album for example. You are not doing that with pro tools in some little modern studio.

[@oldbittercraig3513]

"Would you choose to listen to 80s music now?" Yes. And with far more regularity than anything other 2-3 decades combined. The decade had a spectacular amount of creativity and I have multiple playlists split into genres and subgenres. I'll take 80s Punk, the glory years of Thrash, the origination of Death Metal (with some bleed into the very early 90s), earliest rumblings of black metal, the Alt/New Wave/College rock stuff over what came before or after. And while rap has evolved, I'll still chill with Ice-T, NWA, LL Cool J and the stuff from this era happily. You can point to another decade for being better for another genre or subgenre, but as a whole, 80s is king. At least for me.

[@BillyDHughesDrums]

Really starting with the 80s... you were like 27 back then. You have to remember your teens man!

[@steffenpanning2776]

That was my first thought. IMHO you have to go back a little more. The 60s were incredible diverse and influential. kzbin.info/aero/PLYKtjSUVADTbxiochOEi6PGu6HJIssPtf I'm too young to have experienced them myself but I can acknowledge that.

[@dominikaksiazek7177]

​@@steffenpanning2776you're right about the 60s. I was surprised Finn had excluded a decade that was sooo important. I'd start with the 50s.

[@steffenpanning2776]

@@dominikaksiazek7177 :) Ok I get your point. The reason why I emphasized the 60s is that you can hear the beginnings of modern rock and metal if you listen to "Blue Cheer" or Valiant Fudge. Parallel there was the rise of folk and protest songs and Motown and Soul laid the groundwork for Funk and Rap. Of course you are not wrong, you can pick any decade and find something important there, but to me the 60s stand out because of this. If you think about the decline of Jazz then of course the 50s are a good starting point ;)

[@dominikaksiazek7177]

@@steffenpanning2776 no no no, I didn't think about the decline of jazz, haha :D The 50s is the decade when genres like rock 'n' roll and rockabilly were born. To me it's the beginning of rock - Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley and more. It wasn't blues anymore, it was a new genre. I understand your points though. In the 60s rock developed into many subgenres. An average person got to know what it means to be a rockstar and "rockstar lifestyle". Let's not forget about the British invasion, those bands were incredibly influential in the pop culture.

[@joshpogue379]

Finn did the 50-70s dirty for sure! How you gonna disrespect The Band like that!

[@EdgarMorrisandTheDead]

60s and 70s where some of the most experimental that music had been but on top of that 90s

[@about7grams]

Hell yeah brother if it ain't baroque don't fix it 🙏

[@apoplexiamusic]

We need more baroque-downs in music

[@gmg9010]

As a 2000s baby I listen to 60s,70 and 80s music just because I love it.

[@ColvinAvianBreadline]

I'm an 80s/90s kid... so I tend to sway to 90s being the best decade for music.

[@KevinJohnson-hm8qp]

As soon as I saw the title I thought “90s better be S or I’m writing an extremely hurtful comment and seething for the rest of the day.”

[@TheMindIlluminated]

I thought the 70s or 90s could be tied, but as long as the 2000s were at the very bottom and the 2010’s were above them, I would be happy.

[@danielstarr9037]

Seethe my friend

[@EngineeredChannel]

Exactly! I am very disappointed with Finn at this moment. Not angry just very disappointed.

[@slapbass8723]

Nah the 2000s are definitely better it's like I know nothing

[@KevinJohnson-hm8qp]

Like a dutiful viewer I commented before watching, he won me over with the 2000s. I’m still seething in line with my public declaration, but he wasn’t wrong.

[@kawaiigargoylegirl]

hard disagree on nobody just listens to 80s music anymore. i was born in 96 and i only just started really delving into 80s music within the past handful of years. growing up my mom only ever listened to 80s hair band and classic rock type music (ac/dc, def leppard, kiss) so that’s what i assumed all 80s music was like. but once i discovered goth new wave type music i was shocked at what all i was missing out on! it now makes a very large portion of what i listen to. last year my most listened to artist was by far The Cure. so i would rank 80s very highly!

[@nokidoggo]

Finn should make a tier list for his tier list videos

[@apoplexiamusic]

Tierception

[@jordank566]

I like the recording sound of the 70a that kind of fuzzy sound they got is soo dope

[@jevinday]

Records like City to City and Night Owl by Gerry Rafferty are so damn smooth. They sound so great.

[@iguana1551]

The Eagles with Life in the Fastlane, like c'mon

[@YoMyNamesJakeG]

70s in the F? You’re absolutely out of your mind, good sir. 70s and the 90s are the pinnacles of recorded music.

[@Tstdamo1]

I would like to present to you Level 42 - Something About You, to change your mind on casually listening to 80s pop music in current year. I unironically listen to 80s pop all the time I absolutely love how it can sound so crazy, and hokey, but have dark lyrics and overtones. Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz, anything by Tears for Fears, the aforementioned Level 42, Africa by Toto, anything by Duran Duran, and so on are all so brilliant musically and totally hold the test of time.

[@brad7801]

In the 80's, Metal grew up. It was a teen kicking it's mum outta its room before then!

[@oopsydaizi3s824]

It grew up but never moved out

[@jeffreekoch9298]

80s and 90s, across all genres.

[@eltontorres5247]

bro, the 80’s had the Meat Puppets, Pixies, Violent Femmes, Talking Heads, Dinosaur Jr

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Yep, the 80's had a lot of "Alternative" stuff long before anyone even knew that term.

[@michaelhymson8074]

true, but everything cool in the 80s was very unpopular. when you put on the radio in the 80s, it was wall to wall cheese. and i went to hs in the 80s-i was hoping for cool shit to break out...never did.@@ryanjacobson2508

[@SkorpioMusic]

First of all, 70s yacht rock music is amazing. Also, Ice-T was doing some really great, non-corny gangsta rap in the late 80s. It didn't start with NWA.

[@rockerpirate]

So we’re just gonna Fck away 1970s punk including all the 77 stuff? Damn Finn!

[@Reuben.Aotearoa]

The 70s is probably my most listened to decade - I absolutely love bands like Sabbath, Budgie, Uriah Heep etc and don’t mind early punk either. But honestly outside the hard rock / trad metal stuff the rest of the decade’s music is pretty terrible.

[@lawrencemcstephens308]

I am 5 years younger than Finn, and I have no doubt that this 1970s suffered a travesty in this tier list! Growing up in the 80s and the 90s, and becoming an adult in the early 2000s, I always saw the influence of 1970s rock, metal, and pop music has foundational to what would come later. So many legendary artists, and some of the most influential and best-selling bands and solo artists of all time reached their peak in the 1970s.

[@artvandalay7632]

Depending on who you ask, they decade when they were in high school is the best decade for music.

[@Sweat404]

Agreed

[@Soldano999]

I don't know man, I'm a 90´s kid but looking back i'm also impressed by 80´s music. This was peak occidental culture.

[@michaelhymson8074]

nah, i went to hs i the 80s and hated everything on the radio for that whole decade. it was all cheese, all the time. i loved the 90s.

[@MCBard-ru7yu]

I don't think it's so much to do with high school, it's just when they peaked in life. For a lot of people, they peaked in high school. So that was their favorite period of their life. I'm in my 40s, my favorite period of my life was my 20s. Which was the 2000s. The majority of the music I listen to daily to is from that decade. With the 1990s being 2nd.

[@doublewhat07]

All decades had something to offer. I'm a history major, so I don't really put one decade over the other. I just look at what came out and choose the best or I think is great. Its all music history to me. When it comes to music the 20s, 30s, and 40s is all about Jazz, Blues, Big Band, and Pre-Rock n Roll. Jump Street Blues. 50s - Beginning of Rock. 60s - Psychedelic Rock. 70s - Funk, Early Metal, Disco, Punk, Prog Rock 80s - Hair Metal, Hardcore, Extreme Metal 90s- Eurodance was the pop of the 90s. Haddaway, Real McCoy. those groups were the EDM pop of the 90s too. Saturday nights on the pop stations was all Eurodance or pop.. Grunge, Nu Metal, gangsta rap 2000s - New Wave of American Heavy Metal, metalcore, Trance, hardcore rap 2010s - Risecore, Djentcore, Lady Gaga marrying EDM back with pop mirroring the early 90s. EDM DJ culture in the mainstream 2020s - Baddiecore Era, Billie E., There is no mention of country, but peak is 60s and 70s with revival in the 90s.

[@stewartdowouis9218]

“Hair metal” was pretty fantastic from the viewpoint of this kid born in the mid 70s. It was an escape. And growing up in the swamps of Southeast Louisiana…I needed escape.

[@LuchaLibertaria]

80s Glam Metal provided people escapism from the mundane of everyday life. It was a celebration of youth and freedom. It pushed for freedom of speech and freedom of expression

[@dryker7085]

But goddamn your little corner of the world makes some of the best music ever made.

[@dominikaksiazek7177]

From the viewpoint of this kid born in 99... it's still pretty awesome - catchy af, songs with plenty of hooks, a fun "let's forget about our worries for a moment" vibe, some of the best musicians in rock/metal, wild high-energy concerts (less of a sausage fest), a gateway to less popular metal subgenres, memorable choruses known by everybody, many hot dudes (female here) with big-a$$ hair. ;D Yep, that's a cool genre. Although in recent times I don't listen to glam metal as much as I used to, it will always be in my heart. ♡

[@chernobylcoleslaw6698]

.....and then sludge metal hit.

[@stewartdowouis9218]

@@chernobylcoleslaw6698I was more of an Exhorder guy than a Slugs/Crowbar guy. Exhorder was my gateway into death metal.

[@cwduggan17]

I’m 20 seconds in and already feel like the 2000s will end up on top 😂

[@danielstarr9037]

Because it’s the honest truth

[@XandieFireman]

As it should be

[@Vivi_9]

90s>70s>00s

[@asocialfairy]

Born in 2001 so no bias here (mostly lol) but when it comes down to the best decade of music for myself personally, it's always basically a death match between the 80s and 90s. And I like that Finn mentions genre diversity as a basis for a decade's strength because as someone who listens to various genres, that's important to me. For instance, if not for the lack of rap and electronica, the 80s would be my go-to bc it has everything else (alternative, pop, punk, metal, etc.) If not for the lack of good pop, the '90s would be perfect (rap, alternative, metal, electronica, etc.)

[@oops6876]

Thumbnail: “oh interesting. I’m curious to hear Finn talk about 60s and 70s music” Finn: “we’re gonna start with the 80s” lol

[@NottyGurlStyle]

90s is all that matters and early 2000s… best time for music and concerts! I had such a good time seeing bands and having a blast!

[@oldguy445]

Music is a reflection of society. Each decade had different social issues. Recording technology was different in the 1960s and 1970s than in the 2000s. In the 1970s, for the most part, there were three TV channels and people got their information from newspapers, magazines, and terrestrial radio. Synthesizer technology was in it's infancy in the 1980s and drum machines were still relatively expensive. Video cameras in the 1980s and 1990s were large and bulky and it was difficult to edit, The internet wasn't available to the public until the 1990s. Cell phones weren't widely available until the late 1990s early 2000s.

[@evilandproud]

I'm opposite I guess. I graduated HS in 2002 but I would put the 90's over the 2000's. It peaked, and it all started rolling down hill from there.

[@johnkoch9315]

I was born in 96. This came up with my boss in 2018 when I was wearing a blink shirt and she told me she remembered them being pretty big when she was in high school and graduating in 96. Finn, will you be my dad? My real dad, Satan, and Mark Hoppus won’t write me back.

[@FinnMckentyPRMBA]

Nice to meet you, son

[@syafiqbinroslan]

For 90s pop, I think the bangers were mostly the big movie soundtracks of the time, basically anything that are now karaoke staples

[@zbox6420]

I’m really mad about that spot for the 60s, that was when the cassette tape was invented and now everyone could become a rockstar, the Beatles, velvet underground, the garage rock scene, all the weird art rock stuff that developed, it set the stage for modern music to develop instead of everything being a pop hit. 60s changed the game and it’s where punk rock truly takes shape imo

[@Woohoo76]

Endless great music in the 60s. Finn is sadly ignorant of it.

[@drnoahpepper]

Putting the 70s in F tier means I can’t take your opinion seriously anymore. What a waste of everyones time

[@markdwolf3198]

I couldn't agree more, when he said it's in f tier because of zeppelin... What? I'll whole heartedly agree that disco might be the worst genre of music in existence, just about everything else was tits.

[@Wailmur]

Average Led Zeppelin fan

[@drnoahpepper]

@@Wailmur Stevie Wonder, Jim Croce, Black Sabbath, the Ramones, all of Prog Rock, Fleetwood Mac…. Don’t assume I’m ignorant because you are yourself

[@joshgrotesque2519]

Well I'm going with the 80s. You had thrash Metal, early DM, hardcore, crossover, rap , brit rock, electronica, goth etc js.

[@apoplexiamusic]

DM as in Depeche Mode?

[@joshgrotesque2519]

@@apoplexiamusic actually it was Death Metal, but of course the mighty Depeche as well here. Love both.

[@apoplexiamusic]

@@joshgrotesque2519 same here

[@shaybapple]

Odd that when he was talking about the 2000s, never mentioned White Stripes, Strokes, Hives and the other post punk revival bands. Maybe not original in their creativity, but still huge driving force of the 2000s... especially in the first half of the decade.

[@DrDipsh1t]

White stripes and strokes weren't that big of deal though culturally. You heard them on occasion for tv commercials or maybe in a mall store. That Garage Band sound was just absolutely awful and the world could've definitely been fine without it. The only reason I even really know of them was that I basically kept MTV on and would catch a music video and immediately change it to MTV2 or MTV jams

[@FredrickDouglass69]

Slick Rick? Grandmaster Flash and the furious five? Public Enemy? NWA? Rap was amazing.

[@kadewilliams8281]

That’s what I’m saying and that’s not even my era. Imma 2010s hip hop kid and even I know better

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

Ultramagnetic MCs, Geto Boys, De La Soul.... Finn is going through his midlife crisis and he's trying to relate with GenZ kids.

[@tiggetty]

No. Rap was emerging. All that stuff is so poorly produced and corny. Cultural importance does not mean high quality.

[@MrChaPmaister]

He just said future was the peak of rap lol

[@muenchhausenmusic]

1650s were not a bad decade for music, at least in Germany. Heinrich Schütz dropped some bangers, among them the "12 geistliche Gesänge", if I remember correctly. Not as good as the 1720s though, where Bach was on a roll, a whole decade of STRAIGHT 🔥🔥🔥, with heavy hitters like the Johannes- and Matthäuspassion, the Brandenburgische Konzerte, the Inventionen and the Clavierbüchlein, oh, and who could forget the Wohltemperierte Clavier, an timeless piece of piano music, an absolute classic, beloved to this day. 1720s all the way man!!

[@apoplexiamusic]

The sickest baroque-downs of any era for sure

[@MilitantMe]

Big Gregorian chant guy🔥

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

I was a teenager during the 90s. I cannot be objective about music. I compare everything to that decade.

[@LuchaLibertaria]

"Would you choose to listen to 80s music today?" There are dozens if not hundreds of bands out there making a living by playing 80s songs

[@Laurikiwi]

You're so right about Grunge, I was 18 when it hit and it's impact was like nothing I've seen in pop culture before or since. One day it was Motley Crue, Def Leppard etc, literally the next day it was Nirvana, Pearl Jam etc and nothing was ever the same again, that's what it felt like at the time anyway

[@LuchaLibertaria]

This is an urban myth.In 1992, at the height of Grunge, Def Leppard was outselling Pearl Jam. Bon Jovi and GnR were selling out arenas in 1992-3. Hard Rock continued to be popular until 1993. Music Press attention was focused on Grunge bands and it was promoted non-stop by MTV for sure but Hard Rock bands were still in the charts in 92-93.

[@Dropkickpunk76]

Actually I have to agree. Hair metal didn't just go away. Especially in the rural areas. You have to remember this was before social media and pre internet. Popular music took forever to change. It wasn't till late 93/94 where I was at in rural TX that the far away rick stations started paying attention to the Seattle based music.

[@bbschroeder7125]

TRIGGERED 70’s is goated

[@YouTubeHandle42069]

Music peaked in the 90s.

[@cyrollan]

i've been a metalhead for the last 20 years... but about five years ago i discovered 70's prog rock bands like Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, Rush, Pink Floyd, etc. that became my favorite decade for music. not to mention classic R&B and soul like Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green.

[@chriselt777]

I’m grateful that I can listen to decades of music on my fingertips and I do have favorites for sure.

[@WC_Beer_Reviews]

Of the 80s it seems that the Post-punk/new wave has a decent amount of musical relevance. Early to mid 90s pop was mostly a late 80s carry over with a lot of R&B/Hip-hop influence. Late 90-08 was probably peak pop culture. Late 00's-2010s was inundated with the pretense of hipster/indie folk.

[@stewartdowouis9218]

2000s were soooo bad. So bad. Derivative. Uninspired. Vapid. Namby pamby. So weak. I mean think about the entire history of pop music and all of the legendary rebels/game-changers. None of the folks that enter the average person’s mind when thinking of these legends come from that decade. There were big pop stars, yes, but all were just snapshots in time doing some fashionable version of some thing that already happened. Nothing transcendent. I feel like there’s a lot of revisionist history going on here.

[@lethybridtheorygolucastheo2191]

@@stewartdowouis9218 Plus a majority of that decade in pop culture was just a watered down version of the 1990s

[@epiccg6872]

1970s is my favorite decade for music though... it's like a complete timeline in and of itself. it started with tradition, got funky, and turned into the new wave of the end. it's like the "visible light" portion of the electromagnetic spectrum -nerdy teen

[@daf00nklee50]

It's funny you say that most people wouldn't play '80s. I feel like most people only play 80s, especially if you do blue collar Work with older guys like flooring and construction and a lot of my generation Gen z tends to think of the rock stars of the 80s are kind of cool, remember when I graduated high school in 2019 that motley Crue movie was huge with my class

[@shadow6543]

Millennial here and same for my graduating class in 2011 a lot of us had a fascination with the 80’s. Of course back then 80’s nostalgia was huge but I think even today the influence of the 80’s and it’s draw is undeniable. And yes I voluntarily listen to 80’s music.

[@daf00nklee50]

@@shadow6543 I should really proofread these voice to text comments

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Yeah, radio stations still play lots of 80's stuff. And of course the "underground" bands of the 80's would have a huge influence on rap, metal, EDM, etc.

[@eversosleight]

Everything got better in the 90s and ushered in major developments like Alt, Death, Nu, Rap.

[@414ruckmylifeMKE]

I'm 35. In my opinion the best: Punk 80s Rap 90s Metal early 2000s Pop 80s/ early 90s R&B 90s

[@jonathanvillagran8317]

The rock band Idles is doing interesting things

[@Zakillah]

Maybe its me being a kid of the 80s and a Metal fan, but to me the 80s are peak music and movies. Pretty much all extreme Metal subgenres were born in the 80s; so its pretty much unbeatable.

[@FURTHER_ADO]

I too went to high school in the 90s, so sure im biased but ive actually compared tge decsded after different debates and the 90s is the best.

[@rebd00mer93]

90s not S tier? You're fired!

[@SouthernUtahMx]

70’s was fantastic. Bands like ELO, Eagles, Eric Clapton etc. All such good music and I’m only 26 but yet it’s still my favorite aside from the 90’s

[@Woohoo76]

It is the best decade!

[@dancegregorydance6933]

Another E, Elton John was on fire on the 70s

[@StuartHetzler]

i'm just glad finn knows there's no apostrophe when writing out decades like 1990s

[@Liquidhamstermedia]

I’m not sure I can trust a man without debilitating nostalgia

[@ryanshinermusic]

I’d put the ‘60s and ‘70s higher because a lot of people still listen to it and a lot of rock from that era has cross generational appeal. The Beatles are still ridiculously popular, Fleetwood Mac and Billy Joel are legitimately loved by young people who are college-aged or younger. For Hair Metal: I think there’s been a recent appreciation of the genre just because a lot of people are realizing how well-written the genre was, even if society needed grunge to take over because it got stale.

[@jf1573]

Many bad takes, here. A lot of 80s music still holds up, particularly: *Michael Jackson* _(Thriller, Off The Wall) *Metallica* _(Master Of Puppets)_ *The Cure* _(Disintegration, The Head On The Door)_ *Nine Inch Nails* _(Pretty Hate Machine)_ *Pixies* _(Surfer Rosa)_ *Sonic Youth* _(Daydream Nation)_ *Kate Bush* _(Hounds Of Love)_ *Madonna* _(Like A Prayer)_ *Rakim* _(Paid In Full, Follow The Leader)_ And if you think 90's Hip Hop doesn't hold up, you need to get your ears checked: *Dr Dre* _(The Chronic)_ *Snoop Dogg* _(Doggystyle)_ *Nas* (illmatic, It Was Written)_ *Notorious B.I.G.* _(Ready To Die, Life After Death)_ *2Pac* _(All Eyez On Me)_ *Outkast* (ATLiens, Aquemini) *Jay-Z* _(Reasonable Doubt)_

[@jlee902]

I'm gen z and I legitimately like 80s music (r&b specifically).

[@psychedelicsanctuary.]

This is tough. I can't decide if it's the 60s or the 90s.

[@kevinjoyce7840]

Have been an adamant modern country hater for a number of years, but I feel like the 2020's are going to see an insurgence of back to roots and applachia style of country that's been sucking me in. You touch on this well that certain genres thrive during certain eras, and I think we are going to see a back to basics country revival for the next couple years. Food for thought.

[@cultreader9751]

Honestly the 2020s is looking like it's gonna be an amazing decade. I'm glad to see another fan of roots country, one of my favorite genres.

[@cultreader9751]

*an amazing decade for music. It's unclear as to how other things are going to go.

[@kevinjoyce7840]

Hell yeah. MJ Lenderman has been a favorite find of mine lately.@@cultreader9751

[@ogvelociraptor205]

The 80's was the best decade being The 80's Hip Hop along with Thrash Metal,Black Metal,Death Metal,New Wave,Post Punk,Industrial Music. The 90's where a hit/miss while the 2000's and beyond is just a big blurry line into mediocrity.

[@MCBard-ru7yu]

I was born in 1982. For me, the best metal goes in this order, 2000s, 1980s, 1990s. The best punk is from the 1990s. I love the skater punk stuff. And regular rock stuff, I probably listen to more 2000s rock than other decades.

[@filthybryan7981]

71s had Joy Division, The Clash, Sex Pistols, Siouxsie, David Bowie, even Pink Floyd... i'd put it easy B tier

[@fuckgoogle8661]

Pink Floyd and Bowie are 60s.

[@lethybridtheorygolucastheo2191]

For me the best decade of mainstream music imo is the 1990s as there was every genre of music being played on Pop Radio

[@Kotsoros37]

Finn nostalgia affects everyone even if you don't think it does haha , for me personally best metal late 90s early 2000s ,and my favorite rock/punk is the trl pop punk for sure, but I love the modern day stuff too. Also I think the death of the monoculture is also why you might have the feeling that music isn't as good recently. Also I feel we are definitely in the nostalgia erra, but I like it as people are blending different nostalgic things and actually fine tuning old genres to make some of the best of that style with a modern viewpoint

[@josephpasquarella2123]

The 80s had classic after classic, banger after banger, for many genres.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

As opposed to decades, I tend to group music this way: Pre-1963 (basically, old-fashioned stuff) 1964-1974 (British Invasion/rock music becoming dominant) 1975-1985 (Disco, hard R&B, melodic rock, New Wave, soft rock) -1986-1994 (rap, metal, college rock/alternative/grunge, adult contemporary pop, soft R&B, country going mainstream) 1995- present (Auto-tune and other forms of audio tampering infecting everything and making stuff sound samey).

[@lunarstrain235]

The 80's were the most important decade of heavy metal in general , the shape started up and the whole hippie bullcrap has faded, and of course the real birth of heavy music from Discharge and Venom

[@xshadowscreamx]

If black sabbath and punk did not happen in the 70s than that decade would be a complete fail.

[@D.Boon1]

Zeppelin , Bowie , Elton John , Stevie wonder, Pink Floyd , steely Dan , etccc etc I mean I’d hardly call it shit lol

[@xshadowscreamx]

@@D.Boon1 oh yeah, best Bowie

[@hurricane_valence]

Here are some great 80s albums to listen to if interested Kate Bush - The Dreaming/ The Sensual World/ Hounds Of Love Peter Gabriel - So. Rick Springfield - Tao. Paul Young - The Secrets of associon Peter Cetera - Solitude/ Solitaire. One More Story Jane Child - Jane child. Howard Jones - Dream Into Action. Pet Shop Boys - Please. Bryan Ferry - Bete Noire. Boys And Girls Patti Austin - Gettin Away With Murder Boy Meets Girl - Stay Forever Alison Moynet - Alf

[@Sweat404]

Personally I hated the 2000s, garage/indie rock, ringtone rap, dubstep…

[@jevinday]

Except for indie folk like Fleet Foxes and Bright Eyes the 2000s were pretty bad. Especially for pop music, holy shit. Crunk was the bottom of the barrel

[@dancegregorydance6933]

2000s had a lot of genres that aged badly but I do love the emo/post-hardcore stuff of that era.

[@gurke420]

I would not listen to 70's daily but if someone turns on 70's music its always nice

[@Hugobianca]

We live in an amazing world. things peak, then get irrelevant and then just get up in another form. Excited to see what is going to happen in 20 years

[@RustinRoark]

2015-19 rap over 90s rap personally offended me, congrats

[@6maniac6metal6]

Finn triggers me so good ❤️

[@stewartdowouis9218]

Right?! I was totally zoned out all morning, but now my juices are flowing. I just wanna throw stuff!

[@6maniac6metal6]

@@stewartdowouis9218 Better than coffee!

[@dannorris642]

The 70s and 80s were excellent music decades. Adult tastes still mattered, and culture wasn't so hyper-focused on teens. Calling something 'dated' is the stupidest thing, ever.

[@shadow6543]

Now that the dust has settled I think we can all agree the 2000’s were a pretty great decade culturally

[@Dropkickpunk76]

I agree. I was a young adult in my twenties.when 2000 came knocking on the door.I was in college and had just moved to a Major city. The live rock music was filled with great pop punk,new metal. The rap music was changing in a big way. Tons of club bangers came out. During the 2000s and 2010s.

[@delix787]

Everyone check out the band (Shocking Blue) they are extremely underrated if you love classic music. 🖤💙🖤

[@ishanray]

It’s the 90’s by far. Every single genre was commercial. Rock was amazing, R&B, Rap, Pop, and even country. They were all played on mainstream, meaning everyone got to choose what they like. Nothing was shunned like Rock is today. The artistry and experimentations were amazing.

[@headspace_origami8781]

On point 100% with the alt, metal, grunge, and rock scenes but 1000% hot takes with everything concerning rap and hip hop outside of the 80s. But hey, it's all just down to personal preference and experience at the end of the day

[@delix787]

Quentin Tarantino said the 80s was the worst year for cinema because things were being controlled and he helped break that rule by not caring what people thought, he created pulp fiction and he helped other directors to get more comfortable with violence again.

[@shadow6543]

80’s movies were crazy violent, yes they got censored but the stuff that got censored would be pretty gnarly even by todays standards. There was a cut scene in My Bloody Valentine that really pushed it as well The Prowler came out in 81’ with some of Tom Savini’s best work it wasn’t until partly through the decade when horror movies became wildly popular that the MPAA really got their grimy hands in there. Grindhouse was huge in the 80’s I think all the coke has gone to his head.

[@framerofworlds9984]

I always thought what made the 90's so unique is that you had three distinct eras within the 90's. The early 90's felt like a little bit of a hangover from the 80's, then Grunge and gangsta rap hit, and their aftermath created a very distinct time and culture in the mid 90's, then came the Y2k era, which again was completely different aesthetically and culturally from the mid 90's.

[@justinwallace4688]

My ranking from worst to best: 1950s- I personally find the decade too dated 1960s- Same as the 50s, but it began to improve a lot by the end of the decade 2010s- It’s an alright decade. I agree with a lot of points you made, but because I gravitate towards rock and metal, it didn’t offer me as much 1970s-Solid decade. It was punk and metal took off and rock was much more polished. Pop was cheesy as hell 1980s- Love this decade. Especially with rock, punk and metal. The early days of rap had its merit and pop was still cheesy 2000s- This felt like a sequel to the 90s. Nu Metal continued to grow, post grunge tried to carry the spirit of grunge (for better or worse). This was also the best decade for rap and pop 1990s- Nothing tops this decade. Rap found its identity at this time, punk and it’s sub-genres were at its peak, early nu metal had so many bangers. Grunge and 90’s alternative had so much to offer I find it too early to rank the 2020s

[@delix787]

Paul Revere and the Raiders are pretty good in my opinion, even tho they over 50 years old 🙂

[@deadtotheworld936]

2000s all the way for music all around. I was born in 91 and loved 90s everything. Looking back at my current age of 32. My favorite albums of all time are from that era. Trivium, Coheed and Cambria, Mudvane, Suicide Silence, All shall perish etc. That's just a beautiful era of metal on all fronts and alternative rock, prog rock, emo

[@QuincyKane]

I think this is a good ranking; I agree with this 👍🏻