Ray,

I guess I just don't know what you are listening to. I think there is some really good music being made out there. Has always been plenty of stuff that is less than palatable. Everyone has their tastes. But could be I am a little prejudiced, since a lot of these people who make the music today are friends of mine.
For my money, many of the writers and artists of yesterday were the ones who were far from clear,or black and white, a lot of it being closer to paisly and tie die for my taste and if you ask them today much of that music was drug induced and designed to reflect what they were going through at that time. Again, some of those guys are people I know also and I get that point of view from them.
So as far as any one question, I am sorry if I can't provide an answer for you. I'm just trying to do what I can to explain a bit of what it is like from the "other side of the desk" with the people who are doing this in today's market, from the writer, artist, publisher, plugger, and record industry side.

MAB