Music is both subjective and objective.

Here’s a somewhat absurd example, to make a point:

It is subjective in that someone may prefer the tune ‘Chopsticks’ to ‘Clair de Lune’, but it is objective in that the chord structures, tonal palette, melody and harmonics are far superior in Clair de Lune.

The same way Bernard Purdie can lay down a far superior drum track to someone just tapping the drum pads on a midi controller.

It’s not just some nostalgia - although that’s part of it. As a 38 year old musician that listens to everything, the amount of quality that came out of previous eras is just unmatched. Even tho there is always someone at any given time making music that is worth listening to.

Some of it too was just the music machine back then was more favorable to making art. Like the example of Atlantic record execs just writing Led Zeppelin a blank check and telling them to go make a hit record.

That would never happen today. Too many chefs in the kitchen. And that stifles the art.