I was listening to A State of Trance 2005 Yearmix while working out last night and it hit me: The quality of tracks (especially uplifting) has plummetted since then. This is only my opinion though. Here me out!
CD2 is full out uplifting! The kind of uplifting I used to truly love and dance to. I still do, but for some reason the tracks in 2005/2006 were GOLD! But then I thought "CD1 was full on progressive with tons of melodies, yet the focus of energy was more on CD2"
If you listen to today's trance tracks, you will notice that the focus nowadays is more on the prog side of EDM. Not to mention that tracks have slowed down massively in terms of BPM. Back in the days, I was playing AT LEAST @ 138!!
Now people can safely say it's a change in taste and styles that led to me and many others to play and listen to other forms of EDM, may they be slower or faster or whatever.
HOWEVER! I really think that the MAIN reason behind the change in styles and tastes is the fashion of EDM every single year. Remember when minimal techno was on the rise? Man, it was minimal everywhere!!! The same goes for trance. Recently I think it's darker, proggier, edgier trance music. Vocals and more pop-style trance is on the rise too. Uplifting is still there, but bouncy music is more preferred nowadays... Unless you're Armin van Buuren of course. No one can touch him
Seriously though, it almost seems like an unconcious fashion where many producers are following. I understand the whole shift in sounds and styles, but don't you think it has to do with the trend that is being followed?
Crow