to me, when it comes to modern music, there is either the catchy but mass produced and market forced hip hop that we all listened to a few years ago in high school or college. OR there is the lesser known modern music that is not played on the radio because it is harder and by artists that wont sell out.
One of my favorite modern bands .....Bloody beatroots. Some English blokes who are actually mentored and backed by Paul McCartney.