As I've mentioned before, I pretty much quit listening to the radio around 1985. "current" radio, anyway, it was the beginning of "classic rock" stations, which I enjoyed.
I'll argue the point about synthesizers necessarily being "bad", it all depends on what they were used for. When used as an instrument in its own right, I like them (love electronica). Two examples, one obscure to most, the other popular:
Vulcan Worlds from my #5 all time favorite album (an acquired taste, I admit) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WPv5P-G4tQ&feature=relatedAnd one I'm sure we all remember:
When synthesizers are used as a replacement for strings or drums or piano or any other instrument, it makes me cringe. Another thing that bugged me no end, was how most of the songs (including Chicago's) had that damn "beat" that sounded like a funeral dirge, always with the final WHOMP on the beat. I was always mystified that if it was programmable, why was everyone using the same one?
Here's something a little more accessible from Where Have I Known You Before?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85lmecrHduQ&feature=related