I understand music is subjective but to say music doesn't compare is giving very little credit to how the music business is today. The internet has given people access to listen to whatever they want and because of this giant selection, I find it hard to believe that you can't find someone that blows you away. This isn't like older days when something would get completely played out and you didn't have much access to other artists as well as other artists not being able to put out their work. . . at this very moment there's someone in his/her room recording and uploading an album with a computer and recording equipment.
As far as "we looking back", I don't really care for who the majority of people will be looking back at. . . mainstream music has always been garbage and I wouldn't base today's music with the crap that gets played on MTV and that the "majority" of the people like.
I think there's way too much variety and selection for anything to be "iconic" these days. Hell, the Beatles wouldn't have been the force they were if they started today, there's just too much competition. . .
