is this the natural result of music n stuff being at a certain point and so most of what can be achieved with a certain set of instruments or whatever has been reached?

is the reason that I can't tell the difference between all those 8.3 pitchfork bands who (usually) just sound like Pavement? or am I not listening hard enough?

broken social scene
band of horses
the national
etc etc etc

I might hear odd songs which I like by these bands, but nothing makes me want to delve deeper. It's like some odd unavoidable blandness despite the fact there's lots of talent there...