I agree Dave. The odd thing about The Monkees, is that even though the concept of the band stank, the music really is more than bearable. No wonder really. The session musicians were brilliant and songs like "Another Pleasant Valley Sunday", "Daydream Believer" and "I'm A Believer" were among the best that Neil Diamond ever penned.
There always was plenty of crap pop music about. "Sugar Sugar" was some of the most unbearable garbage I have ever heard, yet it appeared in the same year as masterful singles by The Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. I think the main difference today, is that you can't expect to hear the best of current pop music on the radio. It's still out there though. You just have to look for it.