Part of it I think is how original sounding a lot of those albums were and still are. So much stuff now is being made to sound like something else, or just merging two already existing styles
I read that human awareness has gone down which could impact the creator but its probably the listening that isnt listening as good at this point. If all stare, contemplate, breath and do nothing the ratings probably will go up.
Ever wondered why those days albums are not being rated as high as 10, 20 or 30 years ago? Last year 8.32, 2014 8.63 2004 9, 2994 8.9 is it is getting more refined or our music is not getting better?
Danish power/progressive/folk act Wuthering Heights are back with their 5th full length after four years. And damn the waiting was worth it; they tuned down the folk parts and tuned up the progressive side of things all the while they deliver full on power. Maybe not as good as Far From The Madding Crowd, but certainly a very mature release showing that these guys are not afraid to evolve.