aspect of the ’70s in music and pop culture? Was it the progression away from ideals of the ’60s or merely the bloated attitudes, behaviors and enabling by the industry?
This goes along, in part, with the discussion that came out of the Woodstock posting.
RockCritics.com 
I would say the sneering disdain Punks had for a lot of music that was perfectly fine, especially if one was not inclined to be into Punk music in the first place (Midsouth US teenager here in the 70s, nothing in particular to rebel against and no desire to tear clothes, spit on people or wear safety pins) and led to the premature end of said music being made by a lot of artists who were affected by trendhopping and disaffected people. But that’s not quite what you had in mind, is it?
Kind of wish Johnny had specified what music he’s referring to there, because I’m not so sure there was a “premature” (or any kind of) end to any of the musics the punks railed against, ultimately. In critics minds, perhaps, but it’s not like prog rock upped and died after the Sex Pistols… but again, it’s all conjecture here because I don’t know who he’s talking about.
That said, my own answer’s much along the same lines: the musical nadir of the decade, without question, was the “disco sucks” moment. Which, distressingly, I must’ve fell for at least a little bit: in a Creem readers poll I filled out (but never sent in) from 1978, I voted Abba and Bee Gees in a tie for worst group. What an idiot. (Weird thing is, I don’t even recall disliking them all that much; I think I was just proving to myself that I knew what the cool opinions of the time were.)
What was the worst aspect of the ’70s? The extent to which people thought the ’60s were better.
Back in the 70s, the avenues for emerging music were so limited—record stores, FM radio, concert halls—that we all had exposure to just about everything: mainstream rock (Boston), metal (Sabbath), punk (Clash), disco (the aforementioned Bee Gees). These all emerged in a single stream of music, so we were forced to rebel, or at least react more vociferously against what we liked and embrace more fervently what we truly loved. Hence the strong disco sucks movement and the marginalizing of punk. This is not exactly something that could be called “The Worst” aspect of the 70s, but it certainly is different than what we have today, which is an assault from all sides so constant that the only thing we can do is field a few things and ignore the rest.
I agree with Mr. Considine. I’ll also add to the worst part list the success and radio permeation of the Eagles, and the fact that Harvest was more popular than Tonight’s The Night or Time Fades Away, the latter of which isn’t even available to the 21st century consumer.