Overrated Bands

[Jackie Blue]

Yes, the next time someone makes a great album let's not talk about it.

At the time of its release, ITAOTS was hailed by so many people as being such a definitive masterpiece that the word "hyperbole" doesn't even come close.  It was like what happened with OK Computer, except that people were not just saying it was great musically, but were reading so much into the lyrics and the imagery and it made Jeff uncomfortable.

I'm not saying it's bad to talk about good albums, but taking a near-unknown and proclaiming that his earliest efforts are basically perfect could understandably be hard on someone, and can lead to at best "unpredictable" results.  For Conor Oberst, it turned him into a womanizing drug-addled self-loathing fuckup.  For Radiohead, it made them get seriously weird.  For Jeff Mangum, it made him stop recording music.

[gospel]

Sonic Youth (excluding "Sonic Nurse" & "Daydream Nation").  Oh, I'm screwed.

I guess I could see how Sonic Youth could easily by overrated, but they are truly fantastic musicians.

I'm no arguing they aren't. When I say overrated I mean it in the fact people tend to extol inordinate amounts of praise for these bands.

Perhaps, that is my fault for poor diction.

[KharBevNor]

Neil Diamond is a bizarre choice, Khar. I can definitely see the rest of your list being overrated but seriously who gives a shit about Neil Diamond?

Well, whilst I was writing that list there was a documentary about the recording of one of Neil Diamond's albums playing on Radio 4. For the non-english, Radio 4 doesn't have any music coverage at all. It is a speech station. The tones in which this album and it's various elements were being dissected and described prompted me to add Mr. Diamond to the list.

[sean]

Shit Khar, screw Niel Diamond, why did you pick Oasis? If I'm thinking about the right Oasis, only frat boys give a shit about Oasis.

And in my humble opinion, GB!YE is one of the most overrated bands. I say this because I overrate them terribly myself.

[KharBevNor]

Have you ever lived in the UK, OIC?

It's not as bad as it was in the nineties, but fuck.

[sean]

Oh, okay, I understand.

I'm so sorry. Thats just awful.

[Catacombs]

Oh yea, My Chemical Romance.

[DynamiteKid]

I think that Led Zeppelin is more underrated than overrated.
Their skills as musicians, artists (and in Jimmy Page's case producer), can together surpass any other rock group to ever exist.

Also, ignore my "fourth album" avatar.

Hahaha. You should've just changed it before making that post. I mean it wasn't going to be especially credible anyway, without an avatar that virtually says 'I'm a fanboy.'

[Johnny C]

Neil Diamond is a bizarre choice, Khar. I can definitely see the rest of your list being overrated but seriously who gives a shit about Neil Diamond?

Well, whilst I was writing that list there was a documentary about the recording of one of Neil Diamond's albums playing on Radio 4. For the non-english, Radio 4 doesn't have any music coverage at all. It is a speech station. The tones in which this album and it's various elements were being dissected and described prompted me to add Mr. Diamond to the list.

This is both hilarious and an entirely fair reason.

[Jackie Blue]

I've never lived in the UK and even I know that at one time Oasis were regarded as rock gods by some people who were obviously very high and had never heard the Stone Roses.

[mattgcn]

Am I the only one who feel bad, and like a snarky bastard calling music I don't like that is popular "overrated"? I just don't feel like it's my place, which would make me a terrible critic, but I'm too nice to be a snob.

But as for praised bands that I never really got into, Joy Division is one of them. I KNOW they're good, but I can't get in the groove. Musical aesthetic tastes and whatnot. I like a lot of bands that are hated by the large majority of music snobs (Aquabats, They Might Be Giants) though, so my opinion doesn't really count, does it?

(Holy comma abuser, Batman)

[RedLion]

Oh, another--

I don't understand what's so great about Boris. I have three albums, but despite listening to them probably about 5 times now, I just don't get it. It's not interesting or exciting or invigorating or new or...anything to me.

[Xaris3514]

I know I probably shouldn't be considering that metal isn't very popular on this forum, but I'm surprised that no one's mentioned DragonForce. I believe this video should sum things up nicely.

[Dimmukane]

Because the only people who think of them highly don't post here.  Some people here like them, but acknowledge that they're corny.  And as far as I know, most of the music critics aren't big fans of them anyway, so it's not like they're actually considered to be that good.  They just have a loud portion of the internet.

[Tom]

I've never lived in the UK and even I know that at one time Oasis were regarded as rock gods by some people who were obviously very high and had never heard the Stone Roses.

Or the Rolling Stones for that matter.

[hipster jesus]

On that note, am I the only one who thinks the Rolling Stones have digressed from actually being that good and more than deserving of all the praise to being overrated and getting by on their reputation over the past 30 or so years?

[David_Dovey]

Yes, you're the only one, and it is a totally new and original sentiment.

[McTaggart]

I think that Led Zeppelin is more underrated than overrated.

If Led Zeppelin were even half as good as people tell me they are they would be banned from all the radio stations in the world because of the death toll that would come from everyone who's listening in their cars spontaneously having orgasms and forgetting about driving every time a Led Zeppelin track was played.

[tommydski]

I know I probably shouldn't be considering that metal isn't very popular on this forum

This is not an accurate statement.

[look out! Ninjas!]

I think that Led Zeppelin is more underrated than overrated.

If Led Zeppelin were even half as good as people tell me they are they would be banned from all the radio stations in the world because of the death toll that would come from everyone who's listening in their cars spontaneously having orgasms and forgetting about driving every time a Led Zeppelin track was played.

'twas a sad day for all. There was blood and metal and semen everywhere. 'Twas probably before your time though.
 

[dalconnsuch]

i would say led zeppelin os overrated too but not by much, they kick ass as far as virtuosity at the time goes
and i will be definitely be getting tickets if they go on tour, who could say no to such a giant gazillion dolalr tour?
not even robert plant is that stupid

well... roger waters was so who the hell knows

as for overrated bands? i'm gonna lose some indie cred points so i'm gonna dock em now *reduced -5 cred points*

we're going by a point system now right? right, gets rid of all that useless cock weaving in the audiences

deerhoof

sorry folks, but i can' tlisten to their albums without thinkin "they're trying WAAAY too hard and not pulling it off"

[KharBevNor]

I know I probably shouldn't be considering that metal isn't very popular on this forum, but I'm surprised that no one's mentioned DragonForce. I believe this video should sum things up nicely.

There are so many over-rated metal bands that Dragonforce barely make the list. I believe Mastodon to be the most over-rated metal band of the moment (though they are barely metal). Other metal bands that are over-rated to various degrees include Slayer, Metallica, Cannibal Corpse, Entombed, At The Gates, Emperor, Children of Bodom and, in the UK anyway, a revolving procession of cookie-cutter deathcore bands that each get about one months worth of anus thumbing before someone with a stupider name and even more ridiculous haircuts comes along.

Really, everyone needs to listen to more Edge of FUCKING SAAAANIIITTTYYYYY!

[DynamiteKid]

I like a lot of bands that are hated by the large majority of music snobs (Aquabats, They Might Be Giants) though, so my opinion doesn't really count, does it?

What in fuck?

I know I probably shouldn't be considering that metal isn't very popular on this forum.

Fail.

[Xaris3514]

Noted. Metal is more popular here than I first assumed.

[Uber Ritter]

AC/DC over rated?  I don't think anyone over the age of 16 thinks of them as anything more than a band that has made some very retarded but quite fun music and made one retarded and -incredibly- fun album, Back in Black, and then proceeded to try to make it over and over again for the next thirty years.

The Decembrists.  But I think that's just because somewhat jangling verse-chorus stuff doesn't appeal to me much (I like them when they feel a tad more progressive).

I think it's fair to say that just about every band that has been described as 'the best ever' is over-rated.
Few or perhaps none of these bands are bad or even mediocre.

RE Joy Division, I love them, but I do think that in terms of musical innovation their pretty straightforward pop songs don't really compare to Marquee Moon or Blank Generation or whatever.

[Jeans]

Noted. Metal is more popular here than I first assumed.

Yeah, you're not the first to assume we're all elitist hipster assholes here.

I really wish people would stop doing that.

[Xaris3514]

To be fair, it is a moderately easy assumption to make.

[tommydski]

Most assumptions are.

That's why they are lame.

[DynamiteKid]

RE Joy Division, I love them, but I do think that in terms of musical innovation their pretty straightforward pop songs don't really compare to Marquee Moon or Blank Generation or whatever.

Is it really a pop song when your singer can't fookin' sing?

I mean, Ian Curtis is an idol of mine and 'Closer' is my second favourite album after Weezer, but the brother couldn't sing a pop song if he tried.

[Jackie Blue]

Am I the only one who feel bad, and like a snarky bastard calling music I don't like that is popular "overrated"?

Did you actually read the thread before posting?  We're not pointing at bands we don't like, for the most part.

[tommydski]

I mean, Ian Curtis is an idol of mine and 'Closer' is my second favourite album after Weezer, but the brother couldn't sing a pop song if he tried.

I'm not so sure. 'Love Will Tear us Apart Again' is pretty poptastic, non? What about 'Transmission'?

Dance dance dance dance dance to the radio!

[DynamiteKid]

They would be if he sang them in tune. I love the guy, but he couldn't hold a melody in a bucket made of vocal chords.

[Uber Ritter]

When I say 'pop' I'm thinking more of melodic hooks and song structure than vocal styles.  Hell, in my mind much of Boris's Pink (the short songs), Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and At the Gate's Slaughter of the Soul are all pop in the same way Joy division is--it's pretty straightforward and catchy, it doesn't wander too far and it isn't too strange.
But these days even the Pop Group sounds like, well, a pop group to me.

[Trynant]

I think that any band in the Guitar Hero or Rock Band series ends up being "overrated"; this especially applies to songs that are harder to play in the game.

[Hat]

oh you did not just call Spinal Tap overrated

[Trynant]

oh you did not just call Spinal Tap overrated

Well, when it comes down to it the drummer of Spinal Tap tends to die out near the end.

[RedLion]

Aerosmith.

[allison]

Sloan!

Oh wait, no, not them because they're effing awesome.

[David_Dovey]

To be fair, it is a moderately easy assumption to make.

Why

[Xaris3514]

Gee, I dunno, maybe because of the comic this forum is attached to?

[E. Spaceman]

The one written by a huge metal and electronic music fan?

(seriously though, it IS a fairly easy assumption to make and we can now move on)

[Jackie Blue]

Gee, I dunno, maybe because of the comic this forum is attached to?

What comic?   

[Spluff]

Other metal bands that are over-rated to various degrees include [snip] Emperor, Entombed

Emperor & Entombed? Really? I very rarely hear anybody speak about them (though I don't really speak to that many metalheads).

[Xaris3514]

And I'm a metalhead and I've heard very little about them (granted my tastes tend to keep me pretty far from the more brutal bands.)

[Jackie Blue]

I don't like much metal but I hear a fuckton of people go on and on and on about how awesome Emperor is.

And Khar is right about Mastodon.

[redphoenix11]

As much as I love Loveless, I'm going to say MBV is kind of overrated. Honestly, I think Ride's Nowhere is a better shoegaze album.

That being said, I'm not going to deny that MBV is the more influential band.

[hipster jesus]

Madonna. The fact she got into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility was just depressing.

[dancarter]

Agreed.

There's a station here in Canadia-land called Star! that is airing nothing but Madonna related television shortly to celebebrate her 50th birthday. I mean seriously, what the hell?  As a singer? Sub par at best. As a musical revolutionary?  Well, gee...let's all just find the most obvious things that will piss middle America off and do that.  What a glorious stroke of brilliance that is. 

MBV put me to sleep, honestly.  That album has the most coked-out mix ever...and I think that was a bit of the point, but perhaps I'm wrong.  That said, I love the track When You Sleep.  Seems appropriate enough.  Beside the fact that the best shoegaze albums are so obviously Mira's self titled debut and the follow ups, Apart, and There I Go Daydreamer.

Oh,and concerning Led Zeppelin?  They're credibility slides every time the endless re-unification(or attempt to) cycle looms it's head to a less and less interested sigh from the populace.  You want it to be good but realize that Plant hasn't aged well and that the music is very much of its time and only that.  Purely subjective, of course

[Jackie Blue]

As much as I love Loveless, I'm going to say MBV is kind of overrated. Honestly, I think Ride's Nowhere is a better shoegaze album.

I'd say both Lush's Split and Slowdive's Souvlaki are far more enjoyable shoegaze albums than anything MBV did aside from the Feed Me With Your Kiss EP.

[dalconnsuch]

agreed