Most overrated and underrated bands

[Greg]

Let's continue with the music theme. For me, I think the most overrated band is Nirvana. I never thought any of Cobain's songwriting was all that good. Sure, many would argue that they were the breakthrough band for the Seattle grunge scene, but that really could have been any of a number of other bands like Alice in Chains or Soundgarden. Kurt Cobain is hailed as some great songwriter/artist, but I would argue his death sort of made him a martyr in many ways. I wonder if they'd even still be writing any good music if he was alive today.

Here's another and I'll probably get killed for this, but I think The Doors are totally overrated. I never got into any of their stuff. Just my opinion. Anyway, have at it - I'm sure this thread will get interesting, with some political-style rants going on. Just please be civil.

 

[ChileMass]

Overrated:

AC/DC - I hate the skreechy voices of the dead original singer and the new guy. Nails on a chalkboard is more pleasant.

Velvet Underground - a generation of "serious" musicians swore they were influenced by these guys but I think they're just trying to sound cool. I defy you to get thru a single listen to a whole record of theirs, especially when Nico was with them.

Genesis - barely tolerable with Peter Gabriel, unlistenable sludge and bubblegum with Phil Collins. (See also ELP, ELO, King Crimson)

Bad Company - Among other ego-atrocities, lead singer Paul Rodgers should be beaten with a stick just for the bogus yelps at the end of "Shooting Star".

Any 80s Hair Bands - Only Warrant is excused, and then only because of the "Cherry Pie" video.

KISS - you have to be kidding me. Makeup and fire bombs couldn't hide the fact that these guys were hacks.

Journey - the worst of the late 70s/early 80s corporate bands. (See also REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Styx, etc).

Pearl Jam - if success makes Eddie so miserable, perhaps he should just walk away.


Underrated:

David Bowie - with all his success it's probably hard to imagine he's under-rated, but if you go back over his career, he regularly anticipates every new trend by 2-3 years. And, his early efforts generally are better than the majority of those that follow in every case. The guy is a genuis who deserves to be mentioned in the same levels as John Lennon and Bob Dylan. .

Chuck Berry - simply put, rock would not exist without him. While Elvis brought rock 'n roll to white America and discovered its commercial potential, Chuck Berry was busy re-inventing the teenage love song. In rock 'n roll terms, "Sweet Little Sixteen" is a whole lot more important than "Jail House Rock".

Frank Zappa - without going into every detail, he broadened the scope of rock beyond the Beach Boys and teenage broken hearts to include jazz and classical. Without FZ, "Sgt. Pepper's" and "Tommy" would never have been written. There would have been no Grateful Dead, no jam bands or jazz-fusion. A prolific genius who challenged his listeners on every recording, he was the father figure who made rock worth considering seriously. Buy "One Size Fits All" as a starter and progress thru "Just Another Band from LA" into the "You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore" series. I saw him 4 times, and almost 13 years after his death, I still mourn him.

 

[Greg]

Frank Zappa - without going into every detail, he broadened the scope of rock beyond the Beach Boys and teenage broken hearts to include jazz and classical. Without FZ, "Sgt. Pepper's" and "Tommy" would never have been written. There would have been no Grateful Dead, no jam bands or jazz-fusion. A prolific genius who challenged his listeners on every recording, he was the father figure who made rock worth considering seriously. Buy "One Size Fits All" as a starter and progress thru "Just Another Band from LA" into the "You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore" series. I saw him 4 times, and almost 13 years after his death, I still mourn him.

And with lyrics like, "...thought he was a man......but he was a muffin...", how could you not think this guy was a genius...? :roll:

:lol:

 

[dmc]

Couldnt disagree more..
Genesis, VU, Pearl Jam, ACDC and the Doors all great bands in my book...

most underated... Buddy Holly.. I'm a big fan. i always wish he had more songs... So sad...

Oh and I've seen Bowie estimate trends incorrectly before... But you gotta give hinm credit...

 

[Greg]

Updated thread title to include underrated bands...

 

[ChileMass]

Couldnt disagree more..
Genesis, VU, Pearl Jam, ACDC and the Doors all great bands in my book...

Note the Doors were not on my list - I love every one of their albums, including "The Soft Parade" which gets trashed regularly......

 

[ChileMass]

And with lyrics like, "...thought he was a man......but he was a muffin...", how could you not think this guy was a genius...? :roll:

:lol:

From one of the weirdest albums of all time, "Bongo Fury", with Captain Beefheart. The Capt. Beefheart stuff is almost unintelligible and I have never been able to get into him, but Zappa's stuff on that album is hilarious and hot. The intro to "Muffin Man" is so bizarre (...."he puts forth a quarter-ounce green rosette of his own design....."), and you just can't beat tunes with names like "Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy" and "Poofter's Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead"........

 

[hammer]

Sorry folks, but Bob Dylan is way overrated as a musician IMO...while I respect his achievements, I just can't stand to listen to any of his music...

(runs to put flame-resistant suit on)

 

[ChileMass]

Sorry folks, but Bob Dylan is way overrated as a musician IMO...while I respect his achievements, I just can't stand to listen to any of his music...

(runs to put flame-resistant suit on)

Dylan's a genius, man.......his voice stinks, but his music is great and his lyrics may be the best......IMHO........

 

[dmc]

Dylan's a genius, man.......his voice stinks, but his music is great and his lyrics may be the best......IMHO........

I actually like his poetic vocal style..

 

[skibum1321]

Couldnt disagree more..
Pearl Jam, ACDC and the Doors all great bands in my book...

I agree with you on these ones. I don't know the other ones though.

 

[Zand]

I can sum up the word overrated in two words: ROLLING STONES

 

[andyzee]

I can sum up the word overrated in two words: ROLLING STONES

Agreed, that's like the definition of overrated.

For underrated, I choose the Clash. They were an excellent band, very creative and just never really got past cult status.

 

[dmc]

I can sum up the word overrated in two words: ROLLING STONES

I'm not a huge Stone fan - I appreciate what they did...
NOW - they are overated... Back in the day... No so much...

I like the Mick Taylor era.. Stickey Fingers and Exile On Main St.. Are awesome records..

 

[dmc]

For underrated, I choose the Clash. They were an excellent band, very creative and just never really got past cult status.

I love the Clash... Took these PIX at one of the infamous Bonds Casino shows... One of the all time best shows I've ever been to...

Scanned from the original prints... Have the negatives somewhere... Gotta find them...

 

[ckofer]

Overrated: U2, The Rolling Stones

Sometimes the truth hurts.

Underrated: Jorma

 

[dmc]

Underrated: Jorma

Going to see Jorma this Saturday in Woodstock NY.... VERY PSYCHED!!!!!

 

[andyzee]

I love the Clash... Took these PIX at one of the infamous Bonds Casino shows... One of the all time best shows I've ever been to...

Scanned from the original prints... Have the negatives somewhere... Gotta find them...

Hey, I was at one of those shows. Was that place wild or what, with the musical stairs, the creatures coming out above the dance floor, speakers in the walls, laser lights!!! Yeah, saw the Clash a number of times, no such thing as a bad Clash show.

 

[dmc]

Hey, I was at one of those shows. Was that place wild or what, with the musial stairs, the creatures coming out above the dance floor, speakers in the walls, laser lights!!!

I gotta be honest... I don't really remember the layout or anything..
I rushed into the place and staked out a spot against the stage and NEVER left my spot...
In fact - i couldn't - the crush was REALLY bad... So bad they started pulling people out of the crowd.. During the encore a bunch of us jump up onto the stage - I had nmay arm around JS while he was playing... Total pandamonium... The crew let us stay on the stage - the band loved it... Very cool..

Also Joe was bringing us jugs of water during the show too...

the show I originally supposed to see was the one that was cancelled by the FDNY.. I was in the mix of raging punks accorss Broadway... When I saw the first bottle fly - i left...

 

[ckofer]

Going to see Jorma this Saturday in Woodstock NY.... VERY PSYCHED!!!!!

Just give The Dead a final tour, ditch any other lead guitarist, put in Jorma & make it acoustic (like Reckoning). Have fun.

Hot Tuna is in Newmarket, NH in June. http://thestonechurch.com/fullschedule.cfm