smoe.org mailing lists
ivan@stellysee.de
From | Bob Hutton <bobhutton@btinternet.com> |
Subject | Re: 25 overrated thingies |
Date | Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:09:33 +0000 |
[Part 1 text/plain ISO-8859-1 (2.7 kilobytes)]
(View Text in a separate window)
I decided to mix some classic name bands I don't particulary love with
some of the power-pop stuff revered on this list that I find overrated.
I am playing Devil's Advocate with some of these, but not all.
1. Bob Dylan - Anything with folky harmonica does NOT translate well to
small earphones - invariably I reach for the "off" switch.
2. Boston - I ought to like this but it is just too goddam polished and
bland.They
3. Cheap Trick - A meat and two veg. band - but are they really worth
all the praise that gets bandied around here?
4. The Byrds - Gene Clark is exempt, but if you take away his
contributions there ain't all that much left to write home about, is there?
5. The Cramps - Great concept but the songs just ain't that good.
6. David Bowie - Some decent singles but his work seems to lack a real
visceral quality - it's like it's all been created as a post grad thesis.
7. The Doors - Nothing more needs to be said.
8. The Hollies - Lovely harmonies and good singles but their albums lack
consistency.
9. Led Zepellin - Rehashed blues -why anyone would pay money to see them
now is completely beyond me.
10. Oasis - All downhill after the first album.
11. Pink Floyd - Says nothing to me about my life.
12. The Pogues - Some nice clattering anthems, but Shane: being a
drunken bum is not the same as being elegantly wasted.
13. Amy Winehouse - See above entry for The Pogues
14. Public Image Limited - Lack of basic melody, not compensated here
by Pistolian power.
15. The Clash - An incoherent rabble of ill-conceived political flummery.
16. Queen - Too polished, too pompous, too bombastic, too show-offy
17. Greenberry Woods - Half decent, but not half the band that
Splitsville became.
18. Paul Weller - Incredibly dull solo career is now threatening to
overshadow the brilliance of the Jam and the ambition of the Style Council
19. Kaiser Chiefs - God-awful shout-a-long nonsense - "Ruby, Ruby, Ruby,
Ruby" ... indeed.
20. T. Rex - Another revered band who really had not a great deal of
substance other than a handful of great singles.
21. Television - More to be admired than loved.
22. XTC - Wilfully arty when they could let their melodies flourish - I
just can't see why they are held in such high esteem by power-poppers.
23. Sparks - Ditto, just way too archly wierd for my liking, although
This Town Ain't Big Enough and Amateur Hour are fine songs.
24. Myracle Brah - Great first album, subsequent records just didn't
have good songs in sufficient quantity. Plus Andy Bopp's voice can grate
after a while.
25. Joy Division - Would such a fuss have been made of this band had
the singer not tragically killed himself right at the start of their
career?
For assistance, please contact
the smoe.org administrators.