Most Overated Singer Or Band

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Jac de Molay
The Grateful Dead.

One of the worst pothead experiences is smoking down in someone's van, and a friend of a friend invariably whips out his vaunted Tokyo bootleg featuring 45-minute drum circles over Garcias hideous caterwauling. I dont get..I just...dont...get it.

I don't either. I can't say that the Dead are bad, I've known some musicians whom I really respected who loved them, but I get bored quickly and annoyed by the end of half an album when they are played.

[JohnT]

My wife would like to nominate Michael Jackson.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Elok
I second the nomination for the Grateful Dead. I kinda like Sugar Magnolia in a way, that's about it. They were just a lot of weak tunes propped up by smarmy folksiness and trippy logos. Not really bad, but not that good.

I also dislike James Taylor, whichever wuss sings "Sweet Caroline," and Blind Melon, though nobody cares about them today. The Doors aren't that good, but they aren't absolutely wretched.

Finally, for now at least, there's something absolutely appalling about Dave Matthews. Maybe it's because one of my old roommates played him like 24/7, but everything he ever played sounds soulless and bland to me.

Good call on Dave Mathews. Almost as repetetive as Journey, and more soulless.

[Saras]

Originally posted by JohnT
My wife would like to nominate Michael Jackson.

Your wifes taste in men of course leaves a lot to be desired but music, now that's another matter

[gjramsey]

how could I forget the king of sap.....Michael Bolton.

The VH1 show "40 worst Metal moments" was hilarous. Michael Bolton actually was on the list with a hair-metal band before he went to the "music 40 year old ladies like to score to"

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by JohnT
My wife would like to nominate Michael Jackson.

Later Michael Jackson, I totally agree. However, the early Jackson lived up to the hype and more. There is a reason 'Thriller' is by far the top selling album of all time.

[-Jrabbit]

OVERRATED
Grateful Dead -- saw them live in their prime and they were a total
New York Dolls -- talentless buffoons (except for David Johansen, who has talent)
Boston -- great production of mediocre music; no chops
Kiss --
The Cars -- poseurs
Madonna --
Journey -- just pathetic
Phish -- failed Dead wannabes
David Lee Roth -- OMFG
Velvet Underground -- *ducks*
Geddy Lee -- *ducks*

UNDERRATED
Los Lobos
Cyndi Lauper
Gang of Four
P.i.L
John Hiatt
Psychedelic Furs
New Riders of the Purple Sage
Michelle Branch

Many more on both lists, but I'm off to work now.

[Shogun Gunner]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
OVERRATED
Velvet Underground -- *ducks*

BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/me Throws beer and peanuts....

and Cyndi Lauper underrated????

[Saras]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Later Michael Jackson, I totally agree. However, the early Jackson lived up to the hype and more. There is a reason 'Thriller' is by far the top selling album of all time.

BOO!

[gunkulator]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
OVERRATED
Boston -- great production of mediocre music; no chops

Boston = overplayed. They were really a one-album wonder so it's hard to call them overrated.

The Cars -- poseurs

Again not a hugely influential or popular band by anyone's accounting. What, exactly, do you think they were posing as?

David Lee Roth -- OMFG

And throw the rest of Van Halen in there too.

UNDERRATED
Michelle Branch

Yes! She's the only teen pop singer that I can stomach.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Later Michael Jackson, I totally agree. However, the early Jackson lived up to the hype and more. There is a reason 'Thriller' is by far the top selling album of all time.

I tried making that argument... but she wouldn't buy it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by JohnT
I tried making that argument... but she wouldn't buy it.

Ah, women... can't live with 'em, can't listen to reason .

[-Jrabbit]

Boston and The Cars were both huge-for-a-short-time pop bands. There are probably hundred of bands like this, but both came to mind and made my list.

--Boston had this "Tom Sholz = genius" PR vibe (because Scholz was in fact a really bright guy who created a couple new and unique studio effects in his basement). I really liked the first album (because I'm a production guy), but the undeserved hype they received was unbelievable.

--The Cars were posing as musicians.

* Shogun Gunner Throws beer and peanuts....

--Regarding the Velvets, there is a lot of long-term confusion between their prominence on the NY music/art scene and their actual musical exploits. Sure, there are a couple decent songs. But Lou Reed's early lyrics are laughably childish (by his own admission) and there's little if any musical virtuosity. Pioneers? Sure. But musically strong? Sorry. This band was all hype, and it amazes me that this legend continues.

And yes, Cyndi Lauper is underrated. Very talented woman.

ADD TO OVERRATED LIST
Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
Van Halen (with a nod to the gunkulator)

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
--Regarding the Velvets, there is a lot of long-term confusion between their prominence on the NY music/art scene and their actual musical exploits. Sure, there are a couple decent songs. But Lou Reed's early lyrics are laughably childish (by his own admission) and there's little if any musical virtuosity. Pioneers? Sure. But musically strong? Sorry. This band was all hype, and it amazes me that this legend continues.

That's not the point. Most people wouldn't know a VU song if it bit them on the nose. They can't be overrated if most people have never heard them. As to whether they were the greatest band ever, definately not. But their effect on music was huge. Nearly every single proto-punk band points to VU as their inspiration, and we still hear their influence in music today, forty years later. Regardless of the actual merits of their music (which I happen to like), the impact they made can't be overrated.

[-Jrabbit]

Pathetic buncha heroin addicts.

I think we mostly differ on the definition of "most overrated" -- which you seem to think applies to how much influence the group had. I don't deny they were influential (though I think "nearly every single proto-punk band" is a clear and deliberate overstatement on your part).

I just don't think they were all that good, and have long since tired of people who never heard the Velvet Underground insist this was a great band. It's revisionist history IMHO.

ADD TO OVERRATED LIST
The MC5 -- (for reasons, see Velvet Underground notes)