Happy Atheist Forum

The board seems to have a wide musical pallet, as evidenced by the What are you listening to? (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4763) thread. With that in mind, I'm curious which musicians which generally seem to get loads of praise as being outstanding, in all of your humble opinions, aren't worthy of said praise?

I'll start it off:

Lyricist: Bruce Springsteen. Sure, some of his songs are classics, but I have a few of his albums, and any more than three songs in a row and I find that I skip by him on to someone else.

Drummer: Ringo. Most of his drumbeats seemed pretty basic to me.

Others?

Everyone, charge your flamethrowers!  

Obligatory Michael Jackson vote, here.

Radiohead.  Yeah I know... they get all kinds of critical rave reviews.  I don't care.  I don't think they sound good.  I like one of their songs.  Everything else doesn't make sense to me.  Guess I'm just shallow in my music appreciation.

Underrated... that one-armed drummer from Def Leppard.  Sure, his beats are also pretty basic.  But he's got one arm.  Dammit just one!  Not even one and a half.  Just one opposable thumb in his whole damned body!  One!

And another thread would be "underrated musicians".

It would be easier if I could just name bands.

Michael Jackson
Elton John

Neil Diamond

I just borrowed my wife's car and forgot to take my own CD so I was subjected to Neil Diamond's Greatest hits. What a dirge! I mean FFS Kentucky Woman has got to be one of the worst exploitation songs I've ever heard!  :rant:

Any "African American" band and musician, since the time that Prince didn't call himself Prince any more.

Quote from: "fester30"Radiohead.  Yeah I know... they get all kinds of critical rave reviews.  I don't care.  I don't think they sound good.  I like one of their songs.  Everything else doesn't make sense to me.  Guess I'm just shallow in my music appreciation.

While I'm usually one to run contrary to popular belief, I love Radiohead I can see how they may seem stupid though.
I think I am enamored with Thom Yorke's voice enough to overcome their nonsensical songs.

I don't know how the Beatles got this huge re-ignition of support from the hipster youth. In my opinion, if you weren't there pissing your bloomers over bowl cuts in '64, they aren't worth worshiping. There are so many good bands/artists from the 60's and 70's; to fap over the Beatles into the 2010's makes me sick.

Quote from: "Ulver"

Quote from: "fester30"Radiohead.  Yeah I know... they get all kinds of critical rave reviews.  I don't care.  I don't think they sound good.  I like one of their songs.  Everything else doesn't make sense to me.  Guess I'm just shallow in my music appreciation.

While I'm usually one to run contrary to popular belief, I love Radiohead I can see how they may seem stupid though.
I think I am enamored with Thom Yorke's voice enough to overcome their nonsensical songs.

I don't know how the Beatles got this huge re-ignition of support from the hipster youth. In my opinion, if you weren't there pissing your bloomers over bowl cuts in '64, they aren't worth worshiping. There are so many good bands/artists from the 60's and 70's; to fap over the Beatles into the 2010's makes me sick.

I never really liked The Beatles either...

Bono, need I say more!

  Is he actually a musician?

Quote from: "Tank"Bono, need I say more!

 :blush:

Quote from: "Ulver"

Quote from: "fester30"Radiohead.  Yeah I know... they get all kinds of critical rave reviews.  I don't care.  I don't think they sound good.  I like one of their songs.  Everything else doesn't make sense to me.  Guess I'm just shallow in my music appreciation.

While I'm usually one to run contrary to popular belief, I love Radiohead I can see how they may seem stupid though.
I think I am enamored with Thom Yorke's voice enough to overcome their nonsensical songs.

I don't know how the Beatles got this huge re-ignition of support from the hipster youth. In my opinion, if you weren't there pissing your bloomers over bowl cuts in '64, they aren't worth worshiping. There are so many good bands/artists from the 60's and 70's; to fap over the Beatles into the 2010's makes me sick.

Well, personally, I'd rather fap to the Bangles than to the Beatles.  But that's just me.

Quote from: "Tank"Neil Diamond

I just borrowed my wife's car and forgot to take my own CD so I was subjected to Neil Diamond's Greatest hits. What a dirge! I mean FFS Kentucky Woman has got to be one of the worst exploitation songs I've ever heard!  :rant:

Now that's funny. The first person I thought of when I read the thread title was Neil Diamond. He's my poster child for overrated musicians.

Coldplay
Bon Jovi
Nirvana
Van Halen
Ozzy Osbourne
Jimi Hendrix
Metallica
Queen
Aerosmith

Just some that first came to mind.

I won't name names, but I'm thinking about those with the quirky voices.
One manifestation of this is those that kinda sound like they're gargling oysters.  
One person has success and a whole genre of oyster garglers is borne.

Quote from: "Cecilie"Jimi Hendrix

Honestly, though... watch Battlestar Galactica (or grow up in the 60s) and tell me this doesn't give you chills.  

[youtube:3ti9gr3a]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bng3agUOYiI[/youtube:3ti9gr3a]

Beatles
Rolling Stones
Elvis
Michael Jackson
Elton John
Nirvana
Metallica (I'm gonna get shot now, yes?   )
Pretty much any and every country musician and band

The list goes on and on and on. Judged by the combined quality of music and lyrics in an average song.

Quote from: "fester30"Well, personally, I'd rather fap to the Bangles than to the Beatles.  But that's just me.

Quote from: "Cecilie"Coldplay
Bon Jovi
Nirvana
Van Halen
Ozzy Osbourne
Queen
Aerosmith

Just some that first came to mind.

Yes!

The Beatles had, at most, ten good songs.

Quote from: "Heretical Rants"The Beatles had, at most, ten good songs.

It must be nearly 50 years since the Beatles started, to still have ten songs passing as good, after all that time and change isn't too bad.  Someone else might pick a different ten.  I'd rate more than ten as good and I don't rate many of their contemporaries as better. It would be hard to justly deny their influence on following artists.  The music of today didn't just arrive out nowhere, and the music available in the 60s & 70s  was a lot less diverse.

Endless repetition isn't helpful, I've heard Daniel Barenboim give a lengthy rant on the harm done by the constant unwanted assault of music.  This sort of thing has done the Beatles a lot of harm.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2006/lecture2.shtml (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith2006/lecture2.shtml)

Quote from: "Asmodean"The list goes on and on and on. Judged by the combined quality of music and lyrics in an average song.

Music doesn't always mean anything, well not in words anyway.  
Words can just be a vehicle for the voice as an instrument.
Bach doesn't need words, and if he uses them they tend to be annoyingly religious.

Rating the Stones post 1978 as overrated I wouldn't bother to argue, 73-78 I would, 63-73 I'd have to challenge you to a duel.

Of course I can't think of anything more subjective and I don't want everyone to like what I do anyway.
To end my rant I think I will kill a banana.
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FyMVFf.png&hash=52fd32acb1f39e43fb170d802b06968a0364c6d9)

Quote from: "Asmodean"Metallica (I'm gonna get shot now, yes?   )

I agree with you on Metallica being overrated, because they are. I'm a big Metallica fan and I'll admit it. They're still good though.

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "Cecilie"Jimi Hendrix

Honestly, though... watch Battlestar Galactica (or grow up in the 60s) and tell me this doesn't give you chills.  

[youtube:1qhahtz2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bng3agUOYiI[/youtube:1qhahtz2]

Yes, I love that song and his version of it. But really, Bob Dylan should get some credit for it, yes?

Quote from: "Cecilie"I agree with you on Metallica being overrated, because they are. I'm a big Metallica fan and I'll admit it. They're still good though.

Precisely.

Quote from: "Cecilie"Yes, I love that song and his version of it. But really, Bob Dylan should get some credit for it, yes?

Oh, of course. I just prefer this version better.  

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "Cecilie"Yes, I love that song and his version of it. But really, Bob Dylan should get some credit for it, yes?

Oh, of course. I just prefer this version better.  

Me too. The main reason I say he's overrated though, is that people say he's the best guitarist ever without having listened to his music at all. People seem to do that a lot...

Also, I forgot to mention Guns N' Roses. Slash is probably the most overrated guitarist of all.

Quote from: "Cecilie"

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"

Quote from: "Cecilie"Yes, I love that song and his version of it. But really, Bob Dylan should get some credit for it, yes?

Oh, of course. I just prefer this version better.  

Me too. The main reason I say he's overrated though, is that people say he's the best guitarist ever without having listened to his music at all. People seem to do that a lot...

Also, I forgot to mention Guns N' Roses. Slash is probably the most overrated guitarist of all.

+1 on both accounts.

Quote from: "The Magic Pudding"

Quote from: "Heretical Rants"The Beatles had, at most, ten good songs.

The music of today didn't just arrive out nowhere, and the music available in the 60s & 70s  was a lot less diverse.

I won't deny their influence on their genre.

Oh! KISS.

Any boy "band" and any group that ever labeled itself as "nu-metal"....okay maybe that's less about overrated things and rather things Squid despises...

Quote from: "Squid"Any boy "band" and any group that ever labeled itself as "nu-metal"....okay maybe that's less about overrated things and rather things Squid despises...

I second this. As well as any metalcore band.

iron maiden
yes ok they're good but EVERY time they have a new album its always voted "best album of the year" even if it's just "eh"

This is such a negative thread, I refuse to participate.

Quote from: "MariaEvri"iron maiden
yes ok they're good but EVERY time they have a new album its always voted "best album of the year" even if it's just "eh"

I've noticed the same thing. I didn't think 'The Final Frontier' was a very good album, yet it got good reviews.

Quote from: "Stevil"This is such a negative thread, I refuse to participate.

Useless post.

Quote from: "Cecilie"

Quote from: "MariaEvri"iron maiden
yes ok they're good but EVERY time they have a new album its always voted "best album of the year" even if it's just "eh"

I've noticed the same thing. I didn't think 'The Final Frontier' was a very good album, yet it got good reviews.

I've been a fan of theirs for over 20 years. I think The Final Frontier is the best album they have ever put out. They are much less constrained, much less by the rock formula and have introduced many new and innovative ideas on this album. But to me it is well balance, they haven't gone over the top.
Starblind is the best song I have ever heard. To me it redefines music. Actually I just think any new music I have heard since that song has just sounded formulaic standard stuff. I know lots of people don't like that song but to me it is divine. I also love the drumming on the Talisman but hate the intro. I was able to shave off the intro on my mp3 which saved the song for me.

Quote from: "Cecilie"

Quote from: "Stevil"This is such a negative thread, I refuse to participate.

Useless post.

This is such a negative thread, music is subjective, I don't understand the value in putting bands or musicians down. I mean, if you are not a fan then of course you don't like the music, if you can't appreciate the music then how can you give valuable comments on it? It would be like me trying to critique rap or house or hip hop. Anyway, to each their own.

Quote from: "Stevil"

Quote from: "Cecilie"

Quote from: "MariaEvri"iron maiden
yes ok they're good but EVERY time they have a new album its always voted "best album of the year" even if it's just "eh"

I've noticed the same thing. I didn't think 'The Final Frontier' was a very good album, yet it got good reviews.

I've been a fan of theirs for over 20 years. I think The Final Frontier is the best album they have ever put out. They are much less constrained, much less by the rock formula and have introduced many new and innovative ideas on this album. But to me it is well balance, they haven't gone over the top.
Starblind is the best song I have ever heard. To me it redefines music. Actually I just think any new music I have heard since that song has just sounded formulaic standard stuff. I know lots of people don't like that song but to me it is divine. I also love the drumming on the Talisman but hate the intro. I was able to shave off the intro on my mp3 which saved the song for me.

My main problem with 'The Final Frontier' is the vocals. To me, they're painful to listen to and it ruins the entire album for me.

Quote from: "Stevil"

Quote from: "Cecilie"

Quote from: "Stevil"This is such a negative thread, I refuse to participate.

Useless post.

This is such a negative thread, music is subjective, I don't understand the value in putting bands or musicians down. I mean, if you are not a fan then of course you don't like the music, if you can't appreciate the music then how can you give valuable comments on it? It would be like me trying to critique rap or house or hip hop. Anyway, to each their own.

I don't like hip hop or rap either, so I didn't comment on it. And like I said in an earlier post, I like Metallica, they're one of my favorite bands, but I consider them to be overrated.

Music is subjective, yes, but you can't possibly say that Ke$ha's song 'Tik Tok' is better than 'Stairway To Heaven'.

Quote from: "Stevil"This is such a negative thread, music is subjective, I don't understand the value in putting bands or musicians down. I mean, if you are not a fan then of course you don't like the music, if you can't appreciate the music then how can you give valuable comments on it? It would be like me trying to critique rap or house or hip hop. Anyway, to each their own.

I like a bunch of stuff that I'm pretty sure is crap and that a lot of people don't like and/or look down on. It doesn't matter to me if people put down the stuff I like or make fun of it, I'll still like it and say I like it. Because art is subjective, people putting it down is equally subjective, so it shouldn't really matter to people.

Also, I do not think it's impossible to like something that didn't take too much skill to produce just as I think it's possible to not like something that can't be created without years of training and practice. So while I don't really have anything to add for overrated musicians, I do like reading what other people think about some musicians.

^I find myself apologizing for liking bands a LOT. My best example is Vampire Weekend (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.free-emoticons.co.uk%2Femoticons%2FEmbarrassed%2Fembarrassed016.gif&hash=5b7552755fa4dbbaab30b7938b337b8c358da4af)

Quote from: "Cecilie"My main problem with 'The Final Frontier' is the vocals. To me, they're painful to listen to and it ruins the entire album for me.

Fair enough call.

There are a few issues with the vocals and I can see how it irritates.
The layering has not been done well at all. It makes Bruce sound strained, especially on the title track. There is also an issue with a bit of distortion on Bruce's voice, especially on the title track again, everytime he says Final Frontier which is alot the F's sound like he is spraying sputum.
Sometimes he sounds amazing, like on Wild Wind, or the intro to the Man who would be King. At first I thought old Bruce was struggling to hit the notes, but now I really do think it is a production issue. Regardless, it is part of the final product. I've got used to it and love the music.

Quote from: "Cecilie"

Quote from: "Stevil"This is such a negative thread, music is subjective, I don't understand the value in putting bands or musicians down. I mean, if you are not a fan then of course you don't like the music, if you can't appreciate the music then how can you give valuable comments on it? It would be like me trying to critique rap or house or hip hop. Anyway, to each their own.

I don't like hip hop or rap either, so I didn't comment on it. And like I said in an earlier post, I like Metallica, they're one of my favorite bands, but I consider them to be overrated.

Music is subjective, yes, but you can't possibly say that Ke$ha's song 'Tik Tok' is better than 'Stairway To Heaven'.

I live somewhat in a cave. I always put my iPod on rather than listen to radio so am unaware of many mainstream songs. Never heard of 'Tik Tok'
I could easily say that 'Stairway To Heaven' is overrated. It is an extremely easy song to play on guitar and very repeatative. But if people rate it then who am I to say they are wrong?
Metallica, overrated? They have won over mainstream fans, not just the metal population. It's funny when you think about fans of music, there tends to be one album, one song even that catches them, then they are devoted for life. For Metallica it was the black album. Before then they were reletively unknown. But now alot of people say that MOP or AJFA is their favourite, these are people that would never have let Metal in the front door otherwise. But for about 20 years Metallica put out Hard Rock and still these "metal" fans would sing their praises. After a big break they put out the horrible St Anger, Still get praise. They put out the brickwalled and distorted Deaf Magnetic and their producer wins the production award, the album sells by the millions and the fans that are shit on by the production quality, literally take joy in its warmth as it trickles down their bodies. Who am I to say they are wrong? How can it possibly be overrated, when people rate it? They have their subjective opinion, I have mine. All in all the Loudness War is a killer of potentially great music. It especially kills the drums!

When I look at Susan Boyle's experience. I feel that if she weren't on TV, If she hadn't gone viral on YouTube and she put out the same album, she would have sold virtually no albums. But as it is she has almost sold as much as Iron Maiden have done in their 30 years.

But music isn't just about music, it is also marketing and culture and timing. It presents an image that people want to be associated with. I am not sure you can try and seperate the music from the rest of it and then state that it is overrated.

Quote from: "Stevil"Fair enough call.

There are a few issues with the vocals and I can see how it irritates.
The layering has not been done well at all. It makes Bruce sound strained, especially on the title track. There is also an issue with a bit of distortion on Bruce's voice, especially on the title track again, everytime he says Final Frontier which is alot the F's sound like he is spraying sputum.
Sometimes he sounds amazing, like on Wild Wind, or the intro to the Man who would be King. At first I thought old Bruce was struggling to hit the notes, but now I really do think it is a production issue. Regardless, it is part of the final product. I've got used to it and love the music.

'When The Wild Wind Blows' is a good song and probably the only one I'll listen to on that album. Also, I don't think it's the production that screwed up his voice, I've heard him live, he's just incapable of hitting those high notes which there are a lot of in their music. Never the less, he used to be a good singer.

Quote from: "Stevil"I live somewhat in a cave. I always put my iPod on rather than listen to radio so am unaware of many mainstream songs. Never heard of 'Tik Tok'
I could easily say that 'Stairway To Heaven' is overrated. It is an extremely easy song to play on guitar and very repeatative. But if people rate it then who am I to say they are wrong?

I completely agree that 'Stairway To Heaven' is very overrated, it was just used as an example. I still like it though, but it's not my favorite Zeppelin song.

Quote from: "Stevil"Metallica, overrated? They have won over mainstream fans, not just the metal population. It's funny when you think about fans of music, there tends to be one album, one song even that catches them, then they are devoted for life. For Metallica it was the black album. Before then they were reletively unknown. But now alot of people say that MOP or AJFA is their favourite, these are people that would never have let Metal in the front door otherwise. But for about 20 years Metallica put out Hard Rock and still these "metal" fans would sing their praises. After a big break they put out the horrible St Anger, Still get praise. They put out the brickwalled and distorted Deaf Magnetic and their producer wins the production award, the album sells by the millions and the fans that are shit on by the production quality, literally take joy in its warmth as it trickles down their bodies. Who am I to say they are wrong? How can it possibly be overrated, when people rate it? They have their subjective opinion, I have mine. All in all the Loudness War is a killer of potentially great music. It especially kills the drums!

Metallica was the first metal band I listened to and although their self-titled album was the first one by them I bought (I did buy RTL later that same day :blush:

Quote from: "Stevil"This is such a negative thread, I refuse to participate.

hey just fans telling their opinions. I commented about Iron maiden, that doesn't mean I dont like them...

Quote from: "MariaEvri"

Quote from: "Stevil"This is such a negative thread, I refuse to participate.

hey just fans telling their opinions. I commented about Iron maiden, that doesn't mean I dont like them...

I have no issues with you or your post. I just don't see much value in a whole thread focused on beratting people's art.
I actually think the vast majority of metal music is underrated, Maiden included. They get no airtime, no MTV, mainstream people don't get much chance to acquire a taste. Same goes for most non popular music genres. Radio and TV generally only cater for the mainstream. I know lots of people that instantly turn their nose up at the mention of Metal, but I am absolutely sure they would love some of it if they gave it a chance.

All music is an aquired taste.

Quote from: "Stevil"All music is an aquired taste.

Yup. I absolutely hated all rap until I was forced to listen to several hours of relatively crappy rap(which I still don't like--dem kids got no taste), and now I like several kinds of rap very much.
For example,
Something mainstream(ish):
[youtube:19p73ahs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd_W_x3nclY[/youtube:19p73ahs]
Japanese pop rap:
[youtube:19p73ahs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoS7F1K02d8[/youtube:19p73ahs][youtube:19p73ahs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mogBZZCJRao[/youtube:19p73ahs]
Australian hip hop:
[youtube:19p73ahs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJf4_hsVEXE[/youtube:19p73ahs]
Something a bit more obscure (melodic instrumental hiphop from Japan featuring some random rap artists, aka Ceschi and 豊川容子):
[youtube:19p73ahs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzwQP3oekW4[/youtube:19p73ahs][youtube:19p73ahs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS-TkVUQ-EA[/youtube:19p73ahs]

Bob Dylan. He's even worse than the Beatles as far as over-rating goes.

Quote from: StevilThis is such a negative thread, I refuse to participate.

I refuse to participate in your mum.