The Replacement's whole career must permanently reside in my 'critical blindspots'. Elvis Costello is an overrated wank in my opinion, although I do enjoy more than a handful of his songs. But unfortunately he has made much more than a handful of songs.

I also find Mozart and Beethoven to be incredibly overrated. I find that their sonic palette doesn't really expand when you observe their discography as a whole, relying too heavily on string instruments and counter-melodic progressions. Also, their heavy reliance upon cover bands to do their material strikes me as healf-hearted. Seems something of a hack job to me.

But who am I to judge!?

quote:

Originally posted by SanchoPanza!!!:
I also find Mozart and Beethoven to be incredibly overrated. I find that their sonic palette doesn't really expand when you observe their discography as a whole, relying too heavily on string instruments and counter-melodic progressions. Also, their heavy reliance upon cover bands to do their material strikes me as healf-hearted. Seems something of a hack job to me.

To say nothing of all the commercials featuring their music.

Sellouts.

Don't even get me started on Bach.

Now Playing: "Confirmation" Charlie Parker The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve

One for underrated: Augie March

They're an Australian band who make English-folk-influenced dream-pop (best description I could come up with off the cuff, anyway; they're sort of hard to place). To my knowledge, they never really broke through internationally. Probably worth checking for people who like the Decemberists, if you can find one of their CDs on import.

quote:

Don't even get me started on Bach.

Ugh, tell me about it. Relying on recycled Baroque-inflected pop hooks for his whole career...

Underrated:

A five-piece out of England called Radiohead! They've been quitely churning out interesting and experimental rock records since the mid-90s. I would start off with their humble Britpop beginnings before going into their sadly unheralded electronica and jazz-inflected rock arrangements of their later work.

Did I miss a memo or something? I guess I should say the Beatles were underrated?

quote:

Originally posted by Biggles:
One for underrated: Augie March

Probably worth checking for people who like the Decemberists, if you can find one of their CDs on import.

"Strange Bird" got a US release last fall; I picked my copy up at a local record shoppe.


.

quote:

Originally posted by flem_snopes:
"Strange Bird" got a US release last fall; I picked my copy up at a local record shoppe.


.

Cool. What did you think?

quote:

Originally posted by SanchoPanza!!!:
I know they may not have a huge appeal to a wide audience, but one band I think has been overrated for several years is Tindersticks. Their first two albums are phenomenal. No one else remotely sounds like these guys. And all their albums after their first two have been solid refinements on their unique sound.

I find Elvis Costello overrated. Dated music, annoying voice, overwrought and irritating lyrics. The only thing rewarding about Costello to me is the occasional good hook or melody, which he often drags down with his bad vocal chops. Yech.

Ahh, Tindersticks! One of the most consistenty brilliant bands I know. 'My Sister' is in my top 10 favourite songs...the narrative is one of the bleakest things I've ever heard, but because of the humour and humanity, it has a special place in my heart. Must be something to do with Northern England...

the music aswell...it's restrained, even in the most potent Tindersticks songs ('Tiny Tears', Travelling Light', etc), unlike other many other bands (with various exceptions, such as the Red House Painters) their songs always seem like they are made by real people in real situations.

quote:

one band I think has been overrated for several years is Tindersticks

judging from the rest of your post I take it you mean underrated...right?


also, Do Make Say Think always get overlooked in favour of the likes of GY!BE and Mogwai, even though they are consistently brilliant.

quote:

judging from the rest of your post I take it you mean underrated...right?

Whoops! Thanks, there. Not exactly a good mistake to make.

Tindersticks is awesome. I agree with everything you said. I just recently bought Waiting for the Moon, and while it may not be as incredible as their earlier work, it's still very, very good. Especially that first song...those opening lines kill me every time I hear them.

A while back I downloaded their cover of Pavement's "Here"...I can't say I liked it all that much. Tindersticks need more meat on their arrangements than from something off of S&E...but it was still kind of interesting in a way. It's also a bit ironic hearing Stuart Staples sing those first lines...

Tindersticks are wonderful! I too blanched when I first read that "overrated",. so I am glad we clarified that. I have trouble distinguishing their albums, because their overall sound is very distinctive but unifrom, but I think the first two, "Tindersticks" and "Tindersticks II" remain my favourites. That's not to suggest their music hasd declined over the years, only that those were the first I bought and so the first that made me fall in love with their haunting, unsettling sound.

I was wondering if any of you had any thoughts on Frank Black's solo work. As I have stated in other threads, the Pixies are pretty much my favorite band, and I am surprised at how many Pixies fans are not fans of Frank's post-Pixies work. For me, he is definitely an underrated artist. I'm not sure if it's a case of people not listening to him, or just not liking what they hear. Any thoughts?

I am a huge Pixies fan but have never been much of a fan of Black's solo stuff. But I don't know if this is based on an aesthetic assessment or a historical one.

I bought Surfer Rosa (on vinyl!!) when it first came out and was totally blown away. Then I went back to the Come on Pilgrim EP. The anticipation for Doolittle was extraordinary and it didn't disappoint -- it remains one of my top ten records of all time. Bossanova initially sounded disappointing but soon became another favourite. Only Trompe Le Monde seemed less than extraordinary. I saw Pixies live twice in their heyday.

So then when they broke up, although Frank Black's initial releases were good enough, they seemed to suffer by comparison with one of the greatest and most consistent bodies of work in indie rock history. They just seemed to lack the intensity, the Beach Boys-on-amphetamines pop perfection, the terrifying, exhiliarating creepy menace of Pixies' work.

I think if I was just getting acquainted with Pixies and Black now, and buying all their stuff together, I might have a slightly different reaction to Black's work. I am sure I would still find Pixies' work stronger, but I might not feel that Black's stuff seems to suffer so much by comparison.

Well peewee, I won't argue with you about the brilliance of the Pixies. Certainly Frank's solo work lacks the intensity and creepiness that the Pixies had, but I think that's part of the point. While Bossanova and Trompe le Monde were a bit disappointing next to Surfer Rosa and Doolitte, (which I agree is one of the ten best records EVER!) the Pixies quit while they were still in their prime. I think this is why Frank's solo work is often unfairly compared to his work with the Pixies. Look at his reviews. Almost every one of them mentions him as the guy who "broke up the Pixies via fax machine in 1993".
I just find it interesting that so many of the people who love the quirkiness and intelligence behind the songs of the Pixies fail to give adequate time to the solo work of the artist who wrote all but 2 or 3 of their songs. Yes, in many ways Frank's solo work, (especially his FB & the Catholics records, and the upcoming Honeycomb) is more "conventional" than the Pixies, the songs are still outstanding. I think they just take a little more time to reveal their charm when they aren't surrounded by all of the little things that made the Pixies so unique.
I probably won't make many friends by saying this, but I'd take Teenager of the Year or Dog in the Sand over Trompe le Monde any day. I'd recommend them not just to any Pixies fan, but to anyone who loves intelligent, catchy, fun, thought-provoking music.

I do have several FB records. I really should go back to them now and see whether they appeal to me more now with time having passed.

I'm thinking of auctioning my original sweat-stained, snot-soaked, beer-soaked, filth-encrusted Velouria t-shirt on e-Bay. What do you think I would get for it???

quote:

Originally posted by Peewee:
Tindersticks are wonderful! I too blanched when I first read that "overrated",. so I am glad we clarified that. I have trouble distinguishing their albums, because their overall sound is very distinctive but unifrom, but I think the first two, "Tindersticks" and "Tindersticks II" remain my favourites. That's not to suggest their music hasd declined over the years, only that those were the first I bought and so the first that made me fall in love with their haunting, unsettling sound.

I also love me some Tindersticks.

For those who haven't heard, the first five records (including the Nenette et Boni sountrack, have been reissued and remastered in the UK with bonus discs. I highly recommend all of them, and there's plenty of cool rarities and b-sides on the bonus discs (including the cover of "Here"). Stuart Staples' first solo record is due in the summer or fall, according to recent press.

I listened again to Tindersticks II last night (one of the nice things about these boards is being reminded to go back and listen to some old stuff) and it cast its magical spell immediately.

Bootsy Collins certainly doesnt get as much acclaim as he should.If he does i have not heard much of it.From being a member of the JB's, James Brown's backing band to his time in the parliament.He is kind of crazy and very unique.He also is one of the best bass players...and would be a staple in any "funk" all star band.

"Stretchin out In Bootsy's Rubber Band" is one of my favorite albums of the 70's and 'I'd Rather be with you' is easily one of my favorite songs ever.Almost all of his solo work is exceptional.

Overrated- Wilco (although I'm a fan), Radiohead (same)

Underrated- Billy Corgan (persona is talked about more than his music), British Sea Power, and Swerdriver

I really like the band Franz Ferdinand, and I play their CD often. They certainly seemed to be the critics' darlings in 2004; most reviews of their CD were overwhelmingly positive. Overrrated? I'm not sure. However, I was quite disturbed to learn that their song "Take Me Out" will be featured on the latest Kidz Bop CD. Does this mean the members of Franz Ferdinand are "sell-outs"?

For those of you unfamiliar with Kidz Bob CDs, let me explain. They are collections of "popular," contemporary tunes sung by children for children. They are big money makers! My daughters love them.

On the Kidz Bop 7 CD, the Modest Mouse song "Float On" appeared. It was kind of strange/funny to hear a chorus of children with gleeful voices singing the following lyric: "I backed my car into a cop car the other day / Well, he just drove off, sometimes life's okay"

Did I lose respect for Modest Mouse. Yes, I did. And another thing: I cannot listen to the Modest Mouse version of "Float On" in the same way again. The Kidz Bop version has forever tainted it.

Are Modest Mouse and Franz Ferdinand overrated? WHY would these critically acclaimed bands with loyal fanbases give the okay for their songs to appear on Kidz Bop? Do they want/need the money that bad? Am I overreacting?