• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Most over-rated and under-rated bands

Overrated -- Madonna

Underrated -- Anyone with a scintilla of talent who is not in the R&R Hall of Fame.
 
Ok, very specific: Bands directly influenced by The Velvet Underground

Underrated: Luna, Galaxie 500, Feelies (80s), The Clean (and a lot of other New Zealand bands...the chills, etc), Yo La Tengo, and many others

Overrated: Pavement.
 
Noborigama said:
Yes I attended many shows at First Ave, Goofy's Upper Deck, Uptown Theater, etc. I saw Husker Many Many Times, actually met and talked with Bob and Grant on more than a few occasions back in the day. I know La Mont Cranston Band but never saw them. My icon on AK is The Replacements and just listened to "Let it Be", love that album!. Did you ever hear The Urban Guerilla's? Oh and of course I saw Prince a couple of times with The Time. And yes The Chameleon I am talking about is not Chameleons UK. I believe Yanni was in the Chameleons I am talking about.

Underated= The Jam
Overated= Jack Johnson
Click to expand...

Never heard of the Urban Guerillas. Urban Verbs I really liked (check "Subways" out). I must admit a bit of envy on seeing Husker so many times. Thanks for the heads up. I agree with your ratings, I love The Jam, and Jack Johnson does not float my boat.
 
I, too, was tricked into seeing a Buffet show back in the 90s with the "it's like a Dead show" ruse. Don't fall for it, folks.

I have five copies of the "Sticky Fingers" LP, but I'm in agreement that the Stones are overrated. However, they were not overrated until just recently when Scorcese decided to do "Shine a Light." Don't get me wrong, I love Scorcese, but the second he deems a band worthy of his touch, they become overrated (see, e.g., Dylan and The Band).

Don't argue with me here, it's axiomatic.
 
Also, reminded by reading all of this...I think in my opinion the most overrated band of the last 20 years is Nirvana. Grunge was nothing more than a 70's throwback, without the bombast of Zeppelin or the thought/scope of Pink Floyd or the swagger of T Rex or the raw power of later-era The Who or the feeling of Big Star, or social consciousness Marley. A flannel shirt and sludgy guitar riffs and teen-angst at age 27..I just don't get it. And the Pixies did it better, earlier.

I've been waiting a long time to say that. Hope I didn't step on toes or feelings!
 
eww. Jack Johnson. Got stuck in a van for 3 hours listening to him once. Like an open-mic night that somehow got broadcast all over the world. Yawn.
 
I think that throughout this thread it's important to remember that the label 'Overrated' isn't a slam at the band per se', but more at the hype that surrounds them, often not even of their doing.

Taking the Grateful Dead as an example, it's not a critique of the wealth of their contribution to music so much as a critique of their following. Although many people have followed the Dead for genuine reasons, there's a lot of people who did it just to be a part of something...sort of like lemmings. Those are the people who tip the scales over to the 'overrated' side.

It's like someone saying "Clapton is God". WHY is Clapton God? Do they even know? Can they justify their statement? Most of the time, no. There's a red flag for overrated status.

REM was a nice little alt rock band out of Athens, Georgia until someone got the idea that Michael Stipe was some sort of visionary. Maybe it was Michael Stipe who got that idea. Regardless, though a wonderful band with great songs, they became overrated. In other words, their hype factor was writing checks that their talent level couldn't cash. It's not totally their fault. Sometimes the hype factor is so large that *no one* can measure up.

There's sort of a bell curve in the quality of output from most artists. They start out small, there's a big rise in talent level and output, then with a rise in popularity, that talent level starts to wane. Eventually, they run out of new material or fresh ideas or whatever it is, usually before the popularity wanes. Most end up back where they started.
 
Sansui Louie you said it all. Lets hope everyone reads your post before they start cutting down artists. I bow to your knowledge, oh Wise One.
 
I have to agree with the first post for the underrated, Southern Culture on the Skids. Truly awesome live show, and good studio stuff as well. Also, Mike Doughty (of Soul Coughing fame), My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, All underrated. Overated... it goes with out saying. I think everyone has done a great job of calling out the bubble gum pop, punk, and rock bands that have ridden the coat tails of critics and the general lack of taste of the general populus. American Idol is a number one show... what does that say for this countries musical decision making ability?
 
My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses..those are two different bands? Just Kidding! And maybe a bit inside if you haven't heard them. I love them both, and both are underrated. MMJ live is a spectacle of hair and guitar that I wasn't expecting.
 
Man ,I am an idiot for not including this quote earlier. I may not have it exact, but it is by H. L. Menken
"No One ever went broke under-estimating the tastes of the American public"
 
Nice zinger JohnVF! you are right though... i knew i should have slipped Tony Joe White in between the two bands for a little bit of underrated buffer! amen on the Menken Quote as well. mine was sort of a paraphase of Doug Stanhope.
 
This is a fun thread that of course can step on others toe's or opinions. Of course you have to keep it lite. Obviously most here would look at American Idol with disdain. But there are those who are Jazz or Mozart lovers who would also not appreciate the Butthole Surfers. The more open your mind is the more music you may find that intrigues you. I can't possibly own everything I like. Most pop to me is overated but some is fun for a week or two. The classics are classics to me and couldn't be overated, maybe overplayed. Too much is under appreciated but I'll keep listening.
 
Overrated: Diana Krall.

Every time I look at high-end speakers, no matter where, they put her on. I get it, she's well recorded. So is The Zombies' Odyssey and Oracle so bring it on!
 
I should have said:

Underrated: Nina Simone

Overrated: Diana Krall.

A woman and a piano can be world's apart.
 
clydeselsor said:
Way way way over rated: The Greatful Dead!!!!
Click to expand...

For a lond time, I agreed with that. But listen to Live at the Cow Palace - New Year's Eve 1976 before once and for all consigning them to "overrated" purgatory. They didn't noodle and screw around excessively and Donna Godchaux behaved herself. The result is a stunning transformation into a band that could pump out rock n roll as complex as a Bach cantata with a driving beat and a solid bottom. Jaw-dropping. You'd have to be, well...dead...to remain still listening to that recording.
 
anytune said:
Overrated: Prince - can't sing
Underrated: Moody Blues - most deserving of Hall of Fame consideration
Click to expand...

Political implications aside, I think you'll find that Rush Limbaugh agrees with you on that score. :D He once devoted an entire program to a huge rant about how the Ramones got into the Hall of Fame but the Moody Blues didn't. Seeing your reply just made that come to mind.
 
The Moody Blue's "Isn't life Strange" should be played once a day to keep one's sanity. I freakin' love love love that song.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom