Most overrated band

[cgallery]

While not a "band" ... my vote goes to Sting, I just can't see what has made him so popular. His music and voice is some of the most awful stuff I've ever heard.

Okay w/ the Police. Solo career nothing memorable.

[cgallery]

I honestly believe that the Grateful Dead were vastly overrated.

I know this is going to bother some people, and I apologize.

[stormdog74]

I have to chime in about Dylan's post Blood on the Tracks - yes, he went down quite a bit (although there were good albums from time to time: Desire, Infidels, and Oh Mercy), but his last three are among his best.

[Knottscott]

I honestly believe that the Grateful Dead were vastly overrated.

I know this is going to bother some people, and I apologize.

Yeah...musically the "Dead" were "darn near". They couldn't play their way out of wet paper bag, but culturally and psychologically...what other band could take you where they did? They were more about a "groove" than a musical score, and were pretty good at that. Maybe that's why our local philharmonic doesn't have a Dead night! The Boston Pops plays the Grateful Dead! 101 Strings version of "Truckin off to ..." (okay...maybe they were more about a "grave" than a "groove" but it was the 60's! )

Re: Sting and The Police...you mean Roxanne wasn't one of the greatest musical epics of our lifetime?

[Russianwolf]

Some of you feel that bands I love listening to are over-rated, and that bands I can't stand are above par. I'll just say that this is totally up to each individuals taste.

There are groups (bands or solo artist) that I like one or two songs and thing some of their most popular work is crap. There are others that I tend to go with popular opinion on which songs are good and which aren't. Some I just can't stand at all but others enjoy immensely. Then there are a couple I like that never got a popular track.

So what is the definition of over-rated?

Van Halen I think is okay. Sammy Hagar I think is awesome. Van Halen with Sammy was better than the other two incarnations, but still not up to what Hagar is able to do on his own.

The Stones. A couple songs are good. Most are crap. And I can't stand looking at the band members.

Kiss. I was raised on this. I love some of the early songs. Don't recall much after the 70's. Gene Simmons is one **** of a business man though.

REM. immediate channel changer for me.

[crokett]

Hmm... I'd have to say the Grateful Dead, Zepplin and Rush were all overrated, as were most of the 80s hair bands. Guns N Roses was really good, too bad they aren't still making music.

Have to disagree on Van Halen. It is really the only band I still listen to - one of my workout soundtracks is all Van Halen. Once you get past their cover songs Eddie did some awesome work on guitar.

[cgallery]

Re: Sting and The Police...you mean Roxanne wasn't one of the greatest musical epics of our lifetime?

The Police were great. In spite of Sting.

The guy has an ego you can't fit in a stadium.

[drumpriest]

Shouldn't we rename this thread to "name a popular band that you hate"?

[mschrank]

I honestly believe that the Grateful Dead were vastly overrated.

ooh, that hurts

[MilDoc]

You know, I have a different slant i guess. there are very few groups i think really stood the test of time, but with most groups there are several songs I really like, while the rest (to me) was cr*p. The Doors, Cream Iron Butterfly - some good stuff, rest ... Journey same. U2 same. Police same. Boston same. I can't off the top of my head think of any group I'd rate superior, nor any I'd rate as overrated. I guess I pick and choose.

Thank God for the ability to record my own CDs!

[gerti]

I am with MilDoc, they all had their interesting sides. For the most part I can't stand the Stones (especially looking at them), but the "Gimme shelter" intro (as long as Jagger keeps quiet) gives me goose bumps every time. I have a soft spot for "Angie" as well.

Led Zeppelin doesn't do much for me either, but you can't ignore their very innovative work, and Kashmir is just awesome. And unless you just plain have heard it too much (and I suspect most people growing up in the US did) Stairway to Heaven is special.

Don't know much about Kiss, and I just don't get why Gene Simmons keeps insisting his name is Mindy (you know... I am Mindy!). But everybody raves about their shows.

Journey churned out a lot of good music, got to respect that. I like most of their stuff, again I grew up in Germany where they did not get that much airplay.

Never cared for Dylan, don't think he can sing (long time ago, middle of the night some local radio station played some live cut from a local concert. Guess the whole band was drunk. Dylan sang, and you thought it can't get worse than that. Then the backing vocals started...) Great song writer though!

U2: Their early stuff was inspired. Then they got famous, and I think boring. But their stuff works for a lot of people, so you can't call them overrated.

Now if you were to ask for underrated bands, there are a few that come to mind:

There was this swedish band of teens (and early twens) named ÄNGLAGÅRD. Sadly they only recorded two albums. They have that track named Jordrök. First time you hear it you'll just go what the heck was that? But after 3 or 4 times it REALLY gets to you. Jethro Tull meets King Crimson with a pinch of early Genesis.

Then there is Transatlantic, sort of a project band made up from members of other bands. Their 'Duel with the devil' is a 20+ minute epic that is just awesome, so is most of their other stuff.

[billwmeyer]

Iron Butterfly

Mildoc,

Iron Butterfly was great! (on about 2 songs). Ena Gadda Davita (sp) was the first 8 track I bought. I don't know how many tapes I wore out! Creme's White Room was special too.
Bill

[JTimmons]

Seeing someone say Zeppelin was overrated just hurts my eyes, but then again everyone has their tastes. If they started playing late 60's and 70's rock on the radio and nothing else I'd love it.

Stairway to Heaven and Kashmir are both #1 in my book and a close second has to be Hotel Californina from the Eagles. Hendrix was pretty d@mn awesome. AC/DC, that was rock back then, I could go on, but this isn't who you like thread, it's a most overrated and I'd have to agree Bon Jovi would be #1, his name alone says it all!!!

ROD STEWART!!!! - (Sam needs to add the throw-up smiley so I can insert it here)

[bluzcat]

Led Zeppelin may or may not be overrated, but they are theives. The first two albums were filled with stolen tunes. Don't get me wrong, they rocked up these songs and made them radio friendly, but give credit where credit is due. I am a musician myself, and I know how much effort goes into writing a song. Stevie Ray Vaughan went out of his way to credit the old blues guys for his career. I know this is a little off-topic, but I think Robert (I need a throat trans) Plant should spend the rest of his life washing dishes.

Back on topic:

Nirvana. To hear Kurt Cobain's name in the same sentence as Jimi Hendrix makes me cringe.

KISS. I understand their live shows were an event, but musically, not much talent. I agree Gene Simmons is a smart businessman.

Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks. Not sure what it is about them, I just always change the station when they come on.

Corporate Country. Toby, Shania, Garth, the list goes on.

The thing that bugs me the most is that technology has advanced to the point were people can listen to digital quality music anywhere, and what do they listen to? American Idol, Brittany Spears, Justin Timberlake, etc. Music is becoming like everything else in American society; disposable. I have a rather large collection of vinyl records (I'm 40 years old), and I still play some every now and then, just to remind myself whta it was like in the hay day of rock.

Now on to subject of Van Halen being overrated. The David Lee Roth era of VH was nothing short of magic. Those first 6 albums were "lightning in a bottle". I was 11 in 1978, but I remember what it was like. Eddie Van Halen single-handedly saved the world from DISCO.

This thread would be a lot easier if it were Most Underrated Bands.

[BigguyZ]

Well I first need to defend U2. A couple people have said they are a one-note band and are narrow in range. You may not like them, but listen to Boy, then Achtung Baby, then Pop. Now tell me they have no range. And Bono's vocals are some of the best in music. OK, rant off.

Now for me, I can't stand Coldplay. Then again, most of today's music is crap (or at least pop music).