The Most Overrated Rock Musicians
So after watching the Super Bowl (GO STEELERS!), I came up with an idea for a post. The halftime show with Bruce Springsteen inspired me to make a list of the rock musicians that I feel are the most overrated. I look forward to the angry responses and debates that this is sure to bring on...
(in no particular order)
-Bruce Springsteen. Let me start with "The Boss." His rediculously silly halftime show aside ("I'm going to Disneyland!" ????), Springsteen has really only had a few good songs. I'm not a fan, but I can appreciate "Born to Run" and "Born in the USA." I don't think the guy can sing at all. His stage antics have become stale and stereotypical (like the slide toward the camera). The E Street Band are the only thing keeping him afloat. He disguises his lack of musical talent by surrounding himself with some of the best musicians he can find. Not a terrible songwriter, but "The Boss" needs to quit.
-Led Zeppelin. I argue with people about this one probably more than any other band. Yes, Zeppelin are great musicians who paved the way for many bands after them. But come on, you cannot tell me that Robert Plant didn't sound like he was masterbating while singing. His voice is annoying and screechy, and he moans and "oohs" into the mic like he's trying to get us into bed. Sure, they have a number of great songs, but in my opinion, they get WAY too much credit for being forefathers of rock/metal while bands like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Steppenwolf get shafted.
-The Doors. A poet Jim Morrison was. A great singer he was not. He sounded so trashed all the time that his words came out incoherent. He sounded bored when he wasn't trashed. I think this band is a prime example of excess destroying what could have been a great band. Too much drugs and booze. Don't believe me? Listen to the vocal range (or lack there of) in "Light My Fire." Besides the emphasis on "fire" on the chorus, his voice shows no emotion in a song that is all about emotion.
-U2. Okay, I like U2, but they are getting rediculous. "One, two, three, catorce! (sp?)" ??? What the hell is that? Their new album is sounding terrible, and in my opinion, they haven't released a solid album in awhile. Their 80's stuff is amazing, with "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "One", and "With or Without You" being highlights. But they have yet to be able to recapture that magic. I had high hopes when I heard that song they released for the "Batman Forever" soundtrack called "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" but they haven't put out a song that was like that one since. Bono needs to stop focusing on saving the world and try to focus on saving his band from falling into mediocrity.
-Nirvana. Another band that I'm a big fan of, but these guys are definitely overrated. Kurt Cobain was not a great songwriter, no matter what anyone tells me. His voice fit the music, but was not spectacular by any means. They are a prime example of great timing. If Nirvana came out today, they would not be nearly as big as they are. Other grunge bands are far superior, such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and most importantly, Alice in Chains. I would even venture to say that Dave Grohl's spinoff band The Foo Fighters are better than Nirvana. More range musically and vocally, and better lyrics. I love Nirvana, having grown up a grunge kid, but they get way too much credit for being a great band.
-Prince. I don't even really consider him rock, but I had to mention Prince. Talk about ego for no reason. Yes, I've heard "Purple Rain" and most of his other hits, and I am not impressed at all. He's not a bad guitar player, but his singing is average and he tries way too hard to be David Bowie (who's also quite overrated btw). His songs are not really memorable and he's a complete dick from everything I've read and heard. I will never understand why Prince is popular and continues to sell albums. So overrated.
-Radiohead. Very original and ground-breaking, but very overrated. They had a great thing going with their early albums. "Creep" and "High and Dry" were great songs, but I was not impressed with "Kid A" or "OK Computer". A friend of mine tried to convince me that they were phenomenal, and I was left very underwhelmed. They aren't horrible by any means, but I think they are trying so hard to be different that they are becoming weird. You pretty much have to be on some type of drug to really appreciate most of Radiohead's work.
I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting, but these stuck out to me. Maybe I'll eventually do an Underrated list, but that's gonna take some thought. Let the debates begin.
(in no particular order)
-Bruce Springsteen. Let me start with "The Boss." His rediculously silly halftime show aside ("I'm going to Disneyland!" ????), Springsteen has really only had a few good songs. I'm not a fan, but I can appreciate "Born to Run" and "Born in the USA." I don't think the guy can sing at all. His stage antics have become stale and stereotypical (like the slide toward the camera). The E Street Band are the only thing keeping him afloat. He disguises his lack of musical talent by surrounding himself with some of the best musicians he can find. Not a terrible songwriter, but "The Boss" needs to quit.
-Led Zeppelin. I argue with people about this one probably more than any other band. Yes, Zeppelin are great musicians who paved the way for many bands after them. But come on, you cannot tell me that Robert Plant didn't sound like he was masterbating while singing. His voice is annoying and screechy, and he moans and "oohs" into the mic like he's trying to get us into bed. Sure, they have a number of great songs, but in my opinion, they get WAY too much credit for being forefathers of rock/metal while bands like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Steppenwolf get shafted.
-The Doors. A poet Jim Morrison was. A great singer he was not. He sounded so trashed all the time that his words came out incoherent. He sounded bored when he wasn't trashed. I think this band is a prime example of excess destroying what could have been a great band. Too much drugs and booze. Don't believe me? Listen to the vocal range (or lack there of) in "Light My Fire." Besides the emphasis on "fire" on the chorus, his voice shows no emotion in a song that is all about emotion.
-U2. Okay, I like U2, but they are getting rediculous. "One, two, three, catorce! (sp?)" ??? What the hell is that? Their new album is sounding terrible, and in my opinion, they haven't released a solid album in awhile. Their 80's stuff is amazing, with "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "One", and "With or Without You" being highlights. But they have yet to be able to recapture that magic. I had high hopes when I heard that song they released for the "Batman Forever" soundtrack called "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" but they haven't put out a song that was like that one since. Bono needs to stop focusing on saving the world and try to focus on saving his band from falling into mediocrity.
-Nirvana. Another band that I'm a big fan of, but these guys are definitely overrated. Kurt Cobain was not a great songwriter, no matter what anyone tells me. His voice fit the music, but was not spectacular by any means. They are a prime example of great timing. If Nirvana came out today, they would not be nearly as big as they are. Other grunge bands are far superior, such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and most importantly, Alice in Chains. I would even venture to say that Dave Grohl's spinoff band The Foo Fighters are better than Nirvana. More range musically and vocally, and better lyrics. I love Nirvana, having grown up a grunge kid, but they get way too much credit for being a great band.
-Prince. I don't even really consider him rock, but I had to mention Prince. Talk about ego for no reason. Yes, I've heard "Purple Rain" and most of his other hits, and I am not impressed at all. He's not a bad guitar player, but his singing is average and he tries way too hard to be David Bowie (who's also quite overrated btw). His songs are not really memorable and he's a complete dick from everything I've read and heard. I will never understand why Prince is popular and continues to sell albums. So overrated.
-Radiohead. Very original and ground-breaking, but very overrated. They had a great thing going with their early albums. "Creep" and "High and Dry" were great songs, but I was not impressed with "Kid A" or "OK Computer". A friend of mine tried to convince me that they were phenomenal, and I was left very underwhelmed. They aren't horrible by any means, but I think they are trying so hard to be different that they are becoming weird. You pretty much have to be on some type of drug to really appreciate most of Radiohead's work.
I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting, but these stuck out to me. Maybe I'll eventually do an Underrated list, but that's gonna take some thought. Let the debates begin.
posted by Brent at 11:19 AM
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