The "seminal" band that is the most overrated.

[Doctor Shumway]

First off, the word seminal is the *worst* word ever.

As far as the topic goes, my first thought is the Grateful Dead. They didn't bring much to the table beyond a Rainbow Teddy Bear/Skull marketing gimmick, patchouli, and 40-minute jam songs. All of which we can do without.

I think, though, that the big loser for me is Pearl Jam. Ok, I admit "Ten" was pretty damn good. After that they went downhill quicker than trying to figure out if that's Scott Stapp or Eddie Veder on the radio. Once you release 3,143 different live albums, you've pretty much left the World of Importance and stepped into the ego-stroking realm of "absolute absurdity." Oh, but thanks for fighting TicketMaster.

[Stogey23]

Originally posted by Doctor Shumway
First off, the word seminal is the *worst* word ever.

As far as the topic goes, my first thought is the Grateful Dead. They didn't bring much to the table beyond a Rainbow Teddy Bear/Skull marketing gimmick, patchouli, and 40-minute jam songs. All of which we can do without.

I think, though, that the big loser for me is Pearl Jam. Ok, I admit "Ten" was pretty damn good. After that they went downhill quicker than trying to figure out if that's Scott Stapp or Eddie Veder on the radio. Once you release 3,143 different live albums, you've pretty much left the World of Importance and stepped into the ego-stroking realm of "absolute absurdity." Oh, but thanks for fighting TicketMaster.

Pearl Jam overrated? I would guess most people think they've broken up.

[luxinluv]

There's going to be a well organized, brutal, multisided ATTACK on you complete with flame throwers and tomahawks due to the Pearl Jam comment. I hope you have your invisi-shield ready.

This should be interesting anyhow.

My opinion-Elvis Costello. I think he's had great moments but I think all in all he's overrated.

[Dr. Wankler]

Can one be "over-rated" without being "seminal"? There are a lot of over-rated bands that have had little lasting influence, which is what I think "seminal" means, more or less.


[butthead voice] hu huh. hu huh. he said seminal. [/butthead voice}

[Bilbao2Brooklyn]

KISS.

[bmurphyfl]

I'd agree with Doc's Pearl Jam comments. The movie "Hype" is a good documentary on the phenomenon of Seattle in the early 90's.

I'd also add Aerosmith to the list. They were an OK 70's band but have morphed into this hideous corporate marketing machine in the 80's and 90's.

Murf

[Dante]

I agree with the Pearl Jam nomination as well.

I brought it up once before and was lucky enough to escape the wrath of the PJ lovers. Hopefully you'll just as lucky.

[snowsuit]

bands that are considered seminal but that i don't really care for (that is, i think they're overrated): joy division, my bloody valentine, the velvet underground, tons of others.

[Dolemite]

boom shucka shucka

[SportBoy321]

U2 I hate U2 can't believe they've lasted this long.

[Unorthodox Yank]

i, of course disagree with the pearl jam comment.

VS is a great great great album. So is no code. So is vitalogy. So is yield. Only recently have they started to sag a bit, but riot act sounds pretty solid.

And i think its not really fair to call them overrated, becasue they are not nearly as hyped as some of these other bands (except for on theses boards :) )

[nicodemus]

Two words:

Led Zeppelin

[nicodemus]

Two more words:

Rolling Stones

[nicodemus]

Let me go ahead an irritate everyone to no end.

The Beatles. They are good, I like them, even listen to them voluntarily, but the aren't THAT good.
I know they influenced everyone and their sister, but that doesn't mean I have to worship them.

I was born in the 1970s and their music just doesn't speak to me that much.

[Ringo]

OK, I'll let that Beatles comment slide. :)

My vote: Pink Floyd. oh yeah, and Pearl Jam.

[whirlwind]

I'll join in the heresy:

Nirvana.


I mean, Nevermind was a cool album and Teen Spirit is one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever, but beyond that it's pretty much just Kurt whining.

And whining.

Interspersed with complaining.

Sorta like The Cure with decent guitar riffs.

[sebakoole]

Originally posted by whirlwind
I'll join in the heresy:

Nirvana.

I second that. I cringed every time somebody raved about them and told me they were so original. Original?!? How? What did they do that countless other bands hadn't already done. I mean, I like Nirvana, they were a good band, but their real talent wasn't originality it was combining their influences seamlessly enough: Fugazi, Meat Puppets, Husker Du, etc.

[luxinluv]

Originally posted by nicodemus
Let me go ahead an irritate everyone to no end.

The Beatles. They are good, I like them, even listen to them voluntarily, but the aren't THAT good.
I know they influenced everyone and their sister, but that doesn't mean I have to worship them.

I was born in the 1970s and their music just doesn't speak to me that much.

YOU HEATHEN!
Next your going to try to tell me that Santa Claus isn't real.

In all honesty, I feel the same way. There a few Beatles songs that I absolutely love...but just a few. I kept going back and forth between saying the Beatles or Elvis Costello.

[Doctor Shumway]

I was also thinking the Beatles when I brought this topic up, but then I kind of feel like only their famous songs are overrated. Their weird, later songs that aren't played on the radio more than make up for Yellow Submarine and *everything* from their early years.

[Smiley321]

The Beatles were the Babe Ruth, Gretzky and Pele of Rock'n'Roll. Before them, the routine chart-toppers were Bobby Vinton, Connie Francis, Bobby Darin.

Just think what it would be like if nobody shoved Connie Francis out of the way. You don't have to worship them to appreciate how much they raised the bar.

I agree with the Grateful Dead, though. They were just an average band.