Most Overrated Bands of All Time

@Blair Kiel posted:

Since we’re on Springsteen…always waited for a band reference while watching Stevie van Zant in The Sopranos….finally got it in a later episode…the guys asked Christopher why he was late and he blandly replied, “The highway’s jammed  with broken heroes on a last chance power drive.” I jumped up and celebrated and had to explain the reference to Mrs.Kiel.

Stevie has a new book out right now, about his time in the band, his activism and his acting career.  I haven’t read it yet but it is on my list.  If you are interested you can get a couple hours interview on the Hell or High Water podcast from about a month ago.

The Springsteen bio is a good read. My favorite part is a story about the band in the early days driving to California to compete in a "battle of the bands", where the winner got a permanent gig at a club there. They didn't win and were sleeping on the floor of his parents (who moved to Cali as soon as he graduated form high school) apartment. Some of the members were bitching that they got screwed because they were from NJ, etc. Springsteen said he lay there thinking that they weren't as good as the other bands and if they wanted to be, changes would have to be made. Fast-forward to a story about his daughter, the olympic team equestrian competitor.... she competed in her first event at I think age 8 and took 5th or 6th place. As they were riding home Bruce & his wife are being the "good parents" and telling her how well she did. The ride turned silent for a good while until her voice came from the backseat asking "what did the girl that came in First do to win"?

@Music City posted:

Your time’s a-comin, son. Hope you’re ready when it arrives.

Private Rageface.

Dismissed.

@Blair Kiel posted:

Fuck that.

If I see someone who looks like they like Kiss, I punch them in the throat.

I hope I never cross paths with Y.A. ….he likes every band.

*Puts away greasepaint*

@mrtundra posted:

I think one of Bruce's best is "Tougher Than The Rest." Listen to it with the volume cranked to 11. That's one more!

Love that song and entire Tunnel of Love album, you can hear the "Hank Williams influence" in this and many of his songs from Nebraska to the present.

I was a BS fan from his start thru  the 80’s then for some reason I wasn’t.  I recently started listening again to the old songs..Darkness…The River etc.  You know what, it has held up.  I know nothing of his post 1990 stuff but may want to check it out.   Lyrics like this drew me in in 1980 and they ring tru today.

She stared off alone into the night
With the eyes of one who hates for just being born

I too dig the storytellers.  I was on a Jackson Browne kick for awhile and love his early stuff.  You can't pay me to listen to anything he's put out since the 80's.  I don't even like his voice that much but those first few albums were amazing if just for the lyrics.

@Henry posted:

I too dig the storytellers.  I was on a Jackson Browne kick for awhile and love his early stuff.  You can't pay me to listen to anything he's put out since the 80's.  I don't even like his voice that much but those first few albums were amazing if just for the lyrics.

If you get a chance to see him without a band, go. He occasionally tours with just a stage full of 20 guitars or so and a piano. Saw him that way at the Fox Theater in Bakersfield a couple years ago, he just walked out, waved, and started performing, picking out particular guitars for particular songs. Quite an experience.

@FLPACKER posted:

A lot of people only know him from the Born in the USA era, where he lost his mind, married an actress, moved to LA, and put out a bunch of "pop" songs. He quickly regained his footing and returned to what he was. Can't understand how anyone can listen to the Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and Wrecking Ball (these are just my favorites; Nebraska is an excellent acoustic album) albums and not be impressed by the lyrics and arrangements.

I know they're not as critically acclaimed, but the first song I really liked by BS was "Pink Cadillac."  I also really liked "I'm On Fire." 

"In the day, we sweat it out on the streets
Of a runaway American dream
At night, we ride through mansions of glory
In suicide machines
Sprung from cages out on Highway 9
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected and steppin' out over the line
Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
'Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run"

Lyrical genius.

@Blair Kiel posted:

A taste of my Spotify list…I guess my taste is….varied?

I'm going to have to listen to some of those.  I only recognize a-ha.  Mine is varied too, but leans heavier on the southern rock/hard rock/heavy metal/hard-outlaw country side.  Found a really cool band a couple years back called Clutch.  Unique sound, and a lot of fun live.

@fightphoe93 posted:

Maybe I need to smoke more ganja or something.  😀

I saw someone list “The Doors” as overrated.  For whatever reason, I absolutely love that band.  My personal favorite is the lesser known “Peace Frog”.  If Morrison would have stuck around, I would have followed them around on tour like some used to do with the Grateful Dead.

You've been smoking some ganga, my friend.

Although they're not the most talented band musically, there's something about a lot of their music I really like.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but sometimes their jams suck me in and some of it is very atmospheric.  I enjoyed it back in the day with a bowl or two.

@YATittle posted:

If you get a chance to see him without a band, go. He occasionally tours with just a stage full of 20 guitars or so and a piano. Saw him that way at the Fox Theater in Bakersfield a couple years ago, he just walked out, waved, and started performing, picking out particular guitars for particular songs. Quite an experience.

I always say, you know it's a good band when you see them live, and it forever disappoints listening to them not live.  I collect as many live cuts of my favorite songs as I can.  I enjoy the spontaneity and energy.  Hell, I'll watch almost any band live.

@Harry Manback posted:

Found a really cool band a couple years back called Clutch.  Unique sound, and a lot of fun live.

Oh hells yes!

I was never much of a Morrison/Doors fan, but they had a few songs I liked.
This is a really cool, highly recommended video of how "Riders On The Storm" was created.

@Henry posted:

Brian Wilson: genius

Mike Love:  douchebag

Brian?

Wasn’t Dennis a Manson buddy?

@Pikes Peak posted:

Brian?

Wasn’t Dennis a Manson buddy?

You are correct, sir.

Fixing my post above.

Mike Love remains a douche, however.

@ilcuqui posted:

Mike Love:  douchebag

Ha! Saw them about 10 years ago & that was my biggest take-away....Love talked about money a number of times during the show which I found off-putting.

@El-Ka-Bong posted:

The Doors

I agree with this even though I like their music.

@PackerHawk posted:

Oh, yeah. Dave Matthews. That's a keeper for this list.

Dave Matthews. He is my high school principal’s nephew and I still don’t want to listen to them.