What’s overrated? Um, White Stripes?
Cats: Uncategorized, music|Awhile ago a survey found that Nirvana’s Nevermind album was the most overrated of all time. Here is the list. It comes from BBC Radio 6.
1. Nirvana - Nevermind
2. Coldplay - X&Y
3. The Libertines - The Libertines
4. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
5. U2 - The Joshua Tree
6. Radiohead - OK Computer
7. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
8. Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
9. Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks
10. The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Other than Oasis, I don’t really agree, but that’s the beauty of lists. You don’t have to agree. They’re opinions.
So in that spirit here is my vote for most overrated band of 2007: White Stripes.
It’s not that I dislike their music. I like it. In fact, when I saw them live this summer I admired Jack’s multi-pronged musicianship and Meg’s sledgehammer percussion. Their music is good. The show was good. It was great fun.
But it’s the cult-like status I don’t understand. Is it the alt-indie thing? Is it their eccentricity? The fact that they go on money-losing tours and make surprise appearances in public? Or the fact that an ex-husband and wife can tour together?
Maybe there is a self-fulfilling prophecy in the their album “I think I smell a hype.” Maybe this is a big experiment in hype and everyone’s fallen for it? And Jack and Meg are getting the last laugh.
I don’t know but they just don’t live up to the hype halo that surrounds them.
Is it just me? Why don’t I get the White Stripes hype?
February 26th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I’m not sure what constitutes over rating. ‘Nevermind’ is an excellent album, but I don’t remember any hype around it.
Who is rating these things anyway?
I have an idea:
Eddie Murphy’s ‘Love’s Alright’ is one of the worlds greatest musical masterpieces. It is the epitome of high quality production values and Eddie’s voice is like a splash of heaven.
There…add that one to the top of the list.
No I have never heard it…I Googled the worst singer I could think of. I’m sure it’s tres mal. It’s probably Ben Mulroney’s favourite album.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I hear ya, Dick. This list came from listeners of Radio 6, a sort of alt-ish net station I sometimes listen to.
But you’re right, people blow off on these things, often mindlessly because they are tired of hearing something.
A awhile back, 51% of people said the Beatles were overrated… overplayed, yes, but overrated? Revolver?
Do you get White Stripes?
February 26th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I’ve never heard of White Stripes, although if I pass out drunk I usually wake up with some on my face.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hmm - If I play the game of one of these things doesn’t belong - it would have to be the Libertines followed by Oasis - the rest I think would be hard to overrate - both at the time, and since are clearly great and influential albums (I mean The Joshua Tree fer cryin outloud???!?)
I was a little upset with Auntie Beeb, until I saw it was Radio6, ?Six - now there’s something over-rated…
February 26th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Dick, white stripes on you. That would not be overrated i;m sure.
TagBagger, yes Libertines are overrated as is Pete Doherty. Radio 6 can be a little on the pompous side - is that that you mean?
February 26th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Nirvana! Yes! I’m moving to England.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:51 am
I’m not sure how they can say that X&Y was overrated. I didn’t think that more than 7 people had ever listened to it.
I’m not much of a White Stripes fan, but I do have to give them kudos for playing places, like Iqaluit, where not many bands ever tour. I think that may have been largely behind their cult status. If I were concert starved in a remote town and they played there, I would likely think they were gods.
Did you notice how I didn’t even get mad that they called OK Computer overrated? Because they are cretins.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Barbara, that was a well-delivered projectile on Coldplay.
And yes, admirable restraint there - you didn’t leave the computer and take out it on your cat, I hope.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Strange. I consider nearly every one of those albums classics. They’ve stood the test of years. Except for Coldplay; they bore me these days.
I like The White Stripes. I think the hype is because they’re balls-to-the-walls with the rock sound, but not as harsh as that alt-rock crap playing on most stations. And you have to love a rocker who can produce a great Loretta Lynn album.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:51 am
BeckEye, so you like Nirvana then.
Beth, you have love a rock who does Loretta Lynn, that I agree with.
I use to be hot on Coldplay, but I’m starting to go cold.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I should probably explain. I don’t HATE Nirvana. I like them well enough. But as a die-hard Pearl Jam lover, I’m sick of PJ being constantly compared to Nirvana in a negative way, when they’re different bands who just happened to get lumped into the same category. I also hate the fact that Kurt Cobain was turned into a Christ-like figure by the media after he offed himself.
So, do I like Nirvana? Well, yeah. They deserve their eventual place in the rock hall of fame. They were first in line to bring about a change in music when it was needed. I give them all of that. Do I think they’re given TOO MUCH credit? Hell yes.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
BeckEye, your Nirvana takes is exactly what I was getting at with White Stripes - good, but THAT GOOD? I dunno. Now, I must get over to you to see if I should watch last nights AI
February 27th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Let’s have a whip around of opinions on the most UNDER-rated bands of all time. I’d like to nominate Booker T and the MGs … about as tight a rythm section as you can get! Next, Allman Brothers … still cooking after almost 40 years, with Jaimo and Butch Trucks laying down a wicked duo of drums, and Gregg Allman (God love ‘im) growling from deep in the Blues well.
Of course, just opinions!
February 27th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Well, while you’re visiting, I almost forgot about this: an old story about how Cobain tried to haunt me once.
http://thepopeye.blogspot.com/2005/10/hard-times-and-hard-rock-in-pa.html
February 27th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Any band that would play the Arva Flour Mill is coolio with me. I think The White Stripes are fantastic, and not overrated at all. It’s bare bones, but it encompasses the core of the rock (do the handsign with me)spirit. Even the Flaming Lips did a song about them. . .that might not be proving my point though, because well. . .uhhh. . .that’s just me.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
BeckEye, That’s the perfect story to pull out - you can like a band but not get the hype.
And to think your your love affair with Eddie was documented all way back in 05
Sweet dawg
February 28th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Hey Lisa, they do encompass the (I’m doing the handsign!) spirit and I admire and respect them for it.
It just doesn’t excite me enough to understand all the hype. I guess that’s the problem with hype - it raises expectations so high
February 28th, 2008 at 9:53 am
See, now, I try to live my life with lowered expectations, that way I am always surprised or happy if things are better than expected. Not big on hype myself, but let me tell you, if I heard Meg and Jack were hitting The Rubber Boot in Blyth, instead of some god awful AC/DC cover band, I would be in there like a binge and purger in a tub full of ice cream.
My excito-metre would be off the charts. I don’t really listen to “the surveys”, it took me years to discover Oasis, and Beck, but once I did, as a can of chinese imported beans once said “give one good feelings”
Take care,
February 29th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Hmmm…I like Oasis, Coldplay, and White Stripes, but for their music, not necessarily their off-stage, off-mike antics. The Gallagher bros. need to be slapped upside the head and told to grow up.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Lisa, “give one good feelings” on a can of chinese imported beans. That gave me good feelings.
Moxie, too bad the music industry didn’t gear itself for people like you.