The Critics Love Them, But You Just Don't Get It
Rockadelic
Out Digging 13,993 Posts
For me it's Guided By Voices...... they must own stock in every "alternative" music magazine on the market....I can't pick up a Magnet, Blender, Spin, etc. without seeing something about these guys. I dug their first couple of efforts but after a bazillion LP's what is the attraction of this band?? Help me understand, I just don't get it.
Comments
GbV- I'm originally from Southwestern Ohio, so maybe geography effects this, but to me, there are few better songwriters than Bob Pollard. Now, that is not me vouching for ALL of his material- he has SOME tremendous quality, and a tremendous amount of Quantity, much of which is forgettable at worst, and at best, only for the completist. BUT, if you concentrate on their best work, you will have 5 or 6 albums by a great lo-fi garage rock&roll band, with hints of arena rock.
Essentials:
Alien Lanes
Bee Thousand
Under the Bushes/Under the Stars
Others:
Mag Earwhig
Propeller
Earthquake Glue
Pavement- Might be my favorite rock band of the last 20 years. I love the delivery, the sarcasm, and the songwriting. "Wowee Zowee," is my favorite, but it is a messy listen. "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain," is a much more put together album, and many say it is their best. 12 or so 3 minute pop songs, with a touch of the weird- no need to over complicate with rock snobbery. "Brighten the Corners," is also one that has aged well. Their last album, IMO, is better served as a coaster, but feel free to disagree.
Ok. After that diatribe, time for me to mention one that I don't get...
My Morning Jacket. Loved them at first, but lost them. Please. Someone. Sit in the studio and edit down all those 8 minute songs and 75 minute albums.
Yeah, I got a little preachy there (tried to edit before posting, but didn't change in time). Rock said, "help me," and i took it as an ivitation to be CRITIC DUDE.
I get the pavement love, though- i just think they had a unique sound, delivery, and lyrics. Different is good.
But my nomination for one of the more egregiously worshipped folls:
Beck
AKA the Beastie Boys hippie cousin
Some deserved praise...
Beck
Wilco
Radiohead
ban.
my pick: Will Oldham
This dude's music is trash.
And: if you like this dude, you do not like rap.
I love it when you say that. What can I like, then?
is dude's stuff even marginally related to rap anymore? last i heard, and this is a minute ago, he was on some weird electroclash shit or something. i'm not standing up for dude, i'm just sayin.
Disagree on the Pavement & GbV. Whatever. We all have opinions and assholes.
IMO, you listed three of the most overrated bands on the planet, especially #2. Add Interpol, and you'd have completed the grand slam.
for real? i've been disconnected from the Beck streets for years. i have no idea what money is doing. it's not like i care, either. i don't why i'm posting this.
are very good records. maybe even classic.
regarding pavement and gbv...you had to be there 12 years ago to really appreciate both. but their best work still holds up...and i can attest to seeing both bands live multiple times at thier peak and they were amazing. throw on slanted and enchanted now and it still sounds like nothing else...i love it. but hey, this is soulstrut...why even debate this stuff on here?
I have no idea. I have heard exactly two Beck songs in my life--both during the summer of 1996 when I had a construction job at which the other guys liked to listen to rock radio. They were both toneless whiteboy cod-rapping... the sort of sin against music that one can never ever atone for.
I would definitely call the last two classics; no dissent there. But, those albums do not mean everything those bands have ever touched turn to gold, and they get a free critical blowjob card for the rest of their careers.
Interpol
Sigur Ros
Modest Mouse
The White Stripes
Animal Collective
Wilco
Spoon
The Strokes
Devendra Banhart
The Books
The Microphones
The Notwist
Boards of Canada
Fennesz
Broken Social Scene
Liars
The Flaming Lips
Sufjan Stevens
The Rapture
The Fiery Furnaces
Godspeed You Black Emperor!
Manitoba
Mclusky
Deerhoof
The Arcade Fire
TV on the Radio
The Shins
...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Prefuse 75
The Dismemberment Plan
Joanna Newsom
The Postal Service
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
M.I.A.
Iron & Wine
Cat Power
2Many DJs
The Shins
Sleater-Kinney
M83
The Wrens
The New Pornographers
Les Savy Fav
Mu
Bj??rk
Franz Ferdinand
DJ/Rupture
Yo La Tengo
The Decemberists
Black Dice
The Unicorns
OK so about half of these bands never got more than a one-song chance w me but this was taken off of some post-00 pfork list. I also agree that Beck sucks.
Yeah, but you don't like rap
Cat Power though... NOW you're talking. Prime example.
wholesole hattery. please to list as many new bands that you do like or the above is meaningless.
don't sleep:
I should retract my original comment re: Pavement and GBV. Because the same would apply to the groups I listed.
I can't really think anything relatively* new that demonstrated any kind of consistent progress.
*Slanted and Enchanted came out almost 15 years ago.