Controversial Music Opinions...

[ImTheWiseJanitor]

I think Limp Bizkit has some good songs. I also think Fred Durst is a bit of a clown and has created a lot of terrible songs. When he wants to be honest in his music, he can be. But the over-the-top hyped-up hardcore thing isn't really my thing. But it DOES make for a pretty great laugh.

I dunno, that's all I wanted to say.

Oh! And earlier I was thinking in the vein of people saying "Well, without the older music, we wouldn't have any of the music we have today" - Yeah, that makes complete sense. But just because AC/DC or The Beatles or anyone was in influence for any musician I listen to that grew up to them doesn't mean I have to like them myself. If we're going solely on that logic, then we'd all be walking around jamming to Gregorian chant on our iPod. I can appreciate influence, but I shouldn't have to make myself like something.

[Senateguard33]

I could have a field day with this one, so here we go!

1. Nirvana and The Beatles are the two most overrated bands of all time. Both are great bands, don't get me wrong, but get more credit than what they deserve.
2. The 50s, 60s and 80s had the best moments for mainstream pop/rock.
3. The only good bands in the 90s were the ones that were around in the 80s. (Yes, that includes NIN)
4. Tool? Fuck em. Want mind fuck music? Try Coil or Skinny Puppy instead.
5. Depeche Mode is one of the greatest bands of all time, and deserves more credit for revolutionizing electronic (and YES, even industrial) music.
6. Most Pink Floyd fans are poseurs. If you've listened to all the albums, you know Dark Side of the Moon is WAY overrated.
7. Ministry's Synth-Pop/Electronic Days are WAY better than the metal years. Get over it Al, you know deep in your heart that it's true.
8. The Fragile, Pretty Hate Machine and the instrumental stuff is Trent's best work. Most notably the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
9. John Williams is the best living musician.
10. Pink Floyd's The Wall is the best album ever recorded.

[ambergris]

I like dub music a lot, Jah Wobble is great - you never know what you're going to get (check out his collaboration with Bill Laswell).
Reggae music is boring. I like Bob Marley, but he pretty much has all the substance reggae itself has. It's a very narrow genre and it wouldn't exist without Bob Marley.
I would like to like Talking Heads more than I actually do. The best thing Byrne did was "Life in the bush of ghosts". He doesn't sing on it....

[Sutekh]

3. The only good bands in the 90s were the ones that were around in the 80s. (Yes, that includes NIN).

Good point...

9. John Williams is the best living musician.

...as in Star wars?

[Jinsai]

3. The only good bands in the 90s were the ones that were around in the 80s.

Where are you placing the starting mark on this though? If the band played music together or made some demo tapes in the late 80s, but didn't release an album until the 90s, does that count? And is this consideration disregarding electronic music?

[frankie teardrop]

walking around jamming to Gregorian chant on our iPod.

you'd be surprised with how much of that stuff i actually listen to regularly.

7. Ministry's Synth-Pop/Electronic Days are WAY better than the metal years. Get over it Al, you know deep in your heart that it's true.

i've been saying that for years!

[Senateguard33]

Where are you placing the starting mark on this though? If the band played music together or made some demo tapes in the late 80s, but didn't release an album until the 90s, does that count? And is this consideration disregarding electronic music?

I would say those bands count. They still had an idea/influence of what made good pop/rock. Most of the really good bands of the 90s either started in the 80s are were rooted from it. Unfortunately the 90s was mostly dominated by gangster rap and producer-written faux boy/girl bands and singers. The 80s at least had artists/bands that wrote/performed their own material. (well...maybe minus New Kids on the Block). We got a few good years (until 95 or so) for what was left over from the 80s ("real" bands) then we got manufactured music until about 2005. I'm actually glad that bands are coming back. I've actually enjoyed some stuff form the past 7 or so years.

[Jinsai]

I would say those bands count. They still had an idea/influence of what made good pop/rock. Most of the really good bands of the 90s either started in the 80s are were rooted from it. Unfortunately the 90s was mostly dominated by gangster rap and producer-written faux boy/girl bands and singers. The 80s at least had artists/bands that wrote/performed their own material. (well...maybe minus New Kids on the Block). We got a few good years (until 95 or so) for what was left over from the 80s ("real" bands) then we got manufactured music until about 2005. I'm actually glad that bands are coming back. I've actually enjoyed some stuff form the past 7 or so years.

The following bands all formed in the 90s and released (what I would consider to be good) albums in the 90s:

Refused (91), At the Drive In (93), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (94), Sunny Day Real Estate (92), Unwound (91), Failure (90), Portishead (91), The New Pornographers (96), Spoon (93), Atari Teenage Riot (92), Mogwai (95), Built to Spill (92), Hood (91), Converge (90), Tortoise (90), Face to Face (91), Tool (90), Elliott Smith (formed his first band in 91, went solo in 94), Braniac (92), Sloan (91), The White Stripes (97), Ulver (93), Modest Mouse (93), Rage Against the Machine (91), A Minor Forest (92), Stereolab (90), Shellac (92), Blonde Redhead (93), Melt Banana (92), Archers of Loaf (91), The Sea and Cake (94), Low (94), Grandaddy (92), Sparklehorse (95), And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead (93), Lightning Bolt (94), Sigur Ros (94), Acid Mother's Temple (95), Lamb (96), The Black Heart Procession (97)

I'm not expecting anyone to say that they like all of those bands, but it's hard to imagine that there's not something in there... and this isn't even counting bands that formed in the 80s but didn't get around to releasing albums until the 90s (Mr Bungle, Radiohead, Pavement... etc). I would personally offer up Wumpscut and Electric Hellfire Club, but maybe that's just nostalgia talking.

[Kid Charlemagne]

I got so hard knowing that Jinsai brought up Trail of Dead. Love you bro!

[Senateguard33]

The following bands all formed in the 90s and released (what I would consider to be good) albums in the 90s:

Refused (91), At the Drive In (93), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (94), Sunny Day Real Estate (92), Unwound (91), Failure (90), Portishead (91), The New Pornographers (96), Spoon (93), Atari Teenage Riot (92), Mogwai (95), Built to Spill (92), Hood (91), Converge (90), Tortoise (90), Face to Face (91), Tool (90), Elliott Smith (formed his first band in 91, went solo in 94), Braniac (92), Sloan (91), The White Stripes (97), Ulver (93), Modest Mouse (93), Rage Against the Machine (91), A Minor Forest (92), Stereolab (90), Shellac (92), Blonde Redhead (93), Melt Banana (92), Archers of Loaf (91), The Sea and Cake (94), Low (94), Grandaddy (92), Sparklehorse (95), And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead (93), Lightning Bolt (94), Sigur Ros (94), Acid Mother's Temple (95), Lamb (96), The Black Heart Procession (97)

I'm not expecting anyone to say that they like all of those bands, but it's hard to imagine that there's not something in there... and this isn't even counting bands that formed in the 80s but didn't get around to releasing albums until the 90s (Mr Bungle, Radiohead, Pavement... etc). I would personally offer up Wumpscut and Electric Hellfire Club, but maybe that's just nostalgia talking.

I really like Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Portishead. Those are some good examples. The others are ones I couldn't get into or have never heard. I'm mainly focusing on the overall decade...there was some good underground stuff in the 90s, but overall the decade sucked for me. The 80s had plenty of awesome mainstream acts and underground acts too. There were so many iconic groups in the 80s that even today's children know about. What was iconic about the 90s? The average person would say let see...Nirvana, Britney Spears, X Rapper....

[BlueCalx]

This one'll make you mad: Kanye West is the best songwriter of the 2000's by a huge margin. It's easy to overlook him because his hits have reached the pop culture saturation point, but he's provided killer tune after killer tune for ten years straight solo, and much longer than that as a producer for other rappers. He's the rap Paul McCartney.

[BRoswell]

But just because AC/DC or The Beatles or anyone was in influence for any musician I listen to that grew up to them doesn't mean I have to like them myself.

Everybody is free to like and dislike who they want, but when people wonder why X Band/Artist is regarded as one of the greats even though they don't care for them, it's a little silly. While I think it's important to like what you like and forget everything else, it's also good to know why certain music is popular with certain people. For instance, I get why some people like Nickelback. I don't care for them personally, but I get it. Also, instead of asking why, why not look it up? Why not see why people consider X Band/Artist one of the greatest? You may not agree, but at least you'll understand it.

6. Most Pink Floyd fans are poseurs. If you've listened to all the albums, you know Dark Side of the Moon is WAY overrated.

I hate this kind of mentality. "I think this album is overrated, and if you don't think so, you're obviously not a true fan." Not sure who made you the authority on what "true fans" should consider the best Pink Floyd albums, but I'd like to meet them to see what their criteria are.

This one'll make you mad: Kanye West is the best songwriter of the 2000's by a huge margin. It's easy to overlook him because his hits have reached the pop culture saturation point, but he's provided killer tune after killer tune for ten years straight solo, and much longer than that as a producer for other rappers. He's the rap Paul McCartney.

Not a Kanye hater like some people are, but I really don't think he's that great either. People either hate him or love him, but I think he's rather mediocre to be honest.

[Jinsai]

I hate this kind of mentality. "I think this album is overrated, and if you don't think so, you're obviously not a true fan." Not sure who made you the authority on what "true fans" should consider the best Pink Floyd albums, but I'd like to meet them to see what their criteria are.

I've listened to every Pink Floyd album, and Dark Side of the Moon ties with Animals for my favorite.

[henryeatscereal]

He's only massively popular due to abysmal potheads that make everything they do in life revolve around the leaf. He smokes weed and is known for it: let's listen to him!! Least that's what I've noticed of people where I live. Same goes for Sublime, people like them because it comes with the pot smokers' territory.

I don't like Sublime...

311 > Sublime

[Magtig]

This one'll make you mad: Kanye West is the best songwriter of the 2000's by a huge margin. It's easy to overlook him because his hits have reached the pop culture saturation point, but he's provided killer tune after killer tune for ten years straight solo, and much longer than that as a producer for other rappers. He's the rap Paul McCartney.

There's a reason Kanye's still around after acting like such a jackass so many times: he's an awesome fucking musician. He's also very human and very flawed, and he acknowledges that fact many times in his lyrics. A strain of humility and sadness lurks behind the bombastic declarations of ego with Kanye, and I really like that self-awareness. I can relate to what he says, and I like the flaws. He's an independent thinker, and a maverick even within the realm of rap. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a modern classic, so is Watch the Throne.

[BlueCalx]

Exactly! I only came to my conclusion about Kanye recently, after seeing him live with Jay on the Watch the Throne tour. Jay's solo sections were probably better executed, but Kanye kept rolling out hit after hit after hit. I kept thinking, "Damn, these are the songs I wake up singing every morning!" He's a compelling media personality, although often a frustrating one, and his way with a hook trumps everyone else in rap.

[orestes]

Whenever I think about Kanye, this comes to mind.

[icklekitty]

Arcade Fire: I don't get it.

[ImTheWiseJanitor]

Everybody is free to like and dislike who they want, but when people wonder why X Band/Artist is regarded as one of the greats even though they don't care for them, it's a little silly. While I think it's important to like what you like and forget everything else, it's also good to know why certain music is popular with certain people. For instance, I get why some people like Nickelback. I don't care for them personally, but I get it. Also, instead of asking why, why not look it up? Why not see why people consider X Band/Artist one of the greatest? You may not agree, but at least you'll understand it.

That's exactly what I'm saying. I can fully understand the impact The Beatles have had on modern music. Their influence everywhere, whether it's direct or indirect. I appreciate it and am really glad that things like that are what got us where we are now, musically. The only problem I have with that idea is when people say that I have to like them. It's not even like I bash them at all. I enjoy some of their songs, but as many times as I've tried to really get into The Beatles, nothing ever clicked for me. Maybe sometime down the road, I'll be listening to them in the right setting with the right mindset and I'll just fall for them, who knows? The exact same thing happened with me and Nine Inch Nails. But so far, I can only appreciate what they've done. I can't personally name them as a band I regularly listen to.

[theruiner]

Arcade Fire: I don't get it.

I keep trying to like them. My brother was nice enough to buy me Neon Bible a couple years back and then Funeral a little later, and, even though I do like a few songs on each, for the most part I was pretty unimpressed (though I should give Funeral a few more listens, since I don't know how many spins I gave it; Neon Bible I listened to a LOT for many months trying to get into it but never really could). Then I ended up buying The Suburbs, once again wanting to give them another chance (plus I love the title track). Same thing happened- I enjoyed a few of the songs off there a lot, but overall I just couldn't get into it.

That being said, there are a few songs of theirs that I love ("My Body is a Cage" and "Sprawl II" immediately spring to mind).

[peter]

I think Limp Bizkit has some good songs. I also think Fred Durst is a bit of a clown and has created a lot of terrible songs. When he wants to be honest in his music, he can be. But the over-the-top hyped-up hardcore thing isn't really my thing. But it DOES make for a pretty great laugh.
.

For some subconscious reason I keep coming back to "Results may vary", their poppiest record, but, shit, come catchy melodies right there. That and Puddle of Mudd's first record. Shamelessly overproduced but some good rockin'.

[Amaro]

I keep trying to like them. My brother was nice enough to buy me Neon Bible a couple years back and then Funeral a little later, and, even though I do like a few songs on each, for the most part I was pretty unimpressed (though I should give Funeral a few more listens, since I don't know how many spins I gave it; Neon Bible I listened to a LOT for many months trying to get into it but never really could). Then I ended up buying The Suburbs, once again wanting to give them another chance (plus I love the title track). Same thing happened- I enjoyed a few of the songs off there a lot, but overall I just couldn't get into it.

That being said, there are a few songs of theirs that I love ("My Body is a Cage" and "Sprawl II" immediately spring to mind).

You sound a bit like me with them, or at least how I was. I've come a long way since my initial strong dislike for them... That in itself has near pushed me to claim the role of fan. I only own The Suburbs so far, which I like pretty much entirely, but I'll probably get Neon Bible. Funeral--kiss it goodbye. lol I couldn't get into it, the last time I tried (of several tries). I feel it was just too concentrated with what they ARE.

I have to be in the mood to go out of my way to listen to them, however if a song I like is being played, I can't help but switch my gears for it. It's kinda weird.

////

I damn well nearly HATE AUTOLUX. TO DEATH.

[ambergris]

If one wanted to play "Six degrees of Kevin Bacon" with a musician, the best pick would be Herbie Hancock.

[aggroculture]

I despise Slayer and all other bands that attempt to pass barking/screaming as singing (such as Pantera). Sounds like fucking Cookie Monster on coke! "Rawr! Rawr! Rawr! Satan! Rawr! Rawr!" I'm also over all bands, like Slayer, who use pentagrams in their titles/logos. Oooh, how evil and spooky. Fucking boring shit.

It's wrong to conflate Slayer and Pantera. Phil Anselmo actually has quite a revolutionary vocal style, singing and screaming at the same time: many have tried to imitate this, and failed. Pantera also don't use demonic imagery, and when they do talk about demons, it's psychological ones. Tom Araya on the other hand is a shitty vocalist, and Slayer are way overrated, and boring. On the topic of Pantera, I hate that Vulgar Display of Power is so commonly accepted as their peak: for me it's far and away Far Beyond Driven. FBD is to me one of the heaviest albums of all time: it's almost a work of art on the level of Munch's The Scream. Vulgar Display of Power is a thrash metal record.

Thrash metal in general I also find the most inane metal genre around: Testament, Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica...don't like any of them.

The entire Mass metal/core genre sucks: Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, As I Lay Dying, All That Remains, Trivium...that horrible Iron Maiden influence again. I also hate "melodic" death metal: In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Soilwork...metal was heavy, and then it got weak again, thanks to these guys.

Jesu: can't stand them. I love Godflesh, but to me Jesu is all the worst aspects of Godflesh in one place. The whole concept of shoegaze metal pisses me off.

Neurosis: horribly boring, pretentious, self-important, humorless music. Give me Tool or Swans or Zeni Geva or Godflesh any day.

The big names of goth: The Cure, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy: I've given these bands a try and find their music quaint, bland, dated, rather dull in general. Christian Death I found unlistenable.

Nirvana finally are not overrated at all: they were rock, metal, pop, punk, the whole package. They brought alternative to the mainstream and killed shitty 80s rock with one blow. No band since Nirvana has come close to what they achieved over two albums: music that's heavy, catchy, mass audience but also smart and deep. Listen to Nevermind: it sounds today as fresh and vital as it did 20 years ago. Your Radioheads and Arcade Fires are nothing next to Nirvana: it's like bands aren't even trying to compete because Nirvana did it so well. I believe Cobain knew this and part of his motivation in killing himself was ensuring Nirvana's place in the rock pantheon alongside Beatles, Led Zep, The Doors, etc.

[Magtig]

I enjoy some of their songs, but as many times as I've tried to really get into The Beatles, nothing ever clicked for me. Maybe sometime down the road, I'll be listening to them in the right setting with the right mindset and I'll just fall for them, who knows? The exact same thing happened with me and Nine Inch Nails. But so far, I can only appreciate what they've done. I can't personally name them as a band I regularly listen to.

This is usually the case though, isn't it, especially with music that falls outside one's generation/upbringing? It has been with me, anyway. At one point long ago the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, and especially Credence Clearwater Revival all just sorta sound like, "eh" to me. I didn't hate them, and I recognized their importance, but I really just wasn't in the mood to like them. At some point in time it did just click, and I went through a big classic rock phase. That happened to you with NIN, so don't worry about it too much. Just keep those bands on the back burner, and maybe they'll really become appealing at some point for you (which will wind up being a very rewarding experience).

[Far Beyond Driven] is to me one of the heaviest albums of all time: it's almost a work of art on the level of Munch's The Scream.
...
Your Radioheads and Arcade Fires are nothing next to Nirvana: it's like bands aren't even trying to compete because Nirvana did it so well. I believe Cobain knew this and part of his motivation in killing himself was ensuring Nirvana's place in the rock pantheon alongside Beatles, Led Zep, The Doors, etc.

what

That's just crazy talk, aggro.

[Kid Charlemagne]

If one wanted to play "Six degrees of Kevin Bacon" with a musician, the best pick would be Herbie Hancock.

Wrong, it would be Josh Freese. Josh Freese is the Zelig of rock.

[Sutekh]

what

That's just crazy talk, aggro.

I dont agree that he killed himself for that reason, but i think his embrace of hyperreality contributed massively to his losing the plot

I know that sounds massively pretentious, but his journals bear it out, i think he grew up a bit, went off rock music and it pulled the rug out from under him. He lived in a fantasy world that started to break down as he realised his ideal of the rock lifestyle/world didnt match up with the reality. Imo his suicide note explains it all, he'd made it too important. And of course, bad marriage, smack, music industry etc all contributed. Amy winehouse and richey manic were similar cases, they bought into a myth, Aligned themselves with it and it ruined them.



Back on topic... Volume 4 is one of the worst 3 ozzy sabbath albums, it sounds so dull

[BlueCalx]

Nirvana finally are not overrated at all: they were rock, metal, pop, punk, the whole package. They brought alternative to the mainstream and killed shitty 80s rock with one blow. No band since Nirvana has come close to what they achieved over two albums: music that's heavy, catchy, mass audience but also smart and deep. Listen to Nevermind: it sounds today as fresh and vital as it did 20 years ago. Your Radioheads and Arcade Fires are nothing next to Nirvana: it's like bands aren't even trying to compete because Nirvana did it so well. I believe Cobain knew this and part of his motivation in killing himself was ensuring Nirvana's place in the rock pantheon alongside Beatles, Led Zep, The Doors, etc.

...spoken like a man who had to defend a dissertation recently. Get some sleep bro.

[Senateguard33]

I hate this kind of mentality. "I think this album is overrated, and if you don't think so, you're obviously not a true fan." Not sure who made you the authority on what "true fans" should consider the best Pink Floyd albums, but I'd like to meet them to see what their criteria are.

But at the same token, it's very true. Maybe it's just the college environment I was in at the time. It seemed most people were into Floyd/The Beatles and had posters in their dorms and several t-shirts. Being a big Floyd fan, I would try to talk to some of these people and found they're really only familiar with the more popular works. They all knew Wish You Were Here, The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon (with Animals being the rarity). If I mention A Momentary Lapse of Reason or Ummagumma, I get blank confused stares. Same thing with the Beatles. I know people who act like they're the best band in the world, and have only ever heard the White Album, Abbey Road and Sgt Peppers. To put things into perspective, imagine meeting a NIN fan that wears the shirts, has the posters and only owns Downward Spiral and With Teeth. It's like Whhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!!! There are several bands that are "college fads" more than anything else, which really is a shame. If you're going to advertise that you're a huge fan, at least be familiar with the catalog. Otherwise you're advertising that you're either a poseur or a bandwagon fan.

[Amaro]

Tool's a college fad!