I’ve been tossing this list around in my head for a while now: a list of bands that a lot of people like and are perhaps ‘acclaimed’ but do absolutely nothing for me. That is, I don’t like their sound, no matter how many times I give them a chance. I listen to the best rock station in the nation — FM 94.9 — and they often play these bands, and every time they put on any song by any of these artists — whether new or old — I attempt to give them another chance and it never pans out. Part of the reason, admittedly, why I give them another chance is because there really aren’t any other good stations to listen to in San Diego, so I am happy with leaving the (digital) dial on 94.9. So here is my list, and reasons why for each one:
- Cake: I cannot stand their frontman’s voice at all. I appreciated the song–lyrically–that had to do with “All I want is a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket”, but it was still excruciating for me to listen to. To me, it doesn’t sound like the guy is singing at all but just kind of deadpanning the words. Does nothing for me.
- Beck: can’t stand his aesthetic, music, or lyrics. He seems like an absolutely pointless musician to me. I remember in 8th grade algebra when my classmate repeated “I’m a loser baby, so why don’t you kill me” over and over again. I thought what he was singing was so stupid and perhaps ‘edgy’, but when soon heard the actual song, I thought it was basically living up to its own proclamations of being a loser song as well. Ever since then I’ve listened to his CDs here and there and his radio hits and his videos and it just seems like nothing is going on.
- Beastie Boys: perhaps the most annoying voices I’ve ever heard, and the music seems disappointing to me. I know these guys have been around for a while, but I’ve heard better hip hop and DJ riffs elsewhere. “Sabotage” had a cool vibe as far as the music video was concerned, but I was never really into anything else they’ve ever done. That ‘intergalactic planetary planetary intergalactic’ song grates on my ears.
- Interpol: can’t stand the frontman’s voice at all. Reminiscent of Cake’s deadpan monotone, these guys are supposedly really cool and indie, but I can’t get past the voice. What’s odd is that I absolute love VNV Nation, an industrial band whose lead singer kind of does this ‘monotoney’ thing, but I think their music and vocals are phenomenal. Their Matter + Form album is one of my all-time favorite industrial albums.
And a close runner up: Sublime. I understand that this is considered to be one of the classic 90′s Los Angeles (Long Beach) bands and that they were very influential in the ska/punk scene, and some of their music is actually pretty good, but something about the grittiness and content of their lyrics just really turns me off. Their music actually makes me think of driving through the smog of L.A.
Dude, Paul’s Boutique?? That’s the Beastie Boys at their peak – just as they were growing out of Licensed to Ill stupidity but before they started rapping about Buddhism. Not to mention mazing production by the Dust Brothers in the pre-crackdown-on-sampling era? Great stuff.
Otherwise I’m generally with you on this list.
Eric,
Have you read David Dark’s book Everyday Apocalypse? I can’t say it will convince you but it causes me to pause when I listen to Beck.
Scott,
Tell me more about David Dark. I’ve never heard of him or that book.
Lee,
Actually, part of the impetus for this post was to elicit reactions like yours for further recommendations. I will see if I can find that and give it a shot, so thanks! :)
Well, now I’m torn. I have been wanting to give Beck another try, and last week Scott pretty much convinced me. But now there’s this, and I waffle again.
Also, I would suggest The Strokes for this list. I even bought their last album without previously listening to a single song, thinking this would motivate me to listen to it enough to start liking it. Sadly, this was not the case and I ended up trading it in for…The Beastie Boys.
Oh yeah, totally on The Strokes — I’ve never liked them either. Thankfully 94.9 doesn’t play them too often. The other bands tend to be more ‘acclaimed’ so they get more airplay.
Eric,
Here’s sample paragraph:
“While many songwriters make their living by taking everyday sayings and copying them directly into the chorus of a radio single, Beck invents his own sayings (loosely composed on old ones) appropriate to the madness of the age. He will use any means at his disposal to name, mock, and rearrange the dissembling spirits of our day and render them ridiculous by giving the forces of darkness such titles as ‘stereopathetic soul manure†and “a bozo nightmare.†His lyrics reflect a perpetual apprehension that refuses to be paralyzed or silence and, instead, employs mockery and outlandish imagery as a form of hopeful protest. On the anthems of Mellow Gold, the part summons of Odelay, the haunted world of Mutations, and the mad, comic nightmare of Midnite Vultures, we’re persuaded to look twice at our own troubled, groaning terrain. In a world of media saturation that transforms human affection into something groping and soulless, Beck’s swiftly evolving metaphors refuse submission to the manipulative orchestrations of a death-dealing culture and form an overall pattern of alternative clarity and mindfulness against disharmony and fear†(99).
I might summarize Dark’s take on Beck as one who stands with the “powers of the air†on their side of the line and names them/exposes them/subverts them. And Dark does quote Ephesians 2:2
at this point. He says that Beck offers another/new/fresh perspective on the way things are. Anyways, Dark sort of moves in and out of all of Beck’s albums and talks about apocalyptic themes. If your interested in more of Darks stuff check out this website. http://www.everydayapocalypse.org.
Peace,
Scott
You never liked any talking in your music did you? :)
I’d add Jack Johnson. Maybe I’ve been away from laid back OB too long, but has the guy ever played a different guitar riff? daaaa dada da da dada. C’mon, you know what I’m talking about.
Great photo by the way ;)
Scott,
Thanks for taking the time to type that out. That sounds interesting. I wonder how Beck’s Scientology plays out, if at all, in his music? Maybe I’ll check out more of his lyrics, but I still don’t care for his aesthetic and music itself too much.
Nate!
Yeah, whenever somebody ‘says’ something in the middle of a song that is mostly sung, that really irritates me. I think the only person that I will allow that for is Johnny Cash who did that occasionally. Spoken word stuff, is different though. I love the new Saul Williams album, but about half the reason I love it is because Trent Reznor did the music :)
And totally, I thought of you when I chose the Mr. Yuck sticker! :)
Peace,
Eric