Name-checked bands that aren't as good as their press.

[jpgray]

Let's get a nice toasty flamewar in here, shall we?

:)

I'll nominate Big Star for this one. They were good, but seem to be more on the level of an underground Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers than pop geniuses, in my view.

[lazarus]

1. I don't understand "name-checked"

:shrug:

[jpgray]

2. Often cited as an influence, or as an overlooked or underrated band (nt)

[lazarus]

3. Ah

Like Led Zeppelin influence, or obscure bands that are an influence?

[Magrittes Pipe]

4. Alex Chilton kicks the ass of Tom Petty.

Come on, Gray, you're just trying to dust shit up. ;)

That said, they're probably not as good as their rep. Sister Lovers the "masterpiece," is fragmented and incomplete, its moments of pop brilliance and transcendence balanced by a decent dose of song that just don't match up. The first two records are better. And no Big Star album is perfect in the sense that all three have songs I skip over.

In other words, I hold them in higher esteem than you appear to; but I consider them to fall just short of being a "great band."

[Magrittes Pipe]

5. The Beatles.

Undeniably great band. Undeniably important. Undeniably good records.

That said, I can name 2 dozen artists I consider better, qualitatively, than the Beatles. The Beatles had some really shitty fucking songs -- what about "Yellow Submarine?" That damn song singlehandedly prevented Revolver from contending for the title of Greatest Album Ever.

I love Rubber Soul, I love Revolver with the exception of "Submarine," The Beatles would have been an exceptional single album, without all those crap songs like "Martha My Dear" and "Honey Pie" and "Rocky Raccoon."

The Beatles are one of my favorite bands -- but a lot of people get blinded by the magic they felt the first time they heard The Beatles. They're great, but they're not THAT great.

[kaitykaity]

6. We always change "yellow submarine" to

"little rubber room." It does wonders for the song.

[Kat45]

7. I'd say it's their importance that gives them the high esteem

They were the first rock band in a sense. I can remember when they first came to America when I was little. They were something new, these four boys with long hair (and yes, a very big deal was made of their having long hair, though by later standards it wasn't particularly long). And with their appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, they immediately hit the mainstream big-time. (Actually, there was quite a PR campaign going to lead up to their American debut.) Sure, there was some rock'n'roll around, but not as visible and not quite like this. Everyone knew who each member of the band was, and it was the beginning of every kid wanting to learn an instrument and be in a band. Hence, the influence on other musicians.

[mvd]

8. Well to me, they ARE that great

They're my favorite band. I can't think of another band I love more songs from. That's how I measure things. I even think "Yellow Submarine" is a camp classic.

[mvd]

9. I prefer Tom Petty - love them

In terms of overall quality, just a little bit under John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen, in my opinion.

I'm not much of an AC/DC fan. Or a KISS fan - always found KISS boring. Both are thought of highly by many people.

[robertarctor]

10. I never "got" Guns N' Roses

Tuneless buttrock band fronted by an egomaniacal crank-addled dope.

[Maestro]

11. I never did really either

after their first album. I do like Velvet Revolver though but I was always an STP fan as well.

[ComerPerro]

14. Exactly. I never understood the obsession.

[Kire]

12. Rush

to the toilet, that is
:puke:

[ComerPerro]

15. LOL. I agree

[semillama]

13. Metallica

'nuff said.

[ComerPerro]

16. Metallica is very overrated.