I guess this is the opposite of 'guilty pleasures'. What bands are you supposed to LOVE, but just don't. I have two major entries: the above pictured Led Zep, and the Who. I like the Who a lot more than Zep, but other than Who's Next and a few singles they give me the blahs.
Zeppelin is a whole other story. I don't know why I can't get into the bombast, the faerie-tales, the awesome musicianship, and the primal howling. But I can't. Sure, there are plenty of Zep songs I like (Going to California, The Ocean, D'yer Mak'r, Fool in the Rain, The Crunge), but the majority of them it wouldn't bother me if I never heard them again. Who or what is to blame for this turn of events? A few possibilities:
1) Rock Radio. Constant heavy rotation of 7 or 8 songs from a rich catalog ruins said songs.
2) Punk Rock. Punk rock taught me that stuff like Zeppelin sucks. This doesn't explain my antipathy to the Who, however.
3) I'm an idiot who doesn't get it, man.
What are your thoughts? Which artists are on your list?
10 comments:
This is going to get me fucking crucified, but I'd have to say Bob Dylan. God knows I've tried, but I just don't get it.
Maybe somebody who looks like Bob sexually abused me as a child or something ...
What a douchebag. Just kidding. I can always understand when people don't like Bob. I think he either strikes a chord with you or he doesn't. It's probably an intelligence thing.
I'm the same way about Zep, Dave. I never could get to just LOVE them like I always thought I should. They always seemed kind of pre-fab to me. I also used to think the Beatles were overrated, but I've come around on them. Big time.
I really really want to be crazy about Radiohead, but I just can't manage to pay attention to a whole song, much less an album. Many times I've tried, and about four songs in I realize I haven't heard the last 20 minutes or so. Another guy I feel like I should really appreciate more but just can't get in to is John Hiatt. I've gotten a couple of his albums and they just don't click.
I also understand the Dylan thing Jaime, but I'd still crucify you. Actually, I didn't 'fall' for Dylan til a couple of years ago, and then I went pretty crazy.
Joe, I'm with you on Radiohead. I admire the hell out of them, but I don't find their music that enjoyable to listen to. Call me old school, but The Bends was and is one of my favorite albums, but after that I lose the plot.
I LOVE Radiohead! It's probably an intelligence thing ...
The White Stripes is another one of those band's that I'm supposed to like.
I just don't see what the big deal is. The songs just aren't that good, but I did like "Fell In Love With A Girl." Never mind the controversy over whether Meg is Jack's sister or ex-wife - what about the fact that she calls herself a drummer?
Ditto on the Stripes. But what about her giant boobies?
I thought it was just me with R.head. God, how I've tried. I'd have to put Ryan Adams on my list, along with Bobs Marley, Mould and, to some extent, Dylan. I find Dylan really engaging when I can just sit and listen, but if I can't, its just vaguely annoying. Probably is an intelligence thing. And listening to zydeco is as bearable as chewing on broken glass.
Agreed on the Bob Mould, and I'd probably add Husker Du, for that matter. (I think the tinny production always put me off ...)
Lurker, I have always had a love/hate thing with Adams. Sometimes I think he's lazily pretentious and just going through the motions, but from time to time he drops songs that I could listen to over and over.
As far as Dylan goes, I was stuck on the same three or four albums for years, then I listened to 'Street Legal' and from then on, I've found something on every album I loved - even the Jesus records (which I actually think are all really good). At the same time, I wouldn't throw many of his records on in a roomful of people, and I will be the first to admit that with Bob, you've got to wade through a lot of shit ('Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts,' anyone?) to get to the good stuff. At the same times, I sometimes go days when no one else is worth listening to. Same thing happens with Elvis.
And everytime I have seen Buckwheat Zydeco, I have been so hammered by the time it was over I could have chewed on broken glass with ease.
Joe, you talking about Dylan reminds me of me with Tom Waits. You make the distinction well, not the "roomful of people" appeal. There are times when no one's music knows how I feel except Waits, if that makes any kind of sense.
I haven't given up on Ryan, I'll spin him again in time.
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