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Saturday, January 21, 2012
Shit Talk Red Hot Chili Peppers vs. KISS vs. the Doors: Who Is the Worst?
Posted by Megan Seling on Sat, Jan 21, 2012 at 1:21 PM
None of this matters, of course. All three of these bands will always have fans who relentlessly defend their music and there's no chance in hell I'll ever change my mind either way. But that won't stop me from still wanting answers! So, I ask: Who's the worst? The Doors? KISS? Or Red Hot Chili Peppers? Let's vote!
(*With thanks to Skippy for the Sublime joke.)
1
KISS.
The only song they have that even remotely rocked needed "ROCK" in the title to fool you into thinking it rocked.
They suck.
So bad.
mitigating factor: Paul Stanley's banter.
Chili Peppers are horrible, The Doors are crap, sure. But KISS is the worst.
Grandmas don't even think they rock.
godDAMN I'm angry now
The only song they have that even remotely rocked needed "ROCK" in the title to fool you into thinking it rocked.
They suck.
So bad.
mitigating factor: Paul Stanley's banter.
Chili Peppers are horrible, The Doors are crap, sure. But KISS is the worst.
Grandmas don't even think they rock.
godDAMN I'm angry now
4
Listen to "Mother's Milk" and tell me that the RHCP always "take their music very seriously". That you only know the band by what is played on the radio is telling.
5
Wow, somebody's grumpy @ 2.
Besides your other observations about the Doors, they did have Ray Manzarek, awesome organ player, who contributed to the world of music later as the producer for X. There's nothing like that in the pedigree of any RHCP or KISS member.
Besides your other observations about the Doors, they did have Ray Manzarek, awesome organ player, who contributed to the world of music later as the producer for X. There's nothing like that in the pedigree of any RHCP or KISS member.
6
@ 4, "Mother's Milk" was the only RCHP record I ever owned. I don't remember it as "serious" or "fun;" honestly, I don't remember a note of it at all.
7
Kiss. They are merely an excuse for merchandise. Their best quality is the world's decades-long appropriation of their make-up designs for out-of-place use on pictures and statues of famous people.
I don't have strong feelings one way or the other about the Doors.
RHCP are difficult for me. Their rhythm section really is quite good, Flea in particular. He tore it up when I saw Atoms for Peace. And when Frusciante was playing with them, they had a monster guitar player. But then it all goes so horribly wrong when the vocals begin. The verse of their current single is actually a decent groove, and then the fucking vocals start, and it all is immediately unlistenable. I've always liked the outro to Sir Psycho Sexy (ugh, the title, I know...). So, basically, I like the power trio version of the band (with Frusciante), which, of course, doesn't exist as a stand-alone band.
I don't have strong feelings one way or the other about the Doors.
RHCP are difficult for me. Their rhythm section really is quite good, Flea in particular. He tore it up when I saw Atoms for Peace. And when Frusciante was playing with them, they had a monster guitar player. But then it all goes so horribly wrong when the vocals begin. The verse of their current single is actually a decent groove, and then the fucking vocals start, and it all is immediately unlistenable. I've always liked the outro to Sir Psycho Sexy (ugh, the title, I know...). So, basically, I like the power trio version of the band (with Frusciante), which, of course, doesn't exist as a stand-alone band.
8
All three of them are, you know, okay. Not for everybody. Not, for that matter, for me. But they're fine.
9
This was a REALLY hard question to answer. Apparently, you and I share significant disdain for the same music. I finally settled on Red Hot Chili Peppers, but only just barely. The Doors are a close second. I can almost stand one or two KISS songs, so they came in third, even though they generally suck shit, too.
11
I was seventeen (+ -), drunk and stoned during the rise of Kiss. I was horrified when several of my friends with otherwise pretty good taste in popular music (Spirit, Bowie, J Geils Band, Joannie Mitchell, et al) bought their albums and listened to the shit pretty often. These friends were subjected to searing beration- though nothing undeserving an offense so grave, and more than one friendship was seriously endangered over the matter. I loathe Kiss, and especially the dickhead with the TV show.
13
Has to be RHCP. One of the only bands where no matter which song of theirs it is I turn the radio off when it comes on. Worst. Band. Ever.
14
"the chilis" are most definitely the most despised by me, but probably only because they were part of the music of "my generation." ALL sublime also falls into this category for me and i hate them as well (probably less than rhcp, but only because the singer is dead and they won't make anymore records that people will actually give a shit about). kiss and the doors were already dinosaurs by then.
i don't listen to much of the doors, and what i know of i don't really give a shit about, but it doesn't irk me.
the only thing good that kiss did was let the melvins cover "going blind." i'm surprised e.christianson and n.cates aren't here to argue the merits of kiss yet.....
i don't listen to much of the doors, and what i know of i don't really give a shit about, but it doesn't irk me.
the only thing good that kiss did was let the melvins cover "going blind." i'm surprised e.christianson and n.cates aren't here to argue the merits of kiss yet.....
15
Sublime with Rome: only marginally less awful than Sublime without Rome. A rare case of an "underground" band where I found their major-label rip-off version (311) actually marginally more tolerable.
RHCP: worse than all of the other bands mentioned here put together.
I'll concede that Kiss is, objectively, pretty fucking awful, but it's hard to stay mad at Gene Simmons for just putting together a schtick to get a really ugly schlubby Jewish guy laid like nobody's business. Whereas each and every last member of the Chilis is apparently still convinced that they were making Important Artistic Statements.
RHCP: worse than all of the other bands mentioned here put together.
I'll concede that Kiss is, objectively, pretty fucking awful, but it's hard to stay mad at Gene Simmons for just putting together a schtick to get a really ugly schlubby Jewish guy laid like nobody's business. Whereas each and every last member of the Chilis is apparently still convinced that they were making Important Artistic Statements.
17
They are all terrible in their own way. I have at one point or another liked all of these bands, except for Sublime, because I am not an overweight, do not wear cargo shorts, do not have a goatee, and rarely drink bud light-all of which seem to be required to get into that band.
- in 5th/6th grade I thought Kiss was awesome-Animalize was the shit. I believe 11 year old boys and 15 Y.O girls are the target demographic for this band.
-In 7th grade I thought the doors were pretty cool, the hits anyway-otherwise it was just tedious hippy bullshit. Turns out it was all tedious hippy bullshit, and Ray Manzerek is an obnoxious bore. And The X were also terrible, with or without his help-did anyone else see that reunion show that was replayed ad nauseum on cable a couple years back? fuck, that was embarrassing.
-Up thorugh 8th grade I thought RHCP were awesome in much the same way that I thought The Dead Milkmen and Violent Femmes were awesome. I saw them in that "Thrashin" film when I was about 12-about the right time to start liking that band. I bought Mother's Milk when it came out...not sure why as I was past that phase.
I have a better game: Which current Stranger-felated music makers will be the most embarrassing to admit you liked in 5 years?
-
- in 5th/6th grade I thought Kiss was awesome-Animalize was the shit. I believe 11 year old boys and 15 Y.O girls are the target demographic for this band.
-In 7th grade I thought the doors were pretty cool, the hits anyway-otherwise it was just tedious hippy bullshit. Turns out it was all tedious hippy bullshit, and Ray Manzerek is an obnoxious bore. And The X were also terrible, with or without his help-did anyone else see that reunion show that was replayed ad nauseum on cable a couple years back? fuck, that was embarrassing.
-Up thorugh 8th grade I thought RHCP were awesome in much the same way that I thought The Dead Milkmen and Violent Femmes were awesome. I saw them in that "Thrashin" film when I was about 12-about the right time to start liking that band. I bought Mother's Milk when it came out...not sure why as I was past that phase.
I have a better game: Which current Stranger-felated music makers will be the most embarrassing to admit you liked in 5 years?
-
18
@17: I'll suggest that in no more than 5 years, but possibly much much less, many people are going to be quietly deleting about two dozen Arcade Fire mp3s from their collection, and then trying very hard to avoid the topic for the rest of their lives.
20
Musically I think all three bands are reasonably good, each in their own way. However if the selection were which of these bands produced the stupidest lyrics Kiss would win by a landslide.
21
The Chili Peppers would be a mediocre band without Anthony Kiedis - Frusciante, Flea and Chad Smith are all competent musicians who just decided to make crappy music together.
With Anthony Kiedis, however, they are a terrible, HORRIBLE band. That guy cannot sing worth a shit, and whichever music producer told him that he could in the mid-90's should be taken out back and shot.
KISS and the Doors are not great bands, but at least their vocals do not make me want to rip my own ears off.
With Anthony Kiedis, however, they are a terrible, HORRIBLE band. That guy cannot sing worth a shit, and whichever music producer told him that he could in the mid-90's should be taken out back and shot.
KISS and the Doors are not great bands, but at least their vocals do not make me want to rip my own ears off.
22
Guess it's my age, but I really like both Kiss and the Doors. Sure, Kiss is gimmicky, but their songs are fun and way catchy and, like the Doors, they knew how to write an album from start to finish. You don't find a lot of unlistenable tracks on albums from either band. RHCP, aside from one or two really good pop songs, are just noisy and cheesy. Their songs annoy me within seconds.
23
Also, let's be careful and acknowledge that we all probably like some bands that most people think aren't very good.
You know I love you, Megan, but a lot of pop punk was crap, and even more of it just hasn't aged well.
You know I love you, Megan, but a lot of pop punk was crap, and even more of it just hasn't aged well.
24
I don't how about all the idiot "joke" bands that lean on using vocoders because they're talentless hacks. Don't even get me started on what a "joke" hip hop is.
25
@23 Ha! Don't I know it! But this isn't me saying I have flawless tastes in music that should never be questioned or criticized. I like a lot of bands that a lot of people would say are terrible. What I like isn't the point here, though.
This post is more about three bands that seem to have a bi-polar relationship with the public that runs decades deep--more so than a lot of other bands I can think of. I dislike all of them, and obviously a lot of other people do too, but all three also have really relentless fans. I think it's interesting.
This post is more about three bands that seem to have a bi-polar relationship with the public that runs decades deep--more so than a lot of other bands I can think of. I dislike all of them, and obviously a lot of other people do too, but all three also have really relentless fans. I think it's interesting.
27
@12: This x100,000.
@5: Gene Simmons recorded the 1976 demo for Van Halen. Compare Van Halen to X; which is more relevant to the history of rock music.
@4: This as well. I'm not sure how anyone could call pre-'Mother's Milk' RHCP "serious" with a straight face.
@5: Gene Simmons recorded the 1976 demo for Van Halen. Compare Van Halen to X; which is more relevant to the history of rock music.
@4: This as well. I'm not sure how anyone could call pre-'Mother's Milk' RHCP "serious" with a straight face.
28
@26 Yeah! I like pop punk! It's shitty, simple, catchy music and I fucking love it. Me liking pop punk doesn't have anything to do with anything here, though. Does having one opinion you disagree with mean I can't ever have a credible opinion about anything else?
29
@16 - i'm there with you on that one.
@20 - the only reason kiss's lyrics are marginally better than rchp's is because they use actual words instead of the scatting "skeep bop shamma domma" shit that rhcp uses.
@26 - the only people who win in these comments are the ones who attack the original poster's own personal music tastes instead of putting up valid arguments for/against the bands that the post was about?
@20 - the only reason kiss's lyrics are marginally better than rchp's is because they use actual words instead of the scatting "skeep bop shamma domma" shit that rhcp uses.
@26 - the only people who win in these comments are the ones who attack the original poster's own personal music tastes instead of putting up valid arguments for/against the bands that the post was about?
31
RHCP... Mothers milk and BSSM are great albums. Don't like any of that adult contemporary nonsense they've been playing for the last 15 years.
Kiss is a joke band. Kiss is the Krusty the Clown of rock and roll. So I can't really hate them.
I FUCKING HATE THE DOORS. Talented musicians, but Morrison is a complete and total hack.
Kiss is a joke band. Kiss is the Krusty the Clown of rock and roll. So I can't really hate them.
I FUCKING HATE THE DOORS. Talented musicians, but Morrison is a complete and total hack.
32
@30, et. al- There is a lot of very bad pop punk in this world. There is also some amazing, fun, catchy, even technically competent pop punk in this world.
J Church, Joybus, Nobody's Children, etc. I know there are a pile of them.
My vote for future mp3 deletion is Shabazz Palaces
J Church, Joybus, Nobody's Children, etc. I know there are a pile of them.
My vote for future mp3 deletion is Shabazz Palaces
35
@33: It's similar to Manzarek grasping for relevance by glomming onto a hot young new band and playing producer by sitting in the studio while recording engineers do all the work. Manzarek is definitely no Rik Ocasek, Manzarek was never ahead of the curve in finding new acts.
36
Smegan- are you fucking serious? Have you actually heard the awesome music from the new RHCP album? The first successful album sans John Frusciante, replaced by the equally gifted virtuoso, Josh Klinghoffer? They are currently being inducted in the music Hall of Fame. To not appreciate the melodic funk, rock and soul of the Chilis equates to not appreciating music at all.
Which brings me onto the Doors. You can't name the other members? Well that doesn't surprise me, Smegan. Suffice to say they are also gifted musicians with talents ranging from classical, jazz to blues and rock. Jim Morrison was a rock God poet- their music was unique- they had some rock great numbers like Roadhouse Blues and catchy pop songs like Love Me Two Times- but enough- I don't want to cram your tiny, blinkered musical brain with these fundamentals.
Kiss- now at least I can agree with you on one point here- they ARE shit. They are icons and could handle their blow: they are pinball wizards- and their music is shit. Don't ever compare them to real musicians again.
@Prodigalzon
Which brings me onto the Doors. You can't name the other members? Well that doesn't surprise me, Smegan. Suffice to say they are also gifted musicians with talents ranging from classical, jazz to blues and rock. Jim Morrison was a rock God poet- their music was unique- they had some rock great numbers like Roadhouse Blues and catchy pop songs like Love Me Two Times- but enough- I don't want to cram your tiny, blinkered musical brain with these fundamentals.
Kiss- now at least I can agree with you on one point here- they ARE shit. They are icons and could handle their blow: they are pinball wizards- and their music is shit. Don't ever compare them to real musicians again.
@Prodigalzon
38
I gotta side with some of the detractors here. you know what they say about glass houses, and this post was written by a person who buys a lot of Windex...
RHCP are just bad. there were times when I really thought I could give them a chance, but I am always wrong for doing so. a thousand decent Frusciante guitar licks won't make up for the fact that Flea nearly ruined the bass for two generations and counting. anyone who has ever walked into the Bass Store in Pioneer Square knows what I'm talking about. also, I love that Anthony Kiedis got his foot shot off in Point Break.
Kiss are a lame band though they did write some amazing songs. fuck, I even like "Lick It Up"... the fandom cult that surrounds them is a huge turn-off, but at least they're not juggalos.
as mitten said, The Doors knew how to write an album. Jim Morrison set a terrible precedent in some ways, yet on the other hand really defined the identity of the frontman and that's awesome. even though I think Manzerek is a close tie with Paul McCartney as the world's most evil musician, overall I really like The Doors. I don't love them, but I don't think I trust a person who doesn't at the very least appreciate them.
RHCP are just bad. there were times when I really thought I could give them a chance, but I am always wrong for doing so. a thousand decent Frusciante guitar licks won't make up for the fact that Flea nearly ruined the bass for two generations and counting. anyone who has ever walked into the Bass Store in Pioneer Square knows what I'm talking about. also, I love that Anthony Kiedis got his foot shot off in Point Break.
Kiss are a lame band though they did write some amazing songs. fuck, I even like "Lick It Up"... the fandom cult that surrounds them is a huge turn-off, but at least they're not juggalos.
as mitten said, The Doors knew how to write an album. Jim Morrison set a terrible precedent in some ways, yet on the other hand really defined the identity of the frontman and that's awesome. even though I think Manzerek is a close tie with Paul McCartney as the world's most evil musician, overall I really like The Doors. I don't love them, but I don't think I trust a person who doesn't at the very least appreciate them.
41
As a college freshman in Iowa I had a roomate who was the in the Iowa Young Republicans and used to come home late at night strip nude and rock back and forth while listening to the Doors on his Walkman with the volume turned up an unearthly level so that I could hear Jim Morrison like he was speaking in my own ear. Today I become physically ill when I hear the Doors in passing. Seriously.
When I was in 6th grade kids brought a KISS album to school and I was afraid to touch it because I thought that they were devil worshippers.
I did like the RHCPs Rolling Stone cover with the socks.
Music? This isn't about music... Also, what is pop punk?
When I was in 6th grade kids brought a KISS album to school and I was afraid to touch it because I thought that they were devil worshippers.
I did like the RHCPs Rolling Stone cover with the socks.
Music? This isn't about music... Also, what is pop punk?
43
Definitely KISS. Other than Gene Simmon's infamous Fresh Air interview, they've added absolutely nothing to the culture.
44
Red Hot Chili Peppers is the worst band just for that one damn song "Californication" or however it's spelled. Hate it on the radio.
45
@ 35, the point is that it's a feather in The Doors' cap, and one neither KISS nor RHCP have. If you're so butthurt that you have to bring up a VH demo and The Cars, that's not my problem.
Awaiting your next tangent...
Awaiting your next tangent...
46
I'd say the following gives Gene Simmons cred over anything to do with Van Hagar or X.
Kiss Related Recordings; Wendy O' Williams 1983 - 1984
www.kissfaq.com/krr/wow.html
Wendy O'Williams (lead vocals) Gene Simmons, as his pseudonym Reginald Van Helsing (bass) Paul Stanley (guitar on "Ready To Rock") Ace Frehley (lead ...
Wendy O. Williams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_O._Williams
In 1984, she released the W.O.W. album, produced by Gene Simmons of Kiss. ... (as Wendy O Williams' Ultrafly and the Hometown Girls) (LP, 1988) ...
Kiss Related Recordings; Wendy O' Williams 1983 - 1984
www.kissfaq.com/krr/wow.html
Wendy O'Williams (lead vocals) Gene Simmons, as his pseudonym Reginald Van Helsing (bass) Paul Stanley (guitar on "Ready To Rock") Ace Frehley (lead ...
Wendy O. Williams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_O._Williams
In 1984, she released the W.O.W. album, produced by Gene Simmons of Kiss. ... (as Wendy O Williams' Ultrafly and the Hometown Girls) (LP, 1988) ...
47
My vote (red hot chili peppers) comes entirely because I've been force fed them one to many times, and so I've developed an intolerance. Objectively speaking I think they're ok.
49
9 out of 10 Doors haters likely never explored the deep album cuts; therefore their opinions about the band should be viewed with utmost skepticism.
50
@49- No, I think anyone with a turntable and their parents record collection has listened to more that their share of 'Horse Latitudes' and 'Yes, The River Knows' and can make the well informed decision that these people had no business making music.
@48- I think you are using the word 'Hipster' as interchangable with 'music fan' -which is incorrect.
@48- I think you are using the word 'Hipster' as interchangable with 'music fan' -which is incorrect.
51
I never thought I'd have a reason to link this but here's some more defense of Jim Morrison http://www.heathenworld.com/chaos/hatema… resulting from http://www.heathenworld.com/music/morris… which includes
We've done it again! The Heathen World first found Elvis Presley alive and drunk in the obscure "Shady Frog" trailer park North of Memphis. Now we have the exclusive scoop that Jim Morrison is Alive!! He lives in the San Francisco Heights Mission District mental hospital.
and
Celebration of the Lizard Slob
(by Jim Morrison)
I am the Lizard Slob! I can do anything!
I am the Wing King! I can eat anything!
.. drooling helplessly in my old leather pants.
I'm breaking on through ...the backside!
We've done it again! The Heathen World first found Elvis Presley alive and drunk in the obscure "Shady Frog" trailer park North of Memphis. Now we have the exclusive scoop that Jim Morrison is Alive!! He lives in the San Francisco Heights Mission District mental hospital.
and
Celebration of the Lizard Slob
(by Jim Morrison)
I am the Lizard Slob! I can do anything!
I am the Wing King! I can eat anything!
.. drooling helplessly in my old leather pants.
I'm breaking on through ...the backside!
52
I have lived though all of these bands, and I love the question and the resulting discussion. Two things:
1) KISS has value. When they released "KISS Alive!," a million kids picked up guitars and said, "Shit, I can do that." Ten thousand bands were born. Maybe a thousand played live before a crowd. A hundred or so were considered for contracts. And a couple of dozen made it big. KISS was The Ramones on the metal side of things.
2) I truly wish this was an international poll so we could all vote for Rush. Pretentiousness, inanity, out-sized popularity - Rush has it all.
1) KISS has value. When they released "KISS Alive!," a million kids picked up guitars and said, "Shit, I can do that." Ten thousand bands were born. Maybe a thousand played live before a crowd. A hundred or so were considered for contracts. And a couple of dozen made it big. KISS was The Ramones on the metal side of things.
2) I truly wish this was an international poll so we could all vote for Rush. Pretentiousness, inanity, out-sized popularity - Rush has it all.
54
i love the doors! their greatest hits is quite excellent, actually. they had a promo only remix album a few years ago that is also very good. it featured the mash-up "rapture riders" of blondie's "rapture" and the doors' "riders on the storm". anyhoozie, crystal method and some others were involved with the album and i like it a lot.
kiss and rhcp suck ass (though i DO have a soft spot (flacid?) for that kiss disco record.... )
kiss and rhcp suck ass (though i DO have a soft spot (flacid?) for that kiss disco record.... )
55
@50 -- Many music fans just listen to music they like and don't bother worrying about music they don't care for. Hipsters are caught up in the narcissism of small differences and have a smug sense of superiority about almost everything, but the definition is relative.
http://dustinland.com/archives/archives4…
http://dustinland.com/archives/archives4…
56
The Doors are completely vindicated by "The End" IMHO. Plus, anybody who was the number one inspiration of a young James Osterberg obviously has stuff going on that you may, erm, not be capable of fully appreciating for whatever reason. Unless you think Iggy Pop sucks, and in that case, there is no help for you.
57
Kiss may have been great in the '70s but there's nothing left but nostalgia. Full disclosure; I was there, I grew out of it.
I could hardly hate anyone more than Jim Morrison. Did they not have poetry slams in the '60s? That asshole should have been stopped in his tracks way before he did it himself.
FUCK THE RED HOD CHILI PEPPERS. I have to go throw up now because I thought of them.
I could hardly hate anyone more than Jim Morrison. Did they not have poetry slams in the '60s? That asshole should have been stopped in his tracks way before he did it himself.
FUCK THE RED HOD CHILI PEPPERS. I have to go throw up now because I thought of them.
58
"Kiss is a joke band. Kiss is the Krusty the Clown of rock and roll. So I can't really hate them. "
Ha ha! Shit. This just made me want to listen to Kiss again. They still suck, though.
Repeat; FUCK THE RED HOD CHILI PEPPERS.
Ha ha! Shit. This just made me want to listen to Kiss again. They still suck, though.
Repeat; FUCK THE RED HOD CHILI PEPPERS.
59
@55
you knowingly use the word "hipster" as a pejorative despite a realization that it's a completely empty term? I think we found the real hipster in the room here. why don't you start using grownup words like "fuckface" when you feel like shitting all over someone because you don't like what they have to say, eh fuckface?
you knowingly use the word "hipster" as a pejorative despite a realization that it's a completely empty term? I think we found the real hipster in the room here. why don't you start using grownup words like "fuckface" when you feel like shitting all over someone because you don't like what they have to say, eh fuckface?
61
it is an empty term. the cartoon you linked to made the argument for you. it's 2012 which means people have been complaining about "hipsters" for over a decade. why don't you talk about something interesting instead, like...I dunno, who sucks more: RHCP, Kiss or The Doors?
62
You know what sucks? Talking about what sucks. Especially what old stuff sucks. Let's talk about what is new and rocks.
64
I just fukking hate it when I hear "Smells Like Teen Spirit" or all of the other played out Nirvana songs on the radio. Why do all stations, particularly in the Northwest have to dry hump this drivel to death. And Chili Peppers? Man, "Soul to Squeeze" is the Jam.
65
Uplift Mofo Partyplan=serious music?
Thanks, I will.
And the Doors. Well, let's just say that they're alot better than their music.
I gotta vote Kiss is worst here.
Thanks, I will.
And the Doors. Well, let's just say that they're alot better than their music.
I gotta vote Kiss is worst here.
67
Tough call. Kiss wins by a hair because their music not only sucks ass but I've never met a fan of theirs that I would want to touch with anything shorter than a telephone pole. I too change the radio station any time RHCP comes on, but my judgment is clouded by the fond memory of an early track a guy put on a mixtape for me one time. And do they actually have any fans? I've never met one. Somehow that works to their credit.
No opinion on the Doors. They are a thing that happened.
No opinion on the Doors. They are a thing that happened.
68
This is a really good topic, while seeming arbitrary, due to Megan's excellent assertions: "This post is more about three bands that seem to have a bi-polar relationship with the public that runs decades deep--more so than a lot of other bands I can think of. I dislike all of them, and obviously a lot of other people do too, but all three also have really relentless fans. I think it's interesting." & "Does having one opinion you disagree with mean I can't ever have a credible opinion about anything else?" (Yes and yes.)
I have an ambivalence about The Doors, and yet adore their actual playing and occasionally their songs are as important to me as the VUs (which is to say, music from my favorite band). KISS I have always enjoyed the idea of more than the execution, and have to admit only "Detroit Rock City" is the only song I love. RHCP's had an occasional single I enjoyed, but I experienced the albums as they came out till a few years ago, and their deep cuts do not compare well with The Doors (for example).
What all three of these bands have in common is a certain adolescent-ascending, hyper-masculine fantasy trip, and I think great (and many boring and grating) things can come out of that weird pool. All could be termed musically "masturbatory" (whether in image or excessive use of "organ" and "rhythm section") and tend to appeal more to marginalized males without a diversely defined music culture.
It's unnecessary and ridiculous to "remind" Megan she's a "pop punk fan" in the context of this discussion (as her tastes are much wider and more diverse than that anyways), but pop punk is a fascinating genre to compare these bands to -- they actually have some interesting similarities and differences. KISS, for example, has always seemed like amped power pop to me -- and obviously made for FUN, like pop punk. (They never play with near or actual musical improvisation, like the other two bands.) Actually, all three bands have a sense of "pop" (in their singles) but retain cliched male aggression (that is expressed somewhat differently by most pop punk bands). Both Blink 182 and RHCP seemed to enjoy public nudity and porn star infatuation, yadda yadda.
Inevitably, I think pop punk doesn't hustle the transcendent, larger than life hubris these bands pretty much use as their M.O. But they still blow emotionally underdeveloped perceptions out of proportion, still fixated on adolescent absorption, selfish frustrated lust transformed into self-deceptive, anthemic repetition.
Of any of these bands The Doors are the most self-aware, genuinely intuitive, multi-layered lyrically and musically -- which in general sort of makes the tics and haze of a lot of their fans even that much more fucking annoying.
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I have an ambivalence about The Doors, and yet adore their actual playing and occasionally their songs are as important to me as the VUs (which is to say, music from my favorite band). KISS I have always enjoyed the idea of more than the execution, and have to admit only "Detroit Rock City" is the only song I love. RHCP's had an occasional single I enjoyed, but I experienced the albums as they came out till a few years ago, and their deep cuts do not compare well with The Doors (for example).
What all three of these bands have in common is a certain adolescent-ascending, hyper-masculine fantasy trip, and I think great (and many boring and grating) things can come out of that weird pool. All could be termed musically "masturbatory" (whether in image or excessive use of "organ" and "rhythm section") and tend to appeal more to marginalized males without a diversely defined music culture.
It's unnecessary and ridiculous to "remind" Megan she's a "pop punk fan" in the context of this discussion (as her tastes are much wider and more diverse than that anyways), but pop punk is a fascinating genre to compare these bands to -- they actually have some interesting similarities and differences. KISS, for example, has always seemed like amped power pop to me -- and obviously made for FUN, like pop punk. (They never play with near or actual musical improvisation, like the other two bands.) Actually, all three bands have a sense of "pop" (in their singles) but retain cliched male aggression (that is expressed somewhat differently by most pop punk bands). Both Blink 182 and RHCP seemed to enjoy public nudity and porn star infatuation, yadda yadda.
Inevitably, I think pop punk doesn't hustle the transcendent, larger than life hubris these bands pretty much use as their M.O. But they still blow emotionally underdeveloped perceptions out of proportion, still fixated on adolescent absorption, selfish frustrated lust transformed into self-deceptive, anthemic repetition.
Of any of these bands The Doors are the most self-aware, genuinely intuitive, multi-layered lyrically and musically -- which in general sort of makes the tics and haze of a lot of their fans even that much more fucking annoying.
69
KISS and The Doors? They can't really hurt us anymore. Sure, their zombie brains can be resurrected and worshiped in nostalgia, but are nowhere near as dangerous as, say, the ghost of Ronald Reagan, who's being summoned as we speak in South Carolina.
The Peppers however, like Sting, still walk the Earth.
I used to work with a guy who had a huge RHCP asterisk tattoo on his forearm. Completely without irony. I liked how well it worked as a warning sign to all that his opinions could be, and should be, ignored. It was also quite entertaining when people, mostly women, overlooked this obvious DO NOT TOUCH symbol.
The Peppers however, like Sting, still walk the Earth.
I used to work with a guy who had a huge RHCP asterisk tattoo on his forearm. Completely without irony. I liked how well it worked as a warning sign to all that his opinions could be, and should be, ignored. It was also quite entertaining when people, mostly women, overlooked this obvious DO NOT TOUCH symbol.
71
@ 61, before the term came to mean a certain subset of urban young adults, hipster was a valid description of poseur who presented themselves as superior by virtue of their taste in the obscure and underground, and disdain for the popular. They've been around for decades, and it's valid to perceive this as a hipster discussion.
72
@61 -- Yeah the term's been around for a lot longer than a decade. Remember Allen Ginsberg writing about the angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection in Howl over 50 years ago? Maybe you were too busy doing interesting things like bitching about which music you hate the most to ever read that.
73
Ummm. I LOVE The Doors. Classic rock, in general, makes me ill, but they are the exception. Chili Peppers have always been a joke. Kiss is kinda funny and there is no denying that they were one of the original Gimmick Bands...plus they were the first band to give me nightmares when they guested on C.H.I.P.s (when I was 4 or 5)
75
my vote was for Sublime. but if we're sticking with the original three options, i'll go with KISS. the only valid argument in the pro-KISS comments is that they have catchy songs. really? which ones?
RHCP at least has john frusciante, who's a pretty legit guitar player. plus, i appreciate that after his return to the band, which ushered in the peak of their popularity, they really went for a stripped down approach to their recordings. while most other major rock bands go all out on production, their biggest singles from Californication and on really sounded just like four dudes playing in a room. no polish, no bells and whistles. i always thought that was actually a bold move.
no opinion on the Doors. their hits are annoying. i've tried to get into their albums, but i think i missed that window in my musical development where i could really ever come to appreciate them.
and finally, pop punk is pretty embarrassing. so are most genres that had a brief fling with mass popularity. but to me, the good pop punk bands were just amplified extensions of Woody Guthries' "all you need is two chords and the rest is just showing off" philosophy. yes, most of the pop punk stuff that the wider music community is familiar with is pretty awful. and once again, isn't that true of all genres? doesn't mean that Jawbreaker, J Church, Crimpshrine, Descendents, Pegboy, and the first couple Propagandhi albums aren't worth checking out.
RHCP at least has john frusciante, who's a pretty legit guitar player. plus, i appreciate that after his return to the band, which ushered in the peak of their popularity, they really went for a stripped down approach to their recordings. while most other major rock bands go all out on production, their biggest singles from Californication and on really sounded just like four dudes playing in a room. no polish, no bells and whistles. i always thought that was actually a bold move.
no opinion on the Doors. their hits are annoying. i've tried to get into their albums, but i think i missed that window in my musical development where i could really ever come to appreciate them.
and finally, pop punk is pretty embarrassing. so are most genres that had a brief fling with mass popularity. but to me, the good pop punk bands were just amplified extensions of Woody Guthries' "all you need is two chords and the rest is just showing off" philosophy. yes, most of the pop punk stuff that the wider music community is familiar with is pretty awful. and once again, isn't that true of all genres? doesn't mean that Jawbreaker, J Church, Crimpshrine, Descendents, Pegboy, and the first couple Propagandhi albums aren't worth checking out.
76
@56 -I am aware that Mr. Pop was a fan of the doors. I would also point out that he claims to have played an electricfied golf club when the Iguanas first started...go figure.
I'm tryng to think of more good local-ish pop punk bands of the past that should be celebrated: Tiger Trap, Excuse 17, Ten-o-Seven, Pud, Rickettes,...a shitload of Oly bands
I'm tryng to think of more good local-ish pop punk bands of the past that should be celebrated: Tiger Trap, Excuse 17, Ten-o-Seven, Pud, Rickettes,...a shitload of Oly bands
79
The most distinctively annoying features of each of these bands has to be their lyrics. They're each their own special brand of awful. I guess if I had to pick the worst it would be RHCP, on the technicality that I was in high school when they were popular and can attest to how completely heinous they sounded even within the context of the times. I mean I'm sure Jim Morrison could have sounded like a fucking genius in the 60s, but some things just don't age well.
@72/etc, If you're just here to bitch at people for sharing their opinions as requested, I think it's safe to say you've completely missed the point.
@72/etc, If you're just here to bitch at people for sharing their opinions as requested, I think it's safe to say you've completely missed the point.
80
@71
yeah, I'm well aware of that.
wow, I was really hoping this wasn't going to be a thing, but whatever. let's put it like this, when have you ever seen an internet comment that accused everyone else as being hipsters, or "x" as hipster stuff or whatever, that actually had a worthwhile opinion behind it? I'm not sure if it's that I find the word such a huge turn-off that I immediately tune out whatever else a person might be saying, or if maybe the people who say it really are as small minded as I suspect. to me it's a reflection of Godwin's Law. people think that if they call someone a hipster than their argument is made for them, because "hipster = trash" in the public mindset, despite it being a completely nebulous term at this point. it's fucking lazy and it pisses me off.
and Amanda, if you read some of the comments here rather than casting your aspirations on everyone because "oh nos! we can't have a conversation about negative perceptions in popular music!", you'd see there are some pretty interesting points being made here, like 68's. it's not just some gas huffers reading Megan's post and then just giggling about how much these three bands suck. as Megan said, none of this matters anyway. so why is it you decided to show up here just to shit all over everyone when your time could have been better spent doing something of value? at the very least, you could have gotten over your fear of being obnoxious and just given your opinion about the topic at hand before telling the rest of us where to go. I would have at least respected that.
yeah, I'm well aware of that.
wow, I was really hoping this wasn't going to be a thing, but whatever. let's put it like this, when have you ever seen an internet comment that accused everyone else as being hipsters, or "x" as hipster stuff or whatever, that actually had a worthwhile opinion behind it? I'm not sure if it's that I find the word such a huge turn-off that I immediately tune out whatever else a person might be saying, or if maybe the people who say it really are as small minded as I suspect. to me it's a reflection of Godwin's Law. people think that if they call someone a hipster than their argument is made for them, because "hipster = trash" in the public mindset, despite it being a completely nebulous term at this point. it's fucking lazy and it pisses me off.
and Amanda, if you read some of the comments here rather than casting your aspirations on everyone because "oh nos! we can't have a conversation about negative perceptions in popular music!", you'd see there are some pretty interesting points being made here, like 68's. it's not just some gas huffers reading Megan's post and then just giggling about how much these three bands suck. as Megan said, none of this matters anyway. so why is it you decided to show up here just to shit all over everyone when your time could have been better spent doing something of value? at the very least, you could have gotten over your fear of being obnoxious and just given your opinion about the topic at hand before telling the rest of us where to go. I would have at least respected that.
81
I'm with Segal and Estey. I liked the Chili Peppers in the early-'80s--even caught a socks-on show at the Limelight--but Mother's Milk was the nail in that particular coffin. I can handle Flea's slap bass, but Keidis's ballads are another story (RIP Hillel Slovak).
83
A close friend swears by the rule that if a person doesn't like KISS, they are probably a drag to hang out with. It's tested pretty accurately thus far. If you ignore that they're giant douches and just listen to the music, they've written some good, dumb, fun rock and roll. And I still think the ending of "Black Diamond" is one of the heaviest things.
I like the Doors well enough but also take them for what they are/don't participate in the Morrison worship, and totally understand why someone wouldn't like them.
RHCP remain terrible.
I like the Doors well enough but also take them for what they are/don't participate in the Morrison worship, and totally understand why someone wouldn't like them.
RHCP remain terrible.
85
If you don't want to be made fun of for being a hipster, don't spent your time talking about how things that lots of people enjoy are actually really lame in the opinions of People In The Know.
If you want to talk about why many people totally love a band and many people loathe that band - which could be a pretty interesting topic, incidentally - it is not real hard to do. A poll about which of three popular bands is the Most Terrible, though, isn't that. It's just being silly.
And I love how defensive hipsters seem to always get all het up about how hipster is a word with no meaning. Wrong. It does have a meaning - the meaning is you, hipster. If you don't like being a hipster, quit. Your choice.
If I ever have to define what I mean by "hipster", I say that it is a person who confronts popular acclaim of any thing (or sometimes any positive statement about a thing) with a statement that the thing is overrated.
Note, saying that you don't personally enjoy something that is popular doesn't make you a hipster in my book. Nor does liking something obscure. You really have to imply that your interlocutor is boring and tasteless for liking something different than you; you can feel free to gratuitously pooh-pooh someone else's fun as boring and tasteless because you are not having it.
(Like how hipsters are always making fun of Phish fans! I suspect the hipsters just have sour grapes because they are not smoking pot and giggling and dancing around to happy silly music, which is what the happy little Phish fans seem to spend their time doing, as opposed to slouching around being unimpressed.)
If you want to talk about why many people totally love a band and many people loathe that band - which could be a pretty interesting topic, incidentally - it is not real hard to do. A poll about which of three popular bands is the Most Terrible, though, isn't that. It's just being silly.
And I love how defensive hipsters seem to always get all het up about how hipster is a word with no meaning. Wrong. It does have a meaning - the meaning is you, hipster. If you don't like being a hipster, quit. Your choice.
If I ever have to define what I mean by "hipster", I say that it is a person who confronts popular acclaim of any thing (or sometimes any positive statement about a thing) with a statement that the thing is overrated.
Note, saying that you don't personally enjoy something that is popular doesn't make you a hipster in my book. Nor does liking something obscure. You really have to imply that your interlocutor is boring and tasteless for liking something different than you; you can feel free to gratuitously pooh-pooh someone else's fun as boring and tasteless because you are not having it.
(Like how hipsters are always making fun of Phish fans! I suspect the hipsters just have sour grapes because they are not smoking pot and giggling and dancing around to happy silly music, which is what the happy little Phish fans seem to spend their time doing, as opposed to slouching around being unimpressed.)
86
Ace's solo KISS record is actually pretty solid. The Doors had a ridiculous singer and always bugged me, but whatever, those records have their moments I suppose.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers on the other hand have committed what would be unimaginable—if for not being impossible to escape for the last twenty years—crimes against music. Including, but no limited to: Sex Rap, the lyrics to "Suck My Kiss" (and all their other songs, in that order), slap bass, excessive shirtlessness/accessorizing, and at one point actually featured Dave Navarro on guitar.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers on the other hand have committed what would be unimaginable—if for not being impossible to escape for the last twenty years—crimes against music. Including, but no limited to: Sex Rap, the lyrics to "Suck My Kiss" (and all their other songs, in that order), slap bass, excessive shirtlessness/accessorizing, and at one point actually featured Dave Navarro on guitar.
87
Given all the godawful, cheesy crap from my childhood that people in their 20s & early 30s love (Prince, Hall & Oates, Lionel Richie, YACHT rock, etc...) I'm surprised that KISS is actually singled out as lame.
"Alive!" was a really fun album, and I'd rather hear "Detroit Rock City" or "Strutter" at karaoke than anything by those other garbage bands that only my junior high friends' lame parents used to listen to.
"Alive!" was a really fun album, and I'd rather hear "Detroit Rock City" or "Strutter" at karaoke than anything by those other garbage bands that only my junior high friends' lame parents used to listen to.
88
It's always funny when people shit on hipsters because hipsters think they're better than everyone else.
@85, you can feel free to gratuitously pooh-pooh someone else's fun as boring and tasteless because you are not having it.
I think your sense of self-awareness might have AIDS.
@85, you can feel free to gratuitously pooh-pooh someone else's fun as boring and tasteless because you are not having it.
I think your sense of self-awareness might have AIDS.
89
I'd go all the way up to bits of BSSM for RHCP as being good. They used to sound like they were having fun. BSSM sounded like it was in pain, almost tortured into being. Which was a lot better than being boring...RHCP's state of being since One Hot Minute. There's some serious energy in Higher Ground and Catholic School Girls Rule that somehow devolved into that whining shite like Aeroplane that devolved even further into Californication. GAH.
KISS...just sounds like it happened. It's a bunch of kids making glossy bombastic rock...that eventually became old men making crappy imitations of glossy bombastic rock.
The Doors...well...they're The Doors.
Who's worse? They all had spectacularly shitty albums that became acclaimed...but since KISS still has amazing live shows, I'll go with RHCP. They should have cut and run like 20 years ago.
KISS...just sounds like it happened. It's a bunch of kids making glossy bombastic rock...that eventually became old men making crappy imitations of glossy bombastic rock.
The Doors...well...they're The Doors.
Who's worse? They all had spectacularly shitty albums that became acclaimed...but since KISS still has amazing live shows, I'll go with RHCP. They should have cut and run like 20 years ago.
90
@85
No one's getting defensive. Opinions are free. Who gives a shit if you like Phish or Kiss or the Doors or RHCP? Dig?
No one's getting defensive. Opinions are free. Who gives a shit if you like Phish or Kiss or the Doors or RHCP? Dig?
91
I love the early RHCP music, so fuck all y'all parroting the I'm-a-music-insider-cool-guy party line.
Grew up in SoCal seeing CP shows in the early 80's when we were all still high school age, and they never failed to put on an amazingly fun show. Saw them once at a ramp jam party at one of the Powell Peralta guy's backyards and that was epicly fun skating and smoking dope with those guys.
Their demo tape got passed around pretty widely before the first album, and to me they descend from a SoCal musical tradition most people don't understand, descended bands like the Penetrators, The Untouchables, Fishbone, Parliment, the Minute Men, Oingo Boingo, Agent Orange, Otis Day. There was lots of really interesting, but more importantly unbelievably fun, ska/funk/punk cross-over music at that time, and the Peps, being our same age, did a lot to expand musical tastes in our punk scene. We found George Clinton through them (he produced Freaky Styley, their best album), and Fire Hose, rap, even many classic blues men we would have otherwise never been exposed to. You can't say that about bigger, one-dimensional SoCal acts like Guns and Roses or Jane's Addiction. We learned to appreciate slap bass through them. Many of their songs have an anthem quality (Fight Like A Brave) that were perfect for getting pumped up with your buddies; lots of their songs were about unity and bro-ing down (Brother's Cup) which were great at a time when connections to friends were the most important thing in life. Lots of fun, 2quirky songs too, like Skinny Sweaty Man and Yertle the Turtle, and some interesting remakes (Subterranean Homesick Blues, Higher Ground).
Under the Bridge was painful for all of us who loved them so much as a local party band, and it sucks that the rest of the stupid country picked up on that flaming turd of a song and loved it like the hydrogenated corn syrup it is. Everything after that, to me, isn't the RHCP's, its a machine made to milk money out of aestheti-tards. But the first 3 albums still hold up if you are lucky enough to have lived the context, and Mother's Milk is solid enough too.
Anyway to me they were a way in to all kinds of good music that might have otherwise missed us as teenagers stuck in our scene. I thank them for that. The Doors are hokey and Kiss is a steaming plate of stupid that the early Chili Peppers far, far exceeded.
Now if you really want a band that's a desperately overrated pretentious sham then go on down to iTunes and pick up yourself up a little Cold Play. Oh but wait you don't know you aren't supposed to like them yet ....
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Grew up in SoCal seeing CP shows in the early 80's when we were all still high school age, and they never failed to put on an amazingly fun show. Saw them once at a ramp jam party at one of the Powell Peralta guy's backyards and that was epicly fun skating and smoking dope with those guys.
Their demo tape got passed around pretty widely before the first album, and to me they descend from a SoCal musical tradition most people don't understand, descended bands like the Penetrators, The Untouchables, Fishbone, Parliment, the Minute Men, Oingo Boingo, Agent Orange, Otis Day. There was lots of really interesting, but more importantly unbelievably fun, ska/funk/punk cross-over music at that time, and the Peps, being our same age, did a lot to expand musical tastes in our punk scene. We found George Clinton through them (he produced Freaky Styley, their best album), and Fire Hose, rap, even many classic blues men we would have otherwise never been exposed to. You can't say that about bigger, one-dimensional SoCal acts like Guns and Roses or Jane's Addiction. We learned to appreciate slap bass through them. Many of their songs have an anthem quality (Fight Like A Brave) that were perfect for getting pumped up with your buddies; lots of their songs were about unity and bro-ing down (Brother's Cup) which were great at a time when connections to friends were the most important thing in life. Lots of fun, 2quirky songs too, like Skinny Sweaty Man and Yertle the Turtle, and some interesting remakes (Subterranean Homesick Blues, Higher Ground).
Under the Bridge was painful for all of us who loved them so much as a local party band, and it sucks that the rest of the stupid country picked up on that flaming turd of a song and loved it like the hydrogenated corn syrup it is. Everything after that, to me, isn't the RHCP's, its a machine made to milk money out of aestheti-tards. But the first 3 albums still hold up if you are lucky enough to have lived the context, and Mother's Milk is solid enough too.
Anyway to me they were a way in to all kinds of good music that might have otherwise missed us as teenagers stuck in our scene. I thank them for that. The Doors are hokey and Kiss is a steaming plate of stupid that the early Chili Peppers far, far exceeded.
Now if you really want a band that's a desperately overrated pretentious sham then go on down to iTunes and pick up yourself up a little Cold Play. Oh but wait you don't know you aren't supposed to like them yet ....
92
@76, you've brought back some fond memories and now I am going to have to dig out some of my Olympia rock music (like Excuse 17) and have a listen again.
93
Love the early RHCP music, so fuck all y'all parroting the I'm-a-music-insider-cool-guy party line.
I grew up in SoCal seeing CP shows in the early 80's when we were all still high school age, and they never failed to put on an amazingly fun show. Saw them once at a ramp jam party at one of the Powell Peralta guy's backyards and that was epicly fun skating and partying with those guys.
Their demo tape got passed around pretty widely before the first album. To me they descend from a SoCal musical tradition most people don't understand, influenced by bands like the Penetrators, The Untouchables, Fishbone, Parliment, the Minute Men, Oingo Boingo, Agent Orange, Otis Day. There was lots of really interesting, but more importantly unbelievably fun, ska/funk/punk cross-over music at that time, and the Peps, being our same age, did a lot to expand musical tastes in our punk scene. We found George Clinton through them (he produced Freaky Styley, their best album), and Fire Hose, rap, even many classic blues men we would have otherwise never been exposed to. You can't say that about bigger, one-dimensional SoCal acts like Guns and Roses or Jane's Addiction. We learned to appreciate slap bass through them. Many of their songs have an anthem quality (Fight Like A Brave) that were perfect for getting pumped up with your buddies; lots of their songs were about unity and bro-ing down (Brother's Cup) which were great at a time when connections to friends were the most important thing in life. Lots of fun, 2quirky songs too, like Skinny Sweaty Man and Yertle the Turtle, and some interesting remakes (Subterranean Homesick Blues, Higher Ground).
Under the Bridge was painful for all of us who loved them so much as a local party band, and it sucks that the rest of the stupid country picked up on that flaming turd of a song and loved it like the hydrogenated corn syrup it is. Everything after that, to me, isn't the RHCP's, its a machine made to milk money out of aestheti-tards. But the first 3 albums still hold up if you are lucky enough to have lived the context, and Mother's Milk is solid enough too.
Anyway to me they were a way in to all kinds of good music that might have otherwise missed us as teenagers stuck in our scene. I thank them for that. The Doors are hokey and Kiss is a steaming plate of stupid that the early Chili Peppers far, far exceeded.
Now if you really want a band that's a desperately overrated pretentious sham then go on down to iTunes and pick up yourself up a little Cold Play. Oh but wait you don't know you aren't supposed to like them yet ....
More...
I grew up in SoCal seeing CP shows in the early 80's when we were all still high school age, and they never failed to put on an amazingly fun show. Saw them once at a ramp jam party at one of the Powell Peralta guy's backyards and that was epicly fun skating and partying with those guys.
Their demo tape got passed around pretty widely before the first album. To me they descend from a SoCal musical tradition most people don't understand, influenced by bands like the Penetrators, The Untouchables, Fishbone, Parliment, the Minute Men, Oingo Boingo, Agent Orange, Otis Day. There was lots of really interesting, but more importantly unbelievably fun, ska/funk/punk cross-over music at that time, and the Peps, being our same age, did a lot to expand musical tastes in our punk scene. We found George Clinton through them (he produced Freaky Styley, their best album), and Fire Hose, rap, even many classic blues men we would have otherwise never been exposed to. You can't say that about bigger, one-dimensional SoCal acts like Guns and Roses or Jane's Addiction. We learned to appreciate slap bass through them. Many of their songs have an anthem quality (Fight Like A Brave) that were perfect for getting pumped up with your buddies; lots of their songs were about unity and bro-ing down (Brother's Cup) which were great at a time when connections to friends were the most important thing in life. Lots of fun, 2quirky songs too, like Skinny Sweaty Man and Yertle the Turtle, and some interesting remakes (Subterranean Homesick Blues, Higher Ground).
Under the Bridge was painful for all of us who loved them so much as a local party band, and it sucks that the rest of the stupid country picked up on that flaming turd of a song and loved it like the hydrogenated corn syrup it is. Everything after that, to me, isn't the RHCP's, its a machine made to milk money out of aestheti-tards. But the first 3 albums still hold up if you are lucky enough to have lived the context, and Mother's Milk is solid enough too.
Anyway to me they were a way in to all kinds of good music that might have otherwise missed us as teenagers stuck in our scene. I thank them for that. The Doors are hokey and Kiss is a steaming plate of stupid that the early Chili Peppers far, far exceeded.
Now if you really want a band that's a desperately overrated pretentious sham then go on down to iTunes and pick up yourself up a little Cold Play. Oh but wait you don't know you aren't supposed to like them yet ....
94
Doors shouldn't even be mentioned in this post. They have to be one of the most influential American rock bands ever. I don't even want to know what you actually like to listen to. This post is stupid.
95
@91/93
Excellent bit of self-sabotage in that last paragraph! You really had me sympathetic to your feelings about a band you grew up loving and then just dropped the ball!
Excellent bit of self-sabotage in that last paragraph! You really had me sympathetic to your feelings about a band you grew up loving and then just dropped the ball!
97
OMG this is all just crazy! KISS has some *really* good songs that make up for "Let's Put the X in Sex"! Also, how is AC/DC not on this list? LOL...
98
KISS is a joke band and they know it, so they're ok.
The Doors had the grace to die. ( and the non-dead ones faded away quietly) so, ok.
Frat-boy bands should stop once they are past the age of their target audience, otherwise they are just pathetic and sad. Thus, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS suck.
SUBLIME always sucked, dead singer or replacement singer. They suck.
The Doors had the grace to die. ( and the non-dead ones faded away quietly) so, ok.
Frat-boy bands should stop once they are past the age of their target audience, otherwise they are just pathetic and sad. Thus, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS suck.
SUBLIME always sucked, dead singer or replacement singer. They suck.
99
I know the real truth of what sucks and what is wonderful but I'm not going to tell because it fills me with incredible satisfaction to secretly know who is inferior to me and who isn't by virtue of what recordings they listen to. Mind you, I don't actually "enjoy" listening to music, because if I judged music by the sounds that entered my ears and how I responded to them on some pure level I would be in danger of "appreciating" something that is not good, so I arrive at my opinions by reading reviews and other opinions online, and by speaking with my peers and observing what they listen to and comparing that with their popularity, appearance and level of acceptance. But listening to music that I have carefully determined is superior is rewarding due to the aforementioned sense of superiority it fills me with, and that's probably more enjoyable for someone like me than "listening" to music anyway, based on the personality tests I've taken.
100
Oh, and I forgot to mention, I am completely stuck in time, so I only listen to music that is popular within my young urban professional demographic at the current moment, or informs that music by virtue of its influences.
101
I am, however, willing to listen to music outside of that description if it was made in a remote era by people of a different ethnic background than mine, even if it was popular at the time.
102
the doors are bad - wanky ten minute organ solos to break up the stanzas of dumb junior high level poetry. kiss are worse, but i agree it's mostly because their most rabid fans don't seem to be in on the joke. as for RHCP - blood sugar sex magic is one of the few perfect albums ever recorded. they should have stopped there. if i hear one more god damned song about how awesome california is...
anyway, the most overrated band of all time would have to be the god damned beatles.
anyway, the most overrated band of all time would have to be the god damned beatles.
103
well, you at least had one thing right in your completely misguided view on some of the greatest bands of all time. They do have fans who will always support them. hundreds of millions in fact. All over the world. Thats what happens when good music is created. I guess you're just to cool to like something because it happens to be popular. What do you listen to? Actually, i don't give a shit.
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Ongoing List of Defunct Seattle Clubs by Grant Brissey
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HOLY SHITBALLS...Die Kreuzen Reunion!! by Mike Nipper
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Today in "What Won't Henry Rollins Do?" by Grant Brissey
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Punk As Folk Weekend @ The Funhouse by Kelly O
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