The World's Most Overrated Bands

MSNBC's music critic Dave White recently wrote a column on MSNBC.com called "The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Lame" (see it here) in which he lists what he considers to be the most overrated bands ever. He states U2, Metallica, Nirvana, the Doors, the Clash, Bob Dylan, the Beatles and Sonic Youth are over hyped despite the fact that at one point or another he has or does like these bands (except the Doors).

To an extent I agree with him (except for Nirvana, if anything Kurt Cobain is underrated) and its about time someone said it. I'm sorry, but the Beatles and the Doors really aren't very good and although Bob Dylan is incredibly intelligent and insightful his music bores me. Maybe I'm just out of touch but most music from the 60's and 70's (with the exception of Pink Floyd) just lulls me to sleep and strikes me as empty, no matter how widely loved it might be.

Metallica was really good before they slowed down their guitars, got in bed with major labels and cut their hair. U2 has always been incredibly preachy and will never be in touch with their desired demographic.

I know because I like punk rock I'm supposed to have an extra raging hard on for the Clash and Sonic Youth but I really don't see what is punk about these bands. They both play new wave garbage that is just as irrelevant today as it was in the era from which they emerged and thrived.

While I'm on my high-horse let me offer some more bands that would have benefited the world if they never played a single note. First and foremost is the Smashing Pumpkins. I grew up in the 90's, at a time when bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Soundgarden were topping the charts and gaining my respect (mainly because all the kids at school were into them and I wanted to fit in; hey, it was junior high). I tried as hard as I could to listen to the Smashing Pumpkins for a long time but one day I just gave up trying. Billy Corrigan's whiny, piercing voice makes me want to bring my stereo into the bathtub with me while its still plugged into the wall.

This may surprise a lot of people but the Ramones and the Sex Pistols are at the top of my overrated list as well. I really respect what the Ramones did for the advancement punk rock and they have some great songs like Blitzkrieg Bop, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, The Crusher and I Wanna Be Sedated but they also have others such as The KKK Took My Baby Away and Rock and Roll High School that are just embarrassing and juvenile. I don't think anything the Sex Pistols ever did was any good. They thrived on being rebels when really all they were was annoying and ignorant. Wearing swastika t-shirts isn't rebellious and it certainly isn't punk. If they would have put less energy into shocking people and more energy into making music they may have been more important and less of a sideshow.

There are a ton more bands out there that I would love to fall off the face of the Earth, but I'm already growing agitated just thinking about them. Hopefully I'll finish this piece up some day but probably not.