Who's more overrated: PJ Harvey or Beck?

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I can't decide.

― Callum (Callum), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

they're both equally overrated; but who's more shit?

― gi66y, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

over-rated to who?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Clearly Beck. I mean, where is PJ Harvey today?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I like both of these artists. I would have much preferred the question "Who's more overrated: Radiohead or Bjork?"

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Radiohead, Bjork, Beck, PJ Harvey? Suddenly I feel so self-conscious about some of my favorite musos.

At least you didn't say Fishbone!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

its such a dumb question i think: why dont you go and count all the favourable reviews and judgements of both artists over the last ten years in the music press and then come back to us with the actual answer?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

you're right stevem, & if i heard either of them outside of the sandstorm of media attention I'd probably think both were pretty good, but I can't.

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

is there anyone thats popular and sold lots of records or maybe didnt but were treated by the press as if they had (e.g. The Streets) that ISN'T considered over-rated by someone on ILM?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Everyone's considered over-rated by someone, no matter how big or small.

My band is considered the most over-rated band in Lexington, KY. And rightly so.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

The two should pool their collective overratedness together to create the ultimate alt-bore automaton, leaving only vaguely average-sounding records and amateurish kneejerk 4- and 5-star reviews in their wake.

― gazuga (gazuga), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:51 (twenty-two years ago)

i like beck AND pj harvey. "sea change" stinks, though, so at the mo peej is higher in my estimation. I'm assuming Callum is asking us which one we dislike more, which isn't really a dumb question at all.

i prefer beck's overall recorded output, though, so I'll say pj harvey is more overrated. Which Peej albums have you heard Callum? Cos you might dig "Is this Desire?". It's like Slint meets Massive Attack, and it's rather good.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Since that "City, Sea" album (which I really should listen to again), Beck wins easily.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:21 (twenty-two years ago)

must admit - the peej rocks it over beck. beck's last two albums werent very good.

― robotman, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

wait, do both of their last two albums have "sea" in the title? weird!

pj in dinner-theatre-cabaret/whispering-meaninglessly-about-fishies mode (as opposed to generic hard rock mode, i.e., her first album) is worse than beck in any mode, including the nick drake dullness of his latest CD, which at least has pretty moments. (frank kogan said once that p.j. always sounds to him like "chrissie hynde having a cow.")

but sleater-kinney is probably more overrated than either of them.

― jeri curlan, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Gotta say Beck on this one. I've liked everything that PJ Harvey has done except "Dry". But Beck? "Odelay" was good, but this last one was a bore. "Midnite Vultures" and that other one did nothing for me, either.

The Loser wins, no contest.

― Brenya, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm tempted to say Right On! to Jeri about S-K, but the first side of One Beat has some pretty great songs. I'll vote for "Oh!" and "Step Aside" being wonderful. Half the time I wonder if critics are even THINKING much about S-K these days when they praise the album, so there is some validity there.

Also, Jeri, you really didn't give your take on "City/Sea" album (can't remember if its called "Stories from the..." or "Songs from the..."), which is distinctly post-cabaret. And "Sea Change" should be named "Bloated Whale."

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

If we're talking about "critically overrated" as in "everything written about them is glowing and happy", I pick Beck as the less overrated of the two (aaaaaaaaaand ILM collectively gasps in shock at the side I take, har har). Yeah, Sea Change is getting inexplicable praise, but a ton of that is from critics who hated the "ironic" stuff he used to do and are relieved to hear him finally (cough) "mature". It's also not too difficult to find high-profile critics who vocally dislike him (hi Chuck!), and even after Mellow Gold proved to be a solid album, journos aplenty had him tagged as a "one-hit wonder" all the way through until Odelay dropped. Also, unlike Harvey, he's an easier target for critical ire due to the fact that he's a white guy who incorporates rap and funk into his style, which to some writers is always a huge evil no-no that makes him and anyone else who dares such things (see also JSBX, Soul Coughing) a hipster Al Jolson/Pat Boone who holds down true artists "of color" like, uh, Basehead.

But if you actually want to talk about something as ridiculous as music, well: Beck sort of sounds like Tom Waits, Mick Jagger, Prince and Skip Spence (among many many others). PJ Harvey blatantly sounds like Patti Smith (among a couple others). More derivative of less sources=more overrated in my book. Sorry, Peej.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I get what you're saying in your first paragraph (though Chuck gives PJ just as much shit so that's an odd choice). But the second is really rather abritrary. PJ also totally cops from Chrissie Hynde, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger (personally, I think Beck just dances like him), Nick Cave and many, many, many other dudes. See, that's the trick...she doesn't SOUND exactly some of them because she's a gurl. PJ is plenty derivative of about as many sources.

Also, why does been derivative of more sources make you less overrated? SPIN ignored a lot of great music to put their fave derivers at the top of their album lists (more so than PJ & Beck, how about this one...Cornershop!). Some critics are so obsessed with the idea of sonic synthesis that they'll happily overrate somebody just because they mix sources together.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:55 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, she also rips Tom Waits. And Prince if you assume that's where she got her naughty sex talk circa Rid Of Me and 4-Song Demos. "Robert DeNiro, sit on my face"="Cindy C" off the Black Album.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought PJ's last album was pretty good, but I haven't listened to it since the week I got it, so I guess I didn't like it that much, really. But I think she's overall lots more interesting and fun to listen to than Beck (and I disagree with whoever slagged "Dry" -- it has two of my favorite PJ songs). Beck....is a singles artist. His greatest hits will be a fine album.

― Jesse Fox, Wednesday, 29 January 2003 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

PJH is so Nick Cave vocally it isn't even funny

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 06:28 (twenty-two years ago)

And what a fine thing that is.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I love it on her, but can't stand him. go figure

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 06:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe the same way Patti Smith made Jim Morrison's shtick so much more convincing than he did.

― Jesse Fox, Wednesday, 29 January 2003 06:43 (twenty-two years ago)

(a) Nothing useful was said on this thread until something claimed they hated Sleater-Kinney - yet another reason why they're the only band that matters; (b) I prefer Nick Cave to Beck because I think that trying to express something and failing is more honourable than trying to express nothing and succeeding. Plus Mick Harvey is pretty cool.

― B.Rad (Brad), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 07:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"overrated" threads are idiotic. why do any of you care so much about what bands other people rate?

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 07:58 (twenty-two years ago)

yeh, they're just 'I think suchandsuch is rubbish, are they more rubbish than suchandsuch who i also think is rubbish' in disguise

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Beck, a "singles artist"? Am I in Bizzarro World?

I'm still also quite confounded by the across-the-board hate-on for Midnight Vultures. That album was the shit!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Beck = "expressing nothing"?

Is this how most of y'all feel about Beck? Beck that brought you "Nobody's Fault But My Own"? Beck that brought you "Ramshackle"? Beck that brought you "He's a Mighty Good Leader"? I'm so confused.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Beck would like to express things. And he tries hard, sometimes. But he's more fun when he's not trying. Kind of like Steven Spielberg. And OK, "singles artist" might not be the right term, exactly. It's just, I can imagine a nicely sequenced Rhino collection somewhere down the line that will give most of the best bits without all the dull ones.

― Jesse Fox, Wednesday, 29 January 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

they're both great, especially live

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Agreed. Yay Fritz!

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Is this how most of y'all feel about Beck?

Expression is sorta secondary to me, so...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

>> Jeri, you really didn't give your take on "City/Sea" album (can't remember if its called "Stories from the..." or "Songs from the..."), which is distinctly post-cabaret.<<

I thought her last one was her "best" one since her first one, which some cabaret addict above perplexingly says is her only bad one, I think. (I always forget if her first one was Dry or Rid of Me - the former, right? Anyway, the one I like is the one that Albini DIDN'T produce, and didn't hence make get loud and quiet at completely random moments all the way through that had nothing whatsofuckingever to do with any emotion being expressed.) Thing is, even with her two good LPs, I have to agree with somebody a few postings upthread by saying that IT'S NOT LIKE EVER PLAY THEM. (Which isn't to suggest I ever play my Beck albums either, but look, there's no frigging comparison -- He's way more playful, he has a better sense of humor {which is to say at least he HAS a sense of humor}, he has a better sense of rhythm, he has a better sense of melody, he's writes way more interesting lyrics, and he's a better singer even when he's boring. And *Sea and Cake*, or whatever it's called, I've played even LESS than PJ's debut, though at least I didn't get rid of my copy. I mean, at least the two rock ones (the first and the last) aren't COMPLETELY ridiculous. I also sorta like "C'Mon Billy," on whatever shitty thespian album it was on, thanks to the fact that it sort of reminds me of "Bullet the Blue Sky" reminding me of "When the Levee Breaks." Or at least its drums do. Which isn't to say it's a very GOOD Zep imitation. (Nor is U2's.) (Also, she's not quite the moron Nick Cave is, but he does seem to hire better guitarists, at least.)

― jeri curlan, Wednesday, 29 January 2003 16:50 (twenty-two years ago)

hey, would it be impolite to ask if your name is Mike or Chuck?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 17:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Mentioned this thread to a colleague, who simply said:

"PJ Harvey and Beck? How completely 90's!"

He's got a point.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

very!

― jeri curlan, Wednesday, 29 January 2003 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

You know what? "Rid Of Me" is great. I'd almost forgotten how great. Thanks slsk!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 7 March 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude, PJ Harvey fucking SUCKS!!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 7 March 2004 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I miss Jeri Curlan

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 7 March 2004 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Mr Snrub, I love your name, but you are wrong.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 7 March 2004 18:28 (twenty-one years ago)

PJ Harvey. Clearly. Her "music" is awful and completely unlistenable, while Beck is a genius.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 7 March 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyone who doesn't like or admire "To Bring You My Love" is another The Rapture/Stills/Shins/et al purchase away from being declared legally retarded. Sorry if that means you, reader.

― JesusMaryChain, Sunday, 7 March 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't like PJ Harvey or any of her records because her voice is SO FUCKING ANNOYING. Just like Liz Phair and Tori Amos and other enemies of the human race.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 7 March 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

four years pass...

lol snrub/hongro mindmeld

― gershy, Tuesday, 6 May 2008 02:14 (seventeen years ago)

Mr Snrub, I love your name, but you are wrong.

-- @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, March 7, 2004 1:28 PM (4 years ago) Bookmark Link

http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/ywsblog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/headon-byrdhouse.jpg

― and what, Tuesday, 6 May 2008 02:15 (seventeen years ago)

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