Bands whose records you bought because they were compared to one of your favourites (but which turned out to be terrible)

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In the 90's I bought (and then disposed of quickly) quite a few records that were compared to St Etienne:

Peach, Mono, Daybehaviour, One Dove

You'd think I'd learn.

― Kim Tortoise, Thursday, 1 May 2003 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

''If you like Bonnie Prince Billy, you'll love Songs Ohia'' claimed the review.

I do, I didn't.

― Flippa, Thursday, 1 May 2003 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

As a JSBX fan I was recommended Speedball Baby . I wouldn't say they're terrible. But, uh, even though I have a few of their albums, and I sorta enjoy a lot of their songs. I'm not sure I GET them.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 1 May 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

An innumerable number of bands that people thought I'd like for the sole reason that "they have a female singer."

― mike a (mike a), Thursday, 1 May 2003 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't buy their album that arbitrarily, but The Rapture got so much press and hype about being like Gang of Four that I felt somewhat obligated to check it out. Sure, they're like Gang of Four....without the vision, talent, originality and ferocity.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 1 May 2003 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Good call, Alex. I've actually felt let down by almost all the current bands compared to ESG/Joy Division/Gang of Four. Liars, the Rapture (though I do love "House of Jealous Lovers"), Interpol, Radio 4...my response to all of 'em so far has ranged from "this is actually pretty good, if derivative" to "they've gotta be kidding." Even Erase Errata, who are my favorite of this bunch, too often seem to be replicating the characteristics of postpunk without (yet) backing it up with compelling songs.

― mike a (mike a), Thursday, 1 May 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

codeine - compared to the likes of low, red house painters.
galaxie 500 - compared to MBV, slo-core stuff etc. never took to them.
black dog - bytes : compared to other electronica albums i enjoy, but can't get into it, bar a couple of tracks.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 1 May 2003 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

You didn't like One Dove? :-(

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 May 2003 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Crispy Ambulance

They were compared to Magazine, but they turned out to be terribly mediocre.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Thursday, 1 May 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

''You didn't like One Dove? :-( ''

Ooh, am I missing something? Maybe I should go and re-assess!!!!!

― Kim Tortoise, Thursday, 1 May 2003 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, it's always been a personal favorite of mine, and I don't see the St. Etienne comparison, really -- both chillier and warmer, if you will, than Sarah and company. Take it on its own terms and you might be pleasantly surprised!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 May 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks Ned. I think 'sounds like St Etienne' was just lazy journo shorthand for 'has female singer, bit poppy'

Now, what about all those bands who 'sound like Boards of Canada' there's at least three on the Rough trade website every week!!!!

― Kim Tortoise, Thursday, 1 May 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

About the lazy shorthand -- I suspect you are very accurate.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 1 May 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

The Legendary Jim Ruiz group is just like the Jazz Butcher. OK - after about 10 listenings, I get the comparison. Still, I'm not real fond of it.

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 1 May 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"is this it" of course.

i don't think it's terrible, though. just not as advertised.

― brian badword (badwords), Thursday, 1 May 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

although, i seem to cite the strokes on half the threads i post to, so maybe they are my "answer to *whatever*"

― brian badword (badwords), Thursday, 1 May 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

definitely Radio 4. & all those other NY so-called Gang of 4 emulators. I like Numbers & Erase Errata though.

Tin Huey & Debris' & Twinkeys & Electric Eels, everyone big-upped like they were the missing links of midwest skree & dunt. tho the EEels had some rawer stuff come out recently, might re-assess them.
Don't want to dis MX-80 Sound in the same breath but I can't recall anything outstanding from them either.

― autovac (autovac), Thursday, 1 May 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

The Aphex Twin - compared to numerous people I like but turned out to be crushingly mediocre and unoriginal. Maybe I got the wrong record?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 1 May 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Sounds like you didn't get an Aphex Twin record.

― Sam J. (samjeff), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

"(x bunch of shambling no-hoppers whose lyrics don't scan) are described by some as the new Belle and Sebastian!" says 47 percent of all contemporary press releases.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Everyone who mentioned the Rapture stole my answer. I like Interpol but they're so derivative that you might as well just put on a Joy Division album.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

what record was it dadaismus?

― robin (robin), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Fu Manchu. Compared to everybody I ever liked ever, and it went back to the store the next day. I'm very easy to please when it comes to that kind of thing too.

― dave q, Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Silkworm. Yuk.

― Sam J. (samjeff), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I say I like Screaming Headless Torsoes & Mr. Bungle, I get Dog Fashioned Disco. Lordy no.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Radiohead

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 1 May 2003 18:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Casino vs Japan, Isan, Ulrich Schnauss

All of these were compared to Boards of Canada, and though OK, I guess the best thing to do if you like Boards of Canada is to wait for the next one!!!!

― Flippa, Friday, 2 May 2003 10:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I say I like Screaming Headless Torsoes & Mr. Bungle, I get Dog Fashioned Disco. Lordy no.

I've noticed that lots of bands who get compared to Mr. Bungle seem to be guilty of the chief complaint leveled at Mr. Bungle themselves -- that they're just mindlessly switching styles in order to sound 'goofy' or somethin. But I hear a lot of respect for the music MB dabbles in (at least past that first album), whereas something like Estradasphere is more like, "Listen! A surf part and then a klezmer rundown! hahahaha, GET IT??"

― original bgm, Friday, 2 May 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I got one of those "Selected Ambient Works" compilations - the one with the white and black cover - played it several times and thought, "What exactly is the big deal about this guy?"

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 May 2003 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I wouldn't say "terrible" but I bouight the first JJ72 album because I read several reviews where they were compared to Joy Division and they are just just so NOT Joy Division (hadn't any of the people writing those reviews heard of Placebo?!?)

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 2 May 2003 12:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha, everyone ever compared to The Stone Roses evah. They're all shite.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Friday, 2 May 2003 12:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Who were those 4 spotty youths touted as the new Stones Roses ? Was it Northside ? Oh no, not Northen Uproar. I think I've kept hold of the Northside just to prove something to myself (exactly what ? I don't know)

― Robert Moore (treble), Friday, 2 May 2003 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't think jj72 are very placebo either - to me they're more smashing pumpkins than anythign else

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Friday, 2 May 2003 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Zwan's album. NUFF SAID

― Stiv (Stiv), Tuesday, 6 May 2003 03:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Starsailor and Cast own this thread (for me, anyway)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 6 May 2003 10:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I have an Everett True review to thank for a godawful Mint 500 12 inch. (They were supposedly very early Cure-like).

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 6 May 2003 10:26 (twenty-two years ago)

dadaismus-i wouldn't judge aphex twin on that album,although i've recently got quite into it
the other selected ambient works is completely different,if its ambient music you're looking for,and his other stuff is great as well
try downloading the boy/girl song,or nannou

― robin (robin), Tuesday, 6 May 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

some magnetic field impersonators,such as well i already forogt their names..

― chris gravell, Tuesday, 6 May 2003 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

But Speedball Baby are GREAT!

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 6 May 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Download first, people. That's what it's for.

― Adam A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 6 May 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

that is why I cannot actually answer this thread. Soulseek has allowed me to weed out all the duds. That is why I do not own any Interpol or ARE Weapons records.

― Mike Taylor (mjt), Thursday, 8 May 2003 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

some magnetic field impersonators,such as well i already forogt their names..

oh c'mon man, Vitesse are great!

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 8 May 2003 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

though i have an almost allergic kneejerk reaction to anything even vaguely "alt-country" or "roots-rock," i still bought wilco's summerteeth when i read reviews comparing it to the beach boys.

needless to say, that was a colossal mistake. wilco sux.

― Tad (llamasfur), Thursday, 8 May 2003 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Beachwood Sparks own this thread.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 8 May 2003 03:23 (twenty-two years ago)

and U.S. Maple, too

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 8 May 2003 03:23 (twenty-two years ago)

no, sigur ros owns this thread (i.e., the comparisons to MBV and Slowdive by well-meaning friends).

those well-meaning souls are still friends ... i still haven't found out how to adequately get even with them for recommending agaetis byrjun, though.

― Tad (llamasfur), Thursday, 8 May 2003 03:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Beachwood Sparks own this thread.

Seconded!

― paul cox (paul cox), Thursday, 8 May 2003 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I bought Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy" EP because of his association with µ-ziq, whom I liked at the time. What a mistake!

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 8 May 2003 06:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I love Captain Beefheart and Storm and Stress. US Maple are FUCKING AWFUL.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Thursday, 8 May 2003 07:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow, I really dig US Maple and Captain Beefheart (though I must admit to never have thought of much of a link there)
Anyways, who are Storm and Stress? Two separate band? One band with a particularly namey name?

Anyhoo, I've checked out a few horrible death metal bands just because some moron has claimed they picked up the gauntled that Suffocation dropped etc. Mainly the result of finding the albums in stores, remembering the claim, and being really itchy to purchase something...

I soooooo want to mention Tub Ring, but thankfully I only ALMOST bought their debut album (at an ugly import price to boot) because of the Mr Bungle comparison (and connection)
Then I heard some songs thanks to glorious MP3s!
*phew*

Jean Michel Jarre's "Oxygene" because I love Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze.
Uhm... Sorry.. but.. ahh.. ok.. part3s kinda cool... ah.. fuckit. Worst album ever! What the HELL is with the percussion on the final track? Makes me despite the whole album just by association.

Thor's Hammer (Iceland) - From Keflavik, With Love
well, compared with a bunch of late60s beat groups that I dig the honk out of...... then came Thor's Hammer and made me realize that I never should listen to hip Oslo musicstore morons.

Weird, I can't really think of any concrete examples.
Worst reply ever.

This post has been presented by the Positive Attitude Institute (www.positiveinstitute.com)

― Øystein Holm-Olsen (Øystein H-O), Thursday, 8 May 2003 08:35 (twenty-two years ago)

btw, in case you're not believing your eyes... Don't. I didn't actually say "late60s beatgroups"
Really.

Don't bother going back to recheck.

Dammit.

― Øystein Holm-Olsen (Øystein H-O), Thursday, 8 May 2003 08:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Starsailor were compared to Echo & the Bunnymen, who happen to be my fave band ever. Good thing I didn't buy any Starsailor stuff as hearing them on the radio nearly caused me to vomit over the antenna in order to stop it.

― Tijn, Thursday, 8 May 2003 08:42 (twenty-two years ago)

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