A band that evokes no superlatives whatsoever

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

What music out there is just "fine?" Not the best, not the worst, but something that just registers ok feelings? Or is a kind of even-keeled-ness a sign of mediocrity? Is the whole point that music is supposed to be shockingly good or just else it's bad? Are there bands out there that you listen to precisely because they're just fine? Do you ever crave things that are fine? I'm very curious about this.

― devon (popmatters devon), Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

echobelly

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

The Strokes

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Wanting to listen to unobtrusive music is different from wanting to listen to mediocre music. I don't think anybody craves the latter.

― Stupid (Stupid), Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think The Strokes are mediocre, when their music is on it makes me feel vaguely settled in a at-my-mom's-house kinda way.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

but i think unobtrusive music can be interpreted as really good. i'm really just wondering what makes for a band that's just ok, and what motivates folks to listen to things that are just ok. i mean, if given the choice between something you totally adore and something ok, why choose ok? it's not because it's unobtrusive necessarily.

― devon (popmatters devon), Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

My girlfriend, despite my best efforts, is a staunch fan of precisely this kind of music. Folksy-popsy stuff that does no harm but just kind of sits there. This includes:

Poi Dog Pondering
BoDeans
Subdudes
Pete Yorn
Violent Femmes after the first album

In other words, the stuff that gets played on WXRT in Chicago, which seems to specialize in just-OK music. My attempt to improve on this sad state of affairs by suggesting she try Belle & Sebastian was met with: "Too gloomy and whiney." Billy Bragg and Los Lobos is pretty much all we can agree on, and even then we like different songs. Wisely, though, she dismisses Dave Matthews as "music to paint your house by."

― m.e.a. (m.e.a.), Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Sebadoh

― mike a, Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread was MADE for the Steve Miller Band.

Also:

Doobie Brothers
Elton John
Carole King
Styx
Foreigner

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

The Strokes

You don't get the NME down below the Mason-Dixon line, do ya, Nickalicious?

― Psycho Kate (kate), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Air

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Kruder and Dorfmeister

― oops (Oops), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Water.

I know they don't exist, but if there was a band called Water, they would be alright, fine, nothing special.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:51 (twenty-two years ago)

and yet essential

― oops (Oops), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Oops wins (with K & D).

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I think Felonius Drunk won at the start of the thread. Echobelly were one of the better mediocre bands.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:59 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread isn't about mediocrity. Krüder & Dorfmeister aren't mediocre, they're just fine.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 26 March 2004 10:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I think "mediocre" and "fine" can be equated here. Decent songs, fun to hear on the radio or spin at home sometimes, but nothing to get excited about or recommend to friends.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 26 March 2004 10:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Dodgy

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 26 March 2004 11:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i thort shed 7 were the kings of this. i was an echobelly fan

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Friday, 26 March 2004 11:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Calexico

― Joe Kay (feethurt), Friday, 26 March 2004 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Remember kids, the only thing that matters about the Strokes is what British magazines say about them!

I've never been able to muster up much emotion for the Ruts.

― Nate in ST.P (natedetritus), Friday, 26 March 2004 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Foreigner are way too strident to be in this thread. That voice!

A few suggestions:
Mojave 3
Yo La Tengo
Blondie (for me, sorry!)
Simon and Garfunkel

― Clarke B. (Clarke B.), Friday, 26 March 2004 17:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Yo La Tengo has some really compelling music, mostly from Fakebook. Here Comes My Baby and Emulsified, particularly. The first is a little bit breezy, but in a lovelorn way rather than a boring one.

― Luke Broster, Saturday, 27 March 2004 06:32 (twenty-two years ago)

blondie!?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 27 March 2004 06:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Thievery Corporation

― Gear! (Gear!), Saturday, 27 March 2004 08:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Kruder and Dorfmeister are surely the kings of pretty good.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Saturday, 27 March 2004 08:56 (twenty-two years ago)

otis clay

matador bands

ALL

Santana

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Saturday, 27 March 2004 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Simon and Garfunkel

Sure, overplayed on the radio and all that, but I would say their best is much better than "mediocre" or "fine."

― m.e.a. (m.e.a.), Saturday, 27 March 2004 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.