people you suspect are highly overrated but don't know enough to make an informed judgment (the music edition.)

i'll start us off: stephin merrit(t?).

The Who.

Jimi Hendrix.

Belle and Sebastien.

also, merzbow (and all who travel in his snarled wake.) what are some people smoking?

David Hasselhoff.

strange that i have not yet seen mention of the new stephin merrit album here, has his star dimmed?

I dont recognise the terms 'overrated' or 'informed judgement'

Overrated seems to suggest that other people's opinions are an important aspect of a persons ability to like things. They may be an important aspect in a willingness to engage in debates about things but you have to make up your own mind about somethings worth before you can have such a reaction.

For instance, I don't much like DJ Shadow - I think he is a very talented sound sculpturer - genius levels of collage - that produces worthless gimmicks and trinkets. I much prefer the things created by the obviously less talented Amon Tobin, because I think Tobin creates much more interesting artefacts. Shadow does seem to be critically feted, in the same way that Guitar magazine rates Yngie wossname. But thats not over rating - I don't like him because he doesn't fullfill my criteria and other people like him because he does theirs. I'm not worrying if its deserved because it is - I just don't agree with it.

Neither am I saying that I don't nor feel the need to comment when things I dislike are praised. I think Primal Scream are contemptable shit and find their easy ride in the music press objectionable. See also Mogwai's cozy press relationship. But thats not over rating either - thats just shit writing.

I can't make up my mind if 'Informed Judgement' is an impossible ideal or just a tautology since all Judgements are informed (and if there is no informed there is no Judgement), apart from the flippant joke (viz "I hate it already and I haven't heard it") whats the point of disliking something you have no opinion on???

Overrated seems to suggest that other people's opinions are an important aspect of a persons ability to like things.

OK, I like the following a lot less than the general public seems to, and when confronted with someone asking "man, isn't [Artist X] great?", I have to think of a polite way to say, "not really".

Radiohead
GYBE! and bands that sound like them
REM
Smiths
Pink Floyd

People you suspect are overrated, but that you don't know enough about to say for sure?

This may be the dumbest, most hair- splitting thread ever.

we do our best. (it's especially warm and fuzzy when anonymous lurkers recognize our best efforts.)

anyway, don't blame me, blame tom.

Spinal Tap

Radiohead.

i know nothing about him other than his contributions to this board, but.. momus.

Momus? Nahhh, the set I saw him do at CMJ this year was refreshingly funny, entertaining and musically interesting to boot. I had never seen him before nor heard his music--I only knew about him through ILM!--but he really made a good impression.

Hmmm, highly overrated without me having heard much of them? Black Flag, Patti Smith, Merzbow, Pixies, Stereolab... more to come later I hope.

beefheart. but i find what i have heard so repellent that i don't want to hear anymore. same goes for jazz, in general.

i think the part of the thread which may have been missed in my nay sayers comments was the fact that the thread can also be used for people more "in the know" to counter argue, etc. etc.

I think you're wrong about Merritt, Jess, but you may be constituted in such a way as to not be able to stand finding out for yourself. Especially since you're in your winter listening months.

Coil, Nurse With Wound, Current 93, Tompaulin, Husker Du, The Strokes, Markus Popp, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Afghan Whigs, Steve Albini.

Tortoise et all

It seems to me that Momus is one of the most under-rated artists of all time, but I know way too much to make an informed judgement on that.

It's quite possible that I'm over-rated as an IL* poster, though.

radiohead...all i've heard is how great they are. while ive only heard a few of their tunes i just dont see why people think this. sometime ill give the whole ok computer album a couple listens and see if my opinion changes.

Matt, trust me: Radiohead=Academick Musick.

Momus gets all kind of shit in the press! Definitely underrated!

I agree about Radiohead. Kind of whiny, especially The Bends, but I loved the hypnagogic, night-time driving swoon of Kid A. Amnesiac wasn't nearly as thrilling.

You have to admire Coil/NWW/Current 93 for their icredible ability to self-mythologize. And some of their music is really beautiful (Sleep Has His House, Musick to Play in the Dark vol 1). And these guys don't even count in the mainstream press. One of the ticket agencies in NY said that the last Current 93 show there held the record for selling out the fastest for a band they'd never heard of.

My votes - the usual major label crap pushed on us by Spin, Rolling Stone, and all the lesser US/UK monthly mags. Even the Village Voice heaps praises on stuff that could only apeal to 14 year olds. Is it their writers' bids to stay relevant and youthful?

How about Mick Jagger, Garbage, Weezer, Tool (and Slipknot, System of a Down, etc.), Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, and dare I say it, Bob Dylan?

Jess and Clarke B. MERZBOW??? Well...
http://a4.cpimg.com/image/DA/6A/8407514-b41f-01B00231-.jpg

Here are my picks Le Tigre Black Box Recorder Echo and the Bunnyman (I love them but lately the music press make them out to be the Beatles)

Polly Harvey.

Jim Morrison.

Merzbow is overrated. But that doesn't mean he isn't still pretty interesting/good.

Zappa
The Doors

radiohead

Arcade Fire
Broken Social Scene
Sufjan Stevens
Morr/City Centre Offices labels
Tori Amos
Devendra Berhardt

Primal Scream
Mogwai
DJ Shadow ... all seem OTM as far as being overrated, but I don't know enough to make an informed judgement about any of these. Or at least my mind could still be changed yet. A half-informed judgement? Why yes I'd love to ;-)