TS: Toploader Vs. Maroon 5 Vs. Phoenix Vs. Scissor Sisters Vs. The Feeling

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Time has come for the big neo-softrock match! Who rules and who does not?

To start with Toploader, they were sort of the first band of the Softrock-revival. In retrospect, they sucked. Sure "Dancing In The Moonlight" had a nice synth hook and the chorus also sounded very catchy the first 2-3 times. But the rest of their output was absolutely awful.

Then it was Maroon 5. Again, one good single and "This Love" sure holds up way better today than "Dancing In The Moonlight" does. The intro is still absolutely classic and the song also had a great chorus. Again, the rest of their material didn't quite hold up though, and like Toploader, they became a bit too much second-rate Rod Stewart to last in the long run

France's Phoenix were considerably better contenders. They managed to sort of update softrock for the Oughties, and have released a couple of great albums. I still feel there is a bit to be desired in the songwriting, but their production is absolutely ace. Pity, though, that their recent albums takes a less polished approach, which is a step in the wrong direction in the case of Phoenix, toning down what is great about them.

Then, Scissor Sisters are obviously the biggest commercial success of the softrock revival yet, and there's no denying they sure know their pop history. "I Don't Feel Like Dancing" is so crowded with hooks the half would have been satisfactory to create a worldwide hit, and their very original and surprising breakthrough take on "Comfortably Numb" was also kind of fun. For me, the extensive use of 80s style synths and even 80s-influenced synth drums, is a nice feature that makes them better. Again, they could have been better songwriters though, and the Bee Gees-influenced falsettos become annoying after a while. But I sure like them, I do.

Latest band to draw the softrock comparisions are The Feeling, although it may be that they would have been better off being compared to the likes of Orson instead, given that The Feeling are more influenced by the likes of Jellyfish/Crowded House - classic pop songsmiths at the softer and more poppy side of powerpop.
Of course this makes them the best of them all though. Some truly classy vocals and the better songs of the bunch (even though even their songs aren't quite up to the standards of Neil Finn or even Jellyfish). "Never Be Lonely" is the best song of the softrock revival so far, with the "B-b-b-b-baby, I think I'm going c-c-c-crazy"-part a slice of classic pop genius.

So my verdict?
The Feeling >> Phoenix >> Scissor Sisters >>>>>>>>>>> Maroon 5 >>> Toploader

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 2 October 2006 20:12 (eighteen years ago)

Scissor Sisters >>>>>>>>>>>>Phoenix>The Feeling>Toploader>Maroon 5

― zeus (zeus), Monday, 2 October 2006 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

http://catering-equipment-online.co.uk/furi-knives.JPG

― Sadly, he will be the next Alexis Petridish. (Dom Passantino), Monday, 2 October 2006 20:47 (eighteen years ago)

One band in that list is OK-to-good. Two are tolerable if I;m feeling tolerant. Two are execreble.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 2 October 2006 20:55 (eighteen years ago)

They're all shite.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Monday, 2 October 2006 20:56 (eighteen years ago)

I think this may be one of those rare occasions when Sick Mouthy is completely OTM.

(I have no idea if we have the same bands in the same category - actually I don't think I've knowingly heard Phoenix, so I'm prepared to lump them in as average with The Feeling because I refuse to believe they are as bad as Toploader and Maroon 5)

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 2 October 2006 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

Scissor Sisters win for having the catchiest tunes and being the least self-important.

― chap who would dare to contain two ingredients. Tea and bags. (chap), Monday, 2 October 2006 21:13 (eighteen years ago)

Scissor Sisters easily. The only Phoenix song I really know is Too Young, which is lovely, but anything I've heard has washed right over me, totally unmemorable. Toploader, Maroon Five and The Feeling are all execrable. My crap temp job (which I leave at the end of the week cos I've finally got a real job) has Clyde 2 on in the background and they're always playing that fucking Feeling song. THat guys voice makes me want to kill. It's already so inane and cloying and shit and he makes it all the more hateful. "Roight up roight up" Get it "roight up" ye, ya bass!
(Sorry, I've been celebrating my new job and am a little tipsy)

― Stew (stew s), Monday, 2 October 2006 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

orson

― dave q (listerine), Monday, 2 October 2006 21:32 (eighteen years ago)

Orson aren't mentioned in the same breath (obviously not "softrock"), but I would have ranked them second, only behind The Feeling.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 2 October 2006 21:33 (eighteen years ago)

I am beginning to see signs on a scissor sisters backlast from a few early adopters who are now sick of seeing them everywhere.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Monday, 2 October 2006 21:52 (eighteen years ago)

To start with Toploader, they were sort of the first band of the Softrock-revival. In retrospect, they sucked.
In retrospect?!

― struttin' with some barbecue (jimnaseum), Monday, 2 October 2006 21:57 (eighteen years ago)

Just to correct a couple of factual errors:
- Maroon 5's one good single is "Harder To Breathe"
- Elton John Scissor Sisters > 80s-synth Scissor Sisters

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Monday, 2 October 2006 22:24 (eighteen years ago)

80s synth >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Elton John doing anything but melancholy minor key ballads from 1975 or earlier.

Thus, the conclusion....

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 2 October 2006 23:14 (eighteen years ago)

i like a lot of '70s soft-rock. i don't like a lot of current bands that are trying to sound like '70s soft-rock. i like the feeling a lot. "kettle's on" is their early claim to pop history. sometimes they do this self-conscious powerpop harmony thing that makes me want to puke (jellyfish is very otm, geir), but there is a damn good pop songwriter somewhere in that band.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 2 October 2006 23:18 (eighteen years ago)

but i like the scissors sisters album better.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 2 October 2006 23:18 (eighteen years ago)

WTF?!?!?!

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 02:25 (eighteen years ago)

sometimes they do this self-conscious powerpop harmony thing that makes me want to puke

But, hey, that's the best thing about them IMO! :)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 08:40 (eighteen years ago)

Phoenix and the Scissor Sisters are sometimes good. Sometimes great in Phoenix's case tho not so much lately.

The Feeling are fucking horrendous and worse than Maroon 5 or even Toploader.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 08:44 (eighteen years ago)

All cattiness aside:

I can't imagine a "The Feeling" fan. Oh, I can imagine people quite liking their soft pop in a sort of "bit like Gerry Rafferty" kind of way. But someone registering on their website for news/ringtones/merchandise, nope. Can't see people doing that. I *could* at a stretch for Toploader.

Did anyone see the 'duet' with Charlotte Church? The lead singer was all "I'll pretend she's not there" hilarious.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 08:47 (eighteen years ago)

ronan basically otm.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 09:02 (eighteen years ago)

Mellow are better than any of the acts Geir's listed, but if I had to pick, SS >>>>>>>Feeling/Phoenix/Maroon 5>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Toploader.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 09:28 (eighteen years ago)

May have to do with the fact that their music does mainly appeal to people who are, well, at least in their mid 20s, mostly even older. The behaviour you describe is more typical of teens.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 09:31 (eighteen years ago)

Plus, this also means those of us who get into that kind of music know very well that is has been done better in the 60s and 70s.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 09:32 (eighteen years ago)

Well, possibly re the "Teen Behaviour" but I more generally meant "people who actually care whether they made another record or not"...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 10:09 (eighteen years ago)

And also, "Those of us.." why bother with less well made stuff made recently?

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 10:10 (eighteen years ago)

And also, "Those of us.." why bother with less well made stuff made recently?

If I like pizza, I will not do with the memories of the good pizzas I ate in the past. I prefer eating some new pizza, even though the pizza from the past may have been more well-made.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 10:11 (eighteen years ago)

"Try this pizza, it's a 1996"

"Mmm, a vintage year"

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 10:36 (eighteen years ago)

if we could re-eat the old pizza we would duh

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 10:40 (eighteen years ago)

The Feeling-Margerita
The Scissor Sisters-Hawaiian
Phoenix-Tasty crostini with one anchovy on it.
Maroon 5-A stale piece of sliced pan covered in capers.
Toploader-A scone with tomato ketchup.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 10:45 (eighteen years ago)

Orson - not eaten in the same mouth (obviously not "pizza")

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 11:13 (eighteen years ago)

Toploader-A scone with tomato ketchup.

Hahahaha classic.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 11:19 (eighteen years ago)

OK, to overdo the metaphor.

You may well prefer the pizza from the establishment founded in 1966.

But it gets a bit dull sticking to that one.

Option 1) Go to new pizza place, looks/is cheaper, pizzas not as nice but the names and flavours offered are the same as the good place.

Option 2) Find new pizza place with new flavours.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 11:20 (eighteen years ago)

I think, (ending with the metaphor for a bit), Softrock is all very well, but the difference is "Are they saying anything worth listening to?" and The Feeling are clearly saying "nothing new".

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 11:22 (eighteen years ago)

But then who is?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 11:42 (eighteen years ago)

See threads other than this one.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 13:17 (eighteen years ago)

Like which?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 13:19 (eighteen years ago)

ok maybe no-one ever says something *absolutely* new, but these bands bring nothing at all to the table.

― the classic sounds of the seventh of january 1998 (Enrique), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 13:20 (eighteen years ago)

..is my point.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 13:39 (eighteen years ago)

1st Scissor Sisters > 2nd Phoenix > 1st Phoenix > 2nd Scissor Sisters > The Feeling > Maroon 5 > 3rd Phoenix >>>>>>>>> Toploader.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 13:48 (eighteen years ago)

the maroon 5 singles weren't the worst think i've heard as far as that type of music goes

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 14:02 (eighteen years ago)

Sisscor sisters have about two and a half good songs. The Feeling's singles are perfectly good in a Hongro-esque manner (ie- wet melodic indie with MOR flourishes- no matter how dreck that sounds on paper I can submit to a song when played on radio whereas Maroon 5 and Toploader were absolutely unbearable). Phoenix are pretty unremarkable all round. I don't know why I would stand up for the feeling because I would never buy their album in a million years, and it fails to create any sense of "pleasure", (too bland even for a guilty one) but seriously they are miles better than Toploader and Maroon Five who weren't just bland but truly wretched, I remember having to submit to a third and fourth single off that Maroon 5 album, teethgrindingly bad.

― gekoppel (Gekoppel), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 15:27 (eighteen years ago)

'Fill My Little World' = the 'Good Enough' of 2006

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 15:30 (eighteen years ago)

You may well prefer the pizza from the establishment founded in 1966.
But it gets a bit dull sticking to that one.
Option 1) Go to new pizza place, looks/is cheaper, pizzas not as nice but the names and flavours offered are the same as the good place.

Option 2) Find new pizza place with new flavours.

Given that option 1 is still nice enough (and in this case it is), I prefer a little of both.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 19:14 (eighteen years ago)

i'm sure stevem has posted that comparison before. it's otm. but i fucken hated 'good enough'. i've always hated... songs.

― the classic sounds of the seventh of january 1998 (Enrique), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 19:19 (eighteen years ago)

"Good Enough" is an average song from a brilliant and absolutely classic band.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 3 October 2006 21:41 (eighteen years ago)

xpost to your pizza answer...

If one day, option 1 could actually be as good as or better than the original, fine. But it's not going to, is it?

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 07:58 (eighteen years ago)

Some day, someone will be seriously injured tripping over a pile of scratched copies of "Onka's Big Moka" in a charity shop. Probably me.

"Dancing In The Moonlight" is slightly less execrable than "This Love". What I've heard by the Scissor Sisters sounded like Supertramp. Have never heard The Feeling. Have never heard of Phoenix.

Geir, which is your favourite Journey album?

― Matt #2 (Matt #2), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 08:56 (eighteen years ago)

It's sad that Phoenix are the least known band of the five.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 09:05 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.onehorseshy.com/prods/7012913_240x240_F.jpg

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 09:13 (eighteen years ago)

What I've heard by the Scissor Sisters sounded like Supertramp

The me they sound like Bee Gees. Had they sounded like Supertramp they would have been genius, like Supertramp were. Current music should sound way more like 10cc/ELO/Supertramp, that would have made current music better.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 09:36 (eighteen years ago)

And as for Journey, the only album I have even heard is "Escape". Journey are far too much on the heavy rock side of AOR for my taste (I prefer the prog side of AOR)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 09:37 (eighteen years ago)

You have The Feeling. You need no other.

Nothing else needs to sound like The Feeling.

Keep those mutts away from me. I don't find this stuff amusing anymore.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 09:38 (eighteen years ago)

Would The Feeling be improved if they got in Patsy Kensit as lead singer?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 09:51 (eighteen years ago)

Only Sean Rowley knows the truth about the main question.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 09:52 (eighteen years ago)

Would The Feeling be improved if they got in Patsy Kensit as lead singer?

No. But their videos might.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 October 2006 23:24 (eighteen years ago)

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