Top 10 Most Overrated Bands
Published on November 21, 2008 - 454 Comments
There are musicians who live up to expectations, who surpass the hype and deservedly cement themselves into the cultural consciousness. And then there are bands who become so commercialized in the media that they become outworn, and their importance is suddenly no longer able to be exemplified to its original extent. The bands on this list are good and at times can be great, but through constant overkill have revealed themselves as celebrity debasement at its nadir.
An enjoyable band in its own right, equal amounts grunge and incendiary funk (dig the rhythm section) but nowhere near as primordial as critics have made them out to be. For twenty years they have stayed true to the same terse formula which sometimes works out but often times simply grows tedious. Strangely, their attempts at sappy sentimentality usually end up being the singles that receive constant airplay.
Even more formulaic than the Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi were the poster boys for 80s hair metal and were loyal to their code long enough to make repetitive clones of their every single, and fans were unable to tell the difference. In an interview, one band member claimed they would never make an experimental album because they didn’t want to cheat fans by being selfish. I guess no one ever told them that it takes selfishness to make art.
Before American Idiot, Green Day was an impressive young band, blending pure punk with delicious melodies, cranking out songs such as Brain Stew and Good Riddance. But after 2004, they ceased to be a band and became a franchise. It was no longer a musical entity as much as a stadium-selling appearance. Dozens of bands tried to follow their example and are partially responsible for the dearth in punk rock today.
Long considered the ultimate stadium band, U2 in its day (that time known as the 80s) were a very imaginative powerhouse. But now that vamping guitar seems less influential and more trance-inducing, and not in a meditative way. Bono’s voice is astounding, but at times falls under the weight of carrying some mediocre songs that somehow end up getting major airplay.
Axl Rose is possibly the quintessential overrated hair metal frontman, the paramount of flashy, overbearing crankiness that some critics take as a form of ambition. How did this band become known as one of the greatest influences in rock today? Slash is a great guitarist, but a solo does not make a song. A worthy guitar band, but as monumental artists, they leave much to be desired.
Yes, they made Smile. Yes, they composed some of the catchiest music of the 60s and almost single handedly invented California rock. But there is a time when a band ceases to be simply influential and moves into the territory of being distilled. Not to mention, almost all of their singles are indistinguishable until midway through the chorus.
Metallica, contrary to popular belief, did not reinvent the wheel known as heavy metal and are not so much a major creative influence as a very popular band. Their range from speed rock to epic “composition” is very hollow on close inspection, both musically and lyrically. [They are also a bunch of whiners. - JFrater] [LOL @ J -Cyn]
What began as a turgid imitation of grunge ended up selling a whopping 8 million copies in two years of a gratingly compromised and soul-sucking pop album, supporting mind-bogglingly popular singles and pale, tasteless fan favorites. The attention this band gets on a daily basis for being unoriginal is unfair in comparison to the innovative unknowns struggling in LA clubs. How did a band this trite and adolescent gain so much favor? It is one of the world’s greatest mysteries.
Fans and critics alike praise them for being able to carry their songs using only three chords and constantly bludgeoning riffs. They rank highly on this list not only for that very definition, but because they have taken the gospel of rock and turned it into a Wal Mart commodity, joining Aerosmith in having Guitar Hero avatars and countless songs on the charts that are nigh-indiscernible. They represent classic rock on its last legs, and while that may be supportable, its no reason to put them on so incredible a pedestal.
Don’t get me wrong: Kurt Cobain was a great songwriter and was able to get away with repetition because that’s how
punk rock was meant to be presented: as a slipshod dungeon of sincerity; not that they couldn’t be melodic, as on the incendiary MTV Unplugged. It’s not the band that’s overrated so much as the premise: after Cobain’s death Nirvana ceased to be a band so much as a corporate enterprise, spawning a massive appeal of T-shirts and other forms of apparel, which Cobain despised and saw as a form of cock rock conformity. Ironically, Nirvana has become the very thing Cobain always fought against, and has inspired infinite punk bands to sell out and become equivocal commodities. Not to mention Cobain’s death has made him in the eyes of fans to be a martyr, a horrible misinterpretation of a melancholy end. Cobain was no Werther, but the popularity that has ensued for the past decade is sorrowfully appalling.
The first punk rock band? No. The first over-recognized punk rock band to be franchised on an insurmountable basis? No doubt.
Contributor: F. McClure
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1. PT - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:43 am
light blue touch paper and step back.
F. McClure you’ve probably started world war 3
2. ian - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:43 am
nice list.
3. Homr - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:48 am
I for once agree with most of the posts on a list. I do enjoy the Chili Peppers and Nirvana but, alas, they are overrated. But you hit the nail on the head with AC/DC and Guns and Roses. I also would have added Aerosmith, but maybe thats more of a personal opinion. Oh and Grateful Dead. Both are on my overrated list.
4. OceanMan. - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:00 am
well this list (in my opinion) shouldn`t be name like this, you are saying nirvana was great, but, somehow now they are overrated because cobain died and drew a HUGE folliwing afterwards?. What about, Hendrix, Joplin, The Doors??. thats not there fault. This list should be based on musical merits, not because of what the media do or thinks.
Agree on some, disagree (totally) on most of them.
5. Saruka - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:11 am
Good point OceanMan.
Have yoy already a Most underrated list? I would like to see that.
6. lily - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 am
These bands are all greats (although im not much of rocker or heavy metal fan or beach boy fan either i recognize greatness where i see it) they are in no way overated kiss is overated gene simmons is overated why wasnt he on the list i mean he makes millions by sellings kiss merchandise frm kiss toilet seats to kiss garden gnomes.
7. SarahJ the 2nd - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:23 am
you are so right on on all of these!
8. Jordan - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:32 am
Definitely agree on Guns and Roses, to me every song sounds pretty much the same. don’t get me wrong I do like a few of their songs but does get tedious after a while
9. Leah - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:38 am
Completely agree on all of these but i’ve got a feeling there is going to be a few people not happy to read this. Denial’s such a horrible thing
10. Bruegz - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:38 am
Creed isn’t on this list. That is all.
11. zindsoros - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:48 am
Meh, kinda lame topic for a list, since it really is all going to ultimately come down to the makers opinion more than anything else. For example, I think Led Zeppelin are overrated, im sure many would disagree, but whatever.
In general it looks like a standard case of “these are some bands that are highly rated, but I dont love, so they must be overrated.”
But whatever, it’s youre opinion, and im just sharing mine.
12. OceanMan. - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 am
thanks saruka :).
you`re right zindsoros, i personally think that The Beatles, are overrated,”burn in hell sir” someone is thinking right now, but as you say, thats my opinion.
13. Kris - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 am
I second Bruegz. I agree with everything except for the Metallica entry. I’ve never heard anyone say they reinvented metal. What they and others during their time did was take metal in a new direction.
I happen to be a huge fan of Metallica, but I’m not going to bitch about it because 1) they ARE whiners. It’s the music I listen to, and 2) everything else about this list is spot-on.
14. Denzell - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 am
Man, I am a fan of Green Day!
15. Adriana - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 am
Yay!!!With all listed!!!!! I agree, but what about the over rated rolling stones?????? Sooooooooooooooooooooooo Overated???Believe me 30 years of having to endure their sounds cos of my husband! I am so over them!!! Help
16. Atinna - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 am
I like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nickelback,, what I think is overrated is Rage Against The Machine, they just put the same kind of song with the same rhythm over and over again
17. dor - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:29 am
I dont understand how AC/DC ended up on this list!!!!!!!!!!
I dont like this list very much.
I do agree on Bon Jovi & The BeachBoys tho’
18. SR - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 am
Metallica and The Beach Boys are also on your ‘Top 10 Greatest Rockers’ List! What gives?
19. guy - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 am
ok i agree with about every band but i think the beach boys are pretty cool. even though they are way before my time period, songs like help me rhonda and sloop john b are timeless to me atleast. thank god you did not put led zeppelin on there or i would have gotten all mad and stuff. jk but seriously
20. guy - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 am
by the way i do agree with adriana that rolling stones are a little overrated too. no one get mad though, i just dont dig their tunes
21. astraya - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 am
Lots of arguments coming up, I predict!
Reading through this, I was thinking “Who wrote this, who wrote this, who wrote this?” and it turned out to be someone I don’t know.
Anybody about to disagree with F McClure, re-read the intro: “The bands on this list are good and at times can be great”. That much is not in dispute.
22. guy - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:47 am
thanks for sharing that with us #22. maybe you can think of something that might actually contribute to the site sometime
23. Brosiusjb - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 am
Couldn’t be more wrong about the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, you say they are formulaic (always liked the word “formulaic”) but lets be honest they have lyrics none of the following 9 would understand and took white rock in a place no other white band would have or has yet followed, and thats to funky town. But God almighty I am pleased that U2 is on the list for no other reason than their guitar player actually thought calling himself “The Edge” was a great idea. Not “Edge” but “The Edge”, his wife rolls over after a good round of postmarital sex and gasps “The that was the best sex I’ve had since I can’t remember when!” May I be the first to say “FUCK the Beach Boys!”? Sloop John B was an alright song but I hate the Beach Boys if for no other reason than people like Bill OReilly claim to have always loved the Boys because they think it pidgeon holes them into that group of society that is lily white and above average. Neoconservative much? But no, singing in harmony and trying to be anything other than a hippy is a good way to act like anything other than counter culture people who read. I don’t know why Nickel Back would be overrated because they have always sucked. Would Nirvana have been so influential had Cobain not off’d himself? Or perhaps would they be subPearl Jam? Nirvana Unplugged was damn good though and after the sonic bludgeoning our ears took during the ’80s with crap like Poison and Twisted Sister there has never been a more appropriately named album which captured the resigned frustration of the antiGlam as “Nevermind”. The Ramones are forever indebted to a ubiquitous tshirt because lets face it sometimes you really fucking hate it when you hear punk rock playing within ear shot. Sometimes loud music played fast is as good as it gets, but only if you can play. Otherwise it’s just noise.
24. Baxter - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:53 am
The Beach Boys absolutely do not belong on this list.
I like how you think Nirvana are overrated simply because they were so horribly taken advantage of; I don’t know how you’ve come to think of their songs as repetitive, but if you’re talking about the similarity between “Teen Spirit” and “Rape Me” I think I’m actually going to kill myself. Your little blurb about the Ramones implies that you know fuck-all about them (pardon my French).
ACDC do suck though, so Kudos.
25. Baxter - November 22nd, 2008 at 3:56 am
“Would Nirvana have been so influential had Cobain not off’d himself? Or perhaps would they be subPearl Jam?”
Witness the lack of knowledge!
Aargh, this list is actually irritating me… I think it’s best that I leave. Ciao y’all.
26. cparker - November 22nd, 2008 at 4:00 am
that was a great list, but since Kurt ended up killing himself for being “sell outs in music” he should never be labelled in a list like this. List Courtney Love for them, not Kurt’s decision so not really fair. Bands I never understood why they were so popular: Metallica, U2, and Bon Jovi. I used to be a HUGE Green Day fan and I gave up on them at the very time for the very reasons you mentioned.
27. ZedroZ - November 22nd, 2008 at 4:04 am
Nirvana, no way!
I agree with all of the others but definatly not Nirvana, no place for those crap 90 year olds Status Quo?
28. ZedroZ - November 22nd, 2008 at 4:11 am
Sorry for double post but I needed to add that should the opportunity ever present itself, I will kill Bono…
What a sanctimonious, big headed, egotistical, “i’m amazing”, “me and Bob Geldoff are going to adopt Africa next week” tosser.
Dont get me wrong I think its good that people care and try to make a difference in the third world. But the guy isn’t Jesus! (despite his popular belief that he is)
29. Bobby - November 22nd, 2008 at 4:17 am
Where’s Oasis? Arctic Monkeys? Kaiser Chiefs? Nickelback though definately yes, burn them all. Nirvana are incredible though, and RHCP aren’t bad.
30. carp - November 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 am
i think nickelback should be #1
31. inanytime - November 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 am
Great list! Agree with it completely!
32. warrrreagl - November 22nd, 2008 at 4:42 am
F McClure, you’re braver than I. And smarter, too, because this list is dead on. I can’t wait for the “perpetually outraged” to wake up and read the list, because there’s not a weak link anywhere on this list.
Although I didn’t count the American quantity…hmmmm
33. foohy - November 22nd, 2008 at 4:55 am
I totally agree with this list! Spot on with the Green Day bit! Music today sucks. Also i’ve noticed latly that all the music I like by AC/DC were just covers! None of their original songs are that good in my opinion.
34. mark - November 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 am
did I write this list? People dump on me every day for practically saying these things word for word. Great observations, and a great list of mediocre to crap bands. Thanks!
35. Suskis - November 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 am
I am surprised you left out the ROLLING STONES, the most embarassing ol’men band around. Had they stopped doing music in the sixties, they would have left us with a good memory of them. Their unwise choice to stay around until today has shown the world their nothingness.
36. Jason - November 22nd, 2008 at 5:17 am
I think the word ‘overrated’ is overrated. From many of the comments you’ve used to explain your choices, I think a better title for the post would be ‘most overexposed bands’. I do agree that most of the bands on this list suck majorly (Beach Boys, Nirvana excepted), but the concept of being ‘overrated’ is flawed - overrated by whom? Fans? Critics? Both? You won’t find too many critics who rate Nickelback highly, regardless of how many records they sell (records? how old am I? hehe).
It just seems to me that if the list were titled “most overexposed bands” it would be darn near unassailable. Then you could even add Aerosmith. You seem to have a problem with commercialization and overexposure (I agree) leading to musical crap-itude (I kinda agree), which IMO is quite a different thing from being ‘overrated’. To whit:
Overexposed (kinda objective):
Aerosmith
U2
Bon Jovi
Bruce Springsteen
John Mayer
Overrated (very subjective):
The Clash
‘indie rock’ in general
Metallica
Alicia Keys
37. smurff - November 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 am
The Beach Boys were formed in the early 60’s if my memory serves me correctly, and had a few hits in the 70’s, I enjoyed there music, I suppose its a age gap thing.
38. K-Fun - November 22nd, 2008 at 5:24 am
i think you meant sellouts which most of these bands have fought against and stay truew to their own sound
its not their fault record companies have seen a marketing ploy and fans have found something they like
39. Hannah - November 22nd, 2008 at 5:28 am
I love me some overrated bands - but I’m not ashamed to say it. Yeah, the music I like is probably overrated. It’s probably way too catchy and gets overplayed on the radio even twenty or thirty years later. I agree with Jason that you could add Aerosmith to the list, too! I listen to seven of the bands on this list pretty regularly, and my tastes in music are questionable, so I’d say the list is spot-on, with the notable exception of Aerosmith.
40. Josh Carroll - November 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 am
Whilst I can see were you’re coming from, the problem I find with this list is actually each of these bands have produced some genuinely good music and each and every one (aside from Nickelback) have been major influences in music.
How many bands have been inspired by GnR, Metallica or AC/DC?
How many have been inspired by Green Day, the punk band that could?
Nirvana weren’t popular because weren’t popular because Cobain off’d himself - they were popular because they captured teen life at the time.
Nickelback is harder to argue for, but I think actually they’ve produced some great stuff and some shit stuff. A lot of the shit has been sold over and over again and it’s a shame, but some of their good stuff is genuinely good stuff. their new album is pretty damn good music for the most part. And they are a God-send in terms of guitar tone! *drools slightly* I would kill for tone like that. *Geek*
Anyways. Overrated bands? Nah. All these bands are famous for a good reason. That reason might not be as relevant as it once was, but it’s just as valid nonetheless.
41. astraya - November 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 am
When ACDC are acclaimed as a great band, they are “the Australian rock group ACDC”. When they are listed as overrated, they are “the mainly born in Scotland rock group ACDC”.
42. ChristineM - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 am
Oh God, Nickelback. They play their stuff at least every hour on every radio station in Toronto. All their songs sound exactly the same and the lead singers voice is grating
43. kev - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:11 am
GnR wHA? three words Appetite For Destruction possibly the greatest album ever
44. matheus - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 am
F. McClure, you probably don’t know much from The Beach Boys and, thus, you comitted a mistake by adding them. You should really look up for knowing all their records, the never stopped producing controversius, fantastic records until 1980 or so. They managed to deliver at least 6 GREAT albuns in the seventhies.
45. Slipstick - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 am
I can understand The Beach Boys on the list if there was one other overrated band that would be at #1. The Beatles. They fall prey to the same pitfall (all their songs sound the same.) Let’s face it the music wasn’t the greatest, but they were young and good-looking which was enough to move the albums.
46. Rob Yorkshire - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:18 am
I saw the title of this and I thought this is gonna be terrible. I was expecting to see my beloved springsteen on there so that was a good start. Overall a fantastic list. I love Nirvana and the Beach Boys and some RHCP’s earlier stuff but I understand what your saying when you say theyre overrated. My only minor gripe is that I would have U2 as number 1 but I guess thats personal preference. How about a most overrated albums/songs list?
47. billyshears - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:22 am
Why Nickelback needs to quit making “music.”
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/32342/detail/
48. Dread Pirate Bob - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:26 am
Where are the Doors, the most boring, pretentious overrated band in the history of rock?
Where is Led Zeppelin? no doubt a highly talented quartet but they did nothing but rip off other people and call the songs their own. A fact proven in court and by many many out of court settlements. Go here if you want proof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCMDR0yrxMw
Aerosmith? where’s Aerosmith?
Where are the Sex Pistols, credited with “starting punk” when they were a boy band.
I’m not sure how Nickelback even rates on this list, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think they suck
49. LordCalvert - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:27 am
VAN HALEN should definately be on this list. David Lee Roth absolutely sucks beyond all suckage.
Fleetwood Mac is pretty much the shittiest band ever concieved of, Stevie Nicks could be David Lee Roth’s twin in the amount of suckage there.
other than that i agree with pretty much all of this list. even though it made me sad to see metallica there. i can’t listen to a nirvana song on the radio any more. i used to love them, but JEEZ COME OUT WITH SOME NEW MATERIAL ALL READY!@!!!!
50. Paolo - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:34 am
Good list (disagree with the bonus Ramones listing, but oh well, to be expected, and a little with with AC/DC but again…I digress). Other overrated acts:
Good, not Great: Beatles, Rolling Stones (after Some Girls), Rush, Aerosmith, Van Morrison
Great, not Good: Beastie Boys, Allman Brothers, Warren Zevon, KD Lang, Grateful Dead (yes, I know most folks hate them), the Clash, MC5, Husker Du
Bad, not even Good: Jimmy Buffet, Madonna, Prince, Hootie, Marylin Manson, Oasis, James Taylor, Paul Simon, anything Ozzie
Oh my God, Kill it with Fire: Kate Bush, Bjork, Melissa Etheridge, Indigo Girls, Michael Jackson, NIN, disco
51. nigel - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:38 am
beatles
52. Ducky423 - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:40 am
Metallica certainly belongs on this list as does KISS! But AC/DC really? I’m a child of the ’80s and loved most of the hair bands fromm back then but could not stand Bon Jovi. Probably because my older sister is a Jovi head, and still is. I never did get the whole grunge thing so Nirvavna was always overrated to me. But for some reason I really liked the Foo Fighters. Go Figure!
53. ronsantohof - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:41 am
A band could be the #2 greatest band ever but if most people consider them to be #1 then they would be overrated. Artistically it is better for a band to breakup or have a major death so they don’t descend into suckiness (Rolling Stones, U2, Aerosmith) and stick around 2 or 3 decades too long. I like a lot of the bands on the list but couldn’t disagree that most are overrated.
54. SoCalJeff - November 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 am
“And then there are bands who become so commercialized in the media that they become outworn, and their importance is suddenly no longer able to be exemplified to its original extent. The bands on this list are good and at times can be great, but through constant overkill have revealed themselves as celebrity debasement at its nadir.”
Based on this definition, I generally agree with the list. I must like overrated bands, but I still generally agree with the list.
55. Louise - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:06 am
Hmm… Don’t agree with any of them. Love most of their music. But then again, I like almost all kinds of music.
56. Bigwig Rabbit - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 am
If AC/DC is #2, where does that put Krokus?
57. Profeh - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:14 am
I love most of the bands on this list, but I have to agree they’re overrated to some extent, depending on what is meant by overrated. Personally, I think Coldplay should be on this.
58. Jim C - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:16 am
AC/DC doesn’t belong on this list, simply because they’re not rated highly enough to be overrated. They don’t take themselves seriously, and neither do their fans. One of my favorite frontman quotes of all time:
“Some people say we have thirteen albums that all sound the same. That isn’t true. We have fourteen albums that all sound the same.”
- Angus Young
59. smurff - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:20 am
matheus at # 45 I second you on that one, see my earlier comment # 38.
60. FATSEXY - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:24 am
I’d love to see the author’s Top 10 Bands list.
It’s probably full of great stuff like Wilco and Ryan Adams. And by “great stuff” I mean “crap that people who think they are cool listen to because everyone tells them it’s awesome”.
Oh well.
61. rosirob - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:26 am
I hate nickelback. It must be said that they have no talent at all.
Nirvana are so UNBELIEVABLY overrated - have you noticed how ‘Smells like teen spirit’ always reaches no.1 in VH1’s/MTV’s countdown of ‘Greatest Rock songs ever’?
People always say - ‘Oh, I wish Kurt hadn’t committed suicide. Rock music would be fantastic if he didn’t.’ But if Kurt hadn’t gone, we wouldn’t have the Foo Fighters! And you know that Nirvana would eventually become what most people see of Guns and Roses today.
62. brijesh - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:33 am
my list of ten over rated suckers
1 THE WHITE STRIPES
2 THE BEATLES
3 THE SEX PISTOLS
4 MOTORHEAD
5 BON JOVI..They suck
6 ROLLING STONES
7 THE DOORS
8 THE GRATEFUL DEAD
9
63. Jon - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 am
I hope they make an underrated song list. I would nominate Yes for #1
64. STL Mo - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:40 am
Pretty gutsy list!
And #46, spot on about the Beatles.
65. Sky - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:43 am
This is one of the worst lists I have ever seen. The person who has made this list CLEARLY does not understand a thing about rock.
Nirvana is overrated? Nirvana is one of the most influential rock band in the history of ALL TIMES.. Have YOU ever heard ANY of their songs? Take “The man who sold the world” for example, the guitar solo is absolutely breathtaking.. a few chords, nothing too complex but it’s a classic rock masterpiece! And then his voice, is simply unique. Intense, calm, tragic, rough.. Nobody sounds like Kurt and he sounds like no one.
Oh yes, and then Metallica. Overrated? Absolutelly not. They’re the modern gods of metal, we should all be thankful that there is still someone out there who makes decent metal music.
66. nimitz - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 am
to tell you the truth, I hate all the bands on thee list,and on 63’s list
67. nimitz - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:47 am
then again i only like trackmania music
68. mollym - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:48 am
i have to say i agree with this whole list. especially nickelback.
69. Moe Shinola - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:53 am
Ditto for an underrated band list. Is there one here yet? Here are some nominees:
Joe Jackson
King’s X
Earl King
Dada
Catherine Wheel
Buffalo Tom
Kristen Hersch
70. Zsolt - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:55 am
Panic(Formerly !) at The Disco should really, really be in this list.
71. Polymath - November 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 am
Great list. Brought back memories for me
Beach boys I grew up with, Guns and roses was probably be the first TAPE I ever bought. Overrated now for sure.
72. B-on - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:12 am
“Top 10 Most Overrated Bands”. Just because a successful band stick to their formula doesnt mean they are bad or overrated. And especially not when the band also invented and perfected that style. How many bands invent a style? Sure, it gets repetitive, so what? The list should be called “Top 10 Great Bands Stuck In Their Style”. Its too easy to make sweeping statements like youve done. There are only a handful bands in the world who play different styles of music and that are also world class at the same time.
73. Kreachure - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:14 am
Ugh. I don’t even know where to start.
I’m sure people are equating “overrated” to “I don’t like their music, thus I bash their overall influence on modern music”, including the author of this list. That’s why so many are agreeing with most of this list, simply because they don’t like this or that band. That doesn’t mean they’re overrated.
Many of these bands have had major undeniable influence on their genres, and their popularity came along with it. Others, not so much, and still were popular But you can’t equate them all on basis of their overexposure (which doesn’t equal “overrated”, as has been said before in the comments).
And then there are bands who become so commercialized in the media that they become outworn, and their importance is suddenly no longer able to be exemplified to its original extent.
What the F is that supposed to mean? If people started “commercializing” Beethoven, then “the extent of his importance” would somehow be diminished? That makes no sense! If you want to talk about bands who SOLD OUT, that’s an entirely different subject which has little to do with considering bands overrated. (A “Top 10 bands who sold out” would still be a pretty controversial list, but at least you’d be bashing bands with clearer arguments).
Although I agree with some items (Green Day, U2, Nickelback), and others I don’t know about enough to agree or disagree, I do have things to say about some other choices in the list:
#10 RHCP: You explained how they’re overexposed, not why they would be overrated.
#9 Bon Jovi: describes them as being sell-outs and very popular because of it, but that’s it.
#6 GnR: Yes, they were very popular, but that’s because of the great success with fans and critics that their albums garnered during the late 80s/early 90s. Their style was considered a breath of fresh air in a saturated industry of formulaic and shallow rock music (hair metal; they might have looked like they were part of that, but their music certainly wasn’t). They did something new and enticing, and they got big thanks to that.
#4 Metallica: They’re one of the “Big Four” bands of Thrash Metal, which means that they invented and developed that new genre during the 80s and 90s. Any expert on Heavy Metal will tell you that the influence of that new genre (and Metallica itself) on the history of Metal was very significant, and greatly defined how Metal would evolve during the 90s and until today. “Their range from speed rock to epic “composition” is very hollow on close inspection, both musically and lyrically.” That’s just your musical opinion, so don’t say it like it was some sort of fact.
#2 AC/DC: As much as you may not like their style when it comes to chords and riffs, they were inevitably pioneers of Heavy Metal (according to Encyclopedia Britannica, at least; trusty enough for you? :P). If it’s evident you don’t like their music, then how subjective do you think that makes your choice? And what do their influence, which arguably reached its peak during the 70’s and 80’s, have to do with a video game released less than three years ago? If you hate Guitar Hero and Aerosmith (and Wal-Mart, I guess), then say that, don’t just bunch them all up together to say that somehow it all sucks as a whole, as if that’s what represents the influence of AC/DC in Rock history.
#1 Nirvana: Nirvana was a corporate enterprise long before Kurt Cobain passed away, since kids at that time already wanted to emulate everything he did while he was doing it, music- and wardrobe-wise, not only after his death. Cobain repeatedly said he hated that, and he certainly didn’t motivate anyone to do it. Yet it happened. After his death, Nirvana disbanded and perhaps was left in the hands of unscrupulous fellows who wanted to cash in on the band like a brand. So, (very) sadly, as you mentioned, the “Nirvana” after Cobain couldn’t be more than that, a brand. Nirvana the band is long gone, and it changed the music landscape for good. What came after is just an afterthought that doesn’t really reflect on the greatness of their music. Still, their popularity today can’t just be matched to the popularity of “Nirvana the brand”. The band itself earned great merit as a band to earn that long-lasting popularity.
74. B-on - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 am
63. Hey man, just beacuse you personally dont like a band doesnt make them overrated.
I would say that anyone claiming that The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Rolling Stones or Metallica are overrated doesnt understand shti about music!
75. Nicosia - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 am
You took the words right out of my mouth!
76. Elsa - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
BOB DYLAN *waits for the tomoteos to be thrown*
Sorry.while he was inovative during the early 60’s..every single song sounds the same, and now he’s become a parody of himself, mumbling in that whiney tone…….I actually physically cringe and feel sorry for him when I see a performance.
77. Photophore - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
I can see where you are going to have problems with this list, but I think people have to understand that it is just an opinion. I mean how could it not be, it’s just a top ten list on a online site people geez. Anyhow, I really kinda agree with your picks, although I love Metallica, RHCP, and The Beach Boys, they only got picked at random it seems to be the “big” band people see them as today. For every band that gets popular, there are hundreds in little clubs and garages that are better. It’s who you know, luck, and talent…
78. debutrans - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
wtf
acdc?
overrated?
i think this is list is fucking overrated
if acdc is overrated than so be black sabbath, deep purple, van halen, coldplay etc
79. A Nun O Miss - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
I’m so angry at the content of this list that I am tempted to not read the website any longer…I am an everyday avid fan of Listverse and am shocked by the idea that you can call u2, AC/DC or even metallica for that matter “over-rated”…Im a firm believer in everyone having their own opinions and I appreciate your opinion as well…but I would not feel right reading such a ludacris list and not voicing my own opinion as well!
80. Jenna - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
I think you hit this one on the head…while I do enjoy all of these bands from time to time, they aren’t as great as they attention they’ve receieved.
81. Ruby - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:36 am
I like G’n'R and the Beach Boys but I completely agree with this list. Of course, everyone has their own opinion and I can see where some people get angry. I, for one, would not like to see Led Zeppelin on the list because I personally love them. But it is just a list, just someone’s opinion…so don’t take it too seriously people.
82. TampaGeek - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
I was with you up to AC/DC… sorry, but WAYYYY too many good memories and Angus Young monster riffs to have them included in this list. One of the last true rock blues bands around. I’ll forgive them going the WallyWorld route.
83. Paolo - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 am
Calm down haters. “Overrated” does not mean suck. It means the poster does not see them as good as their fan base does and not as good as their reputation suggests. I think the Beatles are overrated, but I would never say they suck. Madonna is both overrated and sucks. The Stones use to be great, but now are just pathetic (not really sucking, just hackneyed). Funny, though, as compared to top musicians, the Sex Pistols sucked at their instruments (or were very mediocre) but as a rock-and-roll band, they were awesome for their 15 minutes. Finally, cliche but true…there’s no accounting for taste. Have at it.
84. segue - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:48 am
F. McClure: As much as I like many of the bands on this list, I completely agree with their placement on this list.
Yes, to all of you who said, “Well, what about ______ group?”
This was a list of 10! 10! The guy did a marvelous job, in my estimation, within the confines of having only 10! picks! And a BONUS.
I still love a few of these bands, overrated as they are. Just because they’re overrated doesn’t mean they can’t make great music all of a sudden. It just means they get over played, over advertised, over covered, over imitated…and the list goes on.
It’s not, entirely, a bad thing. While it can (depending on the amount of imitation) dilute the bands “brand”, the original is always the original. Always the best.
The bands I love on this list, I will always love. The ones I never cared for will remain in obscurity for me.
This list was well done F. McClure. Congrat’s.
85. Papavitch - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
Diagree almost entirely with this list I’m afriad. Overrated is (as has been said a million times on this comment thread) not the right word. To say that a band like Nirvana or Metallica is overrated just doesn’t fly for me. Most of the bands on this list changed music for ever, that alone gives them the right to be hailed among the best.
The only band on here I agree with you about is the NEW green day, bunch of pathetic whiners, mere shadows of what they used to be. But I can even respect the way they have changed the music scene today. Sorry man, not a fan of this one at all.
86. Csimmons - November 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 am
No Creed? what the hell? very good list otherwise
87. MT - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 am
F. McClure,
Based on your criteria, every band in history should be on this list. Why not include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Jackson’s, etc.
I don’t agree with this list in general because something should only be considered overrated if it was never good to begin with. All the bands you listed were or still are great. But thanks for trying.
88. ericdraven26 - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 am
people here obviously don’t know what ovverrated means
I love half these bands, but i would agree, i would add the beatled, maybe a couple others and take out one or two, but overrated doesnt mean that he doesnt like them, you all need to stop taking it as such an insult
89. Jerry M. - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 am
Seeing the title of this list, I easily guessed that nirvana , nickelback, green day, U2 and even metallica (one of my favorite bands) would be on here. Great list, though.
90. Cubone - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
WOW.
91. Rob Yorkshire - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
sky(65) - I love Nirvana too but ‘Man who sold the world’ is a cover of a David Bowie song. Cant really cite that as to why they are not over-rated.
92. Mark - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
Where’s the Beatles? Cannibal Corpse? Dimmu Borgir?
All them bands are wwaay over rated.
lol I can’t believe I mentioned the Beatles in the same rant as Cannibal Corpse xD
93. Cubone - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 am
This is the most overrated list on the site.
94. hilly - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 am
Can I nominate Madonna for this list? I abhor her music AND her public persona.
95. Rob Yorkshire - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:17 am
I think people are misinterpreting what he means by ‘overrated’. The only one I could disagree with is AC/DC as someone rightly pointed out earlier neither them or any of their fans take them too seriously. I do think Creed should be on here though.
96. B Russ - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:22 am
Worst list I’ve ever read…
No way are Nirvana, Metallica, Green Day, U2, RHCP, The Beach Boys, etc. are overrated. Some of these bands changed music forever, and were so groundbreaking, only to have terrible writers like you attempt to lower their legacy.
Who are your favorite bands, I guess what I am asking, is to make a list titled “the most rated/best bands”, would love to see that list… I’m sure his number one would be like a Milli Vanilli or someone like that.
Terrible list.
97. KneeDeep - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
Yet again, another opinion list. Didn’t even bother to read it. Do something interesting.
98. YO-YO - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
THE BEATLES!!!! If lenon wan`t shot they this big,right
99. tonepoet - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:24 am
Wow, it takes a lot of guts to even think of posting a list like this. But, I have to say kudos to you for pulling it off. I especially like JRafter’s comment on Metallica: if you EVER saw ‘Some Kind Of Monster’, this would totally hit home. Worst display of, um, musicians (?) and what they become after getting their asses wiped for way too long. Any band or artist that was famous when I was a teenager (in the 80’s) and is still trying to market to teenagers is in a way a bit pitiful. Thanks for posting this!
100. Carol - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:27 am
I really like at least one song from all of these bands hehe.
I think Madonna and the Beatles should be in there, too. But that’s just me.
101. islanderbst - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
“There are musicians who live up to expectations, who surpass the hype and deservedly cement themselves into the cultural consciousness.”
I’d say all of these bands (except Nickelback) fit that description completely. So none of these bands are still producing groundbreaking, seminal work. So What. They are all still legends in my mind, I, along with most everyone, continue to love their music, and some like U2 and RHCP are still making way-above-average albums.
This list serves no point other than to inflame music lovers and stroke the ego of the listwriter as the comments add up.
F.Mclure YOU are overrated and I will be skipping any future lists of yours.
102. Perx - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
Is this perhaps the “most famous bands today” list?
it certainly seems to be..
103. Baxter - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
OH MY GOD, there are so many d*******s commenting on this list it is unbelievable.
Anyone who says that the Beatles’ songs all sound the same has probably only a heard like, two Beatles songs. Anyone who says that the Beach Boys’ songs all sound the same should grow up and look beyond the tracks with “California” in the title. Whoever said that the Sex Pistols were a boyband is a moron and should do some research before they shoot their mouth off like that (figuratively speaking).
Ohhh myyy Gaaawwwd……..
104. Robert - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
Before Joey Ramone’s death in 2001 how many people would you actually see wear Ramones t-shirts?
105. grungefreak10 - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
Ten years ago, (after Kurt’s death) I idolized the hell out of Nirvana (hence the screenname.) Nowadays, I realize just how pathetic it really was. I had pretty much adopted the moniker “I’m a non-conformist! Hey, let’s all be non-conformists together!” I know the poor fucker would be rolling around in his grave. If he had lived, he would have either quit music, or just made it on his own terms.
106. hg8057 - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
U2 overrated?!?! Blasphemer!!! Burn him!!!
107. Shamoocka-yeah thats real - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
and where are the “Tupac’s”?
I am a part of the Metallica-army, but i must admit they ARE whiners..
108. Barabas - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
Well I am a metalhead but I dont actually “love” Metallica but Master of puppets is a master piece and it influenced EVERY metal band that came up afterwards.
109. Barabas - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
Sure they are overrated though…
110. Randall - November 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
I AGREE WITH THIS LIST 100 FREAKIN’ PERCENT and BLESS YOU F. McClure for saying what you’ve said. I love some of these bands–detest others–but they have ALL been vastly overrated–some for years, decades… for others the over-valuing has only recently begun, and a stop should be put to it.
You want help in defending your choices, pal, I’ll be right here to back you up.
111. Cyn - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 am
ah, yes..the LV commenting pool i’ve come to know and love so well…go for the throat comments and all round general bloodletting over the most incidental of topics. YES!
112. EricB - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Whoa whoa whoa.
I absolutely disagree about Metallica.
Metallica of late? Sure.
But go back and listen to Kill em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets and …And Justice for All. Masterpieces that contain some of the greatest metal off all time.
After those albums though….then I’ll agree. If they had simply ceased to be after those, they’d be remembered as THEE greatest band of all time. It has just been downhill since then though.
113. Randall - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
islanderbst:
I almost always side with you on issues (at least in my memory I have) here, and always respect your opinions… but ask yourself honestly and sincerely for a minute: what makes U2 “legendary?” Really.
I saw them in 1982 at my college, islander, when they were near-nobodies. And you know what? I liked them, yes… but they were no different then than they were 5 or 10 years later, in a sense. Oh, their style changed of course—in 1982 they were rougher, they would have reminded you of a punkier Simple Minds in a way… that vague sort of post-punk energy that wasn’t punk but wasn’t just “new wave,” that relied on traditional guitars with no synths… but they were no better than Echo and the Bunnymen or Big Country or Simple Minds or the Pretenders or even the freakin’ Plimsouls or Aztec Camera. And sometimes U2 wasn’t as good as some of these. But what U2 had, like the Police, was some kind of suggestion of traditional “classic rock” chops in them that made them popular with the lunkheaded masses for whom “different and new” (in regards to experimental and individualistic and groundbreaking) was scary or despicable. This didn’t mean U2 or the Police were bad bands—in fact they were not, they were very good. At times U2 certainly touched greatness, as did REM–who I think was always a better band actually (and so were the Smiths and perhaps even The Cure) but they were never All That, and in times it seemed that if anything they (or at least Bono) began to believe all the hype and think that they WERE All That—which is the death knell for any band professing to be progressive and smart about their music.
But what did they ever do that was oh-so-legendary and groundbreaking? What did they do that wasn’t done by dozens of other bands from the same era and background, who sometimes even did it better? Nothing in particular. A very good band, yes, U2… but markedly greater than any of their peers? No. Able to appeal to the masses and fill stadiums? Yes. But in our day and age, that was a negative, not a positive—and it still ought to be.
114. MrSelfdestruct - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Agree times ten
although, my agreement with Bon Jovi and GNR might ruin my marraige
115. YogiBarrister - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Truth be told, The Beach Boys are perhaps the most UNDERRATED band from the 60’s.
116. Curt Shmurt - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
What? Have you been reading my thoughts? Get out of my head!
117. YogiBarrister - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
I understand why failed musicians, especially here in the Bay Area, resent Green Day, but AMERICAN IDIOT was fucking brilliant, off the top of my head, it’s my favorite concept album of all time.
118. James - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:19 am
I’d agree with all of them you, certainly nailed U2 and G&R.
I’m a big ACDC fan but their stuff is totally overblown.
119. mike - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
BLASPHEMY!
120. islanderbst - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Randall,
In the summer of 1985, I was going on 13. Parents had recently divorced and my brother and I were spending the summer with our father. Up to that point, music hadn’t made much of an impression on me. I loved listening to Casey Kasem’s Top 40 on WLS in Chicago every Sunday, but that was about all the musical exposure I had. So basically, I was hearing Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Madonna, nothing too groundbreaking.
But then I found my dad’s tape collection. It was filled with bands I had never heard of: Motley Crue, UB40, Violent Femmes, and U2. Popping each tape in was magical. The music just floored me. Hearing Bono cry “Nothing changes on New Years Day” resonated with me, even if I didnt understand the context. Maybe with what I was going through, these songs spoke to me,leading me to go on to actively seek out their new albums.
And with U2 specifically, I was never disappointed (at least until 1997’s Pop) I felt that their music was far above the quality of anything I was hearing on the radio. How can anyone not love the opening rush of “Where the Streets Have No Name?” The guitar work of The Edge is always memorable, and Bono always puts so much feeling into his delivery.
I would put “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and The Joshua Tree in the “legendary” category. And I would put dozens of their songs in the “Excellent” category. So the continued hatred/dislike I hear of U2 mystifies me. They put out quality albums and live shows. Now I can understand that some dislike U2 for their ego/political do-goodiness/whatever, but I see no reason why they should be called “overrated”. They sell an appropriate number of albums and tickets compared to their talent, imho.
121. Jenna_Bug - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:35 am
I do have to agree with some of the bands mentioned, however Metallica should NOT be on this list, they haven’t had as much success as they used to, but look at what is out there on the radio now, CRAP, and people LOVE IT why? Because it’s trendy and cheesy. BTW, I love their new album.
And when I was younger Greenday was MY favorite band. Dookie was amazing and American Idiot was just something new and different from what they were used to, and it worked, people loved it.
I can’t stand U2 or AC/DC. So I have to agree with them.
122. Mom424 - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Hehe - Excellent list. Well written and all of your choices well thought out and defended. I can’t even really disagree with any of them. My Husband and I have been fighting over AC/DC for years. Formulaic, in fact so formulaic that you can’t tell which tune you’re listening to until it’s damn near over. (Excellent to watch live btw, I would still love to go to one of their concerts). But just to listen to? Boooring.
I would add The Killers - seen ‘em perform live, they can’t sing. In fact they suck.
My favorite Nickleback tune is not a Nickleback tune, and although you maybe wouldn’t be able to tell, Chad Kroeger actually can sing. Thank god for Carlos Santana, else we never would have known. Or then again maybe it is just the superior Carlos Santana guitar work seducing me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7amYNaPTRI
123. jake ryder - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Love it, Love it. I would have put U2 the self appointed kings of Irish music and conscious thought as #1.
124. icarusfoundyou - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 am
I thought I would disagree with this list the moment I saw the title, but I was wrong.
Bloody well done! This couldn’t have been more spot on!
125. Joshypants - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
No Aerosmith, KISS, or No Doubt? How about the biggest bullsit band ever….THE POLICE? They are truly overrated.
126. Nolod - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
I agree with Jenna_Bug Metallica shouldn’t be on this list. No they didn’t reinvent the wheel but they did bring metal back to its roots and away from the glamorous hair bands of the 80’s. Most of the rest I agree with even though I enjoy alot of their music. You hit Guns and Roses on the head and I almost feel like they should be higher on the list. But to whoever said that Greatful Dead should be on here are nuts because the Dead were never that highly rated to begin with. They are more of a cult band who were seeking fans not fame. Technically they are a one hit wonder, so to say they are over rated is a little ridiculous.
127. infallibleangel - November 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Good list…. haha… U2. My boyfriend would weep if he saw them on this list (and he will, hee hee!)
I have to agree that Aerosmith ought to be on here too. Their newer songs are lame, and get played constantly… on many different stations, in fact.
128. dustin - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
stupid list
129. Mr. Plow - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 am
Not really agreeing with most of this list…but here are some bands/artists to add.
Rolling Stones
KISS
Elton John
Madonna
Tupac
Notorious BIG
Motley Crue
130. TMX - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:12 am
Every band is full of human beings and no human being is inherently any better than another. Every human being is an individual and art exists so each individual may articulate their own, and inherently unique, point of view.
As soon as an artist is held upon even the smallest of pedestal they have become overrated. As soon as a band consistently enters into conversations based around the sortability of taste they are already overrated. As soon as you start ranking other humans against each other, especially based on highly subjective criteria (and one could argue that subjectvity is really the only view point of reality), you are inevitably giving an individual more credit than they are entitled to.
Making these kinds of lists are fun as long as you realize that making these kinds of lists are meaningless by nature. Art can be appreciated on its own merits rather than comparative measures that the entirity of human history has tried to establish in search of some sort of universal truth - objectivity. Granted it is harmless to do so once one realizes their judgment is nothing more than that and nothing less; ignorance to this idea will create idol worship, a mark of our subjective nature that can be dangerous given the assertions above.
Philosophical rant aside this is a rather unremarkable list; perhaps every list that tries to do this can be nothing more than unremarkable. You want a far more interesting list? Try taking the ten artists you hold most dear and discuss their flaws. There is at least a greater likelihood of discovery in compiling that list than will ever be able to be generated by this one.
131. Pile - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
Here’s what you missed:
1. Oasis - Seriously, have Oasis fans ever heard other music?
2. Yes - Pretentious art rock; I think most people bought their albums for the artwork on the cover.
3. Frank Zappa - An autistic emo kid could write more humorous and interesting lyrics; annoying complicated music for the sake of being complicated
4. Jeff Buckley - get a few music critics to like you then die young and you’ll develop a reputation for being great even when you weren’t
5. Rolling Stones - Seriously, they copied every other band of the time. I’m not sure one single song of theirs is actually original.
6. The Clash - Couldn’t decide if they were a punk band or a pop band (see: Green Day)
7. Pearl Jam - A super-mediocre band silences its own buzz by alienating the music industry before people discover how monotonous their music really is.
8. The Cure - Yea, we all thought it was hip in the 1980s but when you listen to it now, you really do want to kill yourself, but for entirely different reasons.
9. Bruce Springsteen - Millionaire sings about working class people; walks down the “Streets of Philadephia” before getting into his bullet proof limo and heading to the Four Seasons. Like the Stones, if you want to see him in concert you have to mortgage your house to get tickets.
10. Jimmy Buffet - the worst of them all… half his songs are about food; the other half about recovering his lost youth, and all of them suck and are sung by drunk baby boomers who dream of living on an island.
132. MarK - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
nickleback lol god I hate them..
the list seems to begrudge bands that have gotten really famous. the fact that these bands are so well known makes them overrated for some reason. =/
133. MarK - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:22 am
“Every band is full of human beings” OH SHIIIII you just blew my mind omg!
134. supraklok - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
it’s funny how people are saying ” This should not be on the list. They’re good but agree with the rest because they suck.”
It’s not about sucking it’s about being overrated they are to completely different things. I love Nirvana but I can’t deny that they are the pinnacle of overratedness. It’s about how if you take away a lot of the glamor and publicity many people just wouldn’t recognize the bands and dismiss them.
135. Paulb - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
if the Jonas brothers knew how to sing or play instruments they would definitely be number 3, 2, and 1
136. Kate - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
The Beatles.
Yeah. I said it.
137. JOE BLACKK - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:41 am
NIRVANA?!! NIRVANA?!!…you bite your tounge!….how about the goddamn BEATLES??!!!! have you ever heard “yellow submarine”?!!….thats torture right there
138. Taranis - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
How are Metallica whiners when Napster dicked them over, Lars Ulrish got pissed off and the rest of the band thought it was funny. Even in the Some Kind of Monster commentaries, they’re all laughing about the whole napster thing and joking about the cartoon videos people made of them and what not. I hardly call that whining. Any normal person would be pissed if something got stolen from them. Do people make a bigger deal of them that needs to be, yeah, but those are also the same people who think Enter Sandman was their first song.
139. Dread Pirate Bob - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
re 103 yes I said the Sex Pistols were a boy band. I am a huge fan of punk rock, among other genres and sorry they fit the very description of boy band. They were thrown together for image, an image created by Malcolm McClaren, not by them. Of the four only one could even play an instrument better than the average 12 year old. And yet they are credited by too many morons with “creating punk.”
They were the junkie version of New Kids on the Block.
The Swindle continues to this day
140. Muscatatuck - November 22nd, 2008 at 11:54 am
I really enjoyed this list F. McClure. The inclusion of RHCP blew my mind; I didn’t think anyone else thought of them as overrated. I was slightly surprised by the Metallica mention, but I understand why they were listed. My only complaint: switch Nirvana with Nickelback and the list is perfect. Fun list to read
141. ViewARandomList… - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I agree with everything on this list but u forgot KISS. KISS should easliy be #1 and bump everything else down, knocking my RHCP’s off the list!
142. ViewARandomList… - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Anyone else notice that every ACDC song sounds the same?
143. paul - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
let me see if i’ve got this right; nirvana is the #1 overarted band, but nowhere on this list are bands such as creed, linkin park, my chemical romance, poppa roach, and other bands featuring grown men crying. also, sex pistols, beatles, deathcab for cutie, an countless thers are highly overrated. but that’s just my opinion, what do i know?
144. andy - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I usually have little to no problems with any of the lists, but the choices for the bands on this list are terrible. Clearly, for example, the peppers and the beach boys are two of the most unique and influential bands of all time.
145. kingirre - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
This is one of those rare lists that I completely agree with. I was a little skeptical about Nirvana being number 1, but when I read the description it made more sense. I just have one question. Why isn’t motley crue and aerosmith on this list?
146. Telp - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
No Beatles? LOL.
147. kingirre - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
andy, he is saying that the peppers and the beach boys are overrated because they never strayed from their original style and made no progressive effort. This might shed more light on the subject.
148. Cedestra - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
65. Sky: I laughed at you so hard. As someone else later pointed out, “The Man Who Sold the World” IS A COVER. Sure, Nirvana influenced a lot of other grunge bands and music in general, but they were over-hyped. There are a few pearls, like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Breed”, but most was crap. Ever actually listen to “Polly”? Same four blasse chords over and over again ad nauseum. And I REALLY loved Nirvana
149. JohnSomats - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
why no slipknot?
150. kingirre - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
JohnSomats, because no one thinks slipknot is good. at least some people have to rate a band as “good” in order for it to be overrated.
151. dave - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I absolutely agree with this list minus the beach boys. pet sounds is arguably the most influential album in music history. Brian Wilson is a genius.
i might have added someone like fallout boy or disturbed.
ps. metallica is awful.
152. Bubina - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
As soon as I saw the title of the list I immediately thought of U2. I was so pleased to see them included in this list!
153. kingirre - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Cedstra, I believe you have been troll’d. LOL noob.
154. Tfisch73 - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
You forgot to put Radiohead on your overrated list. Honest mistake, I’m sure.
155. thislistsuck - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I could rabble on about the many things that are wrong with this list, or the way the list maker contradicts himself,
or even perhaps that he seems to not know what the definition of the word overrated means when he only seems to say the bands are great but sold out cos they starting selling t-shirts or some such shit.
Heck, i could even point out how the very same list maker had some of these bands on his list of “greatest rock bands of all time”
But instead i am just going to go ahead and say
THIS LIST SUCKS!
156. Angelina - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I like all of these bands except for Nickelback. Overrated or not, I enjoy their music. Alas, to each his/her own.
Now, to more important issues, does anyone else think the drummer from RHCP looks like Will Ferrel??
157. Mining - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Music taste is one of the most opinionated things in society, therefore the definition of “overrated” varies from person to person.
I like the attempt to show how the bands posted are overrated, but no matter how hard you try, there will always be a bias involved in the list.
158. OceanMan. - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
yeah mining but i think we can hit common ground, nickelback, panic! at the disco, fall out boy, the white stripes, linkin park, are bands that are presented to us as “the next big thing” but they musical merits, dont match the package.
159. Hillery - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I read the title of the list, then predicted half of the ones that were actually on it. I think I actually pretty much agree with the list, with two exceptions: There is too much of the “songs sound alike” accusation. With most of the bands on the list, I find their music easy to distinguish song to song, I just don’t particularly find anything distinguishing in each song. There’s a difference between sounding alike and not sounding unique. Also, I think the Beach Boys almost don’t deserve to be on this list. Why? Pet Sounds: God Only Knows. With that song being so perfect, and Brian Wilson being so… elusive, we’ll call it, the band does deserve some respect.
160. Magda - November 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Ok, even though I believe “overrated” to be very subjective I have to disagree with those who say beatles are overrated. I think #103 really explains why…
And Madonna is not overrated, because she is not critically aclaimed. Overrexposed maybe…
161. base - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
i usually love this list.
on the top 10 crappy lists, this is my first.
162. Wow… - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Is this a joke?
163. tyler - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
umm…the new kids on the block and nsync….I hate em’. overrated, I think.
164. timmy the dying boy - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Great list, with one exception. The Beach Boys should be limited to AFTER “Pet Sounds,” when they told Brian where to shove “Smile” then went back to just doing songs about girls/cars/surfing. From then on it was one God-awful record after another.
That said, I’d like to comment on the amazing lack of musical intelligence shown by many of these comments. On the lines of “Duh, sucks! Ludacris is 100 times better.” With this level of taste within the general population, it’s no wonder that people like Beyonce, Sheryl Crow, and most rappers are big stars.
165. asdf - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Where is Radiohead?
Where are the Beatles?
where is Bob Dylan?
166. timmy the dying boy - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
between “Duh” and “sucks” goes (insert iconic rock figure). This thng didn’t accept my formatting. Thank you.
167. jrg - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I agreed with your list with the exception of the beach boys, guns and roses, and nirvana.
you said for the beach boys “Yes, they made Smile.” were you talking about the album Smile by Brian Wilson? beach boys never finished that album and it was completed by Wilson solo in 2004. so when you said “Yes, they made Smile.” it makes me think you know nothing about the beach boys… why didn’t you say Pet Sounds?
what else? o ya, Axel Rose is an awesome frontman and a great songwriter. have you heard November Rain?
Nirvana was grunge not punk rock. i know one influenced the other but you cant call a grunge band punk… makes me think you know nothing about nirvana.
168. sdggrant - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
This list is complete shit. THe only really over rated bands here are Bon Jovi, Green Day, and Nickle Back. The author obivously has something against highly successful bands.
169. YogiBarrister - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Here’s why I think The Beach Boys are underrated, not overrated, at least by me. What I mean is that I was debating with a professional musician about who should be on the list of the greatest American bands, a list that is disappointingly short BTW, and I didn’t even have them in the top ten. He presented a fairly compelling argument that they should be at the top. Since then I’ve gone back and listened to all of their old albums, and as it turns out, he’s right. I’m not even a Grateful Dead fan, but I had them at #1, so I have to put them to the list of overrated bands.
170. Jaz_3 - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
jonas brother anyone?
171. THEKID - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I agree with all but the last one, Nirvana. They changed the sound of music, seriously. Their influence is astounding.
They should have been replaced with ….hm…..I don’t know. But the last one killed the list for me.
172. THEKID - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Oh, goodness, The Jonas Brothers and what’sherface(s) Miley Cyrus should definitley been on this list.
173. Paulb - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Jonas brothers yes, miley cyrus isn’t a band. but if she was she would definitely be #1.
But Jonas brothers. For the love of the force Jonas Brothers. Yes Jonas Brothers
174. Dante - November 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Jonas Brothers should be up here, cuz they suck soo bad. They’re music is sooooo lame
175. romerozombie - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
The Beatles should have the top 10 to themselves.
176. romerozombie - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
You should only be allowed to wear a Ramones tee shirt if you can name 5 of their songs.
177. Base - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Either this list is made to attract commenters, or the writer is old and stupid.
178. youllforgetit - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Hmm… I disagree with most of these. Oh well. I agree that many bands simply become iconic ‘t-shirt bands’ or sell-outs, but that doesn’t mean that their music wasn’t originally good.
179. Base - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
“Either this list is made to attract commenters, or the writer is old and stupid.”
And i don’t mean it because of Green Day.
180. MrsZ - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Zindsoros - I’m so glad I’m not the only one who thinks Led Zeppelin is overrated. I’ve always thought that. I was sort of hoping to see them on this list.
I don’t agree with Nirvana, The Chili Peppers or Metallica…some of the live performances those bands have put on are amazing…think Nirvana - Unplugged. I definitely agree with Nickelback, though. They deserve to be number 1!!
181. Mining - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
@158
Again, those are your opinions, despite how much I think fall out boy sucks, they are still around because they have a fan base. I personally don’t mind listening to Linkin Park, but I can see why people think they are overrated.
@180
Led Zeppelin isn’t overrated. You may not like them, but that doesn’t mean they’re overrated. I will say that Stairway to Heaven is overrated compared to their other songs, but hey, that’s my opinion.
182. Dennis_7 - November 22nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Dante’s right what about Jonas Brothers!?