Unpopular Musical Opinions

Sassafras · June 2015

Babones said:

chillidoggy said:

Noddy Holder was the best vocalist I've ever heard. Shit, he even didn't need a PA.

Funny to think he could have been in AC/DC, but turned them down.

That's a real shame because he would've been a lot better than the shrieking maniac that sang on Back to Black (the only AC/DC album I own). I like the guitar playing but the vocals make me nauseous.

ICBM · June 2015

Cacofonix said:
The sax solo on will You by Hazel O Connor is the acme of the instrument.

I don't think that's an unpopular opinion, although it might be among jazzers! It is however completely correct.

Evilmags · June 2015

The Smiths were the low point in NME loving music. Just awful. Cringe worthy lyrics and boring playing...

stickyfiddle · June 2015

There are some good songs on Oasis' "purple album"

Sgt Pepper's is only better than about 50% of the Beatles' output. But the Beatles are still the most important band ever

The Rolling Stones have never made a great album.

The Who are better than Led Zeppelin.

Jump is Van Halen's best song.

Coldplay are, on a good day, absolutely brilliant live

Rowby1 · June 2015

Malcolm Young is(was) the best guitarist in AC/DC.

holnrew · June 2015

chillidoggy;684276" said:
Noddy Holder was the best vocalist I've ever heard. Shit, he even didn't need a PA.

I'd have loved to have seen Slade in their prime. Shame they didn't crack America.

menamestom · June 2015

SRV's studio recordings are not very good.

jpfamps · June 2015

menamestom said:

SRV's studio recordings are not very good.

The 80s for you: the decade of sonically shocking recordings.

Reverend · June 2015

Rowby1;685147" said:
Malcolm Young is(was) the best guitarist in AC/DC.

That's always been Angus' stated position.

Cirrus · June 2015

holnrew;685168" said:
chillidoggy;684276" said:Noddy Holder was the best vocalist I've ever heard. Shit, he even didn't need a PA.

I'd have loved to have seen Slade in their prime. Shame they didn't crack America.

Our Drummer's dad was variously bass tech/ guitar tech/ stage manager for Slade for a couple of their tours and some studio stuff. He's got lots of stories. Though I will admit there's only so many times you can hear "When we played Monsters of Rock..." without wanting to hit the bugger.

)

GuyBoden · June 2015

Top Classical guitar players, like Julian Bream, are overall, technically much better players than almost all Pop/Rock guitarists.

ICBM · June 2015

GuyBoden said:

Top Classical guitar players, like Julian Bream, are overall, technically much better players than almost all Pop/Rock guitarists.

Edited for accuracy.

I was very fortunate to see him play when I was about fourteen. Even though I didn't play guitar myself yet at that point so a lot of what he was doing was totally over my head, he was still obviously jaw-droppingly good. Looking back now it's quite amazing how perfect his playing was.

I doubt there are any rock guitarists, even the technically very good ones, who achieve that level of dedication to and control over the tiniest nuances of technique.

Phil_aka_Pip · June 2015

Julian Bream is sloppy compared to John Williams

ChrisMusic · June 2015

So much good music is let down by...

the vocals !

Great start, promisingly tight, musically interesting, great sounding band. Then so often, in come the vocals, bland and unimaginative melodically and rhythmically, talentless presentation with lyrics courtesy of the Drivel Brothers.

A good vocalist doesn't have to be a good singer though.

And as for self-styled 'singers' who can't pitch... !

Edit: Oh, and when did doing bad impressions of the "honey monster" get a spot on the cool wall ?

Agressive vocals I quite understand, "honey monster", nah, that's well placed for kids adverts and cereal pakcets (only) IMHO...

hobbio · June 2015

I agree about the classical players, but I would also point out that none of them can use a whammy bar effectively or control feedback at stadium volumes in a musical way etc. There's nuance in rock, too.

ChrisMusic · June 2015

@jpfamps said: The 80s for you: the decade of sonically shocking recordings.

Do you mean recording or production ?

Phil_aka_Pip · June 2015

ChrisMusic said:

So much good music is let down by...

the vocals !

This applies especially to Opera

thomasross20 · June 2015

GREAT thread with a lot of truths (apart from G N' R being crap!)

jpfamps · June 2015

ChrisMusic said:

@jpfamps said: The 80s for you: the decade of sonically shocking recordings.
Do you mean recording or production ?

The end result, which is probably a combination of both, although the production probably takes the lion's share of the blame.

That is of course if you like Linn Drums and the DX7.....

ICBM · June 2015

The really odd thing is that some of the worst-sounding recordings ever were made in the late 80s, but also a few great ones. It's really quite strange! 1987 seems to be about the year with the most extreme divergence… the year Fleetwood Mac recorded Tango In the Night - large parts of which I find almost unlistenable - and REM recorded Document - which contains possibly my favourite recorded guitar sound ever.

Rocker · June 2015

If Jimi Hendrix had used an accurate tuner for his guitar, nobody would have listened to him. And I think I heard a guy say that Hank Marvin could play a tune on his guitar. That was before he fell down and conked out....

Bucket · June 2015

Moss said:
I love Florence

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster are actually OK

I do as well, it's a beautiful place. I'd love to go back some day.

And yes, TNBD are a really good band.

samzadgan · June 2015

Metallica's best album was ...and justice for all. Nothing they made after that point is relevant musically and they sucked.

Slayer peaked with Seasons in the Abyss and they went downhill from there

Megadeth was always shit...they had maybe 2 or three good songs, and they were only because either Mustane didnt sing or because Marty Freeman did a sick solo on it.

Early influences of Doom, like Trouble, Pentagram, St Vitus etc...were really horrible. Pioneering maybe, but quality of music was shit. In fact I would say the only thing that Wino has done that i actually like is his cover of Townes Van Zandts Rake and Nothing.

Looking back now (and at the risk of a young me punching me in the face) Glam metal was actually ok

I hate Grunge and Punk...boring and useless...except for early Misfits and Alice in Chains.

I hate pop music...the music, what it stands for and the people who like it...everything about it annoys me...but there are some really hot females wearing very little in music videos...so thats ok.

underdog · June 2015

Nirvana were never as good as Pearl Jam.

viz · June 2015

If playing an instrument at an advanced level involves head, heart and hands in equal measure, then having a working knowledge of music theory is as important as having something to say and being proficient in saying it.

ICBM · June 2015

A large amount of mainstream pop music is very well written, arranged, performed, recorded and produced. ie is "good".

(And a fair amount is complete crap too, of course.)

proggy · June 2015

Although Prince is an utter twat, he's a quality guitar player.

Samgb · June 2015

ICBM said:

The really odd thing is that some of the worst-sounding recordings ever were made in the late 80s, but also a few great ones. It's really quite strange! 1987 seems to be about the year with the most extreme divergence… the year Fleetwood Mac recorded Tango In the Night - large parts of which I find almost unlistenable - and REM recorded Document - which contains possibly my favourite recorded guitar sound ever.

I love Tango In The Night! Sounds great to me as well, odd one.

Appetite For Destruction is still a pretty fantastic sounding record from that era. Not been remastered, doesnt need it.

I would have thought a lot of rock/metal albums of the era sound more contemporary for having largely avoided those terrible terrible 80s drum sounds.

Graceland is another great sounding 80s one.

Blueingreen · June 2015

ICBM said:

A large amount of mainstream pop music is very well written, arranged, performed, recorded and produced. ie is "good".

(And a fair amount is complete crap too, of course.)

Depends what you mean by 'good' of course. If your standard of good is Mozart or Duke Ellington, or The Beatles, most of it is competently crafted mediocrity at best.

But if you mean better than most of the music liked by rock fans who are sniffy about chart pop on the grounds that it's not "authentic", or played on real instruments and similar bollocks you are, of course, correct.

Snap · June 2015

Queen were shite.

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