Escape Artists

The Lounge at the End of the Universe => Gallimaufry => Topic started by: kibitzer on November 20, 2009, 07:53:31 AM

Title: Overrated
Post by: kibitzer on November 20, 2009, 07:53:31 AM
I often find myself out of step with many people, on account of not enjoying stuff a lot of others do.

Example 1: Seinfeld. This has a huge following but I've never found it that great. Sure, there are funny episodes but overall, I really cannot see the attraction. The best bits are Jerry's (faux?) stand-ups. The rest of it is meh.

Example 2: (Aussies only I guess) Aussie "comedian" Wil Anderson. Seriously -- the guy goes for the soft targets and his delivery is subpar. There are plenty of better comedians -- why's he get all the attention?

What about you?
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Bdoomed on November 20, 2009, 08:25:05 AM
pop music. :P

The Rolling Stones.  yeah I like them a bit, but I can't listen to a lot of them, and... ehhh I'd usually rather listen to something else.

Twilight.

and I'm right there with you with Seinfeld.  funny show when I've seen it but not so overly hilarious I have to keep watching omgness.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: lowky on November 20, 2009, 08:40:39 AM
Definitely with you on Seinfeld, about all I liked were Kramer's slapstick.  Michael Richards certainly was typecast, always playing the bumbling clumsy guy.  Transylvania 6-5000, Airheads, UHF, Seinfeld, all variations on the same character basically.

Beatles.  Don't get me wrong, their talented, and I understand that without them we wouldn't have much of the music we have today, but most of it I don't care one way or the other about, it's not like britney, or Backdoor boys, or N'stink, but I am not going out of my way to listen.

Reality TV.  I hate it, loathe it, it is the bane of television.  at least with the TLC/Discover reality shows they offer some educational information, but crap like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars etc.  I just don't get it.  Then again  maybe if instead of bubblegum pop and popuntry they were singing something that actually takes a bit more talent I might understand a little.  Industrial Idol, Skanking with the Stars, America's got Punk.  Non mainstream music I guess, so I shouldn't expect it on mainstream tv but, do I have to be forcefed the same crap that is on commercial radio on television too?

Bob Marley, again talented, but after a while the songs all sound the same.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Bdoomed on November 20, 2009, 05:34:01 PM
I fully agree with you too lowky.
I really do like the beatles, and I've even gone to a really good cover band concert, but they are over hyped.  Same with bob Marley, fun music but one song is about all I can really enjoy
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Talia on November 20, 2009, 05:56:48 PM
I have to disagree with The Beatles commentary - at least for me, I find the more I hear of their stuff, the more I really dig it.

My choir performed a "british invasion" concert last Saturday, obviously we did a lot of Beatles stuff.. really fun to perform. One of the songs we did was a seemingly rather obscure one called "Good Night" that's really very lovely. It just really gave me an appreciation of their talent as songwriters as well as performers.

Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: lowky on November 21, 2009, 02:29:52 AM
I have to disagree with The Beatles commentary - at least for me, I find the more I hear of their stuff, the more I really dig it.

My choir performed a "british invasion" concert last Saturday, obviously we did a lot of Beatles stuff.. really fun to perform. One of the songs we did was a seemingly rather obscure one called "Good Night" that's really very lovely. It just really gave me an appreciation of their talent as songwriters as well as performers.



And that's what's so great, we can disagree.  I really enjoy some of their songs, Rocky Raccoon is probably my favorite Beatles tune. I will say this, If the Beatles were happening now, and not about 40 years ago, They would not be nearly as popular, I think they would be more than most musicians today, they would be more than one hit wonders, but they wouldn't have the devotion of fans that they experience today. 
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Bdoomed on November 21, 2009, 03:00:28 AM
I'm gonna add bob dyllan to my list
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: lowky on November 21, 2009, 03:26:33 AM
I have to disagree with The Beatles commentary - at least for me, I find the more I hear of their stuff, the more I really dig it.

My choir performed a "british invasion" concert last Saturday, obviously we did a lot of Beatles stuff.. really fun to perform. One of the songs we did was a seemingly rather obscure one called "Good Night" that's really very lovely. It just really gave me an appreciation of their talent as songwriters as well as performers.



And that's what's so great, we can disagree.  I really enjoy some of their songs, Rocky Raccoon is probably my favorite Beatles tune. I will say this, If the Beatles were happening now, and not about 40 years ago, They would not be nearly as popular, I think they would be more than most musicians today, they would be more than one hit wonders, but they wouldn't have the devotion of fans that they experience today. 

dear god that looks like one of my students wrote it.  What a horrible run on sentence i produced.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: kibitzer on November 22, 2009, 11:38:10 PM
I will say this, If the Beatles were happening now, and not about 40 years ago, They would not be nearly as popular, I think they would be more than most musicians today, they would be more than one hit wonders, but they wouldn't have the devotion of fans that they experience today. 

But yeah, that's the reason they were popular because they were 40 years ago. It's kinda like looking back at Nosferatu and comparing it with... I dunno... The Lost Boys or something (jeez, lousy comparison). An early example of the genre vs. a later example. Some early examples hold up really well; others look tired and dated.

I would not dare to say which The Beatles are ;-)

I will say I've never found The Stones all that compelling.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Bdoomed on November 22, 2009, 11:51:30 PM
ummm im gonna add the snuggie to my list.  ive seen people wearin em, its pretty funny.  and by funny i mean sad.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: stePH on November 23, 2009, 02:34:24 AM
I'm gonna add bob dyllan to my list

Bob Dylan is at his best when somebody else is performing one of his songs.  ;D

* * *
I will say I've never found The Stones all that compelling.
Glorified bar-band, is all they are to me.

Three "classic" rock acts I never got: Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones.

I recognize the importance of the Beatles, but I don't care if I never hear their music again.  Same goes for Led Zeppelin and most other "classic" rock.

Never been inclined to try watching Seinfeld.

... and have I ever mentioned that I have no great opinion of Firefly?
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: lowky on November 23, 2009, 02:46:43 AM


Three "classic" rock acts I never got: Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones.

Neil Young I understand somewhat, and again like the Beatles was very influential on bands after him.  Stones like you say a good bar band, and I think to some extent rode on the Beatles coattails to popularity. 

I recognize the importance of the Beatles, but I don't care if I never hear their music again.  Same goes for Led Zeppelin and most other "classic" rock.
Zeppelin I like more, also Pink Floyd, but then I like hard rock and metal more than pop.  Beatles some of their songs sound better to me performed by others as well, but not always.  Like Helter Skelter, I think the Motley Crue version is better (I know I know it's Motley Crue still)  I think it was meant to be a harder song, than the Beatles were able to do with the Technology and skill of their time period.  U2 on the other hand fucked up Helter Skelter (Why am I surprised it's U2, Joshua tree was their last good album.  Then fame went to Bono's head). 





Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Talia on November 23, 2009, 05:00:57 PM
I'm gonna add bob dyllan to my list

Bob Dylan is at his best when somebody else is performing one of his songs.  ;D

* * *
I will say I've never found The Stones all that compelling.
Glorified bar-band, is all they are to me.

Three "classic" rock acts I never got: Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones.

I recognize the importance of the Beatles, but I don't care if I never hear their music again.  Same goes for Led Zeppelin and most other "classic" rock.

Never been inclined to try watching Seinfeld.

... and have I ever mentioned that I have no great opinion of Firefly?

Are you indifferent to chocolate and kittens too, by any chance? :P
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Talia on November 23, 2009, 05:02:33 PM
And that's what's so great, we can disagree. 

No we can't! EVERYONE must agree with me. Or else face the wrath of my Wet Whipping Noodle of Doom.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Bdoomed on November 23, 2009, 06:28:58 PM
And that's what's so great, we can disagree. 

No we can't! EVERYONE must agree with me. Or else face the wrath of my Wet Whipping Noodle of Doom.
I agree with you.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: MacArthurBug on November 23, 2009, 07:42:16 PM
And that's what's so great, we can disagree. 

No we can't! EVERYONE must agree with me. Or else face the wrath of my Wet Whipping Noodle of Doom.


promise?
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: lowky on November 24, 2009, 02:58:54 AM
And that's what's so great, we can disagree. 

No we can't! EVERYONE must agree with me. Or else face the wrath of my Wet Whipping Noodle of Doom.


promise?

I agree with Ms_Mac
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: stePH on November 24, 2009, 10:43:45 PM
Are you indifferent to chocolate and kittens too, by any chance? :P

No, just Firefly.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: wakela on November 25, 2009, 12:58:24 AM
Are you indifferent to chocolate and kittens too, by any chance? :P

No, just Firefly.
I liked Firefly enough, and would watch it if they brought it back.  But the fans who have an orgasm every time Joss Whedon writes something really annoy me.  I was going to bring it up with some fan friends of mine, but one of them was wearing a "Joss Whedon is my master" T-Shirt. sigh. 
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: gelee on November 25, 2009, 01:08:33 AM
Despise the Stones, indifferent to The Beatles, but I get Springsteen and Dylan.  It's the poetry, man.  Especially Springsteen.  There's kind of a white-trashy despair to his early stuff that really punches my buttons.
My pick for over-rated would be Jack Kerouac.  I've tried to read on the road twice, and I just can't do it.  All I really want to see happen is for Dean Moriarty wrap one of those stolen cars around a light post and snap his neck.
Go ahead and throw Neal Stephenson into the mix (ducks flying rocks).  Sorry, but Big Idea stories without a good story, or without even decently constructed prose, sucks.  I slogged through Snow Crash and Anathem before I reached this unpopular conclusion.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Planish on November 25, 2009, 04:50:51 AM
I don't get any "popular" music on the radio since about 1990 or so, and how it can sustain itself financially. Somebody has to be buying it, and I want that foolishness to stop so that decent indie and alternative bands can feed their families.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: stePH on November 25, 2009, 05:00:58 AM
I liked Firefly enough, and would watch it if they brought it back.  But the fans who have an orgasm every time Joss Whedon writes something really annoy me.  I was going to bring it up with some fan friends of mine, but one of them was wearing a "Joss Whedon is my master" T-Shirt. sigh. 
Get that person a "I am Joss Whedon's bitch" t-shirt for Christmas.  ;D
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: CryptoMe on November 25, 2009, 05:12:15 AM
Bob Dylan is at his best when somebody else is performing one of his songs.  ;D
Funny, I have always said the same thing about Niel Young.

Three "classic" rock acts I never got: Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones.
I just never got "classic" rock at all. There's very little from that genre that I actually would choose to listen to.

Zeppelin I like more, also Pink Floyd.....
Never understood the appeal of those groups. All the disadvantages of "classical" music, but none of the advantages, I've always said.

Wow, after all that negativity, I'm sure someone is thinking "Well, what do you like?" But, I'm afraid that would be an answer for another thread.... like Guilty Pleasures  :D
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: stePH on November 25, 2009, 02:51:54 PM
Bob Dylan is at his best when somebody else is performing one of his songs.  ;D
Funny, I have always said the same thing about Niel Young.

Except that I've never heard anybody cover a Neil Young song, while the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man" and Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" are considered the definitive versions of those songs (to name a couple of examples).
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: CryptoMe on November 25, 2009, 06:06:16 PM
Except that I've never heard anybody cover a Neil Young song....

Wow, there are tonnes of them....
   Sisters of Mercy do an amazing cover of Like a Hurricane. I seriously get blown away ;)
   Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Radiohead have all done good covers of Cinnamon Girl
   Radiohead have also covered On the Beach, Down by the River, and Tell me Why
   Oasis have done Hey Hey My My
   Johnny Cash did Heart of Gold
And that's just what I could come up with in 5 minutes...
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: kibitzer on November 25, 2009, 09:28:00 PM
Oh hey, just thought of another TV show I Just Don't Get(tm):

Little Britain.

One of my friends told me she thought Little Britain was as ground-breaking, funny and enduring as Monty Python... might have to give up on her as a friend. Nope, I think those guys are OK but certainly not hilarious. The best thing about it is Tom Baker's narration. Now that guy has a great voice. (and awesome bug eyes)
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: wakela on November 25, 2009, 11:35:39 PM
I liked Firefly enough, and would watch it if they brought it back.  But the fans who have an orgasm every time Joss Whedon writes something really annoy me.  I was going to bring it up with some fan friends of mine, but one of them was wearing a "Joss Whedon is my master" T-Shirt. sigh. 
Get that person a "I am Joss Whedon's bitch" t-shirt for Christmas.  ;D
LOLed.  I should get a bunch of those printed for my next convention. 
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: stePH on November 26, 2009, 04:22:09 AM
Except that I've never heard anybody cover a Neil Young song....

Wow, there are tonnes of them....
   Sisters of Mercy do an amazing cover of Like a Hurricane. I seriously get blown away ;)
   Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Radiohead have all done good covers of Cinnamon Girl
   Radiohead have also covered On the Beach, Down by the River, and Tell me Why
   Oasis have done Hey Hey My My
   Johnny Cash did Heart of Gold
And that's just what I could come up with in 5 minutes...

The only one of those artists I've ever listened to is Johnny Cash.  And I haven't heard his "Heart of Gold" (though have heard his versions of Cornell's "Rusty Cage" and Reznor's "Hurt").  (BTW albums get italics, titles get "quotation marks"  ;))
Though I recall the Mission UK also did "Like a Hurricane".  I haven't heard the original so I can't say whether the Mission's is better ... but I've no great opinion of the song anyway.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Planish on November 26, 2009, 08:14:13 AM
(BTW albums get italics, titles get "quotation marks"  ;))
Oh. I've been wondering about that.

What about short stories or poems within collections?
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: stePH on November 26, 2009, 03:08:13 PM
(BTW albums get italics, titles get "quotation marks"  ;))
Oh. I've been wondering about that.

What about short stories or poems within collections?

Title of the collection gets italics, stories and poems get quotes.

Like, for example, when I put up an audition to read for Escape Artists, I read "Come On, Wagon!" from The Anything Box by Zenna Henderson.

And novels also get italics ... but you already knew that, didn't you.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: CryptoMe on November 27, 2009, 07:31:48 PM
Except that I've never heard anybody cover a Neil Young song....

Wow, there are tonnes of them....
   Sisters of Mercy do an amazing cover of Like a Hurricane. I seriously get blown away ;)
   Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Radiohead have all done good covers of Cinnamon Girl
   Radiohead have also covered On the Beach, Down by the River, and Tell me Why
   Oasis have done Hey Hey My My
   Johnny Cash did Heart of Gold
And that's just what I could come up with in 5 minutes...

The only one of those artists I've ever listened to is Johnny Cash.  And I haven't heard his "Heart of Gold" (though have heard his versions of Cornell's "Rusty Cage" and Reznor's "Hurt").  (BTW albums get italics, titles get "quotation marks"  ;))
Though I recall the Mission UK also did "Like a Hurricane".  I haven't heard the original so I can't say whether the Mission's is better ... but I've no great opinion of the song anyway.

Oops, my bad. It was The Mission and not Sisters of Mercy who did "Like a Hurricane". It can be hard to differentiat those two...

Also, thanks for the heads up on the song titles in quotes thing. I was thinking of song titles more as books/novels and needing to be in italics. Funny how arbitrary citation rules are...

BTW, YouTube is a great source if you ever want a quick and dirty (i.e. not focusing on sound quality) listen of something you're curious about.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Gallagher on November 29, 2009, 03:34:27 AM
ummm im gonna add the snuggie to my list.  ive seen people wearin em, its pretty funny.  and by funny i mean sad.

I think this is a list topper and I think I've seen a commercial that mocks it aleady.

Other submissions:
-Anything under the genre 'Reality' (George Carlin ranted about word usage like this. Replace "Homestyle" with 'Reality')
-New versions of Windows (I tenaciously cling to windows XP and would go back to 3.1 and DOS if I could)
-Holidays but not Vacations (Bah-Humbug)
-Mattresses (a company in Canada is already taking credit up here for any medal to be earned in the 2010 Olympics)
-Newly invented social ailments (did you know your own children will be loathe to touch you if you have a "Skin Tag!")
-Zombies (I like them just not this much)
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: wakela on November 29, 2009, 11:48:03 PM
I like zombies, but I can definitely see how they are overused in non-mainstream horror.  For me, I'm getting a little tired of seeing Cthulhu everywhere.   
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: lowky on November 30, 2009, 02:07:12 AM
I like zombies, but I can definitely see how they are overused in non-mainstream horror.  For me, I'm getting a little tired of seeing Cthulhu everywhere.   

Blasphemy.  When the stars are right you will see the errors of your ways
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Bdoomed on November 30, 2009, 04:55:42 AM
Quote
snuggie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h05ZQ7WHw8Y&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kViZOw6B8M&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlhDAN8Dwnw&feature=channel

Introducing the WTF Blanket
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Darwinist on December 01, 2009, 05:37:48 AM
Country music.   Living in a small town, I am constantly surrounded by it and its fans.  I just hate it, the redneck lyrics, the jingoism, the machoism.   Whenever I see a pickup truck with a Confederate flag on it I know what the yahoos are listening to on the radio.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: kibitzer on December 01, 2009, 11:10:12 PM
Country music.   Living in a small town, I am constantly surrounded by it and its fans.  I just hate it, the redneck lyrics, the jingoism, the machoism.   Whenever I see a pickup truck with a Confederate flag on it I know what the yahoos are listening to on the radio.

If ever you're in Australia, make sure you visit Tamworth in NSW -- Country Music Capital of Australia, home to the annual Country Music Awards of Australia!

http://www.tcmf.com.au/

Or not.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: wakela on December 01, 2009, 11:47:02 PM
Going out on a limb here.  Charlie Stross.  I'm having a hard time getting through Accelerando.  He's obviously a very smart, well-informed guy, but he seems preoccupied with his own cleverness.  technical term, technical term, technical term, pop culture reference (psych!  Didn't see that one coming, did you!).  I can almost hear him giggling to himself as I read.  And as I said on another thread, I'm not getting many new ideas from his stuff.  He goes into great detail, but most of the big ideas are things I've come across elsewhere.  Which would be OK, but The Big Idea is closer to center stage in his stories.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: stePH on December 02, 2009, 03:12:54 AM
Oops, my bad. It was The Mission and not Sisters of Mercy who did "Like a Hurricane". It can be hard to differentiat those two...

Nah, the SoM singer makes the Mission singer sound like a soprano  :P

And I just remembered that Human Drama covered "Old Man" way back in the day (i.e., circa 1989).  Again, have no great opinion of the song.
Title: Re: Overrated
Post by: Talia on December 02, 2009, 03:26:03 AM
Going out on a limb here.  Charlie Stross.  I'm having a hard time getting through Accelerando.  He's obviously a very smart, well-informed guy, but he seems preoccupied with his own cleverness.  technical term, technical term, technical term, pop culture reference (psych!  Didn't see that one coming, did you!).  I can almost hear him giggling to himself as I read.  And as I said on another thread, I'm not getting many new ideas from his stuff.  He goes into great detail, but most of the big ideas are things I've come across elsewhere.  Which would be OK, but The Big Idea is closer to center stage in his stories.

I havent read Accelerando, but consider trying 'Halting State. Its really quite good. (although all in second person - from the point of view of multiple characters. Quite odd, but you get used to it.