Bands that are better 'in theory' than in reality

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...the first to mention the streets, dizee, and all that grime stuff

...and probably the last. Just sayin'.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 23:51 (twenty-one years ago)

The original run of Medicine -- not counting that newest -- was damned frosty, in my opinion.

You think so? I always found Medicine to be much more inviting and less distant than MBV, which is what I suppose I mean when I say 'warmer'.

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Radiohead

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

if aphex twin is so great, how come i can't stand listening to it. and i'm glad i get to be the first to mention the streets, dizee, and all that grime stuff.

we're not listing off bands that suck, metfigga. we're talking about stuff we feel like we should like but don't.

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 23:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Dntel, Manitoba, Four Tet, Fridge, etc. never quite sound as awsum as the reviews make me think they will. Maybe I should avoid any band with the "if you like Boards of Canada ho shit buddy you better run not walk" tag attached to them.

― Hammy (hammy), Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

The idea of listening to Atari Teenage Riot is actually a lot better than the experience.
-- dog latin (doglati...), June 24th, 2004.

They are an acquired taste, but silly as they are I love them.

For me, alot of noise stuff is rather "eh..." compared to how I want it to sound. Stuff like Merzbow especially. But sometimes bands just have to be taken on their own terms in order to enjoy them at all.

I never had that problem with Beefheart though,

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Boards of Canada
Elvis Costello (some, not all)

― Gilles Meloche (Gilles Meloche), Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm with you king kobra, i just want to be sure to mention that i'm not saying those artists suck. it's simply a matter of my thinking i was going to enjoy their work but finding out otherwise.

― metfigga (metfigga), Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I was debating with myself about Boards of Canada. I think during certain moments here and there, they are as good in reality as in theory. But overall, I agree with you.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

grime is totally better in theory than practice these days

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Hawkwind

― Chubby Checker, Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

John Cage

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

You mean you think Medicine are warmer (due to being less distanced) in attitude as opposed to sound - that's a fair enough statement. DJ Spooky does not own this thread - he's a shit idea in theory and in execution.

― Jedmond (Jedmond), Thursday, 24 June 2004 00:56 (twenty-one years ago)

nickalicious, have you heard Optometry? I'd be surprised if you didn't like it at all.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Thursday, 24 June 2004 01:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and the Grateful Dead rule this thread for me. Also Pink Floyd, The Clash, maybe Frank Zappa, Mahavishnu Orchestra. Tortoise.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Thursday, 24 June 2004 01:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Defintely Grateful Dead sundar. One of rocks most amusing acts drama wise but utterly shitful on record.

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Thursday, 24 June 2004 01:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Trans Am
Z-Rock Hawaii (Boredoms/Ween collaboration)

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Thursday, 24 June 2004 01:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Blind Faith.

― Evanston Wade (EWW), Thursday, 24 June 2004 01:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Redd Kross

― lady in the back row, Thursday, 24 June 2004 01:50 (twenty-one years ago)

"got my mind set on you" is george's "i just called to say i love you"

Hey, at least Stevie wrote his song! George should've known in advance his song was crap.

Second the Monks, as that album's a snoozer after a track or two.

I always liked the Velvet Underground in theory, but most of their albums are dull.

― Vic Funk, Thursday, 24 June 2004 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

How are Boards of Canada better in theory than in practice? So you really like the *idea* of an electronic duo making hip-hop influenced tracks with vintage synths in 4/4 time with pretty standard chord changes and melodies, but don't think they execute very well???

― Clarke B. (Clarke B.), Thursday, 24 June 2004 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I only have Geogadaddi, but what people told me about them seemed more compelling than that album anyway. It also sounded very good on a fist listen, but soon got dull.

― Gilles Meloche (Gilles Meloche), Thursday, 24 June 2004 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Slint.

― minolta (minolta), Thursday, 24 June 2004 03:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Kinks / Todd Rundgren / Blind Faith / Beatles / Patti Smith...?

Don't bother me while I'm out back cremating a significant portion of my vynal collection.

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 24 June 2004 03:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I feel bad saying it, but I think Modern Lovers are also largely applicable here.

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Thursday, 24 June 2004 03:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Aaron Hz OTM.
Cage's writing is great, but his music, eh....

― wrecksyPlanter, Thursday, 24 June 2004 03:41 (twenty-one years ago)

So you really like the *idea* of an electronic duo making hip-hop influenced tracks with vintage synths in 4/4 time with pretty standard chord changes and melodies, but don't think they execute very well???

Um, yeah. Is that so difficult to fathom?

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 24 June 2004 03:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Godz. Holy Modal Rounders. But not the Fugs. Those guys are great in theory and in practice. And why was "Frenzy" not a hit? Just askin'...

― Dave Segal (Da ve Segal), Thursday, 24 June 2004 04:40 (twenty-one years ago)

hella, lightning bolt

― 6335, Thursday, 24 June 2004 04:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Timbaland

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 24 June 2004 04:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Wilco

― Sara Sherr, Thursday, 24 June 2004 05:21 (twenty-one years ago)

very much OTM

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 24 June 2004 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I dig the Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest about equally.

I would say Laibach. I do actually love some of their albums, but overall they're more interesting in theory than in practice.

Diamanda Galas- she's interesting but rubs me the wrong way.

Melt Banana- very intriguing and fun, for about the first 30 seconds.

Joy Division- some great ideas and concepts but they bogged down in what I consider a sloppy execution.

Neurosis- I own many of their albums, but am rarely compelled to listen to them. I think the aesthetic interesting, but somehow it doesn't entertain me. You can add Isis and most Swans to that, though I occasionally enjoy both.

Tori Amos- her music is often convoluted and the lyrics oddly compelling in an obtuse sorta way, but she's always struck me as pretentious and a little dull.

I'll be here all day if I don't stop.

― James Slone (Freon Trotsky), Thursday, 24 June 2004 07:01 (twenty-one years ago)

"Joy Division- some great ideas and concepts but they bogged down in what I consider a sloppy execution."

Maybe I'd agree with that if they didn't have so many goddamn great songs.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 24 June 2004 07:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Band of Susans, US Maple, Grateful Dead

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Thursday, 24 June 2004 07:09 (twenty-one years ago)

how are the grateful dead good in theory?

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Thursday, 24 June 2004 07:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Like, they integrate folk music and free jazz, man!

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Thursday, 24 June 2004 07:23 (twenty-one years ago)

REM, Stone Roses...all the 'untouchables' of the mainstream music world.

― Jez (Jez), Thursday, 24 June 2004 07:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree completely about REM. At the risk of sounding horribly contrarian, I would add the Pixies as well.

― James Slone (Freon Trotsky), Thursday, 24 June 2004 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I second the Pixies, actually. I feel like I should like them but cannot bring myself to.

I appreciate what MBV does, but I do enjoy the theory more than what was actually accomplished by the band.

Non to thread!

― Ian Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 24 June 2004 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

the byrds with gram parsons

― dave amos, Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The Monks? I dont know ANYBODY that doesn't love the Monks.

You were talking about one of the other albums apart from "Black Monk Time", yeah? or even that one from the "Nice Legs" hitmakers instead, yeah? Please reassure me...

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

**Joy Division- some great ideas and concepts but they bogged down in what I consider a sloppy execution.**

You'll have to explain this one - what do you mean by 'sloppy execution'?

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I got quite excited about British Sea Power, at least until I heard their music and saw them live.

Second Mogwai.

― Ben Dot (1977), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I never *got* Joy Division. Liked the hits (hey, even bought two singles), but I got the "Substance" collection and went Meh.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I sort of almost want to say the Fall, but I don't want it to seem like I don't totally worship the Fall.

― Fergal (Ferg), Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Magnetic Fields.

― Joseph McCombs, Thursday, 24 June 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I like MBV a fair bit but they are definitely better in theory. Their music is often described as so celestial, nothing could really live up to the descriptions.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

how are the grateful dead good in theory?

The idea of a group of travelling bohemians who never play a song the same way twice; of musos with solid folk and blues roots constantly playing extended improvisations with, yeah, free jazz influences and prepared pianos and West African drumming and detailed explorations of feedback; all in the service of an idealistic communal philosophy - this sounds great to me in theory. You'd think it could be like the Allman Brothers or Band of Gypsys. Unfortunately, AFAICT, the execution is so clunky it only pulls together maybe once per record I've heard and the rest is near-unlistenable.

Also, after trying to listen to Disraeli Gears, I'm starting to suspect Cream (thought I like them far more than the Dead). You wouldn't guess it from the compilations though. Maybe Clapton in general. I also suspect the Jefferson Airplane. And I kind of agree about the Velvet Underground and MBV. Although I do generally like both bands, the ideas are more exciting than the records, which still have great moments.

Second Band of Susans.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:34 (twenty-one years ago)

deerhoof, built to spill, fennesz, jesus & mary chain

i think in theory i should love all of those bands but they all fall into bands that i just don't 'get' or otherwise can't really get into.

also, i'll second these previously mentioned picks: dj shadow, my bloody valentine, joy division, boards of canada

― Reed Rosenberg (reed), Thursday, 24 June 2004 13:50 (twenty-one years ago)

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