Want to get someone’s blood up? Make a "definitive" list and publish it. Want a really massive flame harvest? Make that list about bands. And how some of them (like Coldplay?) just might be a tad overhyped . Well, that’s what the Boston Globe‘s been up to.
Speaking as someone who once criticized the late Michael Hutchence and got St. Sebastian-ed for it, I can only applaud the Globe for its big, round, um, globes.
I shall now begin my list of overhyped "overhyped band" lists:
No, wait! I’ll have a standee of Billy Ocean make a list of overhyped band lists! AM I BREAKING YOUR BRAIN, AMERICA?
I’d start a list of underhyped bands, but honestly, folks, I only hear about these things 20 years late anyway. I’m still excited about the release of Billy Joel’s Turnstiles album. Go on, pillory me.
hey, i’ve got a great idea! i’ll make a list of all the musical acts from the last four years that were supposed to be “the next big thing” and call it “the most overhyped bands.” those sage journalists @ the Globe, they really are on the frontline of rock, aren’t they? either that, or they have a subscription to Rolling Stone…
Coldplay sucks.
Move on Scott! And for godsakes, stop thinking only America reads this blog! FOR THE LAST TIME CANADA OWNS YOUR SOUL!
Coldplay is overhyped. I like about 3 of their songs. Most of their songs sound the same.
Mixed feelings on most of it, but props for mentioning the Streets.
The Streets can’t rap worth a dime. Where is the Grime movement critics said would rule hip hop? If this is the best of Britain’s underground hip hop scene, Jurrasic 5 and MF Doom have nothing to worry about.
This is the worst, laziest “list” ever..the journalistic equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel. Are you and the Globe so out of touch to think that labeling any of these bands as overhyped at this point is gutsy or revolutionary?
I thought I was in the minority about the Artic Monkeys. They were, supposedly on the verge of greatness. I saw them on SNL and they stunk up the place. Their second song was barely a song at all. It was greeted with a smattering of polite applause, not heard since Ashley Simpson’s second song a couple of years ago.
I think Coldplay has recorded two songs and changes the titles. Why rock radio plays them is a mystery. The big problem is the hype machine. They are always wrong. The big breakout acts are someone the critics never saw coming.
Lame. All of these bands seem pretty obvious. Hey, I even like the Libertines and the Strokes and I knew they were overhyped. I mean, throw in something that people CAN argue about, right? Who’s really going to dispute that the Artic Monkeys and Coldplay are overhyped? Now, if they had said, say, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Arcade Fire or Sufjan Stevens were overhyped, just imagine the awesome furor of the rock geeks.
Hey, you know who else sucks? Britney Spears. Where was she on the list? I mean, if you’re going to list obvious bands, why not go after the mass marketed pop stars? But then again, I never get tired of bashing Coldplay. They suck. Like really suck. Like suck beyond suck. Therefore, I love the list.
Plus, I like the Streets.
Has anyone been able to figure out what’s up with all the Billy Ocean comments? Has “get out of my dreams, get into my car” been sampled by Pink or something? What’s the deal, Scott?
Sorry folks….on this side of the world, Coldplay is UNDERhyped. X&Y is awesome.
You want overhyped?? Pick any hip hop or rap act. Pick Beyonce. Eminem or ANY of his or Dre’s proteges. What about P whateveritistoday? He’s constantly in music news and hasn’t had a decent hit in years.
If you are a band that has a sound and style that gets copied like Radiohead and The Beatles, then you can tell that you are a good band.
Coldplay is way overhyped…in the rare event that I’m listening to the radio, they’re one of the few groups that I’ll automatically turn the station. Of course I’d also say many a rapper and R&B artist is overhyped but that’s because I can’t stand either.
Thank god for movie scores and J-Pop.
of topic, but am i the only one who hates the new layout for the main page??!
No, you’re not the only one. I can’t stand the new layout. I find it a lot harder to navigate through.