Which bands do you think are overhyped?

[General Zod]

Interesting thread.

As for your original question, I'd have to say that I find Stratovarius and Rhapsody to be two of the most overhyped bands in Metal. I'd also agree with the poster who mentioned Messhugah. I don't care how complex their rythms may be, they're music is impossible to sit through.

Your second question, regarding how many times you'll listen to a CD before discarding it, is a very interesting one. Interestingly, I think it leads back into your original question. If a band is overhyped, and many people whose musical opinion you respect are into them, you'll often give them every chance to win you over. The band I struggle the most with is Opeth. I can honestly say I love "My Arms, Your Hearse", "Morningrise" and "Still Life". Though, my first Opeth CD, "Still Life", took me forever to wrap my mind around.

GZ

 

[JayKeeley]

The band I struggle the most with is Opeth. I can honestly say I love "My Arms, Your Hearse", "Morningrise" and "Still Life". Though, my first Opeth CD, "Still Life", took me forever to wrap my mind around.

Yep, Opeth seem to have that effect on most. Anyone who says they got into Opeth on the first listen is lying I reckon.

Having said that, there are certain Opeth CDs that are 'easier' to get into than others. Take Orchid for example....less jazz, more metal if you know what I mean. But it's all about personal tastes I know.

 

[Demonspell]

I agree with every word Dreamlord said regarding The Gathering and LC, and about Opeth requiring an adjustment period...

 

[lizard]

some cds are so straightforward and simple that you know right away whether you like them or not. for instance, there's nothing more than one dimensional on a Hammerfall recording...and someone mentioned above that's the kind of cd which wears out its welcome fairly quickly.
on the other hand, some things can be too complex for their own good, there's no way I will force myself to listen to a cd 100 times just to find out if I like it. Lots of prog is complex for complexity's sake, and while you can listen to it and marvel at the skill involved, if it doesn't have that hook, there's nothing to draw you back. like Liquid Tension Experiment.

 

[JayKeeley]

there's no way I will force myself to listen to a cd 100 times just to find out if I like it. Lots of prog is complex for complexity's sake, and while you can listen to it and marvel at the skill involved, if it doesn't have that hook, there's nothing to draw you back.

Amen! At the end of the day, you've got to get off on the music in some shape or form.

If you need to sit and take notes, and try to evaluate why the music is great, then you're probably going to eventually fool yourself into believing that you like it....I find this is normally the case when so many other people are saying that it's great, and you lose faith in your own judgement!

Peer pressure and jumping on bandwagons seems to run amok in the metal world.

 

[NAD]

Some CDs take quite a few listens to get into them, or just a right frame of mind to click.

I appreciate what Meshuggah does, but I just can't get into them. It's cool, but boring.
Dimmu Borgir is another, I like Enthrone Darkness Triumphant quite a bit, but I do not find it the masterpiece that many do. Their new stuff is just sterile.
Sentenced doesn't do much for me, I tried that Amok album several times but it doesn't gel. I have only listened to it while driving though, that's not the best environment to hear new music.

It seems Opeth is taking a lot of heat in this thread, for shame. I like all their albums, but I think it wasn't until Still Life that they finally hit their stride, Blackwater Park is simply amazing, and I think Deliverance will go down as their classic album someday. The first three are good, but not great.

 

[JayKeeley]

It seems Opeth is taking a lot of heat in this thread, for shame. I like all their albums, but I think it wasn't until Still Life that they finally hit their stride, Blackwater Park is simply amazing, and I think Deliverance will go down as their classic album someday. The first three are good, but not great.

You know, I really like Deliverance now. It took fucking ages though. I've heard Damnation - it's ok. At first listen, it definitely sounds like the Deliverance unplugged leftovers. After about the fifth listen, it begins to sink in a little.

Personally, I like Orchid. I hear a lot of old school metal influence in that album, so it might be a personal thing, I dunno...

But that's the thing about Opeth - you have to be willing to spend the time to see/hear the glory. Otherwise, I totally understand why people get put off quickly - especially when fans claim that each new album is the 'best ever', even after just one listen!

 

[Doom]

Darkthrone (uh-oh)
Mayhem
Therion
Tiamat
Soilwork
Arch Enemy
Amon Amarth
Borknagar (not bad)
Katatonia
Nile
All those crappy prog bands you guys listen to, though I don't like the style, so understandable.

Mandylion is one of the best 15 CD's in my collection. Used to really love that Tristania debut, still like it quite a bit.

 

[J.]

good call on Therion. nothing special there.

 

[lizard]

and don't forget the metal genre snobs, who look down their noses at other types of metal. prog fans are notorious for this, kind of the jazz fans of metal.

 

[JayKeeley]

and don't forget the metal genre snobs, who look down their noses at other types of metal. prog fans are notorious for this, kind of the jazz fans of metal.

Are jazz fans elitists in the general music field? I don't really know any...

 

[Nightmarez]

Bleh... I'm getting into prog quite a bit, and I don't really look down upon any other type of metal. If it's not in my taste, it's not in my taste... Hmm, doesn't mean other people can't like it.

As far as the original thread goes... Fear Factory. Don't get me wrong, Concrete, Demanufacture and Obsolete were all good abulms, it's just I don't hold them as high in respect as others do. Especially with their newer releases.

 

[The Yngster]

Yeah, prog fans tend to be elitists, but I've seen an equal amount, if not more death metal fans like this.

 

[JayKeeley]

elitism = bigotry.

 

[NAD]

Are jazz fans elitists in the general music field? I don't really know any...

YES. Probably half the reason I can't stand jazz. I remember seeing this jazz band in a coffee house some years back, and afterwards the bassist was talking to a group of people about all different progressions he had used, and he had this high and mighty look on his face. I wanted to tell him "yeah you're pretty good, but I can't remember a single bassline you played!"

 

[bloodfiredeath]

Back to the original subject of this thread:

Sigh

I'll put it here, instead of being a wet blanket in the Sigh thread.

 

[JayKeeley]

Back to the original subject of this thread:

Sigh

I'll put it here, instead of being a wet blanket in the Sigh thread.

Oh go on, drench us with your blanket of wetness. *cough*

Tell us why you think Sigh are overhyped! Inquisitive minds want to know...

 

[bloodfiredeath]

Well, I only have Imaginary Sonicscape, so I can't judge anything else.

As for that album, to quote you:

"I hear deathly screams, techno-punk, bouts of lounge muzak, movie soundtrack classical pieces a la Ennio Morricone, and even jumpabout Ska. I mean, they even hint at opera on occasion!"

There's my answer! Other than I suppose the deathly screams, I don't care for anything that sounds like that. The album just seems like a clusterfuck to me that tries way way too hard to be 'different.' When it rocks out, I like it fine. It doesn't do that often enough though.

Ultimately, it's something that I don't like in concept, so I can't even appreciate the execution. I don't want to listen to music that sounds like all kinds of styles rolled into one. Sometimes blurring the lines between a couple of sounds is ok, but it can go too far, and Sigh takes it there. If I wanted to listen to 'lounge muzak,' I would. But I wouldn't, so there ya go.

 

[lizard]

two words which equal overhype: White Stripes

 

[JayKeeley]

Well, I only have Imaginary Sonicscape, so I can't judge anything else.

As for that album, to quote you:

"I hear deathly screams, techno-punk, bouts of lounge muzak, movie soundtrack classical pieces a la Ennio Morricone, and even jumpabout Ska. I mean, they even hint at opera on occasion!"

There's my answer! Other than I suppose the deathly screams, I don't care for anything that sounds like that. The album just seems like a clusterfuck to me that tries way way too hard to be 'different.' When it rocks out, I like it fine. It doesn't do that often enough though.

Ultimately, it's something that I don't like in concept, so I can't even appreciate the execution. I don't want to listen to music that sounds like all kinds of styles rolled into one. Sometimes blurring the lines between a couple of sounds is ok, but it can go too far, and Sigh takes it there. If I wanted to listen to 'lounge muzak,' I would. But I wouldn't, so there ya go.

I find beauty in the madness. And I also recognize that it is very Japanese. I wanted to listen to it again immediately after hearing it for the first time.

The Japanese genre is very warped. Some of my favorite movies are Battle Royale, Ring, and the magnificient Dark Water. We need a japanese movies thread...

Still, I am new to Sigh, and the novelty may wear off. I'm certainly no expert. I also totally appreciate your comments too - thanks man.