Overrated, underrated, and guilty pleasures (in music)

[twcclassics]

Calling all music lovers! What are the artists that you think are totally overrated and criminally underrated? And are there any artists that you're a bit embarrassed to admit you like? Don't bother with newer artists currently enjoying their ten minutes of fame. Stick with established ones. Here's my list to get you started...

Overrated
The Beatles (and all their offspring), Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Billy Joel, Madonna, Prince, Dave Matthews Band, Eminem, Nickelback, Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, Beyonce, Elton John, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, John Mellencamp, John Mayer, Train, U2, Creed, Shania Twain, Santana, Gretchen Wilson, Sting

Underrated
Anita Baker, Big Maybelle, Bonnie Raitt, Brian McKnight, Brook Benton, Grayson Hugh, Jackie Wilson, James Ingram, Johnny Gill, Lenny Williams, Loretta Lynn, Luther Vandross, Mel Carter, Norah Jones, Phil Wickham, Ray Charles, Roy Buchanan

Guilty pleasures
Michael Bolton, Reba McEntire, TLC

[Mike M]

Well the Top 40 artists (Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, etc) are the only ones I'd find overrated. While classic rock is quite popular as well, I shouldn't call it "overrated" since I'm a fan of it myself. However, there's one artist who is seriously overrated here in New Jersey, and that is  Bruce Springsteen. Mainly since he's from this state.

As for underrated, I would have to say anything smooth jazz (aside from the more popular artists like Boney James and George Benson), and any indie artists.

Guilty pleasures? Thievery Corporation. I also feel a little embarrassed saying I like smooth jazz and new age in front of my real-life friends.

[curtjr4]

Well the Top 40 artists (Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, etc) are the only ones I'd find overrated. While classic rock is quite popular as well, I shouldn't call it "overrated" since I'm a fan of it myself.

I couldn't have said that better myself! I really only listen to classic rock... it's the only good music in my opinion (There's also Smooth Jazz that I like).

[Bryan]

Guilty pleasure:  Old School Madonna

[texasstooge]

Yeah, I do agree that some the Top 40 artists today are overrated, although I like listening to the Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West (Prior to 2008), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Maroon 5, Nelly, and Blink 182.

Underrated favorites: Anything jazz (smooth, straight-ahead, classic, etc.), rock groups such as The Hives, The Flaming Lips, The Fratellis, The Strokes; indie/alternative rap artists: Talib Kweli, Plan B, Foreign Exchange, A Tribe Called Quest, among others; plus a few oldies as well as Bob Marley, mon.

Gulty Pleasures: Anything I listed in the Underrated section.

[wxmediafan]

Yeah, I do agree that some the Top 40 artists today are overrated, although I like listening to the Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West (Prior to 2008), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Maroon 5, Nelly, and Blink 182.

Underrated favorites: Anything jazz (smooth, straight-ahead, classic, etc.), rock groups such as The Hives, The Flaming Lips, The Fratellis, The Strokes; indie/alternative rap artists: Talib Kweli, Plan B, Foreign Exchange, A Tribe Called Quest, among others; plus a few oldies as well as Bob Marley, mon.

Gulty Pleasures: Anything I listed in the Underrated section.

Black Eyed peas have 7 songs on my iPod; what a great band.

My guilty pleasure: dare I say it on this board and as a male, Ke$ha .  your love is my drug is a great song to jog to

[TWCToday]

Calling all music lovers! What are the artists that you think are totally overrated and criminally underrated? And are there any artists that you're a bit embarrassed to admit you like? Don't bother with newer artists currently enjoying their ten minutes of fame. Stick with established ones. Here's my list to get you started...

Love this idea! However I might have to fight you over some of your overrated artists...

[P71nnacle]

Yea, I'd yank The Beatles from being overrated. Chances are they're better than the off-key donkey whinnies we listen to everyday on the 8's Billy Joel, U2, Eric Clapton and Elton John can get off that list, too.

Ashlee Simpson, Mandy Moore, and Ke$ha are my guilty pleasures right now.

[twcclassics]

Yea, I'd yank The Beatles from being overrated. Chances are they're better than the off-key donkey whinnies we listen to everyday on the 8's Billy Joel, U2, Eric Clapton and Elton John can get off that list, too.

Somehow I'm not surprised you would say that.

[Localonthe8s]

Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Hanna Montana (big one),  Eminem, Billy Joel, Smashing Pumpkins, Coheed and Cambria, Nickelback and anything rap/hip-hop would top my list of overrated artists.

Underrated: Most smooth jazz (except Dave Koz and Boney James), and "indie" music

Guilty Pleasures: Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Rihanna <333

[twcclassics]

I'd also add Pat Metheny to my list of overrated artists.

[CartoonJazzLover]

Overrated: Vocal jazz (I don't need singing in jazz.), Mexicano/Spanish music (heard it too much), Justin Bieber, pop rock, Taylor Swift.

Underrated: anything jazz (I rarely see non TWC fans listen to jazz music here) expect singing jazz

[P71nnacle]

Somehow I'm not surprised you would say that.

Yea, I didn't plunk down $120 to go see the new arena and not Paul McCartney in August. And TBH, I could care less about TWC music. I was a big fanboy of it back in '06, but no vocals takes its toll. In truth, the human voice is an instrument, so there is no such thing as "non-instrumental music".

But I don't understand how The Beatles can be overrated...they've sold over a billion albums and are the most successful group in the history of the world, possibly the Universe. They definitely deserve to be on top of the world.

And yea, Matt, I think a lot of what you said is poor choices...they form the bulk of commercially successful music in the past 50 years, and most of it is definitely better than what has come out in recent years. But that's just me. 

[twcclassics]

But I don't understand how The Beatles can be overrated...they've sold over a billion albums and are the most successful group in the history of the world, possibly the Universe. They definitely deserve to be on top of the world.

And yea, Matt, I think a lot of what you said is poor choices...they form the bulk of commercially successful music in the past 50 years, and most of it is definitely better than what has come out in recent years. But that's just me. 

That's kind of the idea. Artists that you think critics and/or fans over-obsess about. It's kind of hard to consider an artist overrated if they don't sell many records. Just because an artist has sold millions of records, doesn't mean they're good.

I know the Beatles are the most successful group ever, but "Love Me Do?" Come on. "We all live in a Yellow Submarine?" Uh, no we don't. I honestly don't get why so many people love them. I suspect a lot of people do because our society tells them they're suppose to.

On the other hand, I do agree that they're better than most of the music released today. Of course, that's pretty easy to do.

[Bob]

Guilty pleasure: Anything instrumental, classical, anything '80s, and easy-listening.

Quite honestly, I can live without the popular music of today.  It's, in my opinion, not really music.