h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Steve Vai.

'For the Love of God' is a superb track and he's technically brilliant. Boring as the most boring thing in the entire universe in concert, mind.

we are after seriously over-rated mucians not seriously boring ones.

I;ve seen him live at a Satriani G(insert number) concert and he was superb...can't remember about being boring as not much you can do when just playing guitar...Sat didn't move too much either...and Adrian legg didn;t even stand up!

I didn't know who Jessie J was when she was on Hootenanny (I'm too old), but when I found out I was surprised - she was far better than I would have expected.

I'm not sure I can say "over-rated", because I get the impression there's something going on that I don't "get", but... Frank Zappa.

Oh, and I was going to say Gaga, but then I deleted the comment based on two Youtube vids - one of a tape of her at performing arts school when she was plain old Stephanie Germanotta, and the other of her singing and playing "Poker Face" live on French television, which was unbelievably good.

(I do hope nobody is going to say Florence Welch, although I imagine it's inevitable sooner or later - she is a little... overexposed. I love her, though...)

>>The Edge...his skill is being able to create music with very simple riffs and notes - that in itself takes skill - the minimalism of what he does - he has been quoted as saying if he could play one note through a whole song he would if it worked and why not.

No one has suggested that minimalism is a bad thing. Carlos Santana would hold a single noted for an eternity, to devastating effect. It's not how little or how much David Howell Evans does that makes him over-rated IMO, it's how mundanely he does it.

If wer'e mentioning La Gaga (and we should!) then we should also mention Madonna.

SoRB:

>>I'm not sure I can say "over-rated", because I get the impression there's something going on that I don't "get", but... Frank Zappa.

With you on that one. Many people whose opinions I respect idolise him - but he just doesn't do it for me.

The thing is...I really like Captain Beefheart. I'm told that his schoolboy chum is similarly rich and intricate - and I can sort of see that. But I can't hear anything *underneath* the technical excellence. Possibly what's missing is Beefheart's rawness - and the blues and R&B references you get from Beefheart.

Plus I can't quite get over Zappa's relentless scatology.

A friend of mine thinks Queen are overrated. Beyond a couple of songs, I'm inclined to agree. Still like them though.

The Stone Roses

Bach.

In 'I Capture The Castle' by Dodie Smith, Cassandra Mortmain says:

'I find that listening to Bach is like being hit repeatedly on the forehead with a teaspoon.'

Which is what he does do me. He sends me racing for the ibuprofen. Now admittedly Cassandra changes her mind when someone plays her the St Matthew's Passion...and I can see that. On the other hand...people rave about all those cantatas and fugues and the Goldberg Variations...

You take that back right now Sho.

>>A friend of mine thinks Queen are overrated.

I think I'm already moderately famous on this site for disliking Queen.

I think there needs to be a bit of care in misinterpreting personal dislike for 'being overrated'.

Although I'm not sure the two are ever that separable.

For example - Elvis Presley doesn't do all _that_ much for me. Neither does Dylan (although other's Cover versions can be awesome), or Clapton, or Sinatra.

However, I do recognise that just because I don't get it, there must be something there as they have enduring appeal beyond their own generation.

Is the same going to be true of Gaga, Jessie J or Bieber? (not that I know anyone who actually rates Bieber - I'm not 12 ).

Wagner.

He knows exactly which strings to pull (and brass things to puff) to give you a swell of emotion about very little at all. He leaves you feeling manipulated and slightly grubby.

I regard him as the Spielberg of music.

I thought he crucified Radiohead on the X-Factor, though.

Nope, Mr603 they are poop.

James - now there's a band... or the Seahorses.

Bach. Totally totally totally brilliant. Wachet Auf. Perfect music. Wagner - meh, Beethoen - meh, Mozart - meh. Bach. The King Of Music.

Gaga seems to be a pretty good singer and she can play live from what I hear which elevates her above performers like The Saturdays.

Lou Reed is another artiste who I feel is overrated.

Gaga depresses me cos her lyrics are so dreadful.
(Most) Mozart bores me - it just sounds predictable.
Van the Man - I may be ex-communicated from East Belfast if I say what I think of him.Well, his singing. His actual songs are pretty good.

The Rolling Stones? I just don't get it.

the Stones come into the "they should have stopped at least 30 years ago" for me.

There's a whole other thread waiting to be opened.

Bea:

>>The Rolling Stones? I just don't get it.

Well I can help you out there. Forget about the old, wrinkly dinosaure they became. Go to YouTube and check out some of the B&W footage. Unfortunately it's a bit peripatetic - they're anal about copyright, what with being short of cash and all, and keep taking it down.

Also try another go at 'Sympathy for the Devil':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzAEtLPSzRg

Who was talking about minimalism? That has the greatest guitar solo EVER!!! Not many notes, all played at exactly the right time.

(Srry. Can't tell you how far in 'cause can't listen from here.)