Worst Rock Bands of the Nineties
Submitted by JohnnyW on Mon, 03/19/2001 - 13:02
Tags:
- Firehouse
- Extreme
- Mr. Big
- Green Jello
- Ugly Kid Joe
- Candlebox
- Crash Test Dummies
- Silverchair
- Presidents of the United States of America
- Dishwalla
- 7 Mary 3
- Sublime
- The Toadies
- The Verve Pipe
- Hootie and the Blowfish
- Live
- Barenaked Ladies
- The Offspring
- Days of the New
- Smashmouth
- Third Eye Blind
- Sugar Ray
- Creed
- Matchbox 20
- Phish
- The Dave Matthews Band
- Limp Bizkit
Author Comments:
These are artists who actually received some airplay during the nineties. They are listed in chronological order. Some are just plain wretched, some are just terminally boring. A couple of these choices may provoke strong reaction, but I'd be interested in what those who disagree have to say...
You dont have any arguments from me.
amen...all of those bands should be exiled to a third world nation
Preferably a war-torn third-world nation with no amplification equipment;)
Johnny Waco
You should be exiled to a third world country that resides in some homeless person's rectum. [Editor's note: insult spoilerized. Can be deleted on request.] To say that ALL the bands should be exiled is ludicrous!! Hootie and STP should be kicked swiftly in their asses because even today I'm steal having to hear them, but SUBLIME?? are you serious?
A few comments (tho I agree with the vast majority of the slime on this list):
are dave matthews and phish "rock" bands?
Live strikes me as at least "deeper" than most on this list--Secret Samadhi's "Lakini's Juice" and "Freaks" I have always liked for its imagery and relentless chord progression.
Also, in defense of 7 Mary 3 (since they come from Virginia, as I do): "The Needle Can't Burn (What the needle can't find)" and "Lucky" off of Rock Crown are what I would consider good rock songs.
Just my two cents. I think that The Presidents of the United States of America ties for worst band riiight next to Ugly Kid Joe.
Great list.
Maybe it's cuz I lived in Seattle when the Presidents became noticed, but I actually like those guys. :) They were a refreshing change from all of the grunge...
...but, everyone I know thinks my music tastes are, a best, a bit odd...
At the risk of ruining any musical reputation I might possibly have, I must also admit I like Extreme, The Offspring, and Days of the New, and individual songs from a lot of the groups here.
Thanks for the comments Ender and Buber,
I'm certainly not going to be dogmatic about this list: "These bands shot be shot and so should anyone who likes them!" On the contrary, this list is so ultimately subjective and based on my reactions to their songs that I make no allowances as to whether or not they are deep (Live) or fun (Presidents). In fact, I'll freely admit that maybe, just maybe, in one or two cases I'm being unfairly harsh. Also, in the case of someone like 7 Mary 3 (thanks for the spelling correction!) I'm basing this on what I heard on the radio. Songs like "Cumbersome" never made me want to delve deeper, so it's possible I've missed something.
I would consider the Matthews Band and Phish rock bands because they play music with traditional rock instruments (guitar, drums, etc); "Jam bands" would just be another genre of rock in my book.
Johnny Waco
Yeah! This is an adequate list and we could probably throw more on there. I only disagree w/ one entry...Toadies, and I'll tell you why. I for one know that Possum Kingdom is an all-out jam and Tyler, besides being a Pixies rip-off, is alright too...the rest of that disc sucks. But they have the chops to be a great band if they just write some decent tunes. Anyway, good list.
Yeah, I'll agree that Possum Kingdom was catchy, but I think it was way overplayed. They also had another song receive airplay around the same time (I can't remember the name) and it sounded exactly the same as PK. That bothered me and contributed to their inclusion. However, they and maybe a few others on this list have talent and potential, although most have little or no talent.
Johnny Waco
DAVE MATTHEW'S BAND ROCKS!!!!
Uh, yeah. Also see my "subpar musical artists my college freshmen love." You will again find the DMB, purveyors of the bland and pseudo-deep. Frat boys find DMB the perfect soundtrack to binge drinking and date rape. Ugh...
Johnny Waco
P.S. Just added Sublime! The hits keep coming!
Agreed on many, but not on all. My thoughts:
Extreme: Someone should set their hair on fire.
Crash Test Dummies: Should be used as same.
Sublime: I don't know about worst, but when your lead singer croaks himself with a smack overdose, it's time to reconsider your M.O.
Hootie and the Blowfish: My wife calls them Booty and the Ho-fish.
Barenaked Ladies: What the hell are you talking about? Easily the smartest guys currently working in rock, with the possible exception of Thomas Dolby.
Smashmouth: They'd be great if they just got someone else to write their songs.
Sugar Ray: These guys got famous for their ballads, but if you listen to their albums (not that I'm encouraging you to do so), it's all B-grade speed metal. Anyway, they should definitely be launched into the sun.
The Dave Matthews Band: Fucking amen!
Notably missing: Chumbawamba, Coal Chamber, and everyone on the Family Values tour.
amen to the family values tour!!!
Your suggestions totally belong; I'll be adding them post-haste!
Barenaked Ladies are just way too silly and flippant. They may be smart, but I never liked They Might Be Giants, and I can't bring myself to like BL either. I haven't heard their albums, but the songs I've heard on the radio I've disliked, without exception. I'm glad we agree on everyone else though!
Johnny Waco
Well, actually, they do have some songs that are quite moving. If ya wanna check out a song that breaks my heart every time I listen to it, "What a Good Boy" and "If I Fall" are two very well written ballad-like songs.
PS: Silly is good sometimes, but they can also so some interesting stuff, I still think that "Brian Wilson" is a masterpiece of modern rock.
Hear, hear! Whenever the Ladies are mentioned I feel compelled to chime in (especially when they're dissed). The title is "When I Fall", and you're right, it is a wonderfully moving ballad, sung by my boyfriend Ed Robertson (I just need to let him know).
JohnnyW, most of their songs are not silly, actually, though I love them when they are. "Shoebox" is about a 17 year old kid who's having an affair with an older woman and is afraid to tell her. And I highly recommend you listen to "Off the Hook" off the Maroon album. It's about a woman who's been cheated on, and how her "worst mistake [was] accepting enemies on bended knees".
I apologize for waxing sentimental about the Barenaked Ladies, but I've been listening to them a fair bit lately and feel like "Off the Hook" is my own personal anthem.
I knew I had that title wrong.
Where is JohnnyW anyway? I really should create an M.I.A. list . . .
preachin' to the choir, Johnny... the R.B.Choir... AMEN!
5 of those bands I've seen in concert , and I can't tell you enough how much I agree with this list!
Whats wrong with you? Creed, Matchbox 20, Smashmouth, and Hootie and the Blowfish....therre's absoltuly nothing wrong with those groups! The others I agree with you on but these four I can't agree with you.