I was talking about all of them…anyone who fit the description.
It never occurred to me that a band member in one of these groups would have a poli sci from Harvard, but that may indicate **less **of a grasp on reality…
Vandal,
You are completely full of crap when you suggest that all bands simply mine the same musical genre song after song - only shit bands like Rage Against the Machine who apparently don’t have the musical virtuosity to branch out and explore different musical styles and instruments.
The bands you cited are all examples of bands who will NEVER be remembered because they are defined by their time, whereas the great bands, the bands who will leave legacies such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, R.E.M., and even Metallica, have dared to explore musical themes and genres outside of the expected.
I humbly suggest you take your head out of your ass and listen to some real music, not mindless noise like Rage Against the Machine.
How fitting…my roomate is listening to some of this shit right now. I can never tell when one song ends and another begins. It’s all exactly the same nonsensical dreary, distortion filled shit.
Maybe some of these kids (who are the same age as me) should go out and listen to a REAL band…Led Zep, Hendrix, Stones, REM, or hell, even (gasp!) Pearl Jam, who (although I can’t stand their music) has something resembling talent.
But whatever you do, don’t get me started on Dave Matthews.
Truth does not change because it is, or is not, beleived by a majority of the people.
-Giordano Bruno
shut yo mouths…Rage Rules!!!
Right, just because I listen to Rage and you don’t, I’m the guy who’s full of shit.
Who gives a fuck if RATM’s songs sound the same? That doesn’t make them a bad band. Just because Metallica does a couple of ballads, that doesn’t make them diverse.
No. Tom Morello is. ZDLR writes all the lyrics.
I personally think they kind of jam, but I prefer their first album and “Evil Empire” to their new one.
Don’t agree with their politics at all, but at least they come off as sincere about it to me. And anybody who doesn’t think Tom Morello is one of the better guitar talents in rock today isn’t listening good enough.
Of all the piles of dung out there making money in rock and roll these days, RATM should be farther down your list of those to call out.
For example: I’m personally a big Alice in Chains fan. Their lead singer can’t seem to stay off horse, and they haven’t done much in the last several years. Out of the woodwork come at least a half-dozen bands that sound just like them. I mean, to the point where they should be paying them royalties (Limp Bizkit, Creed, Days of the New, etc.)
One of them Godsmack, is such a blatant ripoff, they even take their name from a damn Alice in Chains song.
Hijack over. Continue, please.
Give me immortality, or give me death!
Its true, to an extent, that all RATM’s songs sound the same, and that’s too bad. But as far as their politics go, would you rather that all the popular bands out there were limp (if you will excuse the pun)? At least RATM believes in something and for my money that puts them one up on most of the current crop of popular rock stars.
i, for one, would love to see where their profits go. how much you wanna bet that very little go to impoverished mexican laborers, and that most of it just feeds expensive habits?
i’d like to see what kind of shoes they wear. no doubt nikes or rebok.
yep, alice is definitely a great band… one of my favorites
they are original and have some really great tunes!
im praying for them to tour again!!
Check out my site:
Chief’s Domain
Just a quick question : can anyone name ANY popular band other than RATM who actually has any sort of political agenda whatsoever?
‘Bad Religion’ for one. And their songs have actual vocal melodies. I can’t stand anything that even approaches rap. And I think RATM stinks.
My mistake. Punk isn’t really that popular.
I should probably read first and reply second.
I guess you guys haven’t been to RATM concert eh?
I have, and it rocks.
I said “popular band.” Bad Religion had one hit song (and even that is debatable) five years ago.
But they’re popular among people with taste.
Whoops! I didn’t see that post when I replied. Guess I should have read first and replied second as well.
Those zany, tired, played out, old beastie boys seem to be pretty vocal about Tibet. At least that one guy does.
You don’t like their type of music… that is easy to understand. I don’t like the Dixie Chicks. So what? The fact of the matter is, amongst people who enjoy their particular hybrid of smart, energetic lyrics and heavy funky music, Rage Against the Machine is considered one of the most talented bands working today. I happen to be amongst those people.
In interviews, members of the band flat out admit that most of their fans do not understand the issues behind their songs. Does this make them any less valid? I don’t think so. Tom and Zack have both said that they enjoy the fact that people first come to like them because of the music itself. And if the kids listen to the lyrics and become more aware of some of the issues that the band is concerned about – well, in their eyes, that’s a good thing.
They could get up there and rap about how big their dicks are, or how much weed they’re gonna toke tonight, or all the bitches they wanna fuck… would that make them more acceptable, or less so? Isn’t it actually refreshing to hear songs that are popular with young people that could conceivably make them think?
Longtime RATM fan checking in. I tend to disagree sometimes with their politics, and my musical tastes have shifted since I bought my first RATM album back in '93 or whenever it was. So I hadn’t even heard much recently before I managed to catch the video for “Sleep now in the fire” on MTV.
This video reminded me what I liked about them in the first place. Musical taste aside, IMHO the idea of righteous anger and political agendas deserves its place alongside the Goo Goo Dolls. The video includes a spoof of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” in which questions about the current state of poverty in America are answered incorrectly by clueless contestants. True, they are more “factoids” than facts, but this sort of thing was what spurred me as a teenager to invest some time in researching these issues. The moment that you begin to investigate instead of just accepting the word of major news outlets (including MTV, etc.) is the moment you become a free thinking being.
Plus, they pretty much rock.
stoli
“There’s always a little dirt, or infinity, or something.” -Feynman
Stolichnaya: You have a good point, but I don’t think you are a typical RATM fan. Goo Goo Dolls should die for releasing so many outrageously trite ballads. I think your intelligence may surpass what one would expect from the origin of your nickname, but at least it’s not Smirnoff, or god forbid, Alberta Grain Vodka… yack.
ResevoirDog: Gangsta rappers are a different story, because nobody expects them to get any real respect from anyone other than a teenaged hood-rat.
Ok, what you just said is basically, “RATM fans thing that RATM are really great”. Next time, after you check your spelling and grammar, make sure you’re actually saying something.
Mouthbreather: I agree with you. The Beastie Boys are just as bad as RATM. I can’t wait for them to prolong their inexplicably successful career with another bad rap song. In this one, I’d like to hear one guy spouting some tired verses while the other to guys yell out every rhyming syllable. That would make a nice change.
Concrete: Thank’s for your enlightening post, you fucking idiot.
Point: Bad Religion is religiously bad.
Neutron Star: Sarajevo Relief album, Help, Band-Aid. Bono’s still pushing for third-world debt relief with many a celebrity buddy, as far as I know. These guys are actually doing something instead of yelling about it.
Milossarian: I was referring to the lyrics, unless you think the guitar riffs are particularly political. And just because Tom Morello is one of the best in the pop rock business, doesn’t mean he’s that great (and I do admit that he’s very good for the class of music, but if you’re looking for a really great guitar player, don’t look for anyone in a band. That’s my advice).
Vandal: Nobody said Metallica was diverse. They’re just as bad as RATM.
Flymaster: Ok, I want to hear your take on DMB, who have more talent in their arm hair than most bands out there (though you did name some good bands).
Vandal: Oh wait, someone did suggest that Metallica was good. Uh. I have to disagree with DallasGuy in a BIG way.
Mr. Zambezi: What, you don’t think life at Harvard would help anyone to understand the pain of oppressed Mexican’s? Very good point.
Ok that’s all.