What band or artist, can you appreciate but don’t like

Cafe Society
41

For me specifically, they seem too “70’s”, too laid back in a Southern Cali way, and their tongue in cheek lyrics tend to be more than a little offputting.

Jethro Tull would be my choice. I have always had an aversion to what I call “start/stop” prog, where any momentum the cut might have had is short-circuited by overly complex wankery and weird time signatures that just call attention to themselves. The proggers I prefer are typically much smoother in that regard [Floyd, Renaissance]. [Someone mentioned Yes upthread but they only got that bad starting with Tales of Topographic Oceans.]

42

I felt that way until I heard this: Frank Zappa - Trouble Every Day - YouTube

43

He sounds like he has a harelip, or possibly like he’s making fun of someone with a harelip.

44

Radiohead for me too. Excellent live band from what I saw (two consecutive nights opening for R.E.M. in 1995) and while I’ve enjoyed individual songs, as a whole, they don’t impress me.

As for Husker Du, they were one of those bands that had 2 or 3 great songs on each album, and the rest was filler - to me, of course.

45

The Doors. I think all the instrumentalists were above-average players as individuals, and Krieger especially could show some stuff when he wanted to. Put 'em together, though, and to my ear, they just somehow added up to less than the sum of their parts. And that drunk guy up front just never did it for me.

46

I appreciate that Duke Ellington was one of the musical giants of the 20th century. But I never listen to him. For one thing, he never had a decent vocalist. So many people have done his classic songs so much better than he did. IMO of course.

47

I’ll add to the Springsteen apathy. His voice is thin and raspy with little range, and not much adventure or creativity in the backing band. A solid background bar band that doesn’t make you want to leave, but doesn’t hook you to stay for one more beer.

48

Another vote for Rush. I appreciate that the playing and production were impeccable. But the songs just don’t cut it for me; they’re not very melodically memorable and the lyrics are often sophomorically pretentious. And of course the Geddy Screech… why he adopted that when he is actually capable of singing in a good normal voice, I will never understand…
They seemed to be pleasant decent fellows personally, though.

49

Onviously he was without peer at the time for guitar technique. But as a songwriter? Not so much. The songs just seem to be vehicles for guitar pyrotechnics. It’s unfortunate that we will never know what he might have done in later years.

50

A lot of musicians I appreciate I rarely listen to. There are just too many good songs and no reason to listen to whole albums unless in a certain mood, feeling purist, maybe if it’s new, or where one really really likes the artist.

I get confused by the choices of others. I may not want to listen to a whole album by The Boss or Jimmy Hendrix but enjoy quite a few of their songs.

My list would include some experimental stuff. “We’re taking barbershop to strange and interesting new places.” Most experiments don’t work. The ones who are the best at it, say Eno or Hancock or the better techno artists - one song is still often more than enough.

51

Chet Atkins.

The technique he plays is extremely difficult. I have a friend who’s spent most of his life learning and playing Atkins’ style and it’s really challenging.

Trouble is, it’s also incredibly boring to listen to. Atkins reminds me of Russian jugglers in the 1970s. There were a few guys who could juggle 10 or 11 objects. But all they could do was get them out of their hands for a few cycles and that was it. Similarly, Atkins’ technique is so hard that it’s also very limiting. Ever heard Atkins play the Beatles? I’ve never heard their music so devoid of joy. This despite the fact that he was a big influence on George Harrison.

52

Same for me. I should love them, but don’t. I think a big part of it is the vocals. I find his voice annoying.

53

I may be alone in answering The Beatles.

54

The Eagles. They’re undisputedly talented, but except for “Witchy Woman” and “Hotel California,” they were too country-meets-California for my taste. I like both Henley and Frey’s solo stuff, though.

Also, another vote for Prince, who was obviously extremely talented but whose voice sets my teeth on edge. That may be because the first song of his I heard, “Raspberry Beret,” made an indelible impression on me, like a regrettable tattoo.

55

Another vote for Bruce Springsteen. Elvis too. That pompadour look makes me taste oil in my mouth. Obviously talented, truly gifted, but not my cuppa.

56

Yeah. So many talented musicians making so much unlistenable music.

Paul Simon, Jack White and Billy Corgin… all musical geniuses, but I just don’t really like what they are doing. It must be me…

57

I love classical music, but Haydn and Handel leave me high and dry. I love intricate baroque music, especially J.S. Bach, but I find Haydn and Handel boring (his music is a bit too English). I love Mozart, so it’s not that I don’t like elegant, melodic music, I just don’t like H&H.

I most especially love Romantic era classical music. Beethoven is my man, followed closely by Liszt, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff (20th century, but still Romantic). I like other Romantic era composers too, but I hate Dvorák and Debussy. Dullsville.

I love many virtuoso concert pianists, especially Yuja Wang, Valentina Lisitsa, Vladimir Horowitz, Daniil Trifonov, and Evgeny Kissin, but I kind of hate Lang Lang and Glenn Gould—one is too showy, and the other too odd, though I appreciate their talents.

I love most progressive rock bands, especially Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Moody Blues, and Jethro Tull, but I hate King Crimson. Dunno why. Just leaves me flat.

I love much folk music. Love Dylan, Cat Stevens, Joan Baez, Janis Ian, The Mamas & the Papas, Neil Young, Peter, Paul & Mary, Leadbelly, and others. But, I hate Kris Kristofferson—talented guy, but he just rubs me the wrong way.

I love jazz. Love Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Jelly Roll Morton, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Buddy Rich and others. Keith Jarrett is talented, but I hate his playing style. Kenny G seems like a nice talented guy, but he makes me cringe.

58

Stevie Nicks. Had to sit through some of her music yesterday. My wife didn’t like it but I went outside so I didn’t have to listen to it. We were at my granddaughters baby shower.

59

U2 is a band that I lost interest in fairly early in their career, because they too had albums with a few good songs, and a lot of filler.

(I have not listened to “The Joshua Tree” in its entirety. I might change my mind if I did, I know.)

60

I thought I was “Meh.” on the Dead, but then I heard DEADICATED, a tribute album.
Hearing Los Lobos (“Bertha”) and Bruce Hornsby (“Jack Straw”) kick it off with beautiful harmonies, and Suzanne Vega’s “Cassidy”, then I was blown away by Lyle Lovett doing a haunting “Friend of the Devil”… and I realized the music was great, it was mostly Jerry Garcia’s flat, vibrato-less voice and meandering jams that I didn’t like.

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Yeah, but how much competition for that title is there, really?