# Which musical acts are most universally respected and liked among their peers in their genre? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564 "2010-03-15T18:16:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/41 "2010-03-16T19:13:36Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Jazz – Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker Bird and Diz weren’t thought of very well by a lot of the old stalwarts, mostly because they encouraged bad habits (musical and, in Parker’s case, personal) in young musicians; even latter-day conservatives like Wynton Marsalis aren’t really fond of them. Though many jazz musicians don’t have a kind word for avant-garde, I’ve never heard what I would call real disrespect for John Coltrane. Likewise Allan Holdsworth–I’ve always heard him held up as the musician’s musician, even by people who don’t care for his genre(s). ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/42 "2010-03-16T19:35:40Z")
In the world of electronic/dance music, I think the **Chemical Brothers** are up there. They’ve always had stellar production and have been making solid songs for years and years. **Daft Punk** get brought up as an example too but I’ve seen them put down more than the Chems. Ditto **Soulwax**. Going back in time a little to the heyday of disco (and I mean good disco, not mainstream cheesy disco that I will fully admit to only liking because I lack a discerning palette), anyone with a bad word about **Giorgio Moroder** or **Larry Levan** should worry about being maced. Hmm, what else. Punk is tricky, because no matter how awesome a band is, someone will call them posers one day. But all punks that I have met respect **The Replacements** , maybe not a punk band in their own right but still so important. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/43 "2010-03-16T19:53:39Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Eric felt really guilty and wrote the album Layla about his love and guilt. Just to note that he wrote Layla about what was (at that time) his unrequited love for Patti (though he probably also was feeling guilty about having the hots for his friend’s wife). “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs” came out in 1970. Boyd and Harrison did not divorce until 1974 (though it sounds like things between the two had been on the rocks for some time before then). Boyd and Clapton didn’t marry until 1979. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/44 "2010-03-16T20:03:21Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Soul – Aretha Franklin It is inappropriate to include a deity in a thread about mere mortals. 😉 (Actually, she is universally respected, but by no means universally liked, given her high-maintenance ways. But are \*you \*gonna tell that to the Queen?) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/45 "2010-03-16T20:12:18Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > Re) Tori’s first album: Everyone has to start somewhere, eh? At least she has a good sense of humor about it! Very true. > [@kidneyfailure](#): > > Re) 2Pac & Kate Bush: Wow, really? I can’t believe it… Yep. I have to run off to work but do a Google search for Tupac Shakur and Kate Bush, there are lots of cites. I haven’t seen it but I believe she was even mentioned in the documentary about him. He also liked early Sarah McLachlan, back when she was interesting (Touch, Solace, Possession era). > [@WordMan](#): > > VERY few artists are both liked and respected, Ok, to clarify my answer, both Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel are liked and are highly respected. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/46 "2010-03-16T20:16:07Z")
Dave Brubeck? Never heard or read anything about him that wasn’t glowing, though I know virtually nothing about his private life. Still, I think among other musicians and aficianados of jazz he seems to be very highly regarded. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/47 "2010-03-16T20:41:50Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Dave Brubeck? Never heard or read anything about him that wasn’t glowing, though I know virtually nothing about his private life. Still, I think among other musicians and aficianados of jazz he seems to be very highly regarded. I think there are those who might consider him middlebrow, glorified cocktail jazz. But they’re wrong! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/48 "2010-03-16T21:10:13Z")
**Rush** is widely regarded as a “musicians’ band”. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/49 "2010-03-16T21:18:18Z")
> [@Electric\_Warrior](#): > > In the world of electronic/dance music, I think the **Chemical Brothers** are up there. They’ve always had stellar production and have been making solid songs for years and years. **Daft Punk** get brought up as an example too but I’ve seen them put down more than the Chems. Ditto **Soulwax**. > > Going back in time a little to the heyday of disco (and I mean good disco, not mainstream cheesy disco that I will fully admit to only liking because I lack a discerning palette), anyone with a bad word about **Giorgio Moroder** or **Larry Levan** should worry about being maced. Yeah, I’ve never heard a bad word about Moroder. Supremely talented guy, too. > [@](#): > > Hmm, what else. > > Punk is tricky, because no matter how awesome a band is, someone will call them posers one day. But all punks that I have met respect **The Replacements** , maybe not a punk band in their own right but still so important. I would be surprised beyond belief if anyone could find a quote anywhere of someone dissing either the music or the people in **Minutemen**. D. Boone was by all accounts a tremendously great guy, Mike Watt is still active in music and has enough respect from his peers that he is sought after as a bassist (and check out the list of people who helped him on his [Ball-Hog or Tugboat](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball-Hog_or_Tugboat%3F) album), and I’ve personally heard accomplished rock and jazz drummers express awe at the outrageous licks George Hurley threw down. ETA: Greg Ginn is also very respected and well liked. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/50 "2010-03-16T21:30:29Z")
Missed the edit window, but for those of you who don’t know much about **Minutemen** and may not understand the depth of respect the punk community has for these guys, check out this [wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Minutemen_(band)). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/51 "2010-03-16T21:37:59Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Missed the edit window, but for those of you who don’t know much about **Minutemen** and may not understand the depth of respect the punk community has for these guys, check out this [wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Minutemen_(band)). heck, if you care about indie music at all, you should just read [Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad](http://www.amazon.com/Our-Band-Could-Your-Life/dp/0316787531)which features a great chapter on the Minutemen as well as other key indie bands that were leading up to When Alternative Broke, aka Nirvana - bands include the Replacements, Husker Du, Minor Threat, Mission of Burma, etc… We jam econo, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/52 "2010-03-16T22:37:58Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > One simple question: who cares? > > Artists in any genre are frequently LOUSY judges of their peers. The funniest comedians you know are often despised by their peers. On the other hand, guys who are universally admired by their fellow comics are often horrible people and WORSE performers. To give you one example, Colin Quinn is a wretchedly unfunny comedian. That he’s managed to stay in show biz so long is a reflection of the fact that he’s adored by his fellow comics. Which shows you what THEY know. > > It’s no different in music. SUPPOSE you learned that the Jonas Brothers are universally adored by their peers, while your favorite band is regarded as a bunch of jerks. What possible difference could that make to you? Isn’t that what makes this an interesting question? The dichotomy between the popular view and the view of those in the business? Going back to comedians, Gilbert Gottfried is apparently a “comedian’s comedian” and well respected by his peers, mainly for his habit of going totally over-the-top raunchy when he bombs while most people can’t stand him, while Carrot Top and Gallagher (who are successful in their own ways-CT is particularly popular with college audiences and Gallagher had a big run for years) are despised by their peers because prop comics are the lowest caste of comics, in the comic world. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/53 "2010-03-16T23:02:19Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > Isn’t that what makes this an interesting question? The dichotomy between the popular view and the view of those in the business? Going back to comedians, Gilbert Gottfried is apparently a “comedian’s comedian” and well respected by his peers, mainly for his habit of going totally over-the-top raunchy when he bombs while most people can’t stand him, while Carrot Top and Gallagher (who are successful in their own ways-CT is particularly popular with college audiences and Gallagher had a big run for years) are despised by their peers because prop comics are the lowest caste of comics, in the comic world. Actually, those two are despised by other prop comics for their habit of rifling through other comics prop trunks. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/54 "2010-03-16T23:17:32Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > heck, if you care about indie music at all, you should just read [Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad](http://www.amazon.com/Our-Band-Could-Your-Life/dp/0316787531)which features a great chapter on the Minutemen as well as other key indie bands that were leading up to When Alternative Broke, aka Nirvana - bands include the Replacements, Husker Du, Minor Threat, Mission of Burma, etc… > > We jam econo, indeed. Ya know, my opinion of you continues to accumulate more positives with nearly everything you post. 😃 That’s a great book, and _We Jam Econo_ is an amazing film. ETA: thanks for mentioning **Mission of Burma**! I’ve been a big fan for more than 20 years, and am still in touch with Roger Miller from time to time. Not enough people know this band, and _Einstein’s Day_ (my personal favorite MoB song) should be on more people’s playlists. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/55 "2010-03-17T00:01:58Z")
Well, since we’re now talking about respected elder statesmen of the punk scene, I’m surprised no one has yet mentioned Black Flag or Minor Threat or The Misfits. I’ve never heard any band or figure from that scene badmouth them (though certain eras of Flag and incarnations of The Misfits are liked better than others). I didn’t say The Ramones were sell-outs, I said many people in the present-day punk scene feel they are. That’s an opinion I’ve heard many times expressed over the years (even heard one kid say at a show 10 or so years ago, “The Ramones? Even my mom likes them!”). I don’t personally feel that they’re “sell-outs,” I think that term is lame, but I have heard many people say they feel so…although my personal experience is in no way ironclad proof. I don’t feel that they’re sell-outs, but they are one of the most overrated bands in all of punkdom. I appreciate their contributions and all, but their music never did it for me. It was too slow. ETA: I second **Minutemen**. Watt and Boon are especially beloved. “The Price of Paradise” is a classic. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/56 "2010-03-17T00:50:32Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > I don’t feel that they’re sell-outs, but they are one of the most overrated bands in all of punkdom. I appreciate their contributions and all, but their music never did it for me. It was too slow. Isn’t that true of all early punk? I remember seeing subtitles on Sex Pistols videos because they thought nobody could understand them, when compared to modern hardcore Lydon’s vocals as clear and well-enunciated as Pat Boone’s. I’ve always thought of the Ramones as a pop band with attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/57 "2010-03-17T01:23:01Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > Well, since we’re now talking about respected elder statesmen of the punk scene, I’m surprised no one has yet mentioned Black Flag or Minor Threat or The Misfits. I’ve never heard any band or figure from that scene badmouth them (though certain eras of Flag and incarnations of The Misfits are liked better than others). > > I didn’t say The Ramones were sell-outs, I said many people in the present-day punk scene feel they are. That’s an opinion I’ve heard many times expressed over the years (even heard one kid say at a show 10 or so years ago, “The Ramones? Even my mom likes them!”). I don’t personally feel that they’re “sell-outs,” I think that term is lame, but I have heard many people say they feel so…although my personal experience is in no way ironclad proof. > > I don’t feel that they’re sell-outs, but they are one of the most overrated bands in all of punkdom. I appreciate their contributions and all, but their music never did it for me. It was too slow. > > ETA: I second **Minutemen**. Watt and Boon are especially beloved. “The Price of Paradise” is a classic. Minor Threat is pretty well respected and certainly Ian has gone on to much acclaim. I’ve never read a bad word about him, other than from people who think “Guilty of Being White” is some sort of racist screed (they’re wrong, btw). I mentioned Greg Ginn upthread, but I know that I could find you lots and lots of people dissing Black Flag and other members of Black Flag, for a variety of reasons, including: people hate ----- as the vocalist because ----- was so much better; they hate the stylistic changes the band went thru in the mid '80s, and lots of people, including former members of Black Flag, just can’t stand Henry Rollins. Misfits are well-regarded as an important part of the scene, but you’ll find that as musicians, they aren’t well thought of, and with something like 17 members over the course of their recording output, there are more than a few stories about people being dicks. Prolly the most well known one is how Glenn Danzig re-recorded (or left out entirely) parts of songs after their official break-up in 1983 so that he wouldn’t have to pay royalties to former members for subsequent releases under the Misfit’s name. The ensuing lawsuit dragged out for like 10 years before Danzig finally agreed to relinquish the band name (although not the cash). ETA: I was gonna add John McLaughlin to the list of jazz artists. He’s an amazingly talented guitarist, and he’s willing to try lots of new things. I’ve never read a bad word about him, either in reference to his music or to his personality. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/58 "2010-03-17T02:30:31Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Bird and Diz weren’t thought of very well by a lot of the old stalwarts, mostly because they encouraged bad habits. . . A lot of the older musicians didn’t like be-bop as music. Armstrong called it “Chinese music.” I think it was Eddie Condon who said, when a waiter dropped a bunch of dishes during a performance, “None of that modern jazz in here!” ---
**Author:** ![Bradjam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Bradjam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bradjam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/59 "2010-03-17T02:58:38Z")
Kings X. Although they’ve only had limited commercial success, they are extremely well known and respected around hard rock/metal circles ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564/60 "2010-03-17T03:09:05Z")
> [@Bradjam](#): > > Kings X. Although they’ve only had limited commercial success, they are extremely well known and respected around hard rock/metal circles Totally true. They have the same kind of aura as Mike Patton & Faith No More. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-musical-acts-are-most-universally-respected-and-liked-among-their-peers-in-their-genre/532564.md?page=4)