[kbuzz3]

In an homage to the recent "If You Could Send A Few Artists To An Early (Imaginary) Grave Who Would They Be?" thread id like to try another.  Seems over the years, there have been artists who one has read about, heard about or others have consistently recommended (even fostered on) but when you really sit down to listen, you just dont get it. Or even enjoy it.  A very good and amusing book on this topic is called "Kill your idols" which is a collection of music writers who slam well known albums.  A very fun read, which can also be read in quick sections aka "bathroom reading".  If this thread takes off id like to continue with something like a most "overrated musicians and why" but thats for another day and is really not the same as this topic.  Ok folks lets have some fun

 So in the risk of being burt at the sake i will start with one or two:

1) Neil Young- honestly ive tried and tried and dont get it.
2) Patricia Barber- why ? why why?

[Zero]

- Steely Dan

(more to come later)

[soundbitten1]

Frank Zappa

[opnly bafld]

Beatles

IMO good songs vs. output ratio is very low.
I hate it when they are called the "best". 
I like the conspiracy theory about them too, makes sense to me.

Lin

Zero-The Dan ROCKS!, but it is OK if you don't like them I can live with it. 

[DaveC113]

It took one of my roomates torturing me with Primus for about 6 months in 1992 before I "got it". Now I think they're awesome.

I don't get most folk or country music... probably never will.

[Goosepond]

Grateful Dead
Diana Krall
Bjork

Gene

[opnly bafld]

I don't get most folk or country music... probably never will.

I agree, leave out the probably for me.

Lin

[SwedeSound]

Whoo-eee. Dittos on Zappa. And I can see the Dan being something of an acquired taste. But Diana Krall? I'm not the biggest fan, but I don't see what's NOT to "get" about a female jazz singer-piano player.

Still, I hasten to add, there are some artists I initially didn't "get" and later found myself scrambling to buy virtually EVERYTHING in their discography. To wit: Elvis Costello. Initially, I was like, "Huh? Strange time signatures, awkward/syncopated rhythms, crazy chord changes and indecipherable lyrics, etc., etc." Then I got "My Aim Is True," and wow. Wow! Not for everybody, I know, but it works for me. I can say the same about Bruce Springsteen... (*but I digress .... maybe I'll start another thread)

I suspect there many who read this thread and go, "Hell yeah! That guy/gal is TOTAL CRAP!" and then "What!?! He/She's a GENIUS!!! What are you THINKING!" There's simply no accounting for taste. Ever.

[Bill O'Connell]

Steeley Dan,  I'm not even sure I spelled it correctly. 

[bunky]

Zappa was totally outside of the box and that is why some people love him and he leaves others just shaking thier heads in disbelief 

[arthurs]

+1 on Neil Young
Radiohead
+1 on Bjork
REM

[Captain Humble]

+2 on Bjork
Alanis Morissette
Joni Mitchell - God knows I've tried.  I have 4 of her CDs 

[bpape]

There's a difference between not liking and not 'getting it'.  I don't particularly like Dianna Krall but as was said, what's not to get about a female jazz singer?

Zappa - one of my favs.  It's humor.  That's the part people miss.  It's also brilliant musicianship. I can see why a lot of people not only don't like it, but really don't get it.

What don't I get?  Pretty much any thumpy, one note rap.  I understand the storytelling apsect but I don't get the 'music' (and I use that term VERY loosely).

Bryan

[hmen]

Neil Young - He can't seem to sing or play the guitar.

[TheChairGuy]

I'm with Simon Cowell on this one - Bob Dylan - don't get it, and cannot take it for more than fleeting moments as I get so bored hearing the droning.

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/15/164113.php

John

[mitch stl]

With respect to "don't like" or "don't get" music is no different than art, literature, comedy, cars or just about anything else.

Pick comedians and throw out some names - Charlie Chaplin, Richard Pryor, Don Rickles, Red Skelton, Sam Kinnison, Janeane Garofalo, Al Franken, etc. - and you'll find no shortage of people who think any one of them is great. Or terrible. Or they say "I don't get it" and can't fathom how anyone else could.

The best thing to be said is I'm glad there is plenty to listen to that I do like and get so I needn't worry too much about the ones that don't work for me.

[Ericus Rex]

Beatles

IMO good songs vs. output ratio is very low.
I hate it when they are called the "best". 
I like the conspiracy theory about them too, makes sense to me.

Lin

Zero-The Dan ROCKS!, but it is OK if you don't like them I can live with it. 

You're the only other person I've ever heard of who thinks like this!  Maybe we're the only two in the world!  The great Beatles tunes are excellent but they recorded so much crap too.  I don't 'get' why others can't figure that into their 'rating'.  It seems to be that the greatest band in the history of the world should have a more consistent output....

Agreed on the Neil Young and I'll even add Wilco (dodging hurled tomatoes right now).
I can appreciate Zappa but would never really listen to him.
Though I happen to like Radiohead I can understand why many don't get them.
Dvorak.  Why listen to watered-down Brahms when you have Brahms?
I've tried Joni Mitchell too.  Doesn't work for me.
Grateful Dead.  Yeah, maybe if I were stoned all the time I'd get them.  They're just plain boring when your not.
Schoenberg.  Neat in theory and on paper but not so interesting to listen to.

[loki1957]

Mahler

[nullspace]

Beatles

You're the only other person I've ever heard of who thinks like this!  Maybe we're the only two in the world!

Make that three. I seriously don't see what all the fuss is about.

And, Bonnie Raitt. I find her to be unlistenable.

Regards,
John

[Captain Humble]

I like the conspiracy theory about them too, makes sense to me.

What conspiracy theory?
Thanks,
Jeff