So Overrated

Has anyone noticed that the frequency of my blogging has increased recently? Perhaps it's down to boredom, or general restlessness. I've been sick and consequently haven't felt like going out, so all my entertainment needs to come from things I don't have to leave the house to do like DVD watching or rereading High Fidelity. Anyway, today my Josh Pyke prize arrived. The poster is just one of the promo posters for the new album but it does have JoshX written on it in black texta. The CD is great, apart from the dodgy track separation. It has about thirteen songs on it but four of them are all melded into one single track. It must have been an intimate little show at the Wesley Anne. And the calico bag is cool, although I'm not sure what it will end up being used for yet. Maybe shopping. Who knows?

My real subject matter tonight is another gripe, of sorts. What I wanted to do was write about bands and artists I think are overrated and receive praise far above what they deserve. I have to emphasise that I'm not condemning you if you like them. I don't see what all the fuss is about, however. I'm sure though that many people have made similar criticisms of bands I love such as Ben Folds Five, The Shins and Wilco. But this blog is mine and so are these opinions.

1. Architecture in Helsinki. I liked a couple of songs from their earlier albums but since then I have real trouble liking anything about them. They are always widely praised but haven't produced anything I've found memorable in ages. I just don't get it, sorry. I'm sure some people love them. Not my cup of tea, however.

2. Wolfmother. Another in the 'not my cup of tea' category. I agree with all those people who think they're ripping off Led Zeppelin. The seventies big hair psycho rock thing doesn't do it for me at all. I don't find their music particularly stimulating or something I want to listen to often.

3. Augie March. I saw Glenn Richard's solo show last week and much preferred it to the band as a whole. Although I own two of their albums, generally the songs and albums are over long, self indulgent and after a while just a bit samey. Also they aren't interesting enough. I'm sure they're carefully constructed and beautiful if you're in the mood but most of the time I'm not.

4. Queens of the Stone Age. Another thing I find annoying about Triple J is their fawning adoration of this band. Again I don't get it. I own the Eagles of Death Metal album which is quite amusing and a couple of early Foo Fighters CDs, but I cannot find anything likable about this band. Yeah, energetic enough and I'm sure their performances impress people. Not me though.

5. Interpol
I do like one of their songs quite a lot, NYC which is haunting in an angsty sort of way, but the strongest memory I have of this band is listening to Slow Hands on Lufthansa's in flight radio station which seemed to be repeated every hour or so. Also it seemed they were following us around the UK- we heard them every time we walked past a shop. The lead singer is obviously attempting to emulate Ian Curtis from Joy Division but I really do not see what all the fuss is about. Joy Division do it better.