I'm talking about artists that you do like, but somehow disappoint you for some reason. Artists that frustrate you because they could be/should be better. You want them to be better.

Example:Afghan Whigs - I really dig 'em, but something was always missing for me. Their white boy take on soul and R&B could have been awesome if they had just been a little bit better at it. Dulli's songs, while lyrically being very honest and open, just don't seem to quite stick. They come close, but lack a great groove or melody.

Don't know if Dulli has solved that problem with the Twilight Singers.

Now you go.

Spoon
New Pornographers
Autechre [especially the last 3 releases]
Kings Of Leon

i say New Order. Theyre one of my favourite bands, but sometimes i dont know what's going on...

because this hit me yesterday:

the offspring - i was listening to their "greatest hits" album, and i really like their sound and energy, but the lyrics are pretty sophmoric at times and left me wishing i had bad religion on my ipod at that moment

Dave Matthews
Not because I like his music in the least bit, but just because he seems like a cool guy and I WANT to like his music because of that.

Old 97's, after their latest album.

Smashing Pumpkins in the 2nd half of their career.

Prince, for a whiiiile now.

"The Beta Band!" he remarked with gusto. Finally a question he could answer!

[heh heh]Radiohead[/heh heh]

And Soundgarden, liked 'em, wish they were a bit better. And for that matter, given the pedigree, Audioslave should make make more interesting music.

I think about half of all Triple A singer-songwriters would fall into this category for me. They're all so pristine and pleasant musically, but they generally have good lyrics and seem like cool people.

Also, many of my rock stalwarts from years back have settled for ordinary. Chris Cornell, definitely.

I wish I were a little bit better
I wish I had a sweater
I wish I had a girl
Who gave head
I would let her...

Kraftwerk
Dub Narcotic Sound System
Sleater Kinney
Bjork
Elf Power

Oh hell yeah.

i'm listening to the shins right now, and i'd say i wish they were a bit better. Great melodies and hooks, but i can't tell you a single one of their lyrics. Wilco's lyrics don't make much sense either, but for some reason i FEEL what they are about. I don't get that with the Shins.


i also wish the music i made was a little better.

norah jones

Listening to Youth & Young Manhood right now. There is nothing wrong wth this record. It's simple. It's fun. It's catchy. It's dirty-sounding. It's rock n' roll.

Well done, sir! 'Ol Ski-Lo...

Shins live could do better, for damn sure. They don't suck, far from it, but it was pretty uninspired, and thinly instrumented.

The answer to this question is Spoon.

I like em, but FT, Kung Fu and Rads are bonkers over them, and I just don't get it.

Did you ever see the Whigs live? My heterosexual love for Dulli started after my first show. While I'm not criticizing 'em, Twilight Singers mostly pale in comparison.

My own:

New Wet Kojak:

Like 'em and really like a few songs alot, but I hope for so much more. Its rarer that it should be rock bands to use the sax in an interesting way and they do it but something's still missing.

Johnny Dowd:

Interesting and very dark guy (which I love). Great guitarist too. I wish I liked his voice more and that his songwriting were just a little bit better.

Bob Mould:

Love Husker Du and his first two solo albums and then I don't know what happened. Maybe he's lost too much of his anger or maybe the power of his music's lost behind overly slick production, or most likely both. I'm still trying to decide what I think of the new one but its definitely not him at his early peak.

Hell yeah! I heard that "Heroes to Zeros" was their last record.

Also:

-Tricky (after "Pre Millenium Tension" he went so far down hill, yet I still buy his records).

Sonic Youth (at times, their records can be a major disappointment)

John Spencer Blues Explosion (they should be a household name by now)

Cornelius (after "Fantasma", he became sooo boring)

Good thread!

I'm not so much bonkers, but they do have a degree of cool that sets them apart from a good bit of artists out there today.

Too many indie-ish bands seem to revel in their dorkhood for me.

Again, I agree on both.

There are so many of these for me:

Someone was right on the money with New Order, I'd like to see Beck get back to being where he used to be as well.

Locally, Mudhoney had all the potential to be great, but weren't. Death Cab for Cutie, Pedro the Lion & The Long Winters are falling into that category now.

The Doves have potential to be a great band, but are mostly just kinda good same with The Ponys.


The ultimate #1 answer to this question has to be Ryan Adams though.