Artists you tried to get into, but failed (not sexual)

[Ms Harmless]

Tool and anything associated with Maynard Keenan

I don't understand how such a collection of clearly talented musicians can be so dull as dishwater

[tree_]

TOOL is great, but I understand why they're not for everyone. Kinda makes me like them more.

[tree_]

Is anyone going to make the "sexual" version of this thread? Cause I'd like to see some of those responses.

[tragabigzanda]

[McParadigm]

Nirvana.

[tragabigzanda]

[tragabigzanda]

[doug rr]

queen
kiss
alice cooper

[Jorge]

Sonic Youth for me. I went deep into their discography when I was preparing to interview Lee Ranaldo, and I even went to a screening of their concert film, and just... nothing.

[tragabigzanda]

[Malloy]

Velvet Underground. Coney Island Baby was alright I guess.

what the fuck

[Mickey]

Trag posting Ls all over the board today.

[liebzz]

Tool - I dig some of the stuff I've heard, but just can't "get into" them.

This. I even tried to compose a journey to really just force myself into it but I had to stop. I just couldn’t and it’s my fault.

[Ello Sailor]

Pavement
The Smiths
Bright Eyes

[Ello Sailor]

Never tried to get into Springsteen. Pretty sure he sucks, though.

[liebzz]

Never tried to get into Springsteen. Pretty sure he sucks, though.

Springsteen live is possibly unmatched - definitely in the top 5 live rock acts ever, and that is not hyperbole.

In the studio, Springsteen basically had a run from ‘73-‘84 where he released one great album after another and each one touched on different themes and sounds ranging from folk to straight rock to jangly Americana. All of it is pretty special in my estimation.

Really starting in the 90s, without the E Street Band, Springsteen struggles to really find his groove, which he later found once he was back with his band in the aughts, though perhaps his best work in this era was with the Seeger Sessions Band, a play on folk and New Orleans style jazz/funk and Americana. Absolute must. Magic was a great E Street Band that followed, and then his last solo album, Western Stars, delivered yet another late career left turn that is pretty jaw dropping - a loungy pop record with a grand orchestral sound. Basically, his reach over 50 years is pretty damn astounding.

You could easily dismiss his music after listening to say Dancing in the Dark in a vacuum - but you wouldn’t get the character and beauty behind his body of work. And the live music. My God. Anything from the 70s is life changing. Seeing him live, even as recently as 6 years ago was a religious experience.

[Birds in Hell]

Never tried to get into Springsteen. Pretty sure he sucks, though.

Good instinct.

[liebzz]

Never tried to get into Springsteen. Pretty sure he sucks, though.

Good instinct.

Just to add my story to the plethora of words I just posted:

I too was a Springsteen skeptic. Growing up in the 90s, I just didn’t understand the hype. Sure Streets of Philadelphia was decent, but I had mostly associated Bruce with Dancing in the Dark and Glory Days, okay songs but I thought he was that and heartland blue collar rock with a Jersey schtick. I had heard he was great live but figured if you’re not totally sold on the whole struggles of the working man, how good could it be.

It was at that point I just decided to give the Hammersmith Odeon show from ‘75 a listen. Holy smokes that changed my mind in a near instant from who gives a sh!t to obsessed. I started out listening exclusively to the first three albums: Greetings From Asbury Park (Dylan vibe), The Wild The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (truly amazing effort to me from the whole band), and Born to Run (the dramatic classic rock opus). Probably spent a year listening only to those records and Hammersmith Odeon. Then I just slowly started listening to the rest - Darkness, The River, Nebraska (which I appreciated but it took a while to click - once it did I was hooked again), learned to appreciate Born in the USA a lot more once I had this base of listening, and then really enjoyed everything in the new millennium.

Saw him for the first time in the Spring of 2009, then immediately again in the Fall. Two more shows over the years at Madison Square Garden and a Springsteen on Broadway show and I haven’t looked back since, really delving into his entire catalogue. It took me probably two decades before the spark lit, but now I am happy to report I am at least carrying tickets to two shows next spring and waiting for the late summer dates.

[Ms Harmless]

Midlake

I was super into Van Occupanther so for a while I fucked with them hoping to feel that same spark again, but it wasn't to be

[Jorge]

Never tried to get into Springsteen. Pretty sure he sucks, though.

Good instinct.

Springsteen sucks (posting this to see if it will prompt a third long liebzz post about Springsteen)