FOT Forum
FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: cutout on November 12, 2011, 11:27:35 AM
-
I'm sure Tom has done this topic. I was trying to think of the most extreme examples of bands where the greatness of the music is jeopardized by the badness of the band name. I was a pretty big fan of Japancakes for awhile but never liked to say the name out loud. Not crazy about saying Pissed Jeans either, but I do enjoy the music. I was trying to think of bigger/more successful bands that have succeeded with an even higher contrast of good music/bad band name...
-
As someone with a cousin who has Down Syndrome, and both parents having been special educators, I cannot get past "Jay Reatard".
Every song I've heard of his I've really really like. But that name...yikes.
-
Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, for sure. Camper Van Beethoven? The Stooges? And although I don't like any of their music, food related band names always really grossed me out. Bread, Vanilla Fudge, Cream, etc.
-
While it's easy to think of bad or mediocre bands with awful names (I propose "Hoobastank" as the gold standard), most good bands are self-aware enough to make this a much bigger challenge. The Urinals is pretty weak, though it would be safer to say I like the songs by them that I've heard than that they're a "great" band. I agree that Don Van Vliet could have tried harder, but I would say The Stooges is one of the best names ever.
-
Gotta be My Bloody Valentine.
-
I would say The Stooges is one of the best names ever.
This probably has to do with my own dumb word associations. I understand the word stooge has it's own venerable meaning beyond slapstick comedy but when I was first introduced to the band The Stooges I couldn't help but think of them.
-
Well, if they'd stayed The Psychedelic Stooges, there would be a bigger problem.
-
Cramps
-
Neutral Milk Hotel
-
Fucked Up
-
As someone with a cousin who has Down Syndrome, and both parents having been special educators, I cannot get past "Jay Reatard".
Every song I've heard of his I've really really like. But that name...yikes.
Trust me, I hate it. I wish I hated his music because of that shitty name. I try to remember to mis-pronounce his name when I'm on the air. And I have a feeling he would've ditched the name shortly - he was already using Jay Lindsay in some of his album credits.
But I agree it's the worst. As someone who has had a few people with developmental disabilities in my life it pains me.
Tom.
-
The Flying Burrito Bros. could easily be the worst or the best.
-
If I were to be HYPER-objective, I think I'd say The Beatles.
-
Jay picked that name when he was what, 14?
-
The Feelies
Flamin' Groovies
Wipers
All great bands. All terrible names.
-
Didn't The Feelies take their name from Aldous Huxley? IIRC, In Brave New World, movies have evolved into a tactile medium, thus "feelies" instead of movies. So at least it has a literary pedigree and a futuristic vibe, it's not just about, you know, copping feels or something.
-
As someone with a cousin who has Down Syndrome, and both parents having been special educators, I cannot get past "Jay Reatard".
Every song I've heard of his I've really really like. But that name...yikes.
This shows my ignorance: I've been a fan of his music but always thought his name was an unfortunate coincidence, not one he chose. I am a special ed teacher of kids with developmental/cognitive disabilities so the use of that term, especially from those I respect, bums me out.
-
Fuckbuttons
-
Fuckbuttons
The band names of yesteryear are so much better than the band names of today.
Oneohtrix Point Never or The Rolling Stones? Not even a contest, IMO.
And another thing, what's with indie rock's current obsession with sun, sand and water? Beach Fossils, Surfer Blood, Beach House, Wavves etc. It's getting overboard now.
-
I have long felt that "The Rolling Stones" is a perfect band name.
-
There is/was a great hard rawkin alt country band from Denton, TX called Slobberbone. Love the band. Hate the name.
-
I actually like that name. They did a great cover of To Love Somebody.
-
I like the Circle Jerks but I can't stand the name. There is a band in Nashville called Diarrhea Planet that's pretty cool but their name makes me sick
-
While it's easy to think of bad or mediocre bands with awful names (I propose "Hoobastank" as the gold standard)...
Hoobastank is a good call. I'd lump 311 in there as well...
-
While it's easy to think of bad or mediocre bands with awful names (I propose "Hoobastank" as the gold standard)...
Hoobastank is a good call. I'd lump 311 in there as well...
What about Limp Bizkit? Dumb name, dumb band
-
While it's easy to think of bad or mediocre bands with awful names (I propose "Hoobastank" as the gold standard)...
Hoobastank is a good call. I'd lump 311 in there as well...
What about Limp Bizkit? Dumb name, dumb band
Oh God, you're right. Worst of all time. I withdraw Hoobastank.
As for indisputably great bands, I kind of think Chris L must have won the item so far.
-
While it's easy to think of bad or mediocre bands with awful names (I propose "Hoobastank" as the gold standard)...
Hoobastank is a good call. I'd lump 311 in there as well...
What about Limp Bizkit? Dumb name, dumb band
You won't be thinking that when Durst's shitcom takes off...
Actually, yeah... You probably will... I think we all will...
-
Limp Bizkit also has the worst album title ever with Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.
-
What about Limp Bizkit? Dumb name, dumb band
That's not what the thread about.
Maybe you could start another?
-
What about Limp Bizkit? Dumb name, dumb band
That's not what the thread about.
Maybe you could start another?
Someone mentioned bad bands with bad band names and I was just adding to that
-
The Chocolate Watch Band and The Electric Prunes are up there. I used to think Love had a stupid name, but once you listen to the lyrics it has a great ironic/melancholic resonance that I think must have been deliberate as Arthur Lee never did anything by accident.
I know it's a joke, but I never liked the name "Condo Fucks." And there's Blue Öyster Cult, which might veer over into camp, but their early psych stuff is pretty fantastic. "that dog." [sic] is a pretty twee name for a pretty great band. Also not crazy about "The Apples in Stereo," though I love their music.
My Bloody Valentine, definitely. I avoided them in the early 90s because I thought they were an industrial/goth band. And I think we all agree on Jay Reatard, who was an incredible songwriter and musician, but hoo boy.
As for great bands with great names, I vote for The Detroit Cobras and The Ettes.
-
I vote for Wooden Shjips. "Wooden Ships" would be an OK name, but that dumb spelling makes me second-guess myself every time I say the name out loud.
-
My Bloody Valentine, definitely. I avoided them in the early 90s because I thought they were an industrial/goth band.
They were pretty gothy when they started out. Their first few EPs didn't sound much like the "signature sound" they developed a few years later ... sometimes bands get stuck with names that aren't very representative of where they eventually end up.
-
If I were to be HYPER-objective, I think I'd say The Beatles.
[/quote
This was my first thought as well. It's a dumb name, no two ways about it. Was never too impressed with the name The Who either.
-
Not exactly a great band, but "Strawberry Alarm Clock" is a pretty terrible band name.
-
And yeah, the late '90s was a golden age for terrible band names, Hoobastank, Limp Bizkit, KoRn, Puddle of Mudd, Papa Roach, Kottonmouth Kings, and Alien Ant Farm being just a few examples of what the period had to offer.
-
If I had to answer this thread 20 years ago I would've said Soundgarden. I still think its a terrible name but I don't think they are a great band anymore.
-
Death Cab for Cutie has got to be pretty high on this list.
-
I doubt I'll get much support for their greatness here, but I'd put Kyuss on this list.
-
The Hellacopters.
-
Shudder to Think
-
I like Kyuss OK, and I think Shudder To Think is a good band name. Not a fan of the name CoCoComa, but the band is great. Same for BBQ.
I'm not really sure whether Personal & The Pizzas is one of the worst or one of the best band names I've ever heard.
I also hate pronouncing !!! as Chk Chk Chk.
-
The The is a pretty bad name for a good band. Impossible to Google too.
-
Also, I hate to say it, but The New Pornographers is not a good band name. Greatest, greatest, greatest band ever though. Please don't crucify me.
-
Also, I hate to say it, but The New Pornographers is not a good band name. Greatest, greatest, greatest band ever though. Please don't crucify me.
I could get on board with this.
-
Also: Hunx and His Punx! I kind of love the idea of a super-out gay garage punk band and I like their music a lot, but after the initial laughter I dunno about that name.
-
Apologies to Larry da Perv, but while Strawberry Funk were a great band, I've never been sold on that name.
-
Yes?
-
Great new band with a not so great name: Uncle Bad Touch
http://unclebadtouch.bandcamp.com/ (http://unclebadtouch.bandcamp.com/)
-
Joy Division. More for the Jay Reatard Column than the Hoobastank column.
-
The German band Can. I'm a big fan of their late 60s/early 70s records (especially "Future Days") but that name is sooo flaccid. Can. Meh
-
Why did Jay even add the extra 'a' to Reatard? I realize 'Jay Retard' would be even more offensive, but it's dumb no matter how you spell it.
-
I think Joy Division is a great name, until you find out where it came from and then--(SFX: descending slide-whistle note).
-
Why did Jay even add the extra 'a' to Reatard? I realize 'Jay Retard' would be even more offensive, but it's dumb no matter how you spell it.
Maybe he spelled the band name that way so it would be easier to look up on Google (or Lycos, since the Reatards predated Google).
-
Why did Jay even add the extra 'a' to Reatard? I realize 'Jay Retard' would be even more offensive, but it's dumb no matter how you spell it.
Maybe he spelled the band name that way so it would be easier to look up on Google (or Lycos, since the Reatards predated Google).
The story I've heard is that he came up with the name as a teenager but didn't know how to spell it correctly.
-
Why did Jay even add the extra 'a' to Reatard? I realize 'Jay Retard' would be even more offensive, but it's dumb no matter how you spell it.
Maybe he spelled the band name that way so it would be easier to look up on Google (or Lycos, since the Reatards predated Google).
The story I've heard is that he came up with the name as a teenager but didn't know how to spell it correctly.
I can never get on board with stories like that. Like no one around him knew the correct spelling. That's like Werner Herzog saying he didn't know who Abel Ferrara was when I bet the first thing anyone ever said to him about BL was "Okay we have this idea for a remake of the movie Bad Lieutenant by Abel Ferrara." It's so dumb for people to claim ignorance these days.
-
Great new band with a not so great name: Uncle Bad Touch
http://unclebadtouch.bandcamp.com/ (http://unclebadtouch.bandcamp.com/)
This one is SO stupid that it kinda breaks through to great for me (as long as I never have to say it out loud, of course).
-
Great new band with a not so great name: Uncle Bad Touch
http://unclebadtouch.bandcamp.com/ (http://unclebadtouch.bandcamp.com/)
Something something Penn State.