I’ve been on a bit of a sound wave this morning – with my earlier posts – and the slightly more heated than anticipated comments on my anti-U2 post. I’m not surprised. Bono’s public Christianity makes him a bit of a sacred cow.
But I don’t like to criticise things without offering solutions here are 5 bands that are better than U2. In my opinion*…
- Radiohead – both Coldplay and U2 wish they were as politically aware and musically diverse as Radiohead – incidentally – Radiohead are apparently recording a new album.
- Muse – another British band with less people and more musical talent (and a greater talent per capita ratio) than U2.
- Gomez – They are to alt.Country what the muppets are to puppetry. Defining. Actually they’re incredibly difficult to pigeon hole.
- Athlete – For those of you who like U2 because they’re easy listening try Athlete, or Death Cab for Cutie – both equally compelling in sound but less self-righteously musically annoying.
- Augie March – not only are they Australian, intelligent, poetic, they’re “easy listening” without being middle of the road inoffensive babble.
There’s six bands in a list of five bands that I find more sonically pleasurable than U2. Here are 10 more that fit that category off the top of my head (or out of my iPod – which does contain a bit of U2 – early U2, back when the Edge didn’t look like the kind of guy you’d keep your children away from at public parks).
If you like saccharine music and just can’t help yourself – why not listen to Dave Matthews, or Simon and Garfunkel…
- Smashing Pumpkins
- Weezer
- Architecture in Helsinki
- Blur
- Oasis
- Cake
- Custard
- The Dandy Warhols
- Placebo
- The Panics
Those are just the bands – there are plenty of solo artists or balladeers who write nice, sweet music who are infinitely more compelling than a 50 year old who petulantly refuses to remove his sunglasses. I won’t list them. I think I’ve made my point. Why listen to one band that tries to appeal to every aspect of musicality and becomes middle of the road when you can embrace diversity which lets you appreciate the whole road, bit by bit.
That is all.
*I’m not sure this needs to be said on a blog. That’s kind of the point.