They had a few great songs within the first half dozen or so records that could be collected on a single CD.. and
Let It Be was their most solid record of that bunch... but I can't buy the "most real" or "there were just these four guys, and each had their own personality, hence they were the greatest!" defense, which I often hear. They had a few "could give a fuck" moments that occasionally resulted in fun, but most often in just that.
Their chapter in the
Our Band Could Be Your Life book was very entertaining, but it turned tiresome whenever the stories stopped and the veneration started.. also the "it's not worth bothering continuing after Bobby was kicked out" vibe of that chapter was a bit nauseating, as they didn't just become relatively pointless after that moment, with all respect to Bob Stinson.
They are, though, the most overrated band in the canon.. and this was from hearing all the fawning back in 1989 when
Don't Tell A Soul came out.. I just didn't get it, but went back, heard a few great moments thanks to fellow worshipping college radio DJs, otherwise *shrug* If you want to talk about an "inept" band that had transcendental moments, tell me about Flipper, or Godz, or Half Japanese, or any of a multitude of other bands that could qualify.
I'd hate to think Minneapolis is equated with these guys often when it comes to great bands from the city. Hopefully, Husker Du, Lifter Puller, Tod Dockstader (ok, he's from St. Paul), and the Prince empire are the bands/artists namechecked instead.
Crap.
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