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Band You've Had NO Success Turning Friends Onto
05/13/08 | by Mr. Moderator
Is there a band you've had no success turning friends onto, a band or artist you understand has some stumbling blocks to overcome yet cannot convince a single friend of some relative merits? Don't be shy.
I've had absolutely no success turning friends onto Be Bop Deluxe, a band an old work friend tried to turn me onto around 1987 with a 60-minute cassette mix that made an impression for a couple of weeks, got filed away for a good 15 years, and finally resurfaced in a box of cassettes I was clearing out, this time impressing me enough to quickly track down used vinyl of almost all their releases. I've written about this quest and what it meant to me elsewhere. Nearly 2 years since I wrote that heartfelt piece, I'm still waiting to collect my first Be Bop Deluxe Turn-on Points. How about you? There's got to be some artist you love that not even your closest musical comrades will give the time of day.
26 comments
Comment from: shawnkilroy [Member] 
Japan.
nobody cares about them. my friends say, "this sucks turn it off"
my wife says, "why do you like this? it's like Duran Duran without the hits"
nobody cares about them. my friends say, "this sucks turn it off"
my wife says, "why do you like this? it's like Duran Duran without the hits"
05/14/08 @ 08:22
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
You wife's description is excellent! Good luck with future attempts at turning friends onto that band:)
05/14/08 @ 09:41
Comment from: cherguevara [Member]
Japan had their time, and their moments. Unfortunately, for me, most of those moments are long past. It all sounds so horrible dated, and Tin Drum (which I have on vinyl about three feet from where I now sit) sounds ridiculous.
I am, however, a fan of the band, of the Rain Tree Crow album, and have seen Sylvian live a few times.
I've yet to turn on anybody to the band "Self", one friend just said, "this is giving me a headache". I don't see how anybody who likes XTC, Jellyfish or Beck would not like Self, but what do I know?
I am, however, a fan of the band, of the Rain Tree Crow album, and have seen Sylvian live a few times.
I've yet to turn on anybody to the band "Self", one friend just said, "this is giving me a headache". I don't see how anybody who likes XTC, Jellyfish or Beck would not like Self, but what do I know?
05/14/08 @ 09:53
Comment from: petesecrutz [Member]
Weird connection: I actually discovered Be Bop Deluxe thru Japan's David Sylvian connection with Bill Neslon, but back to the question at hand.
I have faced much difficulty in turning friends on to Amon Düül and Amon Düül II.
I have faced much difficulty in turning friends on to Amon Düül and Amon Düül II.
05/14/08 @ 09:55
Comment from: BigSteve [Member]
Well, I like Japan, even if shawn did not turn me on to them. I agree it's a tough sell, especially if the prospective turnonee gets a look at the album covers.
My biggest failure was back when I got infatuated with Parliament/Funkadelic. NONE of my friends went along, and they thought I was crazy. Saying "But you like James Brown" had no effect.
Mr. Mod, has your batting average been any better on that awful Boulders album you're always going on about?
My biggest failure was back when I got infatuated with Parliament/Funkadelic. NONE of my friends went along, and they thought I was crazy. Saying "But you like James Brown" had no effect.
Mr. Mod, has your batting average been any better on that awful Boulders album you're always going on about?
05/14/08 @ 10:47
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
BigSteve, did you have to bring up Boulders? I think I'm 1-50 on that one; Hrrundi may have given it some props. I'm been gearing up for trying to turn my boys onto it next. The question is, am is my fatherly skin thick enough to withstand the likely rejection? As I've said, they've fallen in love with the dozen ELO songs I decided were worth downloading. Recently my oldest son dug the original Move version of "Do Ya" as well as Wizzard's "Ballpark Incident", so I'm trying to decide what my next move will be: do I go back and play the boys a mix of my favorite Move songs or do I jump right into Boulders.
05/14/08 @ 10:53
Comment from: mwall [Member]
ZZ Top. I'm hardly deeply invested in getting anybody to love them, but any time I've tried to put them on for more than one song, I get shouted down. I'm telling you, people from all walks of life really hate ZZ Top.
05/14/08 @ 11:09
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
Mwall wrote:
That's encouraging to hear, Mwall. :P It's also funny to hear considering how many people like them.
I'm telling you, people from all walks of life really hate ZZ Top.
That's encouraging to hear, Mwall. :P It's also funny to hear considering how many people like them.
05/14/08 @ 11:12
Comment from: alexmagic [Member]
I think you need to keep backing them into The Move first, Mod. I know I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy Boulders if I hadn’t worked my way up to it first. I’m trying to think of the best primer songs to get somebody ready for Boulder-shock, and I’m leaning towards “Look At Me Now” off the first ELO album and maybe “Feel Too Good”, “Turkish Tram Conductor Blues” and “Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited” among Move songs. You really need to lay the groundwork for Wood’s vocals with that Looking On era.
If I was going to try to convert someone to The Move in general, though, I’d probably go with “Do Ya”, “Fire Brigade”, one of the Lynne songs like “Message From the Country” and my favorite of their songs – “Omnibus” – which has a killer soaring bridge. I’d be all over covering that if I was in a band.
If I was going to try to convert someone to The Move in general, though, I’d probably go with “Do Ya”, “Fire Brigade”, one of the Lynne songs like “Message From the Country” and my favorite of their songs – “Omnibus” – which has a killer soaring bridge. I’d be all over covering that if I was in a band.
05/14/08 @ 11:15
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
Converting even cool people like our Townspeople here to The Move is more challenging than I'd ever have expected. Alexmagic, I think we have the beginning of a new thread. I'm about to start a teleconference in work, but what would the perfect 10-song Move intro sampler consist of?
05/14/08 @ 11:29
Comment from: alexmagic [Member]
Neither of these are necessarily bands that I’ve repeatedly tried and failed to get people into so much as bands I’m a fan of that I’ve held off trying to sell people on because of clear obstacles.
I always foresee a lot of trouble selling Super Furry Animals. The band’s name is a huge first hurdle to clear, then explaining that they’re Welsh, and that some of the lyrics aren’t in English, and that a lot of the lyrics that are in English don’t really make a ton of literal sense anyway and that none of that should particularly hamper your enjoyment…After all that, the songs that I think could best sell them for people have names like “Ice Hockey Hair”.
Quasi is another one – great songs that often fall into that perfect loud/soft rock valley, and while I could probably get away skipping over their backstory or trying to explain a roxichord, I never figured out where to start on selling them to people who haven’t heard them, especially with the depressing lyrics/upbeat music thing they do.
I always foresee a lot of trouble selling Super Furry Animals. The band’s name is a huge first hurdle to clear, then explaining that they’re Welsh, and that some of the lyrics aren’t in English, and that a lot of the lyrics that are in English don’t really make a ton of literal sense anyway and that none of that should particularly hamper your enjoyment…After all that, the songs that I think could best sell them for people have names like “Ice Hockey Hair”.
Quasi is another one – great songs that often fall into that perfect loud/soft rock valley, and while I could probably get away skipping over their backstory or trying to explain a roxichord, I never figured out where to start on selling them to people who haven’t heard them, especially with the depressing lyrics/upbeat music thing they do.
05/14/08 @ 11:42
Comment from: mwall [Member]
Re ZZ top:
Absolutely. I think ZZ Top's music stands on top of a real cultural barrier. I can't immediately think of any other band which turns so many people off while being well-loved by many others at the same time.
That's encouraging to hear, Mwall. :P It's also funny to hear considering how many people like them.
Absolutely. I think ZZ Top's music stands on top of a real cultural barrier. I can't immediately think of any other band which turns so many people off while being well-loved by many others at the same time.
05/14/08 @ 11:48
Comment from: hrrundivbakshi [Member]
Mwall, you're on FIRE -- that's the second deeply correct thing you've said in as many days. I am impressed -- you need to consider joining Team Truth when you get a spare moment.
HVB
HVB
05/14/08 @ 12:20
I'll give Japan some points for fabulous hair.
05/14/08 @ 12:28
Comment from: mwall [Member]
Thanks, bakshi. I have to admit that I find it strange that while you and I disagree about music so often, we also have such a significant overlap in musical taste. There are people on this list who I agree with more often but whose taste I have less in common with. Go figure.
05/14/08 @ 12:57
Comment from: cdm [Member]
RE ZZ Top: It was those videos from the 80’s that did them in for a lot of people. I’ve tried to talk some people into giving “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” or “Waiting for the Bus” a chance, but they can’t see to get past the string of cheesy “Legs”-like videos. I think I’ve had a similar problem convincing people that J. Geils kicks ass.
05/14/08 @ 13:29
Comment from: cherguevara [Member]
It does not help ZZ Top that their catalog was really butchered for CD reissue.
ZZ fans might want to wade through this:
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/t/3849/6490/
ZZ fans might want to wade through this:
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/t/3849/6490/
05/14/08 @ 14:05
Comment from: petesecrutz [Member]
Has anyone else encountered difficulty with selling people on Mott The Hoople? It seems like all they hear or think is the Bowie connection and I can't get them to hear Brain Capers for the life of me.
05/14/08 @ 14:30
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
Brain Capers spread quickly among my bandmates and friends, so no, I've not had a problem spreading Mott the Hoople, Petesecrutz. Interesting.
05/14/08 @ 14:37
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
I FINALLY heard Suicide and downloaded 2 of their best-known tracks last year. They're pretty good. I've long owned and liked Alan Vega's first solo album, but for some reason the idea of Suicide never appealed to me.
05/14/08 @ 21:47
Comment from: homefrontradio [Member]
I've never had any luck turning *any* band onto anyone. Stopped trying a long while ago. Even a band as popular as the Bee Gees - try playing someone a frozen chamber pop moment like 'Edison' from 69's 'Odessa' and you can visibly see them shrink in revulsion.
05/15/08 @ 16:42
Comment from: fullycompletely [Member]
The Tragically Hip - Canadian rockers(think of REM, Pearl Jam type of music-sort of). The ONLY way I've gotten anyone interested is to take them to a live show. Hands down, one of the best live shows around. On album they may be a little bland for some peeps.
05/15/08 @ 20:00
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
Good stuff, Townspeeps! You've impressed me with your sharing.
05/15/08 @ 22:02
Comment from: homefrontradio [Member]
Shawn Kilroy, i've got two Japan and some David Sylvian solo albums i picked up a couple of years ago from a 2nd hand shop for 50 cents each.
I never actually heard the band at the time so thought I'd check them out. But if i listened to them, i have absolutely no recollection of them.
I never actually heard the band at the time so thought I'd check them out. But if i listened to them, i have absolutely no recollection of them.
05/18/08 @ 05:50
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