Re: A Total 360

Artists that you despised at one time that made you feel like a hypocrite after you grew to like them some time thereafter.

The Smiths/Morrissey : For me, this is the classic, "I once despised but now I actually like this artist." For years I would ridicule Morrissey to anyone within an ear-shot for the obvious reasons (see the beginning of TP's Smiths entry for edification).

In any event, through what I believe to be a combination of circumstances and events, I actually grew to like The Smiths and Morrissey now owning several Smiths/Morrissey albums. However, even today I try not to publicize the fact that I'm a fan to those who heard me regularly flog the guy. One other thing, I almost always feel compelled to immediately chase The Smiths/Morrissey with something like the MC5, The Dead Boys or the Pistols. I suppose this is akin to when John Candy and Steve Martin start to immediately talk football after they mistakingly found themselves cuddling in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Kiss : I had a friend who was a huge fan of them back in grammar school. At that age I wanted nothing to do with a band sporting long hair and make-up and I couldn't stand them. It wasn't until many years later that I came to appreciate their music. Who would have thought that a band that would eventually become one of my all-time favorites (NY Dolls) actually influenced their look.

R.E.M. : I wouldn't realize it now with all that's happened in Alternative Rock since the 80's but at that time REM pretty much represented Alternative/College radio to me and I was not a big fan of their music or Stipe's voice back then. I suppose it wasn't until the late 80's that my dislike for R.E.M. dissipated and these days I'm a pretty decent fan of them believing Murmur to be among the best LPs recorded.



Post Edited (04-24-06 11:32)

Wait - shouldn't that be a total 180? I thought Deerhoof was pretty crappy the first time I heard 'em, but now I think they're great.

I can think of more instances where it went the other way for me: I go back and listen now to some albums that I used to love and cannot determine for the life of me what I enjoyed about it. The first Ministry album comes to mind. For some reason, when that came out in high school and I was listening to Heaven 17 and Ultravox and Depeche Mode, I thought it was pretty great. Now I know better.

The first time I heard JUST FOR A DAY by Slowdive, I wouldn't say that I hated it, but I was confused by it - I was expecting more of a Lush/Ride type band of shoegazer band - more uptempo & poppy, and when "Spanish Air" started out at its glacial pace I thought there was something wrong with my disc player and I doubted I would ever listen to it again. Since then it's become one of my favorite albums.

Okay, since a circle is 360 degrees and that would just take you back to where you came from, I suppose it should be a total 180.

Maybe I'll name my next topic, "A Total 360" again for artists you once despised and still do. Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews and Rage Against The Machine would top my list.

See the way I shifted gears? That was like a total 180.

I'm learning Rhett.

I had a change of heart somewhat on the Smiths as well. I now see them as a great singles band, but I never really warmed to Morrissey's voice or his insistence on not shutting up, for the love of God stop stepping all over the cool guitar lines!....I did a complete turn around on Sugar. While they were around I found them a watered down Husker Du, but once they disbanded I lightened up and found them a fine band in their own right. Heck even their B sides album is really good. Wish I'd seen 'em live.

I'm with you on Sugar. For some reason, Copper Blue did not work for me at first. Subsequently, I warmed to Beaster and then it all made sense.

I am not a big fan of Bob Moulds solo albums since Sugar (although the prior ones are pretty terriffic) I kind of wish Sugar would re-form.

I have been an REM fan from nearly the beginning but I made fun of Automatic For The People for years. This one goes out to the clams in the audience, it's called Everybody Squirts...

One day it clicked for me and I now consider it to be a pretty good record although the early ones are still my favorite.

Total 180: When EC's "My Aim is True" came out, I hated it. When my friends put it on one night I said, "Big Deal. He wipes a booger on his mom's face and then brags about it while making spaz music!"*. They thought it was hilarious and any music that annoyed me was termed 'booger music'.
A few months later I came around.

Total 360: Neil Young, Kiss (but why go into it here)

Total 90: Deerhoof. I haven't given up...yet.

Jeez, Mats, you must be kicking yourself for missing Sugar.
They weren't the most consistent but Beaster is still the one that does it for me, too. I like the "hubcap" solo Mould LP the best of the solo stuff (best not to reiterate my frowning of his oeuvre in general)

*In my youth this was apparently meant as an insult!



Post Edited (02-25-06 16:53)

I had the same problem with the Smiths, until I realized that they weren't really serious. I mean ...

"But sometimes I'd feel more fulfilled
making Christmas cards with the mentally ill
I want to live and I want to love
I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of"

Ha! I came around about five years ago, after also hating Morrissey (although "Ouija Board" is still terrible; self-parody, anyone?).

I recently changed my mind (within a week, but whatever) on the new Swearing at Motorists. From mediocre to really good. For some reason, I just kept playing it as I drove to work, and it won me over, like a cute girl with a facial tic you learn to ignore.

I compare it to a subdued, boozier, woozier Prisonshake.