Bands/Artists you had a low opinion of, until you actually heard their albums?

Submitted by Flodo_McFloodiloo t3_10pi140 in Music

There aren't necessarily too many artists that people get a bad first impression of upon first look, only to find hidden depth to when they hear more of them. But do people here have any?

For me, the surprise answer is Kesha (formerly known as Ke$ha). First heard singing guest vocals on what many (myself included) considered an utter evisceration of a classic Dead or Alive song, and soon after premiering looking like the very epitome of self-indulgent white trash, she was a pop-culture punching bag from the moment she was a pop star. I did have a soft spot for "Tik Tok", but most other singles from that era were way too grating, and future generations aren't likely to forgive that song simply because of its title.

Eventually, the world would learn that a lot of what so many people hated about her was actually done at her producer's behest, and she made attempts to move past that, so I recently caved in and actually started listening to her albums. I was pleasantly surprised by many things; even in her earlier albums that featured her contentious singles there's a lot more musical variety than I expected, songs with a lot more lyrical depth than just the inebriated party-hard anthems she was known for, and legitimately good singing. Not the prettiest voice I've heard by a long shot but one that can sincerely convey emotion. Her "post-image" albums are even better.

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Eddaughter t1_j6l0up1 wrote

Beatles. I did a discography dive and it changed my world. Think I was always inside the echo chamber of everyone saying they’re “overrated”. Then I decided to finally give them a fair chance with their albums in context of their growth. They definitely had their humble beginnings but then that 65-69 album run is absolutely legendary. Such innovative and creative growth. While I still don’t think they’re the best, the fact that my closed minded self finally came to the result they are incredible and not overrated is such a W in my book.

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BetStatus9940 t1_j6lgsub wrote

What I was gonnna say.

Beatles have zero songs thst arent good. They didnt record filler imo.

Rehearsals are meh but their 184 songs all rock imo. And have a melody I can sing in the shower.

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Slight_Purpose_9092 t1_j6mv9et wrote

Can you post a video of you singing Revolution 9 in the shower?

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Neeentendo64 t1_j6ofiaz wrote

I love Revolution 9

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Slight_Purpose_9092 t1_j6oip7x wrote

I hope you don't think it has a melody that can be sung in the shower.

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Neeentendo64 t1_j6oj9fs wrote

I don't think it has a melody but the lines "I am not in the mood for wearing clothes" or "you become naked" could maybe fit when showering

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Was_Like t1_j6l36sy wrote

George Harrison. I enjoy the Beatles and the solo work of Lennon and McCartney, but had just ignored George's solo work until I saw the Disney Beatles doc. All Things Must Pass is amazing!

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Valdamier t1_j6kmvyo wrote

It was actually the other way around. I didn't like System of a Down's debut, but then I saw them live.

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Xizen47 t1_j6kup6e wrote

The Cure- growing up, the only songs I knew from them were Friday I'm in Love and Boy's Don't Cry.

Didn't realize their genius until hearing Head on the Door in my early 30's. Quickly became a fan & am lucky enough to have seen them live. Legends!

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RZAxlash t1_j6l762f wrote

Kiss me, kiss me is such a dense, immersive album.

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Notinyourbushes t1_j6pfgsj wrote

Little earlier but the only Cure song I'd heard was Just Like Heaven and I hated it. A friend played me The Kiss and that opened me up a little, but it wasn't until I heard their earlier, post punk work that I realized how amazing they were.

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jonnyinternet t1_j6kkp0l wrote

I never liked Taylor Swift, and while I would still not say I'm a huge fan, I do think she is a very good song writter

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fiddlenutz t1_j6klh7i wrote

Are there any songs she actually wrote without help? Genuine question. I always heard she had many writers on her songs.

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Flodo_McFloodiloo OP t1_j6kmwmm wrote

I tend to assume most pop stars do not write their own music without help.

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gogojack t1_j6la40c wrote

I can't speak to the pop arena, but in her country career, it was less about people "helping" her to write songs, and more about collaboration. She was at the very least an equal partner in her hits.

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Slight_Purpose_9092 t1_j6mvkxy wrote

Many of the great songwriters have done their work in teams. Would it somehow make her songwriting more legitimate if she had done it without help?

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Jackattack736 t1_j6kwjcs wrote

It's honestly pretty rare for songs to be written entirely by 1 person with 0 help. Recording is a collaborative process with others (band members, studio musicians, producers, sound engineers all contribute to the process)

That said, here are two good Taylor Swift songs where Taylor is credited as the sole writer (note, writer and producer are two different jobs)

No Body, No Crime

My Tears Ricochet

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HullaballooWho t1_j6ko0vl wrote

Not so much a specific artist but more the style found in Metal or other harder forms of rock where they screech/growl/grunt and so and so. Couldn't adjust for years until on a whim I purchased Blackwater Park and Still Life by Opeth (thank goodness) which really hurtled me through the door at light speed and transported my newbie mind to a new realm of possibilities. Never went back after that.

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philament t1_j6kvjxp wrote

I had a very poor opinion of Pixies because of the ‘media darlings’ status they had (Surfer Rosa era) .Strange thing was, I realized later that I knew and loved everything I’d heard by them without knowing it was them

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[deleted] t1_j6kprs7 wrote

Muse

I'd only heard of them because of that one song in Twilight, so I had zero respect for them. Then a friend convinced me to listen to Origin of Symmetry. Blew me away.

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Jackattack736 t1_j6l4fc3 wrote

Twilight actually had a banger of a soundtrack. Muse, Paramore, Radiohead, Iron and Wine and I'm sure there was more dope stuff

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monobarreller t1_j6ktchc wrote

She's also a HUGE metal fan thanks to her brothers.

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Gonzostewie t1_j6kltc4 wrote

Boogie Feet. It's Kesha with Eagles of Death Metal. It is fantastic.

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Jackattack736 t1_j6la5tn wrote

If you like Kesha on rock music she also did a feature on a song by The Struts called Body Talks. Pure 80s glam rock camp and its wonderful

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Flodo_McFloodiloo OP t1_j6kmanu wrote

Yeah, and I believe that one got some actual airplay but I only recently even learned it was Kesha singing that. A testament to how few people even associate her with good singing.

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Gonzostewie t1_j6ktw5c wrote

The guitar player in my band has a thing for Kesha. She's better than the shit she's got over the years.

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HustletronSATX t1_j6l0dtp wrote

The Mars Volta, the first few times I heard them it sounded like chaos with every instrument competing at the same time. Then I heard their album De-Loused in the Comatorium front to back and it had this endearing symphonic composure where elements of previous tracks were called back and blended into a grand opus.

Also I never wanted to give At the Drive In a chance based on the people who recommended their music to me. Only to find out At the Drive In became the Mars Volta and they also rock.

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nuclearblastbeat t1_j6m3exg wrote

MGMT. They're alot more experimental and far out than I thought they would be from hearing the radio singles.

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bigb0L0s t1_j6mmc4p wrote

neutral milk hotel 🤷‍♀️

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CanuckLostinFrance t1_j6luagw wrote

I never really listened to Radiohead in my youth, but now I’ve listened to them for almost a month straight

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Sad-Meeting-1695 t1_j6m3hjm wrote

Harry styles! A lot of people hate on him…but personally his music is just so beautiful. Especially Cherry and Only angel

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SuperFreshHits75 t1_j6mqqq4 wrote

Thinking he was for elitists and not more of a performer for the common man, I realised how good Jazz could be after giving Kenny G a listen.

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AngrySteelyDanFan t1_j6nx80q wrote

Steely Dan. Definitely was the slow burn for me. Now I view them on my Mount Rushmore.

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Neeentendo64 t1_j6of6ft wrote

I never thought much about Pink Floyd until I listened to the Wall and oh boy that guitar note starting In the Flesh? scared the hell out of me and immediately got me hooked.

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Ornery-Dragonfruit96 t1_j6kkw0s wrote

Miley Cyrus, The Climb is a damn good song. Also when she did the singing and lent her voice to an animated movie Bolt. that was gold.

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Flodo_McFloodiloo OP t1_j6kmnhb wrote

I will risk ire by saying I even think "Wrecking Ball" is a beautiful song, and that Miley's singing on it is just fine; it's almost sad that these qualities have been totally overshadowed by how corny its music video was. Miley pretty much went from one cringeworthy image to another with very little grace period between, but she's never been a bad singer.

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Ornery-Dragonfruit96 t1_j6kn90y wrote

I know right, I think that lately her appearances alongside Dolly Parton have done alot to tone down her very public persona. You asked about talent and I have recognized that voice as one that has turned my head.

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RZAxlash t1_j6l742q wrote

I have a feeling people might feel differently about Lenny Kravitz if they sit down and vibe to Mama Said.

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JunFerra t1_j6mh71a wrote

Rosalía, I had only heard her collaborations with reggaeton artists I don't like until I listened to her three albums. Now I'm a fan, and hell, her reggaeton songs that aren't collaborations are actually pretty good!

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hjvkjvkjvg t1_j6milxi wrote

Focus. Only listened to Hocus Pocus and Sylvia beforehand until I checked out Focus 2 and Focus 3 in their entirelies. Can anyone recommend me bands like them? (I love how Focus 3 has a song that is only each member having a 6 minute solo)

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BartholomewBandy t1_j6pb2pv wrote

Beastie Boys. Didn’t think past You’ve Gotta Fight, until bored at work with no music and a waitress lent me Check Your Head. Cassette rewound on side two, blew me away that they jammed and sampled themselves. Killer.

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jplee69 t1_j6ktbwc wrote

GG ALLIN

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