An open letter to Joe Pendleton

The following is a response to the blog posted by on Feb. 9 by Joe Pendleton entitled "Overrated, overrated" at fishingnotcatching.blogspot.com.

As I starting writing my response to his post, I realized I had a lot more to say then blog-etiquette, not to mention normalcy, permits as a blog comment.

That said, I present what follows:



Dear Joe,

Like your naming Pink Floyd the most overrated band of all time, I, too, thought long and hard about whether or not to respond to the rankings with the following.

It is a little harsh and it is written out of anger, but I still think you are a great man.

First, let me say, though I disagree with a lot of this, a fine job putting it together. Now that I’ve dispatched with the pleasantries, it’s time to get mean. Despite the numerous disclaimers that accompanied your post, I can't help but get fired up by some of these choices.

Let's take this pick by pick:

First, I totally agree with you on the Sex Pistols, John Mellencamp, Kiss (I dig them, but, yeah they're totally overrated), and the Dave Matthews Band… I never liked The Dead very much – I used to go to Dead shows and just hang out in the parking lot instead of going inside – I certainly am not about to go dive into to some cheap knockoff.

Well done.

As for Phil Collins, he's released a few listenable tunes over the years, both as a solo artist and with Genesis, but I have no strong feelings about him one way or another. I mean, I don't think he's overrated simply because I don't think he's that highly rated to begin with.

This brings me to the choices that have drawn my ire. I can't speak for Don Henley's solo career -- though it did produce a couple of songs I love, like Boys of Summer -- but to list the Eagles here is a joke. Sure, Hotel California is drawn out and maybe even overplayed, but it's an epic. A masterpiece. Try sitting back and actually experiencing the song sometime, and try truly understanding the lyrics.

As for the rest of their catalog, the Eagles have produced some stench, sure, but most of it is great. The ninth-most overrated band of all time??? C'mon!

I'm not going to go crazy over Fleetwood Mac. I love them, many other people love them, but I can see how some people would think they're overrated. Some people are more focused on the gossip and the circus that's surrounded them and not the fact that they're a great band. Perhaps you should be working at the Post, instead.

As for Billy Joel, well, we've been though the wars already over this cat. I've said my piece. You've said yours. Like you said, agree to disagree. Let's move on.

Which brings us to Rush and Pink Floyd. I am fucking dumbfounded.

I think I've noticed a pattern. Are you one of those people who just listen to music as background noise to whatever else it is you're doing? I'm surprised. I've always given you more credit as a music fan.

Pardon me for sounding like a pompous ass (someone pointed out to me recently when it comes to my opinions on certain matters, specifically music, I tend to take on a holier-than-thou attitude, sorry. I call it being passionate), but I am one of those people lucky enough to be able to experience music, to feel it, to understand the lyrics for more than they are. Some people, unfortunately, can only just listen. Floyd and Rush don't just write and play music accompanied by random words, they craft it. Their compositions are works of art.

Poll 100 people whose musical knowledge you respect. Poll 100 musicians. Poll 100 people in the music industry. Ask them to name the Top 5 greatest bands of all time, purely from a talent and technical perspective. I guarantee you 95-99 percent of those people you talk to will name Rush. Say what you want about their songs, you cannot dispute their skillz.

I guess that’s why you would say something as ignorant and just plain inaccurate like “when a band relies on its drummer to carry it, you’ve got some problems,” well, this is how I know you’ve got some studying up to do. Yes, Neil Peart is, in my opinion and in the opinion of many, the greatest drummer in the history of this planet, but he does not “lead” Rush. The band had two albums before Peart even joined the group, including Fly By Night, which is some of their best work. Rush is actually led, for the most part, by Geddy Lee’s bass line, if you want to get technical. They build most of their tunes and compositions around a strong bass line – replaced by a strong keyboard presence in the 80’s – and back to bass. Until recently, the guitar was merely spice.

And let’s not forget all the other misinformation you posted. First, it’s “Distant Early Warning,” not “Early Distant Warning.” Second, I don’t know how you went from “Distant Early Warning,” which is on the 1984 album “Grace Under Pressure,” to “Roll the Bones” which is an album they released in 1991. I’m not quite sure where you were going with that. They are very different sounds.

That’s the beauty of Rush, and perhaps one of the reasons they “didn’t know when to go away,” is that they’ve evolved with the times, gaining new generations of fans as they went.. Their music has evolved enough to stay fresh, but not too much where they lose their identity – see Metallica. I didn't get into Rush until well into their career -- their first album was released the year I was born.

I can go on for hours about these guys, their accomplishments, their genius, etc. etc. But I'm fucking riled up enough right now and I don't want to have to drive to South Plainfield and set your cat on fire (you don't have a cat, do you?)

As for Pink Floyd, well, like I said, you either feel it or you don't. You either enjoy what they do and recognize their glory or you take a nap. You've already established your preference. Perhaps you should try being under the influence of something other than alcohol, or Mrs. P, just once or twice. I can think of one substance in particular that might help heighten your senses and you might actually truly appreciate certain types of more cerebral music.

Now that I've said my piece, at least I can take solace in one thing; if I did a list of my top overrated bands, The Rolling Stones would be the undisputed No. 1.

Chew on that!

Hugs n kisses,
The Sandman