Top 3 Most Overrated Artists contest in R&R.

Rolling Stones??? Just goes to show there's never going to be consensus regarding anything aesthetically subjective.

I should kick myself for even weighing in on these never to be resolved contests over who's good/who's bad. That said, to say that Keith Richards, Ron Woods, and Mick Taylor are "bad musicians" makes me wonder what standards are being applied here. These guys show up on pretty much everyone's "greatest ever" lists, Keith in particular. The thing I respect about the Stone's guitar work is that they eschew flashy "guitar god" pyrotechnics. Instead, they use two guitars to weave a bobbing and weaving rhythmic background that is musically greater than the single elements. If you can read music, check out the way their songs are put together and you'll see what I mean. You had groups like Clapton, Baker, and Bruce who were towering individual greats engaged in alpha male musical battles for dominance and many people respect that kind of group as an example of greatness. The Stones are the antithesis of that kind of musicianship imo. For them, it's a tribal musical thing, a sum greater than the parts.

Let's throw another hat in the ring of shame. I was watching a documentary last night about the rise and fall of the Clash. This is another band that a lot of critics fawn over. One of them said "The greatest three bands; The Beatles, the Stones, and the Clash." Personally, I think London Calling is a pretty great album. However, taking their career in sum, I've never been a smitten as some are. Mainly because I just never got sucked into the "anti-virtuoso" "everyman is a rock star of you've got the right persona" ethos of the punk era.

Tostadosunidos drives home a good point, artists you may think are overrated may still be really good performers. I can think of many that fit that bill. Rod Stewart was one of the best performers I've ever seen (when he was young.)