I laughed.

Styx > Rush.

Unpopular opinions are only fun when they bait people. This thread has made them safe

There are probably 50 bands I'd rather see than Pearl Jam depending on the circumstances.

Oh, wait...

Radiohead = most overrated band of all time.
Counting Crows are awesome.
Early Beatles > Late-period Beatles

From 1980-1984, Simple Minds were the second best act in the world behind only Prince.

I can get behind that Radiohead comment. I don't know enough about simple minds to have an opinion about laments opinion

The Police: proof that if you are annoyingly repetitive + bland as hell = $$$

Simple Minds would probably be one of those bands where stip hates all of their great stuff, but thinks the stuff they put out during their "down" period (to put it gently) is really enjoyable.

Wow, that's quite a statement. I saw them open for the Pretenders in 1984. I was backstage, actually, and caught them from the side of the stage. (Moms was a concert promoter. My teenage concertgoing years ruled.) I remember them being good, but not that good.

No way. These guys?

I can't speak to them as a live band during that time, but I would put the Empires & Dance-Sons & Fascination-New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)-Sparkle in the Rain stretch of albums up against any other run during that time (outside of Dirty Mind-Controversy-1999-Purple Rain).

Hmm. Interesting. If you have time, post three killer tracks and I'll give 'em a spin.

I'm not sure I even know another simple minds song besides that breakfast club track

Same. I think Lament once said it's their worst song or something along those lines.

The Menace by Elastica was wrongly blasted by many critics because they viewed it as being a terrible excuse for a britpop record as that era choked to it's final end instead of the blueprint for much of what every indie band was going to spend the next decade trying to accomplish. If it had been released by a no-name band from Brooklyn it would have been hailed as a Is This It/Fever to Tell like landmark. That they brought Peaches with them as support on that tour her (her very first shows in the immediate aftermath of her debut album) and M.I.A. (Justine's roommate at the time) was along as well documenting the tour (she was so inspired by it that when she returned to London she began making music) speak to this.

I still really enjoy Backspacer and Lightning Bolt

Not their worst as much as the shifting point that was followed by their ultimate nadir. I do think that Alive & Kicking does a better job of accomplishing what "Don't You (Forget About Me)" tries to do.

I will post a few SM tracks from the aforementioned era. I'm sure everyone will hate them.

Oh, yeah. I remember that song for sure.

How could I have failed to mention that whitechocolatespacegg is Liz Phair's best album by a country mile.

From Empires & Dance (1980)

I Travel


Today I Died Again


From Sons & Fascination (1981)

70 Cities as Love Brings the Fall


The American


From New Gold Dream (1982)

Someone Somewhere in Summertime


Hunter & the Hunted


From Sparkle in the Rain (1984)

Speed Your Love to Me


East at Easter