Two weeks ago, I presented a taste of my book, Overrated: The 50 Most Overhyped Things in History. As expected, it garnered a few (hundred) angry comments. According to these (mostly anonymous) critics, baseball is on the list because, um, I'm insanely jealous of Americans (sorry, but even though I like many of them... I don't want to be one). Meanwhile, I included Woodstock because I have "boomer envy" (an ailment invented by boomers, specifically those who haven't done anything interesting since 1982), and added Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club because I'm a Beatles "hater". Interesting... but as people who actually know me are aware, I adore the Beatles: "Abbey Road," "Revolver," "Rubber Soul"... even two or three songs on "Sgt Pepper." That doesn't stop Pepper from being highly overrated.
OK, maybe people will calm down if I mention a few things that deserve a greater reputation, but have been overshadowed by the hype that has gone to baseball, "Sgt Pepper" and other overrated things. Here, to balance that last slideshow, are eight underrated things. (Not the most underrated things, because if anything's vastly underrated, I probably haven't heard of it.) No doubt, when you read this list, you'll only have nice things to say. Or maybe not.
If you want to see (and comment) more, check out 50-most-overrated.blogspot.com/. Or just buy the damn book.
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That is the most overrated "cult" band EVER! Sure, they had some influence in the art world and music scene, but their songs were mediocre, and that's a compliment. Name one great song they wrote. There are a couple of decent tracks and one album worth a listen and that's it. There is a reason they aren't rated highly. Yes, "Heroine", great, "Waiting", okay, Femme Fetale...that's it.
Now, Iggy Pop, the Grandfather of Punk...replace VU with him and you will be "Fixing a Hole" in your list.
And "The Prisoner". Spot on pick there, but I think it's no longer underrated.
Peace,
Tex Shelters
Probably one of the most famous rock albums out there.. one that helped spark a garage rock movement. It's highly rated and very well known.
The real under-rated award should go to Lester Dent who wrote 159 Doc Savage novels.
Not a chance. Beets.
Brontosaurus is 4 syllables. Apatosaurus is 5. Brontosaurus just trips off the tongue easier. Beginning with a consonant doesn't hurt either. I personally think that if they can demote Pluto from being a planet to being a big rock, they can decide to replace the term Apatosaurus with Brontosaurus and make everyone happy. Especially six year olds.
As for under-rated TV. I agree with The Prisoner. But would like to add the TV version of The Highlander. It was basically a Talmudic discussion with swords and @$$-kicking. It was the TV show that kept the franchise alive so long. Fans still discuss the moral and ethical points of different episodes.
Ultimate, which actually involves athleticism, is one of very few team sports where men and women play together. The Mixed Division is one of the most competitive in the sport - each team fields 7 players, 4 men and 3 women. Works out very well. And dogs? I have yet to see a dog throw a frisbee.
I wouldn't sell any of those games short, although I thing croquet deals a lot more with tactics than the others. Dart, billiards, bocce, horseshoes, bowling and yes, frisbee deal with skill. Croquet has a component that requires tactical decision making more like chess. And there is Ultimate chess. Fast chess, also known as blitz chess, lightning chess, sudden death, speed chess, bullet chess and rapid chess. But you don't sweat when you play and it's not much of a spectator sport either.
Is Ultimate about frantic, sweating and smelly? Or is it about cunning, skill, tactics? Since when does athleticism require frantically running after a ball or disc?
I don't think people play enough croquet to really appreciate the game. Tournaments will never be televised, unlike that most thrilling Ultimate game....golf. Or bowling.
My brother-in-law used to play guerilla croquet during lunch. he'd keep a set in the car and on his lunch hour he and his buddies would head off to the nearest park. But they'd expand the regulation field to the entire park and use the obstacles presented as part of the game. Croquet meets miniature golf on steroids.
Do I go for the wicket or whack your ball into eternity? Decisions decisions.
That quote sums up the Velvet Ungerground to me. I'll take Sgt. Pepper any day.