Apr 152009
I know this is highly subjective, but let’s be honest and see if we can’t reach agreement on a few of our suggestions. I’ll start by suggesting King Crimson. I can’t say there’s a single King Crimson vocal melody or lyric that I’d miss if it had never existed. The whole point of listening to King Crimson, for me, is tolerating the vocal sections so that I can dig the music.
What band with vocals do you wish was strictly instrumental? Per Last Man Standing protocol, one suggestion at a time, please.
Galactic
Hand over the belt, mofo!
Calexico
The Doors.
Neu!
Led Zeppelin
Television
Bobby McFerrin
The Grateful Dead
Frank Zappa.
Chicago.
I probably still wouldn’t like them, but Rush would have been better without vocals.
Limbaugh?
Can. I know I should like them, but the records everyone recommends have that Suzuki guy ‘singing,” and I can’t deal with him.
I’m not sure this would make me like them, but I think The Hold Steady would make me a lot less angry if they didn’t have vocals.
The Ventures
The Feelies
“The Ventures”
Good call. I’ll add Dick Dale, “Mr Peppermint Man” notwithstanding.
Cocteau Twins
The Feelies is an EXCELLENT call! I’ll second that one.
Thanks, Mod. I thought The Feelies would be snapped right up when I saw the title of the article. Hand me the belt! Or whatever that guy says…
Yes
Rush
U2
Jefferson Airplane
Van Halen
Tiny Tim
Meat Puppets
Rush, and almost all female-fronted bands except Patti Smith. Note that I said “almost” – but yes, I said it.