Supermarket shelves in other parts of the world (and at certain specialty shops in the US) contain a food product called Marmite, which is basically a bread spread made out of yeast extract. I personally tried it when I was 16, after an Australian pen pal sent me a few packets, and my Cool Ranch and Domino’s-trained palate found it absolutely repellent; I haven’t tried it since, because the thought of doing so makes me shiver. But apparently it’s pretty divisive in the UK, to the point that the product name is actually being used by some music-biz insiders to describe certain artists who have a love-’em-or-hate-’em appeal. The musical omnivores at Popjustice explain: “the phrase describes the sort of band or artist which divides opinion as strongly as the disgusting/delicious yeasty food product Marmite. It is not a phrase used to describe how good or bad something is–there’s no value judgment involved.” Popjustice says that Alphabeat, the Scissor Sisters, and Bob Dylan are all “Marmite artists”–although a shitty band being pushed by a publicist to no avail is not, so don’t try it next time, publicists. Confused yet? Well, in keeping with our English-class form, the term is used in context after the jump!
Radio Person 1: “Right then, shall we playlist this new Alphabeat single?”
Radio Person 2: “I fucking hate Alphabeat.”
Radio Person 1: “I fucking love Alphabeat.”
Radio Person 2: “Yeah they’re a classic Marmite band. I suppose a lot of people do fucking love them so even though I do not like them myself I fully understand why they deserve a place on our radio station.”
Radio Person 1: “Oh hang on, the new Snow Patrol single’s arrived.”
Radio Person 2: “Let’s just play that then.”
So, after describing the whole “marmite” ideal to Dan, we got down to business. What other artists are officially yeasty to a point of being utterly unpalatable to some, yet beloved by others?
danielgibson77: wait, there are people who don’t like alphabeat?
mauraatidolator: i KNOW!
mauraatidolator: but who else could qualify for this distinction? who is so divisive that they rend internet message boards in two?
danielgibson77: my morning jacket?
mauraatidolator: hmmm.
mauraatidolator: no, they’re just shitty.
danielgibson77: people like them, maura
mauraatidolator: well they’re wrong.
mauraatidolator: vampire weekend!
danielgibson77: i think the same shitty argument could be made
See, the Popjustice folks say that “there’s no value judgment involved,” but I dunno, it feels like that could never, ever be the case, if only because the people on the “nay” side may never be convinced that the bands are not just 100% intractably awful. However, after doing some research–which mainly involves looking at the comment threads on past Idolator posts–I think I’ve come up with a handful of Officially Marmite Artists:
Pink Floyd.
Fall Out Boy. (Whose new Elvis Costello-aided single is quite good, btw. Oh noes, here come even more fights!)
Oasis. (Paging Jay-Z!)
And maybe The Doors? Those posts a few months back sure got a lot of attention. Anyway, add your own!
Marmite Music: A study [Popjustice]
Blur, probably. Also, Green Day?
Also, I have no opinion on Alphabeat. I heard them once (I think during the Summer Jam Tournament) thought they were alright but didn’t see a need to listen to them again. Not that they’re bad, they just didn’t hold my attention. Sorry!)
Also, Marmite is delicious, though I think I prefer Veggiemite.
Also, Junior Senior. Apparently my friend hates them because her ears don’t work
Bjork
Morrissey instantly jumps to mind
let’s see… how about the Smiths, Nico, and DJ Otzi
Amy Winehouse?
This is a dumb thread.
A ‘Marmite thread’, as it were.
Hole.
(Also, isn’t it just the ONE musical omnivore over at Popjustice?)
I think Radiohead is a marmite band. Some people really do hate them, believe it or not.
@owenmeany: I’ve got a piece of bread with your name on it.
Randy Newman and Tom Waits
I think the “value judgment” is not about the band, but about the person who likes it. Justice annoys the shit out of me, but I’m not going to hold that against their fans. Nickelback, however.
Or it could be a band that you recognize as talented, but just cannot stand what they do.
As for nominating bands: Tool, Dream Theater. I like one and cannot stand the other.
Sigur Ros.
As I’ve learned in a recent Idolator thread, Mr. Sufjan Stevens probably fits the bill. Also coming to mind is Xiu Xiu, Bright Eyes, and Marmite Album Of 2007: Sky Blue Sky.
Or to go back in time a bit… The Doors. Maybe the Beach Boys?
I don’t know.
bis.
1) M.I.A.
2) The Hold Steady
holy fuck…. Dave Matthews Band
the end.
I think that there are very few bands that would actually qualify as Marmite bands. If the basic idea is that a Marmite band is one that people either love or hate, then the lack of a middle ground implies that the band doesn’t have any casual fans. And really, how many bands are like that? I think you would have to look at the extremes of music (industrial music, noise rock) to find bands that clearly polarize the audience into love/hate camps, but a band that has any degree of chart success is one where a great number of their fans are casual listeners.
Foo Fighters
can we start a whole condiment classification of bands?
Ketchup bands= Bands that everyone likes, but that have very few die hard fans.
Ranch Dressing bands= Guilty pleasures. Bands that you secretly enjoy listening to one some level, but would never admit to it.
Fat free balsamic vinaigrette (that you squirt on a salad) bands= Music that you know you should like, but you just can’t be bothered to get into.
Pesto bands= Bands that are loved by the critics and bloggers, but that have little mass appeal.
Newmans Own bands= Music loved by the critics AND the masses. Bands that have die hard fans.
I get very Marmite responses whenever I mention to people that I like the Smashing Pumpkins.
@moomintroll: email me?
@moomintroll: Shouldn’t Newman’s Own bands also be involved in some world-changing/charity attempts?
seconding both m.i.a. and the hold steady, and adding lil wayne. mountain goats are super divisive, but mostly across the mainstream/music crit-nerd axis, so i don’t know if that counts
@Ned Raggett: Blasphemy! I actually think Dear Catastrophe Waitress and Life Pursuit are pretty damn great.
Look! You made me cuss on the internet! Bah!
@Thierry: Yeah, but isn’t it kind of true that world changing/ charity attempt bands tend to get a big backlash…making them into Miracle Whip bands.
Newman’s Own bands can’t have a backlash!
Ummmm….the Beatles.
Steely Dan.
No band I’ve ever discussed with fellow music geeks inspires more intense Are you out of your fucking mind? They’re genius! / dreadful! conversations. Hell, I think we’ve debated them here before.
I also don’t think I’ve run across a single person on the internet whose opinion is an antipathetic “Soulja Boy? Enh, I could take or leave him.” I think the moderate opinion on him is not wanting him dead.
@D.R. Mosby: I think you’re dead on with this. There are extreme fans/haters of almost any fairly successful artist but the majority of listeners don’t register such outlier emotions about said artist.
belle and sebastian.
i don’t even try to turn anyone on to those guys anymore.
@sicksteanein: That’s understandable, because I sure don’t think the band tries anymore either.
@moomintroll: The Newman’s Own should support charities and causes everyone would support - Albanian orphans, perhaps?
tom waits.
Rush
Late to this party but my boys are unequivocally qualified, no? It’s all about…
THE JONAS!
@Poubelle: What? That is ridiculous. JS is/was fantastic. Pfeh.
@natepatrin: M.I.A. Agreed. She makes me VOM. I struggle not to barf my irrational hatred all over her various lovers. Blarg.