|
|
Post by The Curmudgeon on Jul 29, 2012 13:21:57 GMT 2
Thought I'd share this really pretty damn excellent article on the top 25 bands to ever come out of the US of A. It's an intelligent and well written article as well, so it's not just your usual Blog fare. weepingelvis.hypervocal.com/were-an-american-band-the-best-american-bands-ever/#more-14386I was genuinely surprised by the number one choice (I thought number two would ace it), but it was nice to see. So, thoughts? Inclusions? Exclusions? Who should REALLY be number one? Personally, I'm amazed a few bands didn't make the list; no Guns n Roses? No Rage Against the Machine? And where the FUCK where the Smashing Pumpkins?? |
|
|
|
Post by trashcanman on Jul 29, 2012 20:00:21 GMT 2
Van Halen at 19? What a joke. Dudes literally changed not only the way guitar music is played, but the way they were BUILT, not to mention the way rock bands dressed and performed for a decade. Metallica at 16? Psh. PE is not a band. A band by definition uses instruments. Beasties use instruments on occasion, but that's not where they live. They don't count. If Morrison hadn't died, The Doors would not be on that list. Ditto Nirvana. The Ramones influenced almost every band you hear in American or British rock Nirvana included. Nirvana influenced Puddle of Mudd and a slew of bad groups whose names I can't even be bothered to remember. And seriously, no Aerosmith? SERIOUSLY!? This is more like a list of a given dudes favorite groups, and not a well thought out one. How is it that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band or Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers who have played together for decades and decades don't count as "true bands" but Public Enemy -who are really just a backing group for Chuck D- qualify? Eagles and Skynyrd below the likes of Talking Heads and Wilco? Bullshit. The Byrds? What the fuck, man. Did they even do anything of note other than cover "Mr Tambourine Man" and "Turn, Turn, Turn"? Black Flag? Bad Brains? What a goddamn mess. Just call the article "My Personal Favorites" or something. That word "best" can be tricky.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Curmudgeon on Jul 31, 2012 10:38:21 GMT 2
I do agree with your comment on the Doors, but not Nirvana. Regardless of the shit bands that came after them, they helped revolutionize the whole rock scene. I mean, if Pearl Jam get a nod, Nirvana surely deserve one too.
And yeah, the inclusion of the Byrds was a headscratcher. I've never even heard anything else they've done other than Mr Tambourine Man, and obviously William Shatner has the definitive cover version on that track.
Like any of these lists, it's best not to take it too literally (the Pixies listed BEFORE the fucking Chilli Peppers??), but agreed, not including Aerosmith is a crime. Regardless of the sorry state they're in now, the fucking dudes invented the cross-over of rock and rap. And Black Flag definitely deserve a mention, too.
I usually don't pay much attention to these things, because of the subjective nature of the "best" anything. But I felt it was worth a look because it's pretty well written, and not the epic face palm of the latest televised survey of the nation; the Greatest Number One Singles of All Time.
Of ALL TIME.
Sorry, couldn't resist that. But consider that Adele was in the running to win, with a one year old song. Arrrrgghhhhh.
|
|
|
|
Post by trashcanman on Jul 31, 2012 20:46:43 GMT 2
Well, the thing about Nirvana is that they just did what myriad bands had done before them. The difference is that when they did it, MTV PLAYED THE FUCK OUT OF THEM. That's not a revolution in music, that's a revolution in media exposure. Not the same thing. Also, Husker Du influenced damn near half of the bands on that list, including the top 2.
And Pearl Jam had some truly amazing songs and were one of the greats of the 90's, but they weren't consistently great or musically creative enough to warrant an all-time ranking. For an example of the 90's simply popularizing what had already been aroundd for a decade and then some, see below.
Grunge bands didn't invent alternative any more than Green Day invented punk, and you don't see Green Day on that list although they were the first punk band to break into the mainstream that way. Again, respect to the bands and the scene because the music was killer, but they weren't blazing any trails whatsoever.
|
|
lemex
All Messed Up
Posts: 110
|
Post by lemex on Aug 6, 2012 14:04:41 GMT 2
Metallica at 16! Before Sonic Youth? No. Just no. Metallica haven't been good since the Black Album, Death Magnetic wasn't very good, and their last CD with Lou Reed was awful. Also, where is Tool? It's good The Pixies got a place on that list though.
|
|
Quillford
Bad Witch
"You're Scheming On A Thing That's A Mirage. I'm Trying To Tell You Now, It's Sabotage!"
Posts: 238
|
Post by Quillford on Aug 6, 2012 14:55:10 GMT 2
Metallica have their faults and I haven't liked them for SOME time either but what you gonna do? TOOL are worth a shout out as well I love how creative they are.
|
|
|
|
Post by trashcanman on Aug 6, 2012 20:33:41 GMT 2
Yeah, I'm not even a big Tool fan, but they are utterly unique and no matter how long those guys vanish for the fans stick with them. Gotta respect that.
|
|
lemex
All Messed Up
Posts: 110
|
Post by lemex on Aug 7, 2012 17:14:58 GMT 2
And not only that, but there albums have been consistently good, even if I am saying that from the point of a Tool fan. But don't worry, I'm not part of the so-called 'Tool Army' and I'm not going to give you a 10,000 word essay on them.
I'm glad R.E.M. are placed at #1 though, they have been my favorite band since I was old enough to hear things.
|
|
Quillford
Bad Witch
"You're Scheming On A Thing That's A Mirage. I'm Trying To Tell You Now, It's Sabotage!"
Posts: 238
|
Post by Quillford on Aug 7, 2012 17:23:30 GMT 2
|
|
lemex
All Messed Up
Posts: 110
|
Post by lemex on Aug 7, 2012 18:49:13 GMT 2
Oh yes!  |
|
|
|
Post by trashcanman on Aug 7, 2012 22:39:29 GMT 2
Wow. Who knew REM was that beloved? In my experience they are one of those bands that everybody likes to some extent, but nobody's really passionate about. Guess I need to get out more.
|
|
lemex
All Messed Up
Posts: 110
|
Post by lemex on Aug 7, 2012 23:25:12 GMT 2
I have literally all their albums, and in high school R.E.M. posters would take up a good amount of my bedroom wall space. For me R.E.M. wasn't just a band, but almost a way of life.
Don't get me wrong, I loved other bands too, but I've been a passionate R.E.M. fan for as long as I remember.
|
|
|
|
Post by trashcanman on Aug 8, 2012 9:52:10 GMT 2
Anyways, back to the discussion at hand, I'd have to put Metallica in the top 5 simply because they not only practically invented thrash metal, but also attained success as one of the most massive bands in the world while playing that style of music, which is not an easy thing to do. In fact, if they hadn't done it, I'd call it impossible. Everything post-Black Album can go fuck itself (I thought DM was good, but clearly not on the level of their older albums), but the fact that their first 5 albums are among the best and most successful hard rock albums ever recorded and they remain one of the most dependable and beloved live acts in the world even now trumps their extended creative slump.
Also, the original Alice Cooper was a band and not a solo artist and influenced pretty much every significant American hard rock act ever to exist. Unbelievably original music that sounds like nothing else even to this day. I've heard more bands replicate Sonic Youth's sound and style than Alice Cooper's. And KISS? Yeah, KISS. Not a popular choice, but those motherfuckers are UNIVERSAL and among the greatest performers ever to take the stage.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Curmudgeon on Aug 9, 2012 22:57:30 GMT 2
Yeah, I'd certainly put KISS up there too. Didn't know Alice Cooper was a band either, and I'd imagine the guy who made this list didn't know it either, otherwise he's a deserved top ten mention. Everyone from Manson to Slipknot has borrowed from his chamber of horrors.
As for Metallica, it always kinda amuses me just HOW people fucking attack that "Lulu" album with Lou Reed. Was it a great record? Nope. But it's always funny how you never hear any Lou Reed fans complain about it, nor did they complain when he teamed up with the Gorillaz for the trip-hop pop of "Some Kind of Nature". The whole Lulu project has become something of a punchline over the last year, and it's never aimed at Reed, only at Metallica. And I have no idea why.
|
|
|
|
Post by trashcanman on Aug 9, 2012 23:16:12 GMT 2
Reed has always appealed to the open-minded indie types who are pretty much up for anything. Metallica always carries with them a large mainstream crowd full of jocks and metalheads who always want more of the same (dooooooood, Unforgiven IV!), so it doesn't surprise me. I'm not really a fan of Reed or anything Metallica has done since the early 90's so I didn't even pay Lulu enough attention to form an opinion on it.
|
|
