Author Topic: The Greatest American Band (Read 7765 times)

Akala · « **on:** August 19, 2010, 07:06:43 PM »

who the hell is the greatest American band (of all time)? we were discussing it at work today and I'm totally drawing blanks. the US has tons of solo artists that are really influential, but we are trying to think of the American Stones/Beatles...I thought maybe Sonic Youth, but no one knows them. :'(

The "best" someone has come up with is The Eagles, but we have to have better than them. Runner up so far is Journey.

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:10:38 PM »

The Beach Boys?

Robo · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:13:24 PM »

I would've said The Beach Boys if you were trying to find an American Beatles/Stones equivalent in terms of quality and influence from that particular era.

Robo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:14:59 PM »

But seriously, THE EAGLES?!!! JOURNEY!?!

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #4 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:15:48 PM »

yeah, really.

you could have just rattled off grunge bands and done 10x better than that. what the fuck.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:23:59 PM »

Dunno if you can count The Band as they were 4/5ths Canadian - but they played "Americana" and were probably the best band ever. Truff.

Akala · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:24:51 PM »

no one was willing to give 'newer' bands the GOAT.

I am trying to find a middle ground. Beach Boys is a pretty good one.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:33:42 PM »

Jesse and the Rippers

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:38:28 PM »

Bob Segar & The Silver Bullit

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:46:08 PM »

There's few that can compete with the bigger British bands as far as popularity, quality staying power like The Beatles/Who/RollingStones/Pink Floyd and I guess U2 and now Radiohead (opinions may vary on these bands but Journey, come on).

Even the Beach Boys were basically Brian Wilson + a revolving cast of Ringos - amazing albums like Pet Sounds for sure but too much time without him and making shit like "Kokamow" and being on Full House. I think they're really only considered because they were contemporaries of the British bands at a time when their best albums held up to those bands best albums.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #10 on:** August 19, 2010, 07:46:15 PM »

meh.

I'm not sure if you mean technical craft, the most popular, or the most critically popular, or none of the above.

My favorite American "rock" band is probably The Ramones although they certainly wouldn't qualify in the first two categories.

If you are talking about some mix of the above three categories I would have to say (even though none of them would be a personal choice I generally listen to) The Eagles, or Metallica, or the Beach Boys (maybe. I think most people really consider that one genius among a group of other people), or The Doors.

As far as Radiohead, you honestly need to give it another decade at least to see how people think of them at that point.

Akala · « **Reply #11 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:02:19 PM »

See, I thought of the Doors, but cancelled myself out thinking they are too gimmicky. I also thought of the Ramones, but they really just fed off of the punk influx.

as far as work goes, I am with rednecks and classic rockers. I think I'm screwed.

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:06:12 PM »

Allman Brothers Band
CCR

Himu · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:07:16 PM »

[youtube=560,345]0cWzxJvgWc8[/youtube]
[youtube=560,345]dh3bleXWaCk[/youtube]

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #14 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:09:39 PM »

Quote from: Akala on August 19, 2010, 08:02:19 PM

See, I thought of the Doors, but cancelled myself out thinking they are too gimmicky. I also thought of the Ramones, but they really just fed off of the punk influx.

as far as work goes, I am with rednecks and classic rockers. I think I'm screwed.

Well that's the thing. There are lots of bands if you include just popularity or sales would appear on the list. That's why longevity is somewhat important. Not in the sense of how long they were popular but more in the sense of how long their popularity has extended past the time where they were in the limelight. The Doors work because they are still culturally significant 40 years after they stopped making music. If we include popularity/sales bands like Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, or Grand Funk Railroad could argue they sold a lot of records at one point but they aren't so popular now. And this is of course only taking into account rock music. There have been many great bands in other genres like jazz, blues, etc. But obviously it sounds more like you were looking for rock bands.

Himu · « **Reply #15 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:10:44 PM »

Also, The Doors is the greatest American rock band.

Bacchus7 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:11:20 PM »

Yeah, I'm going CCR.

Himu · « **Reply #17 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:12:49 PM »

CCR is good too.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #18 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:13:41 PM »

Quote from: Akala on August 19, 2010, 08:02:19 PM

I also thought of the Ramones, but they really just fed off of the punk influx.

The infux actually went in the other direction NYC->UK, and The Ramones are usually credited as being at the genesis of what went down over here. Which reminds me of the Velvet Underground can be added to the list of Greatest American Band, and a personal fave, but again, if I had to argue an objective list (which I wouldn't) I know they wouldn't hold up.

At the same time, when I tried to name off how the titans and GOATs are british, I didn't even mention Led Zeppelin or Queen - there really are no US equivalents and the UK pool is mega deep

Himu · « **Reply #19 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:15:01 PM »

Brit rock

EvilBoris · « **Reply #20 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:19:24 PM »

The IRS vintage of R.E.M if we're going to start listing our favourite American bands. Hate to block up the thread with youtube embeds but just the once...

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #21 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:21:33 PM »

There was a lot of great 80's, 90's college rock. But it seems like the next generation never adopted it like earlier generations did sort of adopting the best of what came before. When people seem to name what they remember from that period they seem to name the really poppy stuff or a lot of the bad metal that dominated that era.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:22:11 PM »

I know this might get lolz, but The Grateful Dead are up there too. You just have to know how to filter them.

Also, what about stuff like Sly and the Family Stone? Stuff like that doesn't usually get brought up, but once you start looking sideways it definitely shifts from UK>US to US>UK

Himu · « **Reply #23 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:23:57 PM »

Toto is the greatest American band.

Himu · « **Reply #24 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:28:20 PM »

[youtube=560,345]lDK9QqIzhwk[/youtube]

Bon Jovi, niggaz

Bacchus7 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:30:37 PM »

Why the fuck haven't I even thought about Motown yet. Diana Ross and the Supremes.

Himu · « **Reply #26 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:32:38 PM »

Quote from: Bacchus7 on August 19, 2010, 08:30:37 PM

Why the fuck haven't I even thought about Motown yet. Diana Ross and the Supremes.

Motown has you covered.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #27 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:33:54 PM »

Quote from: Mamacint on August 19, 2010, 08:22:11 PM

Also, what about stuff like Sly and the Family Stone? Stuff like that doesn't usually get brought up, but once you start looking sideways it definitely shifts from UK>US to US>UK

There are lots of bands that would shift it over potentially but what generally happens in these sort of conversations is that it only focuses on white rock bands. The Meters are one of the greatest bands of all time. James Brown at various times had some of the best bands on the planet with him. Duke Ellington was godly at certain eras.

But generally speaking many of these groups weren't album oriented and they weren't rock which is the most popular/dominant genre.

max_cool · « **Reply #28 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:34:26 PM »

Tool
Doors
Pearl Jam
Guns and Roses (early years)
Van Halen (see above)
Metallica

Read Hot Chilli Peppers?
Aerosmith???
Does Bruce Springsteen and the E street band count?

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #29 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:39:17 PM »

Quote from: Bacchus7 on August 19, 2010, 08:30:37 PM

Why the fuck haven't I even thought about Motown yet. Diana Ross and the Supremes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Funk_Brothers

There was a good documentary about them a few years back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_in_the_Shadows_of_Motown_(film)

Also Booker T and the MG's were great as essentially the house band for Stax Records.

Diunx · « **Reply #30 on:** August 19, 2010, 08:44:08 PM »

The Doors.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #31 on:** August 19, 2010, 09:11:37 PM »

The Roots are better and more consistent than most American bands named in this thread

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band might be the best choice though, dunno.

lennedsay · « **Reply #32 on:** August 19, 2010, 09:26:12 PM »

Beezy · « **Reply #33 on:** August 19, 2010, 10:16:56 PM »

Quote from: lennedsay on August 19, 2010, 09:26:12 PM

(Image removed from quote.)

Bob Marley is Jamaican. FAIL

lennedsay · « **Reply #34 on:** August 19, 2010, 10:24:00 PM »

That's the joke.

The pic isn't even of Bob Marley. Double fail.

Groogrux · « **Reply #35 on:** August 19, 2010, 10:29:12 PM »

I'm not supporting this statement, but in terms of popularity, wouldn't we have to count the Backstreet Boys or the New Kids on the Block?

They were pretty fucking big in their time and lasted a good long while. (A lot longer than I wanted them to.)

Groogrux · « **Reply #36 on:** August 19, 2010, 10:30:24 PM »

And how the fuck could I forget Weezer?

Beezy · « **Reply #37 on:** August 19, 2010, 10:42:20 PM »

Quote from: lennedsay on August 19, 2010, 10:24:00 PM

That's the joke.

The pic isn't even of Bob Marley. Double fail.

I know. I was joking since it's a pic of Jimi Hendrix. 3 HIT FAIL

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #38 on:** August 19, 2010, 10:55:35 PM »

Oh my god, someone said weezer

gtfo of here

the answer is obviously the e street band or the band

lennedsay · « **Reply #39 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:14:39 PM »

Quote from: Beezy on August 19, 2010, 10:42:20 PM

Quote from: lennedsay on August 19, 2010, 10:24:00 PM
That's the joke.

The pic isn't even of Bob Marley. Double fail.
I know. I was joking since it's a pic of Jimi Hendrix. 3 HIT FAIL

Thank god we're on the same page here, and I'm not talking about Jimmy, although he's pretty amazing as well. Yet another amazing musician not from the US. :'(

Beezy · « **Reply #40 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:17:58 PM »

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #41 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:26:42 PM »

Quote from: andrwfields on August 19, 2010, 10:29:12 PM

I'm not supporting this statement, but in terms of popularity, wouldn't we have to count the Backstreet Boys or the New Kids on the Block?

They were pretty fucking big in their time and lasted a good long while. (A lot longer than I wanted them to.)

No which is why longevity is important. No one barely remembers or plays any of their songs and in 10 years it will be even more so and in 20 years they will be regarded the same way we regard any teen-bopper fad of its day.

lennedsay · « **Reply #42 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:28:28 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on August 19, 2010, 11:26:42 PM

Quote from: andrwfields on August 19, 2010, 10:29:12 PM
I'm not supporting this statement, but in terms of popularity, wouldn't we have to count the Backstreet Boys or the New Kids on the Block?

They were pretty fucking big in their time and lasted a good long while. (A lot longer than I wanted them to.)

No which is why longevity is important. No one barely remembers or plays any of their songs and in 10 years it will be even more so and in 20 years they will be regarded the same way we regard any teen-bopper fad of its day.

Wouldn't also talent be a factor?

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #43 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:31:46 PM »

Well they also suck too so sure.

On a serious level though it depends on what you mean by talent. The Ramones for example aren't a great technical band, but they are a great and landmark band who rocked. So they had lots of talent but it wasn't necessarily playing great guitar.

There are also some very technical instrumentalists who imo make very boring music.

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #44 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:34:09 PM »

The Doors, The Velvets, REM, Nirvana, in that order I think. It's hard to find a more influential band that the Velvets, but they only had a couple of albums and they only gained recognition after they'd split up, really. The Doors were a legit stadium band and were also massively influential. Nirvana obviously don't have the back catalog to really carry weight here but what they did has echoed loud and long, probably more so than REM, although a Greatest Hits of REM would be far more fun than a Greatest Hits from Nirvana.

Fresh Prince · « **Reply #45 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:36:50 PM »

New Kids on the Block = definitive boy band

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #46 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:39:20 PM »

Quote from: Fresh Prince on August 19, 2010, 11:36:50 PM

New Kids on the Block = definitive boy band

There were plenty of boy bands before them going all the way to the 50's. Hell New Kids on the Block is simply the white version of New Edition who came before them.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #47 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:41:22 PM »

Looking over the list of best selling artists somebody mentioned Aerosmith earlier and that is as good a pick as any. They've been around forever. Sold a shit load of records. Been up and down like the Stones. Been popular, not popular, and popular again. Etc.

Robo · « **Reply #48 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:43:28 PM »

I was hesitant to mention The Velvets because John Cale is Welsh and arguably contributed more to the band's sound than anyone else save for Reed. I guess you'd still consider them an NYC band anyway, so I'd say they're definitely top contenders.

Sonic Youth wasn't a bad choice. They had enormous influence on the sound of alternative rock in the 90's and have several masterpiece albums in their discog, but you still don't hear them on the radio... ever! Likewise with bands like Pavement and Dinosaur Jr.

Also, The Replacements. The motherfuckin' Replacements.

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #49 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:48:03 PM »

Yeah, mention the Replacements to anyone over the age of 40 and see how much of a response you get.

In fact, mention the Replacements to the first 20 people you see on the street and if you get a single person who can tell you the name of one of their songs, I'll be very surprised.

Robo · « **Reply #50 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:50:42 PM »

"Ale.. oh, what's the song in Rock Band? Alex Hilton?"

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #51 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:51:20 PM »

Quote from: Cormacaroni on August 19, 2010, 11:48:03 PM

Yeah, mention the Replacements to anyone over the age of 40 and see how much of a response you get.

In fact, mention the Replacements to the first 20 people you see on the street and if you get a single person who can tell you the name of one of their songs, I'll be very surprised.

There are a lot of "hip" bands that I like and that were really influential for a specific time and period in a specific scene but aren't really well known outside of hardcore music circles. Nirvana is the prototype for one of those bands that was able to actually crossover in a big way to the mainstream like you mentioned.

What I always regret about Cobain taking his life is curiosity out of where he would have gone musically as he matured. People often wonder the same thing about Hendrix of course.

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #52 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:53:24 PM »

I only knew The Replacements for years and years as the former band of that guy on the Singles soundtrack that seemed really out of place. :blush

Akala · « **Reply #53 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:56:19 PM »

I actually thought of REM when out to dinner. think what is making this more difficult than it should be is that the 'goal' conversation is with people who don't know shit about music. that, with the generational disparity, is a recipe for failure. I just keep thinking there is this band on the tip of my brain that I'm forgetting. I kinda doubt we all would have forgotten though.

Aerosmith is actually a decent parallel...although I kind of hate them. Bringing up the Velvets would be lol.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #54 on:** August 20, 2010, 12:03:34 AM »

There is also KISS of course. Whom I don't like and view as mostly gimmick but they sold a lot of records and are universally recognized world wide although more for their gimmick than their music.

Akala · « **Reply #55 on:** August 20, 2010, 12:06:32 AM »

oh god that may be a winner

Fresh Prince · « **Reply #56 on:** August 20, 2010, 12:09:45 AM »

What about jazz bands?

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #57 on:** August 20, 2010, 12:39:04 AM »

The stuff Hendrix was working on before he died (Cry of Love, basically half of First Rays of the New Rising Sun) was pretty good.

I'd imagine Nirvana would have gotten shitty eventually, like the rest of the bands of their era.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #58 on:** August 20, 2010, 12:46:48 AM »

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #59 on:** August 20, 2010, 12:46:54 AM »

what do you mean, eventually? they were already shitty.

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Author Topic: The Greatest American Band (Read 7765 times)