The Greatest American Band

[Stoney Mason]

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

You're the last person who should be speaking on them but I digress....

[Dickie Dee]

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

I saw a later interview with Cobain where he wanted to get away from their sound and bring in New Wave influences - who knows if it would have panned out.

[Stoney Mason]

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

I always thought they were much better than all those other bands so I'm not so sure.

[tehjaybo]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

[Dickie Dee]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

!

[Phoenix Dark]

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

I always thought they were much better than all those other bands so I'm not so sure.

imo Soundgarden shat on them, and while Nirvana>Pearl Jam, Ten>Nirvana's catalogue.

AIC is criminally overlooked too.

[CajoleJuice]

Soundgarden

And Nirvana's best two albums are their two live ones -- Muddy Banks and Unplugged.

On this past 4th of July, I drove out to Montauk with a few friends, and on the way back we just had Muddy Banks fucking BLASTED the entire time. Shit is still so fucking awesome.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Why are some of you claiming The Band? The Band is ours, goddammit.

[TakingBackSunday]

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

You're the last person who should be speaking on them but I digress....

I guess this makes complete sense

oh wait, it really doesn't.

Why are some of you claiming The Band? The Band is ours, goddammit.

Because while so many others tried at that time, The Band made the best American rock album in the 60s:

[Phoenix Dark]

[youtube=560,345]aQ6jEuBC4iE[/youtube]

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Canada

[Stoney Mason]

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

I always thought they were much better than all those other bands so I'm not so sure.

imo Soundgarden shat on them, and while Nirvana>Pearl Jam, Ten>Nirvana's catalogue.

AIC is criminally overlooked too.

Soundgarden is a fine band who I also like. Just not as much as I liked Nirvana. As far as the rest of the those bands it was never even close for me. I enjoyed Pearl Jam's intensity while simultaneously never liking very much of their music.

[Dickie Dee]

4/5ths of them including the songwriter were Canadian - but it was Americana through and through, and Levon Helms authentic drawl was a pretty key ingredient. It's really a case of both being right.

[tiesto]

Jesse and the Rippers

[TakingBackSunday]

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

fucking perfect

[Phoenix Dark]

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

I always thought they were much better than all those other bands so I'm not so sure.

imo Soundgarden shat on them, and while Nirvana>Pearl Jam, Ten>Nirvana's catalogue.

AIC is criminally overlooked too.

Soundgarden is a fine band who I also like. Just not as much as I liked Nirvana. As far as the rest of the those bands it was never even close for me. I enjoyed Pearl Jam's intensity while simultaneously never liking very much of their music.

Kurt was probably the best pure songwriter out of that batch of bands, although Chris Cornell was close.

Ten is amazing, but I can't get into much else from Pearl Jam. They have many great songs from the rest of their albums, but the actual full albums are eh.

I kind of want to put AIC above Nirvana too...but I haven't listened to their stuff in awhile

[Stoney Mason]

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

I always thought they were much better than all those other bands so I'm not so sure.

imo Soundgarden shat on them, and while Nirvana>Pearl Jam, Ten>Nirvana's catalogue.

AIC is criminally overlooked too.

Soundgarden is a fine band who I also like. Just not as much as I liked Nirvana. As far as the rest of the those bands it was never even close for me. I enjoyed Pearl Jam's intensity while simultaneously never liking very much of their music.

Kurt was probably the best pure songwriter out of that batch of bands, although Chris Cornell was close.

Ten is amazing, but I can't get into much else from Pearl Jam. They have many great songs from the rest of their albums, but the actual full albums are eh.

I kind of want to put AIC above Nirvana too...but I haven't listened to their stuff in awhile

I simply like Nirvana more than those other groups because they were the best for me at combining appealing pop music with their grunge. Because of that their music appeals to me on a level beyond just grunge or rock. Their music is catchy in a way that the rest of grunge music wasn't without becoming what pop-grunge became after they left the scene.

[Diunx]

I thought Soundgarden was a canadian band for some reason.

[Phoenix Dark]

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

I always thought they were much better than all those other bands so I'm not so sure.

imo Soundgarden shat on them, and while Nirvana>Pearl Jam, Ten>Nirvana's catalogue.

AIC is criminally overlooked too.

Soundgarden is a fine band who I also like. Just not as much as I liked Nirvana. As far as the rest of the those bands it was never even close for me. I enjoyed Pearl Jam's intensity while simultaneously never liking very much of their music.

Kurt was probably the best pure songwriter out of that batch of bands, although Chris Cornell was close.

Ten is amazing, but I can't get into much else from Pearl Jam. They have many great songs from the rest of their albums, but the actual full albums are eh.

I kind of want to put AIC above Nirvana too...but I haven't listened to their stuff in awhile

I simply like Nirvana more than those other groups because they were the best for me at combining appealing pop music with their grunge. Because of that their music appeals to me on a level beyond just grunge or rock. Their music is catchy in a way that the rest of grunge music wasn't without becoming what pop-grunge became after they left the scene.

Yea, I definitely like that sound as well. They weren't a "soft" band by any means, but even their louder stuff is quite melodic.

[etiolate]

The Beach Boys
The Doors
The Byrds/Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
CCR
Lynrd
REM
Pearl Jam
Velvet Underground
The Ramones

I think America has more individual artists. I listed CSN&Y, but really it's Neil Young's own work that stands out. Actually, I should list the preceding The Byrds.

Also, fuck the eagles.

[Mandark]

Supergrass

[etiolate]

PJ belongs because Backspacer was good. PJ grew, lasted and managed to still put out a good album in their older years. They also kick ass live.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Aerosmith and Van Halen

Most people talking about the greatest bans tend to include bands that lasted a while, produced a fair number of hits that resonated with a good portion of the population that hold up well to those fans, and not just limited to some obscure corner on the internet.

I think Pearl Jam and Soundgarden should be included as well but I think they should be around for a while longer to ensure that they stand the test of time.  Nirvana didn't last long enough.

[EvilBoris]

level of recording output? Fuuuuuuck that. highbrow and lowbrow, nirvana has sustained the most colourful appreciation from circles as the key american rock band of the 1990's. i'm just a casual fan of that whole scene but I wouldn't block them over some sadsack barrier and elevate their less intriguing peers.

 Nick Drake (1969-1972) certainly isn't coming down from my own and many other's pedestal y'know.
 
light reading! found this old chestnut where some asshole (quite rightly) rips into the Doors to great applause.
http://www.evilbore.com/forum/index.php?topic=3891.0

[CajoleJuice]

That thread is so awesome.

I miss White Man :'(

[Robo]

I love that thread, but White Man is a trollin' fiend.  He picks out most of their better songs to rip into, leaving the stuff that actually isn't very good unmentioned.  Morrison's deity status in popular culture makes them an easy target.

[Boogie]

I think America has more individual artists. I listed CSN&Y, but really it's Neil Young's own work that stands out.

...

[Mupepe]

Matchbox Twenty.

feggits.

[Mandark]

Aw, Boogie, don't be sad.  We're letting you keep Rush!

[archie4208]

And Nickelback. 

[TakingBackSunday]

And Bryan Adams.

[Bloodwake]

Jesus, Nirvana was so much better than Pearl Jam. Fuck, I think Pearl Jam's Ten was MUCH more poppy than Nirvana's library.

Seriously, Nevermind was like their only really "mainstream" sounding album, and that's because it basically was produced to perfection. They couldn't replicate those performances live.

If you want to see where Nirvana was heading before Cobain, listen to In Utero and listen to Unplugged in New York. That may be the easiest conclusions to make, but it seemed like Nirvana was really going towards plugging in a few songs that sounded like Bleach on steroids (Scentless Apprentice, tourette's) with songs that sounded like they were made for the acoustic set (Pennyroyal Tea, Dumb)

One of these two sounds would have won out, and I would think the latter would have (MTV Unplugged in New York), although You Know You're Right would be a good argument against that. I could see new wave coming from Cobain, but crazy, off the wall shit was just as likely.

[TEEEPO]

velvet underground.

[TEEEPO]

or fugazi.

[Bloodwake]

Pearl Jam is a hard band to judge because their musical legacy is so tainted by the string of bands that followed their sound.

Oh, I like Pearl Jam, but they aren't Nirvana. Hell, I love Ten. Still, not fucking Nirvana.

Best way to put it: when I get drunk, I sing Pearl Jam's Ten in order to make fun of it even though I enjoy it. Eddie Vedder's voice is an easy target. I put in my Nirvana: Unplugged in New York DVD when I'm drunk and I want to listen to some awesome music. I also sing along to it because it's awesome and I know all the words. AND IT'S AWESOME.

[Eric P]

black flag.

edit: or the ramones.  whom i personally loathe, but i cannot deny their influence.

[Dickie Dee]

well, in Vedder's defense even on Vs. he doesn't sing like he does on Ten - he's distanced himself from that "constipated-Cher" sound as much as he can without disowning the (good) songs.

[Bloodwake]

well, in Vedder's defense even on Vs. he doesn't sing like he does on Ten - he's distanced himself from that "constipated-Cher" sound as much as he can without disowning the (good) songs.

Still, Eddie Vedder still sounds like Eddie Vedder to me.

[Phoenix Dark]

Most people talking about the greatest bans tend to include bands that lasted a while, produced a fair number of hits that resonated with a good portion of the population that hold up well to those fans, and not just limited to some obscure corner on the internet.

So you're basically saying The Eagles are the greatest American band

[Robo]

.

[TakingBackSunday]

oh holy fuck, how has no one said Wilco yet

[youtube=560,345]C-8Ot62Ns8M[/youtube]

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Talking Heads.

Anyone who says otherwise is a fucking idiot.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Grateful Dead also.

[TakingBackSunday]

Grateful Dead

might as well just say Phish

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Shut the fuck up Wilco.

[BlackMage]

Linkin' Park bitches!

[Boogie]

Linkin' Park bitches!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I'm probably the biggest mainstream whore on here, but even I couldn't say that with a straight face..

[close]

[Fresh Prince]

Parliament

Yeah I am right.

[chronovore]

(Image removed from quote.)

Holy LOLy. That's epic fail.

But a good suggestion for best band.

How about Stevie Ray and Double Trouble?

Does the Muppet Band count?

[lennedsay]

Thought of a great band this morning while I was half asleep. Moody Blues. They're from England too though.

Wow we really suck. We should have never broke off England.

[Mupepe]

Nirvana sucks. Seriously. A few good songs but fuck they are whiny angsty crap. 

[Phoenix Dark]

Normally I'd say "FUCK YOU" but then
[youtube=560,345]969RAKkYESU
[/youtube]

gimme dap Mr Thomas

[Mupepe]

*fist bump* bro!

[Bloodwake]

I am glad someone else brought up Darth Vedders shitty voice - it's my main gripe with PJ

"Wuuuhuuna uh huuuhaaaheeeeeeyaaaa thu thinnnn ya humuuuaaahuuuuhaaaa"

it's like he's only able to sing through a 40ft sponge.

It's part of the reason I like Pearl Jam but part of the reason I can't list them as like THE BEST BAND EVERRRRR and definitely why I can't list them above Nirvana or even Alice in Chains for the time period.

[Eric P]

The Ventures
The Cramps

[Eel O'Brian]

hell yeah

[Robo]

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

[Dickie Dee]

I am glad someone else brought up Darth Vedders shitty voice - it's my main gripe with PJ

"Wuuuhuuna uh huuuhaaaheeeeeeyaaaa thu thinnnn ya humuuuaaahuuuuhaaaa"

it's like he's only able to sing through a 40ft sponge.

It's part of the reason I like Pearl Jam but part of the reason I can't list them as like THE BEST BAND EVERRRRR and definitely why I can't list them above Nirvana or even Alice in Chains for the time period.

I fucking love AiC, but if you are rating them on the "Mmmpha ya yeaurrrr yearrrr yearrrr" scale Layne Stanley's voice is even more ridiculous.

[Eel O'Brian]

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

hahaha, i was agreeing with eric

the cramps don't get nearly enough love

[Cormacaroni]

yeah, now we're well into ridiculous 'list a bunch of bands that *I* like' territory