Greatest American Rock Band?
Greatest American Rock Band?
I was pondering this issue last night and realized that pretty much all of the rock bands considered in the running for the greatest of all time are British (Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, et al). I started wondering about the greatest American rock band and came up with the following nominees, in order of the one I support the most to the least:
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Nirvana
Metallica
Yeah, that's about it. I am precluding artists who are typically considered just as individuals (Joplin, Holly, Hendrix), regardless of Holding Companies, Crickets and Experiences.
Am I missing anyone? Is CCR really the best rock band ever from the USA? I love CCR and think they're vastly underrated, but I can't imaging that they're the greatest in American history. Right?
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Nirvana
Metallica
Yeah, that's about it. I am precluding artists who are typically considered just as individuals (Joplin, Holly, Hendrix), regardless of Holding Companies, Crickets and Experiences.
Am I missing anyone? Is CCR really the best rock band ever from the USA? I love CCR and think they're vastly underrated, but I can't imaging that they're the greatest in American history. Right?
Not a CCR fan. I'd put the Doors, Beach Boys and Allman Brothers up there. People seem to like the Eagles too.
REM, Grateful Dead, Guns N Roses, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Journey, Kansas, and Pearl Jam are probably up there, though I'm not particularly crazy about any of them.
But yeah, from Dylan to Prince most of the exemplary American artists have been soloists.
REM, Grateful Dead, Guns N Roses, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Journey, Kansas, and Pearl Jam are probably up there, though I'm not particularly crazy about any of them.
But yeah, from Dylan to Prince most of the exemplary American artists have been soloists.
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Clear the Beatles are the greatest American rock band ever.Tegan wrote:No love for the Beatles? You young whippersnappers have no appreciation.
If we were going by personal tastes alone, I'd pick Bad Religion, but I don't see many people agreeing with me.
Last edited by Mike Bentley on Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Greatest American Rock Band?
What's wrong with you?leftsaidfred wrote:I love CCR and think they're vastly underrated
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U2 is obviously not American, but a lot of their albums (especially The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb) are all heavily shaped by American themes and influences. So I think they deserve a mention for that reason.
Now, back on topic... Fleetwood Mac is half American... I think they count. Metallica has to get a mention.
Now, back on topic... Fleetwood Mac is half American... I think they count. Metallica has to get a mention.
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Agreed. Chicago had some good brass-backed rock before they went all power ballad. I'm a huge fan of Styx (obviously), but I don't think, in terms of "all time," they deserve much more than a passing/honorable mention. I'd also lump REO Speedwagon, Journey, Foreigner, and Boston with Styx here.StPickrell wrote:Chicago (before they started to suck) and Styx need to be remembered here too.
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Well, my *favorite* American rock bands are probably RHCP, Jane's Addiction, The Band, and Rage Against the Machine. However, if I had to pick an all-time best American rock spectacle, I'd have to say either Nirvana or Elvis. Seriously, where's the Elvis shout-out in this thread? Does he count as pop instead of rock?
But if the Blue Man Group somehow count as an American rock band, then they win. No one else comes close.
But if the Blue Man Group somehow count as an American rock band, then they win. No one else comes close.
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I considered mentioning Elvis, but he's not really a "band".laszlow wrote:Well, my *favorite* American rock bands are probably RHCP, Jane's Addiction, The Band, and Rage Against the Machine. However, if I had to pick an all-time best American rock spectacle, I'd have to say either Nirvana or Elvis. Seriously, where's the Elvis shout-out in this thread? Does he count as pop instead of rock?
But if the Blue Man Group somehow count as an American rock band, then they win. No one else comes close.
Other valid choices brought up: Doors, Beach Boys, Eagles, Allman Brothers, the Grateful Dead, Simon & Garfunkel, maybe R.E.M., maybe the Band. Of course, these are in addition to CCR, Nirvana & Metallica.
Everyone else, I think, is fairly easily ranked below these groups. Tighten up your belts before you nominate someone like freaking Kansas. We might as well start discussing Huey Lewis and the News.
U2 does not qualify because they are not from America. Fleetwood Mac formed in England, I believe, so that's a no go. Bruce Springsteen and Elvis do not qualify because they are each a single person.
The Band of Brothers is the best "comedy" option suggested.
Everyone else, I think, is fairly easily ranked below these groups. Tighten up your belts before you nominate someone like freaking Kansas. We might as well start discussing Huey Lewis and the News.
U2 does not qualify because they are not from America. Fleetwood Mac formed in England, I believe, so that's a no go. Bruce Springsteen and Elvis do not qualify because they are each a single person.
The Band of Brothers is the best "comedy" option suggested.
There is not a large enough.Tegan wrote:No love for the Beatles? You young whippersnappers have no appreciation.
Dude, what's wrong with you? I'd really like to hear why you don't like them. I don't like the Doors, but I can deal with their position as a nominee.grapesmoker wrote:What's wrong with you?leftsaidfred wrote:I love CCR and think they're vastly underrated
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Thanks for the props on taste.ReinsteinD wrote:Fred's got taste.
I'd add Phish to the list, but that's just me.
If singing groups count, then we need some Supremes and Jackson 5, though the latter could be disqualified due to their contributions to the Victory album and everything they have done since.
I wouldn't include Phish myself, but I do just consider them Grateful Dead wannabes.
I'm torn on singing groups. Motown-esque groups produced some great music of course, but I don't know if I'd count them as a band. I think instrumentalization is important.
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QUEENleftsaidfred wrote:For the love of God tell me that's some kind of joke.Matthew D wrote:Okay I just remember one that we have left out
ZZ Top..
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The Band indeed had four Canadians, to one American. But the music's as all-USA as one can get.
Incidentally
Steely Dan c [properly contains] "Reelin' in the Years"
which is a much less general case. While we may or may not grant the proposition that:
"Reelin' in the Years"=Gag me with a horse turd (and indeed, sir, as "Reelin' in the Years" c fine Denny Dias guitar solo, that is not a self-evident proposition)
Steely Dan also properly contains a fine selection of other material, including the four-album run from Pretzel Logic to Aja that is both the best jazz-rock fusion ever made as well as the best-produced set of pop albums of the 70s (give or take P-Funk). And, as opposed to Aerosmith and just about everyone else here, their lyrics are intentionally funny when so, and their grasp of music theory goes beyond the blues scale.
As for the Eagles, they have (so far as I know) exactly two songs that they rewrote many many times over ("Oh woman I love you despite our moderately complex relationship," in blues-inflected B-flat, and "Oh woman, it's been fun but I'm leaving," in sunny C Major), and this does not a great band make. Neither does aimless stoned jam noodling (Grateful Dead). Combining these propositions two leaves anyone guilty of both (the Allmans) proverbially Right Out.
Oh, and also the Mothers of Invention should be here (edit: and, for the love of God, the freakin' Magic Band too), unless they go the way of the E Street Band and such other front-man-centric groups.
Incidentally
Indeed, you misspeak. To correctly expresses this mathematically:quizbowllee wrote:
Steely Dan = Reelin' in Years = Gag me with a horse turd...
Steely Dan c [properly contains] "Reelin' in the Years"
which is a much less general case. While we may or may not grant the proposition that:
"Reelin' in the Years"=Gag me with a horse turd (and indeed, sir, as "Reelin' in the Years" c fine Denny Dias guitar solo, that is not a self-evident proposition)
Steely Dan also properly contains a fine selection of other material, including the four-album run from Pretzel Logic to Aja that is both the best jazz-rock fusion ever made as well as the best-produced set of pop albums of the 70s (give or take P-Funk). And, as opposed to Aerosmith and just about everyone else here, their lyrics are intentionally funny when so, and their grasp of music theory goes beyond the blues scale.
As for the Eagles, they have (so far as I know) exactly two songs that they rewrote many many times over ("Oh woman I love you despite our moderately complex relationship," in blues-inflected B-flat, and "Oh woman, it's been fun but I'm leaving," in sunny C Major), and this does not a great band make. Neither does aimless stoned jam noodling (Grateful Dead). Combining these propositions two leaves anyone guilty of both (the Allmans) proverbially Right Out.
Oh, and also the Mothers of Invention should be here (edit: and, for the love of God, the freakin' Magic Band too), unless they go the way of the E Street Band and such other front-man-centric groups.
My bad on not catching the Band. I knew they were Canadian, but for some reason the song "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" threw off my memory.
And hey, it's pretty much the 51st state amirite amirite
As for Steely Dan, they write good songs, but when Marvelous 3 makes Reelin' In the Years the song it should be, there's something wrong with this. Or Smash mouth with "Do It Again". I'm completely serious with these statements.
And hey, it's pretty much the 51st state amirite amirite
They're okay, but far from being the greatest American band ever.Matthew D wrote:Let me guess you don't like ZZ Top...
As for Steely Dan, they write good songs, but when Marvelous 3 makes Reelin' In the Years the song it should be, there's something wrong with this. Or Smash mouth with "Do It Again". I'm completely serious with these statements.
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As I am well aware. In fact, Farrokh Bulsara was from Zanzibar. But we outsource our music industry so much, that really, aren't all the "big" bands to some extent American?quizbowllee wrote:Queen is British.dsfcaptains2005 wrote:
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ReinsteinD wrote: I'd add Phish to the list, but that's just me.
Is there anyway to put the icon in 12,500 point font in triple bold?
ReinsteinD wrote:If singing groups count, then we need some Supremes and Jackson 5, though the latter could be disqualified due to their contributions to the Victory album and everything they have done since.
The Jackson 5? The Jackson FIVE?
The Jackson Five was a tremendous group in their prime, and Michael Jackson still ranks as one of the greatest pop solo singers in history. Don't let the fact that they're all greatly screwed up in the head keep you from seeing that.
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Springsteen is really one of the best out there.DeisEvan wrote:I don't think he's the absolute greatest ever, but someone should throw The Boss out there. Thus:
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND
And I've got to echo the Simon and Garfunkel sentiment. They were amazing together.
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Actually, I'm pretty sure that Hotel California is one of the Eagles best songs.yoda4554 wrote:As for the Eagles, they have (so far as I know) exactly two songs that they rewrote many many times over ("Oh woman I love you despite our moderately complex relationship," in blues-inflected B-flat, and "Oh woman, it's been fun but I'm leaving," in sunny C Major), and this does not a great band make.
And I'd have to go with Metallica or Nirvana... probably Nirvana.
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Why has no one brought up The Temptations? Any other R&B group out there perhaps of interest? I'm certainly more a nouveau swing person, so Cherry Poppin' Daddies gets some cred for me.
I definitely say that Chicago is quite underrated, though I think they had their own "sound" that didn't quite meet a lot of definitions here of good hard rock bands. But if you like Chicago, you have to love the Eagles, even if Chicago has had more longevity. Then again, so have the Temptations (cycling people in and out over the years as well).
Quiet Riot... even it if was a one-hit wonder.
Do Beastie Boys really count as a band?
And there's Peter Paul and Mary... okay, can we agree that anyone less than 4 members does not constitute a band?
Also are Pussycat Dolls American? hee hee hee
I definitely say that Chicago is quite underrated, though I think they had their own "sound" that didn't quite meet a lot of definitions here of good hard rock bands. But if you like Chicago, you have to love the Eagles, even if Chicago has had more longevity. Then again, so have the Temptations (cycling people in and out over the years as well).
Quiet Riot... even it if was a one-hit wonder.
Do Beastie Boys really count as a band?
And there's Peter Paul and Mary... okay, can we agree that anyone less than 4 members does not constitute a band?
Also are Pussycat Dolls American? hee hee hee
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