Best American Band?

[Dave Sund]

This oughta provide some interesting discussion. ;)

[RandomKoolzip]

1. Current? Defunct? Ever? Genre?

[Dave Sund]

2. Ever, Current, Any Genre, Whatever

[RandomKoolzip]

5. Okay. My choice: Guided by Voices.

But of course!

[Emops]

10. I have never heard a single song by Guided By Voices

And I've lived in Dayton all my life. :shrug:

[Dave Sund]

12. I've heard "Teenage FBI"

And that's it.

[RandomKoolzip]

16. It's an acquired taste, and I'm a junkie.

[jpgray]

11. Wuss!

:hide:

[RandomKoolzip]

15. My second choice was The Minutemen.

I know, predictable.

[jpgray]

20. Well, I have possibly the twerpiest singer of the 80s as my avatar

And I can't think of an answer.

[tuvor]

26. Who IS that, anyway? n/t

[jpgray]

32. Mark Hollis

Sang for Talk Talk, which started out as a poor man's Duran Duran and then pioneered the sort of mumbling wussy krautrock angle that Sigur Ros and mid to late period Radiohead had success with. Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock are both pretty great albums

[tuvor]

45. Their debut's the best, though.

I kinda LIKED the poor man's Duran Duran angle.

[jpgray]

46. Well, those old singles are getting mined by modern bands

I just can't stand those period synths. :dunce:

[tuvor]

48. I love those synths.

I guess they and anyone else who incorporated synths in the late 70s/early 80s have some degree of first-mover advantage as far as appealing to my tastes is concerned.

Talk Talk, Duran Duran, Japan, Devo, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Human League, OMD, Soft Cell, Thomas Dolby, Spoons, Men Without Hats, Rational Youth, Nash the Slash, Ultravox...They extracted great sounds with such primitive instruments compared to what's available now.

[jpgray]

50. Gary Numan did good things with those synths, I'll admit

But "talk talk" and/or "mirror man" just are too distracting in their tinny synthness for me to give them a fair listen. I need guitars!!! Or at least a snare hit that doesn't reverberate for thirty-five seconds.

[RandomKoolzip]

29. If we were talking British bands, I'd have picked the Jam.

Sure, the Style Council were a bit....bad.

[jpgray]

37. Paul's hair got more interesting, though

For Brits it would be no contest for me--Soft Machine all the way. Tons and tons of dreck in there (almost everything after 1970), but their best bits will never be topped in my eyes.

[RandomKoolzip]

39. Really?!

I quite like Soft MAchine's early 70's stuff. "Fifth" has some really good, dark/evil Brit jazzwank.

Of course, without Robert Wyatt, they became an almost completely different band....kinda like the Dead without Pigpen (I cannot believe I just typed that. I must now take my own life.)

[jpgray]

42. Yes. Just remember that when I mock your Deadheaddery

Songs like "Dada Was Here," "A Certain Kind," "Why Am I So Short?" and "Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening," are among my all-time favorites when it comes to pop music. I really liked some of Wyatt's and Ayers' solo work (especially Ayers' singles--"Soon Soon Soon" and "Religious Experience (Singing a Song in the Morning)"), and some later Soft Machine is very pretty, but as a three-piece psych pop outfit (no Daevid Allen, thanks) they sound best to me.

[RandomKoolzip]

44. My fave SM song is "As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still."

I once listened to this song fifteen times in a row (I counted.)

Of course, I prefer the early SM, too. But the later stuff is adequate for certain moods.

As far as Kevin Ayers goes, "Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes" should have been the biggest pop song of the 70's, and would have been had there been any justice in this world. Frankly, I blame Bush for keeping Ayers off the pop charts. I mean, look what they did to Springsteen!

Never cross the Reagan/Bush cabal.

[jpgray]

49. That's a great track

Half of what I enjoy about it (and this probably goes for SM in general) is Wyatt's self-effacing silly personality. It's embarrassing to say it, but Wyatt's really a personal hero of mine--based on his interviews, anyway (here's a good one). And yeah, even when Jenkins joined up there was worthwhile stuff in there. My old girlfriend thought the sorta proto-ambient "Carol Ann" off Seven was the greatest thing my music collection contained. :o

[Maestro]

3. Let's just say that album sales are not applicable

Too many great bands get overlooked. Give me some time. I am working on my list.

[Deja Q]

4. The B-52s

:D

[BlueJazz]

13. He said the Best...Not the Worst..

:evilgrin:

[tuvor]

28. No one sounded more American than they.

Good choice.

[WCGreen]

6. TheJohn Phillips Susa arching band

[BlueJazz]

7. Player ability ? Most popular ?

The best is probably..something like the New York Philharmonic

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. The New York Philharmonic?

[Dave Sund]

9. Suppose, but wouldn't they be considered an orchestra?

[BlueJazz]

18. Oh..Man..I guess you haven't heard them play..

"She's having my Baby"

:7

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Sorry for being retarded

As far as American bands are concerned, I would say the Jefferson Airplane but I'm probably way behind the times.

[sundog]

14. the beach boys

:hide:

[jpgray]

23. I knew you were on my buddy list for a reason (nt)

[sundog]

24. ha!

:rofl:

[Zuni]

27. Pet Sounds is my all time favorite album

God Only Knows, Caroline No, I Know Theres an Answer, Wouldn't it Be Nice are excellent songs

[jpgray]

34. Love You is probably my favorite of theirs

:hide:

[sundog]

41. they were the whole package...

great writing plus commercially accessible... good pop music (i never thought pop was a bad word)

[Zuni]

17. some of my favorites

Muddy Water's early 50s Chicago band---Muddy on vocals and guitar, otis Spann on Piano, Jimmy Rodgers on guitar, Little Walter on harp, Fred Below on drums and Willie Dixon on bass (played bass in studio recordings. I honestly do not know who played bass at muddy's gigs)

The Butterfield Blues band classic lineup --- Butterfield on Harmonica and Vocals, Mike Bloomfield on lead guitar and slide, Elvin Bishop on rhythm guitar, Mark Nafatlin on piano and organ, Jerome Arnold on bass, Sam Lay and then later Billy Davenport on drums

Booker T and the MGs---released their own inturmental R and B, as well as being the Stax records house band playing with otis redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, and Albert king among many others

[ugarte]

21. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans

Anybody got a better threesome?

[Spider Jerusalem]

55. Quintet...you forgot Adderley and Jimmy Cobb...

you ARE talking about "Kind of Blue" here, no?

[ugarte]

61. Paul Chambers as well

You're right. I should have included them all.

[jpgray]

57. Not better, but here's a great one: Ellington, Mingus and Roach

[Spider Jerusalem]

58. Amazing album.

:thumbsup:

[Placebo]

22. The Impotent Sea Snakes

Does it get any better than this?

CHICKS WITH D*CKS
I live life for the weekends- I like to party right
I like my beer ice cold- My p*ssy, wet and tight
I cashed my check on Friday- And went straight to the bar
I met a gorgeous brunette- and took her to my car
She stripped me to my jock strap- she was so young and meek
She vanished in the darkness- Yelling, “Let’s play hide and seek.”
I peered around the corner- and frightened by my find
A penis totin’ homo- with some bufu on the mind
…Chicks with d*cks, Chicks with d*cks- Transvestites can be proud
…I’ve never seen a pretty face- On one so well endowed
…Chicks with d*cks, Chicks with d*cks- P*nis envy not required
…Your resume looks good to me- and honey you are hired
She grabbed me by the gonads- and threw me in the street
And filled my anal cavity- with 15 pounds of meat
She humped my butt for hours- ‘til cum drained from my ears
Then turned my a** on over- to two obliging queers
She f*cked me one more time- then made me give her head
Then drove me to her house- and chained me to her bed
For months I was her sex slave- ‘til I escaped one day
But, I couldn’t live without her- So, I’ve come back to stay
…Chicks with d*cks, Chicks with d*cks- Transvestites can be proud
…I’ve never seen a pretty face- On one so well endowed
…Chicks with d*cks, Chicks with d*cks- P*nis envy not required
…Your resume looks good to me- and honey you are hired
And now I shop at Frederick’s- for all my lingerie
My face is caked with make-up- my hair is full of spray
I sleep with gorgeous men- with lots of bucks and class
I take them for a ride- I take them up my a**
I threw away my old friends- I found another scene
I’m happy as a homo- I’m proud to be a queen
I have no desire for females- in fact, they make me sick
I’m every inch a woman- except of course my d*ck
…Chicks with d*cks, Chicks with d*cks- Transvestites can be proud
…I’ve never seen a pretty face- On one so well endowed
…Chicks with d*cks, Chicks with d*cks- P*nis envy not required
…Your resume looks good to me- and honey you are hired

[tuvor]

25. Devo.

Unique, groundbreaking, influential, and their earlier albums still sound fresh to my ears.

[General Zod]

30. Creedence Clearwater Revival

Best American singles band ever.

[Emops]

31. Rush!

Oh yeah...

U2!

No, wait...

Neil Young!

Crap...

The Who!

Oh yeah...

Yes!

No? Hmmmm...this isn't going to be easy...

How about Rage Against The Machine? They're good.

[Dave Sund]

33. Heh

Exactly the point. ;)

[Tikki]

35. x

[MercutioATC]

36. SlantZero (link below)

www.slantzero.com

Yeah, it's totally shameless promotion. I'm their photographer.

[Greyhound]

38. Collection of talent. Gotta be Cream

[RandomKoolzip]

40. Cream was British.

[Greyhound]

59. oops.

thanks :blush:

[Maestro]

43. I just can't make a decision.

Oh well....

[CanuckAmok]

47. Gabba Gabba Hey!

Leather, Levi's and relentless rock 'n' roll... what could be more American?

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/08/02/ramones,0.jpg

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

51. Hanson?

:evilgrin:

[Robeson]

52. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.

[Floogeldy]

53. From a purely objective standpoint, Eagles.

Best selling albums of all time (in millions):

28.0
EAGLES/THEIR GREATEST HITS 1971 - 1975
EAGLES
ASYLUM

27.0
THRILLER
JACKSON, MICHAEL
EPIC

23.0
THE WALL
PINK FLOYD
COLUMBIA

22.0
LED ZEPPELIN IV
LED ZEPPELIN
ATLANTIC

21.0
BACK IN BLACK
AC/DC
EPIC

21.0
GREATEST HITS VOLUME I & VOLUME II
JOEL, BILLY
COLUMBIA

20.0
COME ON OVER
TWAIN, SHANIA
MERCURY NASHVILLE

19.0
THE BEATLES
BEATLES, THE
APPLE

19.0
RUMOURS
FLEETWOOD MAC
WARNER BROS.

17.0
BOSTON
BOSTON
EPIC

17.0
THE BODYGUARD (SOUNDTRACK)
HOUSTON, WHITNEY
ARISTA

16.0
THE BEATLES 1967 - 1970
BEATLES, THE
APPLE

16.0
NO FENCES
BROOKS, GARTH
CAPITOL

16.0
HOTEL CALIFORNIA
EAGLES
ASYLUM . . . (more)

http://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topalbums.asp

[jpgray]

54. MTV really covered the peak of their career poorly. (nt)

[PurityOfEssence]

56. Steely Dan

Come on, be serious.

[AntiCoup2K4]

60. Van Halen!

And you know I don't mean no goddamned Sammy Hagar......

[I Know How To Do it]

62. Zappa and his various line ups.

John Zorn and his Various Line ups.
Public Enemy.
Stevie Wonder.
50's upto mid 60's Jazz.
Mingus, Davis, Coltrane, Gillispie.
Talking Heads.
Sonic Youth.
The Pixies.
Pavement.
No particular Order.

[jpgray]

63. Speaking of Motown, the Funk Brothers get a mention from me (nt)

[auntAgonist]

64. always liked Toto.