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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ggw on July 06, 2005, 10:04:00 am
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And the greatest American rock band ever is ...
I knew last week's column would spark heated debate among music aficionados, but I didn't realize just how intense it would get until the e-mail started pouring in â?? more e-mail, in fact, than I've received about any other column.
And though the results were close, there could only be one winner. So, without further ado, I present your top pick for the greatest American rock band of all time:
Pearl Jam.
Yes, the Seattle rockers outranked powerhouses such as Van Halen (No. 3), The Doors (No. 9) and Nirvana, which landed at No. 18. At first, I was shocked by the choice (to be honest, I fully expected Aerosmith to win). But the more e-mail I read, the more it began to make sense.
Why is Pearl Jam the greatest? Here's what you said:
â?¢They've stayed true to themselves. "Instead of selling out with videos and constant press coverage, they pulled back at their height, and focused on the music," wrote Willie McNabb in El Dorado, Ark. "They belong up there with Neil Young, Zeppelin and The Beatles because they never compromised their integrity, which is really all any of us have."
â?¢The music rocks. From Atlanta reader Tom Baker: "They've continually reshaped their sound, album after album, and are still making great, vital music 12+ years into their career. What else could you want?"
â?¢Their records sell ... "... because they're good, not because they've been hyped to death by the media," McNabb added.
â?¢There have been scores of imitators. "How many Pearl Jam/Eddie Vedder knockoffs have invaded rock radio since Ten?" asked Scott Jordan, another Atlanta fan.
â?¢Their concerts are first-rate â?? and affordable. Jake Mohlman from Barrington, R.I., praised the band for keeping ticket prices low. "It's unique in an era when most artists gouge their fans to the limit," he wrote. "Likewise, releasing their shows on low-cost bootlegs brings a new dimension to seeing one of their shows."
2. Aerosmith. "Their first hit was in 1973, and they're still selling out concerts," wrote Brooklyn Center, Minn., reader Darren Slack, who added that "fans don't boo them if they play stuff off their latest album" and they're "probably one of the first groups teenagers and parents both dig (and not in a Pat Boone kind of way, either)." Said David Matthews from Tampa: "No one died, no one got pâ??-ed and left the band, no one got kicked out and was replaced â?? and their ability to rock the house is still going strong."
3. Van Halen. "How many bands from America have been as huge as Van Halen, then had to replace the lead singer and still be as popular, or even more popular, than before?" asked St. Louis reader Christopher Cokenour. "Van Halen's songwriting, whether with David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar, took you to a place of happiness, never getting too heavy, never being too stupid." In addition, Patrick Beam in Little Rock was one of several readers to say "Eddie Van Halen influenced every guitarist that was alive or has been born since."
4. The Eagles. "They win for longevity (I've got my ticket stub to their 1977 Hotel California tour), concert performances (also have ticket stubs from six 'farewell' concerts), they write their own songs and have tons of records sold," said longtime fan Sheri Broom from Savannah, Ga.
5. Journey. "No contest!" said Deer Park, Texas, fan Bob Barney. (He went on to type the band's name 12 times using a large font and a spectrum of colors.) From Ronda Nelson in Terre Haute, Ind.: "They have been rockin' for over 30 years and are out on tour right now supporting a new CD."
6. Guns N' Roses. "A lot of people have said that it's unbelievable that Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child O' Mine and Patience could have all come from the same band," wrote Laurie Hamilton from Bennington, Vt. Said Marlborough, Mass., reader Matthew Sychantha: "These guys practically set up the world, combining punk, thrash metal and hair metal in an interesting, twisted style."
7. The Grateful Dead. "I feel a band's records are limiting; true musical genius comes through live music," wrote Carl Fuller, a Dead fan from Flagstaff, Ariz. "The Dead also created an entire tribal subculture in society. Few bands can claim this honor."
8. Queensryche. Some reasons why, according to David Russell in Fishkill, N.Y.: "They've endured 25 years of the changing rock scene. They still tour all the time, selling out all the time and putting on an unbeatable live show. Their music has evolved with the times and has never failed to succeed. Their lyrics are constantly full of thought-provoking material and deep meaning. They are the best all around band ... period!"
9. The Doors. "They had the complete package: musicianship, lyrics, songs and stage presence," wrote Michael Morris from Bourne, Mass. "But more importantly, their music has far transcended the band (even with the cult-psycho-martyr status of Jim Morrison) and stands the test of time. No one was doing, or will ever do, what The Doors did. They were the original alternative band, and that makes them the greatest American band."
10. R.E.M. "Their ability to link lyrics with great depth to an alternative/folk/rock sound is unparalleled in the world of music," said Lebanon, Pa., fan Jay McCumber. "There is no one who sounds like R.E.M. except R.E.M. Automatic For The People is the greatest American rock record ever."
11. The Allman Brothers Band and Fleetwood Mac (tie). "Duane Allman was one of the greatest guitar players that ever lived; a legitimate argument could even be made that he was the best," wrote Pittsburgh fan Ned Twyman. Jeff Sprankle from East Haddam, Conn., agreed, adding, "this band has had benders that have lasted longer than most bands' careers." As for the Mac, Debbie Gultice in Xenia, Ohio, said "harmonies between Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie are haunting. And who has ever heard of a band with three songwriters who can create hits?"
12. Metallica. From Patrick Dickens: "Although I don't like where heavy metal is today, Metallica essentially created an entire sub-genre of rock 'n' roll. Even if some won't give them credit for creating heavy metal, there is no doubt that they defined it and carried everybody else along on their backs."
13. KISS. "Thirty-two years, millions of records, massive merchandising and a fan base that does not want them to stop touring, ever" qualify them as the best band, according to Christopher Burke in Colorado Springs. As for those live shows, Michael Gershe in Akron, Ohio, said they're "the most fun you can have for two hours with your clothes on."
14. The Ramones. "Every band, American or otherwise, has been influenced by them in some fashion," said Raleigh reader Tom Maeser. From Matt Cox: "They didn't burn out, they didn't fade away, and they weren't a one-hit wonder. They were a band who played to make music and turn people on. I got turned on to the Ramones in the fifth grade, and today, 20 years later, they are still my favorite band, and my kids' favorite band."
15. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and Creedence Clearwater Revival (tie). Steve Howell from Bear, Del., had a few things to say about E Street: "From a recorded album perspective, (their) stuff is indescribable. If you haven't seen them, don't walk, run, to get tickets the next time they are in town. The first thing you will think after the show is, 'I want to â?? no, I need to â?? go again tomorrow night.'" And Creedence? "They define good ol' American rock," wrote Andrew Neuburger in Olathe, Kan. "They have 20+ songs that get regular play on many different radio formats. A great combination of rock, country, R&B, rockabilly and swamp pop made their songs accessible to everyone."
16. Dave Matthews Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd (tie). "DMB is the epitome of what American rock stands for: huge tours, loud rock and the working class," wrote Gabriel Wallis in Greenville, S.C. Mike Minnick in Morton, Pa., praised Skynyrd's "killer songs ... and they still tour in spite of losing so many members. And the music still sounds the same as when they were still complete."
17. The Beach Boys. "The Beach boys, fueled by Brian Wilson, were the only band to compete with arguably England's best-ever rock band, The Beatles," wrote Milwaukee fan Nick Blavat. "Pet Sounds still pushes what music is, even by a 2005 standard. Brian Wilson's George Lucas-like re-touching of the Beach Boys' unreleased masterpiece, Smile, clearly shows their staying power and influence in American music."
18. Nirvana. From Greg Mahoney, a college professor in Georgetown Township, Mich.: "The first time I heard Nevermind, to paraphrase Beck out of context, I knew things were gonna change, I could feel it. To bolster the point: I do most of my research in China, (and) during the nation's first Beer Festival, held in Shenzhen, a teenage cover band fronted by a punked-out Chinese girl ripped through Smells Like Teen Spirit with all the ferocity of Cobain and Co. Indeed, things had changed, and you could feel it."
19. The Replacements. Among Bill Walsh's long list of reasons for picking the 'Mats, the Illinois reader said that "Tommy Stinson was 13 when they recorded their first album, Sorry Ma, Forgot To take Out the Trash, "the high school in Heathers is Westerberg High" and, finally, "What other band would have the cojones to name an album Let It Be, which is better than the Beatles' version?"
20. Bon Jovi. Unfortunately, most voters chose not to elaborate why Jon, Richie and the gang were tops. I guess they wanted the music to speak for itself â?? or maybe they were just too busy rocking to type.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/popcandy/2005-07-05-pop-candy_x.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/popcandy/2005-07-05-pop-candy_x.htm)
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No Drive By Truckers? I am appalled.
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Top 20 is really a top 25. If you have a tie, you skip the next position otherwise you could have the 25 bands at slot 14 and the 34 bands at slot 15...
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this list is about what i'd expect from a USA Today readership ... her personal picks trended more indie, of course ... i wonder if there are any rock crits out there who actually would come up with Top 20 list like this? are there any mainstream butt-rock-loving critics? i'd assume that if they were out there, they'd write for USA Today, but I guess not.
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
20. Bon Jovi. Unfortunately, most voters chose not to elaborate why Jon, Richie and the gang were tops.
I believe that reason is the emotion of shame.
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Nice choice!
As much as I love them...DBT needs to pass the test of time before being even considered.
Queensryche tho?!
I'd add this to the list of why PJ really are the best American Rock band right now:
They take good care of their fans - ensuring they can get GREAT seats to their shows thru the fanclub. It's a case study on how it should work. Unlike the Rollling Stones 'fanclub' which charges $100 just so you can get access to buy their $400 tickets.
Each gig is an event - likely to be 2.5 hrs plus - with a totally unpredictable setlist. Which you can then buy 30 minutes later & it sounds like it is an entire tours best of compilation.
Unlike any large concert I've ever seen - their shows truly feel like a celebration: everyone standing, dancing, singing the entire time \nn/
Check the acoustic disk for the Boston 3 show from 2 years ago. They were playing every song in their current repertoire during that 3 night Boston stand and they had to come out early and play an hour acoustic set that evening to accomplish this. Eddie actually begs the crowd to sit down - "it's going to be a long night. we're not going to do an acoustic version 'Blood' during this set"
They are much better musicians now than they were in the 90's. Mike McCready is the most under-rated guitarist. And Matt Cameron is Godzilla on the skins.
They always struggle to do the right thing - Ticketwanker battle - real benefit shows (see last year's stellar Benaroya set).
That's all of my campaigning for now...
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
this list is about what i'd expect from a USA Today readership ... her personal picks trended more indie, of course ... i wonder if there are any rock crits out there who actually would come up with Top 20 list like this? are there any mainstream butt-rock-loving critics? i'd assume that if they were out there, they'd write for USA Today, but I guess not.
Who would you add? Seriously.
And not the flavor of the month.
I just went through my list of records, and can only find these that I would add, but I could easily make a counter argument that outside of my little world most of these do not meet the criteria of "Greatest" American Rock Band:
Afghan Whigs
Wilco
Social Distortion
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Should be on the list!
Monster Magnet ;)
Ultimately what that lists suggests - proves? - is that America has a pretty shameful history of producing "Great" rock bands.
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i hate pearl jam, and his boycott of videos and ticketmaster.
where are the roots?
ah maybe one day
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The Smithereens the same lineup for 25 straight years, not many bands can claim that.
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Originally posted by definitivedoodle:
i hate pearl jam, and his boycott of videos and ticketmaster and his not coming over to my house to cook me dinner.
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Who would you add? Seriously.
And not the flavor of the month.
lists all come down to what you're looking to define ... if "greatest" means "most popular", then yes, this is a very good list ... i would tend to think of "greatest" as a mixture of influence, chops, and popularity
the whole "band" thing is also really limiting, my list would be radically different if you could include solo artists, and some of my picks are kind of pushing that envelope (simon&garfunkel, petty/heartbreakers)
god, i love having the summer off and being able to do this, here's my list:
1) the beach boys
2) creedence clearwater revival
3) simon & garfunkel*
4) the ramones
5) the byrds
6) REM
7) sly & the family stone
8) velvet underground
9) the allman brothers band
10) talking heads
11) big star
12) boss/e street*
13) sonic youth
14) pixies
15) pearl jam
16) the doors
17) petty/heartbreakers*
18) guns n' roses
19) pavement
20) the replacements
21) yo la tengo
22) the beastie boys
23) tool
24) the cars
25) superchunk
* should really be in a solo artist list
this isn't my "favorite" list, just the "greatest", as i defined it above
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well, i forgot nirvana, they'd go in 15-20 somewhere ... and i guess the dead have to go in the top 15 ...
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much much better.
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
well, i forgot nirvana, they'd go in 1,500-2,000 somewhere ... and i guess the dead have to go in the top 15,000,000 ...
I couldn't agree more.
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bleech to the beach boys... highly overrated IMHO... granted Brian Wilson is highly influential on many of the artists i dig, but the early stuff is pap and even "pet sounds" suffers from inane lyrics. besides mike love has totally sullied the beach boy legacy with the endless summer tours complete with cheerleaders and john stamos on drums.
and where is Love, Raspberries, MC5, The Stooges, Grand Funk Railroad, Husker Du, George Thurogood, ZZ Top on any of these lists?
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
1) the beach boys
this goes beyond bad taste, its kinda like...no taste at all. its like the grits or music loving.....says a lot though.
:)
i'd put CCR and Sonic Youth up there though.
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I wouldn't put the Beach Boys at #1, but they'd certainly be in my top 10. I choose to ignore the Wilson-less Beach Boys.
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yikes those aren't crickets one is seeing on the ground...
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No surprise. Of course Pearl Jam is the greatest American rock band. :) I voted for them, by the way.
Hopefully they'll reward me for voting for them in an insignificant poll in a weak daily paper by giving me Ten Club tickets to one of the Borgata shows.
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Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
1) the beach boys
this goes beyond bad taste, its kinda like...no taste at all. its like the grits or music loving.....says a lot though.
[/b]
i just consider the beach boys to be the quintessential "american" band ... and, as you can see from my list, CCR is not far behind ... i guess i left a lot of metal off of there, metallica should probably be in the top 20
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I'd take KC & the Sunshine Band over Queensryche.
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9. The Doors. "They had the complete package: musicianship, lyrics, songs and stage presence," wrote Michael Morris from Bourne, Mass. "But more importantly, their music has far transcended the band (even with the cult-psycho-martyr status of Jim Morrison) and stands the test of time. No one was doing, or will ever do, what The Doors did. They were the original alternative band, and that makes them the greatest American band."
The Doors lifted much of thier sound from Love...
16. Dave Matthews Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd (tie). "DMB is the epitome of what American rock stands for: huge tours, loud rock and the working class," wrote Gabriel Wallis in Greenville, S.C.
WTF - Loud Rock??? Working Class??? wrong on some many accounts
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
WTF - Loud Rock??? Working Class??? wrong on some many accounts
come on kosmo, these are USA Today readers ... do you expect any different?
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Pearl Jam did that "Jeremy Spoke in Class Today" song, right?
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
i just consider the beach boys to be the quintessential "american" band ...
I think with a little research you'd discover most of America is more like Lynyrd Skynyrd than The Beach Boys.
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Top 50 American Artists (ranked by U.S. sales)
1. PRESLEY, ELVIS 116.5
2. BROOKS, GARTH 105.0
3. EAGLES 89.0
4. JOEL, BILLY 78.5
5. STREISAND, BARBRA 70.5
6. AEROSMITH 65.5
7. SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 61.5
8. MADONNA 60.0 (Formerly American)
8. STRAIT, GEORGE 60.0
10. JACKSON, MICHAEL 59.5
11. CAREY, MARIAH 57.5
12. METALLICA 57.0
13. VAN HALEN 56.5
14. HOUSTON, WHITNEY 54.0
15. ROGERS, KENNY 50.0
16. KENNY G 48.0
17. DIAMOND, NEIL 47.5
18. ALABAMA 46.0
19. SANTANA 42.0
20. JOURNEY 41.0
21. JACKSON, ALAN 39.5
22. PRINCE 39.0
23. SIMON & GARFUNKEL 38.5
24. SEGER, BOB AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND 38.0
24. CHICAGO 38.0
26. MC ENTIRE, REBA 36.5
26. GUNS 'N ROSES 36.5
26. 2 PAC 36.5
26. FOREIGNER 36.5
30. BACKSTREET BOYS 36.0
31. DYLAN, BOB 35.0
32. NELSON, WILLIE 34.0
33. DENVER, JOHN 32.5
34. TAYLOR, JAMES 32.0
34. BON JOVI 32.0
36. SPEARS, BRITNEY 31.0
36. KELLY, R. 31.0
36. BOSTON 31.0
39. RONSTADT, LINDA 30.0
39. DOORS, THE 30.0
41. MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 29.5
42. PEARL JAM 29.0
43. DIXIE CHICKS 28.5
44. 'N SYNC 28.0
44. PETTY, TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS 28.0
44. BOLTON, MICHAEL 28.0
47. MELLENCAMP, JOHN 27.5
48. BOYZ II MEN 27.0
49. MC GRAW, TIM 26.0
49. LYNYRD SKYNYRD 26.0
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116.5 what?
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Top 50 American Artists (ranked by U.S. sales)
1. PRESLEY, ELVIS 116.5
2. BROOKS, GARTH 105.0
3. EAGLES 89.0
4. JOEL, BILLY 78.5
5. STREISAND, BARBRA 70.5
6. AEROSMITH 65.5
7. SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 61.5
8. MADONNA 60.0 (Formerly American)
8. STRAIT, GEORGE 60.0
10. JACKSON, MICHAEL 59.5
11. CAREY, MARIAH 57.5
12. METALLICA 57.0
13. VAN HALEN 56.5
14. HOUSTON, WHITNEY 54.0
15. ROGERS, KENNY 50.0
16. KENNY G 48.0
17. DIAMOND, NEIL 47.5
18. ALABAMA 46.0
19. SANTANA 42.0
20. JOURNEY 41.0
21. JACKSON, ALAN 39.5
22. PRINCE 39.0
23. SIMON & GARFUNKEL 38.5
24. SEGER, BOB AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND 38.0
24. CHICAGO 38.0
26. MC ENTIRE, REBA 36.5
26. GUNS 'N ROSES 36.5
26. 2 PAC 36.5
26. FOREIGNER 36.5
30. BACKSTREET BOYS 36.0
31. DYLAN, BOB 35.0
32. NELSON, WILLIE 34.0
33. DENVER, JOHN 32.5
34. TAYLOR, JAMES 32.0
34. BON JOVI 32.0
36. SPEARS, BRITNEY 31.0
36. KELLY, R. 31.0
36. BOSTON 31.0
39. RONSTADT, LINDA 30.0
39. DOORS, THE 30.0
41. MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 29.5
42. PEARL JAM 29.0
43. DIXIE CHICKS 28.5
44. 'N SYNC 28.0
44. PETTY, TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS 28.0
44. BOLTON, MICHAEL 28.0
47. MELLENCAMP, JOHN 27.5
48. BOYZ II MEN 27.0
49. MC GRAW, TIM 26.0
49. LYNYRD SKYNYRD 26.0
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
2. BROOKS, GARTH 105.0
Yup only an American could set himself a goal to outsell Elvis and The Beatles...
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Top 50 American Artists (ranked by U.S. sales)
13. VAN HALEN 56.5
19. SANTANA 42.0
41. MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 29.5
The Van Halen brothers were born in The Netherlands.
Santana was born in Mexico.
Dave Matthews was born in South Africa.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Top 50 American Artists (ranked by U.S. sales)
13. VAN HALEN 56.5
19. SANTANA 42.0
41. MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 29.5
The Van Halen brothers were born in The Netherlands.
Santana was born in Mexico.
Dave Matthews was born in South Africa. [/b]
Van Halen - Formed 1974 in Pasadena, CA
Santana - Formed 1966 in San Francisco, CA
Dave Matthews Band - Formed 1991 in Charlottesville, VA
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<img src="http://www.forumspile.com/Stop-Government.jpg" alt=" - " />
http://soylentgreen.ytmnd.com/ (http://soylentgreen.ytmnd.com/)
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Van Halen - Formed 1974 in Pasadena, CA
Santana - Formed 1966 in San Francisco, CA
Dave Matthews Band - Formed 1991 in Charlottesville, VA
Just like every "alternative" band in the 90's was formed in Seattle.....
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
i just consider the beach boys to be the quintessential "american" band
did the quintessential American music magazine tell you that?
i suppose we have different views of what American music is. :)
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Originally posted by Ellis D. Fleischbach:
<img src="http://www.forumspile.com/Stop-Government.jpg" alt=" - " />
http://soylentgreen.ytmnd.com/ (http://soylentgreen.ytmnd.com/)
yo... spend some more time busting up crates and barrels (http://medien.akbild.ac.at/armin/crates_and_barrels/index.html) will ya!
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Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
i just consider the beach boys to be the quintessential "american" band
did the quintessential American music magazine tell you that?
i suppose we have different views of what American music is. :) [/b]
i suppose so.
they were also america's great hope during their cross-atlantic rivalry with the true GOAT, the beatles
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ah yes... USA Today... news for dummies...
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speaking of lists, what did you guys think of Spin's latest issue (top 100 albums of the last 20 years)?
I think they struggled on how to fit hip-hop into the equation and ended up overrating public enemy ... i'm ok with "ok computer" at #1, but it wouldn't be my choice ...
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
Originally posted by Ellis D. Fleischbach:
<img src="http://www.forumspile.com/Stop-Government.jpg" alt=" - " />
http://soylentgreen.ytmnd.com/ (http://soylentgreen.ytmnd.com/)
yo... spend some more time busting up crates and barrels (http://medien.akbild.ac.at/armin/crates_and_barrels/index.html) will ya! [/b]
OM Speaks (http://omspeaks.ytmnd.com/)
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
speaking of lists, what did you guys think of Spin's latest issue (top 100 albums of the last 20 years)?
I think they struggled on how to fit hip-hop into the equation and ended up overrating public enemy ... i'm ok with "ok computer" at #1, but it wouldn't be my choice ...
That Spin list was awful.
I still don't get this combination of the rap genre with rock music.
That and the fact that I think Radiohead is overrated.
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Originally posted by slappy:
I'd take KC & the Sunshine Band over Queensryche.
I'd take KC & The Sunshine band over The Beachboys!
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11. The Allman Brothers Band and Fleetwood Mac (tie)....As for the Mac, Debbie Gultice in Xenia, Ohio, said "harmonies between Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie are haunting. And who has ever heard of a band with three songwriters who can create hits?"
Uh, Fleetwood Mac was originally British. Even when they went "American" by merging with Buckingham Nicks, the band was still 3/5 limey.
By the way, The Beatles had three songwriters who could create hits. Plus Paul McCartney ;)
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The Ventures (http://www.theventures.com/). They've been around since before the British invasion ruined rock, and they're still going strong. Check out the video for SURF RIDER.
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The USA Today's columnist's bit from today is great. Check #4.
Whitney Matheson: Pop Candy - How I won't be spending my summer vacation
Whitney Matheson, USA TODAY
Wed Jul 20
Five days from now, I'll be doing something.
Exactly what I'll be doing is unclear, because I'm taking a vacation. Perhaps I'll tackle that new Harry Potter novel. Maybe I'll fashion a bust of John Cusack out of tofu and Colgate Total. Who knows?
But I can tell you how I won't be spending my days next week. Barring insanity or time travel, I solemnly swear to refrain from the following activities:
1. Eating beige M&Ms. The fact that America's beloved candies now come in the same colors as my doctor's waiting room disturbs me more than you know.
2. Attempting to say the word "boojy" with a straight face. Four previous tries = four embarrassing failures.
3. Pre-ordering Tony Orlando and Dawn: The Ultimate Collection. Knock three times if you think the whole "TV shows on DVD" craze is getting way out of hand.
4. Asking anyone about his/her favorite American rock band of all time. If I had a nickel for every person who has greeted me with "Queensryche? What's up with that?" in the last two weeks, I'd have enough cash to book the band at my next kegger.
5. Learning to play Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl on the banjo. It would only drive my husband bananas - and not in the "this (expletive) is bananas" way Gwen sings about in the fourth verse.
6. Reading Rosie O'Donnell's blog. Grammar and punctuation, say hello to your ultimate nemesis.
7. Counting the rings beneath Vince Vaughn's eyes. By the time you finish this sentence, he'll have sprouted two more.
8. Spending $75 on Loggins & Messina reunion tickets. It turns out hearing a live version of Your Mama Don't Dance isn't priceless. Catch you next time, Kenny.
9. Imitating moves from Fox's new reality show, So You Think You Can Dance. My hips still haven't recovered from the impromptu krumping demonstration I performed last week.
10. Typing in Times New Roman. Everyone knows Futura Bold is the summer's must-have font.
11. Slipping into a Ryan Seacrest-designed "distressed polo." Frankly, the mere thought of Seacrest's name touching my bra is distressing enough.
12. Flipping through You: The Owner's Manual. Something tells me the best seller omits chapters on knee phobias and Ed Asner fixations - two crucial elements to understanding myself.
13. Grooming my soul patch. Try as I may, it's just not getting anywhere. (Sorry, Bo Bice.)
14. Catching up on Big Brother 6. I suggest you also steer clear, because that show is like The Ring. Think about it: Do you know anyone who has watched and lived to tell about it a week later?
15. Purchasing Frankie Muniz's engagement present. You know what they say: short guy, short marriage. (Exception: Danny DeVito.)
16. Googling the bejeezus out of Neal from Rock Star: INXS. Yeah, I know I said I'd hate this show. But that was before Kirk Pengilly hypnotized me with his flowing neckerchief.
17. Jumping on the furniture. Thanks, Tom, for wrecking one of my favorite pastimes.
18. Naming my imaginary Ethiopian baby. Though, between you and me, I'd like to call her Linda.
19. Reading Vanity Fair's Martha Stewart interview. I don't care if prison life was tough. She still can't hold a homemade candle to the Food Network's delicious Paula Deen.
20. Mentally undressing Oompa Loompas. Oh, who am I kidding? Some temptations are just too great to resist - especially when you're on vacation.
Pop Question: What will you be avoiding this summer?
Planning to skip late nights at the office? Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo? Tell me about what you won't be doing, and I'll include some answers in my Aug. 3 column. Don't forget to include your full name, city and state. The deadline is July 23 at 4 p.m. ET.
Click here to read responses to last week's question, "What's your favorite music video?" To my surprise, the most frequently mentioned clip was A-ha's Take on Me.
Pop Candy is a weekly column about popular culture. Click here to visit the archive. Click here to read Hip Clicks, Whitney's entertainment blog. E-mail Whitney at wmatheson@usatoday.com.
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Journey and KISS dont even qualify. The article was about ROCK bands. KISS is a glam band (and their music is total crap). Journey is pure pop. Bad pop at that. Perry was on Wheel of Fortune one time and when it was his turn he said "Pat I'd like to buy a singing voice". Unfortunately they had none left.
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Journey had better T-shirsts. I saw almost as many Journey shirts as Ozzy shirts, back in the day. That must give them some rock-cred points.
<img src="http://www.80stees.com/images/products/Journey_3D-Tee-shirt.jpg" alt=" - " />
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Speaking of t-shirts, the secret machines have the most comfortable band shirts I have ever seen. Not sure exactly what the difference is but those are damn cool shirt. Anyone else get one of the 'wired' shirt?
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Originally posted by slappy:
I'd take KC & the Sunshine Band over Queensryche.
EXCELLANT CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Originally posted by Rob_Gee:
Originally posted by slappy:
I'd take KC & the Sunshine Band over Queensryche.
EXCELLANT CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/b]
I beg to differ, and I don't even like Queensryche.
I fucking hate, hate, HATE Disco!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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how many bands can claim to have one of these, though?
<img src="http://journey-tribute.com/journey/resources/arcade/s_arcade_machine2.jpg" alt=" - " />
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I heard that Ellis D. Fleischbach owns one of these:
<img src="http://www.fu-manchu.com/fumanchu/picturesection/cars-pinball-chicks/nugent.jpg" alt=" - " />
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NRBQ was a flagrant omission from the list, and how was DMB even allowed in the conversation?