<I thikn they have added some new embedding features, you have to choose to use the old embedding code, I select the 1st and 3rd option, and it works out>
Oh, thank you, let me see if it works
The Beach Boys were one of the few American bands that went toe-to-toe, single-to-single with the Beatles and the Stones for a time, that puts them on the shortlist for me.
Darkhorse candidates:
Cheap Trick
Los Lobos
Other than Surf’s Up and a few assorted singles, I never really got the Beach Boys thing, but then again, their subject matter and voices just don’t do it for me so I guess I could see it for anyone not bothered by those things. If the list was more about peak value rather than career I’d seriously consider the Throwing Muses whose eponymous album in 86 was as good as it gets.
Most of the bands I might otherwise consider have already been mentioned, but I’ve been surprised by the absence of mentions for bands like Public Enemy. Or is rap off the table?
-Other than Surf’s Up and a few assorted singles, I never really got the Beach Boys thing-
Yeah, I’m not much for the earlier Chuck Berry + the Four Freshmen stuff, but I think that late Sixties/early Seventies period from Pet Sounds to Smiley Smile to Wild Honey to Friends to Sunflower to Surf’s Up is weirdly genius.
-Public Enemy. Or is rap off the table?-
Not necessarily . . . I’m avoiding it for the sake of compactness.
I really like David Hidalgo and Cesar Rojas’s voices. I like Los Lobos as a band overall, although I think they’re too retro rock n’ roll sounding.
I recently listened to more Cheap Trick and they’re better than I remember. What about The Cars?
And if the Beach Boys are a consideration (I think of them more as a pop band) and Public Enemy, I think that opens the floodgates.
I think Earth, Wind and Fire should be considered. They’re one of my favorite groups.
Also, what about Toto? I think of them more as pop rock (or even prog-pop), but they’re harder than the Beach Boys (although you don’t seem to be going for “hardness”).
Someone mentioned Nirvana, and I like that choice, too.
Bruce Springsteen and the E street band
is at the top of my list
The Beach Boys were one of the few American bands that went toe-to-toe, single-to-single with the Beatles and the Stones for a time, that puts them on the shortlist for me.
I agree. I think that, unfortunately, their whole pretty-boy, surfs-up, California-dreaming persona have really scared people away from viewing them as artists. It was a problem they had with the critics then and it’s a problem they have with the critics now. I mean listen to Sloop John B—it’s as good as anything the Beatles ever did.
When I hear American rock the first bands that come into my head are classic rock bands like The Band, CCR, Tom Petty, E-Street, etc. I don’t really think of punk or metal or anything recent. Is American-Music a genre to itself (like Classic Rock basically is?)
But anyways, the most obvious answer to that question is Pavement, of course.
Oh, and Meatloaf:
-Also, what about Toto? I think of them more as pop rock (or even prog-pop), but they’re harder than the Beach Boys (although you don’t seem to be going for “hardness”).-
Yeah, I don’t think there’s really a “hardness” component to qualify as rock.
Going way back, The Contours
Not to mention they’re one of the hardest working bands. Plus, they still release great music and are just as current with their sound.
-Hank Williams-
I’d allow him, especially considering the influence he had on later rock musicians. More of a solo artist than a band, though.
The Carter Family?:
Obv a very loose interpretation of ‘Rock’ band- which is fine. PE were certainly one of the louest bands I ever saw so they fit from a rock=noise category. I love Hank Williams and want him there but really you should change your definition, to greatest american musician/ group ever- then there no need to worry about categories. A bit disengenious to call Hank ‘rock’ really.
The Velvet Underground. If I could pick two more, I’d go for Big Star and Sonic Youth.
-A bit disengenious to call Hank ‘rock’ really.-
Rock of today came from ’50s rock and roll, of which rockabilly was a big part, rockabilly came from a fusion of what used to be called “hillbilly music” (country) and what used to be called “race music” (R&B, etc.).
-greatest american musician/ group ever-
If you include solo artist and the “&” bands, for me the conversation gets a lot shorter.
Ths doesn’t make much sense.
The origins of Rockn Roll- how far bak do you want to go? Leadbelly? Dock Boggs? etc etc…
I don’t want to argue aganst Hank too much cos I love him to bits but the fact is that during his lifetime he was as country as it gets..playing Grand Ole Opry etc…He didn’t really in any way cross over with the rock n roll scene that was going off around him did he? Or if he did he didn’t really mix. The way in which he is rock n roll is in his totally debauched lifestyle which may have impressed later rockers and punkers. I guess his raw kind of delivery, performance and early death too but to say that he is a ‘rock band’ is drawing a long bow.
He seems to fit precisely your definition above of a ’solo artist and the “&” band.
Anyhow, If you’ll have him then I’ll put him in.
I would probably do a list of ten. Choosing one is too hard.
-Ths doesn’t make much sense.-
You’re right. Can’t argue with that.
He didn’t really in any way cross over with the rock n roll scene that was going off around him did he?
He was dead by ‘52, before there was a rock n’ roll scene, but some of his songs are pretty clearly proto-rock:
-I would probably do a list of ten. Choosing one is too hard.-
Yeah. It is. I guess that’s why I threw this out there as a topic. Greatest British bands, in comparison would present some more obvious choices right away—the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Pink Floyd, etc.
Steely Dan?
Kiss?
Don’t know if your logic follows re: Hank Williams and George Thorogood comparison- The Dirtbombs have just done a whole covers album of Detroit Techno but you wouldn’t say that Inner City or Carl Craig are rock music. Although probably both Kev and Carl do listen to the stuff.
I mean I can see that Hank Williams and his version of country are in the same ballpark as Rock music but I do think they are standing almost in the stands.
Anyhow this point has probably lumbered on for too long. I’ll post a list of ten later. Sounds like you have also accepted Sly and the Family Stone. Again puzzling, but I will take your extremely broad definition.
Matt Parks – you forgot to post The Beach Boys’ best song
Steely Dan’s a good one …
@Deck
Alright another SD fan. But I don’t think they fit Matt’s criteria, as they’re not really a stable band.
Oh, I just noticed posted Steely Dan. Yeah, I’d include them.
@Matt
What? You don’t like EWF?
Let’s not forget the session band behind many hits:
THE FUNK BROTHERS (Motown)
BOOKER T & THE MGs/ BAR-KAYS/ ISAAC HAYES (Stax)
It’s quite difficult to name just one, but whenever one mentions anything about “greatest” American Rock bands, these lot would easily make the list, as far as worldwide influence (from the point of view of a foreign-born music fan at least).
Bruce Springsteen & the E St. Band
Ramones
Van Halen
Earth, Wind & Fire
Blondie
The Doors
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Guns N Roses
The Stooges
Prince
THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION
& most other FZ bands
OK, here’s my official vote (adhering to Matt’s criteria): Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Consistent, commercial (but clever), wonderful sensibility, fairly musically eclectic, straight-forward simple songwriting, range from soft to hard rock, prone to wildly improvised concerts (having been to a few myself), unabashedly American. Even some tracks from their more recent albums occasionally surprise me – they have an ear for music.
The Beach Boys
I have to agree with the person who said their surf image really makes it hard for people to take them seriously. I think that such a shame because they have so many great albums besides pet sounds and were doing innovate things. They have such a unique sound and were actually a very experimental band. They are more than just a surf band. I always wonder how different music and their legacy would be if Brian Wilson completed smile in the 1960s
-Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers-
I was tentatively holding them out because they’re an “&” band, but, at the same time, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench are so much a part of “Tom Petty,” even on the records alleged to be “solo” albums. Hard to believe they’ve been around for 35 years. Saw them at the last year at the very end of the tour.
-Alright another SD fan. But I don’t think they fit Matt’s criteria, as they’re not really a stable band.-
Yeah . . . I’m second guessing that criterion already.
-What? You don’t like EWF?-
I don’t particularly dislike them, and actually I’m not versed enough in their music to say anything intelligent about it. My impression of them is that their music is not differentiate enough to hold my interest from album to album.
-Don’t know if your logic follows re: Hank Williams and George Thorogood comparison—
It’s not that specific connection so much as it is to see how easily his songs move to the rock idiom. It’s more that Williams was one of the early white performers to become popular with music that blended the “hillbilly” style with the style of Southern rural acoustic blues. Essentially, you take much of Williams music, speed it up a bit, an play it with an electric guitar as the lead, and it’s rock and roll.
This thread is completely out of control !!!
I’m putting up two more:
Lone Justice and Cracker
I stand by Sonic Youth, but other options:
Jane’s Addiction
Rush (Canadians count, right?)
R.E.M.
The Doors
The Pixies
Camper van Beethoven
Blondie
Metallica
X
I’d like to hear more from Dead Kennedys, Doobie Brothers, Allman Brothers, Tool, Social Distortion, etc.
and Dinosaur Jr. too.
dope fiend willy