All-time Best American artists?
05-26-09 | 10:15 AM
#51
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Re: All-time Best American artists?
I am going to add a big +1 to that statement. MC5's are probably what Deep Purple was to metal...they might not be on the top of the list, but you can't leave them out.
Detroit invented punk rock, New York made it mainstream, and LA made it fashionable. There is really no debate about that.
Detroit invented punk rock, New York made it mainstream, and LA made it fashionable. There is really no debate about that.
wow, just totaly ignore and diss the DC hardcore punk scene which included Bad Brains, Slickee Boys, Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Dag Nasty.
05-26-09 | 01:04 PM
#52
DVD Talk Gold Edition
05-26-09 | 03:54 PM
#53
Re: All-time Best American artists?
Yikes I don't know what to say about this list. Ratt? Richard Marx? Firehouse? Sammy Hagar? Alan Jackson? How did these people get on the same list as Prince and REM?
05-26-09 | 06:30 PM
#54
Re: All-time Best American artists?
why aren't some of the foundations of rock n roll being mentioned- blues artists- Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Blind Lemon Jefferson etc.? There would be no rolling stones, led zeppelin etc etc without these guys. Led Zeppelin made a career out of stealing some of their songs and claiming them as theirs even! I don't mean to say that in a snide way but it's true.
and what about Buddy Holly, just as important as Elvis was in my book. What about the Everly Brothers as well?
and I got to disagree with the velvet underground being responsible for punk, goth, whatever else. Influential sure, but there were lots of others doing what I'd consider punk or avant garde around the same time. I think a lot of good stuff from the mid-late 60s gets overshadowed by bands like them.
and what about Buddy Holly, just as important as Elvis was in my book. What about the Everly Brothers as well?
and I got to disagree with the velvet underground being responsible for punk, goth, whatever else. Influential sure, but there were lots of others doing what I'd consider punk or avant garde around the same time. I think a lot of good stuff from the mid-late 60s gets overshadowed by bands like them.
Last edited by statcat; 05-26-09 at 06:38 PM.
05-26-09 | 06:46 PM
#55
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From: So Cal
05-26-09 | 08:47 PM
#58
05-26-09 | 09:25 PM
#59
Banned by request
Re: All-time Best American artists?
Hey, it's not just the music, it's the image and look, too. Cooper was sporting dark hair, wearing black leather jackets and jeans long before The Ramones came onto the scene. He did the glam look in the late sixties (on the west coast) long before it even became a 'scene' in the early 70's. He pretty much set precedents for wearing makeup, gender bending, fantastical costumes, and outrageous stage shows. The entire punk attitude - that's Alice, too.
And as for the music, you point out "I'm Eighteen". Well what do you think "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is? It's the 90's version of "I'm Eighteen". And as for other bands influenced musically, well B5Erik listed some, and like him, I could continue, but I don't have the time to list them all. It would take all night.
You should really delve deeper into the man's musical output, aside from just the 'hits'. A wealth of fantastic, nay, genius, stuff awaits. Cooper's still around and going strong, about to release his 25th studio album of new material (not counting live and hits compilations) later next month. Oh, and how many albums did the Velvet Underground release? Five? Six? How long did their career last? But I'm not really trying to crap on them. Like I said, I consider them influential, just nowhere near as much as you seem to. Besides, they were highly influenced by Dylan, anyway, so I guess it would cycle back to him, not them, for the real influence. Anyway, there's only one true all-time most influential band, and that's The Beatles. End of story.
And as for the music, you point out "I'm Eighteen". Well what do you think "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is? It's the 90's version of "I'm Eighteen". And as for other bands influenced musically, well B5Erik listed some, and like him, I could continue, but I don't have the time to list them all. It would take all night.
You should really delve deeper into the man's musical output, aside from just the 'hits'. A wealth of fantastic, nay, genius, stuff awaits. Cooper's still around and going strong, about to release his 25th studio album of new material (not counting live and hits compilations) later next month. Oh, and how many albums did the Velvet Underground release? Five? Six? How long did their career last? But I'm not really trying to crap on them. Like I said, I consider them influential, just nowhere near as much as you seem to. Besides, they were highly influenced by Dylan, anyway, so I guess it would cycle back to him, not them, for the real influence. Anyway, there's only one true all-time most influential band, and that's The Beatles. End of story.
Few rock groups can claim to have broken so much new territory, and maintain such consistent brilliance on record, as the Velvet Underground during their brief lifespan. It was the group's lot to be ahead of, or at least out of step with, their time. The mid- to late '60s was an era of explosive growth and experimentation in rock, but the Velvets' innovations -- which blended the energy of rock with the sonic adventurism of the avant-garde, and introduced a new degree of social realism and sexual kinkiness into rock lyrics -- were too abrasive for the mainstream to handle. During their time, the group experienced little commercial success; though they were hugely appreciated by a cult audience and some critics, the larger public treated them with indifference or, occasionally, scorn. The Velvets' music was too important to languish in obscurity, though; their cult only grew larger and larger in the years following their demise, and continued to mushroom through the years. By the 1980s, they were acknowledged not just as one of the most important rock bands of the '60s, but one of the best of all time, and one whose immense significance cannot be measured by their relatively modest sales.
So, I'm not knocking Alice Cooper, who is a smart, savvy guy and a great entertainer. But he's not on the same level as The Velvet Underground.
Last edited by Supermallet; 05-26-09 at 09:29 PM.
05-26-09 | 10:31 PM
#60
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05-26-09 | 11:35 PM
#61
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From: Home of the Maize & Blue (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Re: All-time Best American artists?
Because i typed them in that way, ok enough sarcasm, i really enjoy all of those artists you mentioned above, you obvisouly don't, to each there own ay.
05-27-09 | 12:00 AM
#62
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From: West Richland,WA
Re: All-time Best American artists?
The two greatest ever are "Buddy Holly" & "Roy Orbison" enough said and without them there would be no Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen and countless other's to follow them.
But to me Roy is the man!!
But to me Roy is the man!!
Last edited by cranberries fan; 05-27-09 at 12:03 AM.
05-27-09 | 10:07 AM
#64
Re: All-time Best American artists?
The thread is about great American artists not your favorites. I doubt even the members of Ratt would call themselves great American artists.
05-27-09 | 10:45 AM
#65
Re: All-time Best American artists?
No, but you asking if it is a joke is a joke.
Paul Stanley has a fantastic voice, is a really good songwriter, and could be called the Elvis Presley of the 70's and 80's. (Except that he wrote much more of his own material than did The King.)
Very few performers can match Paul Stanley when it comes to live performances (vocally, or when it comes to energy and charisma on stage), even to this day.
Paul Stanley has a fantastic voice, is a really good songwriter, and could be called the Elvis Presley of the 70's and 80's. (Except that he wrote much more of his own material than did The King.)
Very few performers can match Paul Stanley when it comes to live performances (vocally, or when it comes to energy and charisma on stage), even to this day.
05-27-09 | 10:49 AM
#66
Re: All-time Best American artists?
I'm thinking in the same league as the OP.
Bob Dylan
Frank Zappa
The Byrds
CSN&Y (if Nash can be accepted)
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Jefferson Airplane
Grateful Dead
Neil Young
Bob Dylan
Frank Zappa
The Byrds
CSN&Y (if Nash can be accepted)
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Jefferson Airplane
Grateful Dead
Neil Young
05-27-09 | 11:33 AM
#67
Senior Member
05-27-09 | 11:40 AM
#68
DVD Talk Legend
Re: All-time Best American artists?
If he hasn't been mentioned before, I want to throw Jim Croce into the ring. He was an insanely talented songwriter and storyteller, one who drew his material out of the working class mythology of America and crafted some pretty damn fantastic songs. Plus "Roller Derby Queen" could be the greatest song ever written. I'm just sayin'...
05-28-09 | 12:11 AM
#71
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From: Home of the Maize & Blue (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Re: All-time Best American artists?
That's why i put Ratt on my list, not only a great american band but yes they are one of my favorite bands, and have you asked any of the members if they consider themselves great artists didn't think so, by the way Warren De Martini is an exceptional guitarist, Bobby Blotzer is a great drummer and Stephen Pearcy is really good when it comes to Lead Vocalists, by the way they are working on new material, can't wait.
05-28-09 | 07:40 AM
#72
Senior Member
Re: All-time Best American artists?
That's why i put Ratt on my list, not only a great american band but yes they are one of my favorite bands, and have you asked any of the members if they consider themselves great artists didn't think so, by the way Warren De Martini is an exceptional guitarist, Bobby Blotzer is a great drummer and Stephen Pearcy is really good when it comes to Lead Vocalists, by the way they are working on new material, can't wait.
...i guess you consider twisted sister great american artists as well??? god how i loathe the 80s.
05-28-09 | 08:25 AM
#73
DVD Talk Hero
05-28-09 | 08:29 AM
#74