Ipp-odd and Beyond: Music

I know the versions by the Dead Kennedy's, The Clash, and The Ramones.

So, the Dead Kennedy's, the Clash, the Bobby Fueller Four, the Ramones, the Crickets, and Green Day. Thanks!

Black 47 performs a kickass live version as a post-script to "Who Killed Bobby Fuller?". I probably have a recording of it around here somewhere-in a box, on an outdated mode of music transmission. I think I've even rushed the stage to join in the chorus once or twice...But you didn't ask that, did you?

No, but interesting to find out anyways... :twisted:

So, the Dead Kennedy's, the Clash, the Bobby Fueller Four, the Ramones, the Crickets, and Green Day. Thanks! Well, that and the other long list of artists I linked to on the page earlier. A cursory glance at iTunes shows a number of different versions available as well including by Bryan Adams, Hank Williams, Jr. & Nanci Griffith, amongst others.

A couple months ago a friend asked me last minute (too last minute, unfortunately) if I wanted to go to the Van Halen concert with her. All things being equal, if I'd had more warning, I definitely would have gone, as I'd consider VH--with David Lee Roth on lead vocals---an act definitely worth catching and I was too young to see them when they were in their prime. Oy vey. I'm pretty glad that I didn't shell out the cash to see the show. Diamond Dave sounds truly awful and Eddie Van Halen sounds....I don't know. Drunk maybe. TMZ is reporting that the rest of the tour has been cancelled because of Eddie's "issues." After watching that hideous clip I had to go to the wonderfulness that is youtube and find something far more appealing. Yes, Panama will always do nicely.

Hello kidlets-I have a very important question. The fate of absolutely nothing rests on your answers. Let's assume the Beatles are the greatest rock band of all time (because they are) and let's further consider that the Beatles were British and thus don't count in this instance. Neither do the Clash, or the Stones or the Kinks or even Thin Lizzy (as much as I'd love to read an argument that they're the greatest band ever). Who is the greatest American rock'n'roll band? Defend yr answers please. If your choice for best band ever is the Beach Boys-well, OK fine-but don't give examples as to why. OK? Thanks.

Who is the greatest American rock'n'roll band? Defend yr answers please. If your choice for best band ever is the Beach Boys-well, OK fine-but don't give examples as to why. OK? Thanks. Sometimes this answer just depends on what mood I'm in. I suppose I'd have to break my answers down into categories. For longevity and the fact that I can listen to nearly every incarnation of: REM. For having one super great, generation defining album followed by (IMO) a bunch of mediocrity (but nonetheless solid music/social ethics): Pearl Jam. (I should probably admit that I like Pearl Jam's Ten better than Nirvana's Nevermind) For pretty much everything: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band For being under the radar but solid on every release: Weezer For repeatedly coming up with absolute pop perfection: The Beach Boys. (But really, more pop than rock.) For a timeless, quirky sense of humor and art school approach: Talking Heads. For 2-3 excellent albums and setting the bar for all who follow (despite often sucking themselves): Van Halen. For all-around musical genius: Prince and the Revolution For being the epitome of alt/country/rock: Wilco For the band that has picked up the mantle of what Rock & Roll is supposed to be and run with it: The Killers. But these are just bands that I personally like or have liked at various points along the way. I have a feeling that if the whole country were to evaluate, it would probably end up being something I totally can't relate to like The Eagles or Aerosmith or Bon Jovi. I thought about throwing the Pretenders in here but although Chrissie Hynde is American, her band mostly was not. So I wasn't sure if it was fair to consider them American.

Band Who May Not Have Sold Well But Inspired Countless Young Rockers To Form More Awesome Bands: The Velvet Underground RSH, this question kills me. The answer seems to depend entirely on my mood. Does The Band count? Or is it too full of Canadians? :wink: (I should probably admit that I like Pearl Jam's Ten better than Nirvana's Nevermind) *whispers* Me too.

The problem I have with the question-and I mention this because bailey's answers (all of which are awesome, BTW) reminded me: most American bands are front men/women with a bunch of dudes playing instruments behind them. (Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Tom Petty). There aren't that many bands.

The Ramones are a great band, but they essentially wrote the same three songs over and over. My favorite band is Television. But a Tom Verlaine's guitar playing is a huge part of what made them amazing. So they're another example of a dude with a bunch of folks playing instruments behind them.

The problem I have with the question is that there are very few American bands who have produced multiple albums of which I'll listen to all or even most of the songs. It seems to me that there are more British bands that fit that criteria. Or maybe I'm just picky. I do have to say that I really don't like the Beatles. I'm not stupid enough to suggest that they didn't have a huge cultural impact, but I personally can only listen to their songs if another artist is covering them. ETA: I liked Ten better than Nevermind as well.

The problem I have with the question-and I mention this because bailey's answers (all of which are awesome, BTW) reminded me: most American bands are front men/women with a bunch of dudes playing instruments behind them. (Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Tom Petty). There aren't that many bands. But I think you have to differentiate between something like Bruce Springsteen et al which are essentially solo artists with a kick ass band and a group like REM which, yes, has a front man, but is an essential unit with one singer who ends up being treated as the "face" of the band. REM, for instance, has Peter Buck and Mike Mills writing the music, then bringing it to Michael Stipe who write lyrics and sings them -- but while Stipe gets the attention, it's an entire band. On the other end of the spectrum, I'd say that Smashing Pumpkins were solely a vehicle for Billy Corgan, and you could even argue that Wilco is Jeff Tweedy's backing band. Something like the Beatles is very rare because it was never any one person's "band." You had three distinctive vocalists and songwriters (sorry Ringo, but "Octopus' Garden" doesn't count). Of course in the end, without any one guiding voice to say: "We're going in this direction now," the Beatles broke up as their individual voices became more distinct. That said ... what's wrong with picking the Beach Boys? (Outside of the whole is-it-Brian-Wilson-and-a-bunch-of-guys question.) They defined a genre of rock that was at the forefront of American culture. In their heyday, they pushed boundaries just as hard as the Beatles and in fact drove the Beatles to keep pushing just to keep ahead of them. That smooth pop sound and harmonies isn't as easy as it sounds. Or the Ramones. Can't deny them for their own genre defining and creation, and their music still rips it up, holding up on its own without ever sounding dated.

Many would consider Aerosmith the greatest American rock n roll band (or at least, that's how I've heard them referred to), and I think they could most definitely be in the running. Their lyrics are sexy and generally very tongue-in-cheek. Their music is definitely fun to dance to. They're still fairly relevant. I also love REM. My goal is to memorize "It's the End of the World as We Know It." Their lyrics are insightful and deep and whatever everyone else said. I guess they wouldn't be considered the greatest rock n roll band, but I do love The Monkees. Their music is fun and carefree and guaranteed to make you happy. So there. Yes, I realize one of their members was English. Perhaps they're also a tad pop, but there is nothing wrong with that. Seriously, I don't understand why people put down pop music like it's the plague, unless you count Hannah Montana. Then I'd agree with you.

That said ... what's wrong with picking the Beach Boys? (Outside of the whole is-it-Brian-Wilson-and-a-bunch-of-guys question.) It's a personal preference, brought on by being subjected to studio outtakes and YouTube videos of the Beach Boys "Bearded and High on Coke" period-which apparently was great for their creativity, but makes me want to stab myself in the ears with a spoon. I agree the Beach Boys did things that are awesome, and I will listen to them as a placating gesture (or because it wins me points) but I just can't enjoy them. For which I apologize. But only a little. There's a difference between Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (to use a personal favorite example) and REM. Nearly every band has a front person-but not every band exists as a cohesive whole. The E Street Band would be musically gifted but lyrically dull without Bruce. The other dudes in REM have made albums without Michael Stipe. It seems to me that there are more British bands that fit that criteria. That would be my point in a nutshell. But there are American bands that have had phenomenal careers-I'm curious who people think they are. I love the Monkees, too, Chipmunk_love. I've got a Headquarters lunch box that impresses all the music geeks and am a great fan of Mike Nesmith's solo oeuvre.

View Full Version: Ipp-odd and Beyond: Music