Who's the Best Band on Earth?

[luke]

This may just be the Wild Turkey talking, but there's no other because if you can't vote for one of these four, you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Although I COULD be guilt tripped into wishing I put Wilco on there.

Here's how I rank these bands in terms of favorites. It's really impossible to rank them unobjectively, though:

4. Radiohead
3. TOOL
2. Arcade Fire
1. Broken Social Scene

IMO, Radiohead are far and away the worst of these bands. They are the least original, and the only one I wouldn't rank in a "Top Ten Bands of the Last 25 Years".

The Arcade Fire is incredible, and catchy as fuck, but not doing anything that BSS couldn't do if they wanted to. I love both bands' music enough to give the edge to BSS on originality alone.

I love TOOL, but they just get really boring to me after awhile. And Adam Jones is even worse at ripping The Melvins than Cobain. So I gotta put those guys in at #3, but I have a feeling that they are going to sweep this poll.

The future of rock music is bands with over ten people.

[rockysigman]

The only thing stopping me from insisting on the Arcade Fire is that one album and one EP are not enough to base a claim for best band in the world on. Otherwise, I'd be all about it.

So I'll go with Wilco or the White Stripes. Also, although I haven't heard their full output yet, I've become infatuated enough with Frances the Mute, that I think the Mars Volta might have a case.

[shin]

Tool only because I've been looking forward to the new album for about 1.5 years now, whereas I keep forgetting Radiohead are even still together.

The Arcade Fire and BSS do not belong in this discussion and I don't care what any of you say.

[luke]

Arcade Fire are indeed a bit skimpy to be doing this...but we're at a time when there aren't many old-school bands still taking shit by storm.

The White Stripes bit is a little much for me to process, because that's basically saying that ONE GUY is better than every band on earth. WHOA, I say.

TOOL will probably change my mind with the new release and easily bump Arcade Fire.

Broken Social Scene, though, I really do believe are motherfucking heavyweights, the best thing we got.

I'll take Wilco over Radiohead...like I said, they're kinda in here just because.

Tell you what, though, none of these bands crack my personal top 8 or so.

[maarts]

None of them are the best band on Earth.
But Radiohead's by far better than any of the others.

I honestly can't pick Arcade Fire as best band after just one complete album which did make my top 3 of best albums last year, but one album doesn't make a supergroup just yet. Broken Social Scene I can appreciate but I don't love them by any stretch.I found their albums at turns quite irritating- guess my taste has gone to the more softer toned stuff and I'm not so crazy about it at the moment. Don't think it will change too.

Tool's very much second placed here- I can't think of a more exhausting band, being a fan. Thundering set of albums but so widely apart timewise. Like Mike Tyson, full of promise of being the all-time top heavyweight and falling short of that tag because of their own behaviour.

Radiohead. Can wax lyrical about it, just this- I admire any band taking a sonic risk, sacrificing rock credibility for a more avantgardistic and ultimately, listening-wise more pleasurable approach.

[JesusLooksLikeMe]

Maarts said it for me there, almost word for word.

BSS I just find worthy, admirable... and rather dull. I imagine to them to put on a great live show.

Arcade Fire's album (and to a lesser extent the EP) are great. Truly great. But lets see that 'difficult second album' before we get carried away.

Odd that you left bands like White Stripes and RHCP off the poll, even though I dislike them both.

Radiohead just edge out TOOL for me in that list. Modest Mouse would place third in my current list.

[Rit]

Modest Mouse was a good suggestion.

but BSS all the way. Conglomerate bands are the wave of the future in these Globablist times.

[dolly]

Much as I love BSS (or the two albums I'm familiar with) after a "meh" start I don't think I can consider them a band in the league of Radiohead at this point in time - and that probably has something to do with their "conglomerate" nature (well put though Rit - I would go along with that).

But Radiohead are still at the top of the game and I voted as such. I'll reasess after both BSS and Radiohead have brought out new albums.

[riley]

Tool. Carry on.

[Rit]

fair do's Dolly.
(however, i think it came down to the fact that it was Canada vs. England, and you voted home interests. well, i'm voting Canada, because I. Am.)

[riley]

I should qualify my answer by saying BSS are my favorite of those bands who aren't lazy and only put out albums every 5 years.

[Rit]

NIN puts out albums on a strict 5 year plan. so does Tool, i take it. Both are highly suspect.

[riley]

In fairness, it seems to take 5 years to properly make better music than everyone else (at least in Tool's case, not NIN's). Spontanteity is great. Perfection is more admirable.

[Rit]

yeah both spontenaity and perfection have their benefits. NIN started out with a lot of spunk and fire and brimstone.. then degenerated into the worst kind of morose introspective anti-social nerd.

[Rit]

but they're back to being a dance band again.... i just realized i have no point to make.