Who's the Best Band on Earth?

[zorndeslammes]

could it be because Tool traffick in the mysterious and obscurity guaranteed to win cultist followers, whereas the Arcade Fire are really just normal blokes who wear their hearts on their sleeves?

Neither Tool or Arcade Fire are one hundred percent original by any means, but Tool has the benefit of a decade jump on AF, a larger fanbase, and respect that's been earned through hard work and solid releases rather than given after one disc.

Of course, I wouldn't pick any of these bands. Boris would be a solid pick right now.

[Rit]

who's talking about originality? if you want original, go back to robert johnson or go back to indiginous musics of the world.

Tool have their fan base thanks to hard work and solid releases?

you neglect to address my point that they are also obscurantists and manipulators of arcane imagery... guaranteed to get them a stronger following than Arcade Fire.

Cosmic Doom Shows will always win out over ordinary emo blokes any day of the year in the high stakes world of Rock Nerddom.

[zorndeslammes]

i remember Clinic all too well, as i am still a fan. Their last album was a diassappointment, which derailed their public image somewhat, but there's no taking away from Internal Wrangler or the 3 EPs albums... which are good rawkus music no matter how you cut it.

That's fine and dandy, but for the most part they've become a midpack band mired among a ton of other acts that sound very similar from a historical perspective. There's a lot of shit like this. People used to pretend The Hives were the best rock band from Scandinavia.

[Rit]

not me.. i hated the Hives the moment i heard the first note.

the Hives are nothing. you're not really comparing apples and apples here if you're seriosuly comparying them to Clinic.

[shin]

I remember when TV on the Radio were the hottest band in the land. Same with And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead. And the Rapture. Oh, the Strokes too.

So much for any of that.

[Rit]

fair enough... TV on the Radio were supposed to be the inheritors of cutting edge pop music.. but that fizzled out, as TVotR proved to have a shaky live presence (i know, coz i saw them and they were shite)....

...as well as releasing a mediocre full length LP.

The Strokes are garbage. You win there, Shin. you were right all along.

[zorndeslammes]

who's talking about originality? if you want original, go back to robert johnson or go back to indiginous musics of the world.

I think originality should play into it somehow. I'd rather hear someone try to do something different and succeed than listen to another band, go, "hey, I bet I can do that" and copy them, no matter how good they are.

Tool have their fan base thanks to hard work and solid releases?

you neglect to address my point that they are also obscurantists and manipulators of arcane imagery... guaranteed to get them a stronger following than Arcade Fire.

Sunn 0))) dresses in shrouds and names albums by their color and order of release. I'd be willing to be Arcade Fire sold more albums than Sunn 0))).

[zorndeslammes]

I remember when TV on the Radio were the hottest band in the land. Same with And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead. And the Rapture. Oh, the Strokes too.

Haha. I didn't want to say The Strokes, just because I've been biased against them since day one. They fucking blew then, they blow now. I almost wish there was more of me railing against them on RS.com from back then too. :sigh:

[Rit]

zorndeslammes said:

who's talking about originality? if you want original, go back to robert johnson or go back to indiginous musics of the world.

I think originality should play into it somehow. I'd rather hear someone try to do something different and succeed than listen to another band, go, "hey, I bet I can do that" and copy them, no matter how good they are.

Tool have their fan base thanks to hard work and solid releases?

you neglect to address my point that they are also obscurantists and manipulators of arcane imagery... guaranteed to get them a stronger following than Arcade Fire.

Sunn 0))) dresses in shrouds and names albums by their color and order of release. I'd be willing to be Arcade Fire sold more albums than Sunn 0))).

don't worry Zorn.... Sunn O))) will have a "hardcore" cult audience 50 fucking years from now because of it. Mostly comprised of pimply nerds who think that the cloaks are evidence that girls suck (but are such sluts), and that the "colour and order of relaease" thing indicates their awesomness and collectibility.

;D

[shin]

Oh well, at least the fey New York media will always have an excuse to lament the failings of their precious darlings everytime an album comes by them.

[kmc]

shin's points only serve to reassert Radiohead's or TOOL's popularity. I maintain that BSS is currently the best of the bunch, and simply because their latest album is, IMO, a bit better than "Hail To The Thief" and a hell of a lot better than "Funeral." I don't dare say it is better than "Lateralus", but that came out long enough ago to not really figure in my radar. We might as well discuss "Achtung Baby". And before anyone mentions it, U2 is NOT the best band in the world. Not now, not ever.

[phil]

Aren't you guys slowly but surely
losing track of the topic here ...

[phil]

Bah ! kMc just ruined everything ... !!

[Rit]

okay well, BSS did release the best album of the bunch in recent times. Kenny is right on with that.

[Rit]

shin said:

Oh well, at least the fey New York media will always have an excuse to lament the failings of their precious darlings everytime an album comes by them.

the fey NY media?

that's a judgement call. (and a fair one, actually)
it just seems as though your ire is with the critical reactions and not with the music itself.