Comments on PURE POD FOR NOW PEOPLE: EPISODE 13
greatest American band.... here is the problem with that question.... can you really That the The Stooges (1960's to 1970's not that current weak stuff) are better than The Byrds when they were creating two very different types of music... but if I had to pin down the greatest american band ever??? Cheap Trick
Posted by Eric Reanimator - April 9, 2007 4:59 PM
That's why we love Eric the Reanimator!
A better question would be, what is your favorite Cheap Trick album?
m&m - PPFNP
Posted by matt slessler - April 9, 2007 5:01 PM
Busted.... just kidding... Cheap Trick are like BOC you can't go wrong with any of their first 5 albums.. but At Budokan is a solid starting point... beyond any of their best of albums..
Posted by Eric Reanimator - April 9, 2007 5:17 PM
I'm an IN COLOR guy myself if I had to pick one, but first 4-5 albums *budokan included* are as good as it gets.
M&M - PPFNP
Posted by Matt Slessler - April 9, 2007 5:23 PM
True Fact: My hearing damage was caused by attending a BOC concert at the county fair back in 1996.
M&M - PPFNP
Posted by Magenta - April 9, 2007 5:28 PM
Ear Plugs are a must for seeing live music... I never go to a show with out them... I saw BOC live at a summer event here a couple of years back at a state fair type deal... very solid show for a band that's been going for more than 30 years.
In Color is solid.. but even though they are one of my all time faves, Cheap Trick has always been more of a singles band and not an album band...
Posted by Eric Reanimator - April 9, 2007 5:32 PM
Matt I really think that you nailed it on the head with the Replacements and the Pixies! But I think that you missed out on not metioning the band Journey! I know that you like them and possibly even love them. You can keep it a secret all you want by I know that when Open Arms or Lights come on you don't turn the station you turn it up! There is nothing to be ashamed of, Steve Perry has an awesome voice. Now it took me a few years to get out of this and on to my punk faze but I will never put Journey down. Keep up the good work I really look forward to your show every week and have not missed a one.
Posted by Ken - April 9, 2007 8:55 PM
Ken:
Took a lot of heat from various people for not including Journey. I have no qualms coming out and saying that Escape spent a ton of time in my "boom box" in the summer of '81. Not on Escape, but "lovin, touchin', squeezin'" gets mad love from me anytime I am at a jukebox. That said, Wheel in the sky makes me want to stab myself in the neck.
Thanks for the kind words!
M&M - PPFNP
Posted by Matt - April 10, 2007 6:28 AM
I lost sleep over this. I saw that the new episode was up just before I went to bed and saw the Replacements pic so I knew that was one of your choices. My dreams were filled with the question. I came up with a lot of the same ones you did, the Pixies, the Replacements, REM, the Beach Boys. I know for sure I would not have had Aerosmith on my list. Um... hello, what about KISS? Cheap Trick - In Color (yes Southern Girls). I was a little disappointed with the way you kind of poo pooed the Ramones. I was sitting here having a discussion with a co-worker about the lack of a definitive great American band. His theory was that most all UK bands steal what they Americans do and then do it better. The Beatles just wanted to do what Elvis was doing. The Sex Pistols just wanted to do what the Ramones were doing. That means when it all comes down to it, the Ramones invented punk rock, which in theory means they are the Greastest American Band. Right?
Posted by Kelly - April 10, 2007 1:15 PM
My only other comment is, I want to know what Magenta thinks is the best American Band. She's from a different generation then you Matt. I know you are the host and she is the co-host but sometimes NOW People want to know.
Posted by kelly - April 10, 2007 1:52 PM
Geez Kelly! Way to put a flaky drummer on the spot! Hee hee. But seriously, if you would have asked me this question 10 years ago it would have been easy because I would have said the Smashing Pumpkins (who were very obviously inspired by Cheap Trick, among many others). Though, this discussion is about "best" opposed to "favorite", which are two totally different things. Let's see. I thought the Pixies and R.E.M. were great choices. Also, Nirvana totally comes to mind. A co-worker brought up RUN DMC and Talking Heads and I agree with those as well. So those are my five bands I throw into the pot.
M&M - PPFNP
Posted by Magenta - April 10, 2007 2:54 PM
Speaking of R.E.M. and the Pixies one of the signs of a band being great is when others cover your songs... that said both R.E.M. and the Pixies have had recent episodes of the podcast Coverville dedicated to them...
Posted by Eric Reanimator - April 12, 2007 4:36 PM
Best American band of all time? I think I would have to sit in the desert on peyote for months before I could narrow that one down. I will say the best American band to me (because they pretty much shaped my young ackward years)is Faith No More. I still think they are ahead of any rock band of today. Anyway, that's my two cents.
Actually here's a few more cents. I can relate to calling the higher ups "suits" so don't let them bring you down (DAMN THE MAN, SAVE THE EMPIRE!) and saying Bea Arthurs Dick outloud still makes me laugh.
LOVE THE SHOW!!! KEEP THEM COMING!!!
Posted by woody - April 13, 2007 11:13 AM
Faith No More? Sorry, but that's like saying Lynrd Skynrd have any revelence. Let's not start an argument here, we all know LS is as overrated as the Doors.
Posted by Kelly - April 15, 2007 1:15 PM
Wow, I kinda knew Faith No More might get a response. That's why I said they were the best American band to ME. I respect the opinion though, but NO ONE is EVER going to give an infinitive answer to that question (we might as well ask who's the best Dad out there or what's the best element on the periodic table) and NO ONE will EVER convince me that one band is better than another because of record sales, number of singles, billboard charts, number of videos on MTV or number of appearances on VH1's behind the music. I'm not trying to start an argument (I save those for when I let people know how overrated I think Black Sabbath is), but let's remember what the word relevent means. What's relevent musically to one person doesn't mean poop to another. Faith No More was definitely relevent to that scene and is still influencing bands today. They were very unique to the metal genre at the time. I agree personally with the Lynyrd Skynyrd comment, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a ton of people who would argue that LS is the best American band of all time. The way I look at it is Faith No More did more for me (notice I said me) than the Beach Boys ever did so for me they stand out as the best ever and I still stand behind the point that even broken up they are still far ahead of what's out there today.
Now if we want to speak in terms of a wider perspective on that question I could go as far as saying Janes Addiction could be the best American band of all time. What other band can put out two studio albums (not including live albums or ones after the split/reunion)and cause the type of stir they did and how many bands have been influenced by them. Again this isn't an argument, everyone will have their opinions and I thank you for yours. I was just trying to make a point that no one will ever have an answer to that question we can just go on our own experiences. Music is such a personal thing to people that you can answer that question a million different ways.
Kelly, let me know what you think about the Janes Addiction comment. Thanks
*one last thing... BEA ARTHURS DICK!!! (still laughing)
Posted by woody - April 16, 2007 11:44 AM
Excellent point brought up here. Is it the band most influential to YOU or best band ever. Obviously, one is subjective and the other isn't. I think truthfully we have to go with not the best band to you because then we have some lady from the suburbs voting for Matchbox 20, and we can't have that.
For what it is worth, I think Jane's was way more inventive than Faith, but Faith was also ahead of it's time. Sadly, both of them spawned a lot of crap like KORN and LIMP DURST.
I mean the Eagles influenced a lot of bands, but those bands were Firefall, Orleans, and Ambrosia.
M&M - PPFNP
Posted by Matt - April 16, 2007 12:01 PM
Matchbox 20, best ever!!
Posted by Lady-in-the-Suburbs - April 16, 2007 12:13 PM
You are right. They did influence many. Unfortunately, many were crap.
Damn you for throwing this question out there. I haven't been able to eat, sleep or work since I started thinking about it. It doesn't help that I have odd taste in music. I still think the world hasn't given Atari Teenage Riot an honest day in court so what the hell do I know. Anyway, thanks for the always entertaining music lessons. I learn a little bit every time I listen in.
Posted by woody - April 16, 2007 1:11 PM
but wait... if you are talking the 'the band [who] most influential' then shouldn't it be Buddy Holly and the Crickets, or The Ventures.... maybe Johnny Cash and the Tenn. Two?
Posted by Eric Reanimator - April 16, 2007 1:29 PM
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