To qualify the discussion let's narrow it down to from 1950s onward. Or else something like Pachelbel's canon would take the discussion in an another direction. Basically most influential modern musicians/bands, criteria for influence is up to you but it should be more than just commercial success
My personal vote is Velvet Underground. I was never a fan of the beatles. There was an element of insincerity in their earlier music and an air of adolescent pretension and rebellion in their later music that made them feel empty. That vapidness came to be occupied by VU. Their combination of listlessness and sentimentality perfectly captures the essence of life in the urban sprawl. Seaming within the music of VU lurks a belief that a greater truth and creative power on the streets of NYC beyond the yuppies and bourgeoisie bs. VU's music is transcendent and timeless. the 2000 indie rock revival draws alot from velvet underground.
What do you guys think? a lot of people on here have really diverse taste in music so I'm looking to hear from the ISH peeps.
Bob Dylan. Not only musically with his revolutionary lyrics and techniques but also his enourmous social impact and social criticism in his lyrics. The Pulitzer Prize gave him an award in '08 for his impact on music and culture and people have compared his works to T.S. Eliot and other master poets.
Last edited by Jailblazers7 : 12-08-2010 at 11:36 AM.
In the last two decades I would have to say Radiohead as far as bands are concerned. They have a strange ability to influence both mainstream and non-mainstream artists and seem to always be on the move in sound. I think a good testament to a bands influence is the amount of clones or similar sounding bands that appear after a band has successfully conquered a sound or a style. A bit like how when the Pixies showed up and everyone like Nirvana and even Radiohead with Pablo Honey were attempting to sound like. In Radiohead's case two of some of the most popular bands today.... Coldplay and Muse, are heavily influenced by what Radiohead did in the 90s with The Bends and OK Computer. Even some not as popular bands like Elbow, Doves, Keane, and Travis all modeled their sound after those early Radiohead records. This decade also featured their most experimental records which drew praise from a whole slew of other bands.
Tool
Bob Marley
Nirvana
Immortal Technique
Beatles
Jimi
Peter Tosh
Dead Prez
Public Enemy
Rage Against the Machine
Pink Floyd
Alice in Chains
NIN
Pearl Jam
The Roots
Ray Charles
Most influential musicians/bands?
