Greatest American rock band?

[UtahDan]

On an unrelated note, but since we are are posting about influences, the more I listen to You Never Know on Wilco's new album the more convinced I am it is a homage to George Harrison. Compare:

[YOUTUBE]puSQjcAxbR0[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]fQkylt8PX5g[/YOUTUBE]

I'm laughing because as soon as I googled the Wilco song I realize I was not the first person to make this connection, so maybe it is obvious. Still, interesting.

[MarkGrace]

I'm laughing because as soon as I googled the Wilco song I realize I was not the first person to make this connection, so maybe it is obvious. Still, interesting.

It is plainly obvious. The very first time I heard this I immediately thought of George.

If you want to hear another Wilco song that plays extremely close to its influences, listen Spiders (Kidsmoke) and then Hallogallo by NEU! Wilco often wears its influences on its sleeve (there is Tom Petty all over the new record), but never did they get closer to an almost carbon copy of a band's style than they did here. The only real violation of the genre is that Tweedy decided to throw these huge hooks into the song. Krautrock that is not! (but still one of my favorite Wilco songs)

[MarkGrace]

Somebody finished the biography he was reading.

No, not finished. I'm actually right in the middle of this semi-competition between the Beatles and the Beach Boys and Brian going crazy, so all that stuff was fresh on my mind.

Heros and Villains is a great Beach Boys bio.

This is what I am reading. Despite the fact that it is dreadfully written and something in nearly every paragraph makes me want to strangle the author, I'm enjoying it

[MartyFunkhouser]

While I don't love the Beach Boys, big surprise to you I'm sure, I have to respect the use of a theramin. I do enjoy God Only Knows.

[UtahDan]

No, not finished. I'm actually right in the middle of this semi-competition between the Beatles and the Beach Boys and Brian going crazy, so all that stuff was fresh on my mind.



This is what I am reading. Despite the fact that it is dreadfully written and something in nearly every paragraph makes me want to strangle the author, I'm enjoying it

It has been years since I read it, I had forgotten it was not well written. Packed full of information though.

[Sleeping in EQ]

CCR.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I was thinking about this over the weekend. Does the UK have any Hip-Hop artists of note?

[MarkGrace]

I was thinking about this over the weekend. Does the UK have any Hip-Hop artists of note?

The Streets is one of the most acclaimed hip-hop artists this decade, but other than that the UK is not much noted for hip-hop. What they have done is taken influence from American hip-hop and turned it into genres more reflective of UK culture. Areas like trip-hop (Portishead, Massive Attack, Tricky), dubstep (Burial) and grime (Dizzee Rascal) all took the bass/beat heavy stylings of hip-hop and expanded them into new sounds/territories. And, to be quite frank, I think most of those genres are quite a bit more interesting than current American hip-hop (save maybe the likes of Jay-Z, Madvillian, Clipse and Outkast).

[BigPiney]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are a great American Rock and Roll band. IF you are so inclined I would recommend the documentary about them: "Running Down a Dream". It was great.

[MarkGrace]

While I don't love the Beach Boys, big surprise to you I'm sure, I have to respect the use of a theramin.

The poor man's ondes martenot

[MartyFunkhouser]

The Streets is one of the most acclaimed hip-hop artists this decade, but other than that the UK is not much noted for hip-hop. What they have done is taken influence from American hip-hop and turned it into genres more reflective of UK culture. Areas like trip-hop (Portishead, Massive Attack, Tricky), dubstep (Burial) and grime (Dizzee Rascal) all took the bass/beat heavy stylings of hip-hop and expanded them into new sounds/territories. And, to be quite frank, I think most of those genres are quite a bit more interesting than current American hip-hop (save maybe the likes of Jay-Z, Madvillian, Clipse and Outkast).

The only reason that those styles can be considered better than American hip-hop is because American hip-hop is dying right now. I would say the best of American hip-hop kicks the ass of those genres. Look at an album like Blowout Comb by Digable Planets or Midnight Marauders and Low End Theory by Tribe and it puts anything of that style to shame. Of course, I'm of the opinion that Blowout Comb is hip-hop's finest hour.

It is also appropriate that hip-hop is more of an American art form. It is really developed out of the only original American musical movement, jazz. The jazz roots of hip-hop are rarely discussed but it really was the biggest influence on the genre. Whether it be from jazz itself for acts like Tribe and Digable, or from the P-Funk sounds that definitely had strong jazz roots.

Maybe hip-hop isn't dead and I just don't have the time and money to find the good stuff anymore. I'm open to that possibility because a lot of people proclaim that jazz is dead, and they are wrong.

[MarkGrace]

The only reason that those styles can be considered better than American hip-hop is because American hip-hop is dying right now. I would say the best of American hip-hop kicks the ass of those genres. Look at an album like Blowout Comb by Digable Planets or Midnight Marauders and Low End Theory by Tribe and it puts anything of that style to shame. Of course, I'm of the opinion that Blowout Comb is hip-hop's finest hour.

It is also appropriate that hip-hop is more of an American art form. It is really developed out of the only original American musical movement, jazz. The jazz roots of hip-hop are rarely discussed but it really was the biggest influence on the genre. Whether it be from jazz itself for acts like Tribe and Digable, or from the P-Funk sounds that definitely had strong jazz roots.

Maybe hip-hop isn't dead and I just don't have the time and money to find the good stuff anymore. I'm open to that possibility because a lot of people proclaim that jazz is dead, and they are wrong.

You highlighted my comment and then implied you were going to disagree with what I said. But then you didn't. Strange.

[MartyFunkhouser]

You highlighted my comment and then implied you were going to disagree with what I said. But then you didn't. Strange.

I agree that currently there is good stuff being produced in these styles, but historically the best of hip-hop is better than the best of the other styles. Not sure if you agree with that statement or not.

[MartyFunkhouser]

While we are discussing non-American hip-hop, I would suggest checking out MC Solaar.

[YOUTUBE]n8kGW16RYs[/YOUTUBE]

[Commando]

Non-American hip-hop is craaaaaap. Although do they ever love it in Japan.