The mighty San Francisco Giants have decided that giving up is the best way to end a season. I hate to know what next season will bring, what with the rumors that Jason Schmidt will be allowed to leave the team. Of course, Bonds will be gone, right? Please? Let him go. I'm tired of him and all the gloom and doom that surrounds him. Maybe Sabean can actually pull off some decent moves, corral some top flight talent. Or maybe he'll sign a bunch of potental washed up "veterans" because they once one a World Series when they were young and spry. Yes, we're in for another baffling offseason of moves that would have been brilliant five years ago.
I had an instant challenge to my comment regarding Jimmy Eat World. It's a fair challenge to. I think we might be dealing with a perception problem from my part. I suppose if I were to expand the umbrella of rock and roll to every band that performs with an electric guitar, Jimmy might not be numero uno. Wilco is a great band. I will acknowledge that. I have already praised Summerteeth as being the definitive American album. It makes me want to sit outside on a porch during the late afternoon and early evening of a gorgeous summer day in middle America. Only a handful of albums make me want to do this (surprisingly, one of these is REM's Reveal). However, recent Wilco releases are...how can I put it...art. There. Wilco has been releasing arty stuff. It's difficult to make the claim that Jimmy produces art. Actually, Clarity seems arty and you could make the same case for Bleed. So, maybe I've gotten myself into a bit of a mess. Dare I rescind my comment about Jimmy being the best American rock 'n roll band around? I think I may have to. My definition of rock and roll band is much too narrow. I could perhaps make the case that they're the best emo band around, but I hate assigning "emo" to any band. Seems like a mistake. However, I only retract the comment pending further review and definition discussion with my wife (although she did not blog about it, she also challenged my assertion).
Who is the best American band? I'll open this question up for comments (to all 4 of you who read) And I mean currently. This means that while previous albums count in the decision, we really should give added weight to recent work. This means REM is out. OUT!!!! Around the Sun was the most boring album in recent years and please please please don't collaborate with Q-Tip ever again. Let me get what I want. Obviously, BIL Matt would vote for Wilco. I know that Josh quite fancies Death Cab after his maginificent concert experience. So I don't know why I even ask this question. Bah.
Top American rock bands (in no paternal order): Shins, DCFC, Okkervil River, Wilco, Jimmy Eat World, Brand New, the Standard. I'm sure I'm missing some here. Like the National. Everyone LOVES the National. They're neat, sure, but I just haven't really connected with them. I leave out Sufjan because he seems too pretty to be rock. He's just indie. So indie. During some of his songs I feel if I sneeze, the song will break into pieces and I'll be listening to a jumble. Jumble. Enough. Such a winding post.
5 comments:
Arty? Hmm. Sounds lame to say it, but you need to see the Wilcos live. Down and dirty American rock. R-A-W-K.
I guess maybe if by "American" you mean "AMERICAN"—then you've got to consider some smooth southern rock at the top of the list, right? My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon...
And any band that holds a concert doubling as a frosh/soph sing-along (dcfc) is automatically disqualified, no matter how I feel about their recorded material.
And the Shins are horrible live. Just horrible. Seen 'em twice and walked away both times swearing I'd never see them again. Stick to the albums.
I guess this all points to the same question: How much weight do we give the live act?
I think you gotta have an "album" category and a "live" category. I say DCFC was fantastic live but I've never been able to sit down and listen to any of their albums all the way through; maybe Transatlanticism on a really slow day. And that's saying a lot since I work in a library and speak to three or four people A DAY. I'm with Run on the Wilco=Art thing--but I haven't seen them live. Though my respect for them extends well beyond it in both directions, my personal Wilco experience begins and end with YHF. Sorry. I can't stay awake through the other albums.
My personal vote is for Spoon. Albums--rock. Live show--I don't know. Apparently Spoon doesn't love Utah. Anyway, Spoon is my personal vote.
I think my objective vote would be for Pearl Jam, even though I personally don't listen to any of their albums after Vs. But they've certainly paid their dues in touring and putting out albums (not counting the dozens of live albums). They survived grunge. They adapted to stay current. Their recent album received a healthy mix of fan and critical acclaim. But like I said, nothing for me after Vs.
Some other mentionables: White Stripes, Iron & Wine (though they [he] aren't really rock 'n roll), The Long Winters and The Chili Peppers. I don't believe I&W or TLW have the broad appeal necessary to take the distinction, but they're definitely American music.
I think, though, we HAVE to hold our breath for Chinese Democracy before we close the discussion.
P.S. I do love The Shins. I always think about the time Run said to me, "I think the only band you really love is The Shins." There is a lot of truth to that. And that includes seeing them live. I'll admit it wasn't life altering, but I liked it. On the other hand, on Austin City Limits they were completely lame.
Let's keep this rolling. I can get down with Spoon. And they loved Utah plenty sometime last fall. My memory's hazy, even though I was there.
Don't think I can get behind the Chili Peppers. They just don't seem to matter anymore. A band's gotta be relevant to be considered "best," right?
Definitely. They HAVE to be relevant. I threw the Peppers in there based solely on Stadium's release. A year ago I would've laughed. But I guess I felt like Stadium was much more well received than I thought. My money was on the opposite. Are they relevant? I don't know. I don't listen to them.
Can't believe I missed Spoon. Glad they loved Utah. Maybe they'll come around again.
What about Bob Dylan? He's enjoying an American renaissance to keep him relevant, I guess. As much as I love his early stuff, I just can't buy into his new work even though it's got such great reviews. Feels to me like a side show; out there for the Boomers, not for awesome young guys like us (like I'm young).
Actually, upto12, I don't even know if you are a guy. I guess I've been assuming you're Doug's brother-in-law. Sorry if you are not a guy. Do you live in Utah? Do you go to a lot of shows?
Alright, so I just wised-up and clicked on your name and read your blogs. First, you're a Cubs fan? I send my condolences like only a fellow Cubs fan can. Why do I even watch anymore?
Second, why hasn't Doug mentioned a brother-in-law in SLC? Are you guys in the middle of some violent dispute? I guess that doesn't make sense since you're commenting on his blog.
First things first. I am the brother-in-law. And I am not a Cubs fan. I find it my duty to explore the century of SUCK that will culminate with great celebrations of ineptitude in 2008. Mainly because as long as the Cubs keep losing, the heat is off my beloved Giants – who haven't won a World Series for more than 50 years themselves...
As far as attending shows... well, I've got a job, a wife, a minivan and 2 kids – so I do what I can. I'll see the fabulous Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) this weekend and I'll be upset that I'm missing Band of Horses in order to attend my own housewarming party. I bought tickets to see the Killers at Saltair mainly because the wife can't get enough of Brandon Flowers.
That's a lot of self-disclosure. I'm sure Doug's getting a kick out of this. And he hasn't mentioned me because he's ashamed of the fact that my blog posts rarely pass the 500-word mark. "Sound-bite society"? I adore it.
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