Re: Top 5 greatest American bands of all time
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It's Stipe, and I can name three great bands saying that:
Radiohead
The Decemberists
Elf Power
Thom Yorke will tell you he owes everything to Stipe and REM -- both musically and psychologically.
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Like I said, I don't know if they're a big influence, but I really doubt citing bands like Decemberists and Elfs is helping your case. I had to look up both of them to even know who they are, and Decemberists didn't release their first album until 2002. Let's hold off on annointing them as The Next Great Thing.
Also, both of those band's bios on artistdirect.com mention Neutral Milk Hotel, as did you. 99.9% of the world has never heard a single thing by them, and in a "Greatest Bands Ever" discussion, popularity is definitely a top criteria. We know you love indie, ok? No need to list hopeless suggestions just to remind us.
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Why is popularity a top criteria for greatness? A CLOCKWORK ORANGE made 26 million dollars total domestic. Even in 1972 that wasn't much (THE GODFATHER made 134 that same year). And THE THIN RED LINE and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, arguably the two greatest American movies of the last 10 years, made about 40 mil combined.
I'm not saying popularity shouldn't ever be considered, but calling it a "top" criteria is retarded.
Also, nice job ignoring Radiohead in your post. Thom Yorke has, time and time again, cited Stipe and R.E.M. as not only a huge influence but also a model of how to be a rock star.
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