Best pop/rock band

[suzzer99]

For a few years in the 70s, there were no bigger rock stars on the planet. I've seen their live shows on tv, and they look pretty rocking. There's a special on VH1 about the making of Rumors--how they were all screwing each other and breaking each other's hearts, etc--and how all that went into the album. Pretty cool if you ever get a chance to see it.

I think they're kind of like Oasis, in that you don't really think of their music as "ROCK" in the common sense. But in their shows and personas, they really embody everything rock and roll is about, more than most.

[Aloysius]

What Suzzer said. Also it's Rumo"u"rs - testament to how hard these guys rocked back in the day.

-Al

[Innocent Kitty]

Rolling Stones

[theblackkeys]

I would nominate my username, but I don't think most people know who they are, let alone have listened to their entire catalog. Lots of good rock n roll songs, nothing too out there. They have their own distinguished sound as well. Very little difference in quality between their albums.

EDIT: Perhaps too distinguished and not terribly accessible, however.

[theblackkeys]

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how has nobody mentioned THE WHO?? is it because they're too big, too famous, been around too long? regardless, it's clear to me that they're the greatest "straightforward" rock band of all time.

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Perhaps because he nixed the Zep? Also, concept albums, rock operas, etc.

[nath]

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No, because the OP used "best" in the subject.

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So not ok to call you a "stupid hipster" but ok for you to trash anything you don't prefer?

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That's right. If you don't see the difference between calling music bad and insulting someone, you really need a primer in basic social skills.

[nath]

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how has nobody mentioned THE WHO?? is it because they're too big, too famous, been around too long? regardless, it's clear to me that they're the greatest "straightforward" rock band of all time.

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Perhaps because he nixed the Zep? Also, concept albums, rock operas, etc.

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I think earlier Who fits the definition well, though.

[jagg`]

Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World, and The Killers were really good examples.

a few I don't think anyone has mentioned:

Lit, Gin Blossoms, Eve 6

And less quality but big poppy hooks:

Fall Out Boy, Bowling for Soup, Good Charlotte

[Sunny Mehta]

I've always felt the Counting Crows were a band that have been fairly generic across the board, but write songs and albums that I seem to enjoy (lyrically, production/sound-wise, vibe-wise).

If that's too lame for you rockers, I'd default to Nirvana. I know many consider Cobain a huge innovator, but frankly I think of him more as simply writing, as you say, "great songs that rock."

[Big Poppa Smurf]

sugar ray is a fanstastic answer to this question