Most Influential Band of Last 20-25 years

zphage Apr 30, 2008 15:44:32

Is It

Massive Attack:
nontraditional musicians as soundscapists using reggae/hip hop/avant garde production techniques

But then Throbbing Gristle, Caberet Voltaire, Suicide

My Bloody Valentine
Sonic saturation built upon Sonic Youth/Branca

Sonic Youth
Sonic satuartion built upon Glenn Branca

Slint
1st post rockers

Pixies
continue the punk mantle

Nirvana
continue punk mantle with noise/metal or is Mudhoney, Green River, etc

Joy Division
huge influence now and on grunge bands

How about Siouxsie and Banshees plowed similar ground as JDivision?

Julian Cope
More influential now as writer and Urmetalist, then as a traditional melodicist

Actually there are a lot, I don't know if there ever is any ONE most influential at any given time.

IanB Apr 30, 2008 15:50:46

Replying to zphage

The artist who has been the most influential *on* the last 20-25 years of music making? Kraftwerk, Larry Levan or Giorgio Moroder depending on how you look at that line of influence.

*Of* the last 20 years? I dread to think but it is probably a grouch-off between Radiohead and Nirvana. Without whom teenage bedrooms would be a brighter place and we would have been spared both Bush and Muse into the bargain.

If I was being playful I'd probably say that it is tie between King Diamond and Pete Waterman!

machineryelf Apr 30, 2008 17:21:34

Replying to zphage

Nirvana or Metallica, maybe not a good influence but hugely influential, even if just as something to not be
You can go on saying so & so was influencd by so & so until you get back to prehistoric fellow saying look when i hit these sticks together it's something we havn't a word for.

handofdave Apr 30, 2008 18:20:32

Replying to zphage

I think Talking Heads had a lot of influence on the scene..

• David Byrne made it OK to have a strangled, weird singing voice
• Intellectual, nonstandard topical lyrics mated to butt-wagging funky beats
• Adoption and integration of poly-rhythmic 'third world' sounds

dodge one Apr 30, 2008 18:52:13

Replying to zphage

What makes modern music particularly memorable for me is RIFFS. One reason Keef is a KING. But for me the modern era carrier of that torch is Josh Homme. His cataloge of tunes from Kyuss through the Queens of the stone age, as well as side projects are for me just a text book of 'How it's done'. I'm 46 now, and when i plug my Lester into my Plexi, it's Josh's stuff that i love to play GUITAR HERO to. Oh and KeeF's too!

shanshee_allures Apr 30, 2008 20:27:52

Replying to zphage

Influential don't always mean good.
Therein the most influential band I think have been U2.
They inspred Coldplay, who in turn inspired droves of crappy wee (though mega selling) horrible stadium-whingers too countless to mention.

EDIT: And this lady influenced Goldfrapp for sure;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qze2RwY4owQ

Dog 3000 Apr 30, 2008 21:10:49

Replying to zphage

Kraftwerk! (The world may have finally caught up to them though, after 30+ years of being ahead of their time.)

Melvins (#1 in heavy rock)

Pavement (so many quirky indie rockers out there to this day! Of course there's more than a little of The Fall in their sound . . . )

Metallica (they've probably shifted the most units around the globe, took hardcore metal from niche to mainstream)

Michael Jackson (key influence on Britney, Justin, Backstreet Boys, etc. -- for better or worse, he is/was "the king of pop.")

Madonna too? ("girl power", "riot grrrrl" and all that plus dance music in general. Though William Orbit gets a lot of credit for that part.)

I don't see Radiohead as that big a deal, but I suppose U2 has a lot to answer for.

Hip-hop has obviously been huge for the last 25 years, but the trends there change so quickly there's no "one" most influential artist (LL Cool J has lasted longer than anyone else I suppose.)

Mr Altres Apr 30, 2008 23:15:12

Replying to zphage

Kraftwerk

Of the next 25 years I hope it will be Popol Vuh, although it'll probably end up being Take That.

Brian

Kid Calamity May 1, 2008 09:08:33

Replying to zphage

Most people would ssay it's The Beatles. Surely it's the Bootleg Beatles.

Without whom there wouldn't have been all these crappy tributes bands. Every town has at least one. Promoters and audiences alike can be lazy and not need to even stretch their expectation. Yet, can still claim to have been out for some 'live' entertainment - just without getting any cultural stimulation. Grrr...

Dog 3000 May 1, 2008 21:20:13

Replying to zphage

How about Neil Young?

The godfather of grunge, alt-country and emo . . .

And just about the only guy from decades past who still seems "relevant" and not on a permanent oldies tour (Stones, etc.)

(OK so he's not a "band.")

singingringingtree May 1, 2008 21:42:27

Replying to zphage

who cares?
ok, i say kraftwerk too ... w/out them, dance music + hip hop wd be much diminished (+ they're the main new musics of the last 25 yrs, RIGHT???)

Tekpop May 1, 2008 22:57:01

Replying to zphage

If influential is meant as shaping the way music has sounded over the past 20 years then NWA should be taken under consideration.

dodge one May 1, 2008 23:16:51

Replying to zphage

I must be a REEEeaallllly old fart, i own a record, 8-track,cassette,c-d collection nearing 6000 pieces and not 1 hip-hop or Kraftwerk item in there. If that's the 'Future' of good music, well......count me out.

vince May 2, 2008 00:22:37

Replying to zphage

Sadly I'd have to say Stock Aitken & Waterman / PWL. As much as I despise everything they are/were/stood for they were the Grandfathers of this tawdry, disposable Pop Idol-esque BS that we've had rammed down out throats for the last 2 decades. Bastids.

On the plus side, they did give us Kylie :-)