Most influential band of this era?

[atf487]

I'm just wondering what band you think has influenced current music the most.

My guess is: The Pixies. Why? They were around before alternative music was a genre, and because Kurt Cobain said himself he was a Pixies rip-off, and that Nirvana was "the new beatles" to many people...

So what's yours?

[The Landstander]

i'm going to have to say the big cliche answer and go with "The Beatles". im sorry, but it all seems to goes back to them.

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

I would say that a lot of the current bands that I hate are influenced by groups like Nirvana and Alice in Chains. Nirvana was influencial for a long time, but I think that has died off somewhat. However, a lot of bands are still trying, unsuccessfully, to recreate A.I.C. The most obvious one is Godsmack, which took it's name from an A.I.C. song. I'm sure a lot wouldn't agree with me, but I do think that currently, A.I.C. is still influencing bands from this era more than any other band from the "grunge" era.

Another would be Rage Against the Machine, what with the rap/rock genre that was first popularized by groups like The Beastie Boys and Run DMC. But that's another can of worms...

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Jackson 5...

[Starflyer 58]

Kraftwerk. ANY artist that uses even a minimal amount of electronic elements in their music owes it to this group of German men - they pioneered techno-pop in the late '60s, early 70s. Still alive and kickin' today, athough they are one of the most reclusive acts on earth - they never let it be known when new music is coming out, or when they're touring, it just happens.

[DarkAngel]

Originally posted by DrWeird
i'm going to have to say the big cliche answer and go with "The Beatles". im sorry, but it all seems to goes back to them.

If we're going back that far, definitely the Beatles. If we're talking more recent, I'd say Nirvana.

[HelloKittyKat]

Originally posted by atf487
I'm just wondering what band you think has influenced current music the most.

My guess is: The Pixies. Why? They were around before alternative music was a genre, and because Kurt Cobain said himself he was a Pixies rip-off, and that Nirvana was "the new beatles" to many people...

So what's yours?

There's more bands that sound like Nevermind than Doolittle. Plus, Kurt also thought "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sounds like Boston's "More Than A Feeling", which it doesn't

The most influential acts on current music are Nirvana, Dr. Dre, Boyz II Men, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Michael Jackson, Black Sabbath, and Marvin Gaye. Turn on a radio and you hear the influences.

[GoufCustom]

Pink Floyd(!!!)
Black Sabbath
Led Zeppelin
Metallica
Faith No More

[Anarky]

define "this era"

frankly I'm waiting for another Public Enemy to hit the scene.
In Chuck D's own words: "Music had to be destroyed"
there were too many happy songs and fluff on the scene back then, so Chuck and the boys had to stir the pot and annihilate music.

today's artists inspire me to turn off my radio

most of my faves are either on hiatus or disbanded: MOA? Hieroglyphics, A Tribe Called Quest, Pharcyde, Krs-1, Beasties...

the best music comes from Europe: Radiohead, Stereolab, Broadcast, Portishead, Jamiroquai, FSOL, Orbital, Sigur Ros, Dmitri From Paris

to quote Phife Dawg on "Klap ya Hands"
"Too much candy is no good, So now I'm closin the shop!"
too much pop, too much bling-bling. Music means nothing today.
rock doesn't rock anymore and all hip-hop stands for now is cash, jewelry, and strippers. Thankfully J5, Common, & the Roots are around to offer up some intelligence.

[Nightflower]

Yeah, "this era" can be pretty broad and cover a wide, wide range.

In terms of mainstream music, while probably not the most influential, I think I have to be blasphemous and say... the Spice Girls. They started the whole girl groups and boy groups, and their movie brought the likes of shows like S Club 7 and slap-together music groups made in shows like Pop Stars. Although pop is leaning more on the R&B side lately, but I think that's a natural progression... the Spice Girls tried to change their sound and be R&B as well. Didn't work, though.

[James]

Originally posted by atf487
I'm just wondering what band you think has influenced current music the most.

My guess is: The Pixies. Why? They were around before alternative music was a genre, and because Kurt Cobain said himself he was a Pixies rip-off, and that Nirvana was "the new beatles" to many people...

So what's yours?

Nice choice. A major influence. They say that while most people haven't heard of the Pixies, anyone who has heard them has picked up a guitar and just as many started a band because of them... including me. I had a band which was heavily influenced by them. I was just very similar to Frank in thinking so his work just... connected with me. He did things I did musically - it was like finding your musical father... who did it better than you too...

David Bowie I think needs a mention as he's now influenced generations of musicians and is still evolving. How can you beat that?

[Arkangel]

Originally posted by Nightflower
In terms of mainstream music, while probably not the most influential, I think I have to be blasphemous and say... the Spice Girls. They started the whole girl groups and boy groups, and their movie brought the likes of shows like S Club 7 and slap-together music groups made in shows like Pop Stars. Although pop is leaning more on the R&B side lately, but I think that's a natural progression... the Spice Girls tried to change their sound and be R&B as well. Didn't work, though.

The Spice Girls didn't invent anything.

Producers assembling "boy/girl bands" to appeal to the teeny-bopper set dates back to the Monkees at least, well over thirty years ago.

In addition, New Kids on the Block and New Edition both came out in the 80's when the Spice Girls, N'Sync, Backstreet Boys, Britney and Christina were in grade school.

I would include the Jackson Five in this category as well, except they actually did have talent.

[Floydian Slip]

pink floyd. hands down. listen to any pink floyd cd and you'll think to yourself "that sounds familar" why will you think that? because allmost every band has been influenced by them. bands have altered floyd rifs and used them in their own songs for decades now. pink floyd is flat out the most influential band ever.

[GoufCustom]

Gah, I forgot to mention Rush, they have been so influential to bands. As well as King Crimson.

[cross blues]

I have to say Run DMC, Naughty By Nature and Dr. Dre since rap is so popular now.

[Sandoz]

Sonic Youth.

[unknown hero]

Nirvana
beatles
pixies
metallica

[DJ Raza]

Most influential?... I'd have to say either the Rolling Stones or N.W.A.

The Rolling Stones are just an amazing band, and they've made great music for decades. I can't really recall any group that's used their exact style, but a lot of rock groups over the years have made cover songs and samples and other notions to this great band.

I'd say N.W.A because they were part of changing music altogether. The rap genre took music to an entirely new level with the unleashing of groups like N.W.A, 2 Live Crew, Public Enemy and EPMD who all didn't care what they said behind a microphone. Freedom of Speech was taken to a whole new level. N.W.A and 2 Live Crew are the reason you see the "Parental Advisory" label on CDs that contain explicit lyrics even to this day.

2 Live Crew caught the most heat for their explicit lyrics, but their lyrics were mostly just sexual references. Where as N.W.A's lyrics were expressing the harsh reality of urban life in the streets of L.A. They were subjected to ridicule from most of suburbian America, the government, other rappers (such as 2 Live Crew and Tim Dog), the police, and even the F.B.I... but they still could care less. Eazy-E and N.W.A changed music forever.

In terms of mainstream music, while probably not the most influential, I think I have to be blasphemous and say... the Spice Girls. They started the whole girl groups and boy groups, and their movie brought the likes of shows like S Club 7 and slap-together music groups made in shows like Pop Stars. Although pop is leaning more on the R&B side lately, but I think that's a natural progression... the Spice Girls tried to change their sound and be R&B as well. Didn't work, though.

They didn't really start the whole girl groups and boy groups thing. That's been around forever, but mostly with groups that actually made good music. Such as Boyz II Men, New Edition, Bel Biv Devoe, Soul For Real, Tony Toni Tone, and other R&B/Pop groups of the past. Spice Girls just degenerated it down to meaning you didn't have to have talent to make pop music anymore. As long as you are photogenic and can dance, you can be a pop star. Its that simple.

That's one of the reasons I think music videos are a major factor in the degeneration of music. If you're not attractive these days, you can't be an extremely popular musician, which is just sad. I mean, look at an older band, such as Aerosmith. Steven Tyler is atrocious looking. He always has been, but Aerosmith made great music nonetheless. If someone had the talent Tyler has, and the looks he has, and tried to become a star today, they'd probably never make it. Because channels like MTV only support the degeneration of music, by wanting photogenic pop-stars that can do some flashy dance moves. Not talented musicians.

Music was made to be heard, and judged on the quality of the audio experience. Not judged by some flashy video. I'll admit there have been some amazing music videos made, but most of them are just eye-candy.

[atf487]

Crap, I meant to say in the past two decades, but you guys have some pretty good choices.

And Schooly D was the forefather of gansta rap, if you want to go there.

[Weatherman]

Of the current generation of musicians, as in the ones that have released stuff in the past twenty or so years?


David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson.

Potential to be a bid influence? I would have to say Incubus, if they can keep getting better at their style, could be one of the most influential in taking DJ assisted rock to new places.