The Top 40 Bands In America Today - 2004 Edition

DoctorJones24 · Nov 23, 2004

http://informationleafblower.typepad.com/blog/2004/11/the_top_40_band.html

According to a poll of music scene bloggers...
Pretty interesting list, actually. And it has links to mp3 files of many of the bands, which is cool.

Here's the Top Ten:

1) TED LEO + PHARMACISTS (31)
- Our generation's Billy Bragg - ILB
- Smart. Literate. Politically charged. Catchy as ********all. - Teaching The Indie Kids To Dance Again
- He's been rocking at a higher level than most for three albums now, but with Shake The Sheets, he's taken it to yet another echelon: politically and lyrically he's synchronized with about half of America right now, the power trio lineup is as tight as hell and he's currently jamming econo around the country, rocking the clubs like any top band should. - Nude as The News
- You said that last year, and it's even more true today after the release of the highly political (yet, more on a human-level) Shake The Sheets LP during this contentious election year. It may not be as "good" an album as his earlier albums, but it's the right album for the time (and may be the album to fall back on over the next four years of W). And as per usual, it's full of pop-punk licks & heady lyrics that make up great songs. Ted's shows are a blast, as he is an explosive ball of energy & clever quips throughout.
Thank god for Ted Leo. - The Big Ticket
Download: Shake The Sheets, Little Dawn, and a live cover of Lauren Hill's Ex-Factor

2) WILCO (7)
- "A Ghost is Born" wasn't quite the breakthrough that "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" was, but Wilco still show that innovation and a non-conformist streak matter in American music. - 1115.org

3) INTERPOL (18)
- Ironically shrugging off the sophomore slump while looking dashing in a Valentino suit. - Kerry Sosaysi
- Yeah, they're overrated. Yeah, they get more attention for their haircuts than should be allowed. But when it comes down to it, Interpol are one of those bands whose albums seem to be greater than the sum of its respective parts. They aren't afraid to experiment with their arrangements and they have a killer rhythm section that most bands would sell their souls for. - 1115.org

4) GUIDED BY VOICES (12)
- "We are the kings of indie rock -- when we die, indie rock will die." Thus spoke Pollard in February at the Bowery Ballroom. A little over the top, surely, but isn't that the way we like our GBV? Yes. Yes, it is. Once people have time to digest their full output, they should rank as one of the top rock bands in history -- not the death of indie rock, but quite possibly its crowning achievement. - Nude as The News

5) THE FIERY FURNACES
- The unique and infectious New York duo's sophomore effort, Blueberry Boat, is quirky and fun-filled. This brother-sister duo is ambitious musically and unafraid to take chances in the studio or live. - Largehearted Boy
-Just go see Eleanor & Matt Friedberger's live show - a non-stop rawk-fest that spirals in-&-out of songs left & right, intensity spewing out their respective ying-yangs - and you'll know why the Furnaces deserve the praise & the buzz & a place on this list. - The Big Ticket
Download: My Dog (SBN Sesion)

6) THE PIXIES
- One of the greatest bands of all time, reunited before it was too late. And it feels so good. They sound probably better than they did back in the day (Frank's certainly honed his front man act over years of touring) and are more deserving of the fat tour paychecks they're reaping than most. - Nude as The News
Download: Debaser (live)

7) BRIAN WILSON
- And just this year, he's done the unthinkable: resuscitated his long-lost classic "SMiLE." The album is classic, one of pop music's touchstones despite its heretofore unreleased status. And not only were Wilson and his band able to finally put it to tape in a finished, coherent, revealing manner, they're out there performing the damn thing LIVE. - Nude as The News
- The man re-recorded an album after more than 30 years of distance and didn't ******** it up. Absolutely unbelievable. - Music For Robots

8) LUNA - It's a shame that the band had to call it quits to get their due, but Dean and Co.'s legacy is a strong one. - ILB
- Rest in peace, yo. - Uncle Grambo

9) MODEST MOUSE
- The crazy kids brought up a gaggle of hippies with maraccas on their SNL performance. Teetering on the edge of insanity is a wonderful place for a rock band to be. - Music For Robots
- Their success by the KRock, Frat-guy, OC-Loving crowd got a bit annoying to their long time fans, but you can’t begrudge people for paying their bills and being rewarded for writing anthems. As Damore would say, Float On. - Kerry Sosaysi

10) SPOON (8)
- Britt is the indie rock Buddy Holly. - ILB
- The production, the arrangements, everything serves the songs. And what songs they are ... a true American classic. - Nude as The News
Download: The Two Sides of Msr. Velentine (live)

655321 · Nov 24, 2004

As a former "I have to have it on the promo-only white label one sided import seven inch" indie kid...let me be the first to say...

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...no really...hahahahaha. You guys are hilarious."

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are the greatest band in the US?? And Interpol is the THIRD GREATEST BAND??

TheSlipperyOne · Nov 26, 2004

So here's how the panelists made their determinations:

THE PROCESS: Each panel member submitted a list of the 10 bands/solo artists/dj''s, etc. they considered "the best in America" right now, as in this very instant. This isn't an award for career longevity. No one from foreign soil is eligible, including foreign artists from abroad living in the US (sorry Moz!), I in turn gave each nomination a corresponding numerical value and then tallied the totals. In case of a tie, the higher slot was awarded to the artist with more votes (i.e. someone with 15 points from one vote was ranked lower than someone with three votes of 5).

And here's the full 40:

1) TED LEO + PHARMACISTS
2) WILCO
3) INTERPOL
4) GUIDED BY VOICES
5) THE FIERY FURNACES
6) THE PIXIES
7) BRIAN WILSON
8) LUNA
9) MODEST MOUSE
10) SPOON
11) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
12) CALEXICO
13) SONIC YOUTH
14) THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
15) RILO KILEY
16) DAVID BYRNE
17) THE STROKES
18) DRIVE BY TRUCKERS
19) SUFJAN STEVENS
20) THE DECEMBERISTS
21) SCISSOR SISTERS
22) ELLIOTT SMITH
23) AMBULANCE LTD.
24) THE KILLERS
25) EMINEM
26) GREEN DAY
27) THIEVERY CORPORATION
28) JAY Z
29) THE POSTAL SERVICE
30) THE WALKMEN
31) THE SHINS
32) OUTKAST
33) THE FLAMING LIPS
34) JOANNA NEWSOME
35) SEA RAY
36) TV ON THE RADIO
37) METALLICA
38) GOGOL BORDELLO
39) LOW
40) LES SAVY FAV

And here's the Top 40 from 2003:

1) THE STROKES
2) QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
3) THE WHITE STRIPES
4) THE FLAMING LIPS
5) THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS
6) OUTKAST
7) WILCO
8) SPOON
9) THE SHINS
10) THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
11) EMINEM
12) GUIDED BY VOICES
13) FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE
14) NEPTUNES/N.E.R.D.
15) THE RAPTURE
16) BRUCE SPRINSGTEEN
17) MISSY ELLIOT
18) INTERPOL
19) !!!
20) JOEL RL PHELPS
21) BECK
22) CENTROMATIC
23) JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
24) JAY Z
25) …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD
26) YO LA TENGO
27) WILL OLDHAM
28) PREFUSE 73
29) FOO FIGHTERS
30) LONGWAVE
31) TED LEO / RX
32) SWEARING AT MOTORISTS
33) THE SIGHTS
34) THE DECEMBERISTS
35) LUNA
36) THE POSTAL SERVICE
37) LOW
38) DJ SHADOW
39) THE RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS
40) THE DANDY WARHOLS

It's interesting to look at the differences between the two years.

musicl · Nov 26, 2004

No offence but that makes America look like they have a serious amount of crap bands at the moment.

655321 · Nov 26, 2004

bytheway said:

No offence but that makes America look like they have a serious amount of crap bands at the moment.
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Ha, yea...cause everything that comes out of the UK is top notch, right?? Please, both countries have good and bad...

musicl · Nov 26, 2004

Yes both countries do have good bands.
But UK have more quality bands at the moment.

Coldplay
Radiohead
Muse
Bloc Party
Keane
Franz Ferdinand
Future Kings of Spain
Razorlight
The Zutons
The Darkness
etc.

Modest Mouse is 9th best - thats saying something.

655321 · Nov 26, 2004

bytheway said:

Yes both countries do have good bands.
But UK have more quality bands at the moment.

Coldplay
Radiohead
Muse
Bloc Party
Keane
Franz Ferdinand
Future Kings of Spain
Razorlight
The Zutons
The Darkness
etc.

Modest Mouse is 9th best - thats saying something.
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Footix has seen me when the UK v US threads start. We should close this now, ha.

Sorry, man...but if that's the best you can do when you go against Wilco, Luna and Brian Wilson...well, then you lose.

nicodemus · Nov 26, 2004

bytheway said:

Modest Mouse is 9th best - thats saying something.
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It's a poll of a handful of bloggers. Hardly counts as definitive music criticism/journalism. Personally, I doubt Modest Mouse would register in my top 100 current American rock/pop acts.

obie · Nov 26, 2004

TheSlipperyOne said:

4) GUIDED BY VOICES
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Gone in less than 40 days.

6) THE PIXIES
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... have put out one song in the last ten years.

7) BRIAN WILSON
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I love Brian, but come on now. Has anyone actually seen him try to perform over the past couple of years?

8) LUNA
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Gone in about a month -- another NYE farewell, right?

16) DAVID BYRNE
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Not really American.

22) ELLIOTT SMITH
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Dead. No, really, dead.

36) TV ON THE RADIO
37) METALLICA
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Just wanted to highlight that a bunch of nobodies from Brooklyn beat out the world's most popular metal band. Way to go, TVOTR!

38) GOGOL BORDELLO
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American? Really?

sch2383 · Nov 26, 2004

bytheway said:

No offence but that makes America look like they have a serious amount of crap bands at the moment.
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Music is pretty crap right now.

That praise of Shake the Sheets is right on, I keep trying to take it out of my car, but everytime it finishes, "Me and Mia" starts up again and then I'm hooked. It might not be his best album, but nobody else is writing lyrics like that and as I first heard that album start to finish after Election Day, it carries that much more weight for me.

As for the rest of the list, its easy to argue, hard to agree. Most of those bands I haven't really heard of, others I don't like, and some bands that were left off the list I really like. Maybe it would have been better to do a list of albums instead of bands, but that top 10 really opens up a lot of discussion.

royalstilton · Nov 26, 2004

I just checked out Rolling Stones list of the top 500 albums of all time.

So you can see what unadulterated garbage comes out of that rag, take a gander at the list from 175 down to 200.

175. Close to You, The Carpenters
176. Rocks, Aerosmith
177. One Nation Under a Groove, Parliament/Funkadelic
178. Greatest Hits, The Byrds
179. The Anthology 1961 - 1977, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions
180. The Definitive Collection, Abba
181. The Rolling Stones, Now!, The Rolling Stones
182. Natty Dread, Bob Marley and the Wailers
183. Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac
184. Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson
185. The Stooges, The Stooges
186. Fresh, Sly and the Family Stone
187. So, Peter Gabriel
188. Buffalo Springfield Again, Buffalo Springfield
189. Happy Trails, Quicksilver Messenger Service
190. From Elvis in Memphis, Elvis Presley
191. Funhouse, The Stooges
192. The Gilded Palace of Sin, The Flying Burrito Brothers
193. Dookie, Green Day
194. Transformer, Lou Reed
195. Bluesbreakers, John Mayall With Eric Clapton
196. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965 - 1968,
Various Artists
197. Murmur, R.E.M.
198. The Best of, Little Walter
199. Highway to Hell, AC/DC
200. The Downward Spiral, Nine Inch Nails

---

I can remember when "Murmur" was in the top 10. And I'm sorry but "The Gilded Palace of Sin" is not better than "Transformer".

Dr. Wankler · Nov 27, 2004

TheSlipperyOne said:

26) GREEN DAY
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Is anyone else getting this, or is this a local server problem I need to look into. I mean, Green Day? The band who is to punk rock what Dutch Elm Disease is to trees?

shwantzme · Nov 28, 2004

TheSlipperyOne said:

So here's how the panelists made their determinations:

THE PROCESS: Each panel member submitted a list of the 10 bands/solo artists/dj''s, etc. they considered "the best in America" right now, as in this very instant. This isn't an award for career longevity. No one from foreign soil is eligible, including foreign artists from abroad living in the US (sorry Moz!), I in turn gave each nomination a corresponding numerical value and then tallied the totals. In case of a tie, the higher slot was awarded to the artist with more votes (i.e. someone with 15 points from one vote was ranked lower than someone with three votes of 5).

And here's the full 40:

1) TED LEO + PHARMACISTS
2) WILCO
3) INTERPOL
4) GUIDED BY VOICES
5) THE FIERY FURNACES
6) THE PIXIES
7) BRIAN WILSON
8) LUNA
9) MODEST MOUSE
10) SPOON
11) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
12) CALEXICO
13) SONIC YOUTH
14) THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
15) RILO KILEY
16) DAVID BYRNE
17) THE STROKES
18) DRIVE BY TRUCKERS
19) SUFJAN STEVENS
20) THE DECEMBERISTS
21) SCISSOR SISTERS
22) ELLIOTT SMITH
23) AMBULANCE LTD.
24) THE KILLERS
25) EMINEM
26) GREEN DAY
27) THIEVERY CORPORATION
28) JAY Z
29) THE POSTAL SERVICE
30) THE WALKMEN
31) THE SHINS
32) OUTKAST
33) THE FLAMING LIPS
34) JOANNA NEWSOME
35) SEA RAY
36) TV ON THE RADIO
37) METALLICA
38) GOGOL BORDELLO
39) LOW
40) LES SAVY FAV

And here's the Top 40 from 2003:

1) THE STROKES
2) QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
3) THE WHITE STRIPES
4) THE FLAMING LIPS
5) THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS
6) OUTKAST
7) WILCO
8) SPOON
9) THE SHINS
10) THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
11) EMINEM
12) GUIDED BY VOICES
13) FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE
14) NEPTUNES/N.E.R.D.
15) THE RAPTURE
16) BRUCE SPRINSGTEEN
17) MISSY ELLIOT
18) INTERPOL
19) !!!
20) JOEL RL PHELPS
21) BECK
22) CENTROMATIC
23) JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
24) JAY Z
25) …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD
26) YO LA TENGO
27) WILL OLDHAM
28) PREFUSE 73
29) FOO FIGHTERS
30) LONGWAVE
31) TED LEO / RX
32) SWEARING AT MOTORISTS
33) THE SIGHTS
34) THE DECEMBERISTS
35) LUNA
36) THE POSTAL SERVICE
37) LOW
38) DJ SHADOW
39) THE RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS
40) THE DANDY WARHOLS

It's interesting to look at the differences between the two years.
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How is Metallica American?

minorthreat · Nov 28, 2004

shwantzme said:

How is Metallica American?
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Eh? All of them except Lars were born and raised in California..

shwantzme · Nov 28, 2004

C-towner said:

Eh? All of them except Lars were born and raised in California..
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My bad. I thought they were all from Denmark.

stepover2020 · Nov 28, 2004

shwantzme said:

My bad. I thought they were all from Denmark.
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That's probably the funniest thing I've ever read on these boards.

BTW, no Incubus? The Killers, Fountains of Wayne, and a few others are pretty solid groups, but Incubus has been laying down some good stuff for a while now. I thought their last album, A Crow Left of the Murder, kicked *ss.

Footix · Nov 28, 2004

655321 said:

Footix has seen me when the UK v US threads start. We should close this now, ha.
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You've gotta learn the fine art of laying back and letting the jackasses bray. Took me a while.

Dolemite · Nov 28, 2004

shwantzme said:

My bad. I thought they were all from Denmark.
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damn. you don't deserve rep, but the funny factor pushed it over the edge.

Cascarino's Pizzeria · Nov 28, 2004

obie said:

Gone in about a month -- another NYE farewell, right?
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You'll be there, you know it.

Actually the REAL final Luna farewell tour of NYC will be sometime in February.

nicephoras · Nov 29, 2004

Guided by voices in the top 10? Man music's bad these days.

Bob Morocco · Nov 29, 2004

Why don't we make a list using the same methodology?

Posters list their top ten American bands for the year #1 gets 10 points #10 gets 1 point, kinda like the ghoul pool, and we compile and come up with a bigsoccer top 40. I'd actually like to open it up to any band in the world.

bytheway I think Bloc Party kick ass

nicodemus · Nov 29, 2004

Bob Morocco said:

Why don't we make a list using the same methodology?

Posters list their top ten American bands for the year #1 gets 10 points #10 gets 1 point, kinda like the ghoul pool, and we compile and come up with a bigsoccer top 40. I'd actually like to open it up to any band in the world.
Click to expand...

Good idea. Why don't we start with American bands though just so we can compare it to that one. We can open it up to the whole world in another thread maybe.

I will start the thread right now.

nicodemus · Nov 29, 2004

Bob Morocco said:

Why don't we make a list using the same methodology?

Posters list their top ten American bands for the year #1 gets 10 points #10 gets 1 point, kinda like the ghoul pool, and we compile and come up with a bigsoccer top 40. I'd actually like to open it up to any band in the world.

bytheway I think Bloc Party kick ass
Click to expand...

Biggity bam, here's the thread:

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3667097#post3667097

shwantzme · Nov 29, 2004

stepover2020 said:

That's probably the funniest thing I've ever read on these boards.
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Well excuse the fvck outta me a.s.s.hole

shwantzme · Nov 29, 2004

Dolemite said:

damn. you don't deserve rep, but the funny factor pushed it over the edge.
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Why is that so funny? I don't happen to be an expert on Metallica. I stopped listenting to them as well as almost any metal after AJFA. I simply got tired of metal. I love Ride the Lightning, but never really paid attention to their bios. I do recall that when they started to get big, I kept hearing that they were European. I never really bothered to investigate any further. The fact that their lyrics are English doesn't mean jack, either.