Name the BEST 5 bands out there today

SVRDhand13
SVRDhand13 Posts: 27,016
edited January 2012 in Other Music
Not your favorite bands...but the best.

I know everyone will base their picks off of different things. I'm basing mine simply by quality of recent studio recordings and excitement of live shows.

Here are my top 5:

1- Radiohead (every album is amazing, bootlegs are intense)
2- Pearl Jam (my favorite but imo #2)
3- Arcade Fire (i think neon bible was the best album of last year and their live shows are wonderful- trying to watch everything that is happening is impossible)
4- Mars Volta (unbelievably talented- in the studio and on tour. their shows make you trip with no drugs involved)
5- White Stripes (i know only two members and one plays very basic drums but you have to admit they are charasmatic onstage)

this is interesting because i can see people bashing my list like crazy.

whats your top 5?
severed hand thirteen
2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
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Comments

  • LONGRD
    LONGRD Posts: 6,036
    1: Radiohead- Their releases in 2000-present are much much better than PJ's 2000's catalogs. Hands down the best band in the world right now!!!

    2: NIN- Still delivering good shit!

    3: Queens of the Stone Age- great band though I haven't listened to any live stuff yet. I should start trying.

    4: Kings of Leon- Good fun band.
    5: Pearl Jam- Great live band, just needs to make a great album this decade. :p But still the greatest fucking band ever!!!

    EDIT: your list? well, I don't know much about Arcade Fire. I hate TMV and The White Stripes are pretty good.
    PJ- 04/29/2003.06/24,25,27,28,30/2008.10/27,28,30,31/2009
    EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
  • mrwalkerb
    mrwalkerb Posts: 1,015
    1-the hold steady-seriously liek seperation sunday is the best album of the decade

    2-Ike Reilly-as consistantly brillant as anyone I know

    3-5-I don't know, some other dudes probably, I dig Mark Lanegan so we'll throw him up there
    "I'm not suicidal, except when I drink. That's why we don't all drink at the same time, there'd be no-one alive to drive home..."
    Chris Cornell

    http://www.myspace.com/mrwalkerb
  • harmless_little_f***
    harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    Pearl Jam
    Arcade Fire
    Sigur Ros
    Wintersleep
    Counting Crows
    Radiohead
    Kings of Leon

    Ah well, 7 ain't bad...
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • Can You Say Octopus?
    Can You Say Octopus? Posts: 105
    1. Radiohead...i hate being a follower...their albums are phenominal. It is impossible to classify them and they incorporate so much variety and subtleties into their sound.

    2. Pearl Jam...I think the first half of avocado was classic! Still the most kick ass rock show out there.

    3. Wilco...Great albums and even better live.

    4. Any band Jack White is in...Unbelievably creative and talented.

    5. Arcade Fire...I know they get panned for being popular choice of the moment, but they are original, talented musicians. They are two albums into their career and already rival most established acts with their live show.

    Honorable mention
    Kings of Leon...face melting!
    DMB...love them or hate them...they still sell out everywhere. They need to make a good album soon though.
    Sigur Ros
    U2...love them or hate them...they are still one of the most vital relevant bands in music today...I cant wait for their new album and tour
    QOTSA...saw them on their current tour...good lord do they rock...Their last album was not as listener friendly as the one before, but it was solid.
    MMJ...Okonokos is killer, and the tracks they played at SXSW are making me excited for their new record
    REM...only because they made their killer album...Accelerate

    discuss
    "Music is the glue that holds everything together. Without it, everything would fall apart." --Eddie (From the movie EMPIRE RECORDS)
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    RADIOHEAD
    are categorically the best band in the world right now. they are just kicking my arse all over the place. :D
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • CM1847
    CM1847 Posts: 577
    1. Spoon - Their last 4 albums are more consistently great than any other band over the time period

    2. The National - I don't think there's another band out there doing the same type of music they are, its undeniably indie rock, but their particular variation of it is completely unique. Its mainly the drums and vocals that have me hooked, two great albums in a row.

    3. TV on the Radio - Another with two greats album in a row, and another totally unique band. They will go from radio-ready rock one song acappella the next.

    4. Arcade Fire - Great band who should be hitting their peak, even if we won't get another album from them for at least a couple more years

    5. Radiohead - Take away "Hail to the Theif" and they'd probably be a few spots higher.

    Honorable Mention: The Roots, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, The New Pornographers

    Also, #1, #2 and #4 all put on amazing live shows, I'm looking forward to finding out about #3 and #5 at some point.
  • 1STmammal2wearPants
    1STmammal2wearPants Worcester, MA Posts: 2,997
    - Pearl Jam
    - Radiohead
    - My Morning Jacket
    - Arcade Fire
    - R.E.M.

    The Shins, The Flaming Lips, NIN, etc. are up there too.
    2003 Mansfield III 
    2004 Boston I 
    2006 Boston I 
    2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I 
    2010 Hartford 
    2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford 
    2016 Bonnaroo, Fenway I, Fenway II 
    2018 Fenway I, Fenway II 
    2021 Sea.Hear.Now
    2022 Camden
    2024 MSG I, Fenway I, Fenway II
  • South of Seattle
    South of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    Pearl Jam
    Radiohead
    QOTSA
    The Roots
    NIN
    NERDS!
  • melodyman22
    melodyman22 Posts: 326
    Pearl Jam-We all know why

    The Tragically Hip-Gord Downie most underrated frontman out there.

    Chris Cornell-blowing everyone away with his last solo tour his voice was amazing.

    Foo Fighters-Kicking ass live.

    Live-Ed has one of the most beautiful voices in rock.
  • Pauk
    Pauk Posts: 1,084
    Pearl Jam
    My fav live band

    Radiohead
    Great great great! Only reason they're not #1 is because PJ cater to my taste more than Radiohead.

    Menomena
    There's something so totally different about them. They make saxophones sound cool! Friend & Foe is my favourite album of the last 5 years.

    Brand New
    They've been around a while but are only now starting to come into their own. Every song on The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me is great (apart from handcuffs, but that was written by the rhythm guitarist...). I don't even think it's a fluke since all the scrapped recordings from TD&GaRIM demos are awesome too. Really can't wait for the next album.

    We Are Scientists
    Only young band around at the mo that I can see heading for superstar status in 5-7 years time. Their musics catchy but not annoying and they have mainstream appeal. It seems like they're gradually picking up momentum, so hopefully they won't be a flash in the pan band. Wish them all the best.

    HM: Hot Chip, Broken Social Scene, Bright Eyes, Nine Inch Nails
    Paul
    '06 - London, Dublin, Reading
    '07 - Katowice, Wembley, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
    '09 - London, Manchester, London
    '12 - Manchester, Manchester, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen
  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    Wilco

    It's impossible to say which bands are the "best," but I feel confident that Wilco is up there. Every element is there - music, lyrics, studio albums, live performances. They excel in each area.

    I wont bother trying to name four more.
  • release30
    release30 Posts: 2,051
    PJ
    KOL
    QOTSA
    Black Crowes
    Ben Haper & the Innocent Criminals
    Conversations getting dull
    There's a constant ringing in my ears
    Sense of humor's void and numb
    And I'm bored to tears.......
  • Jeremy1012
    Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    I couldn't possibly narrow down all the great bands around at the moment to 5 BEST but my current 5 favourite active bands are:

    A Silver Mt Zion
    Boredoms
    Autechre
    Port-Royal
    Radiohead
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • nutmeg81
    nutmeg81 Posts: 627
    well the SPECIALS ARE RE-FORMING!!

    so they in my list!!
    26/10/96 dublin
    01/06/00 dublin
    23/08/06 dublin
    11/09/06 paris
    18/06/07 london
    17/08/09 manchester
    18/08/09 london
  • hodge
    hodge Posts: 519
    1. radiohead
    2. tool
    3. explosions in the sky
    ..and you will come to find that we are all one mind, capable of all that's imagined and all conceivable
  • Joe2TheRevenge
    Joe2TheRevenge Posts: 904
    Creed
    Limp Bizkit
    Lifehouse
    Fallout Boy
    Nickelback
    You can't spell "dumb" without DMB
  • Rhinocerous Surprise
    Rhinocerous Surprise Posts: 4,423
    1 - Pearl Jam
    2 - My Morning Jacket
    3 - Drive-By Truckers
    4 - Whatever Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli get up to :D
    5 - Tom Waits
    Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
  • catefrances
    catefrances Posts: 29,003
    Joe2TheRevenge wrote:
    Creed
    Limp Bizkit
    Lifehouse
    Fallout Boy
    Nickelback

    thats not even funny. :p:D
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • thunderDAN
    thunderDAN Posts: 2,094
    in no order

    Radiohead
    Pearl Jam
    The Black Keys
    TV on the Radio
    Ryan Adams
  • Brez
    Brez Posts: 570
    Pearl Jam
    My Morning Jacket
    Umphrey's Mcgee
    Radiohead
    The Strokes

    Anyone know where I can get my hands on some Radiohead boots?
    And before his first step... He's off again...

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