Who is the most important band of our generation?

SatansFuton wrote:

josevolution wrote:

The Clash

Yeah. Wait, what are the boundaries for generation here?

I was assuming we were going by Generation Y - '80-'00

I agree if you go from 77 to 83 i have to go with The Clash and i know the Sex Pistols where there also but i'm going with Clash

The OP needs to edit the question a little bit. There are many different generations of fans on these forums. For example, I'm in my 20's, not in my 40's when "your" generation was influenced by bands like PJ, Nirvana, Radiohead, and other groups that were in younger years. For my generation (people around my age), some of the most important bands to come around are My Morning Jacket, The Strokes, The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Gaslight Anthem, Incubus, Cage the Elephant.

facepollution wrote:

U2 haven't had a relevant album out in years.

Seems there's a lot of clutching at straws in this thread, nobody wants to admit that there hasn't really been a defining band in the last ten years or so, at least not in terms of what we understand rock to be.

Neither has Pearl Jam. I didn't see where it said they still have to be relevant. Or anything about the last 10 years. I haven't cared for much music the last 10 years, but I have no clue if any of them are relevant. My listening habits are kid of dated and I'm not expert on what's going on today. I thought we were naming influential bands of the past 30 years or so, and they all fit the bill.

facepollution wrote:

SatansFuton wrote:

Neither has Pearl Jam. I didn't see where it said they still have to be relevant. Or anything about the last 10 years. I haven't cared for much music the last 10 years, but I have no clue if any of them are relevant. My listening habits are kid of dated and I'm not expert on what's going on today. I thought we were naming influential bands of the past 30 years or so, and they all fit the bill.

How long is a 'generation'?! If we're going to include the 90's or 80's then we're looking at 23+ years, which seems a bit long.....no? I guess I look at music more in terms of cycles, and whilst I love a load of the bands listed, I associate them with another era.

That's what I'm trying to figure out. I thought we were talking Generation Y, which is 1980-2000, but a few bands earlier than that have popped up. So I don't know.

facepollution wrote:

U2 haven't had a relevant album out in years.

Seems there's a lot of clutching at straws in this thread, nobody wants to admit that there hasn't really been a defining band in the last ten years or so, at least not in terms of what we understand rock to be.

I wouldn't argue your points, but their legacy and impact are much more profound than any of the bands mentioned so far in this thread.

90 thru 2010 i'm going with Nirvana they made shit collapse and a whole different sound sprout up ....

We are never going to agree on this. Radiohead for me lost it after Ok Computer, U2s best stuff was 1984 to 1987, no one has really sparked a musical shift globally since Nirvana and that was years ago. For me PJ have lasted the distance, said fuck you to the music industry machine and are still the benchmark for a lot of bands. Generations differ on here and being 40 I see things differently from a 20 year old. I don't see a band at the minute doing anything really exciting and I feel sorry for this generation for not having that in their lives. Maybe I'm just getting old.

dimitrispearljam wrote:

again..there is no other answer than u2....for me is pearl jam and the cure....but..it is how it is

I agree. Not necessarily my 'personal favourite' as a choice... but these guys had a profound social and political impact and still do to some degree. I might be confused by the question... but some of these other bands- despite being big- pale in comparison if one was to be objective.

DewieCox wrote:

Sure, they've been one of, if not he biggest band, but I don't think it's unquestionable that U2 is the most important band of the last 30 years. I don't think their impact as far as being a huge musical influence is big enough for that.

But the thread title isn't 'influential band'... it's 'most important' band. To me that implies the band with the loudest voice. They aren't the Beatles... but for the last two decades... they're as close as we got (in my humble opinion).

U2 and Nirvana, without question.

Nirvana just because they completely changed the landscape. Their impact on music and pop culture is still being felt today. Try naming another band in the last 20 years that has had the same kind of impact. You can't.

And U2 because they're freakin' U2. End of debate. Yea, their recorded output in the last 10 years has been shoddy, although I thought No Line on the Horizon was an excellent return to form. The number of bands who have been influenced by them is a very long list, and there are even a few who have ripped off their sound entirely (Coldplay, Golden State). Most bands are lucky to make even one landmark album that resonates across multiple generations. U2 has made at least three (War, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby). You could even throw All That You Can't Leave Behind in there as well. It may not be their best work, but there's no denying how massive that album was when it came out, spawning 4 hit singles and a hugely successful tour. They also have an impressive ability to re-define large scale touring with insanely ambitious productions that put most other stadium-sized bands to shame. (Zoo TV is still the most mind-blowing stadium tour I`ve ever witnessed). Think U2 are a dinosaur act that only old people listen to? Think again. My buddy's 13 year-old daughter recently discovered their music on Youtube and went out and bought all their records. Yup, there`s still hope for today`s youth.