My "best" band or musical artist at any given time is the one that fills my musical and emotional needs for that moment, and for which are constantly changing. I feel fortunate not to have a "best" band, or best anything, other than my family, and instead celebrate keeping an open mind. There is no such thing as "best" in any art form. I do have my favorites though, and that space would occupy close to 500 or so artists, authors, musicians and composers.
Listen to what Paul McCartney just put out recently, and he played most of the instruments on that recording. The guy is still with us making original, melodic music. Yeah, his voice has aged, but he's still Paul. It's not best of anything, but, maybe I'm amazed, nonetheless. |
Agree 100%. Mike Campbell has so much taste and skill. Mike’s heroes are my heroes too. I would have picked TPHB not long ago as the best band but sadly we lost Tom.
I would propose Red Hot Chili Peppers as one of the current best bands in the world. They are carrying on the tradition of James Brown - mainly a jam band with a vocalist that focuses on rhythmic lines - much like JB did. The best live act I have ever seen. The musicianship and tight in the pocket playing is on a level rarely heard.
Tower of Power is exceptional too but the roster changes quite a bit. |
It's Wilco.
They hit most of my hot buttons. The most important being a sustained body of work that both develops their own sound and takes just enough chances to push their boundaries in different directions from album to album. Not many bands have a half a dozen albums that are truly amazing and stand the test of time. To me that's a true test; Beatles, Kinks, Bowie, Pink Floyd, etc. Include Wilco. They have grown in proficiency as they have changed lineups to where they have for over a decade played as a six piece that incorporates great synergy and nuance. They challenge each other with a wide array of influences and more than 20 years in, they sound tighter, more relaxed and more in sync than ever.
Wilco combine continuing new strong songs with well aged classics that they occasionally turn inside out in live performances. The body of work gives them the range to change set lists nightly, often surprising with interesting unexpected covers & collaborating creatively with a plethora of guests onstage, mingling their alt country beginnings with straight out rock, folk, blues and jazz influences. Whether acoustic or electric, they always inspire. Performing live they take their game to another level in the way that many talk of the Grateful Dead, Springsteen & Jimi. Their humor, love of their audience and respect for other great music comes through in their performances, drawing you closer.
Besides their output as a band, side projects The Autumn Defense(should be as revered as Simon & Garfunkel), Nels Cline's cornucopia of jazz & avantgarde projects and Jeff Tweedy's solo and Tweedy band work, Wilco's members never cease to amaze with all their creative energy.
If you've never dug deep into Wilco you really should! Cheers,
Spencer
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@sbank ,
What, no mention of Son Volt?
@bdp24,
Did you ever get "Way Out West"?
…………………………………….
I’m not up to date as I’m sure a lot of you are but I’d put in a vote for Calexico.
I've been listening to The Flaming Lips recently and I'm mystified by just the (esotericness, not a word) and the way they somehow make music flow from out of the ordinary. So, in this sense, they surely stand out!
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Do yourself a favor and get a ticket to see the Mark O’Connor Family Band. The band hasn’t been around as long as, say, Wilco, but Mark has been a fiddle and guitar virtuoso for several decades. I see lots of concerts, but this band left me open-mouthed and dancing.
Second place for me goes to the Brubeck Brothers quartet. Tremendous musicianship, taste and symbiosis. No surprise, given their pedigree. |
@slaw Nah, in my book, Son Volt is like one of those pre-season Super Bowl favorites that didn't make the playoffs. Cheers,
Spencer |
@sbank ,
We can no longer be friends. Haha.
For me, Wilco has a lot of hits & misses. Son Volt is on another plane. I'm sure the musicianship is excellent. I'm just reporting my personal stuff.
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Regarding Son Volt,/Wilco,
Wilco doesn't leave me wanting more.
Son Volt seems to convey a personal message and connects with me on a deeper level.
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@wcfeil,
What has Radiohead done recently that supports your choice?.And explain why you made the choice.
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Wrong , The Vienna Philharmonic IS the best band in the world and
is known to be world-wide !
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Berliner was perhaps a better orchestra than Vienna back in the golden age. Dunno know about now. It’s kind of like who cares? |
@slaw
Sorry slow, the defense rests.
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Don’t know anything current. Still working my way through the big band era. So I guess I have about 80 more years to go?
This is a good topic bdp24. I just wanted to add something. |
Tab Benoit and his regular crew still banging out the blues. |
Wayne Shorter's band with Danilo Perez, Brian Blade, and John Patitucci has been a favorite band since around 2002. Shame it is only 4 albums.
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Tough to point to a single "best" band but what always leaves me awestruck are the live performances by bands who have been playing together forever and instinctively know what each other is going to do or can change things up with just a glance at one another on stage. This "magic" rarely gets captured on a studio album and is one of the factors that makes live music so wonderful. I saw Low in a small venue earlier this year and the three of them were playing together as a single organic unit sharing one brain. I love that. The magical jazz musicians always have this as well. |
Geoff the troll ! People with good taste , a liberal education and an IQ over 120 .
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Schubert, it’s pretty clear anyone who disagrees with you must be a troll. Lighten up, enjoy the ride. |
Los Lobos plays anything and everything and does it superbly. Just saw them live and well they been doing it for 40 years or so. |
For me it is Tower of Power - celebrated their 50th Anniversary this year with a No. 1 album - Soul Side of Town. Their horn section has a discography of over 500 albums. The horn driven soul band by which all others are judged. |
Geoffait , you are a troll and that alone ! Get lost .
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Did i just walk into a all Country space.. Sting, Joe Bonamassa, Pink Floyd, Loggins & Messina, And I dare say Neil Young
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Saw the Punch Brothers this summer, very impressive!!
@shadhorne: HRCP are disqualified due to playing "air guitar, bass and drums" during their Superbowl appearance, while Bruno Mars sang live. |
There are as many best bands in the world as there are people to vote. I don't think this discussion will really lead anywhere, but it may introduce people to new music. |
We have Jonathan Stout’s Campus Five last night at my swing dancing venue. They’re a fantastic group from Los Angeles that is doing true vintage swing for dancers and extremely talented. I highly recommend them as one of the top 5 swing bands in the world. |
Favorite band is Arcade Fire. But, lately, I’m loving The War On Drugs, which is basically one guy at this point. The sound has evolved from a modern Bob Dylan salute to something much bigger. Last album, A Deeper Understanding, paints a vast and colorful picture that seems to stretch the length of the universe. |
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One word.....
-The Black Keys
(or whoever Jeff Beck is playing with!!)
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Public image limited. 40 yrs and still making great music. Coming to chi town this oct and I will be there to see Johnny Lydon again. Can’t wait.
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Alter Bridge...great guitarist and excellent vocalist
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Bela Fleck with who ever he is playing with. |
@ron1319---Is your swing dance venue The Derby? That place really took off in the 90's, when the Swing Revival got underway. The clientele was into the whole lifestyle---zoot suits, vintage cars and haircuts, the ladies in garters and seamed stockings under WWII dresses. I love watching the swing dancers, who could also be seen at the Rockabilly clubs around L.A. |
jnorris, I didn't expect a consensus. If "this discussion will really lead anywhere" it is to "introduce people to new music". THAT was my intent! |
Well played, @bdp24 !
@rhutch A Deeper Understanding was my favorite new album of last year. It seems to unveil new layers every time I hear it. #new_tsop Cheers,
Spencer |
@sbank it’s aptly tittled, for sure |
@rhutch,
+2 "A Deeper Understanding"
I put it on " Best Music of 2018" thread a while back.
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Schubert and Geoffkait
It so depends who is standing on the podium. I've heard some average orchestras out perform the so called greats orchestras just with the right person in the control seat. |
@slaw, yup I got the "Way Out West" LP at Barnes & Noble. They have an exclusive version with the cover signed by Marty & The Fabulous Superlatives. By the way, there is a promotional video for the album, entitled "Marty Stuart Way Out West: A Country Music Odyssey". The album was recorded in two studios---the Capitol Records building on Vine Street in Hollywood, the same studio The Band recorded some of Music From Big Pink in, and Mike Campbell’s home studio. For you Rockers who consider Country music beneath you (as some of you appear to), Campbell is seen in the video. |
Roger Waters recent Pink Floyd centric shows and tour were fabulous with 16 (?) independent surround pods of banks and banks of speakers.. Also multiple IMAX screens lowered all lover the place, 10 or 12 of these Movie screens drop down..
Lady Gaga can be a good show but not as sophisticated a sound system and the quality of her sound seems to be venue dependent.. |
bdp24
I saw Marty Stuart a couple of months ago and although I'm not much of a country music fan, it was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. He did an interview and book signing at a local museum that featured his many years of photography. Then later in the evening we attended his concert. His band as well as he is spectacular. They sounded a lot like the Byrds. Marty actually plays Clarence White's old Telecaster. The sound was excellent. They did a great versions of "Bonanza" and "El Paso" |
I don’t know for the life of me why no one has suggested or even mentioned “The Rolling Stones”. If any band could have the title of single best band, I can’t think of better candidates. What band has been together longer AND totally on top of their game as them. Yes, they are showing their age, but who wouldn’t at over 55 yrs. in the business and being well into their 70’s? There is a reason they are the #1 selling band in the world and can command the stage presence and attention they do as one of the greatest live bands. The title of World’s Greatest Rock & Roll band is hard to dispute. Who has made a greater indelible mark on the rock world? They are still announcing play dates in the UK. Remarkable!! Then maybe they are still to much the “Yobs” they were always portrayed as by the media for the sophisticated aristocracy of this website.
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@rwwear, cool man. I haven't yet seen/heard Marty & HFS live, but the video clip on You Tube of their appearance on Letterman's old show has really wetted my appetite to do so. |
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Damn whart, that's quite a bill! Ya goin'? There are a couple of You Tube clips of McGuinn and Marty & HFS playing Byrds songs, and boy do they sound great. McGuinn's playing a Rickenbacker, and Marty Clarence White's B-Bender Telecaster, the guitar Clarence played in The Byrds. |
Eric- dunno, it wasn't even on my radar until you mentioned the band and I looked up their tour schedule. I'd probably have to call in a favor to get a seat, but I can see.
It is a good venue-- clean, modern, spare, sound is good, at least on the mezzanine level. |
@bdp24,
The last time I played "Way Out West", I could tell the song to song consistency was off as confirmed by your mention it was recorded in two different studios.
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