mrt2
Super Member
So, there are some here who claim newer bands don't live up to the "standard of excellence" the old guard set in the 60s and 70s. I think this is wrong on many levels, as I can think of many bands that emerged in the 80s, 90s, and 00s that have set a new standard of excellence.
Here is the challenge. Without repetition, nominate one group or individual who emerged in the late 80s or later who has either matched or set a new standard of excellence in rock or popular music. I will leave the standard open to interpretation, and will leave it up to you to define what standard of excellence means to you. It could be a high level of musicianship, songwriting, breaking new ground musically, or producing a new classic album or large number of singles, or a combination. The artist should at least have produced 5 studio recordings, without a clinker or significant dip in quality.
I will go first:
The Decemberists - Over the decade of the 00s, Colin Meloy has set, or at least matched the standard for lyric writing over the course of the Decemberists cds, the highlights in including Castaways and Cutouts, Picaresque, Crane Wife, and Hazards of Love. Musically, the Decemberists seem to have absorbed and synthesized everything from English and Irish Folk to 70s Hard Rock and Progressive Rock, to REM, and one of their songs can include all of these elements.
They also have shown the ability to do catchy singles and album length statements, like their recent concept, Hazards of Love.
Here is the challenge. Without repetition, nominate one group or individual who emerged in the late 80s or later who has either matched or set a new standard of excellence in rock or popular music. I will leave the standard open to interpretation, and will leave it up to you to define what standard of excellence means to you. It could be a high level of musicianship, songwriting, breaking new ground musically, or producing a new classic album or large number of singles, or a combination. The artist should at least have produced 5 studio recordings, without a clinker or significant dip in quality.
I will go first:
The Decemberists - Over the decade of the 00s, Colin Meloy has set, or at least matched the standard for lyric writing over the course of the Decemberists cds, the highlights in including Castaways and Cutouts, Picaresque, Crane Wife, and Hazards of Love. Musically, the Decemberists seem to have absorbed and synthesized everything from English and Irish Folk to 70s Hard Rock and Progressive Rock, to REM, and one of their songs can include all of these elements.
They also have shown the ability to do catchy singles and album length statements, like their recent concept, Hazards of Love.
