Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1991)
The raging, disorienting crosswinds of adolescence are distilled into Kurt Cobain's jagged guitar roar, his hoarse sung/shouted contradictions, and the startling lightness of his song's verses. This defined an era.
OutKast - "Hey Ya!" (2003)
Who says recent can't be classic? Andre "Dre 3000" Benjamin's charging, sui generis rabble rouser ecstatically updates '70s soul and the spirit overtakes the body, feeling overcomes reason, and all that is left to do is move to the flapping groove. Amazing.
So, what do you think about all this? Blogcritics - feel free to put up your own lists, or simply express your outrage here.
UPDATE 9/9/04
"Top Bands of the Rock Tradition"
1 Beatles
2 Rolling Stones
3 U2
4 Grateful Dead
5 Velvet Underground
6 Led Zeppelin
7 Ramones
8 Pink Floyd
9 Bob Marley and the Wailers
10 Sly and the Family Stone
Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Who
Beach Boys
Buddy Holly and the Crickets
The Doors
Creedence Clearwater Revival
David Bowie and the Spiders From Mars
James Brown and the JB's
Roxy Music
The Clash
Allman Brothers Band
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Parliament/Funkadelic
Black Sabbath
Prince and the Revolution
Earth, Wind & Fire
The Byrds
The Band
Santana
Muddy Waters Band ('50s)
The Cure
The Eagles
Yes
Nirvana
AC/DC
Little Feat
Joy Division/New Order
The Smiths
Steely Dan
Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Aerosmith
Van Halen
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Metallica
KISS
Queen
Traffic
Talking Heads
Fleetwood Mac
Cream
Mott the Hoople
REM
Kinks
The Police
Pixies
Toots and the Maytals
Radiohead
Genesis
Rascals
Devo
Sex Pistols/PIL
Violent Femmes
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Los Lobos
Public Enemy
Iggy and the Stooges
Cheap Trick
Sonic Youth
Zappa/Mothers of Invention
The Cars
Blondie
Beastie Boys
Yardbirds
Jefferson Airplane
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Buzzcocks
King Crimson
Kraftwerk
Blues Breakers/John Mayall Band
Ministry
Rush
Alice Cooper Band
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Replacements
Husker Du
Guns n Roses
CSNY
Big Brother and the Holding Company/Full-Tilt Boogie Band
Deep Purple
Blue Oyster Cult
Bee Gees
NY Dolls
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
The Pretenders
Echo and the Bunnymen
Hank Ballard and the Midnighters
Duran Duran
Gang of Four
UFO
Go-Go's
War
Johnny Otis Band
Chicago
Steppenwolf
The Specials
MC5
INXS
Steve Miller Band
The Animals
Depeche Mode
Flying Burrito Brothers
Return to Forever
Motley Crue
Uncle Tupelo/Wilco/Son Volt
Judas Priest
Guess Who
The Hollies
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Captain Beefheart
UB40
ZZ Top
Jane's Addiction
Bread
Dave Clark Five
XTC
Nine Inch Nails
Slayer
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Napalm Death
Television
Be-Bop Deluxe
Def Leppard
Raspberries
Dead Kennedys
Black Flag
OutKast
Motorhead
Siouxie and the Banshees
X
Rage Against the Machine
Skinny Puppy
Blood, Sweat and Tears
The Move/Electric Light Orchestra
Social Distortion
Box Tops/Big Star
Sparks
Jethro Tull
Mekons
Golden Earring
Midnight Oil
Black Eyed Peas








Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Matt Fanslow
How is Metallica not on the list, much less an honorable mention? They alone are responsible for making metal/speed metal mainstream. They are just as important as Nirvana.
2 - Barry Stoller
NOPE - due to corporate radio's overkill, almost all of these bands now qualify for nothing but most boring; the others, similarly falling victim to standard rock critic worship, qualify for the same. What we need is a postmodernist re-evaluation, a cultural archeological dig to finally break fresh strata. Allow then a real contender to kick off the new vision: BLOODROCK as number 1. Let's go (fresh)... from there.
3 - Craig Lyndall
There is no way Metallica is as influential as Nirvana. If you look at the span of their careers and the fact that Nirvana had 3 real albums, 1 b-sides album, and an unplugged album from the 1989 - 1994. They have achieved far more in that painfully short period of time than Metallica has to this point.
4 - Craig Lyndall
"7. Marvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (1968)
Motown's greatest singer's greatest singing performance."
I would argue with this completely and totally. There are so many other songs by Marvin Gaye that I like so much more. Specifically, "What's Going On."
5 - Eric Olsen
Metallica could very easily be on the honorable mention list, but I think Black Sabbath is a more important metal band.
6 - WarrenP
Rock and Roll? Aretha Franklin? Outkast?
Are you for real?
Marvin Gaye? Dude - get a life you 'sell-out' kiss ass! People LIKE categorys for a reason. Bob Marley? Sly and the Family Stone? Rock? I mean - I listen to these entertainers, too - but, ROCK is ROCK! I wish the media would stop trying to 'gender cross' musics all over the f*&^'en map!
It's insulting.
7 - Craig Lyndall
Damn it and another thing. I hate the Rolling Stones. Really, I can't stand them at all. I do understand their contributions to rock and roll, but to say that one of their songs is number 1 is preposterous. Maybe top twenty, but how is this song ahead of Stairway and that song isn't even on the list. Stairway and Zeppelin put the effing Stones to shame.
8 - A Girl
Dude, you just took yourself out for a nice Italian Dinner... You dated yourself. Radiohead much?! The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A etc. (heck even the sketchy Pablo Honey). That retro era doesn't have a lock on thoughful innovation and raw emotion, you know.
9 - Ace
How come Queen wasn't even mentioned?
Thanks to them, stadiums all over the world have not one, but two himns repeatedly being played on every match... "We will rock you" is the thing you hear when everybody is slapping their seats rhytmically... And what song other than "We are the champions" come right in handy when your favorite team wins??
10 - Ace
(sorry for this second post)
PD: Of course, Queen is not great only because it's affinity to sports...
11 - Eric Olsen
Craig, you really need to check into the STones a little more. How much have you listened to them? You have too good taste to dismiss them so completely - give them another shot.
RE those complaining about the "rock" category: there will never be agreement on what should or should not fit. I interpreted "rock" fairly broadly. Perhaps the songs should have been called the "Rock Era." I have no problem thinking of Sly and Bob as rock bands.
12 - mwanji
Eric,
Why even write such an article? You know you'll only get abuse for it. I hope they paid you well, at least.
"I wish the media would stop trying to 'gender cross' musics"
What is gender-crossed music?
13 - h price
What!!! No Jimi Hendrix Expereience, Come on, PLEASE! Hendrix did more in 4 measly years than Ueffing2, Marley, Velvet Underground could possibly do in 40. The only thing Hendrix didn't do with an ax was invent it. This is crazy.
14 - Eric Olsen
Mwanji, I have no problem with the controversy - you sort of answered your own question as to why they would ask me to write it (smile). While there has been all kinds of disagreement, I have already had a ton of very complimentary notes even from those who disagree. All I'm really concerned about is whether or not I did a good job of supporting those I did pick.
15 - Mark Saleski
mighty fine drivel, mr. olsen.
;-)
16 - Southern Belle
Nope, nobody is perfect...Still, I can't get over the fact that one of the most innovative, artistic and talented bands ever, the Queen, was never mentioned. Shame on you for this oversight.
Otherwise it was an interesting article.
17 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Southern Belle, As much as I like some Queen, I don't think they overall rate the very top echelon. Thanks for your kind words otherwise!
Thanks Mark, you are coolest!
18 - Mark Saleski
hey, ya coulda thrown 'ole Al a bone and at least had them add Elvis Costello to the msnbc "who's missing" pole.
19 - Eric Olsen
I put him in the "solo+backup" category.
20 - Mark Saleski
You dated yourself. Radiohead much?! The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A etc.
Radiohead's "OK Computer" = Low Rent King Crimson.
21 - Bill
Hey Eric,
Ever hear of a little band called Aerosmith? Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? 30+ years of making music? 60 million + records sold? Pioneers of the rock/rap genre? Any of this ringing a bell?
22 - Eric Olsen
Bill, If Aerosmith had made more albums like Get Your Wings, Toys In the Attic and Rocks they would have received more consideration. As it is, I see them a second tier. But it's just opinion, okay?
23 - Craig Lyndall
Aerosmith is probably the greatest American rock band, but unfortunately for them, they cam after Zeppelin and the Stones. They should win an award for longevity, but there would be no Aerosmith without a Zeppelin, Stones, etc.
24 - MH
Where do you come up with Velvet and the Dead? I saw these bands live and they sucked..They sold no records and influenced very few others. Ask either of them to open for The Who and you have all the makings of a nice little riot. Your need to be hip and diverse clouds any real conviction and I find your list nothing but a political comprimise of misguided PC dribble. If Sly and Bob Marley are ROCK then so is Maria Carey and the Spice Girls.
25 - Don Geddis
What drugs were you on in the seventies!!!!! Most of your list isn't even what any moron would call rock & roll!!!!!!!! Bob Marley is reggae, aretha franklin is soul and nirvana was grunge.............Get A Clue!!!!