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TOP 10 AMERICAN ROCK BANDS OF ALL-TIME

November 10th, 2008 | Category: Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, The Eagles, foo fighters, lynyrd skynyrd

Damn it England, we get it - you have better rock ‘n roll than us. But I’ll be damned if we don’t have better teeth and hotter chicks. Write that down.

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Police … I could go on forever. England has produced not only some of the best music the world has ever heard, but without a doubt the best rock bands of all-time. It is ironic that Rock music was basically invented in the United States - Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Elvis - but England perfected the craft and made it marketable to the masses. John Lennon and Paul McCartney have openly admitted their obsession with American radio and it’s eventual primary influence on everything they would subsequently release under The Beatles name. The Beatles have also openly admitted that one of the best albums of all-time, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, was highly influenced by The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds.

I have decide to completely disqualify all solo artists from the list. My sincere apologies to Mr. Joel and Mr. Young, and all of the other solo artists who have helped pave the way for prominent rock music in America. Springsteen and Petty make the list under the circumstance that they released records with a band that everyone knows by name.

This list is a celebration of the United States holding our own in the best musical genre: rock ‘n roll. I give you,

THE TOP 10 AMERICAN ROCK

BANDS OF ALL-TIME

(11). RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

I really really wanted to put the Chili Peppers in the Top 10, but I just couldn’t find a spot for them. They’ve been doing it for a long time and their latest album, Stadium Arcadium, is just about as good as anything they have released over the course of their impressive career. They have staying power and haven’t released a bad record yet. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a band that your kid’s kids will be listening to.

10. AEROSMITH

Aerosmith has been on an unimpressive decline that began somewhere around the mid-90s. A band’s longevity determines their place on this list and Aerosmith has landed the #10 spot due to their music’s slow demise over the past decade. They have written and released some of the best American rock music, including the smash hits “Dream On”, “Sweet Emotion”, “Walk This Way” and more.

9. FOO FIGHTERS

Fact: the Foo Fighters are light years better than Nirvana.
Fact: Nirvana is immensely and laughably overrated
Fact: Dave Grohl is more talented than Kurt Cobain.
Fact: If Dave Grohl killed himself right now, other people might recognize his genius.
Fact: The Foo Fighters rock as much as any band on this list.

8. R.E.M.

R.E.M. has one of the most impressive resumes on this list: longevity, impressive songwriting, 10+ songs that your grandmother would recognize, and great musicianship. Michael Stipe is one of the best frontmen of all time and has one of the best voices in rock history. R.E.M. has fallen off in the 21st century, but I don’t think anyone cares. 1983’s Murmur is one of the best American debut albums of all-time and “Losing My Religion” is one of the best rock songs ever recorded.

7. LYNYRD SKYNYRD

The best southern rock band of all-time - period. The Allman Brothers wish they were Lynyrd Skynyrd. If you don’t like “Sweet Home Alabama” or “Tuesday’s Gone” or “The Needle and the Spoon” or “Freebird”, then you probably aren’t American. They have released some of the best music the 1970s has to offer and could have been higher on this list without the unforseen plane crash heard around the world. And don’t even try to tell me that the Lynyrd Skynyrd touring today is as good as the real Lynyrd Skynyrd - ’cause they aren’t.

6. PEARL JAM

As probably the most controversial entry to the American rock bands list, Pearl Jam is the best band of the 1990s and arguably the best band since 1990. Pearl Jam’s Ten is still one of the top 10 albums ever recorded and they were just as responsible as Nirvana for the resurrection of rock out of the embarrassing pit of hell also known as the hair-band fad. Kurt Cobain doesn’t hold a candle to Eddie Vedder and it’s no secret that Pearl Jam rocks a lot harder than any other grunge band of the 1990s. As far as 90s rock is concerned, it doesn’t get much better than “Jeremy”, “Evenflow”, and “Daughter”.

5. CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

I’d love to refer to Creedence as a southern rock band, but they are from California. I’ve been to California, it’s not southern. Neither is Texas or Kentucky - if you want to experience the “real” south, then go to Louisiana or Mississippi. But that’s another conversation…

Creedence did everything right. John Fogerty is a rock God in his own right and Creedence has put out some of the best folk-rock music America has ever heard. Their best song, in TSF’s opinion, is a lesser known ditty called “Cotton Fields” - a perfect rock-meets-country-meets folk tune.

4. THE BEACH BOYS

I love The Beach Boys, but The Beatles really make them seem a lot worse than they are. If The Beatles didn’t exist, The Beach Boys would be a lot better band. Brian Wilson is nothing short of one of the best musical geniuses America has ever seen, but Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s songwriting is vastly superior. Pet Sounds is one of the top 10 American albums of all time and is the primary reason The Beach Boys land at #4 on this list. If you don’t like “Good Vibrations”, you don’t like music - literally.

3. TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS

Tom Petty & The Heaertbreakers is one of those bands that every single American seems to like. I really can’t imagine a respectable human being claiming that Tom Petty “sucks”. If you think Tom Petty “sucks”, then you have terrible taste in music. They have been doing it for a long long time and doing it well. A perfect example of an American rock band. “Refugee”, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”, and “American Girl” are American anthems that everyone and their brother know the words to.

2. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND

It was a toss-up between Tom and Bruce for the #2 spot, but personal preference lands Bruce the runner-up position on the American rock bands list. Bruce Springsteen is one of the most - if not the most - respected American musicians of all-time. He is the definition of professionalism and an artist who has perfected his craft. “The Boss” does it just as good - if not better - than any recording artist in American history. At age 59, Bruce rocks as hard as anyone touring right now. His latest album, Magic, is a great example of his longevity and ability to further solidify himself as on of the best songwriters in American rock history.

1. THE EAGLES

There was no competition for the top spot on this list. As I typed the number 1, I immediately placed The Eagles in that position without any thought. If aliens were to land in America and demand that one American band play live for them or they’d blow us off the face of the planet, The Eagles would be that one band. When you see a band like The Eagles in concert, every song on their set list is a classic. No one does it better than Henley, Walsh, Frey, and Schmidt. If I were to make a top 25 American rock songs of all-time list, The Eagles would occupy at least 5-8 spots. “Life In The Fast Lane”, “Take It Easy”, “Witchy Woman”, “Desperado”, “Hotel California”, “Tequila Sunrise”, “Take It To The Limit”, “Lyin’ Eyes” … enough said.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

WEEZER

STEELY DAN

CROSBY, STILLS, & NASH

METALLICA

FLEETWOOD MAC

GREEN DAY

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

BUDDY HOLLY & THE CRICKETS

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TOP 10 NON-GUITAR SOLOS IN ROCK HISTORY

September 25th, 2008 | Category: Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Top 10 Non-Guitar Solos, lynyrd skynyrd

Look, this list could have gone many ways depending on your age and how you were raised. I am sure there are a lot of songs I left off the list, but this is a list of not only the best Non-Guitar solos of all time, but some of the best songs of all time, period. The main criteria was finding solos that fit the song and made the song better. A solo that captures the essence of the song and would feel empty if removed.

10. The Zombies - “She’s Not There”
Electric Piano | performed by Rod Argent

One of the best songs of the 60s and features one of the greatest electric piano solos of all time. A very underrated and under appreciated band - and sometimes often overlooked band - from arguably the best decade of music.

9. AC/DC - “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N Roll)”
Bagpipes | performed by Bon Scott.

I hate to say it, but this solo made it not only because it’s amazing - but it’s ironic. Bagpipes in rock ‘n roll? Crazy Australians. Pretty cool if you ask me. If you’ve never heard this song before and you hear those bagpipes for the first time, it’s impossible not to smile.

8. Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Tuesday’s Gone”
Piano | performed by Billy Powell

One of the best rock songs of all time - no doubt there. This song also has one of the best piano solos of all time. Without the piano solo in this song it would feel empty. It’s perfection.

7. Toto - “Africa”
Keyboard/Synthesizer | performed by David Paich

It’s hard for me to put this song above the piano solo in “Tuesday’s Gone” … but I did it anyways. This song is just an incredible pop song. A lot of people like to mock Toto - I embrace Toto. Don’t even try to sit there and pretentiously scoff at the placing of Toto on a “top solos” list. The keyboard solo in this song kicks ass and you know it.

6. The Allman Brothers Band - “Jessica”
Electric Piano | performed Chuck Leavell

The quintessential southern rock song. This song could be played from huge PA speakers on every southern highway in America on repeat and no one would get tired of it. The electric piano solo does not disappoint and is outstanding.

5. Paul Simon - “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard”
Whistling | performed by Paul Simon

It may not be earth shattering, groundbreaking, or thrilling, but the whistle solo in “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard” captures the essence of this Paul Simon hit. It fits perfectly and anyone who knows this song loves to whistle along.

4. The Beatles - “In My Life”
Piano | performed by George Martin

Interesting fact: This piano solo was played by the Beatles’ audio engineer, George Martin, on piano and then sped up to a faster tempo. Because it is sped up, it sounds like an electric piano. This is one of my favorite Beatles songs and the randomness of the solo is awesome.

3. Bruce Springsteen - “Born To Run”
Saxophone | performed by Clarence Clemons

The best saxophone solo of all time. Hands down. No questions asked. Clarence Clemens rocks your face off in this song and leaves you asking for more. It’s a short solo - but a necessity. It makes the song for me.

2. Pink Floyd - “Great Gig In The Sky”
Vocals | performed by Clare Torry

The best vocal solo in rock history. Phenomenal and moving - fits the essence of the song perfectly. Clare Torry was quoted saying that she was “trying to make her solo sound like an instrument.” Well, damn good job to you.

1. Billy Joel - “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant”
Piano | performed by Billy Joel, Saxophone | performed by Richie Cannata

THE BEST SONG OF ALL TIME. Yes, you read that right. The best song in Popular Music History. At over 7 minutes long this song is incredible every single second it radiates your ear drums. Impeccable musicianship and instrumentation. Perfect in every way possible. Great solos, too.

Honorable Mention:
The Beatles - “Martha My Dear”

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Top 10 Most Overplayed Songs At College Parties/College Bars

August 04th, 2008 | Category: Bon Jovi, Journey, Lil Wayne, boston, garth brooks, jack johnson, lynyrd skynyrd, rick springfield, van halen, van morrison

If you’re like me, you love the smell of mildewed beer in the morning. You know, that smell after a college party with 4 kegs of Natural Light or Milwaukee’s best. The bathroom has a caked over, black layer of filth on the floor and the toilet is clogged from that freshman co-ed’s mexican food vomit (she needs to learn how to drink, this is a public school damn it).

At any moment in the night you can walk into any college party in America and hear one of these songs being played from the sonically compromised, low-fi stereo and they have separated the left and right speaker, sending one to the living room and the other to the porch. If it’s a frat party, no one cares about destroying the house because subservient pledges will take care of it in the morning.

Whilst you are reading this list, just envision that ego-maniac dressed like he’s in a box at the Kentucky Derby pumping his fist in the air screaming the lyrics to his favorite overplayed song. He hasn’t purchased an album since the 90s and his iPod is basically a 100 song mixtape.