I agree that PJ is doing their own thing and not worrying about anyone else and that's cool. They're the only one of the four groups that hasn't broken up, which is pretty amazing. But as far as not playing the hits, well, I saw them at the Pavilion maybe four years ago and it was a straight "Greatest Hits" set, including "Yellow Ledbetter." I'm not knocking them for it at all, but it's clear the fans still expect to hear those songs, and rightfully so.
I just put that CD in and cranked up the volume It's been a long long time since I listened to it. A toast to Lynn Staley. Long live Alice In Chains!!!!!
There were definitely other band that helped shape the scene, but listing themall could take forever. I would like to point out though that the Melvins have been around since at least 1983.
Crystalized my thoughts eloquently. Cantrell was a badass on guitar, and Staley's vocals are probably the most copied in rock history. I cant stand any of the retro-grunge bands like Nikelback and Godsmack..... total jokers compared to the stuff I grew up with.
Alice in Chains i used to listen to Am I Inside and Angry Chair for hours on end. outside of that list.... much love to the Screaming Trees and Mother Love Bone.
What? No Presidents of the United States?? Seriously, I never thought that any of these bands' definitive recordings really sounded like grunge. Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were classic rock bands that mellowed out sometimes. Soundgarden was more psychedelic toward the end (think Pink Floyd or late 60s Beatles) while Pearl Jam became more and more rootsy. Nirvana was a pop band that had great compact songs with great melodies. They aped the Pixies song structures, but the Pixies lacked Cobain's charisma. That's why they became huge. Alice in Chains was a 90s metal band that happened to be alot more melodic than your average Metallica-influenced band. They tended to overdo the harmonies (there's nothing sillier than TWO guys singing 'I feel so alone...") but their songcraft was good. When I think grunge, I think Melvins or Mudhoney.
I've seen a photo of Cobain wearing a Big Boys shirt. See Cobain loved Daniel Johnson, and Vedder worships Butthole Surfers. They really wanted to be Texans. I just read the other day Grohl saying that Bad Brains "I Against I" album helped shape the scene and sound. He said it was played everywhere at every house party etc. and had a big impact. He loves them though. And we can't leave out Sonic Youth and their influence on grunge.
LOL, the Pixies weren't as popular as Nirvana for a reason, Nirvana's song structure was way more like the Beatles than the pixies. It's all in the lyrics subtomic, all you have to do is listen to the lyrics. As for AIC being Metallica influenced, Metallica only wished they had as good as songs as AIC. Metallica sucked. And they still suck.
Yes, we all get that there were plenty of unknown bands that were better but that doesn't take away from the fact that all 4 of these bands were great. Personally, I'd have to go with AIC for my favorite. They seemed a little darker than the other 3....which was good. I loved the Grunge Era. It allowed me to dress like a TOTAL SLOB and still get chicks. Quite frankly, I'm still waiting for it to make a comeback...
We are all waiting for original bands that play music that says "I don't give a **** if you like this or not, this is my art". This is not happening nowadays. Thats why Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears and Mariah Carey are so popular. Rock n Roll is all about rebellion. With the war in Iraq and all the other crap going on in the world, you would think there would be a band that had something to say....but nooooooo, we get the backstreet boys reunion.
I'm sure they're out there. But the record companies have deemed them unprofitable so most of us will never hear them. But you already know this. You wanna know what's worse? I really don't think there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Where is the next Kurt Cobain? I really think things will get worse before they get better. A couple of my drum students like to bring in songs they want me to teach them how to play. What do they bring in? Newfound Glory, Blink 182, Good Charlotte et al. This is what future bands are drawing from. These are their "influences." I'm afraid I don't have a lot of hope for the future. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch School of Rock so I'll feel better.
cobain would be the first to admit that nirvana were ripping off the pixies song structure. the quiet verse/loud chorus dynamic, ect. some might say that black francis should be getting a cut of the royalties from nevermind. out of the 4 bands mentioned i would pick nirvana. i think grunge is more rooted in the punk asthetic than the other 3's style was. nirvana were comming from the whole melvins/flipper/tad/mudhoney scene where grunge originated. i never really saw pearl jam as grunge. they were from seattle, but the connection ends there imo. alice in chains were more metal. same with soundgarden. i think mudhoney is my favorite of all the "grunge" groups. touch me im sick is still great. and studogg, i always thought dinosaur jr were shoegazers!
