Most influential musician/group in the last 30 years

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skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
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Isn’t Prince outside the 30 year window as his first release was late 70’s? Just curious. Solid pick, though.
It was, but he was still releasing songs well into the 2000s. I do think that the prof is wanting us to look at artists whose careers are in the last 30 years, though. I suspect that since he wasn't that specific in his instructions, there will be an assortment of artists recognized.
 

Mr Nobody

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2008
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Walsall, England
I was running through names in my head, then realised that, by definition, you'd be looking for someone who'd emerged since 1988! :too_sad:
And tbh, I can't really think of anyone. Kurt Cobain, maybe. He (and Nirvana) certainly captured something and influenced not only his peers, but others down the line. Then again there is an argument that he/they only recycled the spirit of punk.
Maybe Eminem. He certainly had an impact, but I'm not sure if he didn't 'urinate' on his own chips once too often somewhere along the way.
Lady Gaga shook the tree, but in a kind of Madonna-lite way. She certainly got people talking and following her down a certain route, but is the longevity there? Will it be? I doubt it.

There's no one you can definitively point to, unlike the era before that gave us folks like John Lennon, Elvis, Nina Simone. (There are arguments and debates to be had there, too, but the fact is they are still well-remembered and attract new fans.)
 

hossenpepper

Don't worry. I have a permit!!!
Feb 5, 2010
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I will! I do have some ideas on paper, but I didn't want to influence anyone. It's interesting to me to see what other people think on a NON horribly divisive topic. I have news burnout.

GNTLGNT , hossenpepper , anyone else--thoughts?
Well there was actually a scientific study analyzing sampled musical patterns (the actual patterns of the sound waves) and also looking at actual sales, cultural response, popularity, etc., to determine the most influential bands from each era in music. The one that defines the period essentially beginning with punk/new wave, was found to be The Eurythmics. I was like what? I like them but they are the fundamental band that defined change moving forward? When I read the reasons why, I was convinced. They have had the most far reaching influence on commercial music until today. The sound patterns show a shift to match theirs in a vast majority of music, but especially pop and alternative.

Now if we are saying the last 30 years, meaning since the late 80's, my opinion is The Pixies. They essentially combined punk, pop, heavy rock and new wave into one sound, when NO ONE else ANYWHERE came even close to that feat. Their sound influenced all the people, especially Kurt Cobain, who started grunge, which dominated music in the 90's and by a clearly defined path led to many other styles and sounds up to today.

The one real outlier that was highly popular in that period until today was The White Stripes. They were unlike anyone else of the time too. But it remains to be seen what long term effects Jack white will have on music. Especially since his influence is to go forward in a backward direction.

None of this means "everyone liked these bands". It means they influenced others in very fundamental ways that changed the way they approached and wrote music,

That's my 4.6 cents (two cents adjusted for inflation).
 

hossenpepper

Don't worry. I have a permit!!!
Feb 5, 2010
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I also think Daft Punk has had a huge influence on music in the last 15-20 years. MGMT a lot in the last ten years. Again maybe you don't like these bands, I just hear their sound in a lot of other music now.

Daft Punk isn't normally my kind of thing, but the RAM album was pretty damn good.
 

swiftdog2.0

I tell you one and one makes three...
Mar 16, 2010
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It was, but he was still releasing songs well into the 2000s. I do think that the prof is wanting us to look at artists whose careers are in the last 30 years, though. I suspect that since he wasn't that specific in his instructions, there will be an assortment of artists recognized.

Got ya.

This is one question where the stock "Chuck Berry" answer won't cut it!

I took the instructions you posted to mean that the pool of artists was limited to those whose careers started in 1988 or later. That interpretation cuts out a whole slew of artists who started prior to 1988 but have released music within the last 30 years. If you can include artists that started prior to 1988 but have released new music within the last 30 years that widens the field. Using the latter criteria (started before 1988 but has released new material over the last 30 years) my pick would be Paul McCartney. He was a Beatle (who influenced every band that came after them), had Wings (which I didn't care for). did solid solo work, and had killer collaborations (Michale Jackson, Foo Fighters, etc.). His songwriting, the way he constructs and sings melodies, and his bass playing were hugely influential.
 

hossenpepper

Don't worry. I have a permit!!!
Feb 5, 2010
12,897
32,897
Wonderland Avenue
Got ya.

This is one question where the stock "Chuck Berry" answer won't cut it!

I took the instructions you posted to mean that the pool of artists was limited to those whose careers started in 1988 or later. That interpretation cuts out a whole slew of artists who started prior to 1988 but have released music within the last 30 years. If you can include artists that started prior to 1988 but have released new music within the last 30 years that widens the field. Using the latter criteria (started before 1988 but has released new material over the last 30 years) my pick would be Paul McCartney. He was a Beatle (who influenced every band that came after them), had Wings (which I didn't care for). did solid solo work, and had killer collaborations (Michale Jackson, Foo Fighters, etc.). His songwriting, the way he constructs and sings melodies, and his bass playing were hugely influential.
Paul has more hit songs than any songwriter in history, Over a 100 I think.
 

do1you9love?

Happy to be here!
Feb 18, 2012
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I have really enjoyed reading everyone's opinions and I hope you will let us read your final paper, skimom2. I love Prince and there is no doubt that he will be remembered. I read the assignment as pitching a case for someone/some band that is newer. I would second The Foo Fighters and The White Stripes.

On the vinyl discussion, I just brought my dad's 400+ album collection home from my mom's, as she is getting the house ready to sell. I also brought his turn table and bought a $25 converter so we could hook it up to our stereo. Some of the albums are mine, but most are ones he bought and go back as far as the early 60s. After CDs came out, he mostly bought those. However, there are some real gems. There's a Richard Pryor comedy album, Alice's Restaurant. Heck, I even have a copy of Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore! To say he took good care of his albums is putting it mildly. They are all in pristine condition, and hubby and I have spend many hours so far, just listening to some amazing music. Digital will never be the same. I haven't heard any of the "new" vinyl, but I have really enjoyed my trip down memory lane listening to the old stuff.:cool:

As an aside, if any of you are looking for a vinyl recording of something from the Blues, folk, or country/western genre, hit me up. I might have one available! :)
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Got ya.

This is one question where the stock "Chuck Berry" answer won't cut it!

I took the instructions you posted to mean that the pool of artists was limited to those whose careers started in 1988 or later. That interpretation cuts out a whole slew of artists who started prior to 1988 but have released music within the last 30 years. If you can include artists that started prior to 1988 but have released new music within the last 30 years that widens the field. Using the latter criteria (started before 1988 but has released new material over the last 30 years) my pick would be Paul McCartney. He was a Beatle (who influenced every band that came after them), had Wings (which I didn't care for). did solid solo work, and had killer collaborations (Michale Jackson, Foo Fighters, etc.). His songwriting, the way he constructs and sings melodies, and his bass playing were hugely influential.
My favorite part of Sound City is the section where he is explaining how the supergroup can achieve what they (he) are going for in a song. I don't even like the Beatles much (though I do understand how what they did fundamentally changed music--I'm not a Philestine!), but that was just masterful.

And hossenpepper , I agree with you--a band or individual doesn't have to be hugely popular or one of my personal favorites to have had great influence. I loathe most psychedelia (unfortunately, that is what our current chapter is covering, and what I've had to listen to all week) and prog rock, but they play a fundamental part in shaping rock. I'm interested in the study you read--do you possibly have a link or reference I can refer to?

I've decided to go with the letter of the law, so to speak, and limit what I'm researching to 1988 and later musicians. This is probably the best class I've ever taken (even though I had to listen to the most godawful song I've ever been subjected to--"Tomorrow Never Knows" (Beatles). Horrible, horrible stuff.).
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
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It was, but he was still releasing songs well into the 2000s. I do think that the prof is wanting us to look at artists whose careers are in the last 30 years, though. I suspect that since he wasn't that specific in his instructions, there will be an assortment of artists recognized.
Wosh - 1988 and forward? I loved Oasis but they disappeared. Dave Matthews Band is pretty awesome, but I don't know if you could consider them influential. Pearl Jam is awesome but I don't know about influential. Maybe Nirvana - they seem to have had some new that didn't just fizzle out. Beck? I'm looking forward to hearing who you chose!
 

swiftdog2.0

I tell you one and one makes three...
Mar 16, 2010
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Macroverse
My favorite part of Sound City is the section where he is explaining how the supergroup can achieve what they (he) are going for in a song. I don't even like the Beatles much (though I do understand how what they did fundamentally changed music--I'm not a Philestine!), but that was just masterful.

And hossenpepper , I agree with you--a band or individual doesn't have to be hugely popular or one of my personal favorites to have had great influence. I loathe most psychedelia (unfortunately, that is what our current chapter is covering, and what I've had to listen to all week) and prog rock, but they play a fundamental part in shaping rock. I'm interested in the study you read--do you possibly have a link or reference I can refer to?

I've decided to go with the letter of the law, so to speak, and limit what I'm researching to 1988 and later musicians. This is probably the best class I've ever taken (even though I had to listen to the most godawful song I've ever been subjected to--"Tomorrow Never Knows" (Beatles). Horrible, horrible stuff.).

Hear you on a lot of the psychedelic stuff. Don’t care for a lot of it myself.

Same with most of the progressive rock. A lot of pretentiousness in that genre. There are only so many 20 minute solos and songs about elves one can take. There are standouts but I find most of it exhausting. It’s like having a conversation with someone who takes 30 minutes to get to the point.
 

thekidd12

Baseball is a good thing.Always was,always will be
Apr 8, 2016
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I think swiftdog was right on the money with the N.W.A. reference. They brought rap into the mainstream consciousness, for better or worse.

Flip through the radio while driving anywhere and majority of stations are playing either rap or country music. "My" stations are usually relegated to about two stops on the scan function.

It's ok. There hasn't been any good music made since 1988 anyway.:D