r/musicsuggestions • u/RRE4EVR • 4d ago

Best American rock band of all time

This is obviously a subjective post. As post suggest “all time” so feel free to go back to to the 50’s and please consider that bands from this millennium may not hold up in a couple decades. Also genre blending bands welcome.

Greatful Dead my answer

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u/lightaugust 4d ago

I posted this another time this came up, but I stand by it:

R.E.M.

I realize it's not an automatic pick, but...

31 year history of generally quality albums and output. That beats anyone else on this list. Even the Beach Boys, who have the longitivity, but later output is absolute crap. Obviously, R.E.M. went through a transition that wasn't regarded as well after the drummer left, but only because those later albums were compared to themselves.

- At least two albums, Murmur and Automatic, which are regarded as masterpieces.

- 15/16 albums generally well regarded.

- The Murmur-Reckoning-Fables-Pageant-Document-Green-Out Of Time- Automatic straight run of albums is near unbeatable.

- Hugely influential to other bands. Most importantly, they showed legions of bands who came afterward how to work through the industry and maintain some semblance of integrity.

Talking Heads/ Beach Boys/ Velvet Underground/ the Supremes are all contenders for my money, but R.E.M. takes it for me.

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u/Brave-Law-6754 4d ago

Ugh. Sick of REM.

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u/Defiant_West6287 2d ago

The Supremes were a vocal group, not a rock band.

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u/2wheeldopamine 4d ago

Love REM and you make a compelling argument.

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u/No-Visit-8479 4d ago

Absolutely! In another recent Reddit music post,not one mention was made of Bill Berry being one of the best all time drummers,but drummers such as The Edge of U2 and Moe Tucker of The Velvet Underground as well as Fabrizio Moretti of The Strokes were mentioned.None of these aforementioned drummers were even as good as,let alone better than Bill Berry.I am not saying that Bill Berry was as good as Billy Cobham or Tony Williams or Buddy Rich,but c'mon.

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u/FunCourage8721 3d ago

The Edge has never been U2's drummer, that would be Larry Mullen Jr.

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u/No-Visit-8479 3d ago

I stand corrected, thank you.

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u/josie0114 4d ago

What is the 1/16 not well regarded?

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u/AdAgreeable3675 4d ago

Around the Sun. Still some good stuff but nothing like the others. They acknowledge they were lost during that time

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u/GregJamesDahlen 1d ago

I realize it's not an automatic pick

I mean one of their records is Automatic for the People

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u/robspiro 21h ago

My pick as well. Only contender I'll accept is Tom Petty and Heartbreakers.