The Greatest American Rock Band Bracket!
First Round, Punk/Hard Rock Division
The Ramones (1) vs. Tool (16)
New York punk progenitors versus the Radiohead of Metal
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The Ramones:
"The Ramones may or may not have invented punk rock, but they were inarguably the most important band in punk history. They were informed by the thunder and flash of the Who and the MC5, the speed and primitivism of Iggy and the Stooges, and the alternately sullen and goofy musings of '60s garage rock, but the Ramones synthesized their influences into something raw and revolutionary, a fury of pounding rhythms and downstroked guitars married to rudimentary melodies and comically absurd lyrics that both mocked and celebrated popular culture and teenage life. The Ramones were tuneful, aggressive, and challenging in their embrace of minimalist fury, and it's impossible punk as we know it without the Ramones' guiding example. " --Allmusic.com Popularity
Influence:
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Tool:
"Tool established themselves as one of America's most enduring and unpredictable acts with an ever-evolving brand of muscular but mind-altering sonics, a wry sense of humor, and a mystical aesthetic that attracted a cult-like following of devoted fans. Their greatest breakthrough was to meld dark underground metal with the ambition of art rock, crafting multi-sectioned, layered songs as if they were classical composers. While embracing the artsy, they also paid musical homage to the relentlessly bleak visions of grindcore, death metal, and thrash. Even with their post-punk influences, they executed their music with the sound and feel of prog rock, alternating between long, detailed instrumental interludes and lyrical rants in their songs." --AllMusic.com Popularity
Influence:
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