The Greatest American Rock Band Bracket!
First Round, Indie/Grunge/New Wave Division
R.E.M. (1) vs. the Go-Go's (16)
College rock pioneers versus the original riot girls
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R.E.M.:
"R.E.M. marked the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock [and] sparked a back-to-the-garage movement in the American underground. Combining ringing guitar hooks with mumbled, cryptic lyrics and a D.I.Y. aesthetic… the band simultaneously sounded traditional and modern. R.E.M. had an identity and sense of purpose that transformed the American underground. Throughout the '80s, they worked relentlessly, releasing records every year and touring constantly, playing both theaters and backwoods dives. Along the way, they inspired countless bands, from the legions of jangle pop groups in the mid-'80s to scores of alternative pop groups in the '90s, who admired their slow climb to stardom." --AllMusic.com Popularity
Influence:
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The Go-Go's:
"The Go-Go's were the most popular all-female band to emerge from the punk/new wave explosion… becoming one of the first commercially successful female groups who weren't controlled by male producers or managers. While their hit singles… were bright, energetic new wave pop, the group was an integral part of the California punk scene. Despite becoming America's darlings, the Go-Go's lived the wild life of rockers, swallowing as many pills and taking as much cocaine as possible, trashing hotel rooms, and just generally being bad. More importantly, their earliest music…was raw and rocking; it may not have directly inspired the female alternative rockers and riot grrrls of the '90s, but it certainly foreshadowed them." --AllMusic.com Popularity
Influence:
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