The Greatest American Rock Band Bracket!
First Round, Indie/Grunge/New Wave Division
Pixies (6) vs. Sonic Youth (11)
Alt-rock innovators versus art-rock geniuses
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Pixies:
"Combining jagged guitars and stop-start dynamics with melodic pop hooks, intertwining male-female harmonies, and evocative lyrics, Pixies are one of alternative rock's most influential bands. They upended conventions, melding punk and indie rock, classic pop, surf rock, and stadium-sized riffs with singer/guitarist Black Francis' fragmented lyrics about space, religion, sex, mutilation, and pop culture. His words may have been cryptic, but the music was direct, forceful, and laid the groundwork for the alternative explosion of the early '90s. From grunge to Brit-pop, Pixies' shadow loomed large; it's hard to imagine Nirvana without Pixies' signature loud-quiet-loud dynamics and lurching, noisy guitar solos." --Allmusic.com Popularity
Influence:
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Sonic Youth:
"As they redefined what noise meant within rock & roll -- and what success meant for a band with experimental roots -- Sonic Youth became one of the most influential, and popular, acts to emerge from the American underground. Their inventive use of alternate tunings, dissonance, and feedback, which they combined with the intensity of hardcore punk and the performance art aesthetic of New York's avant-garde, created a new sonic landscape with an impact that lasted for decades. [In the 1990s,] Sonic Youth soon added more structure and melody without sacrificing any of their edge." --AllMusic.com Popularity
Influence:
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