The Greatest American Rock Band Bracket!
Second Round, Indie/Grunge/New Wave Division
Nirvana (4) vs. Pearl Jam (5)
Grunge breakout stars versus Grunge survivors
|
|
|
|
Nirvana:
"Nirvana.... revolutionized popular music by bringing alternative rock above ground, introducing mainstream audiences to sounds and concepts that had previously existed only in shadowy record store corners and on low-frequency college radio airwaves. [Nirvana's] noisy, dissonant guitar rock, mumbled or howled surrealistic lyrics, and generally angsty punk attitudes were unlikely candidates for chart success, but the band undercut their grungy songs with enough pop melodicism to create a sound unlike anything average listeners had ever heard before. [Kurt] Cobain's death cut Nirvana's story tragically short, but their legacy stands as one of the most influential in rock & roll history." --Allmusic.com Popularity
Influence:
|
Pearl Jam:
"Pearl Jam rose above the legions of grungy alt-rockers littering the early '90s to become the most popular and enduring American rock & roll band of their time. In an age defined by irony, they were unflaggingly sincere. Much of this earnestness stemmed from Eddie Vedder, a lead singer of uncommon charisma and passion who helped the group's arena rock moves seem intimate. Vedder's emotional acuity remained a touchstone for Pearl Jam throughout the years, giving the band's unpredictable business moves, such as their mid-'90s battle with Ticketmaster, and embrace of controversial causes genuine heft. The group [maintains] an enormous and devoted cult that allow[s] the band the freedom to experiment while remaining true to their rock & roll ideals." --AllMusic.com Popularity
Influence:
|