The best American band of the last 30 years...

[Duane_the_tub]

... is Faith No More

Hold up, I know a lot of you are scoffing. Their breakout single (Epic) and album (The Real Thing) helped spawn a pretty awful genre of music (rap rock) and propel some truly shitty bands to stardom. But FNM were always a cut above, and over time they have sharpened the mastery of their craft and produced some of the very best American music we've had over the last 30 years. Aggressive, sure - Mike Patton's screaming turns a lot of people off - but extremely well-written and impeccably performed. Every member of this band is a virtuoso. Patton has the widest vocal range ever documented for a rock singer (seriously, look it up). They never stay safely in any musical box and instead take chance after chance, blending genres and styles and adding their own signature at the bottom. I think they're absolutely f'ing awesome and only now, when I'm older and more able to understand great music, do I truly appreciate what they've really always been.

Here are two recent examples, from within the past five years. They sound better than ever.

 

[CerebralGasket]

Saw them at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in 1989.
They opened for Metallica.

 

[VictorB]

I thought this was going to be about Gov’t Mule.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

I thought this was going to be about Gov’t Mule.

I do love the Mule. Very much, in fact.

 

[tramp]

Faith no more is solid, and if were talkin 30 yrs, you have to throw the RHCP in there, they've been tearing it up about that long.

 

[LocoTex]

The Black Crowes?

 

[VictorB]

The Black Crowes?

The Marc Ford years, absolutely.

 

[jenton70]

For my taste I'd find this quite a bold statement but I can admit they've certainly been influential. I'd argue REM, Alice In Chains, and I'm sure a good many others would sit ahead of FNM.

 

[tramp]

The Black Crowes?

I think the Crowes were broken up more than they were together during the last 30 yrs, weren't they? Good band when they're together though.

 

[Caretaker]

I prefer original FNM.
Have to throw Pearl Jam in there even though I'm not a fan.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

I'd argue REM, Alice In Chains, and I'm sure a good many others would sit ahead of FNM.

REM certainly opened their career with an amazing string of albums, but I feel like they started declining with Out of Time and really fell off. Their best music was certainly made early on. AIC was great as well, but obviously couldn't hold it together for tragic reasons and flamed out rather quickly in the big picture.

Like I said, FNM continued to evolve as musicians and I really think they sound better in the last five years than ever before, hence my pick.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

I prefer original FNM.
Have to throw Pearl Jam in there even though I'm not a fan.

Pearl Jam is probably the right answer, actually, but they've put out a lot of bad music over the years as well.

 

[Leumas]

I’ll have to give them another shot. Back in the day I preferred Mr Bungle to FNM. Of course back in the day I also preferred mushrooms to sleep too.

 

[Leumas]

Pearl Jam is probably the right answer, actually, but they've put out a lot of bad music over the years as well.

Pearl Jam has become Bruce Springsteen.

 

[VictorB]

Pearl Jam hasn’t had a solid album since their second one.

 

[motowntom]

REM..........

 

[ArticulateDemon]

Pearl Jam hasn’t had a solid album since their second one.

Considering their 4th and 5th albums are their best, I kindly disagree. By the way, their 2020 offering Gigaton is a glaring display of how this band will continue to stand the test of time.

 

[CoolRene]

BLACKBERRY SMOKE ! ! ! Those guys ROCK

 

[uncajoey]

Rage Against the Machine

 

[Wesner477]

Has anyone given Adam Jones from Tool a good listen to recently? Especially their new album “Fear Inoculum.” My honest opinion is they’re the Pink Floyd of today from 13min songs to a phenomenal visual/light show. And their drummer Danny Carey... what a monster!!