No. 68: Sam Roberts Band

Ah Canada, have we thanked you for Nickelback yet? After producing such musical genius, maybe we should put a guitar in the hand of every Canadian youth and skip the hockey stick. Sam Roberts is a Canadian front man, but don’t worry, the similarities to Chad Kroeger stop there.

After fronting several independent bands with varying degrees of local success, Sam Roberts released a six-song EP in 2001, The Inhuman Collection. The EP enjoyed little early success but after a rerelease in 2002, the EP's first single “Brother Down” became one of the biggest Canadian singles that year. Since then, Sam Roberts has released three full-length albums including his most recent Love at the End of the World. The band has reached the top of the Canadian charts several times and has won a Juno Award, but has yet to enjoy similar success outside of the Great White North.

I enjoy listening to Sam Roberts Band, particularly The Inhuman Collection EP, however some of his later releases failed to build on his original EP. The band's sound is similar to that of Jane’s Addiction and the Stone Temple Pilots more mellow tracks, and sometimes they remind me of the simpler Beatles songs. The Sam Roberts Band probably shouldn’t even be allowed to carry the equipment of any of these greats nor do I see the potential for them to do so, but I think they will fit well at an outdoor festival, so I will probably give them a listen at this year's Lolla.

Sam Roberts Band on MySpace

Sam Roberts Band Official Site

I'll probably get called out real soon for being a Nickelback fan, so I will come out and say it now: I don't find them as repulsive as I should.

No. 69: Hockey

(First off, I'd like to say I'm going to try to avoid all puns that deal with the sport of hockey.)

I'm not going to lie and say I didn't choose to preview the band Hockey because I love the sport. That's totally the reason. I was half-expecting to find a band about as entertaining as Five for Fighting, but I think Hockey has the chance to be an interesting emerging band.

Hockey is a four-member group from Portland, OR. They will be releasing their debut album, "Mind Chaos," in late August.

A lot of people label the band as a mix between the Strokes and LCD Soundsystem, and I'd have to agree. The lead singer sounds a lot like Julian Casablancas (lead singer of the Strokes) with the occasional inflections of James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem). From listening to their recorded material, I could see them being a fun band to go see live. Their songs have good energy with dancy beats. I'm planning on checking them out at Lollapalooza.

Check them out on Myspace.

No. 70: Hey Champ

This will be a rather limited preview, the best thing I can say about Hey Champ is I'd like to hear more. The band, from Chicago, has only released 4 songs so the listening was limited. Hey Champ is probably best known as opening on a nationwide tour for Lupe Fiasco, this opportunity arose when Lupe viewed a video of their song "Cold Dust Girl" on YouTube.

Hey Champ is an interesting group, they consist of 3 members and most of their songs remind me of mellow rock groups such as the Shins, which gives me little reason to think they'd be anything but out of place opening for Lupe Fiasco. However the group has also released an album under the Hey Champ DJs that remixes many songs from Yeahsayer to T Pain. With such a limited number of songs available all I can say is the band is intriguing, I will try to check them out at Lolla 09, and definitely want to check out their first full length release, hoping for a sort of MGMT feel.

Hey Champ on MySpace

Hey Champ DJs on MySpace

Tentative Lolla slots..

A friend of mine sent me a link today to the Lolla boards that gives an early schedule for the weekend. Take it with a grain of salt, but it appears to be a pieced together from most of the bands' schedules on their websites. It actually doesn't seem too far off base. Check it out...

Facebook and Twitter

Just a quick note to everyone, we set up Facebook and Twitter Claptrapped accounts. Now you can follow our posts even closer. We'll also be sending live updates to our twitter account during shows and festivals. Become a fan if you have a Facebook account or follow us on Twitter, or both.

Check it out!

No. 71: Davy Knowles And Back Door Slam

I should probably preface by saying that the picture you see to the right is not representative of Back Door Slam these days. Nope, currently it's Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam. Up until around January 27th, 2009, Back Door Slam consisted of Davy Knowles on guitar, Adam Jones on bass, and Ross Doyle on drums. The band hails from The Isle of Man, a small island off the coast of the U.K. and apparently went through some sort of tumultuous breakup early in the year, which resulted in the spawning of the moniker used today. Sure, Davy Knowles is still there, but who his backing players are, is tough to say.... His website doesn't really go out of its way to point these people out. One gets the feeling Davy wants to make sure he's the focus of this new incarnation, and just wants studio musicians with him on the road. But enough about the revolving door that is Back Door Slam... Let's talk about the music.

Davy Knowles appears to be one of those young virtuoso guitarists in the vein of Derek Trucks and John Mayer that seem to pop up every few years. At 21 he's already made a name for himself on the blues/rock circuit, opening for the likes of Lynrd Skynrd, Buddy Guy, Kid Rock, The Who, and Gov't Mule. Davy and his band just released Coming Up For Air, which just so happens to be produced by one Mr. Peter Frampton. Make no mistake, Davy can play the shit out of a guitar.... However, his songs seem to stoop to run of the mill lyricism in songs like "Riverbed" where Davy howls: " I can remember a night oh so well/ Where the moon shone down on a Mississippi River swell.." Far be it from me to define the realm of blues mysticism, but for a youngster from the U.K. to be throwing out blues cliches about New Orleans and steam trains, makes a guy from the South, like me, feel a little patronized. There are some standout tracks such as "Amber's Song" which features some nice harmonies and mandolin (Another weapon Davy seems to be a master of) in the choruses, along with "Taste Of Danger", a duet with American folk singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke. Why "Taste Of Danger" is more or less a bonus track here is a mystery to me as it proves to be one of the lynchpins of this album.

Overall, I have to take issue with Mr. Frampton's producing effort. Davy's got a sprawling bluesy voice that is hardly given justice on the album. It seems his voice is over produced and canned..... A vital mistake when recording a blues record, as the right imperfections can lead to a more solid product. Who knows? It's possible this band can really let it rip live, but here it just sounds like a Los Lonely Boys' knockoff. If I get a minute I might pop over to see what the all the fuss is at Lolla, but I most likely won't stick around for very long unless what I hear really blows me away. On the title track, Davy says "I'm coming up for air, but there's nothing there." Somehow Davy doesn't seem far off...

Davy Knowles And Back Door Slam's Myspace

Official Site

*NOTE: This post was meant for Thursday the 28th, but Blogger confused me.

No. 72: Cage The Elephant

“Rock and roll is dead I probably should've stayed in school” – Cage the Elephant, In One Ear.

This band is exactly the “F@$k You” response that statement deserves. These guys’ sound is exactly what you would hope for from a bunch of crazy rock and roll hicks from Kentucky. They have a vintage sound and style that incorporates some hip hop and new wave rock to create a very lively, loud, and truly raw rock and roll sound. The vocal style is somewhat similar to Jack White, but overall, Cage the Elephant has much more energy and drive than the White Stripes. The music is pretty involved and well thought out, but these guys make it seem simple; it’s natural to them. Their hit single “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” has dirty southern rock slide guitar riffs with a simple, but rocking beat. The vocals tell the story of how the downtrodden turn to their wicked ways to survive in this world. The hip hop vocals over the southern rock riff are a perfect example of their blending of old school rock with popularity of today’s rhythm driven vocal styles.

The energy of their self titled, debut album, is incredible, and I’m sure is amplified to complete chaos in their live shows. See them at Lollapalooza, raise your beer, and your middle finger to those who ever doubted the pulse of the current state of rock and roll.

Cage the Elephant's Official Site

Cage the Elephant on MySpace

Author PSzyzzle

No. 73: Living Things

The Living Things are a rock band from St. Louis, Missouri; the band is made up of three brothers Lillian (lead vocals/guitar), Eve (bass), and Bosh Berlin (drums) and their childhood friend Cory Becker (guitar). The band may be best known for their album Ahead of the Lions released in 2005, Rolling Stones magazine named it one of the top 50 albums of that year. Track three, Bom Bom Bom, from that album was played during an AT&T commercial featuring an iTunes compatible phone.

Lillian, the bands frontman, has had several controversial episodes in the bands short history. He was stabbed in 2001 after a show in Kansas City because of his vocal opinions on the events that took place on 9/11. In Dallas, 2004, Lillian was shot at and pistol whipped after a show because of his on stage banter concerning the Republican Party. It is also rumored that his political views caused a altercation between members of the band Alter Bridge and Cory and Bosh of Living Things while touring together in Switzerland in 2006. He’s an interesting character to say the least, check out this interview on Ultimate-Guitar.com.

Living Things are a rock band; if the term were defined in the dictionary there would likely be a picture of the band and one of their tracks to accompany the definition. Their albums are good and not great, their sound has been done before and done better, their enjoyable to listen to and could be compared to bands like Oasis, KISS, Def Leppard and numerous others, but I can’t say anything I’ve heard would make me come back for a second listen. I will check them out at Lolla if they get a favorable time slot and if I see them I’d be expecting a good but not great show.

Living Things Official Site

Living Things on MySpace

During my research of the band Living Things and their outspoken lead singer, Lillian Berlin, I began to struggle with separating the actions and statements of Lillian, from the band and their music as a whole. This got me thinking about other instances where a front man’s off stage actions can have negative and positive effects on the bands image.

When asking people whether or not they like a band, most obviously Pearl Jam and U2, the answer you get back may be something along the lines of "I just can't stand so and so." It becomes hard to separate their actions and political views from their band's music. Do I turn a blind eye to the actions of Eddie Vedder and Thom Yorke just because I enjoy the music they make with Pearl Jam and Radiohead respectively? When hearing a U2 song do I automatically dismiss it because of Bono? Can you think of any other examples where the overwhelming presence of a front man could or has influenced your opinion on a band and it's music?

No. 74 The Low Anthem

The Low Anthem is a folk trio from Providence Rhode Island consisting of Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky, and Jocie Adams. They are a pretty interesting band to listen to since their songs switch from very slow, sleepy folk tunes to upbeat rock songs where lead singer Ben Knox Miller really changes the delivery of his vocals. The band has two full length albums "What the Grow Bring" and "Oh my God, Charlie Darwin." The album "Oh my God, Charlie Darwin" is being re-released with an updated version since they first put out the album independently, Nonesuch records signed the band in March and the updated album will be out in June.

If you listen to the album "Oh my God, Charlie Darwin", you can hear an example of the bands versatility. The first two songs "Charlie Darwin" and "To Ohio" are very easy sounding folk songs, where I can just imagine falling asleep to, which for me is not necessarily a bad thing. You will hear an entirely different Americana rock sound if you go to track 4 "The Horizon is a Beltway", this song reminds me a few harder rock EELS albums. This band would be interesting to see live as they swap out different musical styles.

Official Page
MySpace Page
Live Show NPR

Interview with Joe Pug

Up-and-coming folk singer Joe Pug recently took the time to answer a few questions I had for him about touring, his influences, and Lollapalooza. Click here to read my Lollapalooza preview of Joe Pug.

Claptrapped: What made you decide to come to Chicago? Why did you decide to leave school, and why did you choose Chicago over any other city?

Joe Pug: I chose Chicago because it was affordable and romantic. I had no idea that I would be playing music, so I didn't choose it for its music scene. That was just a fortunate surprise.

CT: What is it like touring and playing huge music festivals at such a young age?

JP: You learn your trade very quickly when you're playing on bills with old pros. But that keeps it interesting for me.

CT: A lot of people compare you to Bob Dylan. Was he one of your biggest influences? What types of music did you listen to growing up? (And what do you listen to now?)

JP: I listen to songwriters who are a genre all to themselves: John Prine, Elliot Smith, Warren Zevon, Kurt Cobain, Steve Earle, Beck.

CT: Have you gotten a chance to check out the Lollapalooza lineup? Are there certain bands you're looking forward to sharing the stage with, or watching as a fan?

JP: I really like Ezra Furman out of Chicago. And I haven't had a chance to see his live show, so hopefully this will be it.

CT: In the future do you see yourself playing with a full band, or do you enjoy playing solo?

JP: I'll end up with a band one day. But I've still got a couple things left to prove by myself!

No. 75 Blind Pilot

I started listing to Blind Pilot a few months before the lineup was announced for Lollapalooza and was very excited see they made the bill. The reason I checked them out was because NPR rated their CD "3 rounds and a sound" the third best album of 2008.This is currently the only album under their belt. This is a great 2 piece band made up of Isreal Nebeker and drummer Ryan Dobrowski.

First song "oviedo" was described from a reviewer as the soundtrack for when you land in a foreign country, I would agree. This is one of my favorite songs on the album and it describes lead singer Isreal's experience in Oviedo Spain. Some other solid tracks on the album are "the story I heard", "one red thread" and "go on, say it". This whole album is filled with catchy drum beats and clean, crisp acoustic guitar strumming. They also add in a few more elements like the violin in song "go on, say it". If I were to compare them to another band, I would say a bit more upbeat Damien Rice.

A interesting fact about them is they have had two bicycle tours. They literally put all their gear on a small bike trailer and ride bikes touring California. Their first tour ended earlier than expected when their bikes were stolen in San Fransisco. Isreal got his bike back when he saw it listed on Craigs list for $50. Since they have gotten a bit bigger, they tour in a van so they can bring more musicians to the shows to play violins, upright bass, and horns. I would suspect they are not done bicycle touring though. You can here an interview on NPR about the tours.

I would seriously suggest checking them out. This is one band I will not miss at Lolla.

Myspace page
Official page
NPR - Live at South by Southwest

Paste magazine just might make it

On May 13, Paste magazine adopted an online fundraising initiative called Save Paste. The magazine took a big hit in advertising sales recently, so it decided to ask its fans for help, rather than shutting down.

When I heard this news, I can't say I was surprised. The latest issue I received -- the May issue -- was noticeably thin in the advertisements (which I guess is a good thing for the reader), it did not feature the free sample CD (online downloads were still available, however), and I noticed a number of obvious typos. The Editor's Note was also about the economy and how it is affecting the magazine industry.

A week after "Save Paste" was launched, there appears to be good news. According to Folio: magazine, Paste has raised $166,000 -- putting them over halfway to their goal of $300,000.

I personally hope the good news continues. I'd hate to see this magazine go away.

No. 76: Langhorne Slim

Langhorne Slim, from New York, plays folk rock with a hint of bluegrass and country. Slim (whose real name is Sean Scolnick) plays guitar, while his backing band -- the War Eagles -- plays drums and stand-up bass.

Listening to his debut album, "When the sun's gone down," it has its share of upbeat, toe-tapping tunes that feature other instruments, such as keyboard, electric harmonica, and banjo. I'm really turned off by his voice, however. It's kind of whiny, and it reminds me a little of John Popper. I do think there would be some potential in Langhorne Slim's live show. I could definitely see some high-energy foot-stomping good times. But I will probably not be checking them out at Lollapalooza.

Check out Langhorne Slim on Myspace.

No. 77: Other Lives

The Other Lives, a band from Stillwater, Oklahoma, is comprised of five members. Their music features a mix of guitar, piano, drums, and cello.

Even though they come from the Bible Belt the Other Lives remind me of bands from England; I have found this to be an increasing trend in American music. I have come across other people comparing the band to Radiohead, specifically their self titled album to Radiohead's Hail to the Thief. I understand the comparison but wouldn't have gone there first. Other Lives sounds much more solemn than Radiohead, even in the more somber songs. I find the band sounds closer to the Doves or even Elbow, but none of their songs are very upbeat in tempo or feel, which is what keeps me from comparing them more favorably to those bands.

At Lolla this year I won't plan on seeing Other Lives unless they play in a fairly open spot. It might be worth a look just to see a band that performs and records at all times with that combination of instruments. They just seem too solemn for an outdoor festival and maybe better suited for a smaller venue on a colder rainy day.

Other Lives on MySpace

100th Post

By the way the last post was our 100th post, making this the 101st. Way to go Claptrappians.

No. 78: The Builders and the Butchers

Pots and pans, claps of hands, shouting, lots of noise, The Builders and the Butchers are what I've been waiting for, a band I had heard very little of before that I now am very excited to see at this years Lollapalooza.


The Builders and Butchers hale from Alaska but did not resemble what they are now until making a move to Portland, Oregon. It was there that lead singer, Ryan Sollee, became interested with pre 1950s American Music. The marriage of that sound and his earlier love of punk music can best describe the music the band plays today. The band will be releasing their latest album, Salvation is a Deep Dark Well, on June 30th; the album features production work from The Decemberists' Chris Funk.

I would most compare the band to someone like Anathallo and the lead singer has a very familiar voice but I just can't place it. The Butchers and Builders have also been referred to as "Decemberistesque" I understand the comparisson but think it maybe partially guilt by association this bamd grew on me much quicker than The Decemberists did at first.



The Builders and The Butchers on MySpace


The Builders and The Butchers Official Site

No. 79: Eric Church

My apologies to Eric Church and the Claptrapped community, I am far from fit for this post.

Eric Church is a country artist (singer and songwriter, I know I was shocked too) from North Carolina who has reached the Top 20 on Billboard Hot Country Songs charts several times. Listening to his newest album Carolina he seems to be a talented artist within his niche, but I just don't get country. I will attempt to find someone to post a update to this who can better explain Eric Church against his country peers, in the end I couldn't get much past his song Love Your Love the Most. I have listed some of the lyrics from that song here and you should probably check him out at Lolla if these ring true to you.

"And Hell Yes I Love My Truck
But I Want You To Know
Honey I Love Your Love The Most

Man I Love How Redman Taste
And Damn I Love My Nascar Race
Any Song Sung By George Strait
Is Country At It's Best"

Eric Church on MySpace

Eric Church's Official Site

No. 80: Joe Pug

Joe Pug is a solo folk artist now based in Chicago. I'm normally not a fan of the type of music he plays. I find folk music kind of repetitive and uninteresting. But contrary to that, I love what I've heard from Joe Pug so far. I've pretty much been listening to him non-stop for two days.

According to his Myspace page, Pug decided to up and move to Chicago the day before his senior year at the University of North Carolina. He came to Chicago, picked up his guitar (which he hadn't played much since his teenage years), and recorded his "Nation of Heat" EP.

What jumps out most to me is his age. At first listen, I would have pictured an old, grizzled guy, but he's actually in his early 20s. The lyrics are interesting and introspective, and his voice is simply flat-out amazing. His skills apparently are becoming more well-know -- he's scheduled to play a number of festivals this summer, including Bonnaroo, Summer Camp and Lolla. He's expected to release a full-length album this year.

I look forward to watching this Chicago-based artist grow as a musician. As far as going to see him at Lollapalooza, I'm not sure how he will relate to the festival setting; I think it'd be much more enjoyable to see him in a small club.

Sounds like: Bob Dylan

Check him out here on Myspace. Go to his home page, where you can request a free sample of his music.

Here's a video of him playing a party after SXSW 2009:

No. 81 Kevin Devine

Kevin Devine is a singer / songwriter from Brooklyn and former member of the indie punk band "Miracle of 86". In all honesty, at first listen his music seems pretty cookie cutter, where he really comes through is in his live performances. He has a great scream during his live show that is non-existent on the studio tracks I've heard. He has some real chill songs, but I'm more of a fan of the tracks where he elevates his voice. One of his influences is Elliott Smith which you can really hear in tracks like "Just Stay".

I'm not still completely sold and would like to catch the full act at Lolla. He does get some points from me since he often tours with Manchester Orchestra. Below is a live performance for the song "Cotton Crush".

Kevin Devine on MySpace

Kevin Devine Official Site / Blog

No. 82: The Greencards

In the interest of being completely honest I must first say country music is not something I normally listen to, or can even stomach. Bluegrass in most cases would fall into that category as well. Add to that the fact that I usually dislike female lead vocalists (isn’t that woman in positions of power in general, never mind that, stay on subject). One might expect a negative review for The Greencards, a Bluegrass band with a female lead singer.

The Greencards, appropriately named because of their countries of origin, Australia and England, and distinctly American style of music, Bluegrass, are comprised mainly of a mandolin, bass, and fiddle. The band has won numerous awards including a Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance in 2007.

The band can be compared to similar country or bluegrass groups such as the Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek. You should plan on seeing The Greencards if you enjoy country musical performances or mandolin and fiddle instrumentals. Even though I enjoyed the album much more than most in this category I will probably continue to avoid country acts if a better option presents itself.

The Greencards on MySpace


The Greencard's Official Site

No. 83: Carney

Carney, a four piece band, from Los Angeles has just two releases a four song EP and a live album collected from the bands weekly shows at Molly Malone’s in LA. The live album, released in July of 2007, is unpolished and represents Carney at most moments to be a young blues band with a pop artist front man playing to a room of fans, friends and family. However the EP, Nothing Without You, represents the band in a different light, the songs are richer and more mature, what the album lacks is a cohesiveness from track to track.

The problem with Carney at this stage is the many directions the band seems to be going. This may be somewhat explained by the bands youth, all four members are in their early 20s. The live album at times reminds me of John Mayer, Easier Said Than Done, at times and of Genesis, Oh No (I Know it Won’t Last), at others, while the EP reminds me of post grunge Silverchair and Kenny Wayne Shepherd sometimes within the same song.

Carney might be a worthwhile band to check out at Lollapalooza just to see what a live show might bring, hopefully it can clear up some of the confusion that their albums have left.

See for yourself at:

Carney's Official Site

Carney on MySpace

Lolla band preview, No. 84: Thenewno2

Being the final band listed on the Lollapalooza lineup card, I wasn't expecting much from London-based Thenewno2. But I actually like what I hear. Thenewno2 is a two-man operation akin to MGMT. They use a lot of spacey effects, and most of their songs center around a dark bass line and drums.

A cool tidbit about the group: Lead singer/guitarist Dhani Harrison is none other than the son of George Harrison. I wouldn't say that the band sounds much like the Beatles, but every once in awhile, the vocals sound like George.

From what I've heard from them, the music itself is pretty simple, but dark. They don't space out with crazy guitar solos; they usually stick to one main groove and add a lot of cool effects. I actually think I will check these guys out at Lollapalooza. Their album "You are here" is definitely worth picking up. Some highlights include: "So vain," "Give you love," "Yomp," and "Shelter."

Sound like: Secret Machines, MGMT

Check them out:

• Myspace
• Official Website
  

84 Bands in 84 Days

Let the countdown begin, over the next two plus months Claptrapped will post a PreviewReview of every band playing Lollapalooza 2009, that's one band everyday between May 14th and August 6th. The opinions and information will come from numerous bloggers, and simply attempt to give a little insight and opinion on every band set to take the stage at this year's Lollapalooza. Feel free to comment on any of the band posts or volunteer to cover any of the bands scheduled to play.

Music you never knew you liked

So I was thinking the other night about all the new music I've discovered lately and also started thinking about bands that were on the lips of everyone last year or 10 years ago that I never latched onto until recently. Case in point, when "Z" by My Morning Jacket came out way back in the summer of 2005, I really didn't give it a second thought. I didn't really care much for the album before that, "It Still Moves", other than a couple of tracks. Once I finally gave "Z" a chance, it almost made me kick myself for not paying any attention to it sooner. This also goes for Fleet Foxes' self titled album from last year... Which I know OD will agree is pretty groundbreaking, especially for a debut album. Until recently, I have to admit "In Rainbows" never tickled my fancy. I had always been a Radiohead fan throughout high school and college and remember picking up "OK Computer" and "Kid A" on their respective release dates. However, somewhere along the way, they lost me only to pull me back in 9 years later...

I'm curious to hear everyone's input on music that finally made you see the forest after staring at the trees for a while.

EDIT: This is weird..... The AV Club just published an article not entirely unlike mine....

Flaming Lips will now take requests

A while ago, I posted about the Flaming Lips headlining the Pitchfork Music Festival on July 19, in Chicago.

It was initially announced that they would allow fans to vote for a song they would like to see the band play. Then Pitchfork retracted that announcement.

But it seems the Flaming Lips will accept requests after all. I bought my ticket today and voted for "What is the light?" from Soft Bulletin.

Which song would you vote for?

Pearl Jam or Nirvana: A hypothetical question

Pearl Jam and Nirvana both exploded on the music scene back in 1991. Pearl Jam released their debut album, "Ten," in August. Nirvana released "Nevermind," the group's second record in September.

Pearl Jam went on to an unquestionably successful career. Nirvana didn't last quite as long.

But I often wonder if Kurt Cobain were still alive, which band would be bigger, or more successful. I know this is tricky for many reasons. Everyone's opinion of success will be different. And the bands didn't really play the same type of music.

But I really felt Nirvana was onto something special at the end of their existence. I recently "rediscovered" "In Utero." I have to say, it's really a brilliant album. It was a departure from Nevermind, less commercial. But I even like the singles. So I wonder: was "In Utero" and the New York Unplugged album just the tip of the iceberg, or did Nirvana go out on top (Costanza-style)?

By no means did Pearl Jam fade away after "Ten." They put out a string of great albums. But after maybe "Vitalogy" (or maybe "No Code") I feel like they kind of lost that "special" feeling. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who will disagree, and I welcome that.

I don't know how much longer Nirvana would have lasted had Cobain not committed suicide. I doubt they'd still be together these days. But I wish I could have gotten some more.

So who would have gone on to be the better band?

(In case you couldn't tell, I'd vote for Nirvana.)