The most talented rock group that still plays today?

[NKUSigEp]

Depending on how you define "rock" - Down, Mastodon, High on Fire, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Tool, Alice in Chains, is Primus still together (again)? Opeth... Travis Meeks (Days of the New) is extremely talented and has produced some of my favorite music, but I can't say I'm crazy about what he's playing now.

I'm not a fan of "rock" as most of the younger generation would define it but there's opinion.

 

[EdHunter]

Despite DEP and The Melvins, there's been no mention so far of one of the greatest live bands of all time.

Faith No More

 

[Nurb]

My 3 favourite rock bands still play today.

Porcupine Tree
RHCP
Placebo

 

[OrangeSun]

If your just talking straight talent, I think the answer has to be either Dream Theater or Rush. Clearly rush is not at the peak of their powers these days, but in my mind these two bands are the definition of chops and ability on their respective instruments. A lot of people can't stand prog rock, but the musicianship is far and away the most impressive in the domain of "rock music".

 

[Turock]

Allman Brothers
Jeff Beck
Yes
Tommy Emmanuel

 

[Rocinante_x1]

Rush
Steely Dan
Judas Priest

 

[baalroo]

Not only does it depend on how you define "rock," but it also depends on how you define "talent." That being said, here are a few that I might consider (depending on how you define the terms):

The Mars Volta
Radiohead
Tera Melos
Sigur Ros

 

[busta_bird]

Depending on how you define "rock" - Down, Mastodon, High on Fire, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Tool, Alice in Chains, is Primus still together (again)? Opeth... Travis Meeks (Days of the New) is extremely talented and has produced some of my favorite music, but I can't say I'm crazy about what he's playing now.

I'm not a fan of "rock" as most of the younger generation would define it but there's opinion.

I'm watching Primus in a few weeks down in Nashville. I've never seen them live, psyched.

 

[ckitz]

Rush.
Santana. I saw them just yesterday at Bethel Woods and they just blew my mind!
And most other classic rock bands

 

[john_g]

Rush

 

[shackled]

I saw Dream Theater perform at a small venue in Buffalo last week. (The Town Ballroom) The talent level was very impressive, and the vocalist left the stage when he wasn't actively singing. I thought that was cool.
It was one of the best 5 shows I've ever seen.

 

[mrpackerguy]

On pure talent alone, no one beats Becker and Fagan...Steely Dan, especially if, as the OP seems to suggest, he means bands that have been around a long time.

 

[scowboy]

Okay so it's not just me.

I think Lars is mediocre at best. I think Hetfield is one of the most talented rhythm players out there, and I miss Newsted.

 

[NineSpine]

Actually some of the new stuff hurts alot, to the point of being painful.....some of it is even more effective than syrup of ipecac.

But, to each his own. Like George Carlin once said, "take it easy, have some dip".

There will be as many differing opinions in this thread as there are posters. And that's the way it should be.

I couldn't even imagine thinking that I am going to change what others like just because I tell them they should change. What *I* have to say carries no weight. And I'm fine with that. I learned a long time ago that ya can't tell people what they should and shouldn't like. They will decide that for themselves. All I can say is what I like and don't like.

As long as there's been music, there's been trash music. It's not like crap is a new phenomenon and everything up to the 80s was golden.

All I am trying to say is that saying that the most "talented" bands that are "currently" playing are people whose glory days (and I agree that almost every band here had glory days where they wrote fantastigasmic music) passed upwards of twenty years ago displays an extremely close-minded approach to music. Live a little. Grow a little.

Having a disdain for new music is just as much a case of xenophobic nonsense as having a disdain for older music.

 

[busta_bird]

All I am trying to say is that saying that the most "talented" bands that are "currently" playing are people whose glory days (and I agree that almost every band here had glory days where they wrote fantastigasmic music) passed upwards of twenty years ago displays an extremely close-minded approach to music. Live a little. Grow a little.
.

Not really what I meant with the post. I just didn't want to see 'The Beatles, Floyd, Zepp' as we all know they were all gods in their own right. Seeing a bunch of Steely Dan posts did lead me to picking up a few albums this morning.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I never really knew much about Maiden until I watched a live concert of them on Paladia. It blew my mind that they get those sounds out of Strats.

Well for what it's worth all of their guitars are heavily modded

 

[heath_r_91]

Elton John.

 

[stratovani]

Kind of a pointless question if you ask me. All bands that make it to the point of being national or international are talented, asking who's the most talented is subjective. I would be tempted to say Rush, but are they more talented than Tool, or Yes, or Steel Pulse, or the Dropkick Murphys? I would say no, and I love Rush. Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.

 

[Buchada Azeda]

Rush, Porcupine Tree and Meshuggah.



/thread

 

[cjmodulus]

+ 1 to all the posts listing rush. I'm seeing them live tomorrow for the first time. I'm so excited
other than them, there's tool, dream theater, Yes, and a lot more.