who do you reckon it is?

i'm going with The Strokes.

White Stripes

DING!

someone will have to explain to me why the strokes are the most important rock band in the u.s. right now...

Rolling Stone(i know not important to the like of us but I find it curious so follow me---plus I still read it) has annointed My Morning Jacket as the new best American band, taking the mantle from (in there opinion) Wilco.

I'm not sure but I'll follow the debate in this thread.

I'll say one thing: The Drive By Truckers are the best American band right now.

The most important rock band in America right now is Green Day, and has been for more than a year. I'm not passing judgement, just saying.

Based on the pro- and con-Strokes posts going on today, this should be really interesting.

I'm not sure where I'd fall here, are they the MOST important American band? Could be. There's also MMJ, Wilco, DBTs, the White Stripes doing great stuff.

Meh.

very good call on their part.

Kings of Leon are definitely up there as well.

If we throw out popularity and think of importance in terms of who will actually matter in the future for actually being creative and innovative, I'd say Animal Collective or Deerhoof. And that's being fairly conservative.

Different cases could be made coming from more of a songwriting perspective, but not for The Strokes or The White Stripes.

I guess I have no idea how you guys define "importance".

Radiohead are merkin', aren't they?

As it's my number 1, I'm embarassed at omitting it's mention.

I agree. I don't necessarily like 'em, but I think this is true. I'd also put the White Stripes before the Strokes as well.

I think the people saying the Strokes may be confusing "most important" for their idea of "best." In terms of keeping up a constant buzz, cultivating an image, and making waves in the mainstream, I'd have to agree with the White Stripes. They've become way bigger than the Strokes - though the Strokes had a shot after Is This Is?, they were too lazy to do with it what the Stripes did after WBC.

Kanye West

How the fuck are Green Day "important" in any terms other than record sales and popularity?

i think system of a down should be considered. one of the few bands these days who have overt political beliefs and are not afraid to show them.

what do you guys mean by important?

why is green day important? i would say they are popular but thats about it......if important you mean music changing/original sounding - then green day is FAR from that

There is no "most important" group or artist.

The Strokes would be tolerable if they got a new singer or worked with a decent producer.

That's a good call, unless we're limiting this to bands.

I would define "important" here as mostly: meaning a good deal to a large number of people and contributing significantly to the "sound" of the music of the day.

They are the most influential band on the planet right now. There will be hundreds of Green Day-influenced bands in the next few years. The industry will make decisions based on Green Day-criteria. They are the Nirvana of Now.

I'd say if one thinks otherwise, they putting far too much stock in the percieved influence our best-loved little bands wield.

Unless by "important" Dalen meant "best." Which is not what "important" means.

And he did say 'rock band'.

kanye west is neither a band nor a rock - discuss