Joey788
Refugee
Sad as it is to say, U2 will at some point relinquish their title of Biggest Band in the World. So the question for this thread is "who's next"?
Which band do you think will be the next U2? Not in terms of similarities in sound, but it terms of having emotionally resonate music that also has widespread commercial appeal. Obviously, in this different era, no band will probably ever gain the dominance and success U2 has. This thread is to discuss who will come the closest.
For me, there are four bands who have a chance of becoming the next biggest band:
Arcade Fire: They are on their only their third album and they already scored a Best Album Grammy, played Madison Square Garden, and headlined every major festival in America. They are insanely popular with the young adult crowd, put on a spectacular concert, and show no signs of slowing down. The only thing that would hurt is another Neon Bible. One more record like The Suburbs may make them the best band of the 2000s.
Coldplay: Yes, there are countless jokes about them that even I often make. But the truth is that they are one of the few rock bands to have smash hits on every album that have broken through to the mainstream. They've managed to gain popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. The band also has that expansive sound that works wonderfully in a large crowd. The only problem is the quality of each album has been questionable since A Rush of Blood to the Head. Every record since then has divided critics and the fanbase.
Elbow: Why the hell isn't this band more popular in America? They've taken the best parts of U2 and Radiohead and combined them into something wholly theirs. Build a Rocket Boys! is quickly shaping up to be the best album of 2011 for me. It feels like everything they do grows from their previous record, changing their sound up while keeping the core identity intact. Not to mention that Guy Garvey is one of the most charming frontmen around today. He's got an astounding voice and astounding stage presence.
Muse: The best quality of Muse is that they are truly bombastic. Every song feels like it has the force to level an arena. They are all incredibly talented musicians who aren't afraid to put on a spectacle. They really seem to be one of the few younger groups who are pushing the limits of enhancing their concerts with technology. They've reached stadium level in Europe and arena level in America. Only problem? The Resistance is the wrong direction to take, IMO, and Bellamy's lyrics are still far too vague too often.
Those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Which band do you think will be the next U2? Not in terms of similarities in sound, but it terms of having emotionally resonate music that also has widespread commercial appeal. Obviously, in this different era, no band will probably ever gain the dominance and success U2 has. This thread is to discuss who will come the closest.
For me, there are four bands who have a chance of becoming the next biggest band:
Arcade Fire: They are on their only their third album and they already scored a Best Album Grammy, played Madison Square Garden, and headlined every major festival in America. They are insanely popular with the young adult crowd, put on a spectacular concert, and show no signs of slowing down. The only thing that would hurt is another Neon Bible. One more record like The Suburbs may make them the best band of the 2000s.
Coldplay: Yes, there are countless jokes about them that even I often make. But the truth is that they are one of the few rock bands to have smash hits on every album that have broken through to the mainstream. They've managed to gain popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. The band also has that expansive sound that works wonderfully in a large crowd. The only problem is the quality of each album has been questionable since A Rush of Blood to the Head. Every record since then has divided critics and the fanbase.
Elbow: Why the hell isn't this band more popular in America? They've taken the best parts of U2 and Radiohead and combined them into something wholly theirs. Build a Rocket Boys! is quickly shaping up to be the best album of 2011 for me. It feels like everything they do grows from their previous record, changing their sound up while keeping the core identity intact. Not to mention that Guy Garvey is one of the most charming frontmen around today. He's got an astounding voice and astounding stage presence.
Muse: The best quality of Muse is that they are truly bombastic. Every song feels like it has the force to level an arena. They are all incredibly talented musicians who aren't afraid to put on a spectacle. They really seem to be one of the few younger groups who are pushing the limits of enhancing their concerts with technology. They've reached stadium level in Europe and arena level in America. Only problem? The Resistance is the wrong direction to take, IMO, and Bellamy's lyrics are still far too vague too often.
Those are my thoughts. What are yours?
