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Looking for some solid rock band recommendations?

Started by Brian Foster2 · · 👁 10 views · 90 replies

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Participants Brian Foster2AChris Barrett37Morgan Ramirez45analogharbor442Justin GreenWilliam Chavez74nimblenomad41wanderinghound24Jeremy BennettSusan James42Nicole JamesRebecca Chase87Kimberly Miller55briskranger42fadedpanther36Roger Allen3Sandra Ruiz43bluebear37Timothy Campbell2wearyraven41ruggedhawk80Carol Kelly74ambergardener …
Steven Green2 Steven Green2 Newcomer
9 messages
joined Jan 2006
#41 ·
Torima, if you’re truly that obsessed with guitar solos, you really ought to give Dream Theater and Symphony X a fair shake. It isn't quite the kind of heavy metal you seem to be used to—you know, all that aggressive thrashing and screaming—but instead, the vocals are absolutely brilliant, staying clean and reaching those impressive high notes. As far as the solos go, they possess that rare quality of being soulful enough to just sit back and listen to, yet they are incredibly tricky to actually play. Honestly, they are more complex and demanding than anything else we've discussed so far. 😉
Sandra Ruiz43 Sandra Ruiz43 Newcomer
1 message
joined Dec 2003
#42 ·
Fair point, but if we're going down this road, we might as well throw Iron Maiden into the mix too.

Seriously though, go listen to some old-school Bon Jovi.
Then give Aerosmith a spin.
Richard Doyle6 Richard Doyle6 Member
13 messages
joined Mar 2005
#43 ·
If you’re actually looking for some decent rock music, I’d suggest checking out Muse, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Mogwai, or maybe even Incubus.
Sandra Ruiz43 Sandra Ruiz43 Newcomer
1 message
joined Dec 2003
#44 ·
Honestly, most modern rock bands are garbage. They just chase these trendy new styles and everyone goes crazy for them, but none of them actually know how to play a single riff. Their live shows are just pure theater, acting like they're...
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Richard Doyle6 Richard Doyle6 Member
13 messages
joined Mar 2005
#45 ·
Just go online and find the footage from the Tool concert on November 16, 2002, in the USA. It’ll tell you everything you need to know about what actual originality and stage presence look like.
Chris Barrett37 Chris Barrett37 Member
14 messages
joined Sep 2007
#46 ·
Brandon Garcia95 said:Fair point, but since we're going down this road, we might as well throw Iron Maiden into the mix.

Man, just listen to some old-school Bon Jovi
or Aerosmith

Man... the good old days... back through '96... if you're interested, grab that Bon Jovi box set released in December 2004. It's got 50 tracks that never made the cut for the actual albums... and honestly, some of them are so incredibly good you'll wonder how they ever missed the tracklist. Most of it covers the Keep The Faith and These Days era, plus some 80s stuff and bits from 1998-2003—though the 2003 stuff is basically the ultimate Last Band Standing. Then again, their new album will probably feature a heavy rock version of that song anyway... it’ll really show off what Richie and David can do vocally, even if Tic gets a little overshadowed, though his job isn't singing—he's killing it on the drums. 😎
ambergardener ambergardener Newcomer
6 messages
joined Jan 2006
#47 ·
strpljivi_diskutant said:Jesus,

Is it just me, or are you actually disagreeing with me here? 😁 For God's sake, The Clash doesn't fit into "desert rock," whatever the hell that is supposed to be...
Chris Barrett37 Chris Barrett37 Member
14 messages
joined Sep 2007
#48 ·
Steven Green2 said:And what exactly are you people limiting yourselves to...?!? 👎

Yeah, honestly, some people really are just narrow-minded. 🙂
Steven Green2 Steven Green2 Newcomer
9 messages
joined Jan 2006
#49 ·
Chris Barrett37 said:Yeah, honestly, some people are just incredibly narrow-minded 🙂

Now, looking at that whole Bon Jovi situation... Just so there isn't any misunderstanding, I have actually studied his music quite thoroughly, especially those earlier albums; as evidence, I still possess seven of his original CDs. Of course, I was only fourteen back then, so I was quite young, mind you. And while I wouldn't dream of pulling out a disc right this second just to give it a listen, there really isn't any point in getting worked up about it. After all, you can't argue with taste! 😉
Sandra Ruiz43 Sandra Ruiz43 Newcomer
1 message
joined Dec 2003
#50 ·
Look, just because you did your homework doesn't mean someone else hasn't done theirs on whatever you or anyone else is listening to right now. That's just how it works.😳
Steven Green2 Steven Green2 Newcomer
9 messages
joined Jan 2006
#51 ·
Brandon Garcia95 said:Well, just as you might have studied a particular subject, someone else has clearly put in the work to study whatever it is you or anyone else happens to be listening to right now... so there we have it!😳

Well, see, the music I’m currently immersed in is actually stuff I thoroughly studied quite some time ago, but that doesn't change the fact that it remains brilliant, ingenious, and truly high-quality. I certainly wouldn't call myself some sort of musical fanatic who limits their horizons to a single genre or one specific band; I find I can appreciate just about anything, though I prefer to wait until I've actually sat with a track before offering any kind of commentary. So, in truth, it’s rather difficult to say exactly what my current rotation consists of... 😉
restlessmarlin6 restlessmarlin6 Active Member
219 messages
joined Oct 2003
#52 ·
One and only... Led Zeppelin 👍 😍

All those other bands you listed next to them? They’ll look like babies in comparison.
ambergardener said:Led Zeppelin, if you want to sink into a deep depression.

Do you even actually LISTEN to that music or what?? 😕

Led Zeppelin is like a quick shot of pure inspiration and motivation.
I mean, they might not be exactly what you put on for a jog or a kickboxing session, but they’re motivating regardless. 🙂
Chris Barrett37 Chris Barrett37 Member
14 messages
joined Sep 2007
#53 ·
Steven Green2 said:What I’m listening to right now is stuff I actually studied a long time ago, but honestly, it’s just brilliant, high-quality music. I'm not some kind of snob who limits himself to just one genre or one specific band; I can listen to pretty much anything, but I prefer to wait until I've actually heard it before I weigh in. So, it's hard to say exactly what's on my playlist at this moment... 😉

Look, let's be real... quality in art is entirely subjective.

People claim Picasso is some kind of absolute genius, but honestly? To me, it just looks like the scribbles of a sick elementary schooler. 🙄

Just because I listen to Bon Jovi doesn't mean I have narrow tastes. Honestly, I'm pretty open-minded, but whenever I put them on—or any other band I really love—it just hits different. It’s like a specific vibe wakes up inside me every single time. I guess you could say I'm hooked on a few certain bands because their music resonates with me so deeply; it practically triggers a chemical reaction.
It’s enough to say that when I’m listening to them, if a song really hits me—I'm talking a solid 13/10—and I truly lose myself in it, it means I'm listening actively. When I'm fully locked into the rhythm, the melody, and the lyrics, I actually get goosebumps.
I really hope that happened to you, and that you actually know exactly what I’m talking about...
That's pure musical euphoria. 😁 😁

I honestly couldn't care less if a bunch of failed musicians turned critics dismiss Bon Jovi as mediocre or just a passing fad—that doesn't influence what I choose to listen to. What actually bothers me is the blatant unfairness they show the band.

Back in '92, everyone was tearing Dry County apart, even though that track is absolute musical perfection. Meanwhile, they were all over November Rain.
People kept comparing those two tracks, claiming it was beneath them—as if it were somehow undignified for a one-hit wonder like Bon Jovi to even attempt writing something in that same vein.
Sometimes I just feel like venting at the lot of them... the songs don't even share a single common theme. You can see the obvious difference just by looking at the titles.
The songs are probably perfect within their own genres. Trust me, if things were different this year, they'd be sitting side by side at the top of the charts.

People love to claim that Bon Jovi is just some sugary, soft rock act—nothing more than a collection of cheesy love ballads. They couldn't be more wrong. In my opinion, they’re actually one of the few bands left that stays true to the actual spirit of rock. They balance the heavy stuff with meaningful ballads, deep life questions, and those songs with a real sense of attitude.
Early albums were mostly about love, then they shifted toward themes of everyday life, and eventually, it became a mix of both. For the last couple of years, we've seen them experimenting, so now I'm really hoping for a deeply mature album next.

Richie deserves way more credit than he gets. He’s easily one of the greatest guitarists to ever pick up the instrument.
Anyone who’s actually crossed paths with him will tell you the same thing. Even the heavy hitters mentioned in this thread about legendary guitarists have gone on record to say it themselves. Honestly, his vocal range is so insane there's really no point in even debating it. He's just a phenomenal musician, plain and simple.

David is the kind of pianist who actually visualizes the music. Think of someone like Maksim Mrvica—he writes his own solo albums, like Lunar Eclypse, and really loves to experiment.

I guess we're just getting started then.

I also really respect how the band members protect their families from the media circus. It’s impressive—Jon has been with the same woman since he was seventeen. If anyone actually knows how to write about love, it's probably him.
They’ve stayed so grounded—maybe it’s actually better that way, because if they ever really took off, they might turn into U2. Their connection with the fans is just different.
They were never at the center of any scandals; they always let the music speak for itself instead of making headlines for overdosing on some doorstep.

Look, what I wrote is just my personal take—it’s a small slice of why I dig them. Please don't take it as some kind of formal recommendation or anything like that. The guy asked for suggestions, and I was just answering based on my own experience.

You've probably noticed that I don't bother commenting on bands I don't listen to, and I certainly don't bash them either—even when I've heard plenty of their stuff. Honestly, I just feel like forcing your own taste on someone else is a total tyranny of the mind... Everyone is free and mature enough to know what actually resonates with them.
Chris Barrett37 Chris Barrett37 Member
14 messages
joined Sep 2007
#54 ·
Steven Green2 said:Look, regarding Bon Jovi... Just so we're clear, I've studied his music thoroughly, especially the older albums—the fact that I owned seven of his original CDs back in the day proves it. But I was only 14 then; I was just a kid. There's no way I'm popping one of his CDs in right now just to prove a point, but honestly, it's not worth getting worked up about. You can't argue with taste! 😉

One more thing... saying you "studied" his music makes me think you were probably just skimming the surface...
if you had actually listened closely, you'd know it wasn't just HIM, it was THEM...
Chris Barrett37 Chris Barrett37 Member
14 messages
joined Sep 2007
#55 ·
You judge a guy just because he won't fall in line
Simply because he isn't standing where you are
But you recognize the man wearing those worn-out shoes
If you strike me, won't I bleed just like you? (You know I will)
I'm not sure what kind of stories you've heard
But you can't purchase courage with a pot of gold
A wealthy man is truly poor if he lacks a soul
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, King
All that stuff doesn't matter at all
Do you know which one's behind those eyes?
It's nothing but a mask

🙏 🙏
--

People judge you based on your bank account
Or the color of your skin
They flip through your cover
Without ever taking the time to read the pages inside
They pass judgment without a jury
Leaving you struggling to find belief
When nobody is willing to listen to your story
And even justice turns its back on you

They construct walls all around you
Then claim that you just don't fit in
Yet you still act like you have me figured out
When you don't know the half of it
I'm the beggar, and you're the savior
I'm your devil, while you're the thief
I'll stay right here until it finally clicks
That I am you, and you are me

🙏 🙏
Gary Kelly8 Gary Kelly8 Member
37 messages
joined Apr 2006
#56 ·
Chris Barrett37, I mean,
I’m a huge AC/DC fan myself—honestly, I’d give anything to see Angus tear it up on stage—but man, the way you go on about Bon Jovi...
Anyway, have you ever actually caught them live?
Personally, Sambora didn't really do much for me, but I have to tip my hat to Jon as a frontman... he's something else.
On topic: AC/DC (their music is just primitive to its core, and the lyrics are pretty mindless and childish... but hey, I guess that's just the logic of rock 'n' roll...)
And when it comes to live shows? They are absolutely unbeatable...
Steven Green2 Steven Green2 Newcomer
9 messages
joined Jan 2006
#57 ·
Chris Barrett37 said:One more thing... based on how you talk about "his" music, I get the impression you’ve only ever given it a very superficial glance...
If you had actually dug into it, you'd realize it wasn't just HIM, it was THEM...

It wasn't a superficial glance, really... When I say I've studied it, what I mean is that once upon a time, quite a while ago, I was a dedicated "fan," if you will. I practically memorized those Bon Jovi albums—and by albums, I mean the band, because they are called Bon Jovi, not just the singer John Bon Jovi, or whatever his actual legal name is, John Bongiovi, I think?!—from top to bottom; I knew every single nuance of every song. Of course, I was young and naive back then, lacking the perspective that comes with life experience.

Richie is being underrated here; he's one of the greatest guitarists in the world...

Well, see, that's exactly where you're missing the mark. Richie being one of the best guitarists of all time?! Look, I've been playing guitar for seven years now, and I'd like to think I have enough sense to distinguish between what's difficult and what's easy, or to recognize who's truly skilled versus who's just mediocre. I'm not saying he's bad, per se, but he doesn't even come close to the absolute elite.

I also appreciate how the band members don't let the media tear their families apart... Like how Jon has been with the same woman since he was 17... If anyone is going to write about love, it should probably be him...

But what does any of that have to do with the music?! Personally, I couldn't care less about their private lives or what kind of people they are in their everyday existence. I am strictly interested in the music itself; that is the sole metric by which I judge them.

I'm not just speaking off the top of my head here; having spent several years listening to and being somewhat obsessed with Bon Jovi gives me the standing to comment on something I know relatively well.

But hey, as I said before, there's no accounting for taste! 🙂
Chris Barrett37 Chris Barrett37 Member
14 messages
joined Sep 2007
#58 ·
Gary Kelly8 said:Chris Barrett37, I think,
Look, I’m a huge AC/DC fan myself, and honestly, I’d kill to see Angus play anytime... but man, what you’re saying about Bon Jovi is something else.
Anyway, have you ever actually seen them live?
Personally, I wasn't really feeling Sambora, but I have to tip my hat to Jon as a frontman... he's incredible.
On topic: AC/DC—their music is incredibly primitive, and the lyrics are pretty childish, but I guess that’s just the logic of rock and roll...
And when it comes to live shows, they are unbeatable...

I was there once... Richie probably just had an off night.
Even people who aren't fans have to admit their live performances are absolutely unbeatable.😁
Chris Barrett37 Chris Barrett37 Member
14 messages
joined Sep 2007
#59 ·
Steven Green2 said:Don't get me wrong... when I say I've studied them, I mean back in the day I was actually a "fan," so to speak. I basically listened to those Bon Jovi albums from start to finish—and by that, I mean the band, since they're called Bon Jovi, not just the singer John Bon Jovi or whatever his actual name is! I knew every single note of every song. Of course, I was young and naive back then; I hadn't really experienced much of anything yet.

See, that’s exactly where you're right. Richie is one of the best guitarists of all time?! Man, I’ve been playing guitar for seven years now, and I think I have a decent sense of what's difficult, what's easy, and who actually knows how to play versus who doesn't. I'm not saying he's bad, but he isn't even in the conversation when you're talking about the absolute best.

And what does their personal lives have to do with the music? I honestly don't care about their private lives or what kind of people they are. I only care about the music, and that's the only metric I use to judge them.

I'm not just making this up on the fly; a few years of listening to and being obsessed with Bon Jovi gives me enough ground to write about something I actually know.

But hey, like I said, there's no accounting for taste! 🙂

Alright, fine... I'm not trying to force my opinion on anyone... it's just how I feel. But I do care about the people behind the songs, because if someone writes about how much they suffered after a breakup (Bed of Roses) while they're actually seeing ten other people on the side, then something feels off... doesn't it?

It matters to me when he says:
Jesus, How Can I believe...
If I don't believe in heroin, how can I believe the dope
If there's nothing but survival, how can I believe in sin
In a world that gives you nothing, we need something to believe in.

Again... I'm not obsessed... I mean, if following a couple of bands and wanting to know a lot about them makes me "obsessed"... what then? Should I be listening to some local indie station all day?

I didn't just make up the praise for Richie; the legends themselves did.
At the very least, Richie is the one who brought acoustic guitars back to life.
ambergardener ambergardener Newcomer
6 messages
joined Jan 2006
#60 ·
restlessmarlin6 said:Led Zeppelin is like a quick shot of pure inspiration and motivation.
They aren't exactly the soundtrack for jogging or kickboxing, but they definitely get the blood pumping. 🙂

The Ramones are fast—Led Zeppelin? Not even close. 🙂 Give me any "fast" band you want, and I’ll name two that move twice as quick as the Ramones.

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