Jun 13, 2015 The Beatles completely white washed rock music (shout out Elvis). The Rolling Stones were a g--- of thieves but at least they held on to the bluesy elements and pushed the genre forward. That said, The Beatles might be the most widely accessible band of all time. It's a tough call. I generally prefer heavier rock music, so in that regard, probably the Stones. Their style fathered stuff that I like more. Might as well throw in The Who and The Doors.
Jun 13, 2015 I honestly disagree with several points in your post. First, the Beatles are probably the most accessible band, but for a reason contrary as to the one you presented. I think the magic of their music was based on how they made the music industry and pop culture in general accessible to them. They flipped the script of rock music when they had the eyes of the world on them and they were pop darlings in the early days of Beatlemania, and they used it to their advantage by creating music that no one had dared to dream of before, selling it on a world stage. They had by far the most commercial and appealing music when they first started out on their first five albums, but due to friendly contemporary competition like Dylan and the Beach Boys, they ventured deeper in folk rock and psychedelic rock during the late 60s and far outdid creatively any other band that was around at the time. The Stones even tried to ride the wave of creative psychedelic music with Satanic Majesties Request and failed miserably. They were really cut out for the blues rock they were known for. The Beatles pushed the genre farther than the Stones ever did.
Jun 13, 2015 I've read that article before and several points on there clearly show it's extremely well-written biased pretentiousness. Then again, most arguments when it comes to taste in music are automatically pointless, so to each their own.
Jun 13, 2015 There are books and books on the same issue. Currently reading one by Elijah Wald. The easiest way to dismiss an argument is to call it biased lol. I assure you both writers have more knowledge on the subject than either of us.
Jun 13, 2015 The Rolling Stones have some of my all time favorite music (including what used to be my favorite song), but The Beatles are unquestionably the greatest band of all time in my mind. The consistency at which they put out GOAT music (not just single songs, but entire albums, which is why I don't hold the stones as highly) is unparalleled in music history.
Jun 13, 2015 Which is why I don't tend to devote my time to those kinds of subjects and arguments. Take the fun out of listening to the music I enjoy. Like I said, to each their own.
Jun 13, 2015 Lol you said I was wrong, I've suggested a couple of books backing me up on the issue, and now you're all like "nah man books are for f--".
Jun 13, 2015 I never said you were wrong, I clearly said I disagree. For any books that you could back your argument with, I'm sure there are are plenty that support my case as well. I just didn't see it fit to present someone else's argument when I have my own. Especially when it comes down to a musical topic which is based on subjective tastes.
Jun 13, 2015 Not even close to true. Rock music had been getting "white washed" all through the late fifties along with other "black" genres like Doo-Wop and the blues, and most of the "white" covers of "black" songs s----d. They were successful on the pop charts at the time but nobody really remembers them because they were cheap imitations of a much better original. The reason Elvis and The Beates are so enduring is because they didn't sterilize the genres of music they jumped into; they made them their own. Whether that was Elvis' cover of Hound Dog or The Beatles Twist and Shout (or their much later forays into Indian music like Within You Without You) they took existing sounds that they liked and put their own touch on it. But yeah, the Beatles totally white washed rock music
Jun 13, 2015 Bruh, you can't say you disagree with history. We're talking about innovations in rock that can clearly be dated. The Beatles weren't pushing the boundaries as you so implied. They were easing the mainstream into them. That's not so much a subjective opinion as something 20 minutes of Youtubing rock songs from the 60s can show you. It doesn't make them worse. They have a mythos surrounding them that isn't accurate. Stop mischaracterizing them as something they weren't.
Jun 13, 2015 Seriously, read a book by a respectable critic on the subject who grew up in the era. The Beatles are held so sacred. It's ridiculous that their fans won't even stomach the most minor criticisms.
Jun 13, 2015 I like John Lennon after The Beatles far more. Love this cover of Ben E. King's Stand By Me Still prefer the Stones.
Jun 13, 2015 there's a difference between making a criticism of The Beatles and saying that they "white washed" rock music. I don't give a s--- if you wanna criticize aspects of their music. I do however care when you say that they singlehandedly sterilized an otherwise thriving genre.
Jun 13, 2015 They were a boy band that proceeded to ease the public into harder forward thinking stuff that was already going on. That's a pretty uncontroversial take on it.
