Zeppelin or The Beatles?
- Thread starter ccyclonepower25
- Start date
I honestly think a lot of the people who are so big into Zeppelin haven't actually listened to many/any of their albums from front-to-back. Sure, I love IV and Houses of the Holy as much as the next guy, but their late 70s material (from Physical Graffiti onwards, which is Exhibit A of wretched double-album excess) is just awful. "The Fool in the Rain" makes me want to tear my ears off with that repeating eight-note phrase, and In Through the Out Door is just awful.
Even their classic albums have a few bum tracks on them ("Four Sticks," "The Crunge," etc.) to go with the good stuff. For that matter, too, Zeppelin has this massive problem of basically playing the same hard-banging rock all the way through their career save a few misguided attempts to play folk (they weren't very good at it) before going synth-crazy at the end. Plant's voice degrades badly after the first few albums, too. They had some high highs, they were were extremely inconsistent, hardly groundbreaking, and, to me, outshone by some other contemporaries in terms of rocking hard and in interesting ways (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, particularly the former, who managed to rock just as hard without being overblown or Satanic while they were doing it).
The Beatles, on the other hand, are the best and most influential rock band in history, invented the idea of pop music as art and studio production, and have at least five classic albums (Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, The Beatles, Abbey Road), and, probably at least a few more that are just as up there and good from their early period. Each one of those albums is a completely different style (folk rock to acid rock to psychedelia to "rock") yet still sounds like them. Come on Cyclone Fanatic, you know the Beatles are better, why are you doing this?
Even their classic albums have a few bum tracks on them ("Four Sticks," "The Crunge," etc.) to go with the good stuff. For that matter, too, Zeppelin has this massive problem of basically playing the same hard-banging rock all the way through their career save a few misguided attempts to play folk (they weren't very good at it) before going synth-crazy at the end. Plant's voice degrades badly after the first few albums, too. They had some high highs, they were were extremely inconsistent, hardly groundbreaking, and, to me, outshone by some other contemporaries in terms of rocking hard and in interesting ways (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, particularly the former, who managed to rock just as hard without being overblown or Satanic while they were doing it).
The Beatles, on the other hand, are the best and most influential rock band in history, invented the idea of pop music as art and studio production, and have at least five classic albums (Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, The Beatles, Abbey Road), and, probably at least a few more that are just as up there and good from their early period. Each one of those albums is a completely different style (folk rock to acid rock to psychedelia to "rock") yet still sounds like them. Come on Cyclone Fanatic, you know the Beatles are better, why are you doing this?
Beatles - Prolific, trailblazers, many songs considered among the best of all time. In the 60's there was a period of time were they were my favorite band.
Zepplin - Recorded one of the greatest songs of all time and had a few great albums. In the early 70's they were one of my favorite bands.
Loved them both at different times. They are really of different eras. But by nearly any measure, it's the Beatles and its not even close. In Rolling Stone's 500 greatest songs of all time, Stairway to Heaven comes in at 31. The Beatles have a 7 ahead of it, plus another one that Lennon recorded solo after the band broke up. I don't totally agree with their rankings, but still the sheer number of Beatles contributions to that list is impressive.
Zepplin - Recorded one of the greatest songs of all time and had a few great albums. In the early 70's they were one of my favorite bands.
Loved them both at different times. They are really of different eras. But by nearly any measure, it's the Beatles and its not even close. In Rolling Stone's 500 greatest songs of all time, Stairway to Heaven comes in at 31. The Beatles have a 7 ahead of it, plus another one that Lennon recorded solo after the band broke up. I don't totally agree with their rankings, but still the sheer number of Beatles contributions to that list is impressive.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
I won't vote because QUEEN isn't an option.
http://www.hecklerspray.com/queen-are-the-most-popular-british-band-of-all-time/2005833.php
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jul/05/arts.artsnews1
http://www.hecklerspray.com/queen-are-the-most-popular-british-band-of-all-time/2005833.php
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jul/05/arts.artsnews1
Last edited:
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
If we're talking strictly legendary songs — Let’s do a tournament.
Seedings are based on Rolling Stone best-of lists for each group, ca. 2011-ish.
RS ranking is like the RPI of music analysis. :smile:
Beatles Region
Jimmy Paige pod
John Lennon pod
Seedings are based on Rolling Stone best-of lists for each group, ca. 2011-ish.
RS ranking is like the RPI of music analysis. :smile:
Beatles Region
Jimmy Paige pod
- 1. A Day in the Life
- 16. Over the Hills and Far Away
- 8. When the Levee Breaks
- 9. Come Together
- 5. In My Life
- 12. Communication Breakdown
- 4. Kashmir
- 13. Revolution
- 6. Good Times Bad Times
- 11. A Hard Day’s Night
- 3. Strawberry Fields Forever
- 14. The Ocean
- 7. Something
- 10. Misty Mountain Hop
- 2. Stairway to Heaven
- 15. Help!
John Lennon pod
- 1. Whole Lotta Love
- 16. I Saw Her Standing There
- 8. Let it Be
- 9. Rock and Roll
- 5. Ramble On
- 12. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
- 4. Yesterday
- 13. Dazed and Confused
- 6. Hey Jude
- 11. Going to California
- 3. Black Dog
- 14. She Loves You
- 7. Immigrant Song
- 10. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- 2. I Want to Hold Your Hand
- 15. What Is and What Should Never Be
I went for Zeppelin, simply because Adam and Jamie from MythBusters have made an actual lead zeppelin.
This is a tough one, but my decision was made by the total impact of their work. I love both bands, but in the end, the Beatles have had the greatest impact in music and on me in particular.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps is only a 10 seed?? Is the seeding being done by the NCAA Tournament Committee??
Tell me you're trolling here.
I'll take Zep over the Beatles all day every day, but I don't deny the Beatles influence and importance. I just like Led Zeppelin a hell of a lot more.
The Stones are The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World, however.
