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Here’s a totally subjective list of who I think are the best bands in the world right now. The only criteria I’m using are that the band still exists and releases albums.

In no particular order:

Wilco
Wilco is at the point now where it can do no wrong. After establishing itself as an alt-country act, it’s now something totally different, a new form of classic rock if you will. The best live show I’ve seen in the past five years was Wilco at the Tower Theatre near Philadelphia, and one of the best albums I’ve heard in a while is Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky.” Each band member is a musical genius — Nels Cline is a guitar wizard, Glenn Kotche is a composer as much as he is a drummer — but together there’s an alchemy that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

U2
A bad U2 song is unimaginable. Put aside whatever opinion you have of Bono hanging out with the pope and wearing eye makeup on the cover of Rolling Stone — this band is a genre in and of itself. Without U2, there’d be no Radiohead or Arcade Fire. Smart arena rock was hard to come by before U2.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
From what I’ve heard and read, an E Street Band show is a marathon, religious experience. Watching the band perform during the Super Bowl on TV gave me goosebumps. I can only imagine what it would be like in person. Bruce said “Dylan freed our minds, and Elvis freed our bodies.” Springsteen found a way to do both.

Radiohead
Simply put, Radiohead is the Pink Floyd of the 21st century.

Also deserving:
The Arcade Fire
Didn’t make my list because the band has only released two albums and an EP.

Rolling Stones
Didn’t make my list because they are starting to show their age as performers. As well they should!

Bob Dylan
Didn’t make my list because he raised the bar so high with albums like “Blonde on Blonde” that he can’t reach his peak again.

Coldplay
Didn’t make my list because there are a few flaws on “Viva La Vida.” The bands in my top four haven’t put out a dud song that I can think of.

 

About the Author

Education
Penn State University, University Park
Bachelors degree: Journalism, English minor
Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia
Masters of arts degree: Writing studies
Manchester University, Manchester, England
Communications

Selected Publications
The Weekender, LexisNexis Securities Litigation, ESPN.com, The Associated Press, Philadelphia Daily News, Philly Edge, Universitywire.com, The Daily Collegian

From
Pittston

Resides
Scranton

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