Wow. An incredibly difficult choice here. I went with The Smiths in the end. Joy Division would be a very, very close second for me. And the Stone Roses, that first album was perfect, but then what? Nothing.
I admire the Fall for their longetivity and incredibly prolific output. Those guys were insane, in terms of putting out album after album, most quite good indeed. They just weren’t my cup of tea, and I never felt they put out a truly “great” album, although I admit I’m not as intimate with their ouvre as I am with the Smiths, JD, and Stone Roses. The Happy Mondays had some great moments, but were too inconsistent for me, and I didn’t much like their personalities. Same with Oasis, although I actually preferred them to Happy Mondays, despite being much more derivative than the Happy Mondays.
They really don’t sound alike to me. I like them both, but compare off the top of my head “Atmosphere” and “The Boy with the Thorn in his Side”, or “She’s Lost Control” and “Bigmouth Strikes Again” - or any random choice - I have no idea what you’re getting at.
Possibly some Smiths songs bear a passing resemblance to “Love Will Tear Us Apart”.
Anyway, I voted the Smiths. Morrissey and Marr were geniuses. Anyone who disagrees needs to listen to This Charming Man again.
Color me confused, too. As far as I can tell, Morrissey did not seem to be particularly enamored with Joy Division, either. Maybe John DiFool meant it in some other way?
I’ve never gotten into the Smiths or New Order, so I picked the Stone Roses. Joy Division would barely be my 2nd pick ahead of the Happy Mondays, and I just don’t know where to start with The Fall, so I can’t pick them. I like Oasis’ first 2 records, but they’re City fans, so I’m putting them last out of spite. I also like Doves, but they’re not in the realm of the other bands listed…and they’re City fans, too. /pitooey.
<shrug> Both lead singers came across lyrically as self-obsessed & neurotic, if not self-flagellating-I’m not sure if I can remember someone completely baring their soul in that way in a notable rock band before Curtis did (tho I’m sure there must have been some), which is why I chalked him up as an influence in that sense. Morrisey wasn’t nearly as far gone off the deep end as Curtis tho, and I suspect it was more an affectation for him (while Ian was literally deadly serious about what he sang).
…but it’s hard to argue against Oasis, the precursors of the Beatles. I mean if there aren’t any Gallaghers, then there isn’t a John, or Paul, or George, or Ringo.
Hee Hee. I tried to say that with a straight face, but I just can’t do it.
People on this board know me as a huge Smiths honk. But I have to go with JD/NO in terms of impact, longevity, and moving Manchester forward as a musical mecca.
(Noticed that there was no 10cc or Bee Gees option.) And how about the Buzzcocks?!?
JD/NO started in '77 and went until '07 or so. The Smiths? 1982-1987.
JD’s work with Martin Hannett influenced so many bands - the industrial sound, ambient noise, Peter Hook using the bass as a lead instrument, etc. NO bridges that with dance, even hip-hop (check out Arthur Baker plugging “Confusion” at the NYC nightclubs with the pasty-skinned band in tow), house… and their business interests in Factory and the Hacienda are truly the stuff of legend.
Honestly, I have never understood the Happy Mondays hype. I think they’re good, serviceable, but Tony Wilson regularly referred to Shaun Ryder as a “genius.” And while I think the Roses are fine, I don’t think they had much impact outside of the UK, and their time was short.
I have a ridiculous amount of Oasis material around the house, and while they are often slagged off and not given enough respect, they perhaps deserve mention for being commercially successful and having tons of front… but I cannot note anything of originality that the band brings to the party. Definitely Maybe and …What’s the Story… are brilliant albums, full of 'tude and balls-out rawk, but nothing life changing. “Live Forever” was one of my favorite songs when it came out but it has aged terribly.
And how about Electronic? Bernard Sumner (JD/NO) and Johnny Marr (The Smiths)! I wish they did more - they were a band for about a decade but only put out three albums.