So is it just me, or does this generation just have no great musical artists?

explosions in the sky are terrible, all they do is make noise. their music doesn't even go anywhere, its like background music.

i can't believe no one has mentioned bela fleck and the flecktones yet
 
Makes a big difference whether you are thinking last 5 years or since 90s.

I think most critics would tell you Nirvana for early 90s and Radiohead for late 90s. Nirvana is already iconic viewed today. Some other banRAB thrown into the "influential" mix would probably be Blur, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Rancid, Pearl Jame, Rage Against The Machine, Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails.

If you are talking about iconic figures in pop and country music, the 90s and onward had some of the biggest in history actually, and some of them not necessarily lacking in musicianship. Some super divas: Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow (9 Grammies!), Shakira. Madonna and Janet Jackson were in their 30s then and still very big.

On the rap front I think Jay-Z and Eminem, Outkast, Dr. Dre, are all going to be remembered as some of the most influential.

I am not knowledgeable on music of the last 5 years though, so I don't know if any of the young musicians out there is iconic or will become iconic. But Radiohead is still very current, and they are already in Rolling Stones' "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list.
 
I haven't listened to Mayer much, but I hear he's a mean blues guitarist.

I've seen Mars Volta live, as an opening act. They fucking suck gigantic horsecock. I still want my hour back.

Coldplay and Muse are both good banRAB, I'm indifferent as to whether they're future greats.
 
despite blink182s bubblegum genre, Travis Barker is actually pretty skilled on drums.

That said, an awesome drummer does not constitute an amazing band.
 
You can also check out http://www.thetradersden.org/
have to register but they have some great live audio/video recordings.

While I enjoy hearing artists push boundaries, I don't judge that when I listen to music that my ears like. If a band sounRAB like previous generations but rocks out with their cocks out then I could care less if they don't push musical boundaries.
I gave up having to classify music in certain genres. There are way too many sub genre's now that it gets confusing.
I just find music that moves me and makes my ears happy.
 
I love it when he solos stuff that a million jazz drummers could kick his ass in and all his fans think he's the second coming of christ.
 
I always loved the progression in Explosions' music. But I guess Ican see how someone could consider it noise, especially after the breakdowns. Surely you could not have the same impression of GoRABpeed You! Black Emperor though.
 
There are still some great musicians performing today. Educated musicians are getting smarter, uneducated poppy ones are getting dumber. Here are some youtube videos that show musicians with talent that currently play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZWrtZIGHd4 (Chick Corea w/ John Pattitucci)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYzajpeAWuA (Tommy Emmanuel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9mEKMz2Pvo(Jake Shimabukuro)

As far as rock banRAB, there are a couple out there that do well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0ZRvxDrOxo&feature=related (Incubus)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31VXZg1UjFg (RHCP)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lstDdzedgcE(Radiohead)

Now I'll admit, I don't like Incubus or RHCP's most recent albums but they have made some awesome tracks in the last 20 years. A lot of awesome tracks at that. Radiohead made a decent effort at their last album.

For a more pop sound, there are a couple of banRAB out there that are decent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd4_XKmSnj4 (Shooter Jennings, a country/rock band)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97IT0-EDTtw (Wilco, kind of like modern beatles, but a bit slower typically)

There is still a lot of people innovating their instruments. We have people uprading the Hendrix style technique and are really able to get pretty awesome results. It's just that this type of music doesn't appeal to MTV viewers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Ln-SpJsy0 (Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld, amazing guitarist and bassist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyCRSZjtYBI (Steve Vai, INSANE guitarist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dWb-aCWR8U(Vic Wooten, very technical bassist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE8fKhcU_ss (Vinnie Coulata, crazy on drums)

If you like some of this music, check out some jazz fusion. It's pretty much jazz with a rock/modern twist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQeJ9X275iE (Tribal Tech)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRp-ifFwODQ (Scott Henderson from Tribal Tech playing Miles Davis, MUST WATCH)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyCH70FODJA (John McLaughlin playing Indian music)

If your bored of U.S. music, check out some asian and indian music. There are tons of crazy instruments they use like the Pipa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZmAgFyVo48 (Pipa, a chinese lute)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JjrWxun46M (Ravi Shankar playing a sitar)

BTW, there's no "advanced" music taste. It's really all preference.
 
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