2009 GF5 Tournament Round 1: Radiohead vs. Nine Inch Nails
by E. Christopher Clark | Thursday, March 26, 2009
This one is the toughest matchup of the first round, in my opinion. Those who have followed Geek Force Five for a while know who I’m pulling for—NIN is my favorite band, and was one of the original Geek Force Five, if you didn’t already know that—but the fanbases for both bands are equally as rabid. There might be some crossover, but I think it’s probably less than we’d imagine. Each band has done amazing things for the music industry in recent years, in addition to having produced some of the most amazing music of the past couple of decades. Who will win? It’s up to you to decide. Vote now!
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Comments
beth says:
Why can’t I vote more than once?!?? Dammit! ;)
E. Christopher Clark says:
@Beth - a little birdie told me that, if you clear your cookies (or at least the cookie for this site), you can vote more than once. ;-)
@Jeremy - I’m not as well-versed in Radiohead as I am in NIN, but I definitely think that NIN was just as willing to play with their sound. I think the real difference is that Radiohead’s various sounds have always been just a little bit more palatable to the masses.
Julia says:
Tight matchup… except that NIN did the whole “Year Zero” ARG.
I’m sorry, when you’re taping flashdrives containing unreleased tracks in the bathroom of your venues? You have won on geek points.
Jeremy Couturier says:
I’m not knocking NIN at all, and Radiohead may very well be the easier of the two groups to listen to. I think all acts at a certain point cannibalize themselves and the sound that made them notable in the first place. I think Radiohead and NIN have been victim to this to a degree, which doesn’t at all diminish their power though.
E. Christopher Clark says:
Just had a conversation with a friend yesterday about how you’re either a Radiohead fan or a NIN fan, and you can’t really be both. Was interesting. Thoughts?
Jeremy Couturier says:
Now this is a matchup! NIN’s was another band that I first noticed watching 180 minutes on MTV late at night. Although I never became a huge fan, I admired what they brought to the table,and along with Ministry they were really the face of Industrial? music in the 90s.NIN especially carried the torch passed from Kraftwerk and took it to the next level and into mainstream success. It’s telling that Johnny Cash would cover one of Reznor’s songs.
Radiohead burst onto the scene in 93 with “Creep” and I still remember when Radiohead performed at the MTV spring break show. Needless to say they were so out of place and deathly pale. Radiohead of course went on to bring alternative rock to its loftiest heights by the end of the decade. My vote goes to Radiohead just because they seemed more willing to play with their sound, venturing into the electronic waters with better results tha most of their counterparts. Still either group is worthy.