Bands vs. Solo Artists

I VOTED

Dang, I would have initially thought solo artists because I don't really care about rock bands, but when instruments are played it turns out bands are the way to go. Even in jazz, it usually works out better when there's a working band with an identity and a lifespan longer than the studio date (like the Jazz Messengers, various Miles bands, the Bad Plus, Robert Glasper Trio, Ellington, brass bands, even John Zorn groups where he's the auteur but the personnel are consistent {even if it's only a studio band}).

Electronic music is the solo human's domain though, there's a definite divide there and that's the great thing about it. I'm abstaining.

Electronic music is the solo human's domain

I thought the same thing at first but how could I ever do without Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Autechre, Underworld, Boards of Canada, Orbital, etc.

Multiple instruments are better than one instrument. Bands win.

Bands underneath the iron unbending will of a demonic, single-minded bastard of a leader

I'll take that as a confession.

Sometimes one of the other members gets to write a song and we all tolerate it

Sometimes a song comes about through natural collaboration and consensus and sometimes that song is even half-decent

Even with my favorite solo artists, the stuff that I treasure the most as their best/my favorite work usually still involves a key band or group of musical collaborators. Hard to think of a solo artist whose work I love regardless of who theyre working with. So, bands I guess.

The best solo artists, the real "demonic, single-minded bastards", are their own band, and operate as such. Todd Rundgren is his own band. Haruomi Hosono is a band. Scott Walker is a band. So, bands.

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