best artists in the last 15 years

Riuichi Sakamoto, David Sylvian, Robert Wyatt

One band that I would add is:

Eels

Overall, I'd agree that this is a pretty sad list of pop and rock groups. Many of the choices that seem most popular - Wilco, White Stripes, Radiohead (as well as my addition Eels) are hardly new, upcoming bands.

I'd guess (or at least hope) that a lot of the more creative stuff being done today is in the hip-hop and hybrid hip hop genres that don't seem to appeal to this crowd. The band Flobots is one of the few hip-hop/rock hybrids that I find interesting. Their song "Handlebars" is the best angry political statement I've heard in years.

Marty

Rebelution from Santa Barbara these guys really groove.

I vote for the last 15 years being a barren waste land as far as popular music. Since the Seattle grunge scene, it's really been derivative. When the best thing I can think of in the last 15 yrs are Dixie Chicks, Nora Jones, Teirney Sutton, Diana Krall and Green Day (I think they've actaully been around longer than that), it makes you pine for the music salad days of the 70's. Who knew they would be so well thought of???

For "newest and up and coming," try Two Cow Garage, out of Columbus Ohio. Pretty recently formed, on their third disc, and among the best working bands in America.

John