best artists in the last 15 years

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

Radiohead (survived Britpop).
Red Hot Chili Peppers (seem to get better and better with each album).
The Flaming Lips.
U2 (no better group live, night to night).
Steve Earle (sets the standard for Americana).
Calexico (perfect for that LA to Vegas midnight run).
Coldplay (set the standard for British Indie movement).

Mybe not "the greatest", but try out the Norwegian world-music artist Øystein Sevåg. Beautiful, relaxed music, great sound, kind of modern classic. The album "Visual" with the Finish guitarplayer Lakki Patey is my favorite.