1) NIN didn't start a genre, he had a big hand in it becomiong more mainstrean, but there were plenty of bands coming out at the same time, and before that were instrumental in the industrial/goth world.
I can agree with that to an extent, Industrial rock started to follow in NIN's footsteps after about 89-90 though.
2) Saying Nirvana is posterchild of grunge I guess is ok, but they were behind the curve. Subpop had a ton of great bands that didn't buy the corporate sell out that introduced grunge to the mainstream public. Greenriver, TAD, Blood Circus, Sound Garden, Mudhoney.
Disagreed, I think nirvana was much more talented than other similar bands, hence getting signed. Matter of opinion i guess
3) There are those, I being one that would say Soundgarden sold out. They did change their musical style a lot, now whether it was to sell records, or because thats the way they went artistically, well that something that I don't know. And I guess selling out is opinion really anyway.
It does seem like their sound changed a lot after getting on a different label, but like you said who knows if it was artistically. Im liking it either way
4) Tool, I just don't care for, they never really sounded like anything special to me, but then again, I was deep into underground hardcore when they came out, and their whole approach was weak to say the least compared to a lot of stuff I listen too. I guess to average music listener they were pretty hardline though.
Tool walks that fine line between non radio friendly metal and rock. To say its a weak approach to hardcore is correct, to say its weak to rock, is not accurate at all. Personally they are one of my favorite bands, but hey, thats just me.
5) Personally I think the only good thing about RATM was that they were a mainstream band that got an underground message out where it normally wouldn't be. Other than that I think they suck.
I think they are an amazing band, that got their message across through music.
6) It's a sad day when either of those bands is considered anything close to reggae or ska.
Im calling it ska influnced rock. Much more fun to listen to than typical stuff\
7) Haha Beck is funny.
Say what you will about beck, but nobody can doubt the unusual writing style he has....
How did I forget my favorite band of all time: Radiohead