Let's see, invented folk-rock by merging Dylan with the Beatles, perfected
the Rickenbacker chime 'n' jangle without which Big Star, REM, and Tom
Petty, to name just three, would be unimaginable.  Made two brilliant
folk-rock albums, two wonderful psychedelic albums, and then merged psych
beautifully with country for a fifth before releasing a landmark
country/rock hybrid that has influenced literally dozens of today's country
or alt-country acts, to say nothing of countless LA folkies and rockers like
the Eagles.

I can't imagine rating another American band higher unless it would be the
Velvet Underground (no, not even the Beach Boys). And I can understand how
opinions about the VU might be polarized.  But the Byrds?  Not in the top
10?  Hogwash!!!!

Your servant,

Jon