Your Favorite Artists

[andrewtarius]

Post your favorite artists any why you love them.

A.F.I. (A Fire Inside) - It took them a while to get me into the music. I heard "The Leaving Song, Pt. II" on a commercial (Gatorade, I believe), and I found out their name. The band as a whole didn't really click until I heard the song "This Time Imperfect" which is the hidden track on their Sing the Sorrow album. The more I listened to them, the more I fell in love. The song writer writes song that mean what you want them to. When he was young, he hated how he would come up with an interpretation of a song only to find it was not the intention of the artist. So, he grew wanting his songs to be open ended. Their is no true "sound" to the band. Their earlier works were punk, Sing the Sorrow was more rock (people say "emo", but that's not even close to emo for me), and Decemberunderground has a more rock/pop feel to it. I don't like DU as much as the others, but there are some songs I love ("Miss Murder", "Kill Caustic", "Kiss and Control", "Endlessly, She Said", (a lot of illiteration on this album, for some reason) and there was a song not put on the album titled "On the Arrow" that I love).

OK, moving on;

Santana. I much rather prefer their older albums (Santana, Abraxas, and Santana III), but I support the two newer albums (I just forget the middle timeframe). I just love this group because of their diversity and range in musical instruments. Great musicians all around. Yes, and Carlos Santana is a very good guitarist.

The Who. Keith Moon, the craziest drummer, ever. Pete Townshend, one of the most talented writers and guitarists, ever. John Entwistle, arguably, the greatest, and most diverse bassist, ever. Such a great band. Roger Daltry had his share of writing great songs ("Behind Blue Eyes" stand out in my memory at the moment). The songs are funny and musically genius. (Quadrophenia is so underrated.)

Jimi Hendrix. Do I really have to explain how great, influential, and innovative he was?!?

Kaki King. One of the people I am currently gaining interest in. She does a lot of acoustic guitar, using it to create more sounds than just using the strings. All of her songs have a New York jazz club feel to them. Soothing and profound, all the same.

I am getting interest into Freezepop, thanks to the Guitar Hero games. Maybe I'll check them out soon.

[Pashmina]

Bjork - She is music to me. Creativity and just amazingness in a small icelandic package. She's an acquired taste, but it tastes so good if you ever have the pleasure of enjoying her music.

Garbage - A fun pop-rock band. Not too offensive, yet still with an edge. Their songs are so meticulously created it's amazing. And Shirley Manson's vocals really are haunting at times.

Hole and Courtney Love - One of my favourite bands of all time. Just good music is all they make. I love them. I love her solo efforts too.

Others;

Placebo, Regina Spektor, Alanis Morrisette, No Doubt, Siouxsie and the banshees, Dragonette, Bat For Lashes, M.I.A, Joni Mitchell, Panic! at the Disco.

[readyeddy?]

What the hey, I guess I'll respond first.

I like tons of music, I may not be the most articulate at critiqueing them but I know what I like. Sorry if these seem too obvious but:
Untill I heard Coda I never heard anything by Led Zeppelin that I didn't like.
My prime was in the Seventies so most of what I like is from the Seventies but a great deal of what I like are probably very obscure to most of you. I loved that progressive rock from the Seventies from the big dogs like Pink Floyd, Yes, ELP and King Crimson to blips on the average rock fans radar like Nektar, Camel, the Strawbs, Caravan, Triumvirat, Tangerine Dream etc.
I loved Santana, Nazareth, Joe Walsh, early drug addled Aerosmith, early ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Robin Trower and Ted Nugent. I had no problem buying albums just because of the album covers and discovered gems like The Pretty Things, The Good Rats, and (in my opinion) the best Seventies rock band nobody ever heard of, Captain Beyond.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Southern rock, the Allman Brothers in particular. "Dreams" just might be my favorite song of all time though Molly Hatchett's cover "Dreams I'll never See" is pretty damn good as well.
I'm a huge fan of Neil Young with or without Crosby, Stills and Nash.
10CC was a lot of fun.
I spent most of the Seventies getting aquainted with the Sixties as well learning to really appreciate Hendrix, the Stones, Beatles, Cream, Traffic, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Airplane. Oddly It took me longer to get into Dylan and the Dead. Some things you don't properly appreciate until you grow more mature.

As far as I'm concerned alternative began with The Velvet Underground, Bowie, Roxy Music and Brian Eno's solo work.

The Eighties was spent overseas for me, so it was tougher to keep up with music Stateside as I spent four years in the P.I. one year in Korea and two and a half in England. I was loving Robert Plant's solo stuff. U2 was awesome. I loved a song called "Love Like Blood" by Killing Joke, loved the Cult. Discovered an American band that they loved overseas but my fellow Yanks completely ignored called the Long Ryders.

I didn't discover REM until the early Nineties, this decade was looking damn good to me with Guns & Roses, Nirvana, STP, and Pearl Jam. "Three Strange Days" by School of Fish and "Courage (for Hugh McKinnon)" by Tragically Hip rank up there with "Dreams" as all time favorite songs for me.

For this decade I really love Radiohead and Coldplay. There's so much out there now it's hard to find groups or artists that have music that you like more then one song by. There's not enough time to hear it all. Trail of the Dead sounds good but it's hard to find time to listen to everything enough.

Damn it Pash, I took so long typing that I wound up second.

[theanalogkid]

Rush. One of the most all around talented bands ever.

[Thanosguy]

Right now, Korn is probably my favorite band. I like many different forms of rock, though, ranging from Pink Floyd to Godsmack!

[spacedye]

It changes as I discover new music, which I try to do very often. However, I'll throw down some of my all-time favorites as I can remember them.

Porcupine Tree

Whenever I'm asked "hey, what's your favorite band?" More often than not I respond with the Tree. I've been listening to them for 6 or so years now, and I can never get enough. No matter what my musical infatuation of the moment is I can always throw on some Porcupine Tree and be satisfied. The fact that they cover a huge range of music (from psychedelic rock to 16 minute songs with nothing but soft ambient noise to metal) probably helps with that. I prefer their earlier years, with albums like Up the Downstair, Stupid Dream, The Sky Moves Sideways and On the Sunday of Life. As of late they've taken a more prog metal edge, which I don't believe suits them. Here's hoping they go back to their glory days of psychedelic ambient rock!

Joanna Newsom

Admittedly I've only heard of her for about a year now, but damn has it been a good year. At first I was unimpressed by her voice, and threw the album Milk-Eyed Mender on the backburner, not really intending to listen to it again. Well for some inexplicable reason, without having listened to her for weeks, I got the song "Sadie" stuck in my head. I don't know how or why, but thank God I did. I threw Milk-Eyed Mender back on and was listening to it all day and night. Now I can barely shut her music off and get her out of my head. At first I didn't like her voice, but now I think it's wonderful. She has refined it over her tours, but I honestly prefer the harsher, less-trained voice of her early years. She's been touring overseas for a while, but in October she's coming near me, so I'm gonna try to catch her live then!

Dream Theater

I haven't listened to Dream Theater in ages (well, I listened to their 24-minute epic a Change of Seasons last night, but before that it was a long time!), mostly due to the direction they've taken with their music. Like Porcupine Tree, they've taken a more metal-edge. Don't get me wrong, they've always been a progressive metal band, but not to this extent. It started with the album a Train of Thought, which was often hailed as "DT doing Metallica better than Metallica can" due to the St. Anger debacle. After that they released their first "bad" album, with only one good song. Sure, the song was great, and arguably their best (Octavarium) but it didn't save that dud. I haven't even touched their latest album. This may not sound like a band that I'd be calling my "favorite", but before Train of Thought the band was awesome. They released arguably the best album ever (and it's a sin it isn't on Rock Wars!), Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes from a Memory. In fact, I'm going to make it more evident right now just so everyone runs out and buys the album:

The best album ever made is Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory

That isn't their only good album, of course. Images & Words, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Awake and the aforementioned a Change of Seasons rocks. They are an incredible live band too, taking time to make sure each show is different from the last. Seriously, they're using complex algorithms to make sure that this upcoming show in Chicago doesn't have repeats from the last show they played the other day, or even the last show they played in Chicago a year ago! It's ridiculous and awesome.

[Superbleederrx]

Goo Goo Dolls, Fall Out Boy, The Barenaked Ladies, Rolling Stones, PAramore, COHEED AND CAMBRIA, Weird Al Yankovic, Bullet for my Valentine, Queen, Journey, OAR, The Academy Is, 30 Seconds to Mars,

sooooooo many more

[Pashmina]

Paramore

Funny!

30 Seconds To Mars

Funny!

I love them both/ I don't have any of Paramore's stuff, but you can tell I love.


I forgot to add My Chemical Romance to my list. They feel like a real band. If you know what I mean.

[Superbleederrx]

Funny!



Funny!

I love them both/ I don't have any of Paramore's stuff, but you can tell I love.


I forgot to add My Chemical Romance to my list. They feel like a real band. If you know what I mean.


Paramores really good....theyre really good live and the acoustic versions of their songs are fantastical too

[JKLantern]

Some of my favorites include:

Jack Bruce-You may know him from Cream, but he has some good solo stuff as well. My brother and I love More Jack Than God, and I enjoy the Jack Bruce Collector's Edition as well. While his voice has gotten a little strained in his old age, it goes well with many of the songs he does, whether Cream Remakes, bluesy strip-club piano, or something a little jazzier.

Jeff Beck-You may know Jeff from the Yardbirds, the group that helped launched the careers of Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, and lead to the birth of Led Zeppelin. His playing sounds different from the playing of Clapton or Page. Check out the spacy, video-gamey sounds of the song Blue Wind from the Wired album. In fact, check out all the songs on that album.

David Gilmour-Unlike several people on this board, I prefer David Gilmour to Roger Waters. A while back, I got my brother On An Island to pay him back for covering my bill for a present for my Dad. We still regard it as one of our greatest musical acquisitions of all time. The opening tracks are reminiscent of Shine On You Crazy Diamond, but the rest of the album has its own flavor.

[hail_eris]

Kaki King. One of the people I am currently gaining interest in. She does a lot of acoustic guitar, using it to create more sounds than just using the strings. All of her songs have a New York jazz club feel to them. Soothing and profound, all the same.
She's also got a little bit of that "kinda loony" vibe you get from Chan Marshall of Cat Power. Nice loony, though - she just talks to herself and seemed to spend a lot of time laying on the floor. Swears like a longshoreman, too. If you're looking for a guitar god in the same vein as Kaki, do a YouTube search for Justin King (no relation).

[Dark Flash2099]

The best album ever made is Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory

I'm sorry, but you spelled Ayreon - The Human Equation wrong.

Here's five bands that I like a lot and they will each be from different genres:

Bad Religion (Punk/Skate Punk)
Dream Theater (Prog. Metal/Metal)
Goldfinger (Ska Punk/Pop Punk)
Iron Maiden (NWOBHM/Classic Metal)
Slayer (Thrash Metal)

[spacedye]

The Human Equation is awesome, but SfaM is the better album/story.

[ShadowMoses]

Modest Mouse- What really needs to be said? There is nothing like riding around late at night jamming out to some chill Modest Mouse.

Dream Evil- I cannot get enough of this band. My friend first introduced me to them through "The Book of Heavy Metal" which is such an epic album that I listen to it all the way through atleast 2 times a day. They have a great classical metal sound, and they aren't out to make it big, or be stars, they just wanna rock, and they do a damn good job of it.

Kamelot- "Opera Metal" or not these guys are just awesome. The Black Halo which came out back in 05 was definitely their best, and Roy Khan has a magnficent voice. The music really takes you on a journey and is just very very deep.

Dark Tranquillity- Best Hardcore Metal band out there today. They put most other bands to shame. Fiction puts most albums in its league to shame. Lesser Faith, Terminus, Blind at Heart, and other songs make this album so amazing, and they have a great sound.

Gojira- The masters no doubt. They bring metal back to its misfit roots and stand apart from anyone else. They are so hardcore and just make you wanna get up and rock like you cant help it. Sure "From Mars To Sirius" was a pretty Hippish album about saving the planet and all, but after hearing some of their awesome stuff, is shall never litter again :lol:

And finally

Falconer- These guys have such a great sound. They are more Folk metal than anything but they really make some great music. I Refuse, and Clarion call are my personal favorites but all of their stuff is just amazing.


I could go on and on all day with amazing bands. Excalion, Blind Gaurdian, Dream Theatre, Nocturnal Rites, Linkin Park, Mors Principium Est, Nightshade, Odyssea, Firewind, Dragonland, Angra, Disturbed, System of a Down, Lordi, Pagan's Mind, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Flogging Molly, Ra, Ill Nino, Rob Zombie, Egypt Central, Dreamaker, Faktion, All That Remains, Axenstar, Blue October, God Forbid like I said I can go on and on,

[Sigdr]

I like many artists, but the ones I'd currently place at the top of my list (which changes almost weekly) are as follows and not in order:


Katie Melua: Katie Melua captivated the UK in 2003, but I admit to not having heard of her until this year. I was definitely missing out. This modern blueswoman has a sensationally cool voice and sings sensationally cool songs. I play both her albums whenever I'm in a laid-back or dim-the-lights kind of mood, and I've got October 1st marked off as the day her next album, Pictures, is due to be released.

Prozzak: Side projects seem to have a tendency to produce one or two nice songs amidst an ensemble of mediocrity that doesn't fail to remind you why it's a side project and not a real band. With Prozzak, however, James McCollum and Jason Levine managed to hit on something much more enjoyable than their work with the Philosopher Kings. Fictional singer Simon's unemotive yet attractive voice is paired surprisingly well with catchy alt-pop melodies. Definitely worth checking out, if you can find anything.

The Dresden Dolls: I still don't know what "Brechtian punk cabaret" means, but as long as it translates to something like "dynamic cabaret-influenced modern punk with fantastic musicianship, witty lyricism and Amanda Palmer's sexy vocals", you can count me in.

Mindless Self Indulgence: Offensive? Yep. Irreverent? Yep. Immature? Sometimes. Good music? Heck yes. I bought the 2000 release Frankenstien Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy mostly as an impulse purchase (the album cover and name gave me a chuckle), and was incredibly pleased with Jimmy Euringer's dynamic singing. It took five years for the rest of the band to catch up to him in You'll Rebel To Anything, but now that they have, there's nothing I'd rather listen to now that I'm in the mood for something else.

[Amora's_best_friend]

You can click on my last.fm page link in my sig to see all the artists I love.

Here are some mainees I love:

Catatonia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatonia_%28band%29) are one of my favourite bands. I just love the voice of the lead singer, Cerys Matthews. It's raspy and Welsh, and oh so sexy! They have some really catchy tunes, I recommend "Mulder and Sculley", "Road Rage" and "I am The Mob". I nominated their album International Velvet in the favourite album TOC, and I need it to get through to the next round.

I love Garbage aswell and specifically I adore the album Bleed Like Me. Shirley Manson is just so much fun, and is one of the best Scottish exports.

Obviously, Bjork, I'll leave the PR to Pashy, because I can't be bothered to type her life story. She's just consistently funny.

No Doubt. And Gwen Stefani. I love. Just generally. I'm seeing her in September aswell. No Doubt is way better than Gwen on her own though, since they wrote real songs.

CSS are funny too. I feel as though I've helped support them since they were nobodies, like helped them break into mainstream by hearing them on the internet and realising they were funny.

[Magnito]

I strongly recommend listening to Metric. They are an indy band from Canada, but are awesome.

[Amora's_best_friend]

Katie Melua: Katie Melua captivated the UK in 2003, but I admit to not having heard of her until this year. I was definitely missing out. This modern blueswoman has a sensationally cool voice and sings sensationally cool songs. I play both her albums whenever I'm in a laid-back or dim-the-lights kind of mood, and I've got October 1st marked off as the day her next album, Pictures, is due to be released.


I love. Funny in the UK, funnier in the States.


I generally love female singer/songwriters.

You should check out Amy Macdonald (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Macdonald_%28singer%29).

She's Scottish, and has been compared to KT Tunstall (despite not really sounding the same, Amy's voice is quite deep), and is said to be the next big thing. All the songs on the album are more fun, and my mum likes her because its something we both like to listen to.

[Sigdr]

I love. Funny in the UK, funnier in the States.

Speaking of funny, have you heard her 'amended' version of Nine Million Bicycles? Priceless.


You should check out Amy Macdonald (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Macdonald_%28singer%29).

She's Scottish, and has been compared to KT Tunstall (despite not really sounding the same, Amy's voice is quite deep), and is said to be the next big thing. All the songs on the album are more fun, and my mum likes her because its something we both like to listen to.

I saw the name Amy there and thought you were going to say Winehouse for a second. I can't stand that woman - one hit song and already a primadonna.

[technohead]

Morrissey: Former frontman of The Smiths, I still love the Smiths for there old tunes. My favorite track from them is "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out". After the Smiths break-up, Morrissey took on a solo gig.

My Top 5 Morrissey Tracks

1. Everyday Is Like Sunday
2. Our Frank
3. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
4. You Have Killed Me
5. I Like You

[Pashmina]

Speaking of funny, have you heard her 'amended' version of Nine Million Bicycles? Priceless.




I saw the name Amy there and thought you were going to say Winehouse for a second. I can't stand that woman - one hit song and already a primadonna.

Well, she has more of a life in the Uk. Actually having two albums nominated for the Mercury Music award, and like 5 top ten singles. I love her hair. Defying gravity and human laws.

[Red_Skull_XIII]

Top 3 -

1 - LED ZEPPELIN - "The Hammer Of The Gods" and in my opinion the greatest band to have ever formed. They can rock as hard with acoustic guitars and an organ as other bands can with 8 dummers and 15 guitarists. Favorite albums (if I had to pick) would be I, III, and How The West Was Won.

2 - TED NUGENT - My favorite musician EVER. If you ever get the chance to see him in concert I highly recommend it. Even at 59 he can rock the world's collective socks, jumping around on stage waving AK-47s (he had 4 loaded AK's on stage, as well as a 50 caliber, with him when I saw him in June) And with a new album due on in September, we will see if he is a great musician or THE GREATEST musician.

3 - MOLLY HATCHET - Representing the Southern Rock end of my music collection is Molly Hatchet. A very hard-rock version of some other Southern bands (Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Allman Brothers) they still pack all of the blues you can ever need into one band. Also, having the COOLEST album covers ever doesn't hurt (all of their covers except one are Frank Frazetta paintings, "Death Dealer" being the cover to their first album).


Honorable mentions: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers Band, Cream, Iron Maiden, Stevie Ray Vaughan

[Pashmina]

3 - MOLLY HATCHET - Representing the Southern Rock end of my music collection is Molly Hatchet. A very hard-rock version of some other Southern bands (Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Allman Brothers) they still pack all of the blues you can ever need into one band. Also, having the COOLEST album covers ever doesn't hurt (all of their covers except one are Frank Frazetta paintings, "Death Dealer" being the cover to their first album).

They aren't that cool. They're better than those cringeworthy death metal covers (demons etc), but they all seem pretty generic. Funny artists change their cover lives between albums, IMO. They're allright as a band though.

[readyeddy?]

They aren't that cool. They're better than those cringeworthy death metal covers (demons etc), but they all seem pretty generic. Funny artists change their cover lives between albums, IMO. They're allright as a band though.
You're talking about Frank Frazetta art Pash. Frank Frazetta art is cool.
I'm almost a little surprised you like Molly Hatchett though. You just don't seem like your neck leans red. I do suspect you "Flirt with Disaster" though.

[Amora's_best_friend]

The cover to Bjork's Medulla is my favourite.

When you first look at it, there isn't even a title, and there are no song names on the back. Then you realise her life, and see that the word Medulla is spelt out by the necklace she is wearing, and all the song titles on the back are in almost the exact same shade of black as the black of the back cover, so that you can only read the song titles in certain light.

Definition of funny.

[Iron Ham]

In no particular Order:

Buckethead
Megadeth
Pantera
Korn
Dio
Ozzy Osborne
System of a Down
Symphony X
Rage Against the Machine
Disturbed

[Shellhead's Pal]

SHELLHEAD'S PAL'S TOP OF THE POPS

#10. The Lemonheads - My favorite band when I was growing up, specifically the album "Come On Feel (the Lemonheads)". Really a fabulous band all around, though all anyone seems to know them from is their cover of Simon and Garfunkle's "Mrs. Robinson". I thought that Evan Dando had put this band in the ground due to his addiction, but they just went on tour last year with a new album, and I got to see them for the first time. It was almost a religious experience. They played with two other interesting bands, "Vietnam" and "the Hymns". I recommend all three.

#09. They Might Be Giants - Another of my favorite bands as a kid. I remember seeing "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" and "Particle Man" pseudo music videos on the cartoon "Tiny Toons", of all places, and I was hooked. Some of the wittiest (dorkiest) lyrics of all time, set to some the bounciest, most exciting music of all time. Their 5 second (or so) song montage called "Fingertips" on the album "Flood" is a thing that must be heard to be believed. At one point, my brother and I could recite it line for line. I remember doing it at church.

#08. The Pogues - A truly phenominal Irish folk band with some rockin' influences...the first of many horrible offspring. These guys, however, don't have a bad song; even post Shane MacGowan Pogues are great. People tell me they hate Irish music when I suggest this band. They don't know what they're missin', cause it ain't all about drinkin'.

#07. Belle and Sebastian - I actually just got into these guys recently, dismissing them initially as "wuss rock". Well, they are pretty wussy, but in a really great way. Their last two albums, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" and "The Life Pursuit" I've listened to probably 40 times each, and I could keep on listening to them. They've got a unique sound, jangley with great harmonies and clever lyrics. And they're Scotish!

#06. The Cardigans - Okay, hear me out. I know you're thinking, "boy, this just gets lamer with each band", but you're so totally wrong, dude. These Swedes are best known for...guh..."Lovefool" from the "Romeo and Juliette Soundtrack", but good lord, they're so much more than that. Arguable the best pop band of all time. Their new stuff is a lot slower and melancholy than their early stuff, but it still has the signiture great bass and guitar sound coupled with Nina Persson's unique vocal melodies. They're highly influenced by Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy, doing covers of each band. Heck, I even like the Cardigans version of "Iron Man" better than the original! A treat to see live.

#05. David Bowie - Or "Davey Jones"...ha ha. Specifically, I love his old stuff, "Hunky Dory" being my favorite album. It seems like a lot of Realmsers have an appreciation for him, given the David Bowie theme team thread I've seen. Also, "Red Rocket 7" by Mike Allred (a must read for any music fan) was highly influenced by Ziggy Stardust. I guess I really don't have much to say about Bowie. He's famous. With good reason.

#04. Sleater-Kinney - So, I used to be a bass player. I could still do it if I tried, but have more or less given up musical pursuits for the time being. However, I still find myself listening to the bass in most songs. It's ironic, then, that one of my favorite bands has no bass. Sleater-Kinney is made up of a drummer and two guitar players, all of whom sing. Their sound is unlike any other band's. Many folks can't stand the voice of one of the singers, Corin Tucker, and I will admit it is an aquired taste, but its warbleyness works well in tandem with the other two. If you can't tell, I'm big on harmony, and the twin guitars in this band play off of each other in ways I cannot describe. My favorite song has got to be "The End of You" from "The Hot Rock". It's kinda piratey.

#03. Elliott Smith - Now this dude knew how to write a song. Hot smoke, he might have been the most talented songwriter of all time. He'd record his voice multiple times on a song, harmonizing with himself...and...I just can't really express how great his songs are. His old band, Heatmiser, was pretty great too (a lot more rockin'). Often times I'll find myself absent mindedly singing an Elliott Smith song while waiting for the bus or riding my bike. Sadly, the dude stabbed himself in the chest a couple years back. I was so sad. Never got the chance to see him either. Guh. Dunno what to say. Hope he's in a better place or something.

#02. The Clash - Mind you, I hate to call the Clash my second favorite band. It's sort of doing them a disservice. Arguably one of the most influential bands of all time, they're just...so good. A lot of folks can't stand anything after "London Calling". To them, I say "grow up". :cheeky: I guess repeated listenings have dulled my sense of what to say about these guys. I just could listen to all of their albums over and over again, and I'd never get tired of 'em. Which is good, cause they're never going to make any more, that's for sure. Alas. Um...if you don't know what's good about the Clash, then...well...whatever.

#01. The Kinks - Coming in at number one, it's the Kinks. Boy, looking at my list, I really seem to have a thing for Britpop, eh? Really though, the Davies brothers have put out a buttload of albums, and I think that if they had been allowed to tour the U.S., they could have (almost) been as big as the Beatles. Their tunes are so catchy and classic, it's hard for me to imagine a band that so perfectly fits that rockin' sound that I love so much. Admittedly, I haven't heard much of their newer stuff, but everything up through "Muswell Hillbillies" is the purest of pure gold. My guess is you probably love more Kinks songs than you realize. If you're just starting out, I'd say their most popular album has got to be "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society". Give 'em a shot. You won't be disappointed.

Honorable Mention

The Beatles (Duh)
The Ramones (Duh)
The Who (Duh)
T. Rex
The Velvet Underground
The Hi-Fives
The Specials
The Undertones
Frank Zappa
Thin Lizzy
Helium
Sixteen Horsepower
Slim Cessna's Auto Club
The Rondelles
Quasi
The Groovie Ghoulies
Talking Heads
Sparks
The Mr. T Experience
From Bubblegum To Sky
Bis
The Sugarcubes
Komeda

[Amora's_best_friend]

The Sugarcubes

Funny!

:cool:

[Pashmina]

Sugarcubes ftw!

(They should have a "duh" more than the Beatles.. ;))

[Sigdr]

#01. The Kinks - Coming in at number one, it's the Kinks. Boy, looking at my list, I really seem to have a thing for Britpop, eh? Really though, the Davies brothers have put out a buttload of albums, and I think that if they had been allowed to tour the U.S., they could have (almost) been as big as the Beatles. Their tunes are so catchy and classic, it's hard for me to imagine a band that so perfectly fits that rockin' sound that I love so much. Admittedly, I haven't heard much of their newer stuff, but everything up through "Muswell Hillbillies" is the purest of pure gold. My guess is you probably love more Kinks songs than you realize. If you're just starting out, I'd say their most popular album has got to be "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society". Give 'em a shot. You won't be disappointed.


The Kinks are fan-tastic! Have you heard their album "Arthur (or The Decline and Fall of the British Empire)"? IMO, by far their best work.

[AlienFlanders]

Motorhead - If Lemmy hadn't been fired from Hawkwind, Metallica, Megadeth, Sepeltura and quite a few others would have been vastly different, if non existent bands. I found these guys in the early 80's through Hawkwind (who I found through Michael Moorcock who played with band) - No Sleep til Hammersmith was the first album I bought, no nonsense attitude, walk on stage play loud. Live, this band rocks.

Pink Floyd - Mainly the early stuff, started like most everyone else with Dark Side of Moon, but the stuff before that is great, I can even handle the stuff from Ummagumma (Sysyphus and The Narrow Way) but how can you not love "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict"?
I view the DVD "Live at Pompeii" every couple of months.

Dimitri Shostakovich -Yes I know he isn't a band but I like his work, I discovered him from Rollerball, (Bach's Toccata in D Minor and Shostakovichs Symphony Nr 8), His Symphony Nr 10 is the first CD I ever bought, it still is great.

Slough Feg (formerly the Lord Weird Slough Feg) - A friend lent me a couple of discs of these guys, any of you 2000 AD readers who enjoyed Slaine should have a listen to "Down Among the Deadmen", and fans of the Traveller GURPS - "Traveller"

Hayseed Dixie - (Stay away if you only like one kind of music) It took me a while to pick up "A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC" but when I did, I was blown away, these guys are fast and good. I picked the rest up pretty quickly. (The funniest comment I can say is that they reckon they play Motorhead's Ace of Spades almost as fast as Motorhead do.)

Other bands high on my roster (in that I own most of their releases)
The Beatles
The Doors
Kiss
Skyhooks
Led Zeppelin
AC/DC
Black Sabbath
Alice Cooper
Chris De Burgh
Queen
Mahler

[KiwiGirl]

I may be sorely alone here, but I Love Savage Garden, in particularly the lyrics in Affirmation. OK, so they may be an aquired test, but I love em anyway. :) Oh, I also Love Pink Floyd, The Who, Bob Dylan, and Im even a big fan of Pink. :p

[turdburglar47]

I don't care what anybody says, I'm still a huge fan of Pearl Jam. Their last album did not leave my car stereo for a month and a half.

[Pashmina]

I may be sorely alone here, but I Love Savage Garden, in particularly the lyrics in Affirmation. OK, so they may be an aquired test, but I love em anyway. :) Oh, I also Love Pink Floyd, The Who, Bob Dylan, and Im even a big fan of Pink. :p

I like Savage Garden too. I just got Darren Hayes (The lead singer) new album "This Delicate Thing We've Made", and it's great.

[KiwiGirl]

Yay - Im glad Im not alone here. Usually when I mention Savage Garden everyone cringes. I was really disappointed when they went their seperate ways.
Thanks for the info about Darren's new album - I might have to check that out.
Father's day is coming up this weekend - I might buy it for my husband heh heh

[turdburglar47]

I think Savage Garden would be more acceptable if their name wasn't Savage Garden. There is absolutely nothing savage about them.

[Amora's_best_friend]

ABF's list of Catatonia songs you should listen to

Mulder and Scully (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=036dOiSX9vA) A great song. None other than Cerys Matthews can rhyme worry with scully without sounding weird. The lyrics are so fun and quirky aswell, which just adds to the whole charm of the song.

Bleed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH7tcYHdESU) - This was a promo song, released before they became famous. One of my favourite songs of theirs, I love the livelyness of the guitar.

Lost Cat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMoblRKHOYM). I never particularly loved this song, but every other fan I've ever talked to raves about this song. The video is more fun too, like a random stuck on a lamppost.

Road Rage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KImd7GXVYY). Their most famous song. I remember hearing this all the time when I was like 6 years old, and I got into the band by hearing this song a couple of years ago and remembering I loved them. I love the sound of her voice.

That's just a select few I recommend.

[turdburglar47]

I'm also a big fan of Jeff Buckley. Unbelievable voice and highly interesting guitarwork. His version of "Hallelujah" blows that lame Rufus Wainwright version out of the water, and "Everybody Here Wants You" is perhaps the most libido-enhancing song ever.

[Sigdr]

I'm also a big fan of Jeff Buckley. Unbelievable voice and highly interesting guitarwork. His version of "Hallelujah" blows that lame Rufus Wainwright version out of the water, and "Everybody Here Wants You" is perhaps the most libido-enhancing song ever.

I never managed to get into Jeff Buckley, really. I do like his version of Hallelujah (though I think he'd be more suited to covering the 1988 version than the original - oh well), but I listened to some of his other stuff and it didn't take.

Even so.

Dynamite version of Hallelujah.

[readyeddy?]

I enjoy the Jeff Buckley CD I own, though I haven't listened to it in a while. Now his father Tim Buckley, I can honestly say I only like "Buzzin' Fly".

[KiwiGirl]

I think Savage Garden would be more acceptable if their name wasn't Savage Garden. There is absolutely nothing savage about them.

OK, so theyre not Savage, doesnt mean they didnt put out some goods songs in their time. Heck, The Beatles arent actually beetles, you know, and Pink Floyds neither pink or named Floyd. Dont take the names themselves so literally. :)

[turdburglar47]

OK, so theyre not Savage, doesnt mean they didnt put out some goods songs in their time. Heck, The Beatles arent actually beetles, you know, and Pink Floyds neither pink or named Floyd. Dont take the names themselves so literally. :)


Yes, yes, but Savage Garden should be a metal band. Putting Savage in your name and then playing that music just seems like an ill fit. A minor observation.

[turdburglar47]

I never managed to get into Jeff Buckley, really. I do like his version of Hallelujah (though I think he'd be more suited to covering the 1988 version than the original - oh well), but I listened to some of his other stuff and it didn't take.

Even so.

Dynamite version of Hallelujah.


I'm a huge fan of "Lover, You Should've Come Over" (even though people who actually call themselves 'lover' skeeve me out) and "Lilac Wine."

Some of his stuff is a bit weirder and more offbeat - especially since his mother has started releasing every bit of junk he ever recorded now that he's dead - so it's possible you just didn't hear the right stuff.

[Scott Neelan]

Let's see...my musical tastes change so often and cover so much ground that my "favorites" can't usually be nailed down. So here's a top ten list as of right now (in no particular order):

Pink Floyd - If I have to tell you who they are or why I love them, then you're probably hopeless. They're one of the few bands that can survive my musical mood swings ("Wish You Were Here" will always be one of the top 5 albums, and the movie version of The Wall was the first DVD I ever paid for myself)

The Who - Just plug in Who's Next or Quadrophenia and you'll find SOMETHING you'll like. Keith Moon was the best of his era, Pete Townsend was a musical genius, Roger Daltrey was one of the prototypical "rock frontmen", and John Entwhistle was a very underrated bassist.

The Kinks - One of those bands that never quite had the fame they deserved over here in the States. But just listen to varying styles f music they released, from "You Really Got Me" cin the vein of hard-edged Britpop to "Come Dancing", a pop-bordering-on-dance thing that defies classification. And then there's the stuff in-between namely "Arthur and the Decline of Western Civilization" and "The Village Green Preservation Society"

Green Day - They've gone from West Coast Punk at its finest to Pop-Punk/Power Pop goodness, to grand Alt-Rock Opera. Plus they wrote and recorded a song called "Dominated Love Slave". Who can't enjoy that?

Weezer - I'm a sucker for a successful geek.I'm also a sucker for the Geek Rock end of the Power Pop spectrum. The Blue Album and Pinkerton trade spots back and forth on my top albums all the time (Blue's in the lead ATM).

Rage Against The Machine - I don't think any other band had quite as much of an effect on my political outlook as RatM did. If all you're looking for is powerful, stuff-smashing rock, you'll find it here. IF you want something a little deeper than that, you'll find it here too.

Bad Company - I can just see everyone going "Who?" right about now. The band was one of the biggest arena rock bands of the time, but yet now most people wouldn't know them by name. That's kinda sad, since they somehow managed to find the perfect formula for blending blues, pop, and hard rock together. of course, there are albums to stay away from (everything after "Desolation Angels")...

Fall Out Boy - Look, Pop-Punk is still alive a kicking. I first heard of them when they were trying to get their first CD released (no, not the official one, the demo one that was later released without permission by the band's old record label). A great blend of punk, alternative, a dash of pop and, with the latest album, a little jaz and hip-hop influence.

Fountains of Wayne - Figured out I'm a sucker for Power Pop yet? Maybe this one'll clue you in. Do yourself a favor if you haven't and look past "Stacy's Mom" and actually listen to their albums. Catchy pop with guitar hooks and sometimes clever, sometimes jokey lyrics.

The Beatles - Who can put together a list like this and leave them off? Their impact on music in general means they should be everyone's favorite...even if they can't actually stand them.

[turdburglar47]

I also think Fiona Apple is pretty dang awesome. She's actually the reason I tend to look at folks like Alanis and go 'come on, you can do better.'

Also, the first two albums I owned (YES VINYL IN 1983) were Billy Idol albums. That guy was like a musical superhero to me, and I actually would recommend "Devil's Playground," his newest album, to anybody who liked to rock. I was completely expecting it to be warmed-over ####, but right out the gate on that album are three great ROCK YOU IN THE FACE songs. "Super Overdrive" might be the best driving song ever. Then, later in the album, he has a song called "Cherie" that might as well be Neil Diamond. Go figure.

There was a Bridge School Benefit concert where both Pearl Jam and Billy Idol were on the same bill. Billy Idol actually sang "For What It's Worth." Just awesome sauce for me.

[readyeddy?]

There was a Bridge School Benefit concert where both Pearl Jam and Billy Idol were on the same bill. Billy Idol actually sang "For What It's Worth." Just awesome sauce for me.
Billy Idol sang that? That seems almost surreal.

[Shellhead's Pal]

I also think Fiona Apple is pretty dang awesome. She's actually the reason I tend to look at folks like Alanis and go 'come on, you can do better.'

Also, the first two albums I owned (YES VINYL IN 1983) were Billy Idol albums. That guy was like a musical superhero to me, and I actually would recommend "Devil's Playground," his newest album, to anybody who liked to rock. I was completely expecting it to be warmed-over ####, but right out the gate on that album are three great ROCK YOU IN THE FACE songs. "Super Overdrive" might be the best driving song ever. Then, later in the album, he has a song called "Cherie" that might as well be Neil Diamond. Go figure.

There was a Bridge School Benefit concert where both Pearl Jam and Billy Idol were on the same bill. Billy Idol actually sang "For What It's Worth." Just awesome sauce for me.

I like Fiona Apple alright too, but my girlfriend plays the snot out of her, so it's gotten a little old for me. Great voice though, undeniably. Pearl Jam I loved as a kid...I'm not sure there's anyone from my generation (who wasn't into rap) that didn't like Pearl Jam. The last thing I remember listening to of theirs was "Vitology"...they've probably had a lot since then, eh?

As for Billy Idol (and speaking of generations), dude, he totally rocks. I liken him to Paul from Tekken. "Rebel Yell" and all that. Have you ever heard one of his first bands, Generation X? I really like 'em. Um, better than regular Billy Idol, even.

[JKLantern]

Bad Company - I can just see everyone going "Who?" right about now. The band was one of the biggest arena rock bands of the time, but yet now most people wouldn't know them by name. That's kinda sad, since they somehow managed to find the perfect formula for blending blues, pop, and hard rock together. of course, there are albums to stay away from (everything after "Desolation Angels")...


Paul Rodgers is one of my favorite vocalists. And the dude looks like he's thirty! I got my brother one of Bad Company's live albums, Merchants of Cool, I think it was. We both thought it was incredible. On that album's version of Rock and Roll Fantasy, he starts singing some Beatles songs halfway through. It's awesome.

[Sigdr]

I'm a huge fan of "Lover, You Should've Come Over" (even though people who actually call themselves 'lover' skeeve me out) and "Lilac Wine."

Some of his stuff is a bit weirder and more offbeat - especially since his mother has started releasing every bit of junk he ever recorded now that he's dead - so it's possible you just didn't hear the right stuff.

No, I heard the two you mentioned. "Lover, You Shoul've Come Over" just did nothing for me, and his version of "Lilac Wine" is hardly (imo) as good as Katie Melua's version.

Agreed on the people who call themselves 'lover'. Seriously looney. :p

[CarlosMucha]

let's see...

Richard Marx, Roxette, Sidnid O Conor, Evasnescense, Phil Collins, Mozart, Carlos Gardel, Carlos Santana, Ricardo Arjona, Vengaboys, Dido, Soda Stereo, Eros Ramazzoti, John Williams, Laura Pausini, Natalie Ambluglia, Regina Spektor, the Beatles and soo many others...

[readyeddy?]

let's see...

Richard Marx, Roxette, Sidnid O Conor, Evasnescense, Phil Collins, Mozart, Carlos Gardel, Carlos Santana, Ricardo Arjona, Vengaboys, Dido, Soda Stereo, Eros Ramazzoti, John Williams, Laura Pausini, Natalie Ambluglia, Regina Spektor, the Beatles and soo many others...
Carlos Santana? Dang it Carlos, I needed you for Rock Wars! My pick got smoked by the Talking Heads.

[Pashmina]

I'll "paste my taste" from my Last.fm page. (Ones in bold are people that rule the world)

Björk, Garbage, My Chemical Romance, Darren Hayes, Alanis Morissette, Regina Spektor, Hole, Madonna, Avril Lavigne, No Doubt, Kelly Clarkson, Joanna Newsom, Placebo, Dragonette, Bat For Lashes, 30 Seconds to Mars, Blondie, Courtney Love, Fiona Apple, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Sugarcubes, Siouxsie Sioux, M.I.A., Catatonia, Rihanna, Cansei de Ser Sexy, Delta Goodrem, Imogen Heap, Tori Amos, Mutya Buena, Patrick Wolf, The White Stripes, Gwen Stefani, Fightstar, Panic! At the Disco, Scissor Sisters, Amerie, P!nk, Shakira, Amy Winehouse, Joni Mitchell, Christina Aguilera, Sugababes, Kate Nash, Tina Turner, Björk (I don't know why she appears twice. It's funny though), Eva Cassidy, India.Arie, Radiohead, Sarah McLachlan

(Check out my music taste: http://www.last.fm/user/dodoriazarbon/ )

Realistically that's my taste, thoguh some people I never listen to are very high. (Avril and Kelly Clarkson etc)

Darren Hayes was the lead singer of Savage Garden. Just thought that was appropriate for some of the Savage garden talk.

[hail_eris]

Hey Pashy - check out Keren Ann. *Very* reminiscent of Eva Cassidy, but with a hint of Nina Nastasia and a dash of Edith Piaf (okay, so that's mostly just because she sometimes sings in French). Here are a couple of links:

"Chelsea Burns" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A1thQqUvAI)

"Lay Your Head Down" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqydhl1TGU4) (if she can be said to have had a breakout hit, this will be it)

"Not Going Anywhere" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7t2jrVoGc0)

"Au coin du monde" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhH6AfWMEwc) (I love the looping "Dust in the Wind" guitar hook)

[Pashmina]

I love! Could be a funny addition to my musical life.

[VelvetGuru9]

Now and again I want my lady singers to stop being wimpy. I think Slunt rocks and Abby Gennet who used to be a VJ on MTV is awesomely hot. Besides, ya gotta love a girl who rocks New York.

Slunt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwyESDc2dZc) :cool:

[VelvetGuru9]

let's see...

Richard Marx, Roxette, Sidnid O Conor, Evasnescense, Phil Collins, Mozart, Carlos Gardel, Carlos Santana, Ricardo Arjona, Vengaboys, Dido, Soda Stereo, Eros Ramazzoti, John Williams, Laura Pausini, Natalie Ambluglia, Regina Spektor, the Beatles and soo many others...
Laura Pausini is amazing - rep for that one.

[CarlosMucha]

Laura Pausini is amazing - rep for that one.


thanks! I love her!

[Stuart_Rex]

I'm going to try to keep this to a minimum.

Frank Zappa
I got into Zappa relatively recently. I lived with a friend who was a Zappa fan and slowly it started to seep into me. My fiance is luckily a Zappa fan and her father is a huge Zappa fan. What luck.
There is a lot of Zappa that I can take or leave, but then again, there's a ridiculous amount of Zappa material.
When he gets it right, he gets it so right that nobody can touch him.
Check out Eat that Question, Doreen, Peaches en Regalia, Black Napkins, I am the slime or Charlie's enormous nose for some of my personal highlights.

Jimi Hendrix
I play guitar. Jimi is guitar.
Nobody has revolutionised the way an instrument is played quite like Jimi did with the electric guitar. Not Eddie Van Halen, not Tom Morello. Nobody.
He can really sing too, despite his own hangups about it.

Talib Kweli
Over the last 4 years I've become very hip hop centric. Talib is my favourite rapper. He has a funkier flow than anyone else and a really special voice. He's made some great tracks. Check out The Beautiful Struggle or his work with Mos Def in Black Star.

Rocket from the Crypt
My favourite band from the age of 16 until now. Horns - CHECK, Kickass tunes - CHECK, High Velocity Heavy Duty Rock and Roll - CHECK. The devils own lounge band.

Danko Jones
The best live band I have ever seen. The albums are good, the live show is sublime. I need to see him a thousand more times.

There are so many honourable mentions. Wu Tang, The Roots, Span, Johnny Cash, Metallica, Soundgarden, Monster Magnet....I could enthuse all day about a hundred bands but I'll leave it there.

[JKLantern]

Ever discover an artist you grow to like through some strange process?

One day, on Youtube, I was watching a clip of "The Bravery of Being Out of Range (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzofJeg5bPo)" from Roger Waters' "In the Flesh" Tour. I wondered to myself, "Who's that kinda sketchy looking guitarist (http://stetsbar.com/images/news_snowy.jpg)? I kinda like him." For a while, I didn't follow up on it. But nonetheless, the thought was in there, and was worming around. A couple Wikipedia and a Youtube search later, I find myself developing a fondness for the musical stylings of Snowy White (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBXTNAdvGKI) and the White Flames. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn2X_g4xgag)

[Stuart_Rex]

Snowy White also played with Thin Lizzy for a while.
In the late 70's/early 80's they went through something of a glut of guitarists. Snowy White was one, Midge Ure was another.