First I'd like to mention the Honorable Mention, Eminem. While I think he quite possibly will be the greatest rapper of all time by the end of his career, I couldn't place him in my top 5. There is no one out there like him, no one can do what he does, and I've really come around to his lyrics. Some people say they write their best when they're angry, Marshall Mathers is no different.
While I'm still very new to his music, I went to my first show in October of 2010 without any knowledge of the music, from the first chords I was hooked, as cheesy as it sounds. A soul/funk/blues/southern rock band from Jacksonville, FL can rock with the best of them. The band while relatively unknown has more talent than a lot of up and coming artists these days. They don't need flashy light shows or big stage set ups to impress you, their talent speaks for itself. Lead singer JJ Grey's voice is that deep rasphy blues voice that the Southern music scene breeds. His vocal range will astound and amaze you. Not to mention, he can play a mean blues guitar but more impressively his harmonica skills are exquisite. A lost art for sure in "mainstream" music nowadays, he makes you want to learn to play yourself. With cheap tickets, if they're in your area for a show, I not only say you should go, I demand that you do.
Favorite Album: Orange Blossoms
Recommended songs: Lochloosa, Slow, Hot and Sweaty, Orange Blossoms, WYLF, On Fire
No not Rapid Eye Movement, but the band R.E.M has been more than influtential to the alternative music scene for the last 20 years, they changed it. From Athens, GA Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry didn't realize what they were getting into. R.E.M is one of the first bands I can remember really listening to in part that my mother is a bigger fan than I. "Losing My Religion" was one of the first songs I ever learned all the words to and for some reason it always stuck with me. Their sound as Peter Buck said is "Minor key, mid-tempo, enigmatic, semi-folk-rock-balladish things." All members of the band (minus Berry who left the band in 2000) are credited with writing songs however when asked to name a member of the band, Stipe is often the first to come to mind. Don't blame you, he is the band's leader. His voice and the bands lyrics have been confusing from the start but that's part of the appeal. "It's just the way I sing. If I tried to control it, it would be pretty false." Simple enough. This is one band that I'm still dying to see live because I have no doubts that I will be blown away. Their most recent album "Collapse Into Now" is nothing short of genius with somewhat new sounds as well as going back to their roots.
Favorite Album: Out of Time
Recommended Songs: Losing My Religion, It's the End of the World, NightSwimming, Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, The One I Love, UBerlin
Shocking I know, Dave Matthews Band aren't my #1 band. Yes they are clearly as some would call an obsession of mine, but they aren't anywhere close to my top 2 bands. I really started listening to DMB when I was in high school again thanks to my mother and I fell in love with the music from the moment I heard the first notes of bassist Stefan Lessard's opening to "Crush". That song is perfect in every way. It wasn't until I saw them live for the first time in 2003 that I really understood what the band is capable of. Carter Beauford's 60 piece percussion set will amaze you, Lessard's bass will engulf your chest, Boyd Tinsley's violin baffles the eyes, Dave Matthew's lyrics and voice makes you melt. In 2008, the band took a hard hit when founding member and saxophonist LeRoi Moore passed away. While he was never as animated as other members of the band, without his saxophone, the band would have been incomplete. The band now with new members is still touring and selling out arenas after 20 years and will go down as one of the greatest touring acts of all time, whether you like them or not. Playing 3+ hour shows, 20 minute jams, tirelessly pouring their souls onto the stage every night, when you're there the rest of your world vanishes. You can't help but dance and let the music take you away.
Favorite Album: Before These Crowded Streets
Recommended Songs: Crush, Idea of You, You Never Know, Say Goodbye, Fool to Think, Halloween, Last Stop, ShotGun, Break Free, Squirm, #41, Lie in our Graves
There has never been a voice in music like Freddie Mercury's. It was perfect. Fluid, smooth, loud, unmatched, impeccable. With a voice like that one need's a stage presence to match it, and boy did he. Openly homosexual, Mercury took stage presence to a new level channeling other British rock bands of the 70's and 80's. There are few performers who will ever be able to match what this man did on stage. While songs like "We Will Rock You" and "We are the Champions" will synonymously be linked with sports as will "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Wayne's World, there are more gems underneath their hits. This band is one band that I wish I could have seen in it's original form during their prime. Unfortunately, due to his lifestyle of promescuity and drugs, Mercury passed away in the 1990's. The band is still touring with new members but nothing can top what Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon did.
Favorite Album: Greatest Hits (has to be, encompasses them perfectly)
Recommended Songs: Fat Bottomed Girls, Don't Stop Me Now, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Bohemian Rhapsody
1997 Led Zeppelin... there is nothing better. Jimmy Paige, John Bonham, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant. There is not a better foursome of musicians, ever. Now some may argue that I'm too young to appreciate their music, but if you can truly listen to their sound and it can effect your soul, then you appreciate it. From the release of Led Zeppelin in 1969, the world wasn't ready for what was coming. The early years they were still relatively unknown, I use that term loosely, until 1971 when all hell broke loose. Album after album released, tour after tour selling out, it was non-stop. They were revolutionizing the way people listened to music especially in the concert setting. Jimmy Paige hands on the double necked guitar will blow anyone's mind. John Bonham destroyed the drums like no one ever thought possible (except for maybe Pete Townshend). John Paul Jones bass can't be matched. And there is Robert Plant. The sex symbol frontman who's voice could melt any woman (and even man) in an arena. They changed the Rock N Roll for the better with solo after solo during their concerts, breaking barriers on stage, and writing music that no one could compete with. Breaking up in 1978 and then John Bonham's death in 1980 could have broken the band entirely. Despite rare appearances the band did continue on, but was never the same. In 2009, with Bonham's son Jason on the drums, there seemed to be a new breath of life back in the band. It's hard to argue that they aren't the best when they were honored with the "Greatest Live Act of All Time". There are few artists since Zeppelin who can't say that they aren't an influence.
Favorite Album: Zeppelin IV
Recommended Songs: Heartbreaker, Dyer Maker, Black Dog, Going to California, Stairway to Heaven, Immigrant Song
Pretty good top 5 there. Though I need to check out JJ Grey and MOFRO. I must say, not listening to music as much as I used to and I can tell a difference. I still have a few albums I haven't even listened to yet, I've gotten behind in music, which sucks for me. But anyway, nice blog, I really dig the name.
ReplyDeleteWhat other Avett Brothers do you listen to? Whats your favorite?