[williamssl]

Ok - lets' hear your top 5 EVER bands/musicians/WTF, and reaons why the person/group makes the list.

I'm serious about top 5 - this is about forcing the tough decisions re: who you like and why without allowing for the backup of "but these other 5 bandsI like too". Can't quite tell if I'll edit your post or ban you (or both) if you deviate.

So on with it.

1. Duran Duran
2. Robert Earl Keen
3. Social Distortion
4. Meat Puppets
5. The Cult

Rationale - with soberness - will come in the morning.

[Jack Quinn]

1. Helloween - I have liked them the longest, I have been a fan through numerous line up changes and some meh CD's
2. Southern Culture on the Skids - saw them alive and I was hooked, fun band to listen to live or on CD
3. Aerosmith - my favorite Aunt and Uncle were big fans, and they took me to see them in concert during the Pump tour. I was hooked. Great band, I like them far more than their contemporaries the Rolling Stones
4. Metallica - Master of Puppets may be the perfect metal CD in my opinion. I will admit I have cooled on them since the Black CD, its not bad, there is just something lacking, but Ride the Lightning-Master of Puppets-And Justice For All and Black will always get heavy play for me
5. ICP - wow, I guess this would have to be my fifth favorite. I said it in the playlist, they are often ridiculed (and sometimes justifiably) for being talentless hacks up on stage spouting nothing but mindless violence. And in a lot of those cases that is true. They are not the greatest rappers in the world, but they have a sense of humor. And every now and then, they actually have something worthwhile to say, believe it or not

[salmonjunkie]

1. Alice In Chains - They became my favorite band when Dirt came out. I was senior in high school then. I was supposed to see them when they were touring with Metallica in 1995 after Tripod came out, but then Layne went into rehab. I remember when I found out Layne died, I cried. Last year, I finally got to see them live for the first and second times. Sure, no Layne, but the concert was awesome, and a great tribute to Layne and co.'s legacy.

2. U2 - They weren't on my top 5 or maybe not even on my top 10 until I saw them live during the Elevation tour. I've now seen them 6 times. They are the BEST band to see in concert. Hands down.

That's the only ones I can say for sure. 3, 4, and 5, are very very tough as they're a mix of bands that were my "present favorites" at a time and have kind of fallen since or that I just don't love as much as I used to, or bands that I really really like, have never gotten "worse" but never liked as much as those "present favorites".

My best example would be Radiohead vs. Metallica (what's up Chris?) Metallica for a long time were my favorite band. Then Load came out. Then Reload came out. Then St. Anger came out. And now, I don't like them nearly as much as I used to. However, I still love their first five albums, and will continue to see them in concert, as they are still that damn good live. Even songs I don't like from the last three albums sound good live. Thing is, they still hold a very special place in my heart.

I think that could very well make them my number 3.

But with Radiohead, I've never liked them as much as I liked Metallica back then. But I still really like them, and every album that's come out from them, I still really like. I probably currently like Radiohead more then I currently like Metallica. But I will likely never like Radiohead as much as I liked Metallica in the late 80s through the mid 90s. They're also fantastic to see live, just as good as Metallica but in a completely different way. Plus Radiohead does not hold a very special place in my heart like Metallica does. And that's why if Radiohead were to come out with something subpar like Load, Reload, and st. Anger, I probably wouldn't flinch, whereas I'm vocally venomous about Met's last three.

With that said, I don't think I could ever put Radiohead in my top 5.

I'll come up with 4 and 5 later. Or maybe I never will...

[National Champion Chris Cole]

1. Metallica - Do I really need to explain this any more? Like Thai said look up Radiohead vs. Metallica in the Wankipedia. I will admit the gap between them and everybody else is much smaller. I don't listen to their CDs nearly as much as I used to. People shitting all over them doesn't bother me anymore (might be more maturity on my part then any less love for the band though). I did get the Music Video DVD fro my birthday and was pretty excited by it. I'll probably be really pumped again if a new album comes out.

2. I'm giving this a lot of thought. Should I go with my historical choice or my newest addiciton? I'll go with my historical choice: Korn. I starting getting into the band when they released Follow the Leader. They were always one of the bright spots on MTV for me amist all the Boy Band crap they spewed out. I love their signature "Crunchy" sound. Davis is a messed up freak and I love it. The band is great live. I'll admit the last two albums weren't as good as earlier stuff but I still enjoyed them. My wife just picked up their Unplugged Album. Very weird to hear Korn accoustic but I'm really enjoying it.

3. Tool - My newest addiction. I owned Undertow but really only listened to Sober. The radio stations around me never really played much Tool until recently. When "Schism" came out I enjoyed that track as well and realized hey I might like these guys more. So I started listening to the Undertow album as a whole much more often. It really started to grow on me. I bought "10,000 Days" when it came out and then also went back and bought "Aenima" and "Lateralus". I even got my wife into them even though she calimed not to like them. I think she is converted now. I still need to see them live though.

4. System of a Down - I loved Mezmerize/Hynotize. Those albums never left the car CD player for a year. I love their zaniness and their sound is so unlike any other. Along with Tool they are on my list of bands I need to see live.

5. Godsmack - Great band. Great CDs. Great live. My only knock on them is that Sully is a Red Sox fan.

Bands that at one time or another were in my Top 5:
Creed -I never really got all the hate for this band. Stapp is a dick but I always enjoyed their sound

Limp Bizkit - If you don't like Rap/Rock or nu Metal or whatever the hell it is acalled you won't like them but you can't deny Durst is a great performer

Sevendust - I love this band. They are only bumped out because Tool moved up my list.

Nirvana - The band that got me into rock

[The Jewish Cunthead]

If you pay any attention to my playlists, my top 5 shouldn't be surprising. Reasons will be coming later.

1 - The Eagles
2 - Steely Dan
3 - AC/DC
4 - The Doobie Brothers
5 - The Beatles

[The Canadian Content]

This is my current list. It might stay this way for a year, it might change this afternoon.

1. Pearl Jam -- this one's pretty much guaranteed to stay in place. They released 10 in 1991. I was 14. The music absolutely spoke to me, and as I've grown old with the band, it's never stopped speaking to me. Also, best concert I've ever seen.

2. Beastie Boys -- Though their last album sucked (comparedd to their earlier work), they've consistently entertained me for about 20 years. Can't argue with those results.

3. Foo Fighters -- A statement that pisses a lot of people off: Kurt Cobain's death is the best thing that ever happened to music. The reason? No shotgun, no Foo Fighters.

4. The Beatles -- I grew up listening to them. They were amazing, and their music has a timeless quality about it.

5. Soundgarden -- Last week, I loaded the car's CD player up with an all-Soundgarden selection. I listened to it 3 hours a day for 4 days, and I enjoyed every minute.

[salmonjunkie]

M-Kid - Aenima is a fucking amazing album. Just amazing.

Psycho - Pearl Jam may be in my top 10, but I'm hesitant to put them in my top 5. I don't know why. And yeah, they're awesome live.

[National Champion Chris Cole]

Fish, the statement is pretty harsh. For one many people loved Nirvana, myself included. I'm a big fan of Foo also but I would have loved to see where Nirvana ended up. And really who is to say that Foo Fighters would not have surfaced eventually? Grohl seems so damn talented that he would want to front a band. I could see Foo Fighters forming as Grohl's second band like A Perfect Cirlce became Maynard Keenan's second band.

[National Champion Chris Cole]

Thai, you are right about Aenima. I picked it up at the same time as Lateralus. Aenima has spent about five times as much time playing though. I can't beleieve I missed it back in the 90s.

[The Canadian Content]

metallikid said:

Fish, the statement is pretty harsh. For one many people loved Nirvana, myself included. I'm a big fan of Foo also but I would have loved to see where Nirvana ended up. And really who is to say that Foo Fighters would not have surfaced eventually? Grohl seems so damn talented that he would want to front a band. I could see Foo Fighters forming as Grohl's second band like A Perfect Cirlce became Maynard Keenan's second band.

I agree that it's harsh, and I say it mainly in jest. I was a fairly big Nirvana fan myself, and the whole grunge movement couldn't have happened without them. I was shocked and saddened when Cobain died.

[Batman]

OK, EXALT to Tex for this awesome thread idea. This is going to be hard.

I take that back. Make that, impossible. I just can't do it.

[Courtney]

Wow...very difficult. Just five? [Solly] Oy vey. [/Solly] I had to leave out [glow=red,2,300]EDITS BY TEX - FOLLOW DIRECTIONS NEXT TIME. [/glow] That sucks.

1) Beck-- Because...just because. From Mellow Gold to The Information, I have and love all his albums. Well, there's an exception. I only like Midnite Vultures. I even love Sea Change, which is very decidely NOT Beck.

2) Fleetwood Mac- My mom's favorite band and therefore, I grew up listening to everything they ever did. There's a reason why Rumours has sold over 30 million copies.

3) Fiona- Ooh, my girl angst incarnate. Her voice is wonderful and the way she mixes her piano with drums is spectacular. All three of her albums are great, but I like the underrated second one, When the Pawn..., best.

4) Nirvana- I got into Nirvana in high school, which...well, isn't that the perfect time to get into Nirvana? When you actually have an inkling of an idea of what Kurt's singing about.

5) Incubus-- I picked Brandon and the boys because I've grown up with them and also because they're the band I've seen the most. I swear, watching Brandon sing Aqueous Transmission is heavenly. I like almost everything they've done from Fungus to Light Grenades, with the exception being A Crow Left of the Murder (but even then, I still like some of the songs on there.)

[GoVols]

Great topic.

1. U2 Thai said it. I'll second it. There is nothing like a live U2 show. U2 was also the first band I was exposed to. My brother is 8 years older than me, so when Joshua Tree came out, he listened to them none stop and I became a huge fan at 7 years old. I've got about every U2 song, concert, magazine cover, book, etc. I've also seen them 5 times. Saw the POP tour, Elevation twice and Vertigo twice. I'd say U2 is the only band to be relevant for as long as they have, 25 years or so.

2. REM What can I say. Again, the influence of my brother and sister in the 80's. I saw them live and they, too, are unbelievable. Their last 3 or so albums haven't quite been the same, but their first 7 or 8 albums were awesome. Just like U2, I think the fact their lyrics are so ambiguous makes them relistenable forever. At any point in life their lyrics can be applicable to your current situation.

3. the Who I would venture to say that the Who are the most influential rock band ever, yes, even moreso than the Beatles. I think the fact that that Robert Plant picked Jimmy Page because he looked like Roger Daltry says a lot about how much the Who mean to the world of rock. Not to mention that they basically created hard rock and the concept album (generalizations I know, but they were the first to be majorly successful at them.) And not to mention their music rocks and is utterly relistenable. My main criteria is always how easily I can press play on the iPod and listen to an album I haven't heard in 2 years and if I can stand it anymore. the Who passes this test.

4. Tom Petty Full Moon Fever is the main reason Tom is here. One of the greatest albums ever, top to bottom. And then add in his 2 or 3 really great songs from most of his other albums and you've got 30-40 awesome songs, that stand the test of time. Not many groups can hold my attention like that. Also saw him a few times and he's great in concert. Oh and the Travelling Wilburys, can't forget that.

5. Pearl Jam This one's tricky. I've never been a huge Pearl Jam fan, but I realize how much Pearl Jam is on the iPod. And how often I listen to them. And the fact that they've got so much live stuff out there that's so awesome. I find myself searching through their live stuff on iTunes and downloading a song or two every once in a while. And I've come to realize what a great cover band they are, through the live stuff. My two favorites are I Won't Back Down with just Eddie and an acoustic guitar and Baba O'Reilly the night John Entwhistle died. I wish they had stayed more relevant, but I couldn't even tell you the last time they had an album come out.

This was tougher than I thought.

[creepy]

govols said:

I think the fact that that Robert Plant picked Jimmy Page because he looked like Roger Daltry says a lot about how much the Who mean to the world of rock.

Ummmm..... I don't think this is true. But you can cite your source(s) if you'd like.

5. Pearl Jam I wish they had stayed more relevant, but I couldn't even tell you the last time they had an album come out.

Last year, just so's you knows.


EDIT:
I guess I can throw around my musical tastes. But I got to thinking about what MKid said about going with historical choices or "newest addiction"s. He went the historical route, so I guess I can contrast that with a "newest addiction"s Top 5. Actually, I'll probably do both. A New and An Old.

NEW:

1. The Toadies
Believe it or not, I put a lot of thought into this. Todd Lewis has one of the stronger voices of the past decade or two. And the lyrics definitely amaze me. You know.................... Screw it.
Honestly, either you agree with me or you don't. Most probably disagree.

2. The Burden Brothers
I can honestly say that this band is by far my favorite of the bunch right now. I've seen them about a dozen times in smoky bars and clubs and I can say that I'd rather be there than anywhere else. I truly mean that. Their albums Buried In Your Black Heart and Mercy are two of my favorite albums of all time (I can honestly say that too) and their early EP work are classic, too. By my standards, anyway. With a little help from Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin, Kim Thayil, Justin Medal Johnson (bassist for Beck, among others), and a few other notable names.
You know what? This was #3, but I switched it to #2.

3. The Sahara Hotnights
Punk rocker chicks from Sweden. I found this band back in 2002 and I was instantly blown away. Their new CD (or actually, what I've heard of it) sounds like a current form of Fleetwood Mac. Not sure if Courtney would agree.

4. Flogging Molly
Great live show, and they tour all the freaking time it seems. Irish FolkPunkRock. Dave King seems like a genuine human being.

5. The Supersuckers
Whether it's rock or country, Eddie Spaghetti (Lame name, awesome voice) has lead this Seattle group all over the world. Some rockers to check out via iTunes (or by other nefarious means)..... Ahhhhh, if you care, let me know.

I'll see them in late June.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And, quickly, here's the all time list (don't ban me, Texas, I think this is a bit different than just posting 10 bands that I can't decide on):

1. The Doors - I think the Doors win out. I had all of their albums and I honestly didn't dislike a single song. For some reason, they are/were just IT for me.
2. AC/DC - Although they put out alot of crap, hell, some whole albums of crap, they are still way up there (here).
3. Guns 'n Roses- I don't really want to explain this.
4. Aerosmith - Woulda been higher if they'd stayed higher. Seriously, they were the first band I really got into and I followed them all the way until Big Ones.
5. Beastie Boys - So many to choose from. This will do, TT5B notwithstanding.

You know, I think I can scrap this and just say my favorite list is the new stuff. Yeah, that's what makes me happiest right now.

[salmonjunkie]

govols said:

5. Pearl Jam but I couldn't even tell you the last time they had an album come out.

I'll echo Creepy. Late last year. Self-titled. And in my opinion, their best album since Vs. Check it out. It's that damn good.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

fsolomon75 said:

If you pay any attention to my playlists, my top 5 shouldn't be surprising. Reasons will be coming later.

1 - The Eagles
2 - Steely Dan
3 - AC/DC
4 - The Doobie Brothers
5 - The Beatles

OK it's later

The Eagles - THE 70s supergroup. Henley's poetry, Frey's rockabilly (sorry) and Walsh on the guitar made for some kickass music.

Steely Dan - I think I was born 10 years too late. Great jazz riffs and somewhat deep lyrics and they're still putting out solid music today.

AC/DC - Total put your foot down on the gas driving music. Angus is the man and Brian Johnson turned out to be a better front guy than Bon ever was. I only wish they were touring so I could get the full effect.

The Doobies - I loved how they went from Southern Rock to sappy soul and back to Southern Rock when McDonald left.

The Beatles - the most influential band ever. EVAR. Period.

[GoVols]

Creepy, Jimmy Page was good buddies with Entwhistle and Moon and even wanted to form a band with them that never materialized. After the Yardbirds were done he had a different guy in mind for lead singer, but the guy couldn't do it, so he offered it to Robert Plant. I don't have a source here, but I was watching a biography on them (probably the VH1 Legends one)and Page said that he was looking for a guy who looked like Roger Daltry and Plant had that wild blond hair and he liked his voice. I promise you this is true. He has stated this fact and I have seen him say it. I'm still looking for a link to him saying it, but can't find it.

[Batman]

Tex, you need to ban Court and creepy. "I had to leave out these bands" = "I really like these bands, too" and "it's different, because one list is current and the other is all-time" also = "I really like these bands, too." I couldn't make the hard choices and narrow it down to five, so I didn't post any.

Ban 'em.

[williamssl]

ok. half day bans apiece.


EDIT: sorry guys - not trying to be a dick here but that was kind of the point of the whole "top 5" thing.

[williamssl]

williamssl said:

1. Duran Duran
2. Robert Earl Keen
3. Social Distortion
4. Meat Puppets
5. The Cult

Rationale - with soberness - will come in the morning.

Sobriety came well before rationale....


1. Duran Duran. These guys wouldn't make a "top 5 current" list if I did one but this was "all time EVER" so on the list .... and on top. I've got such a history with these guys. I happen to be one to have loved their music through the various band lineups and "genre"s that they've played. From "Friends of Mine" on their first album, "Hold Back the Rain" on Rio...."Palomino" and "Edge of America/Lakeshore Driving" on Big Thing....even the stuff on Medazzaland and Pop Trash....I have just thoroughly enjoyed their music. While people more likely know them for their singles and videos....their album tracks have been great. I was just getting into music circa 81-82 when they first emerged on the scene, so was able to follow them from the beginning.

So what else about them:

• I probably got more play in High School than I deserved by being friends with the chicks who were infatuated with the band
  
• The Power Station side project opened me up to Robert Palmer's catalogue. I hadn't listened to him prior...and he's got a great suite of music. "Sneaking Sally Through the Alley" is amazing
  
• It was also the Power Station and its more rock/guitar orientation that got me to start liking stuff outside the "80s new wave" genre
  

I could do a bunch of namedropping here too...but not gonna go there.

2. Robert Earl Keen. The "old timers" here know my love for this Texan who I struggle categorizing. He's not country..... He's not rock. He's a great lyricist and storyteller, and I make a point of seeing him live anytime he passes through Dallas (including 6/23 after the Rangers/Astros game). Pre-living in Texas, I would never have even heard of the guy and definitely wouldn't have been interested. But moving here gave me the exposure and I've been a fan ever since.

I've got a few songs on xdrive HERE for people to sample. You can access it with your AIM signin.

3. Social Distortion. You grow up in Southern CA / Orange County, you get exposed to a lot of great bands. This is one of 'em. Put on "Mommy's Little Monster" and crank it up. I'm sure everyone (or most everyone) is familiar with their cover of Cash's Ring of Fire.

I've been inked 3 times. 2 of 'em are Social D / Mike Ness related.

My wife and I saw them a couple years ago in Dallas and picked up a t-shirt for our kid that was youth sized and said "mommy's little monster" on it.

They've got a Greatest Hits package coming out EOM June:
Another State Of Mind
Mommy's Little Monster
Prison Bound
Story Of My Life
Ball And Chain
Ring Of Fire
Bad Luck
When The Angels Sing
I Was Wrong
Reach For The Sky
Far Behind (new song)

4. Meat Puppets. The "obscure" one on my list. These guys got "mainstream" exposure on the Nirvana Unplugged session where Curt and Chris joined the band onstage for covers of 3 songs from Meat Puppets 2: Lake of Fire, Oh Me, and Plateau.

Great psychedelic stuff from this alt- band. "Up on the Sun" remains my favorite song.

5. The Cult. Got exposed to them when Love first came out and thought that album was awesome. Electric came out close to when I was getting into rock/guitar music, and this one put me over the edge. Their whole catalogue is great, although "The Witch" is prob my fave song.

[creepy]

govols said:

Creepy, Jimmy Page was good buddies with Entwhistle and Moon and even wanted to form a band with them that never materialized. After the Yardbirds were done he had a different guy in mind for lead singer, but the guy couldn't do it, so he offered it to Robert Plant. I don't have a source here, but I was watching a biography on them (probably the VH1 Legends one)and Page said that he was looking for a guy who looked like Roger Daltry and Plant had that wild blond hair and he liked his voice. I promise you this is true. He has stated this fact and I have seen him say it. I'm still looking for a link to him saying it, but can't find it.

Your original post said:

I think the fact that that Robert Plant picked Jimmy Page because he looked like Roger Daltry says a lot about how much the Who mean to the world of rock.
I'm sure, now that you've explained it, that you meant Page picked Plant, which is true.

[Courtney]

sergeial said:

Tex, you need to ban Court and creepy. "I had to leave out these bands" = "I really like these bands, too" and "it's different, because one list is current and the other is all-time" also = "I really like these bands, too." I couldn't make the hard choices and narrow it down to five, so I didn't post any.

Ban 'em.

Haha, good thing I was at work all day. ;D

[Batman]

Yeah, half-day bans. WUSSY!

[williamssl]

Nice try.

No Charmed on Charmed banning today.

[Batman]

Are you saying that I'm begging to be banned so I don't have to be seen in this theme?

Hmm. That would explain me messing with Optard.