In response to last week’s post about the Greatest Rock/Pop Band of all time and the numerous contributions and push back regarding my suggestion that U2 be considered as the greatest band, I’ll put it out there and share with you my personal 9 favorite artists – currently.
Why 9? Because you can you contribute #10.
Who are you really enjoying now? Who should I add to my playlist? Or who’s an artist you enjoy that’s still un-discovered?
I feel like I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. If I had any talent as a musician, I’d learn to somehow bring the sounds of my current favorites into one sound. And to be honest, I don’t listen to alot of new stuff because I don’t listen to any radio. I come across new artists when folks recommend them my way. Anyway, here’s my list in no particular order. Critique away…
- James Taylor – one of my all time favorites. want to go to one of his concerts.
- Fugees/Lauryn Hill/Wyclef Jean – i miss the fugees. love lauryn hill. and think that wyclef jean is brilliant.
- Common – one of my favorite emcees.
- Chris Tomlin – need some CCM here to prove i’m a christian to my readers. seriously, i really believe he’s the most gifted hymn writer of our time. so appreciated his willingness to play at our very own Q Cafe in partnership with a local station couple years ago.
- Stevie Wonder – isn’t he lovely?
- Coldplay – i know, i know. they’re popular but i can’t help it. i like chris martin’s hands. it’s a toss up between personal preference between U2 and cplay but i’m currently u2′d out.
- Bob Marley – what can i say?
- Blue Scholars – representing 206 of Seattle. they’re good and you’ll hear about them soon if you don’t know them already. i’d put up their ‘blink’ video but it would incite some hate emails my way.
- Josh Garrels – you’ve likely not heard of him. he played at the Q Cafe a few years ago and love his style of music.
And since Blue Scholars and Josh Garrels might be ‘new’ to some of you folks, here are some samples of their music:
* my honorable mentions: Bee Gees, Radiohead, Priscilla Ahn, Nas, David Crowder Band, Tyrone Wells. I would have put Priscilla on my list above but she ain’t returnin’ my emails to play the Q in the future. Support a fellow Korean brotha.
Filed under: , blue scholars, bob marley, chris tomlin, coldplay, common, james taylor, josh garrels, music, priscilla ahn, stevie wonder, wyclef jean
Good list.
A few of mine:
Far*East Movement – Lowridin
Giant Panda – Justin Case
Utada Hikaru – Come Back To Me
Chester French – She Loves Everybody
Justin Nozuka – After Tonight
Marie Digby – Say It Again
Oh, and this kid is amazing…
Sungha Jung
I love James Taylor and Tyrone Wells.
I’d suggest Rosie Thomas.
Dude, is that you in that picture?
Josh Garrels is a good ol’ Indiana boy (graduate of my high school). He’s got a large fan base out here and I’m glad to hear he’s made it to the west coast. Thanks for giving him some well-deserved props.
Speaking of west coast, I’m a sucker for a little California band called Starflyer 59. They’ve been around for about 15 years now and have put out quite the corpus of solid indie music over the years.
I know I am only supposed to add #10 but give me #11 as well.
10. Bloc Party. Anything by these guys, but especially their first album will tickle your ear drums. A sound that your just not hearing anywhere else.
11. Vampire Weekend. Best album of 2008. If you do not own it go by it right now and make your day better.
Alterbridge
Jack Johnson
Cake
Brie Stoner
Some songs off of the Juno soundtrack
I’ve been kind of stuck on these for awhile now. I just kind of got sick of everything else that I have, and these I still enjoy. Though I do sometimes run across random songs that are good.
grew up as a missionary kid in haiti so Wyclef and the FUgees are huge there. Lauryn Hill’s MTV unplugged album is one of my favorites.
Also love Ray Lamontange and DAmien RIce
Check out LeCrae. If you’re not into the beats, you have to at least pay attention to the words…packed with theology and evangelism.
And how could you forget India.Arie?!?!?!?!
Bruce and the E. Street Band – They influenced a range of music, still rock hard, and put out original music. The concerts are not just greatest hits. Who else that big still takes requests from the audience and brings audience members, including kids, on stage?
Is there a better song on the plight and aspirations of undocumented immigrants – Across the Border
Audience member brought on stage:
Born to Run (let’s audience ‘play’ his guitar. (at 2:55f)
I cry every time I hear this about 9/11 “into the fire”
“I need your kiss but love and duty called you someplace higher somewhere up the stairs into the fire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOh38qNdLag&feature=PlayList&p=3D1EE34CFEB6A33B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12
May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love
If “My City of Ruins” is one of the best gospel songs I’ve heard and echoes Nehemiah-Ezra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ne3rc3iqc&feature=related
Well enough of that going on and on and on.
Josh Garrels is off the hook talented in lyrical composition. Very unique dude and I listen to him a bunch. My list would have to include Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds for their unique sound and freakish talent as an acoustic duo. I would have to have Aaron Strumpel in the mix, too, for some of the very same reasons.
yay another music post!
definitely might want to check out: bon iver, a.a. bondy, beirut, and beach house.
bit more upbeat? try arcade fire, new pornographers, tv on the radio, and i’m going to second the noms of both vampire weekend and bloc party.
from the movies: if you saw half nelson and dug the soundtrack, check out broken social scene. and if you saw slumdog millionaire and thought a couple of the songs kicked, check out m.i.a. she is crazy good.
oh and how can i forget thao nguyen!
it’s finals week so I dial it back to The Album Leaf quite a bit. I’ve also been listening to Bob Dylan and craving Nina Simone.
BTW, love to see my friend Aaron Strumpel get mentioned. I’ve been listening to him and Karla Adolphe recently as well.
This is hard to do, but these are 10bands i would make every effort to see in concert.
the smiths – fav band in HS
dc*b seen x1
u2 seen x2 BAD and PE (not you) on same bill
the flaming lips – never seen live
pearl jam – saw with Tom Petty
tom waits – missed opportunity last year &#*^@# ticketmaster
abba – saw Mama Mia on broadway
john denver – yeah not going to happen
queen – no freddie me no go
the clash – fav band in HS too, saw B.A.D. but not the same, obviously
andrew bird is pushing my top ten too.
@Katie, have only heard a few thao nguyen songs but really like her. bon iver well he’s from ‘sconsin and so am i.
do check out these artists:
BUILD AN ARK – collective of musician’s from LA formed in response to 9-11 to make music that heals and reminds people of what life is about. sacred music that isn’t corny, amateurish, or particularly “religious”. Dwight Trible is also an artist in this collective who is a must listen.
K-OS – genre blending hip-hop artist with great songs and sharp, introspective lyrics.
RAUL MIDON – guitar playing virtuoso and soul singer with a voice blending Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway (also someone you need to get to know).
DUDLEY PERKINS – he’s like a mystical, prophetic, crooning Ol’ Dirty Bastard with beats by Madlib, one of the most creative hip-hop producers.
CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA – spiritual, electronic, ambient, mellow jazz.
Hmm… my style is different then yours, so I don’t really know what to recommend for YOU, but I’m currently into the feel good pop of Ben Rector (pretty much an unknown), and the indie folk rock of Over the Rhine (whose lyrics are sensational).
Hah, given that Chris Tomlin is on your list, what did you think of John Stackhouse’s roast of him last week? I personally thought it was ridiculous… but that’s a whole different discussion…
@DS: yes, it is. circa 1997.
I have been enjoying Emm Gryner‘s DIY ethic for over a decade now. [a very recent CBC performance for the curious]. Great voice, great songs, great arrangements and engineering.
good list – especially love Josh Garrels, James Taylor and Priscilla Ahn. I would add Jason Mraz.
garrels plays in indiana all the time… saw him quite a few times in small coffee shops when he was getting started. excellent edition.
Radiohead.
I was at the Blue Scholars show this past monday. It was a pretty amazing show, they’ve got some awesome energy. Kicked it way to hard, I think I’m getting old now.
HEY EUGENE!
Seriously … Listen to this song called “Hey Eugene”. It’s by a band called Pink Martini, who are from Portland, fronted by a singer named China Forbes, who sings in about 7 languages, and led by an asian guy with the very un-asian name Thomas Lauderdale (he was adopted by a Caucasian family.) Here’s a link to an NPR live-in-studio recording:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10177940
And this little jazz orchestra plays lounge,swing, world music, classical music, jazz and samba. Hey Eugene – I bet this band will become number ten if you give them a chance.
[...] these “musical artists” are not on my favorites list but I know that they influence thousands if not millions of fans including the three young kids in [...]
Now I’m feeling old and out of touch. I used to know the names of every band in almost every genre and I recognize less than a handful of these. Lots of new stuff to discover, I guess.
@stan: umm. i can’t resist the open door…
you are old.
but don’t worry. i don’t recognize a lot of these names as well.
[...] these “musical artists” are not on my favorites list but I know that they influence thousands if not millions of fans including the three young kids in [...]
Well, what can I say, theres a lot of pop on my playlists but my recommendation is:
#10- Amos Lee – such good summer music. He’s kind of in the same vein as John Legend and Alicia Keys but with a more relaxed New Orleans bluesy feel.
I also like Rick’s recommendation- Pink Martini (its a little flowery but maybe good for a dinner party rather than just casual listening)
My Christian pick is Fred Hammond.
C’mon guys! How about a little Ben Harper?? Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. How’s that for a band name?
[...] the way, I got a chance to play teenager last night and rocked to the David Crowder band. They made my list of favorite bands. Check out these this short clip featuring one of my favorite songs, O Praise Him, but also soak in [...]
[...] the way, I got a chance to play teenager last night and rocked to the David Crowder band. They made my list of favorite bands. Check out this this short clip featuring one of my favorite songs, “O Praise Him,” but [...]
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