An earlier thread about Tom Petty was plenty of fun and led to some thoughts as to who were some of the greatest Rock and Roll artists ever ... if not some opinions of posters' own favorite artists of all time. That's tonight's inspiration.
Perhaps if I could go back and start all over again, I would have instead tried to become a rock journalist.
Like Rob Gordon said, you get lots of free records.
So for those of you like me who are music fans as much as Pitt Sports fans, I offer you the following challenge: put together your list of your OWN favorite rock and roll music artists ever. Use whatever criteria you wish. It's your list.
Back when one still needed an I-pod, mine had over 8,000 songs. My list is pretty much comprised of the artists who filled my catalog the fullest (more or less).
In the spirit of College Football and Hoops ... I offer a Top 25.
If 25 is too many for your to list, go old school and give us your top 20.
Or even top 10. Or maybe just Top 5. Just like Rob Gordon.
Here goes ...
#1 -- R.E.M. – Since 1986, they’ve been my favorite. I’ve seen them 10 times in 8 different venues including Red Rocks in Colorado. And they ended their career perfectly. Three things we have in common? 1. We are young despite the years. 2. We are concern. 3. We are hope despite the times.
The rest of the Top 10 … (not necessarily in any order)
Johnny Marr – I’m cheating a little with this selection, but he’s my single favorite artist, taking his work across so many different bands including Electronic, 7 Worlds Collide, The Cribs, The The, The Healers and even Modest Mouse. Most notably, his work with the Smiths was perfect, and turned the blow-hard Morrissey into a genius.
Radiohead – I was going to take my Son to this show last year for his first official concert. I should have. Sorry I didn’t. Thom Yorke may end up in the conversation of the top 20 or so artists ever.
Elvis Costello – My favorite songwriter. Ever.
Nirvana – I still feel a little sad every time I hear Kurt’s voice.
The Replacements – I saw the Replacements twice, including once at Graffiti standing on the floor about 10 feet from Paul Westerberg. During both shows they seemed relatively sober. Bummer.
The Pixies – Never saw the Pixies. Bummer.
The Pretenders – Chrissy Hynde is my favorite female performer ever. This includes when she rocked out when she was young, then after when she had a kid, turned 33 and became more of a smooth crooner ... Baby!
The Shins – My favorite “Indie Rock” band ever. Period.
New Order – Their catalogue of wonderful singles is completely and incredibly undeniable.
Rounding Out the Top 25 (still not in any real order) ...
The Beatles – No explanation needed. It’s the Beatles.
Neil Young – This one needs no explanation either, whether or not one includes his work with CSNY.
Animal Collective – My favorite band of the last 10 years.
Beastie Boys – Hip Hop is far under represented on my list. There are many pieces I adore, but just not enough from any one artist but the Beasties.
U2 – I attended the concert at 3 Rivers in 1987 with a group that included a young women from Ireland who was in the US on a work visa. She adored U2 and this was the first time she ever saw them live. Perfect.
Led Zeppelin – Any list of top 25 artists without them is illegitimate.
Moby – I’ve seen Moby twice including a concert at the amphitheater in Station Square. The Wife and I danced so much we were literally soaked from head to toe in sweat.
The Connells – This band from North Carolina was always something of a personal favorite. I was fortunate enough to see them 5 times including 4 in the confines of a tiny Graffiti.
The Talking Heads – This was one of the few bands of that era that I actually loved during that era.
Prince – I didn’t really love Prince in the late 70's and the 80's. It took some time. It really came on sometime after 1999.
The Clash – I’m not even sure when I became such a fan of the Clash. But some 40 years later, their sound is as insurgent and exciting as it ever was.
The Jam – The most underrated band of all time, if for no other reason for their influence on the Clash, and the Sex Pistols too, for that matter.
Steely Dan -- You been tellin' me you're a genius since you were seventeen. In all the time I've known you, I still don't know what you mean.
Fleetwood Mac – What can I say? I’m a sucker for harmonies.
The Affordable Floors -- Ah! The Floors. About every other month or so from the late 80’s to the early 90’s, we went and watched the Floors. Incredible memories from a bunch of talented guys who just couldn’t break out of the Burgh.
What would a Top 25 be without Honorable Mentions ... The Police, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Liz Phair, Simon and Garfunkel, Foo Fighters, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, The Doors, Massive Attack, P.J. Harvey, The New Pornographers, Death Cab for Cutie, E.L.O. and Genesis (up to and including the 1983 “Genesis” album).
What say you? ... what's your list and why?
Perhaps if I could go back and start all over again, I would have instead tried to become a rock journalist.
Like Rob Gordon said, you get lots of free records.
So for those of you like me who are music fans as much as Pitt Sports fans, I offer you the following challenge: put together your list of your OWN favorite rock and roll music artists ever. Use whatever criteria you wish. It's your list.
Back when one still needed an I-pod, mine had over 8,000 songs. My list is pretty much comprised of the artists who filled my catalog the fullest (more or less).
In the spirit of College Football and Hoops ... I offer a Top 25.
If 25 is too many for your to list, go old school and give us your top 20.
Or even top 10. Or maybe just Top 5. Just like Rob Gordon.
Here goes ...
#1 -- R.E.M. – Since 1986, they’ve been my favorite. I’ve seen them 10 times in 8 different venues including Red Rocks in Colorado. And they ended their career perfectly. Three things we have in common? 1. We are young despite the years. 2. We are concern. 3. We are hope despite the times.
The rest of the Top 10 … (not necessarily in any order)
Johnny Marr – I’m cheating a little with this selection, but he’s my single favorite artist, taking his work across so many different bands including Electronic, 7 Worlds Collide, The Cribs, The The, The Healers and even Modest Mouse. Most notably, his work with the Smiths was perfect, and turned the blow-hard Morrissey into a genius.
Radiohead – I was going to take my Son to this show last year for his first official concert. I should have. Sorry I didn’t. Thom Yorke may end up in the conversation of the top 20 or so artists ever.
Elvis Costello – My favorite songwriter. Ever.
Nirvana – I still feel a little sad every time I hear Kurt’s voice.
The Replacements – I saw the Replacements twice, including once at Graffiti standing on the floor about 10 feet from Paul Westerberg. During both shows they seemed relatively sober. Bummer.
The Pixies – Never saw the Pixies. Bummer.
The Pretenders – Chrissy Hynde is my favorite female performer ever. This includes when she rocked out when she was young, then after when she had a kid, turned 33 and became more of a smooth crooner ... Baby!
The Shins – My favorite “Indie Rock” band ever. Period.
New Order – Their catalogue of wonderful singles is completely and incredibly undeniable.
Rounding Out the Top 25 (still not in any real order) ...
The Beatles – No explanation needed. It’s the Beatles.
Neil Young – This one needs no explanation either, whether or not one includes his work with CSNY.
Animal Collective – My favorite band of the last 10 years.
Beastie Boys – Hip Hop is far under represented on my list. There are many pieces I adore, but just not enough from any one artist but the Beasties.
U2 – I attended the concert at 3 Rivers in 1987 with a group that included a young women from Ireland who was in the US on a work visa. She adored U2 and this was the first time she ever saw them live. Perfect.
Led Zeppelin – Any list of top 25 artists without them is illegitimate.
Moby – I’ve seen Moby twice including a concert at the amphitheater in Station Square. The Wife and I danced so much we were literally soaked from head to toe in sweat.
The Connells – This band from North Carolina was always something of a personal favorite. I was fortunate enough to see them 5 times including 4 in the confines of a tiny Graffiti.
The Talking Heads – This was one of the few bands of that era that I actually loved during that era.
Prince – I didn’t really love Prince in the late 70's and the 80's. It took some time. It really came on sometime after 1999.
The Clash – I’m not even sure when I became such a fan of the Clash. But some 40 years later, their sound is as insurgent and exciting as it ever was.
The Jam – The most underrated band of all time, if for no other reason for their influence on the Clash, and the Sex Pistols too, for that matter.
Steely Dan -- You been tellin' me you're a genius since you were seventeen. In all the time I've known you, I still don't know what you mean.
Fleetwood Mac – What can I say? I’m a sucker for harmonies.
The Affordable Floors -- Ah! The Floors. About every other month or so from the late 80’s to the early 90’s, we went and watched the Floors. Incredible memories from a bunch of talented guys who just couldn’t break out of the Burgh.
What would a Top 25 be without Honorable Mentions ... The Police, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Liz Phair, Simon and Garfunkel, Foo Fighters, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, The Doors, Massive Attack, P.J. Harvey, The New Pornographers, Death Cab for Cutie, E.L.O. and Genesis (up to and including the 1983 “Genesis” album).
What say you? ... what's your list and why?
