Monday, April 27, 2009

Top 25 Artists/Bands of All-Time

I felt like I needed to redo this one because I half-assed the first one. I am also putting their best album and song with the band.

25. Arcade Fire                       
Best Album: Funeral Best Song: Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
24. Red Hot Chili Peppers   
Best Album: Californication Best Song: Fight Like A Brave
23. Sigur Ros                     
Best Album: Agaetis Byrjun       Best Song: Olsen Olsen
22. Bob Marley                      
 Best Album: Catch A Fire    Best Song: No Woman, No Cry (Live)
21. Dave Matthews Band    
Best Album: Crash Best Song: Lie in Our Graves
20. U2 (I hate Bono Though)                                    
Best Album: The Joshua Tree Best Song: Sunday Bloody Sunday
19. The Smiths                       
Best Album: The Queen is Dead  Best Song: Bigmouth Strikes Again 
18. The Beach Boys               
Best Album: Pet Shop Sounds   Best Song: God Only Knows
17. The Flaming Lips          
Best Album: The Soft Bulletin         Best Song: Do You Realize?
16. The Doors                          
Best Album: Strange Days         Best Song: L.A. Woman
15. Nirvana                              
Best Album: Nevermind         Best Song: Smells Like Teen Spirit 
14. Metallica                           
Best Album: Master of Puppets        Best Song: One
13. Modest Mouse                  
Best Album: The Moon and Antarctica    Best Song: Cowboy Dan
12. Sonic Youth                      
Best Album: Daydream Nation        Best Song: Teen Age Riot
11. Bob Dylan                           
Best Album: Blonde on Blonde          Best Song: Like A Rolling Stone
10. Billy Joel                             
Best Album: Piano Man              Best Song: Piano Man
9. The Who                                
Best Album: Who's Next             Best Song: Baba O'Riley 
8. Jimi Hendrix                        
Best Album: Electric Ladyland   Best Song: All Along The Watchtower
7. The Beatles                           
Best Album: Revolver               Best Song: Eleanor Rigby 
6. The Pixies                             
Best Album: Surfer Rosa                Best Song: Where is My Mind?
5. Neil Young                            
Best Album: On The Beach             Best Song: Cortez the Killer
4. The Rolling Stones             
Best Album: Sticky Fingers          Best Song: Sympathy For The Devil
3. Pink Floyd                            
Best Album: Dark Side of the Moon     Best Song: Comfortably Numb
2. Radiohead                           
Best Album: OK Computer                Best Song: Paranoid Android 
1. Led Zeppelin                           
Best Album Led Zeppelin IV               Best Song: Stairway to Heaven



Featured Artist: Bat For Lashes

Bat For Lashes

Bat For Lashes is a one-woman music machine based on the originality and sophistication of Natasha Khan of Brighton, England. In 2006 she broke on to the indie scene with her experimental album Fur and Gold, which she wrote working as a nursery school teacher, and won over many critics right away. It even earned her a nomination for the Mercury Prize in 2007, which is awarded to the best album from an artist from the UK or Ireland. However, the album did win her the prestigious ASCAP Vanguard Award and a showcase at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin Texas the same year. Her sound has been compared to that of the experimentalism of Bjork, the natural voice of Stevie Nicks, and the musical structure of Fleetwood Mac. All of these being fair comparisons, nevertheless her new album Two Suns, which was released earlier this month, has set her on a new plane. It is filled to the ceiling with great lyrics, harmonies and original compositions, not to mention debuted at #5 on the UK charts. Two Suns drew compliments from the likes of Thom Yorke, M.I.A., and Bjork.  With Two Suns, Khan has been able to establish herself as one of the top female artist writing and preforming music right now. The album has been the stand-out album of the year for me so far. She is most definitely worth a listen and I expect big things out of her in the future. 

Songs to check out:
-Horse and I
-Prescilla
-Daniel
-Pearl's Dream

Monday, April 6, 2009

Featured Artist: Blonde Redhead



Blonde Redhead

Blonde Redhead is a trio that contains Montreal-transplanted twin brothers Amedeo and Simone Pace and Japanese-born Kazu Makino. They formed in 1993 in New York City after meeting each other by chance. Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley produced their self-titled debut album which was well received in the NYC underground music scene. After numerous albums they released their 6th album and breakout album Misery Is A Butterfly in 2004. This album featured a new sound that was more refined and it hit big on the indy music scene. After the break away from their previous elusive, distorted prog-rock sound that was compared to Sonic Youth meets Joy Division, they were able to gain popularity world-wide. Their new creative melodies are quite rhythmic and enjoyable. In 2007 their latest album, 23, was released and gained critical acclaim. By the way Blonde Redhead also play songs in Japanese, Italian and French. I thoroughly enjoy these guys, whether its before their transformation or after. 

Songs to check out:
-23
-Falling Man
-Dr. Strangluv
-Spring and by Summer Fall