I’ve been thinking recently about my “favorite bands”. Everyone’s got their top five list, and at least for most folks, this list changes a lot. A year ago, I was listening to Gordon by the Barenaked Ladies and Since We Last Spoke by RJD2 very, very frequently. Perhaps Kaki King’s newest album, Dreaming of Revenge was in there, too. Currently, my top five would include Zero 7’s The Garden, Battles’ Mirrored, and The Rosenberg Trio’s Seresta. But that’s beside the point.
Everyone has their ultimate “favorite bands”. The ones for which you’d throw on ANY album, ANY time, and it’s absolutely fantastic, no matter what. I’ve got two.
The first cassette tape I ever bought (yes, before I owned a CD player) was Bill Withers’s “Greatest Hits” (there are several of these, but this is the one released in 1981 with the roses on the cover, if you’re curious). I’d heard Lean on Me, and I spent $3 of the $20 I had to my name on this tape. It was the best investment of my life. Songs like Just the Two of Us, Lovely Day, and Use Me filled my head over and over and over again.
Three years later, I picked up the guitar for the first time, and by that point, I was into the local rock/alternative radio station. I meandered among Green Day, Everclear, and the like, and finally, I discovered Pearl Jam and absolutely fell in love with it. The guitar work was exactly what I wanted and needed to hear. The lead parts (courtesy of Mike McCready) were something to aspire to, but there were enough rhythm parts (mostly written by and played by Stone Gossard) that were not too tough to play, especially considering the number of songs in Pearl Jam’s 4-album catalogue at the time. Pearl Jam has led me to a fair amount of music, including The Who, Jimi Hendrix (McCready’s idol), Soundgarden, The Stone Temple Pilots, Led-Zeppelin, etc.
When I got to high school, I really got into jazz, since that was the guitar outlet available to me at the time. I went to a Kenny Burrell concert, and that more or less sold it for me. Barney Kessel, Stanley Jordan, Wes Montgomery, Bruce Forman, Tal Farlow, and the list goes on. Jazz guitar continues to be one of my favorite kinds of music. Since then, I’ve grown to enjoy many different types of music, from 90s funk (Jamiroquai) to modern classical (Glass/Reich) to experimental (Zorn) to postrock (Godspeed You! Black Emperor), and the list goes on and on.
However, having enjoyed many, many different styles of music over the last 13 years (and hopefully many more in the years to come), I’ve realized that the majority of my musical influence comes from the first two “favorite bands” I ever had, Bill Withers and Pearl Jam. Two of the bands I play in have a heavy funk/soul feel, and one could make a good argument for the influence of jazz in Bill Withers’s music. And Pearl Jam, is wow, just Pearl Jam. The perfect combination of talent and energy. With most of the bands I started listening to when I was in my alternative music phase, I’ve lost interest because the guitar work is less-inspiring. But everything about Pearl Jam’s music is still just amazing to me. Maybe that’s just because they were one of my first musical loves, but if you ever hand me a Pearl Jam ticket, I will a) take it and b) love you forever. Same goes for Bill Withers, but he’s at least 70 at this point, so I doubt he’s touring anytime soon (though I wish he would).
Say what you will about what your current “favorite bands” are, but I think your tried-and-true (usually the first few) are often the the most telling. I’m just glad mine wasn’t N’Sync. (Though it’s ok if yours was!)
What’re some of your favorites? Have they changed much over time?
Matt
[ comments ] [ past blogs ]
March 20th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
i honestly dont have a favorite band, i have MANY!!
<33
March 20th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
GY!BE are probably the greatest band to ever exist.. in my opinion, of course..
March 20th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
My favorite bands were The Smashing Pumpkins and The Cure. They still are. =)
Pearl Jam is re-releasing Ten with B-sides.
March 20th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
hey im not sure what this is but HEYY
March 20th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
BTTLS all the way
Mirrored is one of the best albums theyve put out so far
March 20th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I think that music is very improtant in my life, haha i listen to it every day when ever i can and how long i can. Umm right now… theres to many to list..hahaha but Jason Mraz, Nickelback, Toby keith, TobyMac, Matchbox 20, Taylor Swift, Creed, Evanescence, Flyleaf- are just a few of my all time favorites atm. I doubt i could live without music.. my life would be so boring cause…well it just would. haha
March 20th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
If you love amazing guitar work check out the link, even if you’re not into metal you have to be impressed.
March 20th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
The link was my name, but in case you missed that…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oipOtikCJQM
March 20th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
well…I like Hedley and Taylor Swift. Actually, scratch out like and put love.GO CANADIANS!!!WOO!
March 20th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
wat is any ones favorite singer mine is probably miley cirus or t.i
wait my favorite favorite is rodney atkins or uncle kracker or sharel crow or kid rock thats probably it wait i can’t forget nickle back peace everyone
March 20th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Favourite song at them moment:
I like chicken I live liver meow-mix meow-mix please deliver. – Austin Powers.
March 20th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
it sounds very funny lol plz postr
March 20th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
yea it does.Signed the emo chick
March 20th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
How awesome to see a fellow Pearl Jam freak on the Interwebs! Pearl Jam is definitely my favorite band, and has been since adolesence. The only thing you left out of your praise of them is their continued and unwavering integrity. Which is your favorite studio album? Definitely No Code for me.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
My favourite band is and will always be Phantom Planet.
They are an amazing indie rock band, similar to popular sounds like Radiohead. I saw them during the Panic At The Disco Honda Civic Tour, where I absolutely fell in love with them. They’re latest album, Raise The Dead, is a concept album and is so completely genius it’s insane. Listen to it a few times and you’ll be able to feel how the music can change to fit your mood. They’re older stuff is awesome too, and probably even a bit catchier, though not as , um, deep.
Since hearing about them, they’ve led me to discover many other ‘underground’ indie bands, such as The Like, Ludo, and The Hush Sound.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
My favorite band has to be Dr. Roctopus and The Nunks, they’re a local band with killer songs and amazing guitarists. You have to see them at The Space on any given weekend!
March 20th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
I like Rock. My Absolute favorite bands are Guns N’ Roses and AC/DC. they are awesome and their songs just Rock!!!!!
March 20th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
thats very nice. i don’t even know you wats up?
March 20th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
my favorite kind of music is alternitive. my favorite band is hawthorn heights and 30 seconds to mars
March 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
lol.I love rap and rock is kkkakes but it is not the best.lol
i think everyone is way over their head somtimes on only likeing rock.lie dif things.!!!meebo me!!
March 20th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
What ever happened to good old fashion American drug music?
March 20th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
My first few must be:
Kamelot, Kreator, Devildriver, Incubus, Epica.
Absolutely love them. But the ultimate favorite from that list has to be Kamelot, Of the 30 or so metal bands I could name, they would always come up first. There’s something about them that just…glues me.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I can always thow on the special (AKAs), desmond dekker, and sublime and be perfectly fine
their style never gets old
and its amazing
March 20th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
hi how are u ?????
March 20th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
KoRn, Rage Against The Machine, System of a Down, MSI (Mindless Self Indulgence), But my absolute favourite is Infected Mushroom, a psychadelic GOA rock band, by Erez Aizen and Amid Duvdevani. Favourite album: Vicious Delicious. And 2nd it’s definetely RATM with RATM in 1992. Tracks like Bombtrack, Killing in the Name, Take the Power Back, Fistful of Steel, Township Rebellion and Bullet in the Head are unforgetable hits in the Rock history. But I prefer Hiphop and Rap aswell. But it gotta be just the same like RAP stand for.. Rhyme and Poetry. So yeah.. Thats my opinion.
Cya;)
March 20th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Radiohead speaks to me like no other music.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Good call on Pearl Jam. They are on the all time best list for sure! Can’t wait to see what they do next.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
We Are Mercenary
FTW
March 20th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Queen, my favorite band of all time, hundreds of hits. And Elton John, and Billy Joel, I also dig meatloaf, oh and styx.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
i really dont listen to that…..but i do listen to like heavy metal and country….stuff like that………..but my fav song is……..danny california…..really good song…(to me it is…heehee!)
March 20th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Any band that writes its own lyrics, is a good band in my honest opinion. Fake bands are so frequent, O HAY IMA SINGING BOUT SOMEONE ELSES FEELINGS AM I SPECIAL OR WUT?
Takes away the meaning when they do that. Im working on singing and writing music, so if i ever get into it, im not gonna be another fake.
~Sic
March 20th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
lol!!!!!!!!
March 20th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I currently am in love with John Legend. I love his voice, his music, it drives me nuts. On the other end of the spectrum, I dig Mexican Polka (known as Banda) I know, i’m crazy, right?
March 20th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
cyhan
March 20th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Hom nay ro chan that day chang biet lam gi vao gio nay ca co le len online phieu luu mot chuyen cho do buon.
March 21st, 2009 at 3:51 am
i like Amira She is my favouite …>> it is me of course
March 21st, 2009 at 4:44 am
Porcupine Tree is a more modern favorite and Yes is my favorite of the oldies (but nothing from the 80’s and beyond).
I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was happy to see people mention Radiohead as well.
March 21st, 2009 at 5:23 am
Owl City!
March 21st, 2009 at 6:36 am
Well u no what u guys?? i really dont care about the bands you like and i dont even care if u hate me or not so, ya!! GeT a LiFe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2009 at 6:38 am
wow…..im not even sure if ive heard of that song before………but the song i love is………i think its called bob o riley……..i think thats what its called all i know is that its by some band called “the who”…….
March 21st, 2009 at 6:40 am
Hands down not even close the greatest band in the world today is…
Between the Buried and Me
March 21st, 2009 at 6:57 am
Well….I have a LOT of Fave Bands…..But My Top Ten Would Be:
1)Kill Hannah
2)Escape The Fate
3)Megadeth
4)Deathstars
5)Devildriver
6)As I Lay Dying
7)Atreyu
8)Dragonforce
9)Slayer
10)The Gazette
March 21st, 2009 at 7:04 am
My favorite band is and will always be Pearl Jam.
greatest band ever!
March 21st, 2009 at 7:14 am
My favorite band has got to be Coheed and Cambria (Yeah, I’m young). But I did grow up around them (two older brothers) and they were SUCH an influence on my kind of music. They will forever be…amazing.
March 21st, 2009 at 7:17 am
Well, the bands that have influenced my most would probably be Metallica and System of a Down. But that’s for my guitar playing. As far as the chiptunes I’ve been writing I was more inspired by the musicians that did the soundtrack for Castlevania’s early titles, and Final Fight III.
March 21st, 2009 at 7:56 am
^ Good call on Porcupine Tree and Yes. However, in my book I could listen to Phish, The Mars Volta and Soul Coughing any day of the week.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am
Metallica, all the way, and Rise against. I’m a very angry person, aren’t I? lmao
March 21st, 2009 at 9:31 am
I like Hannah Montana, Naked Brothers Band, Demi Lovato, the Jo Bros, oops and i almost forgot Miranda Cosgrove……. some lovers arent meant to be thats what everyones telling me (thats her song stay my baby <333)
March 21st, 2009 at 10:16 am
Radiohead all the way
March 21st, 2009 at 10:19 am
i currently am really into these list of SINGERS:
1. Lady Gaga
2.All American Rejects
3.Kris Allen (even though hes justr on american idol)
4.Kanye West!!
5.THE TING TINGS! (HUNNY U KNO ITT)
(oh and to maariana and ladies man last time i checked this isnt a dating website)
March 21st, 2009 at 10:23 am
Three Days Grace. I’ve loved them sense the 3rd grade and I’m entering High school this Fall.
March 21st, 2009 at 10:24 am
Pearl Jam did the exact same thing for me. I wouldn’t say they are my current favorite band, but they led me to a lot of great music, so they would be my ALL TIME favorite band
cheers
scott
March 21st, 2009 at 10:32 am
i would say sublime is definitely my favorite band. i know and love many other bands but none measure up to sublime.
March 21st, 2009 at 10:51 am
linken park is the best
March 21st, 2009 at 11:00 am
Man I have so many but my top favorite band would have to be either Paramore,Flyleaf or Envy On The Coast. It’s hard to decide out of three which one is my number 1 favorite,but I have been listening to paramore since 2005 when they first came out.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:07 am
wow now i have to go back listen to my pearl jam
which i have never stoped listen to them. to me i would rather listen to them then the new stuff cant really get into it
March 21st, 2009 at 11:12 am
ahy everyone
March 21st, 2009 at 11:38 am
fretings and swaring
March 21st, 2009 at 11:40 am
(: Avenged sevenfold , blink-182 ,Pantera , Hollywood undead,Paramore,Three Days Grace, Lady Gaga,All American Rejects, Korn,Taylor Swift, Creed, Evanescence, papa roach , Nickelback (: yeaaa sooonnn ( btw im a girl)
March 21st, 2009 at 11:43 am
I like a band called paramore.they rock. the only thing is i don’t like there newwest song. there more amazing in concert though
March 21st, 2009 at 12:01 pm
im so bor3d plz help
March 21st, 2009 at 12:08 pm
My -FAVORITE- bands are Queen and Metallica, as far as just liking their music goes.
Really surprised I’m only the second person to mention Queen. : O
March 21st, 2009 at 12:43 pm
poop
March 21st, 2009 at 12:44 pm
…LINKIN PARK
March 21st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Best band in the world is U2 ……………………..
March 21st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
There’s a few bands I could throw on and listen to anything from them all day (Battles, Zep, Portugal. The Man) but I agree with you, that my first important favorites are still the most important influences.
First, is Rock en Espanol band Mana. I first heard them when I was in elementary school and that’s when music first cut so far into me. And, being diversely interested, accomplished musicians, the player in that band all include different styles in the band’s sound: rock, new wave, traditional mexican music (mariachi, classical guitars, etc.), salsa, ranchera. The end product is a band with lots and lots of telling influences all blended together great. From there, basically, grew my love for all forms of Latin music. Especially mariachi, son jarocho, and salsa. Mana exposed to styles of music but it would be the next band that opened my face to the emotional storytelling power of good music.
In eleventh grade, The Mars Volta became the best biggest most amazing band in my life. I heard them use slow waltzy rhythms, but they were so heavy and solid it’s like the music was wet with sweat and honey. And then a trumpet soared over it. That was it! It was amazing and that first album I heard, “Frances the Mute”, their second, only got better and sucked me in more. A lot of criticism has pointed out the bandleaders’ self-indulgence, lack of focus, and overall pompous, heady overblownness. But it doesn’t come across that way to me. It’s people blending everything they’ve ever heard into the exact kind of music they want to make. And while their two recent albums haven’t been exactly what I want to hear, I will always respect how their complete self-drivenness (and the DOPENESS of their heavy, sexy latin rock) changed my outlook on listening to and making music.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
players*
March 21st, 2009 at 3:02 pm
My favorite band is Relient K. xP I’m currently obsessed with Paramore, though. Then there’s Thousand Foot Krutch, Flyleaf, and Hey Monday. I have a lot of favorites.
March 21st, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I have to say, great post. I’m glad to know that other poeple like RJD2! I adore him. Anyways, I agree about musical influences. Mine were CAKE, Red Hot Peppers, and the beastie boys. Still are!
March 21st, 2009 at 4:25 pm
hi every body!!!im a female not a male lol
March 21st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Paramore!
Evanescence.
Linkin Park.
Some Scary Kids Scaring Kids is good, too. :]
March 21st, 2009 at 4:40 pm
paramore is pretty cool. also like the red. they pretty much make my day. o and coldplay. ya…..
March 21st, 2009 at 5:04 pm
mine’s third eye blind and eraserheads
March 21st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
my favorite band is Muse! i absolutely adore them!!!! The lead singer/guitarist is wonderful. they can pull of so many things that no other band could
March 21st, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Nirvana. I like mostly ska as a general rule, but I have ALWAYS liked Nirvana, even when I went through a bizarre hair metal stage (a dark spot in my history).
Nirvana is ultimate! Has been since I was a wee little 12 year old.
March 21st, 2009 at 6:52 pm
by far my 2 favorite bands are (and the funny thing is they’re nothing alike) Linkin Park and Pink Floyd
March 21st, 2009 at 7:07 pm
wat kind of name is turtle
March 21st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I love the dead milkmen!! Everyone says they are just a joke band, but pay attention to how they make you feel, and Joe jack talcums guitar solos are so antidramatic
Meebo me
blindlemonalex
March 21st, 2009 at 7:55 pm
A lot: Modest Mouse; Jeff Buckley; The Smiths; Kate Bush; Charles Mingus; K’naan; Jens Lekman and more. I’d say those are my favourites though
March 21st, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Okkervil River is consistently amazing. I also like Mason Proper, Ra Ra Riot, Bishop Allen, Mates of State, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, and a lot of other indie/electro music.
March 21st, 2009 at 8:29 pm
My top 10 fav bands/artists are:
1.Metallica
2.Led Zeppelin
3.Buckethead
4.Black Sabbath(Ozzy)
5.Jimi Hendrix
6.Van Halen
7.AC/DC
8.Disturbed
9.Guns ‘n’ Roses
10.Manowar
As you can see i love METAL!!!! And yes Zeppelin,Van Halen,Sabbath,and Hendrix are DEFFINATLY metal.after all the started it =P
March 21st, 2009 at 8:30 pm
they*
March 21st, 2009 at 8:43 pm
i have no favorite band. my collection(which is about 240 different CD’s) consists of many genres of music. my current favorite song is Handlebars, by The Flobots. followed closely by cold, by ?Static X?. i have some rap and hip-hop, a lot of rock and metal, some screamo, a little country, and one or two classical albums. im a wel-rounded person. I have 12 MP3players(all of them RCA Pearls) full of music and use every single one of them.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Zeppelin is not metal, thank you.
Zeppelin grew from the Yardbirds, i.e. from Rock n’ Roll. They played heavier rock, but that does not mean they’re “metal”. Van Halen and Hendrix are both skilled guitar players, not shredding screaming metal drones.
Message End.
March 21st, 2009 at 10:19 pm
I’m with ya on Pearl Jam
March 21st, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Oh !! Great work . thank you
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 am
Me 1st and the GImme Gimmies?
1. DJ Shadow – Entroducing
2. DJ P and Z-Trip – Uneasylistening
3. Offspring – Smash
4. Green Day – Dookie
5. Sublime – any album
6. Stone Temple Pilots – Core
7. Alice In Chains – any album
8. De La Soul – 3ft high and rising
9. Beastie Boys – any album
10.RJD2 – take your pick
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:12 am
Just an FYI (coming from a Grammar Freak!), in your third paragraph, you wrote in:
“I’ve heard Lean On Me, and spent $3 of of”
I’m not sure if that’s supposed to say “out of” or just “of”…but just an FYI.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:29 am
niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice ,ma fav band “nikelback” i love him the scorpions tooooooooooooooooo
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:30 am
oups i wrotte my email wron this one is right loooooooool
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:45 am
well i just love all the last generation music. Grateful Dead, Widespred Panic, Pink Floyd, Phish, RatDog, ect. makes me seperate from the rest of the school knowing i’m the only student there that has listened or even heard of David Byrne and the Talking Heads.
cool man..
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:52 am
How can you have just one favorite band!?! I have many. but mainly Avenged Sevenfold, MCR, The Misfits, Iron Maiden, and The Used
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:31 am
1. Coldplay (i absolutely love them)
2. Kings of Leon
3. Friendly Fires
4. MGMT
5. Vampire Weekend
I like the arctic monkeys too.
xox
Loads of people think Coldplay are uncool but i dont listen to music to be cool. I listen to the music i like. I ABOSOLUTELY LOVE COLDPLAY! I think everyone likes at least one of their songs. There a good band… good songs, nice voices, they play good and they never sing about shagging girls, drugs or violence! WOOP!
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:32 am
Oh my God.
I’m a 90s child — CHILD, I tell you! So I fell victim to the ridiculous pop sensations like N*Sync and Christina and etc. etc. (Although, I hated Backstreet Boys with passion.)
Three years ago, I then decided that Led Zeppelin is the greatest band that I had ever came across in my lifetime. Hahaha, I am certain that them being my favorite band of all time would never change. =D
What a weird musical journey… @_@
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 am
My favorite band is Slipknot, they have been for about 2 years now. They are one of the few bands that actually progressively got better musically as their albums came out. from their second cd to VOL. 3 is the best example of how after cleaning yourself up from an alcohol addiction you can make great music.
There are other great genres out there that are very musical besides hardcore and metal. but few actually use classical chord progressions and theory! going from being a huge fan of linkin park in my middle school years to loving more complex metal I realize that after I learned more music theory I couldnt go back to listening to something that was musically DULL.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:52 pm
its kind of amusing to see how utterly disgusting some of these people’s taste in music are. country? emoslayerdeathmetalwhatever? disney?? oh please.
the national, radiohead, lykke li, metric, feist, bat for lashes, yeah yeah yeahs, santogold, m83, stars, kings of convenience… that is called real music my friends
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:14 pm
i love Backstreet Boys!!!!!
March 25th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
thanks for getting rid of “– via meebo” from the default away msgs
April 15th, 2009 at 3:53 am
wer kann deutsch ich kann lehmsim kein engliosch
April 17th, 2009 at 6:01 am
hey
i really like meebo but i would like that meebo allows a group convo on the msn please and also more emoticons as i really like using dem
thank you
also can you please not put available via meebo in the staus bit please
thanks