Before uploading a podcast (which is coming very soon), I think you all should know the type of music I enjoy. But seeing as how I could go on forever, I have decided to reduce my entire music collection to my 5 favorite artists. It wasn’t very easy – and it’s even harder to rank them. So I won’t. I hope you enjoy the fruit of my labors.
MY MORNING JACKET: Soaring vocals drenched in reverb
You know you’ve discovered one of your favorite bands when you stop listening to the rest of your music collection. That’s what the first note of Jim James’ amazing voice made me do. My Morning Jacket is the inspiration for the name of my blog, so I will share with you the song whose title I ripped off.
BUILT TO SPILL: Epic guitar band with melodies to match
Initially unimpressed with some mp3′s I downloaded, I let Built to Spill collect dust on my harddrive for several months. Then one fateful day I decided to buy Perfect From Now On after finding nothing else appealing at Rasputin. Next thing I knew, I was buying everything they released and thought that all other music sucked. No joking, they are that good. I saw them live at Slim’s on June 22 and they blew me away. They played ridiculously epic versions of “Untrustable” and “Broken Chairs.” I leave you with the studio recording of the former. Enjoy!
OKKERVIL RIVER: Lyrics as beautiful as the instrumentation
One of my more recent finds, Okkervil River has quickly moved up the ranks of my favorite bands. The focal point of the music is the lyrics, which, though they range from heartbreaking to murderous, are always excellent. If this seems contradictory, just listen to these two songs.
RADIOHEAD: The original innovators
Radiohead is the band that started my love affair with music. Senior year of high school my friend introduced me to them. I remember the first time I heard “Fake Plastic Trees.” It was incredible. I’m sure that you all know and love Radiohead, but on the off chance that this is your first exposure, I’ll start you off where I began.
SUN KIL MOON: Heartbreaking, yet uplifting nostalgia
Despite having only one proper album to their name, Sun Kil Moon still makes my top 5 because Ghosts of the Great Highway is one of my favorite records of all time. I bought it with a gift certificate my ex-roommate Joel gave me for my birthday (I hope he enjoys the shout out). Beautiful, uplifting music that at the same time breaks your heart. So few bands can pull it off successfully. I hope you like it as much as I do.
MWM wrote:July 15, 2006
These excellent bands barely missed the cut: The National, Songs: Ohia, Iron & Wine, and Ryan Adams.
Eugene Gordin wrote:July 16, 2006
Wow I’m not sure I could narrow my list down to five. Well done and awesome choices.
Nicole wrote:December 1, 2008
I trust In Your sense Of music.
I dont know 3 of these bands so I am going to look up some songs and read about them so I can understand there music a little more.