Top Ten Favorite Bands Of All Time (Subject to Change)

[Spatula]

I was in a High Fidelity mood, so this thread was originally titled "Top Five All Time Desert Islands," but then five wasn't enough. My moods change, so with my moods goes my favorite bands. Although, there are a few that will always claim the right spots. This thread can be a great way to find new music, to see how much in common us at E-mpire have, and I'm sure some constructive criticism would be nice as long as it doesn't get out of hand...Your top ten favorite bands and why (I only provided a why on my top five)--ready, go!

1. Gruvis Malt (http://www.gruvismalt.com)-- The self-proclaimed inventors of Futurock, a combination of rap and rock. Gruvis Malt started with a funky feel and slowly progressed into what they are now, which is utterly indescribable. My favorite band of all time.

2. Rage Against the Machine (http://www.ratm.com)-- The first "real" band (aside from Weird Al Yankovic tapes and the Ghostbuster's theme song) that I ever got involved in listening to. Rage Against the Machine opened me up to all types of music, and Renegades taught me to respect rap.

3. Solex (http://www.solex.net)-- Elizabeth Esselink of Solex was my first crush. Her act also happens to be my favorite indie band, with Film School grabbing a close second. Her lyrics aren't the best to read, though.

4. Pink Floyd (http://www.pinkfloyd.com)-- Before I knew what music was, my father would play Pink Floyd, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and John Lee Hooker on car trips. He'd make a game out of it, and I'd get something special if I could guess who it was. I forget what I got if I won, but I would always get Pink Floyd songs right. The Wall is a masterpiece within itself--both the movie and the album.

5. Phish (http://www.phish.com)-- I don't much think that Phish should be in my top five, but I do think that it deserves more recognition than a top ten...they are the jam band that fans flocked to when Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead died (even though the Grateful Dead kept playing). They are also my first experience with concerts, and provide me with hours upon hours of live music to love and enjoy.


In No Particular Order:

6. Film School/Nyles Lannon

7. Beck

8. The Mars Volta

9. Jeff Tweedy/Wilco

10. John Lennon

Honorable mentions: Del tha Funkee Homosapien, The Pixies, Radiohead, Sublime, The Decemberists, !!!, Blackalicious, The White Stripes, Pavement, Modest Mouse.

[Coded-Dude]

BEATLES & NIRVANA & THE DOORS would be 3 on my list; and I don't really have time to think about all 10 right now!

[Gopherchux]

It's really hard to pick a top ten, but I'll at least list ten of my favorites in no order, not necessarily being my top ten.

1. Cake- I remember back in elementary school I had a little radio headset, and when my parents put me to bed I would secretly listen to it. I mainly used it to listen to "Sex Talk" or whatever that radio show was. But before it came on there was obviously music. Cake's "The Distance" always stuck with me, and about a year ago I found "Fashion Nugget" at the thrift store. Since then I've bought all 5 of their albums. I can't get enough of their alt-country sarcastic rockness.

2. The Mars Volta- My friend let me listen to the improv guitar solo on "Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt" and I was instantly hooked. One of the most musically experimental bands I listen to. Extremely unique. To describe them, they have a latin pshycadelic/prog rock vibe beamed directly from the far side of venus.

3. Atom & His Package- Atom (Adam Goren) and His Package (a QY70 synthesizer) is, well, different. He somehow fell under the punk category, but doesn't quite fit. I downloaded a few songs after a friends recommendation. It's like this: a chubby guy with a high pitched voice blaring over a synthesizer with humorous, sometimes political lyrics.

4. Reggie & The Full Effect- A group of friends and I once spent an entire weekend listening to two songs. Dashboard Confessional's "Screaming Infidelities", and Reggie & The Full Effect's "Mood 4 Luv". Reggie is a solo act from James Dewees, the keyboardist from The Get Up Kids. He's amazing. Sometimes pop, sometimes metal, sometimes electro, sometimes drunk girl commentary. He's recently gained some popularity, but has been around a while.

5. Modest Mouse- I liked "Float On" so I picked up "Good News For People Who Love Bad News". However, that is now my least favorite album of theirs. I'd rather listen to their 1993 demo tapes and early sessions any day. I actually enjoy everything they've written, but their most recent album lacks something.

6. At The Drive-In- Found them by listening to The Mars Volta. They're incredible.

7. Pavement- Introduced to them by my uncle. They're fantastic. "Range Life" is definitely one of my all time favorite songs.

8. The White Stripes- Jack White is genius.

9. Bright Eyes- Why didn't I mention him earlier. Anyone can bash crying music all they want. If you do, you're just afraid to get personal with music... and Conor Oberst. Amazingly meaningful lyrics, great folky and/or electric music style, besides, it's Bright Eyes. Seriously.

10. This will be honorable mentions for me: Beck, !!!, Queen, AC/DC, Led Zep, RHCP, AFI, Andrew WK, etc.

Darn, there's too many to list.

EDIT: Spatula, I think I saw Blackalicious when they opened for Yellowcard several years ago. They weren't too great in my opinion, and actually got all but booed off stage. But other than that, I didn't know you liked !!!. Have you picked up "Take Ecstacy With Me" yet?

[Jesus]

1. AC/DC - Don't me none of that Brian Johnson shit. But anything from bfore Back in Black is awesome. Bon Scott's toilet poetry, The Young Brothers just pounding away with the riffs and bluesy solos and produced by Harry Vanda and Big brother George. Doesn't get much Better.

2. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Quite possibly the greatest blues act of all time. The type of band I'd want to be in if everyone didn't have an ego. A rhythm section happy to just pot along and play 12,8,32-bar blues and let me go off and do my own thing.

3. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Before he became Americanized on Chase a burn. Back when the Wailers were doing their real"riddim" work and were playing it all. One Album could be ska and the next album could be roots and reggae. Always backed by an awesome drum and the most happening skank bass around.

4. Children of Bodom - One of my favourite Heavy Metal Acts. Lyric wise they aren't amazing but they still hold it together. But Alexi Laiho is the ultimate shredder. But he's also the singer, So he's up there absolutly setting the board on fire and singing at the same time. Yngwie ha nothing on Alexi.

5. Pink Floyd - Again not there later stuff. Absolute cut off is the Final Cut if not before. I loved Syd's physchedalia work. Piper at the Gates of Dawn is one of the greatest albums ever. Atom Mother Heart was great too but Piper has its number all over the place. Dave Gilmour got a little jealous of Syd me thinks.

6. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Forget everything people say about virtuoso's. Frank Zappa's solo work, fuck. He could play everything from Free form Jazz, to Reggae to Shred Metal and it was all at the same amazing standard. People say Satch and Steve Vai and the like are the greatest guitar players who just get up there and go off on their own tangent of wicked music. Well Zappa was doing it before they were born. He also had a strange mssed a head and wrote the querest lyrics ever. I prolly should have put him at number 2.

7. Robert Johnson - The original blues man. When he was a boy Ehaniriam James (Skip James) was the big blues man who was making everyone sit up and listen to what he was playing. He told Robert Johnson he was shite. So Robert went off and sold his soul and when he came back he was writing music so good everyone was blown away. Definatley the king of Delta Slide.

8. Eric Clapton (Cream) - The original power trio. Even before Hendrix was proper around. These boys were just awesome. Hard riffs, powerful chords, Pounding drums and solo's that still rock out today. If Ginger Baker didn't go and cry about the noise these boys would have killed Hendrix at Woodstock, but alas Ginger's ears blew up from being too close to Claptons Amps.

9. The Jimi Hendrix Experiance - Again should be higher but didn't fit in. Jimi Hendrix's playing wasn't new but it was somthing people hadn't seen properly. A black acid dropper that played electric physco blues. His lyrics were masterpieces and his solo's on most songs were too. His "Blues" Album is probably my favourite where he plays Mannish Bloues and Catfish Blues and his 7 minute rendition of Born Under a Bad Sign. A Genious.

10. Other People - Canned Heat, Ten Cent Shooters, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliffe, The Stray Cats and the Steve Miller Band.

[Fiend]

1) AFI - Punk influenced, and dark. I love Davey Havok's lyrics mixed with Jade's melodic writing abilities. They've been my favorite band for over 3 years now.
2) The Cure - Robert Smith writes some amazingly beautiful songs. He writes great pop melodies, and combines them with some pretty dark moods and lyrics.
3) Skinny Puppy - These guys are one of the most influential "industrial" bands. Their live shows are amazing and unforgettable.
4) Bauhaus - They created the first "goth" song, Bela Lugosi's Dead. They inspired and influenced countless of bands. I love Peter Murphy's voice, and they covered David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust flawlessly. Some even like the Bauhaus version of Ziggy Stardust over Bowies', and I'm one of those people myself.
5) Dope Stars Inc. - These guys are new into the industrial rock genre, and it only took one song of theirs to get me hooked on them.
6) Interpol - Great, dark, melodic songs. A band to listen to when you're in a mellow mood.
7) The Misfits - Awesome punk band. Horror images and chugging punk riffs. Influenced countless of punk and metal bands. Danzig, although cocky, has a kick ass voice.
8) The Smiths/Morrissey (I know I'm cheating, but I'm sure you can forgive me) - I LOVE Morrissey's voice.
9) Tiger Army - Nick 13 has a nice voice. Pyschobilly and Punk influenced, they are melodic, fast, and catchy.
10) Cursive - The Ugly Organ is a spectacular album. It stayed in my CD player for over 2 weeks. I had to force myself to take it out for fear of killing it.

[Spatula]

It's really hard to pick a top ten, but I'll at least list ten of my favorites in no order, not necessarily being my top ten.

1. Cake- I remember back in elementary school I had a little radio headset, and when my parents put me to bed I would secretly listen to it. I mainly used it to listen to "Sex Talk" or whatever that radio show was. But before it came on there was obviously music. Cake's "The Distance" always stuck with me, and about a year ago I found "Fashion Nugget" at the thrift store. Since then I've bought all 5 of their albums. I can't get enough of their alt-country sarcastic rockness.

2. The Mars Volta- My friend let me listen to the improv guitar solo on "Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt" and I was instantly hooked. One of the most musically experimental bands I listen to. Extremely unique. To describe them, they have a latin pshycadelic/prog rock vibe beamed directly from the far side of venus.

3. Atom & His Package- Atom (Adam Goren) and His Package (a QY70 synthesizer) is, well, different. He somehow fell under the punk category, but doesn't quite fit. I downloaded a few songs after a friends recommendation. It's like this: a chubby guy with a high pitched voice blaring over a synthesizer with humorous, sometimes political lyrics.

4. Reggie & The Full Effect- A group of friends and I once spent an entire weekend listening to two songs. Dashboard Confessional's "Screaming Infidelities", and Reggie & The Full Effect's "Mood 4 Luv". Reggie is a solo act from James Dewees, the keyboardist from The Get Up Kids. He's amazing. Sometimes pop, sometimes metal, sometimes electro, sometimes drunk girl commentary. He's recently gained some popularity, but has been around a while.

5. Modest Mouse- I liked "Float On" so I picked up "Good News For People Who Love Bad News". However, that is now my least favorite album of theirs. I'd rather listen to their 1993 demo tapes and early sessions any day. I actually enjoy everything they've written, but their most recent album lacks something.

6. At The Drive-In- Found them by listening to The Mars Volta. They're incredible.

7. Pavement- Introduced to them by my uncle. They're fantastic. "Range Life" is definitely one of my all time favorite songs.

8. The White Stripes- Jack White is genius.

9. Bright Eyes- Why didn't I mention him earlier. Anyone can bash crying music all they want. If you do, you're just afraid to get personal with music... and Conor Oberst. Amazingly meaningful lyrics, great folky and/or electric music style, besides, it's Bright Eyes. Seriously.

10. This will be honorable mentions for me: Beck, !!!, Queen, AC/DC, Led Zep, RHCP, AFI, Andrew WK, etc.

Darn, there's too many to list.

EDIT: Spatula, I think I saw Blackalicious when they opened for Yellowcard several years ago. They weren't too great in my opinion, and actually got all but booed off stage. But other than that, I didn't know you liked !!!. Have you picked up "Take Ecstacy With Me" yet?
Your list inspired me with all of the bands that I loved and forgot to mention, so I had to edit my list a little bit. The Mars Volta replaced Blackalicious, and a few more were added to my honorable mentions.

Talk to me sometime on AIM if you can (TehHebrew) and I'll have to send you Blazing Arrow, an amazing album by Blackalicious. I've heard that they've cleaned up their live act, recently performed to a sold-out show in Berkeley along with Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and a few other acclaimed rappers.

I haven't had a chance to pick up the new !!!, but I plan to as soon as the Border's nearby gets them up. Is it any good?

Doesy--I guessed that you would put down every single one of those artists but Children of Bodom, that came out of nowhere. Still, guess who knooooows your musical interessssssssstsss?

(Me).

[Blaksmoke]

Wow. I never realized that there are people on this board who have as much appreciation for the same type of music I do. Bob Marley, Modest Mouse, Rage, AFI, and almost everything else listed are stuff I really like. I'm also amazed that there are people on this board who not only know who Blackalicious are, but actaully like them. Incredible. Blazing Arrow is the second-best underground rap album ever made, only behind Talib Kweli's Quality. Release is one of the most poetic songs ever written in the history of music.

As for a Top Ten, there's no way in hell I could do one of those, but I can give you some names that haven't already been mentioned...

The Who
Saul Williams
Parliament
Stanley Clarke
Sly and the Family Stone
Anything Michael Jackson has done before 1988
Opeth
Umphrey's McGee
Marcus Miller
Victor Wooten
Brian Bromberg
Joanna Newsom
Paul Simon

Also film soundtracks. Anything from John Williams or Howard Shore.

[Spatula]

Victor Wooten > Life.

Release is incredible because ZDLR joined up in it, I don't think anyone else has ever had a voice like he does. Perfect for the part. I was surprised to when I found out that a lot of our members are into quality music--I think Gilly is into the Bravery, too, which is a great band.

[Fiend]

Hey Blacksmoke, Opeth is amazing. I just picked up Ghost Reveries, and it's just awesome. I liked them before, but I only had downloaded songs from them.

[Gopherchux]

wow, I remember seeing The Bravery's video for "Unconditional" on The Dive like over a year ago. I thought it was awesome. Their album is spectacular. It's like The Killers, but darker.

and Spatula, the new !!! is two covers lasting about 14 minutes total. They go for a more pop sound and it works pretty well. They still keep their dancy beat. I hardly ever get on AIM, but if I do, I'll add you to my list.

Fiend, I believe AFI is the actual band that got me into the music scene. I picked up Sing The Sorrow and couldn't stop buying CDs after that. To go off topic a little bit, I saw them at Warped Tour several years ago, and went by their booth to pick up an album. I told the guy I wanted "Answer That..." and he said, "nah man, you'd like this one more". He sold me "The Art Of Drowning" which is still a great record, but it only delayed me from getting "Answer That..." which is for sure my all time favorite AFI album. Since when did merch guys recommend replacements for buyers? Oh well. Oh, and props for the Interpol and Cursive.

[Boggy700]

Oh boy, another list!

*ahem*

1 - Radiohead
The first band I ever got into.
And what an introduction into music!

2 - DJ Shadow
I just got the Deluxe Edition of his first album 'Endtroducing...' and I have rediscovered why I love the album all over again.
Granted, this happens each time I listen to it, but this time, more than I ever remember.
Deeply atmospheric, while not abandoning the catchiness of it's Hip-Hop soul.
These songs don't need to be half an hour long to be grand, they pack enough density into a few minutes to... be very dense and rich with atmosphere.
I'll stop now.

3 - Boards Of Canada
The most familiar music from imaginary memories.
It's Hi8 home movies of a dreamlike childhood.

4 - Daedelus
Where did all the fun music go?
Daedelus rescued it and melted it into toffee.

5 - cLOUDDEAD
As far as I know, Dose one has never set a verbal foot wrong, in spite of his poetic lyricism.
As far as I know, no one could ever step up and match the flow of Dose One, oh look, I'm wrong, 'Why?' did it.
As far as I know, show off faux-clever style-defficient musicians all lack the abstract tracks of Odd Nosdam.
As far as I know, though often endevours stand up to catch the ball called 'Original' only cLOUDDEAD can catch twenty-three with which they juggle with ease.

6 - Beck
The 'Midas touch' should be renamed to the 'Beck tou-' oh forget it, I can't top that last one.
Beck is great, and everybody knows it.

7 - Ra
It's a violent sound without resorting to violence.
It's attractive unattractiveness.
It's so COOL.
http://www.raspage.com
(Enter > Videos > "Ev.Panic")

8 - Fantomas
The darkest fun I can think of.
It's crazy in a great way.

9 - Prefuse 73
Glitch-Hop-Electronica greatness!
I don't know if he could be called a 'pioneer' or not, but he sure sounds like it.

10 - Amon Tobin
Energetic electric Jazz?
Drill 'n' Bass?
Cinematically large Electronica?
Call it what you will, it's a lot of cool packed into too few songs.

[Spatula]

Cursive and Pinback should be on my list somewhere. I love Amon Tobin, too. Have you ever seen him live?

[Crow]

1. The White Stripes
2. Beck
3. Nirvana
4. Gorillaz
5. The Verve
6. Oasis
7. Velvet Revolver
8. Foo Fighters
9. H.I.M.
10. Queens Of The Stone Ages

[Boggy700]

I love Amon Tobin, too. Have you ever seen him live?

Nope, but I've got an mp3 of him live with Kid Koala, which I like.
I've never actually been to any live shows, and I ran out of hard drive space before I got the chance to fill it with videos of them.

[Fiend]

Fiend, I believe AFI is the actual band that got me into the music scene. I picked up Sing The Sorrow and couldn't stop buying CDs after that. To go off topic a little bit, I saw them at Warped Tour several years ago, and went by their booth to pick up an album. I told the guy I wanted "Answer That..." and he said, "nah man, you'd like this one more". He sold me "The Art Of Drowning" which is still a great record, but it only delayed me from getting "Answer That..." which is for sure my all time favorite AFI album. Since when did merch guys recommend replacements for buyers? Oh well. Oh, and props for the Interpol and Cursive.
That's pretty awesome. The Art of Drowning is much better than Answer That and Stay Fashionable in my opinion. Answer That and Stay Fashionable is just plain old punk, so I guess I love their newer stuff better, because the songs have better structure, they're longer, and the lyrics are leagues ahead of their earlier days.

And yeah, Interpol and Cursive are great bands.

I forgot to do my honorable mentions, so here they are: Against Me!, Alkaline Trio, At the Gates, The Faint, and Send More Paramedics.

[Gopherchux]

Ya, AFI's sound has definitely changed since they started. I think I like the playful humor from their punk days though. Especially "Cereal Wars" and "High
School Football Hero". But it's all opinion.

[Ihsiin]

Fourteen. In alphabetical order.

Anathema (http://www.anathema.ws/) (old)
Burzum (http://www.burzum.org)
Children of Bodom (http://www.cobhc.com/)
Darkflight (http://www.darkflight.net/)
Fall of the Grey-Winged One (http://www.nulll-void.com/svc/)
Mayhem (http://www.thetruemayhem.com/) (old)
My Dying Bride (http://www.mydyingbride.org/)
Nile (http://www.nile-catacombs.net/)
Paradise Lost (http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/) (old)
Skepticism (http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=5222)
Sunn O))) (http://www.ideologic.org/)
Thergothon (http://nikoskorpio.net/musick/?id=thergothon)
Trollmann av Ildtoppberg (http://www.return.to/trollmann)
While Heaven Wept (http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=2228)

[Ravster]

Havent thought of a top ten just yet, but Linkin Park is definitely up there!

[Jesus]

Did Kid Koala do that song that was like on Triple J ever 10 minutes and went

" Some of my friends sell records
Some of my Friends sell Drugs "

[Gilly]

Wow. Tough.

Weezer
Queen
Beastie Boys
The Beatles
Beach Boys
The Academy Is...
Steve Miller Band
Jay-Z
Motion City Soundtrack
Led Zeppelin

Honorable Mentions: AC/DC, The Offspring, Black Sabbath, RATM, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Dashboard Confessional, Death Cab for Cutie, U2, Coldplay, Bright Eyes, Bloc Party, Anberlin, AFI, and I know this one's gonna take a lotta heat, but I gotta say I considered Green Day. I love all their stuff from 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours to American Idiot.

And I do like the Bravery. In fact, I listened to their entire album for the first time in months yesterday when I was cleaning my room.

EDIT: How the hell did I forget Queen when I first made this! Damn. That was dumb.

[Spatula]

Nope, but I've got an mp3 of him live with Kid Koala, which I like.
I've never actually been to any live shows, and I ran out of hard drive space before I got the chance to fill it with videos of them.
Kid Koala friggen rocks. If you ever get a chance to, you should definitely see an Amon Tobin show. They're either incredible or a let down, but I'd take that chance.

Handsome Boy Modeling School makes me cream.

[Dark_Cloud]

In no p[articular order:

Red Hot Chili Peppers
System of a Down
The Offspring
Stone Temple Pilots
The Killers
Tool
Sparta
Deltron
Cake
Modest Mouse

Those are just really my favorite bands at the moment. I had to leave out all the legends like Bob Marley, Nirvana, Sublime, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Phish, Bob Dylan, etc, etc. There is just not enough room to include the legendary bands that everyone likes.

[Kliq]

Mine (which I will probably get bashed for)

This is my current list:


The All-American Rejects

Weezer

Sugarcult

The Killers

The Click Five

YellowCard (new album january 24)

Fall Out Boys

Cold Play

My Chemical Romance

Maroon 5 (would have been on the top a few months ago, but I listened to their stuff too much)

Bloc Party


Fav rappers

Eminem
Jay Z

[Spatula]

Mine (which I will probably get bashed for)

This is my current list:


The All-American Rejects

Weezer

Sugarcult

The Killers

The Click Five

YellowCard (new album january 24)

Fall Out Boys

Cold Play

My Chemical Romance

Maroon 5 (would have been on the top a few months ago, but I listened to their stuff too much)

Bloc Party


Fav rappers

Eminem
Jay Z
You're like a male teeny-bopper. Nothing wrong with that, though. All the love to everyone.

[Jesus]

Is there such thing as a male teeny-bopper?

[Fiend]

Is there such thing as a male teeny-bopper?
Yes, there are many many many out there.

[Kliq]

Hmm, I just listen to what I'm in the mood for.

[Boggy700]

Did Kid Koala do that song that was like on Triple J ever 10 minutes and went

" Some of my friends sell records
Some of my Friends sell Drugs "

That wasn't him, but I know the song you're talking about because I heard it on the radio, listened through the next few songs until they said what it was so I could download it.
It is 'Transplants - Gangsters And Thugs'


Kid Koala friggen rocks. If you ever get a chance to, you should definitely see an Amon Tobin show. They're either incredible or a let down, but I'd take that chance.

Handsome Boy Modeling School makes me cream.

Well I'll be a college student next year, so I guess it's my DUTY to go to shows!

[Gopherchux]

The Mars Volta appears on Handsome Boy Modeling School's song "A Day In The Life". Wow.