Top 20 Artists

20. The Herbaliser

Is the vocalist male or female? Smooth, distinctive; Idiosyncratic instrumentals, and yes, Hip-Hop with an often dark comic wit. Intriguing free style homoerotic spoken word poetry over 60’s coffeehouse backgrounds. Listen to "A Mother For Your Mind," or "Hardcore."

19. Béla Fleck

When was the last time you heard classical music convincingly played on a banjo? Don't laugh until you sample some of this man’s terrifically inspired interpretations.

18. Coldplay

Yeah, I know they’re commercial. Fuck you very much. However, they’re GOOD. Forget “Yellow.” Listen to “We Never Change.” You'll hear the best of Dave Matthews without all of his quirky vocal BS. This is good stuff.

17. Ryan Adams

Sang with Whiskytown. Sometimes lightly raspy vocals over well thought guitar pop-rock. Excellent voice. This guy is a songwriter who also happens to sing well. Reminiscent of Pete Holsapple’s role in the dB’s. Excellent.

16. Starsailor

Think Radiohead but less experimental. Sort of plaintive high pitched vocals with deep, encrypted lyrics. Moody, provocative. Very, very sad.

15. Zero7

Great soulful female vocals. Dark, moody. Listen to "Distractions" if you need to sample first.

14. Yo La Tengo

Translates basically to, “I have it.” Peaceful, harmless, non-threatening thinking man’s music. Elegant harmonies coupled with weird buzzy guitar feedback. Trippy and psychedelic at times, mournful and full of soul other times. Contrast “Spec Bebop” with “Stockholm Syndrome.”

13. Blind Melon

Forget “No Rain.” Just forget it ok? I know, I know, I know, they’re over, they’re old school grunge, but they’re still with me. Every time I think of Shannon Hoon dying of a drug overdose I curse his wretched fucking name. What a waste. Put on “Toes Across the Floor” and set it to “repeat” for an hour. Close your eyes and feel his pain. You'll get it.

12. Cactus World News

Old Irish band that doesn't exist anymore. They came out about the same time as U2 and I still can't get over them. They have a dark mysticism reminiscent of vary early U2, but they sound nothing like them. Try “Cashen Bay Strand” or “State of Emergency.” The guitar literally cries. Very moving male vocals.

11. Aimee Mann

You know this woman from other sources but have you stopped and really listened to the “Magnolia” soundtrack? Try “Wise Up.” If this song doesn't mean anything to you then you first need to be bitch-slapped, and then you need more recreational pharmaceuticals.

10. Brian Jonestown Massacre
Hypnotic, dreamy, buzzing guitars blended with samples of their own music. Listen to "Hyperventilate." All over the map when it comes to creativity. Ballads, buzz rock, acoustic pieces, psychedelic, you name it. . .

9. Joe 90

Very new to me. Modern, hard to pigeon-hole, sometimes acoustic, sometimes scratch acid, sometimes rock. Kind of pop-ish.

8. .moe

Top form jam band with serious chops. Unlike many of the others, stays focused long enough to complete a killer chop and carry it through to completion. Leaves no stone unturned when it comes to creativity. Don't even try to say sounds like Phish, et. al. Yeah, sometimes, in certain songs, but unlike Phish these songs have direction. Another thing, most jam bands are so happy-go-lucky that they can never get serious. Try “Big World.” Not the best song that I have, but it is very illustrative of this point.

7. Incubus

Stop right now. Put aside your prejudice against these guys for performing “Pardon Me.” (even though it’s really a great song) Now go and listen to, “Stellar,” “Aqueous Transmission,” and “Mexico.” Shut the fuck up. I can hear you saying, “Oh great, Chipman’s on some kind of commercial rock thing.” No, really LISTEN to them. You'll get it.

6. Train

Looking for some emotional rock without all of the commercial bullshit? (I know, I know, "Drops of Jupiter" went top 10 on the charts, but that's just because they're that good.) Got that old southern feel but with a new school polish. Heartfelt and passionately sincere vocals. Excellent fucking lyrics. Got a problem? Then listen to "Mississippi," or "Getaway." This is seriously some great music.

5. King Cobb Steelie

Hard, driven, like a deep bucket filled with a mixture of Nine Inch Nails, Crystal Method, Dust Brothers, Chemical Brothers and fucking heroin man. Samples, drums, synthesizer, guitars all provide a dreamlike background for some killer bass rhythms. Other times, a quick shuffling bass/drum background serves as a vehicle for a kind of metropolitan male/female vocal combo. Dizzying guitar chorals lend a thread of insanity to tortured male vocals. Percussion breaks like no other. Listen to "Lady Toronto."

4. The Devlins

Woo Hoo! What a find! Heard these guys while watching “Six Feet Under” and couldn't believe my ears. Sophisticated rock that is nearly timeless. Moody (pick up on Chipman’s mood thing yet?) and well written, these guys transcend the stigma of having a guitar as the lead instrument. You have to listen to “Waiting,” “Kill With Me Tonight,” and “Every Time You Go.” Beautiful, hand crafted tunes that reach out and grab you by the soul. Provocatively counterpoised lyrics that face off against the subtle and lush sonic background of guitar, piano, and various Irish folk instruments.

3. Afghan Whigs

What can be said that hasn't already been worn out on these guys? Breathy, passionate, hoarse male vocals often screamed out over a heavily horn backed orchestral rock substrate. They totally kick ass. Too bad they don't exist anymore. Lead singer is a bad ass motherfucker. Listen to the live version of "My Curse." He absolutely crushes a heckler --> "Fuck you!" "Excuse me, did you say, fuck you . . ."

2. Dandy Warhols

Masters of Mod. Hometown Portland Oregon faves. These guys redefine the esoteric qualities of the thinking man's post modern music collection. Similar to Jesus and Mary Chain, or Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Indie pop, with humor, angst, and psychedelia. Guitar/bass/drums core with slight keyboard infusion; lots of cool percussive texture. Male vocals in a hushed whispery tone. Terrific choral segments, as the bassist is female and can really sing. If you can't get off on “Godless,” “Mohammed,” or “Sleep,” then you are dead from the neck up and have no fucking heart. In the unlikely event that these didn't give you serious wood, try, “Bohemian Like You.”

1. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

The best for last. Another guitar-buzz band, but unlike the others, these guys do it to perfection. Soft, quietly droning guitars drape the background in a fog of noise. In the foreground are male vocals smoothly persuading, pleading, and even screaming. Seductive in their delicacy, the songs are often hardened by the strange lyrics from this San Francisco quartet. Try “Rifles,” “Red Eyes and Tears,” and “Awake.” Don't just listen once. These guys took a long time to grow on me and that is usually a sign that they won't leave soon. Most of my favorite bands are bands that I either initially hated or found boring. Repeated listening typically exposed me to the hidden nuances and talents that they possessed. These guys have proven to be no exception. Recreational pharmaceuticals highly recommended.


Errata:

You know how this music thing goes, one day a band hits you and you're in love. Three months later, they just don't give you that special shiver that happened the first time you heard them. The top five on the list have been hanging pretty tough though.