By now, many of you know how much of an obsessively freakish listmaker I am. Damosuzuki prompted me to share another here- my top 100 artists. However, rather than deliver the goods as a cold and frosty list, I thought I'd add a little warmth and present my offering as a grand thank you to the artists included. So begins the massive thank you in reverse order, ten at a time:

100. Richard Marx

Thank you for being one of my first favorite artists. "Satisfied" was greatly instrumental in getting me into music, and the rest of the singles from Repeat Offender still give me a great sense of nostalgia. I also turned out to be fond enough of your debut album to own it on CD, cassette and vinyl. You may have dropped off of my radar, barring the odd "Hazard" here or there, but I still look back fondly on those early days.

99. Snoop Dogg

Thank you for your fabulousness and your swagger. Seeing you live in 2003 was one of the highlights of that concert season for me- you completely destroyed the others who joined you on the Rock the Mic tour. Most importantly, thank you for such funk as "Let's Get Blown" and "Gin and Juice".

98. Peaches

Thank you for your pure hilarity. Your music has given me a lot of joy. Thank you for such classic lines as "Eat a cookie, eat a big dick every day...what?" and "You make my pannies go ping". Thank you for discovering that you could add pop flavor on Impeach My Bush.

97. OutKast

Thank you for your imagination and your boldness. Thank you for wearing bold colors and striving to make your music stand out just as much. Thank you for the beauty of Aquemini, and also for your cameo on Dungeon Family's "Trans DF Express".

96. The Clash

Thank you for kicking music in the groin when it needed a good jolt. Thank you for the sublime London Calling and its legacy. And yes, I'll even thank you for "Rock the Casbah", which I love wholeheartedly.

95. Sigur Ros

Thank you for providing me with a soundtrack to dream on those long flights to and from Australia. Thank you for sharing your genius in a live setting and for the unrelenting pursuit of unabashed beauty.

94. Interpol

Thank you for your clean, precise modern rock. You're always good for a groove or two, especially on "Evil" and "Narc". Thank you for setting the stage for The Cure on their tour in 2004- it's rare that I can enjoy an opening act. And thank you for your cameo in "The House At the Edge of the Park".

93. Technotronic

Thank you for giving me one of the most addictive and delectable slices of confection with your Pump Up the Jam album. Endless hours of joy and dancing craziness have ensued from your sounds, particularly "Tough" and "Raw".

92. Television

Thank you for the monumental Marquee Moon. While it is the only album of yours I own, it has left quite the indelible mark. "See No Evil" is pure post-punk bliss, as are "Elevation" and "Torn Curtain", not to mention the behemoth title track. And thanks for inspiring The Strokes- I've enjoyed them a great deal too, as you'll see...

91. LL Cool J

Thank you for your lasting cool. Although you are heralded as one of the greats, I still don't feel you get your due. Thanks for maintaining a cleaner image than most would allow, particularly lately. And thanks in particular for "Phenomenon" and "Doin' It"- great tracks!

That's only 10.

90. Tom Petty

Thank you for amassing a huge catalogue of great songs. I may not own any of your studio albums, but I love so many of your songs that it would be criminal not to remember you. "Free Fallin'" is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard, and I know that's just the tip of the iceberg.

89. Tourists

Thank you for saving Annie Lennox from her destitute bedsit and giving her something to do! Thank you for letting her shine through on many of the songs, particularly the later ones such as "The Lonelinest Man in the World" and a fun cover of "I Only Wanna Be With You". And thanks for those wacky album covers!

88. Pet Shop Boys

Thank you for your diligent work in the electronica field and for inspiring so many great artists. Thank you for "New York City Boy", which was awesome to hear in Mexican clubs in early 2000. Thank you for having an interesting catalogue that I vow to explore someday.

87. Mtume

Thank you for your beautiful funk workouts. "Juicy Fruit" is pure bliss, as are "Green Light" and "Hips". Thank you for your Breezy-ness and your sweet voice.

86. Vive la Fête

Thank you for helping me appreciate non-English music with your new wave Belgian revival. Thank you for appealing to the guiltiest of my musical pleasures- octave-stepping basslines! And thank you for those wild, untamed vocal textures.

85. Sheila E.

Thank you for sharing your talents in one of the greatest bands in the world with Prince. Your contributions are essential! Thank you for maintaining your class, and thank you for being a huge sweetheart in general.

84. Soft Cell

Thank you for your ventures into the seedy, sweat-drenched underbelly of club culture. While "Tainted Love" gets all the love, you had so much to offer, from the blistering "Memorabilia" to "Bedsitter".

83. Beastie Boys

Thank you for always remembering that hip hop is meant to be fun. Thank you for your visionary, wacky videos. Thank you for all the basketball references in your music. Mostly, thank you for the colossal "Intergalactic"- such perfection!

82. Sugarcubes

Thank you for rescuing Björk from K.U.K.L. obscurity and teaching her how to write decent melodies. Thank you, Einar Orn, for making Björk sound good by sounding so...jarring! Thank you for such fun explorations of science and for "Regina".

81. The Cars

Thank you for teetering on the edge of obscurity while maintaining a pure pop ear. Your new wave stylings really helped to give the genre a recognizable sound and face.

Cloudbuster said:

But I said

:

I know. I was just being an ass as I've nothing else to do right now.

I'll bother you no more. I'll be watching, tho'. How does that make you feel?

80. Patti Smith

Thank you for your literary infusion into rock, and for your bleeding heart. Horses remains one of the greatest albums of all time, and your legacy is so intriguing. I am anxious to pursue your discography further, so thanks in advance for your awesomeness!

79. Romeo Void

Thank you, Debora, for being a big girl in a little girl's industry, even if it cost you fame. Thank you for such classics as "Never Say Never", "A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)" and the uber-funky "Undercover Kept". Thank you for appearing on Bands Reunited, or I may have never been exposed to your greatness.

78. RES

Thank you for delivering one of the greatest and, sadly, most unheralded albums of the decade. "They Say Vision" is one of the ten best singles of the decade so far, and the rest of the album holds up so well. Thank you for sampling The Cure's "Other Voices"- not many boring neo-soul fools would recognize their ability to deliver a great groove. And thank you for being so nice to look at.

77. N.E.R.D.

Thank you for proving that rock and rap can mix cohesively and not be disastrous like Linkin Park et al. Thank you for not shying away from topics of love, even if it may not garner street cred. Thank you for exploring a more melodic approach on Fly or Die, and thank you for casting that beautiful girl in the "She Wants to Move" video. Wow!

76. Red Hot Chili Peppers

Thank you for giving George Clinton even more credibility to rock fans. Thank you for raw passion and energy. Thank you for such beautiful songs as "Otherside", "Scar Tissue" and "The Zephyr Song". And thank you for aging so well!

75. No Doubt

Thank you for putting such vulnerable material out there for the world to see, especially such longing gems as "Simple Kind of Life". Thank you for honing your pop ear and spoiling us with Rock Steady- lots of grooves to be had! And thank you for making Gwen famous enough to go solo, if ONLY for the sublime "What You Waiting For"!

74. Chic

Thank you for adding such sophistication to your funk. That yearning in "I Want Your Love" and the recognition of how ephemeral life can be is so gripping. And thanks or some of the greatest disco singles of all time in "Le Freak" and "Good Times". Yowzah, yowzah, yowzah!

73. The Bangles

Thank you for some great pop tunes, dated as they may be. "Eternal Flame" is such a perfect slice of cheese that it can't be denied. And thank you for inspiring Prince to give you "Manic Monday"- your version is so much better than The Family's!

72. Living Colour

Thank you for reminding those keen enough to listen that rock music is black music too. Thank you for exploring serious topics at a time when the only thing serious about rock was its excess. Time's Up still gets a lot of play here, 16 years later. And thank you mostly for "Type", which has one of the most toe-curling grooves ever laid down!

71. Nirvana

Thank you for combining great songwriting, great vocals and great ethos to make great music. Thank you for "In Bloom", "Lithium" and "Heart-Shaped Box"- I hated most alternative music of the time and these songs were a saving grace. Thank you for making rock raw again.

Cloudbuster said:

Bother away. I'm just playin'.

70. Mary J. Blige

Thank you for sharing your pain, as well as your rhythm. Thank you for recognizing that emotion is much more crucial to a song than technical accuracy. Thank you for making your music visceral. And thank you for letting loose sometimes and grooving out.

69. Billy Idol

Thank you for earning your status as an 80s icon. Your singles form a pretty impressive catalogue and your "Cradle of Love" video was very educational to me as a 10-year old!

68. Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Thank you for your tenacity and guts. Thank you for injecting rock with some great feminine aggression. Thank you for the stark beauty that is "Maps", a song that will live on forever as a classic love paean.

67. LCD Soundsystem

Thank you for your crazy dance obsession. Thank you for knocking hipsters on their pretentious asses with "Losing My Edge". Thank you for the balls to the wall thrills of "Yeah" and the pop pleasures of "Tribulations". Thank you for releasing an album next year- can't wait!

66. Digable Planets

Thank you for your socially conscious grooves. Thank you for rapping about something positive and for incorporating funk and jazz into a genre more increasingly reliant on thug and gangsta imagery.

65. Guns 'n Roses

Thank you for teaching me to headbang when I was a kid! Even if I've moved past your music for the most part, "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child o' Mine" still always manage to make me smile.

64. Gorillaz

Thank you for refusing to accept limits. Thank you for Demon Days, which may be the best album of the decade. I've never heard an album that plays more like a great, classic horror movie before.

63. Talking Heads

Thank you for your mind-bending music and making your music both cerebral and visceral, especially Speaking in Tongues. Thank you for delivering one of the greatest love songs ever in "Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place)". Thank you for having an extensive catalogue that I can't wait to explore!

62 !!!

Thank you for giving me such joy with your Louden Up Now blast in 2004. I've never heard such a cool concoction of funk, punk and new wave before. Thank you for making your lyrics hysterical and for not taking yourselves too seriously. Can't wait for Myth Takes!

61. Debbie Harry

Thank you for still delivering music after the initial breakup of Blondie. Koo Koo is such a blast and I can't wait to explore the guaranteed fabulousness of your subsequent albums.

Which comes first, Roadhouse Garden, or the rest of this list?

60. George Clinton

Thank you for being the quintessential funk opiate of choice, and for giving the world Computer Games, a top notch album brimming with ideas. "Atomic Dog" is undeniable, but so is "Man's Best Friend". I was right there with you when you were painting the White House black, and your concert in 2002 was one of the most entertaining shows I've ever seen. Thanks for P-Funk too, but that will come later...

59. Nico

Thank you for your mystical kookiness and your downright ghostly presence. Your impact on The Velvet Underground and Nico is crucial to the album's success. Chelsea Girls is a fantastic European-folk album, and I don't even like folk! Thank you for the lunacy of The Marble Index and Desertshore- they remind me that I'm insane!

58. Tom Tom Club

Thank you for the unfathomable grooves you deliver on your debut album. "Genius of Love" and "Wordy Rappinghood" are some of the most inventive and addictive-as-crack songs I've ever heard. Thank you for topping The Talking Heads, sacrilegious as that may be. I hope to find your other albums soon and sink my teeth in.

57. INXS

Thank you for your sexy rock vibe in the midst of so much unsexiness! Thank you, Michael, for reminding the world what a frontman should be. Thank you even more for corrupting Kylie, as without you there would be no Rhythm of Love glory.

56. Berlin

Thank you for the kink of "Sex (I'm a)" and the new wave glory of "The Metro" and "Masquerade". And yes, thank you for the unabashed zenith of "Take My Breath Away". Thank you for reuniting on Bands Reunited, and for the sustained hotness of Terri Nunn!

55. The Ramones

Thank you for your pure approach to music and for making most of your songs run under 2 minutes in length. Thank you for reminding punk that it could be fun for the sake of being fun. Thank you for beating on the brat and for the wild pronunciations. Singing the entire Dirty Mind album in a Joey Ramone warble is endlessly awesome!

54. Liz Phair

Thank you for being a pervert. Thank you for being human. Thank you for being weak. And thank you for combining it all on Exile in Guyville- one of the greatest debut albums ever. Whip-Smart's quite snazzy too. Thank you for staying gorgeous.

53. Mötley Crüe

Thank you for giving me an outlet for my unusually high amount of hyperactivity at age 9. "Kickstart My Heart" will always be among my top 100 songs of all time, no matter how much my tastes have changed and will continue to change. Thank you for the endless fun of Dr. Feelgood and, yes, even for the pretentious umlauts!

52. Echo and the Bunnymen

Thank you for doing the name Ian proud, Mac. Thank you for infusing The Doors into your music. Thank you for putting Porcupine in the post-punk pantheon. Ocean Rain and Crocodiles are great too. Thank you for returning in 2005 with Siberia- I really enjoyed that album. Mostly, thank you for "Never Stop", which is one of the coolest combinations of synthesizers and real strings that I've ever heard- that song will usher me into Heaven!

51. Fleetwood Mac

Thank you for inspiring my parents to expose me to music that I could tolerate! Thank you for the huskiness of Stevie Nick's and the clean delivery of Christine McVie. Thank you for the Rumours album and for "Rhiannon". Thank you for your glorious 80s singles. Thanks for giving Rachel a soundtrack in "Tusk". You make loving fun!

Actually this is pretty good, considering my expectations based on #100

NDRU said:

I'm thanking the 100 who have inspired me most through time.

Moonbeam said:

I appreciate that honesty. Shawn Cassidy & Glen Campbell might be on my lists, as they were the first albums I owned.

NDRU said:

It's funny how there's a tendency to overplay specific events that happen when we are young, but underplay the music we liked then. I'll be damned if I wasn't a big Richard Marx fan!

I love this!

Moonbeam said:

(well, not the Richard Marx part!)

Someone has too much time on their hands.

(Says the person that spent a few hours yesterday making their top 30 of 2006 list. )

50. George Winston

Thank you for your amazing piano playing. I really enjoyed your tributes to The Doors and Vince Guaraldi. Thank you for making the holiday season so festive and for capturing the spirit of seasons so well. Mostly, thank you for December, the most amazing piece of instrumental music I've ever heard. You have inspired me in my playing and your texture and sense of timing are peerless!

49. Arcade Fire

Thank you for delivering a perfect album to help me through the deaths of my father and grandmothers. Funeral was quite cathartic for me, and it has proven cathartic to my younger cousin after the loss of her mother. Thank you for the martial stomp of "Rebellion (Lies)" and the vocal jetstreams in "Tunnels". Mostly, thank you for "In the Backseat"- the perfect analogy for the feeling of growing up in the wake of the death of a family member.

48. TLC

Thank you for your fun pop songs and for not shying away from fashion flops by sporting such fun and colorful clothes. Thank you for Left Eye's brilliantly girlish but strong delivery, the silky sexiness of T-Box and the pinup peep of Chili.

47. Dannii Minogue

Thank you for taking a break from your endless holidays to release a song every once in awhile! Seriously, though, Neon Nights is an amazing offering of electropop and proved that you are actually capable of some decent songs! Thank you for joining Kylie in Melbourne last week- it was a blast to see you 2 on stage together!

46. The Time

Thank you for being an outlet for Prince's funk in the early 80s. He gave you some prime material, and you delivered it so well, especially on the first 2 albums. My dream concert is the Triple Threat tour of 82.

45. Deee-Lite

Thank you for being the most colorful artists in the history of music. Thank you for unleashing Lady Miss Kier upon us- she has more personality, charisma and talent than any solo female to come out in the past 10 years. Thank you for not delving into musical pretentiousness. Thanks for always delivering the good beat and for the soul of "Love Is Everything".

44. Erasure

Thank you for some of the campiest and catchiest music of the 80s. "Chains of Love" and "A Little Respect" are irrefutable classics, but it's "Breath of Life" and especially "Oh L'Amour" that garner the most thanks from me.

43. U2

Thank you for being unafraid to stand up for something and for always making your music meaningful. Thank you for changing through time- it's made the journey fun, even for a surface fan like me. Thank you for the quirky "Lemon" and the gorgeous "All I Want Is You". Mostly, thank you for "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"- it has really helped with the loss of my Dad, particularly since he always said that you reminded him of his OWN dad.

42. Joy Division

Thank you for giving a voice to bleakness. I never understood the appeal of anger in music until I heard you. It may have taken me awhile, but I get it. Thanks also for doing the name Ian proud. Thanks for tuning the bass guitars so low and for the staccato drumming. Unknown Pleasures is simply gigantic. And thanks for having a sense of humor- I know you would appreciate this side-splittingly funny parody.

41. Morrissey

Thank you for continuing on where the Smiths left off. I haven't cracked all of your solo work, but You Are the Quarry is strikingly good. "I Have Forgiven Jesus" was my mantra for awhile, and "First of the Gang to Die" is pop/rock perfection. I quite like your new one too- "Life Is a Pigsty" features your vocal theatrics at their most chilling! Thanks also for such a great show in October 04.

sextonseven said:

An idle hand makes Moonbeam make lists!

40. Cyndi Lauper

Thank you for combining your wacky individuality with such classy sophistication. You still have a voice that melts my heart. Thank you for placing an ode to masturbation on the same album as "Time After Time". Thank you for aging so gracefully.

39. Pretenders

Thank you for not waiting tables anymore, Chrissie! Thank you for giving up your journo gig to release such a kickass debut album, especially those last 4 songs. "Private Life" is the essence of cool. "Brass in Pocket" inspired everyone, and "Mystery Achievement" is such a beautiful adrenaline rush. Thank you for inspiring a whole host of people, particularly for inspiring Peaches (number 98) to write "Check out my Chrissie behind it's fine all of the time". And thanks for "Middle of the Road"- who knew aging could be so fun?!

38. Salt 'n Pepa

Respect! SNP, you've been around for so long and have delivered nothing but home runs throughout your underrated tenure as rap's leading females. Salt's delivery is the best in the biz, and Pepa's attitude just seals the deal. My first rap record was yours, and I'd like to thank you for staying positive, healthy and strong throughout.

37. Gap Band

Thank you for such testosterone-driven funk beacons as the scorching "Burn Rubber on Me" and "Early in the Morning". Thank you for the icy groove of "Outstanding". Mostly, thank you for the truly warped bass line of "You Dropped a Bomb on Me". That song is in my blood more than just about any other, and I've never had such a superficial song make me cry before.

36. Parliament/Funkadelic

Thank you for launching an empire of funk the likes of which will never be seen again. Thank you for adding synths to funk- the marriage is so sacred to my ears. Thank you for the endless creativity of your characters and your talents. Thank you for "Maggot Brain"- I've never heard a guitar mourn like that. And thank you for having such an extensive catalogue for me to explore. Can't wait to hear more albums with my virgin ears!

35. Donna Summer

Thank you for your untouchable voice. "Con Te Partiro" is divine in the true essence of the word. Thank you for giving us such countless disco classics that a groove as strong as "Rumor Has It" is unheralded. Bad Girls is a disco masterpiece. And thank you for the glorious triumvirate of 80s synth-pop that is "Stop, Look and Listen", "People People" and "Woman". Those 3 songs form among my first musical memories, as we jammed to that tape when I was 4.

34. Kraftwerk

Thank you for your pioneering efforts. Synthesizers were made so that you could play them. Entire genres owe a lot to you, and I fuckin' love those genres. The Man Machine and Computer World are absolute perfection. Thank you for giving me a math geek theme song with the delicious "Pocket Calculator". Thanks also for giving synthesizers a heart in "Computer World"- such beauty as that song possesses is so rare to behold.

33. PJ Harvey

Thank you for scraping the depths of your soul and giving us the privilege to see and hear. Thank you in equal measure for the gnarled beauty of your early work and the gorgeous beauty of Stories of the City, Stories of the Sea. "We Float" is an epic coronation. PJ Harvey? Fuckin' great!

32. Human League

Thank you for taking Kraftwerk's lead and extending it to a pop palate. Dare! was such a pivotal record in the industry and it gets major love here. Thank you for "Heart Like a Wheel", which was one of my favorite songs at age 10. Thank you for the warped bass of "All I Ever Wanted" and for giving me a reason to listen to radio in Salt Lake in 02. Thank you for hooking up with Jam and Lewis for "Human"- that song is just sublime!

31. Joan Jett

Thank you for your mojo. Thank you for making Pat Benatar look like a pansy. Thank you for making others' songs your own. Thank you for sticking to your guns and rocking out through the ages. Oh, and my 10-year old self wants to thank you for swiveling your hips at the top of the stairs in the "Crimson and Clover" video.

30. Grace Jones

Thank you for the unfettered insanity. Your image and your mystique are truly iconic. Thank you for teaming up with Sam and Robbie for some true new wave excellence. That trio from Warm Leatherette to Living My Life is superb. Thank you for delivering such a great rendition of "La Vie en Rose". You truly are entertaining.

29. Velvet Underground

Thank you for your warped vision of the world. Thank you for making the first alternative music. Thank you for inspiring David Bowie. Thank you for incorporating so many diverse influences to create some of the best music ever. Thank you for the bolt of White Light/White Heat. Thank you for the warped pop of "Femme Fatale". Thank you for letting Nico sing on your debut album. Thank you for the dissonant strings in "Venus in Furs", the hushed trepidation of "Sunday Morning" and the exorcised heart of "Heroin". I've learned a lot from you.

28. George Michael

Thank you for giving your beautifully rich voice a beautiful backdrop with your solo work. "Father Figure" is one of the sexiest songs I've ever heard. Thank you for Listen Without Prejudice- that album is your crown jewel. Thank you for your reticence- it makes you interesting! Thank you for your charm.

27. Sade

Thank you for your singular take on sadness. Thank you for making music that has been played during many a conception. Thank you for your goddess-like beauty and your celestial voice. Thank you for being banned in Jamaica. Thank you for your serenity and your gorgeous videos.

26. Aerosmith

Thank you for your sleazy sassafrass. Thank you for your rocky voyage throughout the decades and for giving my Mom some nice eye candy. Thank you for Pump- which remains one of my favorite albums. Thank you for your glorious 70s bombast of Toys in the Attic and Rocks. Mostly, thank you for "Janie's Got a Gun"- it was one of maybe 10 songs that made me obsessed with music in 1989.

25. Franz Ferdinand

Thank you for giving me a much-needed jolt of fun after my Dad's death in 04. Thank you for your angular guitars and clean bass. Thank you for taking over the world. Thank you for the great B-sides and for "Auf Achse"- such a great song. Thank you for one of the most energized and fun shows I've ever seen. Thanks for talking with us afterward and for your genuine appreciation of our enthusiasm.

24. The Doors

Thank you for the songs, man. The list is long and great, but I'll begin with "The Crystal Ship"- sooo suggestive. Thank you for the great piano and organ playing. Thank you for incorporating non-rock influences. Thank you for fun ditties like "People Are Strange". Thanks for all-out sex romps like "Love Me Two Times". Thank you for pretentious, overlong epics like "When the Music's Over" and "The End". Thank you most of all for "Riders on the Storm", which achieves perfection with every measure.

23. Lou Reed

Thank you for your unique path through life and for chronicling it for us all. Thank you for pissing everyone off with Metal Machine Music. Thank you for the greatness of Transformer and for teaming up with Bowie. Thank you for revisiting beauty with "Satellite of Love" and "Perfect Day". Thank you for the amazing Berlin album. "Sad Song" probably is the saddest song I've ever heard- those woodwinds just usher Caroline into the afterlife.

22. Missy Elliott

That you for keeping the funk alive and for reminding everyone that hip hop is fun. Thank you for the crazy beats and for the Breezy-ness of your vibe. Thank you for singing on occasion- I really like your singing voice. Thank you for So Addictive- it's my very favorite rap album. Thank you for your in-your-face originality, and for carving a place for yourself in a skinny girl's industry. Mostly, thank you for being so sweet!

21. Busta Rhymes

Thank you for being Missy's male counterpart. Thank you for your unbelievably fast delivery and your crazy antics. Thank you for giving THE most crazy, exhaustingly energetic concert I've been to. My heart hurt after dancing like that! Thank you for giving us such great songs to dance to. "What It Is", "Pass the Courvoisier" and "Light Your Ass on Fire" make me deliriously happy.

20. The Strokes

Thank you for saving rock from the bland MOR crap that was polluting the airwaves. Thank you for the Velvet Underground and Television influences. Thank you for the gravelly voice and the short, sweet pop structure of the songs. Thank you for incorporating new wave on Room on Fire, which I attest is your best album. Thank you for the rush of "Reptilia", your best song. Thank you for exploring new territory with First Impressions of Earth. Thank you for the unabashed emotion of "Ize of the World" and the synth string gorgeousness of "Ask Me Anything". And thanks for pulling it all together for a great live show.

19. Roxette

Thank you for pop. Thank you for teaching me a great deal about how to compose and play music. Your chord structures and key changes have helped me learn how to play so many other songs. Thank you for the grandeur of your ballads and the cheesiness of your legacy.

18. Roxy Music

Thank you for your wildly glamtastic approach. Thank you for the Ferry-Eno tension. Thank you for Side 1 of Roxy Music, the most adventurously diverse side of an album I've yet heard. Thank you for that mourning oboe solo in "If There Is Something". Thank you for the creepiness of "The Bogus Man" and the ferocity of "Editions of You", which packs more punch than any punk song I've heard. Thank you for the lushness of Stranded and the gorgeous melodies of Avalon. And thank you for teaming up for a new album next year!

17. Annie

Thank you for rescuing me musically. Anniemal lifted my spirits like no other music could. Thank you for being so gracious and kind every time I've met you. Thank you for referring to me as your "friend". Thank you for actually listening to the version of "Heartbeat" that I made for you, and for giving me an advance promo copy of DJ Kicks! Mostly, thank you for your inspiration- your music has uplifted me more than any other since the loss of so many loved ones, and I will be FOREVER grateful for your triumph and your kindness.

16. Stevie Wonder

Thank you for your genius. Thank you for understanding love. Thank you for using your endless powers for good. Thank you for the synths. Thank you for the limitless supply of great songs. Thank you for the Detroit Hustle- "My Eyes Don't Cry" IS my roots. Thank you for penning the greatest of all love songs in "As". And thank you for giving Michigan a good name.

15. The Smiths

Thank you for the theatrics. You put the melody in "melodrama". Thank you for "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"- that song has become very meaningful for my bro and I. Thank you for "I Know It's Over"- the imagery at the end is incredibly powerful. Thank you for Strangeways, your best album. Every cut is masterful, and "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" is utterly exceptional.

14. Michael Jackson

Thank you for sharing your immense talent with us. Thank you for your perfect voice and your unparalleled imagery. Thank you for consistently writing great songs. That nobody remembers the awesome "Who Is It" is testimony to your greatness. Thank you for the fun videos- "Smooth Criminal" is an amazing piece of art. Mostly, thank you for not giving up.

13. Aaliyah

Thank you for your stealthy, silky grooves and your cool sophistication. Thank you for your maturity- I can't believe that you were able to deliver "I Care 4 U" at just 17! Your loss is immense and still hurts after 5 years. Thank you for knowing not to oversing a song. And thank you, mostly, for your grace.

12. Depeche Mode

Thank you for your synthesized assault on the industry. From boy band to near-death experiences to becoming elder statesmen, you have maintained a high level of songcraft. Violator is just stunning. Thank you for letting Martin Gore sing some of the tender ballads- it really works well. Thank you for these delicious remasters with the documentaries. I can't wait for the next batch!

11. New Order

Thank you for picking up the pieces and continuing after Ian J'd himself. Thank you for the synthesis of danceable revelry and visceral emotion. Thank you for glorious pop songs like "Age of Consent" and "Vanishing Point". Thank you for staying true to yourselves. Thank you for coming up with so many instrumental licks that make me shiver. More than anyone else, you have been able to tap into some deep crevices of my soul to bring out the goosebumps with just a simply piano melody or a little synth flourish.

10. Kylie Minogue

Thank you for unabashed pop greatness. You have been the most consistently awesome artist this decade, in my opinion. Thank you for being a conduit for my relationship with my wife, as you helped us get to know each other better. Thank you for the teases and the cheeses. Thank you for the holy triumvirate of Impossible Princess, Fever and Body Language. That you for releasing so many gems as B-sides. Your bonus material is sick! Thank you for fighting through your cancer and for coming back to Oz. Seeing you for the first time with my wife, who I immigrated to Australia to be with, was a true full-circle moment.

9. Annie Lennox

You are my musical hero. Thank you so much for the voice, the class, the effortlessness and the catharsis. I feel like our souls are intertwined. Thank you for 2 fantastic shows. Thank you for fighting the good fight and for letting your cracks show- they make you more beautiful and interesting. Thank you for your immense heart and your refreshing grace. You are a legend and have truly changed my life.

8. David Bowie

Thank you for the most diverse, immensely gratifying career yet known. Through 5 decades you have woven your legacy and the results are staggering. Thank you for "Moonage Daydream" and "Aladdin Sane". You opened the floodgates of glam to my ears. Thank you for the exorcism of Scary Monsters. That album never leaves my player for too long. And thank you for your charming personality and wit. You have entertained and fascinated the world for so long and you continue to captivate millions. Keep on keepin' on!

7. Blondie

Thank you for unleashing Debbie Harry on the world. Thank you for your intelligent flirtation, your science fiction fascination and your new wave sensation! As a band, you succeeded in dabbling in so many genres. I've never known 4 number 1s to be as diverse as "Heart of Glass", "Call Me", "The Tide Is High" and "Rapture". Thank you for "War Child"- that song emanates through my soul when I hear it- especially that call at the end. Thank you for The Curse of Blondie- the most pleasant surprise of the decade for me! And thank you for oozing cool in all moments. Truly shining stars.

2. Madonna

Ah, Madonna. The list of thank yous is endless for you. I've grown up with you and you seem like an older sister to me. Your music has inspired me to dance, laugh, sing and cry. Your ambition and dedication to every aspect of your life is truly inspiring. Thank you for releasing the Drowned World Tour on DVD- my bro and I love being a part of it! Thank you for completing the Holy Trilogy with Gildie and Jesus. And thanks for repping Michigan well.

2. Janet Jackson

Thank you for being my first celebrity crush. Thank you for your passion and your energy. Thank you for Rhythm Nation 1814, the first album whose progessed I followed from start to finish. Thank you for making me want to sing. Thank you for releasing so many great ballads. I made a compilation of them that I used to fall asleep to every night for years. You are such a comfort to me, and your music never fails to uplift me.

2. Eurythmics

Thank you for being wildly creative and audacious. Your sound is most closely tied to my heart and soul out of anyone. Thank you for the orange hair- I did that myself in your honor. Thank you for all of the delicious rarities that have been so fun to seek out, even at great expense. Thank you for the vast vision you possess and the diversity of emotion and feel that you capably bestow upon me. Thank you for reviving my interest in music in 98 and for feeding my hunger for more.

2. The Cure

Thank you for being my favorite band. Thank you, Robert, for dancing that line of insane manic depression so well. It connects with me perfectly and has inspired me to no end. Thank you for the structure of your songwriting- my own songs reflect your influence more than anyone else. Thank you for the magnum opuses and the pop confection. You have tapped into everything that I have ever felt and made it highly entertaining. Groupie for life.

2. Björk

Thank you for being the purest artist I know. Your view into your art is peerless and your perspective is the most unique I've ever been blessed to know. Thank you for creating sounds that I never could have fathomed before and for translating every aspect of being human into music that resonates throughout my entire body. Thank you for also extending your art into the visual realm. Your videos are a wonder to behold. Thank you for your amazing live performances and your defiance of the norm. Thank you for going places no one else would go and for taking us with you on your magical journey.

1. Prince

Wow. Thanks for everything. 1999 is not only the most important piece of music to me, it is entrenched in every fiber of my being. Thank you for being a soft place to fall with your music and for inspiring me to explore music in the first place. Thank you for the wild ride- it's never boring being a Prince fan. Thank you for letting me on stage to sing "Peach" in Vegas earlier this year. It was truly a dream come true to send you into a guitar solo! Thank you for the countless hours of imagination and conversation you have stirred. Mostly, however, thank you for introducing me to my wife. Without you, there would be no org, and without the org, there would be no Diva on the other end of the screen relaying messages of love. Your impact is all over my life, and I will never be able to bestow enough gratitude upon you for the endless supply of support, inspiration and magic that you have provided throughout my life.

That was a fun, if exhausting, exercise!

Now let's see your lists!

Moonbeam said:

Nice work. I'm with you on about 33% of your picks.

On #83 i'd add thanks to Adam Horovitz for rocking the Stuyvesant H.S. t-shirt.
(And i'm never going back to My Old School)


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Thanks man! im gonna spend time digesting this and there are some artists on there i really should get round to listening to in depth.
[Edited 12/21/06 19:53pm]

Moonbeam said:

thank you for ruining music for me the last 15 years..you took fun out of rock n roll and replaced it with a depressing sound & lyrics