tA, only 10, mayne???!!???




I'll try:

1. Eric Clapton -- the man's tone and phrasing astound me. We use similar gear, and I'm still in the dark... Awesome player who deserves his accolades (and he's fairly frank about honoring his influences). He's the only person on here who is not known for being a multi-instrumentalist. But what he does, he does very well.

2. Hendrix -- because he's 10 times the guitarist Prince will ever be. (I couldn't resist.) An innovator and visionary in the truest senses of the words.

3. Stevie Wonder -- Seventies stuff. It's fairly obvious why.

4. Jonatha Brooke -- She blows most other writers and singers out of the water, as far as I'm concerned. An awesome artist.

5. Fred Hammond -- This brother has been keeping it real in gospel music for years, blending spiritual integrity to some very real, funky musical roots.

6. Marcus Miller -- MM has this knack for conceiving, playing, producing, writing and arranging that is a treat to behold. I would LOVE for him to produce Prince's next album and then for Prince to produce his. They have similar styles and approaches, but I think M has the edge. His chops are somethin' else.

7. Sly Stone -- As obvious a choice as Stevie Wonder, I suspect.

8. Mint Condition -- (currently spinnin' them, actually). These cats are the prototypical group/band, IMO. They seemed destined to never receive their due.

9. Terence Trent D'arby/Sananda Maitreya -- The voice alone. His writing is poetry. He's the real deal.

10. Brad Mehldau -- One of the most phenomenal pianists on the scene. When he's on, dude's on.

11. (Sorry, tA) Jacques Loussier -- His acclaim for performing jazz arrangements of classical pieces is well-deserved. JL and his trio do it, for real.

12. Radiohead -- they go beyond the stuff of other rock bands. Their mettle was proven many years ago. With every release, they build like no other rock group, IMO. They're also extremely frustrating. I love their classical leanings, too.

13. Bjork -- That woman is amazing. Artist in the truest sense of the word. I even forgive her for "Dancer in the Dark." That's how bad she is.

14. Nichole Nordeman -- A Christian artist who has built a career incorporating taboo topics in her writing, proving there is integrity in bringing to music the questions that confront and shape and strengthen faith.

15. Fiona Apple -- Her work with Jon Brion is my favorite from her, but I love most of her work. She is the queen of musical dualism, conveying fragility and strength, instability and resolve, chanteuse and wretch. She's awesome.

I'll stop there, for now.

And, as soon as I typed that, I thought about Meshell, Lalah & Donny Hathaway, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Doyle Bramhall II, Wendy & Lisa, Stacy Kent (the sweetest voice), Natalie Merchant, The Sundays, U2, Norah Jones, and Joe Sample. There are others... more to come.
[Edited 4/13/07 18:38pm]

@ Fiona Apple

Oops, I didn't notice until I saw the sticky over in the Prince section that this thread was for the "Prince: Music and More" people. I always wondered what they were into besides Prince. The Audience, there is a sticky over there with a link to this thread but you should have originally started it over there. You would have gotten lots more responses.

Teena Marie - The girl can blow, she moves me and she can play too. Suggestion - check out the "Emerald City" album if you haven't already

Terence trent D'Arby - Love his creativity, his voice is awesome.

Mint Condition - The are a REAL band and I love the music

Harry Connick Jr. - He can croon for me any day

Jesse Johnson - I love his guitar playing and his music

Wendy & Lisa - I just love how their songs change moods

...then I listen to a lot of old school stuff
Jazz: Dinah Washington, Billie, Dave Brubeck, Wes Montgomery, Joe Sample

Dance & Funk: Ohio Players. Lakeside, Funkdelic

Others: Beatles, INXS, Duran Duran, Police, Sting, Joss Stone, Jill Scott, Van Hunt
[Edited 4/13/07 19:10pm]

ThreadBare said:

What CD(s) would you recommend to get into Clapton?

1) the beatles
2) Kenny Loggins
3) Sade
4) The Rolling Stones
5) Rod Stewarts first albums..Gasoline Alley, etc.
6) various Jazz
7) various Jazz
8) various Jazz
9) George Harrison
10) Paul Mccartney

vainandy said:

It was started over there, but one of the mods moved it here.

Hmm...this requires some thought. I don't listen to music the same way as I used to since having an Ipod, and before that a Dell. Most of the time I'm playing hodgepodge of songs in shuffle mode more than cds. The list will cover a combination of all-time faves, latest listenings on the Ipod, and fave cds from the last year

Res - best discovery of this decade, I wish she would release something new

Duran Duran - fave band from the teens, great to listen to in mixes at the gym

Stevie Wonder - takes me back to childhood, makes me feel good

Marvin Gaye - having the box set on Ipod, his music come up often. Love the duets with Tammi Terrell

The Police - their box set is also on Ipod, and I want to be more familiar with their songs, beyond the hits before seeing them live

Rev. James Cleveland - need a little old time church organ, classic gospel

Maxwell - trying to play him alot so he will come back quicker, I'll always love his voice

Amy Winehouse - best cd so far this year, I love the ode to 60's girl groups and interesting samples with a great voice to convey the lyrics

The Bee Gees - takes me back to childhood, fun dance songs, and heartfelt slow songs

John Mayer - fave cd last year, glad he took the chances with branching out with The Trio and on Continuum

1. George Michael-in love with the voice
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan- gotdammit Stevie Ray Vaughan!
3. Clapton/BB king- these two on one CD. nuff said
4. Lena Horne---um, The Horne yall.
5. The Time--Too sexy
6. Adam Ant--Apollo Nine!
7. Blues Brothers--rubber biscuit kills me
8. Cab Calloway--Don't Falter, Everybody Eats makes me smile
9. Shiela E--love her cover of Lady Marmalade
10.Duran Duran-- for everything except the big radio hits

1. The Beatles, beautiful lyrics
2. Led Zeppelin, love Robert Plant's voice & Bohnams' drumming
3. Jimi Hendrix, He's Hendrix nuff said.
4. Bob Marley& the Wailers,Just love this music makes me feel good
5. Beastie Boys, both serious and silly rhymes creating balance
6. Rolling Stones, no one has a voice like Jagger
7. The Cars, something about them I just like, not sure what it is
8. Stone Temple Pilots, adored them in High school and sentimental for me
9. Pearl Jam, also a high school favorite that still interests me.Eddie Vedder
is smokin hot, he also has a beautiful voice.
10.Elton John, fun feel good songs as well as sad, moving songs

I'll get to this in a bit. I'm enjoying reading these.

coolcat said:

Riding with the King -- He and B.B. King provide some cool contrasts in the blues (King's singing, Clapton's playing shine). When I want to settle down into some Clapton solos, I reach for this one.

Pilgrim -- criticized by a lot of people, this album excels in providing wonderful blues playing within contemporary production. (even on the solos that I believe were produced by editing).

Back Home -- In some respects, Clapton returned to an older, vintage sound. His playing is killer on a lot of these tracks.

ThreadBare said:

Thanks TB!

I partially answered elsewhere, but I didn't realize you wanted to know WHY we listen, TA, so...

Joni Mitchell: This woman is the MAMA of the modern narrative lyric, as far as I'm concerned. She packs so many words into a poem that she may as well be setting prose to music. She has never been afraid to pull punches in her commentary, but neither her scorn nor sentimentality comes off as gratuitous or conforming... even to nonconformity. Because she's about two generations removed from me, there's also a certain elder authority thing going on. Spending time with her is like spending time with a wise grandmother figure.

Vanessa Daou: Can't sing, so she doesn't front. Rather, she seduces. She'll attempt very easy, breathy melodies, but relies most heavily on sexy spoken lyrics -- sexy all the more, because while they can be unexpectedly provocative, they're very, very literate and quite classy. Her husband Peter's smoky jazz/electronic productions are a perfect compliment, and the dependable sensuality of their sound makes up for its overall lack of evolution. Doesn't hurt that they're both pretty, too.

Suzanne Vega: I can't say she takes major risks with changing her sound, but, much like Joni, she does a good job of flirting with sensibilities from assorted genres like jazz, hip hop, a capella, even sea shanties, while retaining a certain folky staple vibe. Also solid, urbane lyrics.

Meshell Ndegeocello: Can fall into the occasional artistic rut, IMHO, but her trademark funk/jazz feel is soooo cozy, there are far worse places to get stuck. Meshell is a go-to artist if you crave a particular atmosphere, but far from being mere background music, each song also stands to close, individual attention. Better than many artists, Meshell illustrates the paradox of love as faulty humans understand it: It crowns and crucifies; it is carnal and transcendent... and as we crave it, it never seems to be quite satisfying. There's a certain pain that underlies all of her stuff, and it's interesting to see how she continues to work it out. (Plus, who can resist a girl who can thump a bass like that?)

Dead Can Dance (and Brendan Perry's and Lisa Gerrard's solo stuff): Their capacity to fuse global indigenous sounds and make them all fit was stunning! They could employ an industrial sound, medieval saltarelli, sitar and tabla, liturgical chant styles, dulcimers, African drumming, etc. and maintain the dignity of each. They could sing songs in completely made-up phonetic languages. Then they could grab an acoustic guitar and sing a straightforward, angsty piece that you might hear on any U.S. or U.K. "alternative" station. And they could get away with it! Gotta love 'em.

Bjork: As someone said, she's an insane genius; a mad scientist. What she is willing to risk with combinations of sound and imagery is always stunning! but it never comes off as experiment for experiment's sake -- it's odd stuff, but it always is approachable. It still feels good.

The Beatles: A bit nostalgic. A bit prophetic. A bit innocent. A bit naughty. A bit childish. A bit adult. A bit goofy. A bit melancholy. A bit earthy. A bit otherwordly. Their body of work is amazingly comprehensive. It could be the soundtrack to just about anyone's entire lifetime. And they were so influential to all popular music acts that came after that their music is essential, even if you don't "like" it, IMHO.

John Coltrane: I'm no jazz afficianado, so I'll have to take this on from an angle closer to home: Listening to John is like being granted soundbites from the other side of the eschaton. Heroine, acid or God, brother was getting that inspiration from somewhere other.

Baroque organ work by whomever: Again, I'm no Classical or Baroque afficianado, but the intricacies of those genres in the swirling resonance of a pipe organ just send me... someplace... else.

Traditional Irish stuff by whomever: Once again, tough to explain. But there is something about Scotch-Irish folk that really is comfortable to me. I like the drum and fife; I like the harp; I LOVE bagpipes; and I really like Irish ballads about lost love, death and transcendence. It's particularly cool to listen and consider the latter as nationalist allegory.

Ephraim Lewis: Only one CD before his fatal death, God bless his soul. This album was FANTASTIC! Well-written, sophisticated soul music right at the dawning of what I feel was an otherwise dark era of New Jack fallout and poor R&B/Hip Hop hybrid acts. Brother had a Seal-like sensibility in his voice, but a greater fierceness and a SICK range! He would have been pretty well-respected in the music world I think, even if doomed to probable unmarketability as he'd likely have been too adult contemporary-sounding. A very sad loss.

...I was gonna give up some more love for Sinead O'Connor, but this is getting out of hand. Suffice if to say she's got that Irish thing going on that I like so much... and she ain't scared to flex in any contemporary genre.
[Edited 4/14/07 0:28am]

Lammastide said:

You write like you're in school, boy!!! All educated-like...





.
[Edited 4/14/07 1:45am]

PANDURITO said:

Tori's the talented one and you know it!

TORI RULES!!!!

Two weeks till American Doll Posse... *salivates*

Michael Jackson because he's, well, Michael Jackson.

Tori Amos because she is to the piano what Hendrix is to the guitar. Only a better songwriter.

James Brown because I love the funk!

George Clinton and Funkadelic because I love the funk!

Red Hot Chili Peppers because they make me feel cool!

Kate Bush because she's nearly as good as Tori on a bad day.

Nirvana because everyone needs a bit of teen angst.

Van Hunt and Lenny because I dig a black man who can rock!

MattyJam said:

She's in my list too, isn't she?

This list varies with me; this is it at the moment, though. I also listen to alot of Mozart, Satie and Mahler,for instance, but by different artists.

Most of these artists transcend the traditional genres, which I like. They were not afraid to re-invent themselves and take their music to a higher level, this is something to appeals to me; it was what draw me to Prince in 1984, as he shifted from R&B to rock. And he kept doing it for five years.

Most artist on this list combine voices that speak to me with music that grindlocks my soul. Artists I considered for this list were people like Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Tori Amos and The Eurythmics, but I decided on this list;

Björk. I understand lots of people see her as the wailing woman, but to me non-standard vocals are always a plus. Her voice interlocks with my soul immediately, no matter if she whispers or screams. She makes me dance, she makes me smile, she makes me cry.

Miles Davis. His playing does the same to me as Björk's voice; his trumpet IS his voice. And, as with Björk; he knows how to move me. Génerique is hauntingly beautiful, for instance and never fails to move me.

Ellen Allien. An outsider on this list. I suppose I have to include Apparat as well, as they made an album together that is so firm, yet so light; Orchestra Of Bubbles. Outsider as she is a DJ, but her beats, damn!

Me'Shell NdegéOcello. Her voice, again, what drew me in. Her moods, what kept me intrigued throughout the years. Her latest albums sound like what Miles Davis would be doing if still alive. A joy to witness live.

Wendy & Lisa. Their first album I got cuz they were in Prince's band, sure. Who didn't? But they transcended their 'Prince'-satelite stamp with their third album, which is pure genius. I love the fact that they just do what they want to do, even though that means we do not get that much output.

The Knife. Swedish bro/sis duo that combines everything I like about Björk, the Twin Peaks soundtrack and The Eurythmics from '83. At times silly, but when digging in, they hook you so bad that it is all you want on your iPod. Listen to their Silent Shout album and get spirited to another universe.

David Bowie. Needs no explanation, after all I spoke of transformations through music. He is, of course, the master in re-inventing his music. Even when bad, never uninteresting. When good, fascinating. One of the few artist I can say I like his old AND new stuff. Can't say that for even Prince...

The Cure. Like the other old skoolers on this list an integral part of my growing up. Robert Smith's world is still close to mine. The band's older work resonates with me more than the recent stuff, but even that appeals to me. I still find myself wanting to hear their albums. Their songs always feature on my favourite music playlists.

Joy Division. The roots of industrial. The reason NiN is not on this list is cuz this band did it all before and better, deeper, more intense. Their music and melody is dscribed as cold, but to me it is warm. Warm like blood, maybe, but still. I still fantasize about what the band would have become if Ian Curtis had not died. I would have loved to hear his voice on Blue Monday-like beats.

Radiohead. I was not so much fan until OK Computer. I think great artists need to re-invent or become boring, like The Rolling Stones. Tom Yorke's voice is like Ian Curtis' or Robert Smith's; it can vocalise desperation. Their music is or too geniusly clever or immensely stupid, but in both instances it never fails to capture me, interact with me.

Lammastide said:

Hehehe, for today's list I did not even THINK about her, but she is up there with me as well.

theAudience said:

ABBA - One of the most underrated best international bands of all-time. Also, there is a lot more to their legecy beside Dancing Queen.

Roger/Zapp - I miss Roger Troutman. I miss the talkbox even more.

Janet Jackson - The songs between the Janet Jackson & The Velvet Rope era are still the main focus for me.

New Edition - Too many boy bands today wanna be like them.

The Isley Brothers (The 3+3 era)
Cameo
The Bar-Kays
Ready For The World
The Deele
Dazz Band - These funk bands are perfect examples of why I love synths.

Kate Bush
My girl. I've loved this woman since I was three years old when she released her first single. Apparently whenever she appeared on radio or television I was transfixed. She has retained the ability to keep me mesmerised to this day. She simply moves me like no other.
I love her imagination, her daring, her humour but probably most of all the determination to do anything other than follow the pack and stick to her maverick whims. Always original and inspirational and unquestionably soulful. Think not? Then you have no real understanding of what "soul" is.
She has that rare gift to make me think, laugh and cry. Often all at the same time. And not one bad album yet.
Genius.

Michael Jackson
Genius. Great songs, great voice, great moves, great vids. The whole MFin' package.

Bee Gees
My favourite pop band and the best after The Beatles, imo.
They've just always managed to have great songs consistently throughout their career. Even their weakest albums contain three or four gems.
Beautiful melodies, gorgeous harmonies, they're like a breath of fresh air.
One great thing about the Bee Gees that tends to get overlooked is that they never sat still musically even when they hit upon a winning formula. With a band like Oasis you know what you're going to get with each album released. With the Bee Gees you never knew. And even if their experiments weren't always successful, at least they were prepared to have a go. And then there's Robin's voice.
A genuinely soulful band.

The Beatles
What can one say that hasn't already been said.
Just listen.

Stevie Wonder
Sonic sunshine.
Whenever I'm hit with the blues this is the man I turn to.
If you don't like Stevie then you really ought to get some medical attention.
And that run of albums from '72-'76 was the best anyone managed in the 70s.

David Bowie
Though some may argue in favour of this guy.
I've not been keen on much of his output beyond the 70s (late career albums that are revered such as Outside and Heathen don't quite do for me what they clearly do for others) but from Hunky Dory through to Scary Monsters he hardly put a foot wrong, and for that alone everything else can be forgiven.

Led Zeppelin
The best hard rock outfit there ever was. And probably ever will be.
Of their eight studio albums only the last one bordered on naff. And only just.
They really did have the lot. And John Bonham, too. Lucky bastards.
It doesn't get any better.

Joni Mitchell
I was a bit of a latecomer to Joni, but thank goodness I found her. Or maybe she found me.
Her songs fill me with strength and courage, yet I don't know why.
And it's probably just as well that I don't know as knowing may destroy the magic.

Fleetwood Mac
Blues purists be damned!
Lindsey's warped pop, Christine's reliability and elegance, Mick and John's sturdy yet playful rhythmic backing and pretty much everything about Stevie Nicks.
Did someone just mention Stevie Nicks?!

Radiohead
The only band to emerge since the 70s that I really care for.
What does that tell you about modern music? And I'm only 32!!!

ThreadBare said:

I write like I'm gonna get my dumb butt kicked out of school! If I don't rip myself from prince.org somehow, I'm gonna be in a hot Canadian mess with regard to finals and papers.
[Edited 4/14/07 7:59am]

As a Shadower-Master assasin, whenever I practice my ninja fighting techniques stratagems for the various possible scenarios before a mission,
I find myself frequently going back to Carl Douglas' Kung-Fu Fighting.

Illustrator said:

Most of the artists I listen to are independent artists from myspace

Billy Miles - Has a voice like Billie Holiday and Eartha Kitt

Imani Uzuri - Awesome voice - saw her perform live

Skye - She has a beautiful voice

Tamar - Fantastic and awesome voice

Shelby - Her singing is off the chain

DuNoiss Dushaunt - Jazz Artist - love his track "Ooh" very mellow

Alice Smith - Unique voice (signed to a label, n


Other Artists/Old School

Santana - Goes without words...awesome;an icon

Aretha Franklin - Because she's a Soul Goddess
Janis Joplin - Very bluesy, natural sound
Mongo Santamaria - Grew up listening to his music;my late Dad's
favorite artist
Johnny Pacheco - Grew up listening to his music/late Dad's
favorite artist
Al Green - Deep down bluesy soul artist;a living legend


That's right, you said 10 (I did 13..oops!) so that's enough for now.
[Edited 4/14/07 12:54pm]

1. The Roots
2. My Morning Jacket
3. Queens of the Stone Age
4. Meshelle Ndegeocello
5. Chris Cornell
6. Beck
7. Outkast
8. Ween
9. Gym Class Heroes
10. MF Doom

I would buy anything that any of the above artists/groups came out with next. Been a huge music lover/collector for 23 years and counting so I try to follow current music as much as possible. Also, I own at least 2 or 3 albums by these artists and all of them are great.
[Edited 4/14/07 12:38pm]

The first time I really took music seriously was when the Backstreet boys came out.

I was in my pre-teens years at the time.

From BSB & *NSYNC, I got absorbed in the little known boyband Dream Street for about a year... they broke up at the end of that year... and I've since had trouble finding an artist to really get into the same way.
Everyone either stuck around for one album, or their later albums I couldn't get into.

Jesse McCartney, now the most famous of the former-DreamStreet members, had been my focal point for the past 5 years, following his career and such.

Then I discovered Prince... and everything changed 4ever... the rest is history still in the making.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

yes i knew it!!! when i read the "pop" in ure username i knew it! yes!!!

i've prolly said this a 100 times, butt here goes:

Backstreet Boys
The Beatles
The Beach Boys
Tiziano Ferro
Andrea Bocelli
Nek
Chicago
Laura Pausini
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
The Supremes