Originally intended for theAudience's survey - I'm not exclusively a P:M&M poster, but probably mostly.

These aren't in order of preference - just the order they popped into my head:

The Beatles (and solo Lennon, McCartney and Harrison) - no explanation needed. The ultimate band, occasionally matched by solo songs, if not whole albums.
U2 (and 'solo' Bono and Edge - usually collaborations, but without the rest of U2) - I probably listen to some U2-related music more often than Prince, actually. Psalms for the modern world.
Paul Simon (and, to a lesser extent, Simon & Garfunkel) - the best storyteller in songwriting. I adore his lyrics, his voice, and his desire to push himself into different musical styles.
Seal - 1991/1992 was when I first really got into music. I love that his songs can work in so many contexts - the same song can be done as dance, acoustic, piano, rock... I still collect every song he releases (same with almost everyone on this list).
Ellis Paul - a local New England singer/songwriter closer to Paul Simon in storytelling abilities than anyone else I know. His songs are often described as mini-novels, and rightfully so.
Katie Melua - the only female musician I love. I adore her voice, and her songwriting is getting very strong. I Cried For You was the first song of hers that I heard and will always hold a special place for me - beautiful and haunting.
Eric Clapton (in his more bluesy form mostly) - his blues music is just fantastic. He's done some terrible sell-out music, and some so-so pop music, but his best is pretty much untouchable.
George Michael (less than I used to) - I think he's past his prime (although I hear his tour is great), and I didn't really like Patience, but he has a great voice and some great, personal, songs.
Jack Johnson - wonderful, gentle, relaxing music to have in the background in the evening - I played a few of his albums by the campfire on a lazy Summer night last year and it was perfect. See also Ladysmith Black Mombazo, Pink Martini, Gifrants etc.)
Sting (and to a lesser extent, The Police) - I don’t like all of his stuff, but I’ve always been impressed by his inventiveness and desire to try different ideas / time signatures with pop music.
Robbie Williams - oft-slated, but I’m impressed with the rate of his output for an artist who could be milking every album he has. He’s also taken a few calculated risks which have paid off (leaving his boy band, his swing album, and Rudebox)
Miles Davis (although increasingly less) - a man who constantly reinvented himself. The Picasso of music.

booyah said:

Yes, I demand an explanation
It was The Fab Four and I only count 3

PANDURITO said:

Have you ever listened to a Ringo solo album in full?

If you have, you'll know no explanation is needed.

I did, however, see Ringo live in MPLS while I was on a cross-country trip to move to Boston, knowing full well that Sheila E was playing with him - I even drove to Paisley Park afterwards just in case, but no dice...

Howard Jones and some guy from Supertramp (and someone from King Crimson) was playing with Ringo on that tour. That was a great show, if a little cheesy...

booyah said:

I have them all



The last 4 are pretty decent (From 1992's Time Takes Time on; Don Was, Jeff Lynne, Phil Ramone, Producers)

booyah said:

"Ringo" is a good one

I just read the Audience's thread. Odd that there's no way to make that work.

What about a thread in P:M&M saying "Hey Prince Fans" with just a link to the real thread in M&M:NP?

NDRU said:

Thanks to everyone for trying to...



...KEEP HOPE ALIVE!


tA

Tribal Disorder

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

Joni Mitchell
Vanessa Daou
Suzanne Vega
Meshell Ndegeocello
Dead Can Dance (and Brendan Perry's and Lisa Gerrard's solo stuff)
Bjork
The Beatles
John Coltrane
Sinead O'Connor
Baroque organ work by whomever
Traditional Irish folk by whomever (Nothing warms the heart like an allegorical dead lover jam )

...Oh, and the late Ephraim Lewis! Brother's one and only CD has been on my steady rotation now for over a decade.
[Edited 4/13/07 6:57am]

booyah said:

That would be Mark Hart, who was also in Crowded House (and is now back with the reformed group).

You know, I wanted to post too. There's so much classic music that I put in my top/best of lists, that I really listen too very seldom. Thought this would be great for a clearing. Caveat: in order to be real, I have to look at the last 5-10 years.

Frank Zappa - Not only did he set the bar high for the technical demands on his musicians, he mananged to create a universe that stands apart from anyone else in contemporary music. I cannot imagine getting sick of Zappa with so many different places to travel in his cataloge.

Frank Black - Another incredibly prolific songwriter. I would never try to sell anyone on 'hits' or 'proficiency'. I get his sense of humor, I get his sense of odd. Also, he's well re-chorded by fans, and I'm often trying to pin down his weird timings just days after his albums are released.

Kristen Hersh - Pretty much the same reasons as Frank Black, though the songwriting is more emotive.

Van Morrison - Because it's got soul. I always end up coming back to Van; I think part of it is the integrity of the music, the nostalgia for certain genres of music. I definitely favor his work through the seventies, but he's also aged gracefully & provided many pleasant suprises up to today.

Tom Waits - Another songwriter who's spanned genres but managed to maintain some relevance. If Tom isn't breaking your heart, he's at least thoroughly entertaining.

Nick Cave - Nick excels at the folk tales, but his songwriting (especially lyrically) continues to expand and improve. There's something strangely conventional about much of his music (like Van's) that carries it's own quiet integrity. The Bad Seeds, though, can be equally graphic and raucous.

Afghan Whigs / Twilight Singers / Greg Dulli - I often run hot or cold with Greg Dulli's differnt incarnations. Gentlemen and Black Love are, in my opinion, 2 of the greatest rock albums conceived. I can't tell if I'm still a fan over past greatness. But I can't recall a week when I haven't played one of these bands...

Built to Spill / Modest Mouse - My Pacific Northwest lean. What they have in common - 'indie' bands that lost little artistic sensibility with a record contract, and lots of string bending. BTS is tighter, more layered and focused. MM is at its best when they want to convey something that wasn't meant to be conveyed with musical instruments...

Elvis Costello - Really, the closest thing to pop I like.

Pearl Jam - I kept telling myself I should hate this band. I hated 'Ten'. Then I continued to buy their albums, but rarely listened to any of them beyond their honeymoon period. It's not until they began releasing all their live shows that I crashed hard for PJ. I never get sick of them, I never have to make excuses or exceptions, when I'm listening to live recordings of this band.

NDRU said:

I think this is a wonderful idea. I'd like to run this idea by a couple of the other mods to make sure this would fly...

I never wanted the thread to go away, that was tA's decision... we just need to all be on the same page where the rules are concerned.

We'll get back to you on this. Thanks.

MeShell
Jill Scott
Erykah Badu
Maxwell
Van Hunt
Fiona Apple
TTD
Nikka Costa
Stones
Alice Smith/Lenny Kravitz (can't decide which one to pull!)


These folks pretty much surpass any "mood" listening, I'm always in the mood for certain songs by them. Why? b/c I do (I'm @ work, man!)...

AlexdeParis said:

Nope It was the one and only Roger Hodgson, the voice of Supertramp from the start until 83 (in their heyday years)

PANDURITO said:

Well, Ringo must have a thing for former Supertramp members, because Hart definitely played with him also.

MILES - I tend to go back and listen to the bands with Coltrane and also the Shorter Hancock Willliams Carter quintet, but lately I've really been digging the live material form the 80s.

JIMI - BOG and ELECTRIC LADYLAND get played a lot

SLY - I've always played STAND! a lot, but now that I've got the remasters boxset I'm going more into the preceding albums: LIFE and DANCE TO THE MUSIC.

PFUNK - More into the first 3 FUNKADELIC and first 3 PARLIAMENT and OSMIUM

STEVIE - His classics from the 70s represent perhaps the most profound musical statement I've encountered.

STEELY DAN - AJA and GAUCHO are always faves.

WEATHER REPORT - Love Zawinul's keyboards and Shorter's sax and compositions.

LIVING COLOUR - STAIN and VIVID are my favorites

PAT METHENY - Always a thrill in the Group and his other projects

JOHN COLTRANE - A giant of modern jazz


I always come back to WHAT'S GOING ON? and also a lot of Isleys and Curtis Mayfield.