I used to be a music snob. If someone liked a band or artist that was too “mainstream” then I figured that person was a sell out just like the band or artist that they considered their favorite.
I’m over that now, thanks to some help from Mother God. Probably because I’ve come to care about things like the Bible, the church, and theology much more than music. I still love music, but I’m not a music-nazi-jihadist like I used to be.
Anyway, I thought that I’d list some of my favorite music. They aren’t listed in any particular order, since I’m not sure I could choose between these bands and/or artists if I was forced to. I love them all.
So, without further ado, here are my favorite bands and my favorite album from those bands.
The Very Best of the Doors by The Doors—I really like Jim Morrison. Any dude who names his band after a book by Aldous Huxley is deep. In my AP English class in high school, I compared his lyrics to the poems of John Keats. I’m not sure if it made any sense, but I got an A!!
Live at the Gorge 05/06 by Pearl Jam—Eddie Vedder has soul. Seven full discs of him singing is simply amazing. “State of Love and Trust” has been one of my favorite songs for a long time. The Gorge, in Washington, is rumored to be one of the best live venues in the country. I wish I could have been there to see Pearl Jam during these concerts.
Live From Mars by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals—I’ve always loved Ben Harper. I love this live album because the first disc is a full band performance with the Innocent Criminals and the second disc is an acoustic performance with Ben riding out solo. It was a difficult decision to pick this album over Ben’s album with the Blind Boys of Alabama, but one of them has to win.
Live Phish Vol. 2: 7/16/94 at Sugarbush Summerstage; North Fayston, Vermont by Phish—I’ve always been a sucker for “Harry Hood” and this is one of the best live performances of that song I have ever heard. Closing the concert with “Chalkdust Torture” and “Suzy Greenberg” seals the deal for me. Say anything you want about Phish, I don’t care. I love them. Watch Bittersweet Motel and then come back and tell me that they aren’t awesome. And even if you do, I won’t believe you.
Pulse by Pink Floyd—This is an amazing live performance. Opening up with “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” and reaching two climaxes with “Hey You” and “High Hopes,” its definitely great music. The second disc is the first time a full, live performance of the entire album Dark Side of the Moon has been recorded (note to stoners: you cannot sync this live version with The Wizard of Oz).
Babylon By Bus by Bob Marley and the Wailers—Although this doesn’t contain some of my favorite Marley songs (Natural Mystic, Three Little Birds, One Love, and Small Axe), it is live and includes enough of them to be my favorite Marley album. The live version of “War/No More Trouble” is amazing and actually inspired me to purchase a poster of Nelson Mandela which included the entire speech that Marley quotes in this song. Live at the Roxy was a very close second. Bottom line: Bob is the man.
Dead Set by The Grateful Dead—I’ve always loved jam bands, and the Grateful Dead are the Godfathers of jambands. This two disc live performance is, from start to finish, my favorite live recording of the Dead. The slower version of Fire on the Mountain is different from their other performances, but is a brilliant shift that I’ve come to love. Closing the show with Shakedown Street and Not Fade Away was a great choice. This is the Dead at their best.
Live Art by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones—When you can combine a banjo with fusion, blues, rock, tribal music, bluegrass, and reggae, then you are pretty much the man. Between Bela jamming on his banjo, Futureman going berserk on the drums, Victor Wooten on the bass, and Jeff Coffin wailing away o the sax, it doesn’t get much better than this.
There are many other bands, artists, and albums that I enjoy, but these are the top few that I really love.
What are some of your favorite bands, artists, and albums?
24 January 2008 at 8.22 am
A new favorite artist of mine is Aqualung, a British singer/songwriter. It’s a great sound, which I can never describe. Maybe mellow is right. But he’s very talented.
As for favorite albums, I’m not much for the whole CCM scene, but Michael W. Smith’s album “Stand” I absolutely love. So much soul comes through on that one.
Also, I found my way once to a Swedish bluegrass band called The Downhill Bluegrass Band. They have an album called “That One Straight Line” which is one of my favorite albums ever. The music and the passion of these guys is awesome.
And I’ve always been a huge fan of U2′s “Achtung Baby”.
24 January 2008 at 6.04 pm
Good night, when Trey makes up that song about Page’s shirt I was practically crying.
24 January 2008 at 11.24 pm
I have to share about my latest obsession, only two days old: the Once soundtrack by Glen Hansard (of The Frames) and Marketa Irglova. As with Damien Rice, I’m blown away by how music so simple, so barebones (in most cases on Once, just the two voices, guitar & piano) can be so gut-wrenchingly powerful. If you’ve ever yearned after someone so much it made your stomach hurt to think that you couldn’t have him/her, you will feel all those feelings again on this album.
24 January 2008 at 11.47 pm
jason: “We like Page’s new shirt….it’s so nice…” I really lost it at that point. Trey’s description of how music moves him via a reference to Schwarzenegger’s “Pumping Iron” is also classic.
27 January 2008 at 7.50 pm
you forgot BONE
27 January 2008 at 7.56 pm
That’s because you lost the first CD!!