44. David Bowie
It looks weird to see a musical genius like Bowie this low, but the simple truth is, I haven't listened to enough of his material to rate him any higher. Most of what I do have, I like a lot; I simply haven't gone any further...yet. If you ask me why, I have no good answer. I simply haven't gotten around to digger deeper, but once I do, I expect him to move fast up my list. I cannot stress enough how utterly brilliant Low is. If you are not familiar with Bowie, check that record out. It will blow you away.
Favorite albums: Low and "Heroes"
Favorite songs: "Life On Mars," "Ziggy Stardust," "Let's Dance," "Space Oddity," "Warszawa," "Sound and Vision," "Young Americans," "China Girl" and "Always Crashing in the Same Car."
43. Talking Heads
I love the quirkiness and just fun nature of Talking Heads' music. I once saw Remain in Light referred to as unintentional genius, and I think that is a very apt description of one of rock's all-time great records. It's funny, because, as a kid, I knew their big hits that were played on MTV non-stop back when I was a kid in the early 80s, but I never bothered checking out their non-hits until the last few years....and, boy, am I glad I did.
Favorite albums: Remain in Light and Fear of Music
Favorite songs: "Burning Down the House," "Cities," "Once in a Lifetime," "Houses in Motion," "I Zimbra," "Wild Wild Life," "Crosseyed and Painless," "The Great Curve" and "Heaven."
42. The Who
Yes, this is really The Who all the way down at number 42. I love The Who, but the fact of the matter is that I almost never listen to them anymore, so I really can't put them higher than bands I have been listening to with much more frequency in recent years. To use a term my cousin coined a while back, The Who, to me, are like a retired favorite: I still think they are awesome, but I burned out on them many, many years ago, to the point where they only get the occasional token listens now, save for a few songs.
Favorite albums: Quadrophenia and Tommy
Favorite songs: "Baba O'Riley," "I Can See for Miles," "We're Not Gonna Take It," "Love, Reign O'er Me," "Overture/It's a Boy," "Bargain," "Doctor Jimmy," "Amazing Journey/Sparks," "Squeeze Box" and "The Real Me."
41. Heart
Heart is one of those bands that has two distinctly different sounds and eras: the classic rock era of the 70s, and the pop rock era of the 80s. I like both. I loved the 80s hits growing up, I was turned on to their 70s classic rock staples in the 90s, and I grew to love them more as a band when I dug deeper in the 00s. Dreamboat Annie is a record that should be in the collection of anyone who likes rock music. And Ann Wilson is one of rock's all-time great singers. The note she holds at the end of "Dream of the Archer" is just absurd, and her work in the middle of "Mistral Wind" is equally impressive.
Favorite albums: Dreamboat Annie and Little Queen
Favorite songs: "Mistral Wind," "Crazy on You," "Dreamboat Annie," "These Dreams," "Dream of the Archer," "Magic Man," "Nothing At All," "Soul of the Sea," "Barracuda" and "There's the Girl."