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General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: KevShmev on December 17, 2016, 05:30:25 PM
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I figured it was about time for one of these again, and this time I am going favorite musicians. How much I like them as a musician obviously matters a ton, but I also factored in how much I liked them as personalities as well. Some got bumped up higher because they are great guys and easy to love, and some got bumped off the list completely because while I might be big fans of them as strictly musicians, I am not a fan of their personalities/public images/whatever. Call it an arbitrary system, but it's my list. :biggrin:
Off we go...
25. John Bonham
(https://anewdomain.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Screen-Shot-2015-09-18-at-8.16.06-PM.png)
I know little about the guy outside of his drumming, but he's probably number 2 on the list of drummers I air drum to the most. Or shall I say, foot drum. ;) The Ocean played one day at work last week and it was brought to my attention that while working, I was pounding away with my feet on the floor to the song; I didn't even realize I was doing it. And as a professional air drummer, it's pretty damn impressive when a drummer can have you subconsciously foot drumming while working. :tup :tup Along with The Ocean, other Led Zeppelin songs that I will always air or foot drum to are When the Levee Breaks and Whole Lotta Love.
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Probably my favorite drummer of all time. His playing is so damn heavy, but still lots of nuance and subtlety. I don't think there is a heavier drummer out there.
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The heaviness really conveys the confidence and conviction in his playing.
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A song like D'yer Mak'er is pretty insane, too, especially when you consider that the drums are practically the lead musical instrument in it. :metal
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The driving force behind the great Led Zeppelin.
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A song like D'yer Mak'er is pretty insane, too, especially when you consider that the drums are practically the lead musical instrument in it. :metal
The funny thing about this song is that the rest of the band felt like Bonham couldn't quite get the rhythm right. They were obviously going for a Reggae sound, but the end result is probably a lot more distinctive and unique than they could've imagined.
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Yeah, I can see that. That's interesting.
Oh, and the beginning of The Wanton Song is blistering. :metal
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24. Paul McCartney
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vq6oainZ-vA/TnzQzHHQ5_I/AAAAAAAAALU/QlL1SMH7dW4/s1600/new+pic2.jpg)
It's always a close call between Lennon and McCartney, as to which Beatle is my favorite, but McCartney gets the edge since his post-Beatles work is far better (even before Lennon's death), plus Lennon's personal live stuff that has come out doesn't reflect too well on him. I've been a Beatles fan since I was 7 and the middle section of A Day in the Life, written and sang by McCartney, was one of those things that even at the age I knew was pretty damn awesome. Too many great songs and moments to cite them all. Sir Paul's greatness goes without saying. :coolio
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I've always tried to separate Lennon/McCartney and I always end up with "why do it?" Too bad they didn't ask themselves that. Separate they are great. Together they are the greatest.
As far as McCartney goes, Maybe I'm Amazed is in my six star (on the five star system) level. Had too many five star songs, so I had to create a subset. My ratings go to 6, when you need that extra lit bit over the edge.
I've tried to get into his post-Beatles work, but other than a gem here and there, it feels more like a homework assignment than pure joy.
BTW, here's a video of me trying to come up with ratings for songs on Foobar
The answer is ... 4? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZfpwfQ58Ds)
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Already two legends. Following.
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Following.
:coolio
I've always tried to separate Lennon/McCartney and I always end up with "why do it?" Too bad they didn't ask themselves that. Separate they are great. Together they are the greatest.
I'd be interested to see how many Beatles songs McCartney and Lennon actually wrote together. The credits don't tell us anything, since they had agreed in the Beatles that they would get share songwriting credit no matter who wrote the song, but you can always tell who wrote what (based on who sings). That aside, I think it goes without saying that both were at their best in the Beatles. :tup :tup
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The man can sure write, play and sing a hook.
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Awesome!! Definitely following. Can't wait for more!
McCartney is awesome. The Beatles are awesome and they have forever changed my views on rock music. Two awesome musicians. Keep it coming!
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If you insist...;)
23. Steve Walsh
(https://ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2014/07/Steve-Walsh-Kansas.jpg)
I have long been of the opinion that in his heyday, in his prime, there was no better rock singer than Steve Walsh. I'll take 1973-1980 Steve Walsh over anyone, before all of that smoking ruined his voice. Most interviews I've seen with him make me think he was kind of a crabby guy :lol, but he makes the list on the strength of his keyboard playing and singing.
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Calling LudwigVan!!
Maybe I just haven't heard enough Kansas. He has never really jumped out at me.
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I absolutely love his voice and the man is an energizer bunny on the stage. Never running out of energy.
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McCartney's solo career absolutely outstripped Lennon's. The only complaint that one might lodge is that his songs are mostly all sweet and fluffy. Lennon, on the other hand, lent most of the bite and edge to the Beatles' music.
Calling LudwigVan!!
Maybe I just haven't heard enough Kansas. He has never really jumped out at me.
Honestly, I have no idea how a talent like Steve Walsh wouldn't jump out at you. Especially for someone as focused on vocals as you are!
:biggrin:
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McCartney's solo career absolutely outstripped Lennon's. The only complaint that one might lodge is that his songs are mostly all sweet and fluffy. Lennon, on the other hand, lent most of the bite and edge to the Beatles' music.
While I agree...
Oh! Darling
Honestly, I have no idea how a talent like Steve Walsh wouldn't jump out at you. Especially for someone as focused on vocals as you are!
:biggrin:
QFT. Dust in the Wind, which everyone knows, alone makes him one of the best rock singers ever.
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I'll see if I can get some Kansas in tomorrow. Maybe he's sneaky good. And obviously I've heard Dust In The Wind a million times. He doesn't suck. I know that.
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Leftoverture is an amazing album.
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If you insist...;)
23. Steve Walsh
(https://ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2014/07/Steve-Walsh-Kansas.jpg)
I have long been of the opinion that in his heyday, in his prime, there was no better rock singer than Steve Walsh. I'll take 1973-1980 Steve Walsh over anyone, before all of that smoking ruined his voice. Most interviews I've seen with him make me think he was kind of a crabby guy :lol, but he makes the list on the strength of his keyboard playing and singing.
Heh, thank you! Steve Walsh is amazing. Kansas is an amazing band and I've only listened to maybe two of their albums, but Walsh stands out the most.
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Nice list so far, Kev... looking forward to seeing the rest :tup
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Leftoverture is an amazing album.
Just gave it a spin.
Way too many loopy keyboards for me. Carry On is such a tease, and I just don't think the rest delivers. Magnum Opus is cool though.
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Leftoverture is an amazing album.
One of my favorite albums of all time :tup
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Leftoverture is an amazing album.
Just gave it a spin.
Way too many loopy keyboards for me. Carry On is such a tease, and I just don't think the rest delivers. Magnum Opus is cool though.
I'm a little surprised.
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Leftoverture is an amazing album.
One of my favorite albums of all time :tup
You and me both. :coolio
Leftoverture is an amazing album.
Just gave it a spin.
Way too many loopy keyboards for me. Carry On is such a tease, and I just don't think the rest delivers.
Epic fail is epic.
Nice list so far, Kev... looking forward to seeing the rest :tup
:tup :tup
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22. Nick D'Virgilio
(https://www.joecrabtree.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/amazon_large/podcast_images/nick.jpg)
One of the best drummers to come out in the last 20 years, I think NDV is often overlooked in that regard. His awesome drum parts don't always jump right out at you, but often times you keep hearing them as you listen more and you find yourself really loving his subtle, yet incredible playing; the intro to Spock's Beard's Harm's Way is a good example. And of course he has plenty of awesome parts that do grab you right away...the middle of With Your Kiss! That section is high on my list of moments that I always air drum. :metal Plus, the guy is a helluva singer, with a warm, engaging voice, that is suited extremely well for lead or background vocals. And the guy has always struck me a classy guy, always gracious and with nothing but kind words. Great all-around musician. :coolio
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Nice call with Nick. He's definitely one of the most underrated musicians in the prog, or any, world. He's multi-talented and has a great list of musicians he's played with.
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I had a blast seeing him wth SB, with his band The Fringe. Multi-talented send a great voice.
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What an immensely talented singer, player, songwriter, everything. I got to meet him many years ago, he is such a nice, polite, happy guy.
I'll just leave this video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czuRE6W4LS8
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Leftoverture is an amazing album.
Just gave it a spin.
Way too many loopy keyboards for me. Carry On is such a tease, and I just don't think the rest delivers.
*speechless*
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21. Ben Gibbard
(https://www.mtv.com/news/photos/c/coachella_2008/day_2/death_cab_for_cutie.jpg)
Great songwriter, good singer and solid guitar player, but the thing that puts him on my list is his lyric writing; he is undoubtedly on my Mount Rushmore of rock lyricists. His lyrics almost always paint a wonderful picture, and he does a great job of using clever wordplay, while rarely beating you over the head with the meaning. What Sarah Said and The New Year are Exhibit A and B for what a great lyricist he is. :hat
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The new Monkees track "Me and Magdalena" Gibbard wrote, and despite it being the token Hipster track from Good Times! It's still not a song I got sick of. Although the faster version that was a b-side I found to be even better.
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I'm completely unfamiliar with this guy. Any suggestions on a good thing to check out first from him?
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Maybe The Photo album. It's the name of an album by his band, Death Cab For Cutie.
Ben is just a cool guy, never stands out to me as particularly amazing, but still a cool guy. Good songwriter, good singer, solid all around. And he is one fine lyricist.
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I love The Photo Album, but I think Plans or Transatlanticism are better places to start, as far as whole albums go. I'm am also really high on their two recent albums, Kintsugi and Codes and Keys.
Also, it's possible you might know the song Such Great Heights by The Postal Service, which featured Gibbard's vocals and lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wrsZog8qXg
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I love The Photo Album, but I think Plans or Transatlanticism are better places to start, as far as whole albums go. I'm am also really high on their two recent albums, Kintsugi and Codes and Keys.
Also, it's possible you might know the song Such Great Heights by The Postal Service, which featured Gibbard's vocals and lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wrsZog8qXg
I've never heard that before. It's interesting, but way out of the realms of music that I usually travel in. That's not a bad thing, though.
I've heard of Death Cab, but I've never actually heard any of their music. I'll take a little adventure and check them out. Thanks for the recommendations, gents!
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:corn
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I've never heard that before. It's interesting, but way out of the realms of music that I usually travel in. That's not a bad thing, though.
That kind of electronic music can be pretty enjoyable, if done right. And for me, the Postal Service is basically Death Cab's vocals and lyrics with electronic beats and keyboards backing them up instead of guitar, bass and normal drums.
I've heard of Death Cab, but I've never actually heard any of their music. I'll take a little adventure and check them out. Thanks for the recommendations, gents!
You got it, sir. :coolio
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20. Jordan Rudess
(https://musicplayers.com/features/keyboards/2014/images/JordanRudess2.jpg)
His inclusion might surprise some, considering I am not always a fan of his soloing, but his talent is immense, and when he plays the piano, it is always a wonderful thing. Heck, I can put him on this list on the strength of the two LTE albums and Scenes from a Memory, but his positive contributions to Dream Theater crush the few negatives. And he is always a gracious and positive guy. Very cool guy and a ridiculously talented and innovative musician. :hat
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I love this guy.
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My favorite rock keyboardist is Jon Lord, and one of the reasons I loved Deep Purple was the interplay between Blackmore and Lord. In most rock bands, keys are usually held back and used as "filler" but in DP, Lord had the chops (and then some) to stand on equal ground and do battle with his overbearing guitarist.
I get the same feeling when I listen to Rudess and Petrucci. DT has obviously set up the band to attain a very similar interplay between keys and guitar, and as good as their previous keyboard players were, Rudess is the only one with equal parts ego, technique and songwriting chops who could pull off what Jon Lord did for Deep Purple.
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My favorite rock keyboardist is Jon Lord, and one of the reasons I loved Deep Purple was the interplay between Blackmore and Lord. In most rock bands, keys are usually held back and used as "filler" but in DP, Lord had the chops (and then some) to stand on equal ground and do battle with his overbearing guitarist.
I get the same feeling when I listen to Rudess and Petrucci. DT has obviously set up the band to attain a very similar interplay between keys and guitar, and as good as their previous keyboard players were, Rudess is the only one with equal parts ego, technique and songwriting chops who could pull off what Jon Lord did for Deep Purple.
Excellent points!
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Actually, DS always reminded me of JL more than the other two. Jordan always reminded me of Rick Wakeman.
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Far too low, but it's still nice to see him here. I don't think anyone of sound mind can deny he is one of the most talented people in music.
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My favorite rock keyboardist is Jon Lord, and one of the reasons I loved Deep Purple was the interplay between Blackmore and Lord. In most rock bands, keys are usually held back and used as "filler" but in DP, Lord had the chops (and then some) to stand on equal ground and do battle with his overbearing guitarist.
I get the same feeling when I listen to Rudess and Petrucci. DT has obviously set up the band to attain a very similar interplay between keys and guitar, and as good as their previous keyboard players were, Rudess is the only one with equal parts ego, technique and songwriting chops who could pull off what Jon Lord did for Deep Purple.
I've never gone hog wild over Deep Purple - I like some of their songs a lot, but never really got into them in a big way - but I totally see what you mean. :tup :tup
However...
Actually, DS always reminded me of JL more than the other two. Jordan always reminded me of Rick Wakeman.
I can see this, as well. The sounds Rudess uses are more like Wakeman, while the interplay with the guitar is more Deep Purple-like.
Far too low
Rubbish. :P Him making the list at all is quite an accomplishment considering how much music I listen to and that the list is only 25. :biggrin:
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19. Anneke van Giersbergen
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Anneke_Van_Giersbergen.jpg)
She makes the list on the strength along of her voice...that voice. She could sing just about anything and it would sound amazing. She is a key element on four of my favorite Devin Townsend records, and she has done plenty of great stuff outside of his projects, a lot of which I have still yet to hear (I will get to it all some day). The fact that she is such a pleasant soul always comes across in the live performances and videos she are parts of; just watch Devin's Retinal Circus DVD for proof of this. And again, that voice. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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There's no denying the talent of Rudess but I've always been mixed on him. I love his contributions on Scenes and even SDOIT, but I feel like over time, with more freedom, when he has the control to do whatever he wants, it misses more than it hits for me. He probably had a lot of freedom on those first DT albums he appeared on as well, but maybe perhaps a bit more restraint since he was getting used to his role in the band. I've always liked Moore and Sherinian slightly more, but Rudess is still good.
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Far too low. :biggrin: I'm going to become more critical when I see who you placed above this goddess and the wizard.
You're right about her though. Her presence and persona on stage is endearing and you can't help but smile when she does. She seems like someone who genuinely loves what she does no matter what size the crowd is.
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Never heard of her.
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(https://37.media.tumblr.com/db0cb582833134649577cbfa58ef8796/tumblr_n5fxmjxDJg1rvxc9go2_250.gif)
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I don't know who that guy in the gif is either! :lol
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(https://media2.giphy.com/media/y6r8eSqBvyeoU/giphy.gif)
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Not sure what that's from either! :lol :lol
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I don't know who that guy in the gif is either! :lol
Full Monty guy - he's aged a bit :lol
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That last one is from Good Fellas. Amazing movie!
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I don't know who that guy in the gif is either! :lol
Full Monty guy - he's aged a bit :lol
I actually saw The Full Monty. That was years ago though.
That last one is from Good Fellas. Amazing movie!
I also saw Goodfellas back in the day. Don't remember much about it.
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The drugs were good in the 80's and 90's.
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What are the 90's?
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Never heard of *whoever*
This should no longer require an answer.
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Never heard of *whoever*
This should no longer require an answer.
:lol I know right.
You know what it is, The Lovely Mrs TAC does not care to go to the movies, and there is literally NO scripted TV shows that we watch.
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And you have 13 children Lets see how many people believe this so I understand so much more now.
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And you have 13 children Lets see how many people believe this so I understand so much more now.
TLC called us about a new show. 15 TACs and Counting
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I see it took some major epic fails on the part of TAC to get some major traffic going in this thread finally. :lol :lol :tup :tup
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I'm here for you, buddy! ;D
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I see it took some major epic fails on the part of TAC to get some major traffic going in this thread finally. :lol :lol :tup :tup
:lol
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18. Keith Emerson
(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7fd5a1_d976540c0b24454fb6b84ec628eec984.jpg/v1/fill/w_589,h_392,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/7fd5a1_d976540c0b24454fb6b84ec628eec984.jpg)
To me, still the most talented rock keyboardist ever. His talent was jaw-dropping, and he brought a showmanship to rock keyboard playing that hadn't been seen yet...or since. I remember getting into ELP back in the latter half of 1992, and while everything out the band sucked me in right away, the playing of Keith Emerson had me floored for literally months. Sure, he could crush you with his dazzling chops, like in Trilogy or Karn Evil 9, but I was always grabbed by how melodic his playing often was, too. His piano work in a song like Take a Pebble could not be more perfect. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy to the man, the legend, that was Keith Emerson.
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No TAC Fail here. I actually saw ELPowell back in 1986 and it was awesome. Though I don't own a single ELP album, I enjoyed the show immensely and somewhere I have a great pic of Emerson going nuts on his keyboard.
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For those who dislike prog rock and its excess, I can see why they would really hate ELP, since they were the epitome of prog rock excess to the max in the 70s, but bombast and theatrics has always been a part of rock and roll, right?
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To me, Keith Emerson did with ELP what Jimmy Page did with Led Zeppelin. The only difference being that Emerson brought the bombast with classical music instead of heavy blues, which made it even more over-the-top to a certain extent.
Even though they don't necessarily mesh well, Keith Emerson pioneered the idea of bringing classical music into hard rock. It's a bigger challenge to combine classical music with rock than it is to bring together blues and rock (which share a much more symbiotic relationship), but he pulled it off beautifully.
It's amazing to think that a band was able to pack stadiums playing Mussorgsky, Copeland and Ginastera.
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Nice choice, Kev. Another prog great. Another great of rock and music in general.
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To be fair to TAC, I wouldn't have heard of Anneke if it wasn't for Ayreon. That first gif is pretty random, and " Full Monty guy" isn't very helpful as the Full Month isn't a movie everyone is going to know, and that second gif isn't very representative of Goodfellas either.
I got your back TAC, my fellow Genesis-hater!
And yeah, Keith, play a fewer note or a million. :laugh:
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Thanks Chris! That's cool :tup
Hey..Cool Chris..I get it! ;D
What's Ayreon?
J/k
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We shouldn't be cutting TAC any SLACK.
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We shouldn't be cutting TAC any SLACK.
:lol
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To be fair to TAC, I wouldn't have heard of Anneke if it wasn't for Ayreon. That first gif is pretty random, and " Full Monty guy" isn't very helpful as the Full Month isn't a movie everyone is going to know, and that second gif isn't very representative of Goodfellas either.
Huh? The shine box line is by far the most quoted line from Goodfellas. I see and hear that quoted all the time.
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To be fair to TAC, I wouldn't have heard of Anneke if it wasn't for Ayreon. That first gif is pretty random, and " Full Monty guy" isn't very helpful as the Full Month isn't a movie everyone is going to know, and that second gif isn't very representative of Goodfellas either.
Huh? The shine box line is by far the most quoted line from Goodfellas. I see and hear that quoted all the time.
Seriously. There are few lines that are quoted more than that one. There's the "what do you mean I'm funny?" line.
(https://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/1227876/joe-pesci-the-goodfellas-o.gif)
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Tommy's fear about Henry folding under questioning proved to be legit.
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That is bizarre! I've seen Goodfellas several times and never would have recalled that line, and have never heard it quoted either.
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Tommy's fear about Henry folding under questioning proved to be legit.
A little foreshadowing there.
That is bizarre! I've seen Goodfellas several times and never would have recalled that line, and have never heard it quoted either.
It's okay. Don't beat yourself up over it. ;)
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We shouldn't be cutting TAC any SLACK.
:rollin
Agreed!
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17. David Bowie
(https://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article7443553.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/David-Bowie.jpg)
The term "musical genius" gets overused a lot, but in the case of David Bowie, it absolutely applies. There is quite a bit of his material I either don't care for or don't "get," the material I do love is some of the best music I've ever heard, and you have to respect the artistic integrity he always had, till the very end earlier this year. I strayed from Bowie for quite a while, and it's sad that it took his death for me to rediscover his greatness, but it is what it is. Blackstar will go down as one of the best last albums anyone has ever done, and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is one of the best albums from the 70s, a decade loaded with greatness. David Bowie, you were the man. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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Well, I am in no way into David Bowie in the slightest, but I would never argue against him on anybody's list.
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I thought for sure your post was going to read, "Who is David Bowie?"
:lol :lol :biggrin: :biggrin:
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:lol Yeah, right!
I came very close to going to see him and I really regret it. In 1994, I think, he played at Avalon in Boston. It was a club show, and Avalon was a great place to see a show. Not sure why I didn't follow through.
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I thought for sure your post was going to read, "Who is David Bowie?"
:lol :lol :biggrin: :biggrin:
I was starting to think the only bands he has heard of are Dream Theater and Iron Maiden.
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I agree that Bowie is one of those artist where using the word "genius" isn't an exaggeration. He was the man. I'm extremely lucky that I got into his music over the last four years and got to really love him. His death really hit me hard.
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The term "musical genius" gets overused a lot....
Indeed, it is overused, and I don't think it applies Bowie. :p I don't "get" his music at all. I will make a point to listen to some Bowie the next couple days.
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The term "musical genius" gets overused a lot....
Indeed, it is overused, and I don't think it applies Bowie. :p I don't "get" his music at all. I will make a point to listen to some Bowie the next couple days.
Every decade Bowie evolved musically. Always taking chances, always doing what he wanted and sometimes ahead of the curve. I would say it applies.
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I thought for sure your post was going to read, "Who is David Bowie?"
:lol :lol :biggrin: :biggrin:
I was starting to think the only bands he has heard of are Dream Theater and Iron Maiden.
Hence my avatar!
Actually that's not true. I also have Bruce Dickinson solo albums!.
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I thought for sure your post was going to read, "Who is David Bowie?"
:lol :lol :biggrin: :biggrin:
I was starting to think the only bands he has heard of are Dream Theater and Iron Maiden.
Hence my avatar!
Actually that's not true. I also have Bruce Dickinson solo albums!.
Who's that?
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(https://m.memegen.com/3jpjpl.jpg)
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(https://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y393/Prog_Snob/1465166_10201111586407451_1311093540_n_zps3cf90fd3.jpg)
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I agree that Bowie is one of those artist where using the word "genius" isn't an exaggeration. He was the man. I'm extremely lucky that I got into his music over the last four years and got to really love him. His death really hit me hard.
I almost never get hit hard by the death of people I do not know, like musicians or celebrities, but Bowie was definitely one that made you think, "Damn." The fact that it happened days after he released an album so good just added to his legend, quite frankly.
The term "musical genius" gets overused a lot....
Indeed, it is overused, and I don't think it applies Bowie. :p I don't "get" his music at all. I will make a point to listen to some Bowie the next couple days.
Every decade Bowie evolved musically. Always taking chances, always doing what he wanted and sometimes ahead of the curve. I would say it applies.
Yep. :tup :tup
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Every decade Bowie evolved musically. Always taking chances, always doing what he wanted and sometimes ahead of the curve. I would say it applies.
That in and of itself doesn't make someone a genius, it just means they evolved musically, took chances, did what they wanted and were ahead of the curve.
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To stay relevant for 5 decades says the opposite. It may not be your cup of tea but the man is a musical genius.
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Every decade Bowie evolved musically. Always taking chances, always doing what he wanted and sometimes ahead of the curve. I would say it applies.
That in and of itself doesn't make someone a genius, it just means they evolved musically, took chances, did what they wanted and were ahead of the curve.
What also needs to be said, and I believe it's something kingshmegland would agree with, is that with every change and innovation he absolutely delivered in terms of quality of music. Pretty much every genre he dabbled with fit him like a glove, he always found a way to embrace new styles and different "colors" while still maintaining his own signature characteristic.
I'm about to throw in a bunch of tracks to illustrate how insanely diverse he was over the course of his five decade career and without exception managed to put out good stuff whichever style he pursued. Feel free to go through the following songs whenever you find time or will: Starman, Rebel rebel, Station to station, Ashes to ashes, Loving the alien, Miracle goodnight, Dead man walking, Something in the air, Valentine's day and Blackstar. Every single song is in its own universe. I know it's quite a list, though, sorry. :lol
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I completely agree. Bowie Like Plant, Gabriel, Simon all pave their own path.
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16. Kevin Moore
(https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_band/805.jpg)
The magic of early Dream Theater was, of course, the combination of every talented member of the band, but Kevin Moore's keyboard playing added an extra layer of melody and mystique that has never really consistently been there since he departed. He managed to be a melodic and technical player at the same time, without ever making you think that he was going overboard with the playing (and he had the chops to do so). Dream Theater has long been one of my favorite bands, and Moore's keyboard playing was one of the things that grabbed me right away when I first heard them. He has done some nice work with Chroma Key and OSI since, but the magic in his playing will likely never touch that heard on those first three Dream Theater albums again.
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I must say that I find OSI nothing but a tease. And Chroma Key, well, not my thing.
His style was great on the first 3 DT albums. I remember him playing a little keyboard and he stood fairly close to the front of the stage. I always liked that. I didn't know he even left the band when they hit the stage on the first night of the tour and there was some short haired dude on keyboards who was definitely not Kevin Moore.
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I still remember the moment I found out he was out. We were at Schnucks to get tickets to out first ever DT show (back when Schnucks was a good place to get tickets), and I was flipping through a music magazine while we were waiting and stumbled across a blurb in it that Kevin Moore had left Dream Theater. It was a like a punch to the gut. It took a bit of the wind out of my sails of getting tickets to see a band that had quickly become a favorite. I think they did a great job replacing him (and then replacing his replacement), but for me, the enigma that is Kevin Moore is an element they lost that they've never quite regained.
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he didn't write the parts, but I find some of his best work to be on the Fates Warning records he played on.
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I always got the impression that he became disillusioned with the "virtuoso" approach that Dream Theater took to their overall sound. He seems much more interested in creating soundscapes with a much broader brush stroke rather than shredding it out on keys, as evidenced by his post-DT stuff with OSI and Chroma Key.
In a way it was kind of a mutual parting of the ways, because you can see what DT really wanted in a keyboard player when they put on the full court press to bring Rudess into the band.
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15. Bono
(https://www.billboard.com/files/styles/article_main_image/public/media/u2-live-aid-1985-billboard-650.jpg)
I get why a lot of people dislike Bono; his perceived arrogance and larger than life persona can be a turnoff, but to me, his larger than life persona is a big reason why U2 is such a thrill to watch live. He has a stage presence that is both commanding and hypnotizing; it's like you can't look away, and he puts on performances that literally gets audiences eating out of the palm of his hand. Throw in what a passionate singer he is, along with him being one of my favorite lyricists, and putting him on this list was easy. He was born to perform.
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Well, I am in no way into David Bowie U2/Bono in the slightest, but I would never argue against him on anybody's list.
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U2: a band so popular, even TAC has heard of them!!
:biggrin: :biggrin:
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I've actually seen them twice, in fact!
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That's one more than me. :facepalm:
And this is when Joe comes in and talks about how he saw them back in the mid 80s, accomplishing two things: 1) reminds me that he saw them back in the day and I didn't, and 2) reminds us of how old he is. :biggrin:
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That's one more than me. :facepalm:
Suckah! ;D
First time was in 1987 at the old Boston Garden and the second was in 1992 at Foxboro Stadium.
2) reminds us of how old he is. :biggrin:
:lol
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1983 War tour and 1985 TUF tour.
You happy Kev? :lol
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Sonofa... :lol :lol
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I was 15 for the War tour. I will never forget how Bono owned the stage. It was a religious experience.
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I was 15 for the War
Was that I or II?
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I was 15 for the War
Was that I or II?
That was the war on plaid slacks and white turtleneck sweaters.
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I was 15 for the War
Was that I or II?
That was the war on plaid slacks and white turtleneck sweaters.
The war on fashion. Where's Daniel Tosh when you need him?
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Even Daniel could not fight his mom at an early age. :lol
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A little late, but yay for Anneke and KevMo! :tup
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A little late, but yay for Anneke and KevMo! :tup
Yay for getting this thread sort of back on track. :hat
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I'm sorry, but who is Daniel Tosh?
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14. Peter Gabriel
(https://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/140530203733-peter-gabriel-1988-restricted-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg)
Like Bowie, Peter Gabriel is one of those guys who has always just done what he wanted, regardless of what was expected, and the results were usually pretty great. He would have made the list merely on the strength of his solo career and the Secret World Live DVD, which is one of those live concerts that every music fans should own, but, oh yeah, he was the singer for Genesis when they were at their best in the early to mid 70s. Plus. whenever you hear him talk, he always talk real, never spitting out cliches or token answers, which you have to admire. A true music innovator, in every sense of the word.
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I'm sorry, but who is Daniel Tosh?
A load of Tosh is something you may call Genesis , Tim ;D
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I'm sorry, but who is Daniel Tosh?
You old bastard.
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Kev, I love, love, love Gabriel. I wish he recorded more. He is innovative.
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I'm sorry, but who is Daniel Tosh?
You old bastard.
You know who Daniel Tosh is?? I've heard of Peter Tosh.
Kev, I love, love, love Gabriel. I wish he recorded more. He is innovative.
*snip*
Anyway..
:corn
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I'm kind of a greatest hits fan when it comes to Peter's solo work, but the songs that I like "I REALLY LIKE!".
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Not familiar with his solo work, which is something I need to work on, but his contribution to Genesis is immense. Fantastic singer and front man.
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Not familiar with his solo work, which is something I need to work on, but his contribution to Genesis is immense. Fantastic singer and front man.
I'm the opposite: I don't care for any of the Genesis albums I've heard, but I love his solo material.
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I don't care for any of the Genesis albums I've heard,
;D
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Since I have Photobucket open, a gift for you Kev!
December 16, 1992
Axis, Boston
(https://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z246/TACPics/KevMo.jpg) (https://s195.photobucket.com/user/TACPics/media/KevMo.jpg.html)
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Nice.
Kev, I love, love, love Gabriel. I wish he recorded more. He is innovative.
Yeah, he hasn't been very prolific in the last two decades, but the stuff he releases is usually still pretty great.
Anyone here heard the song he released last year called I'm Amazing? Really, really good song.
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I don't care for any of the Genesis albums I've heard,
;D
Seconded. I do like some of Gabriel's solo work, but not enough to talk about. I will say when Sledgehammer or Big Time came up on MTV, I was glued to the screen. Now I hear those songs without the videos and I shrug and change the channel.
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I know it's kind of a cliche to say that you need to hear whole albums to get into an artist, but for solo Peter Gabriel, that is really is what it took. Sure, growing up in the 80s, I always liked Shock the Monkey, Big Time and Sledgehammer, but despite having his best of for a while later in life, it took buying studio albums like Melt, Security and Up for me to really "get" his stuff, and man oh man, did it grab me. I Grieve is still one of the best cold weather driving songs ever.
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13. Matt Bellamy
(https://images3.static-bluray.com/reviews/9199_1_large.jpg)
Everything this guy does is great. Singing? Check. Playing guitar? Check. Playing piano? Check. Write good songs? Check. Bring it live? Check. Be the best frontman of the 21st century? Check. It's almost scary how good Bellamy is at everything he does. Muse is one of the bands that is always a must-see live, and Bellamy's ability to put on a great show is a big reason why. That is no disrespect to his two band members, both of whom do a great job as well, but Bellamy is the straw that stirs Muse's drink. :metal
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Yes! I've seen him live a couple of times and Matt never ceases to amaze me. He has been one of the driving force of Muse and he really is a good songwriter as well as a pianist....basically what you wrote Kev. :tup
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No idea!
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No idea!
No $%/@! :lol
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Every decade Bowie evolved musically. Always taking chances, always doing what he wanted and sometimes ahead of the curve. I would say it applies.
That in and of itself doesn't make someone a genius, it just means they evolved musically, took chances, did what they wanted and were ahead of the curve.
What also needs to be said, and I believe it's something kingshmegland would agree with, is that with every change and innovation he absolutely delivered in terms of quality of music. Pretty much every genre he dabbled with fit him like a glove, he always found a way to embrace new styles and different "colors" while still maintaining his own signature characteristic.
Sorry, late to the party. I think "good" and "quality" are subjective - personally I think there is almost as much "fail" in the Bowie catalogue as there is "win" - but the thing I was always impressed about with him is that it never felt contrived, or like it was playing to fads, like it did with some others (Mick Jagger comes to mind; I don't think so, but it's a common knock against some of the mid-period Kiss). It always came off as the honest exploration of a curious and creative soul. There was an integrity there that I think a lot of artists can take a lesson from. I'm thinking of the Live Aid performances, and even in the SAME SONG - I'm thinking "Dancing In The Streets" - Bowie comes off as a natural to that 60's Motown swagger and Jagger - who I like, mind you - comes off as, well, someone trying just a shade too hard.
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I'd be interested to see how many Beatles songs McCartney and Lennon actually wrote together. The credits don't tell us anything, since they had agreed in the Beatles that they would get share songwriting credit no matter who wrote the song, but you can always tell who wrote what (based on who sings). That aside, I think it goes without saying that both were at their best in the Beatles. :tup :tup
Depends; except for early on, when they'd get together and write at McCartney's house in Liverpool, they didn't write in the "I've got this music, do you have any lyrics?" kind of way that Page/Plant, Roth/Van Halen, Tyler/Perry write. It was more "I've got this bit here, what do you think?" and when that conversation was done, what was a pretty good song came out an amazing song. After the first few records, it was almost all either intangible or a line here a word there. "Getting Better": "It's getting better all the time (McCartney)... Coulnd't get much worse! (Lennon)". "We Can Work It Out": The chorus is conciliatory in an optimistic way (McCartney), and the middle eight is conciliatory in a fatalist way (Lennon).
Think about that: you're one of the greatest songwriters in the history of rock, and one of the other greatest songwriters in the history of rock stands right next to you on stage. I don't know how you can have that relationship and not have each affect the other's work at least to some degree. one great example of this is "Can't Buy Me Love", ostensibly a Paul song. But John, back in Liverpool, was almost addicted to puns and wordplay (read his two books, "In His Own Write" and "Spaniard In The Works" to see what I mean) and so while most people think "Can't Buy Me Love" as in "Money cannot buy love for me", it's actually "Can't Buy Me, Love" as in "Hey love, hey girl, you can't buy me".
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I'd be interested to see how many Beatles songs McCartney and Lennon actually wrote together. The credits don't tell us anything, since they had agreed in the Beatles that they would get share songwriting credit no matter who wrote the song, but you can always tell who wrote what (based on who sings). That aside, I think it goes without saying that both were at their best in the Beatles. :tup :tup
Depends; except for early on, when they'd get together and write at McCartney's house in Liverpool, they didn't write in the "I've got this music, do you have any lyrics?" kind of way that Page/Plant, Roth/Van Halen, Tyler/Perry write. It was more "I've got this bit here, what do you think?" and when that conversation was done, what was a pretty good song came out an amazing song. After the first few records, it was almost all either intangible or a line here a word there. "Getting Better": "It's getting better all the time (McCartney)... Coulnd't get much worse! (Lennon)". "We Can Work It Out": The chorus is conciliatory in an optimistic way (McCartney), and the middle eight is conciliatory in a fatalist way (Lennon).
Think about that: you're one of the greatest songwriters in the history of rock, and one of the other greatest songwriters in the history of rock stands right next to you on stage. I don't know how you can have that relationship and not have each affect the other's work at least to some degree. one great example of this is "Can't Buy Me Love", ostensibly a Paul song. But John, back in Liverpool, was almost addicted to puns and wordplay (read his two books, "In His Own Write" and "Spaniard In The Works" to see what I mean) and so while most people think "Can't Buy Me Love" as in "Money cannot buy love for me", it's actually "Can't Buy Me, Love" as in "Hey love, hey girl, you can't buy me".
My brother has a book that goes into some detail about who wrote which song, and some details about levels of collaboration ect ect... It has been a very long time (20 years or so) since I've looked at the book, so I can't remember if it was authorized by the band/management, or even what it was called. I'll ask him about it and report back if you gents are interested.
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Be the best frontman of the 21st century? Check.
This is quite a bold statement. However, it could be true. For me personally, Corey Taylor and Kevin Barnes (of Montreal) would be up there, but Bellamy might take the top spot.
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Be the best frontman of the 21st century? Check.
This is quite a bold statement. However, it could be true. For me personally, Corey Taylor and Kevin Barnes (of Montreal) would be up there, but Bellamy might take the top spot.
I'm not saying he IS, since I haven't personally seen any of the three (though I've seen Taylor and Bellamy on video) but I don't think you can have that conversation without at least MENTIONING Jay Buchanan.
And if you're going to include "Corey Taylor" in frontmen of the 21st century (i.e. after 2000), well, Eddie Vedder is tough to beat.
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No idea!
No $%/@! :lol
:lol
:metal
(i.e. after 2000), well, Eddie Vedder is tough to beat.
While I can only take Pearl Jam in small doses, they have my total respect as a band. Total. Respect.
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Yes! I've seen him live a couple of times and Matt never ceases to amaze me. He has been one of the driving force of Muse and he really is a good songwriter as well as a pianist....basically what you wrote Kev. :tup
Hell yeah. :tup :tup
I think "good" and "quality" are subjective - personally I think there is almost as much "fail" in the Bowie catalogue as there is "win" - but the thing I was always impressed about with him is that it never felt contrived, or like it was playing to fads, like it did with some others (Mick Jagger comes to mind; I don't think so, but it's a common knock against some of the mid-period Kiss). It always came off as the honest exploration of a curious and creative soul. There was an integrity there that I think a lot of artists can take a lesson from. I'm thinking of the Live Aid performances, and even in the SAME SONG - I'm thinking "Dancing In The Streets" - Bowie comes off as a natural to that 60's Motown swagger and Jagger - who I like, mind you - comes off as, well, someone trying just a shade too hard.
I neve listen to Dancing in the Streets, so I cannot address that, but I agree with your main point about Bowie and integrity. Even when he went out of his way to make a "pop" record with Let's Dance, it was still unlike the other pop stuff you heard at the time. I realized that at the time back then, even at the age of 10. :lol
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Be the best frontman of the 21st century? Check.
This is quite a bold statement. However, it could be true. For me personally, Corey Taylor and Kevin Barnes (of Montreal) would be up there, but Bellamy might take the top spot.
I'm not saying he IS, since I haven't personally seen any of the three (though I've seen Taylor and Bellamy on video) but I don't think you can have that conversation without at least MENTIONING Jay Buchanan.
And if you're going to include "Corey Taylor" in frontmen of the 21st century (i.e. after 2000), well, Eddie Vedder is tough to beat.
I saw Rival sons live and though Jay was pretty cool and charismatic, but one of the best 21st century front men? Maybe if we give him 10 more years. And even then it's a pretty big maybe.
Corey should find a spot in a 21st century list as much as Bellamy. Both have only had a year or two of touring before 21st century kicked in, both were yet to reach their peak of popularity.
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12. Tony Banks
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c5/95/d5/c595d5f6b3379fca3077f4d0eb357909.jpg)
I could have put Tony Banks on this list merely on the strength of the latter half of The Cinema Show, and then when you factor in his large resume of playing with Genesis, as well as the fact that he was always one of their main songwriters, he was easy to put this high. He is probably my favorite rock keyboardist ever. He had such an elegant style, meaning he could dazzle you with proggy leads over complex time signatures while never overplaying and always letting melody, not chops, carry the day. His playing in Fading Lights has some of my favorite playing of his as well. The part that begins around 6:47-ish or so is one of the most bad ass I've ever heard someone playing. It's like the synth notes crawl over one another as it progresses, and I have seen it described before as sounding like spiders crawling up a wall. You have to hear it to know what I am talking about. Amazing musician and player. :hefdaddy
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I was shocked to see he was the boss in Genesis in the rock doc.
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Never loved him as much as I love Rick Wakeman or Jordan Rudess, but he's great nonetheless.
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I couldn't care less about Bellamy, but Tony Banks is great. He is by no means on the level of someone like Rudess or Wakeman, but he certainly deserves mentioning.
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:corn
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I couldn't care less about Bellamy, but Tony Banks is great. He is by no means on the level of someone like Rudess or Wakeman, but he certainly deserves mentioning.
Sorry, boss, maybe not notes per second, but compositionally, he is their equal. He is easily my vote for one of the top three composers in rock.
Even the stuff that many pass off as "crappy" Genesis has an intricacy and uniqueness that is lost on most people. I often call Abacab their most progressive record (in the true sense of the word) for this reason. "Me And Sarah Jane". Verse, chorus, verse chorus pop piffle? Nah, prog masterpiece. Five sections, none which ever repeat with the unifying melody over the top. Brilliant.
The "Medley" part of the "In The Cage Medley" on 3SL is my favorite moment in recorded music ever, and Wind and Wuthering is in my top five albums of all time, largely because of his work on One For The Vine (a VERY special song for me, let's leave it at that), "Evidence of Autumn" is a top five song for me (also very special to me for various reasons) and the "Unquiet Slumbers...Quiet Earth... Afterglow" suite (yes, I know he doesn't get a credit on "Unquiet..." but he does on the other two, for which he is either the primary or sole writer). yeah, his lyrics sometimes suck, but so be it.
Any fans need to check out his two symphonic works, "Seven" and (what I call) "Sixes" (it's actually "Six Pieces for an Orchestra" or something like that).
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"crappy" Genesis
That's redundant.
;D
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I couldn't care less about Bellamy, but Tony Banks is great. He is by no means on the level of someone like Rudess or Wakeman, but he certainly deserves mentioning.
Sorry, boss, maybe not notes per second, but compositionally, he is their equal. He is easily my vote for one of the top three composers in rock.
Even the stuff that many pass off as "crappy" Genesis has an intricacy and uniqueness that is lost on most people. I often call Abacab their most progressive record (in the true sense of the word) for this reason. "Me And Sarah Jane". Verse, chorus, verse chorus pop piffle? Nah, prog masterpiece. Five sections, none which ever repeat with the unifying melody over the top. Brilliant.
The "Medley" part of the "In The Cage Medley" on 3SL is my favorite moment in recorded music ever, and Wind and Wuthering is in my top five albums of all time, largely because of his work on One For The Vine (a VERY special song for me, let's leave it at that), "Evidence of Autumn" is a top five song for me (also very special to me for various reasons) and the "Unquiet Slumbers...Quiet Earth... Afterglow" suite (yes, I know he doesn't get a credit on "Unquiet..." but he does on the other two, for which he is either the primary or sole writer). yeah, his lyrics sometimes suck, but so be it.
:tup :tup
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I couldn't care less about Bellamy, but Tony Banks is great. He is by no means on the level of someone like Rudess or Wakeman, but he certainly deserves mentioning.
Sorry, boss, maybe not notes per second, but compositionally, he is their equal. He is easily my vote for one of the top three composers in rock.
Even the stuff that many pass off as "crappy" Genesis has an intricacy and uniqueness that is lost on most people. I often call Abacab their most progressive record (in the true sense of the word) for this reason. "Me And Sarah Jane". Verse, chorus, verse chorus pop piffle? Nah, prog masterpiece. Five sections, none which ever repeat with the unifying melody over the top. Brilliant.
The "Medley" part of the "In The Cage Medley" on 3SL is my favorite moment in recorded music ever, and Wind and Wuthering is in my top five albums of all time, largely because of his work on One For The Vine (a VERY special song for me, let's leave it at that), "Evidence of Autumn" is a top five song for me (also very special to me for various reasons) and the "Unquiet Slumbers...Quiet Earth... Afterglow" suite (yes, I know he doesn't get a credit on "Unquiet..." but he does on the other two, for which he is either the primary or sole writer). yeah, his lyrics sometimes suck, but so be it.
Any fans need to check out his two symphonic works, "Seven" and (what I call) "Sixes" (it's actually "Six Pieces for an Orchestra" or something like that).
It's capricious to assume I was referring to notes per second. I've never known Wakeman to be a fast player, at least not on the same level as JR, so that logic goes out the window. I just don't think Banks compares to them.
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I've never known Wakeman to be a fast player, at least not on the same level as JR, so that logic goes out the window.
:eek :eek
https://youtu.be/KxHXkfum4eA?t=155
:P
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Tony Banks is awesome. The first thing that hooked me so many years ago was that opening piano prelude from Firth Of Fifth. He may not be as technical, but he wins in the songwriting dept.
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Yep, the intro to Firth of Fifth is nothing short of magnificent. :hefdaddy
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11. Brian May
(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/04/07/17/32F18ADB00000578-3528187-image-m-77_1460048278943.jpg)
There is warmth to Brian May's playing, singing and personality, that is hard not to be drawn to. I have referred to him as rock royalty before, as well as saying that his guitar playing sound majestic, so how fitting is it that he was in a band called Queen? That can't be a coincidence, right? ;) While the song itself is not one of my favorites, May's performance of Too Much Love Will Kill You at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, where he sings and plays piano, remains one of the most touching things I've ever seen at a rock concert (even if I didn't witness it live). All Hail Queen. And all Hail Brian May. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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No issues here. The Lovely Mrs. TAC LOVES Queen.
Saw Brian May open for GnR in 1993 at the Boston Garden. Had Cozy Powell on drums! :metal
Gary Cherone joined him on stage for Tie Your Mother Down.
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Very nice.
I should also point out that the solo album he did in the late 90s called Another World is really good. I got a lot of mileage out of that CD. :coolio
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My first album with Brian May was one of the rarest - Star Fleet project (being a VH nut) - and then later got into Queen , more as a greatest hits type listen but I always rated Brian May.
The first artist in the list (from memory) outside of DT and maybe Walsh that has really had a significant influence on my life. You could argue that Zep and The Beatles have influenced my musical life whether I listened to them much or not though I suppose :lol
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My favorite guitarist ever. He managed to play so many styles but remarkably always sound distinct.
Is there a requirement to do these Favorite players' list? Kev inspired me to do my own list over the weekend and I am amazed at what I came up with. :lol
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I couldn't care less about Bellamy, but Tony Banks is great. He is by no means on the level of someone like Rudess or Wakeman, but he certainly deserves mentioning.
Sorry, boss, maybe not notes per second, but compositionally, he is their equal. He is easily my vote for one of the top three composers in rock.
Even the stuff that many pass off as "crappy" Genesis has an intricacy and uniqueness that is lost on most people. I often call Abacab their most progressive record (in the true sense of the word) for this reason. "Me And Sarah Jane". Verse, chorus, verse chorus pop piffle? Nah, prog masterpiece. Five sections, none which ever repeat with the unifying melody over the top. Brilliant.
The "Medley" part of the "In The Cage Medley" on 3SL is my favorite moment in recorded music ever, and Wind and Wuthering is in my top five albums of all time, largely because of his work on One For The Vine (a VERY special song for me, let's leave it at that), "Evidence of Autumn" is a top five song for me (also very special to me for various reasons) and the "Unquiet Slumbers...Quiet Earth... Afterglow" suite (yes, I know he doesn't get a credit on "Unquiet..." but he does on the other two, for which he is either the primary or sole writer). yeah, his lyrics sometimes suck, but so be it.
Any fans need to check out his two symphonic works, "Seven" and (what I call) "Sixes" (it's actually "Six Pieces for an Orchestra" or something like that).
It's capricious to assume I was referring to notes per second. I've never known Wakeman to be a fast player, at least not on the same level as JR, so that logic goes out the window. I just don't think Banks compares to them.
I didn't assume anything about what you said; I was just conceding that part of the argument before it was ever made. The point being, of course, that there are likely more things TECHNICALLY that Wakeman/Rudess (and Emerson is here as well) can do that Banks can't than vice versa. I just thing Banks is WOEFULLY underrated for his compositional skills.
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Love Brian May's big fat juicy guitar tone. He can make it quite heavy too.
There are some guitarists who can compose a guitar solo that's practically a song within a song, which makes it that much more memorable. May is one of those, along with David Gilmour and Jimmy Page.
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I've never known Wakeman to be a fast player, at least not on the same level as JR, so that logic goes out the window.
:eek :eek
https://youtu.be/KxHXkfum4eA?t=155
:P
So you're saying Wakeman and Rudess are similarly inclined to play that way? I've listened to both long enough to know the answer to that one. ;)
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Brian May really does have a guitar tone like no other. I remember being blown away by Brighton Rock as a kid and it's still one of my favorites. He's a fantastic songwriter too, 39 and All Dead All Dead are fantastic and beautiful songs.
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There are some guitarists who can compose a guitar solo that's practically a song within a song, which makes it that much more memorable. May is one of those, along with David Gilmour and Jimmy Page.
Agreed. The solos to Hammer to Fall and Flick of the Wrist fall under the description, IMO.
Is there a requirement to do these Favorite players' list? Kev inspired me to do my own list over the weekend and I am amazed at what I came up with. :lol
Nope. Have at it when I am done in about two weeks. :)
The first artist in the list (from memory) outside of DT and maybe Walsh that has really had a significant influence on my life.
Nice. :coolio
I've never known Wakeman to be a fast player, at least not on the same level as JR, so that logic goes out the window.
:eek :eek
https://youtu.be/KxHXkfum4eA?t=155
:P
So you're saying Wakeman and Rudess are similarly inclined to play that way? I've listened to both long enough to know the answer to that one. ;)
No, I am saying that Wakeman is a fast player. :lol
Brian May really does have a guitar tone like no other. I remember being blown away by Brighton Rock as a kid and it's still one of my favorites. He's a fantastic songwriter too, 39 and All Dead All Dead are fantastic and beautiful songs.
'39 remains not only one of my favorite Queen songs, but one of my favorite songs by anyone. So much fun to crank up and sing along to. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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Kev Shmev, I was wondering, will any Opeth members be on your list??
If it's spoiler, you don't have to say. :D
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Kev Shmev, I was wondering, will any Opeth members be on your list??
If it's spoiler, you don't have to say. :D
It's all good. Akerfeldt came close, but didn't quite make the cut. And with that, I will list some honorable mentions and notable exceptions.
Honorable mentions
Mikael Akerfeldt
Richard Wright
Tomas Bodin
Chris Squire
Thom Yorke
Buck Dharma
James LaBrie
Rob Halford
Tony Levin
Notable exceptions who didn't make it because of non-musical reasons
Roger Waters (one of my favorite songwriters and my 2nd favorite lyricist, but he's been too much of a dick over the years)
Mike Portnoy (the drummer I air drum to the 2nd most, and he is on a lot of my favorite albums, but his online activity and general personality make him too unlikable away from the drum kit)
John Lennon (would have been my Beatles choice over McCartney two years ago, but the stories about him being a hitter of women lowered him big time in my eyes)
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Kev Shmev, I was wondering, will any Iron Maiden members be on your list??
If it's a spoiler, you don't have to say. :D
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If Kip Winger isn't in there , then there'll be trouble too Kev.
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If Kip Winger isn't in there , then there'll be trouble too Kev.
Poor Kev. Keeps getting his nice thread trolled!
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Tim you selfish bastard. Lol.
Also Kev, I'm pulling a Tim and Alex Lifeson better be on your list.
What hypocrisy! :lol
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Honorable mentions
Tomas Bodin
Thom Yorke
Never heard of them. Who are these guys?
Seriously.
Alex Lifeson better be on your list.
Who? ;D
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The joke will be on you clowns when Michael Sweet is number 1.
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Kev Shmev, I was wondering, will any Iron Maiden members be on your list??
If it's a spoiler, you don't have to say. :D
XD XD
And nice list! Can't wait for your top ten!
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And no more spoiler or hints from those of you who know me and my tastes well. :P
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The joke will be on you clowns when Michael Sweet is number 1.
That'll be a sweet #1!
:neverusethis:
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;D
Mad props Kev.
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Exucse my lack of musical taste, but what's a winger?
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Been trying to figure that out for years!
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You just opened up a can find 80's worms. :lol
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The joke will be on you clowns when Michael Sweet is number 1.
That'll be a sweet #1!
:neverusethis:
(https://gif-finder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Leonardo-DiCaprio-Clap.gif)
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To hell with the TAC devil.
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Been trying to figure that out for years!
Ah, sorry bout that! :)
Just your signature and Kip Winger? so I was just wondering what a Winger was. :)
You just opened up a can find 80's worms. :lol
can find 80's worms? What's that?
The joke will be on you clowns when Michael Sweet is number 1.
That'll be a sweet #1!
:neverusethis:
(https://gif-finder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Leonardo-DiCaprio-Clap.gif)
OMGEE it's DiCaprio!!!! <3
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You just opened up a can find 80's worms. :lol
can find 80's worms? What's that?
Yeah, what the hell is that?
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TAC never liked the band Winger. We all harass him about it.
He even has this made for him. Check this out.
:TAC:
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You just opened up a can find 80's worms. :lol
can find 80's worms? What's that?
Yeah, what the hell is that?
Kip's Playgirl spread. :lol
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TAC never liked the band Winger. We all harass him about it.
He even has this made for him. Check this out.
:TAC:
Oooohhhh, that's why! Ah, thanks! :tup
And I'm so sorry TAC for bringing that up. My apologies. I didn't know, but now I do so I won't make that mistake again.
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You just opened up a can find 80's worms. :lol
can find 80's worms? What's that?
Yeah, what the hell is that?
Kip's Playgirl spread. :lol
:lol
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You just opened up a can find 80's worms. :lol
can find 80's worms? What's that?
Yeah, what the hell is that?
Kip's Playgirl spread. :lol
Out of respect for Kev I will delay posting that photo until Kip is announced in the list. ;D
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WTF just happened to this thread. One minute I'm enjoying Kev's list, and the next I'm getting Wingered!
Assholes! :lol
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Something had to be done to stop the thread being Maidened ;D
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Honorable mentions
Tomas Bodin
Thom Yorke
Who? ;D
I had to google Tomas Bodin. And Buck Dharma. And Michael Sweet for that matter.
Thom Yorke is with Radiohead. Or Coldplay. Or one of those other British bands with whiney-sounding vocals.
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Great call on (almost) Buck Dharma, the solo on Harvester of Eyes is one of my favorites from any guitar player. His kinda quirky style of playing suits BOC perfectly. Plus I've always thought Buck Dharma was just a cool stage name.
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Not sure how anyone named Buck is not a porn star.
(https://i.imgur.com/ozg8cyy.png)
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There was a time when every thread turned inevitably to Kevin Moore after some discussion. Now it seems that every thread has to have a Winger mention, and rightfully so. :metal :biggrin: :metal
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Honorable mentions
James LaBrie
Really??
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Thom Yorke is with Radiohead. Or Coldplay. Or one of those other British bands with whiney-sounding vocals.
:lol
Yorke is an absolutely insane, over the top singer. He has his calm and warm moments, but he's way too upfront and eccentric to be thrown together with guys from Coldplay, Keane or Travis.
There are some fantastic choices in your honorable mentions, Kev. I agree with your thoughts on some guys not ending up as favorites because of their personality aside from musicianship. That's why Mike Portnoy probably wouldn't end up on my list neither, but Roger Waters will nevertheless hang on my living-room wall soon, and John Lennon already does (along with the rest of The Beatles).
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Thom Yorke is with Radiohead. Or Coldplay. Or one of those other British bands with whiney-sounding vocals.
:lol
Yorke is an absolutely insane, over the top singer. He has his calm and warm moments, but he's way too upfront and eccentric to be thrown together with guys from Coldplay, Keane or Travis.
There are some fantastic choices in your honorable mentions, Kev. I agree with your thoughts on some guys not ending up as favorites because of their personality aside from musicianship. That's why Mike Portnoy probably wouldn't end up on my list neither, but Roger Waters will nevertheless hang on my living-room wall soon, and John Lennon already does (along with the rest of The Beatles).
Just a little counter point....
Portnoy would be on my list - and very high indeed - BECAUSE of his personality, not in spite of it. Maybe it's because I'm the same age, and from the same part of the country, but with a couple exceptions, I can relate - even if it isn't necessarily something I'd be proud of - to him and his love for music, and his protectiveness over his band and career.
Thom Yorke wouldn't get anywhere near my list - I'd put Ian Hill of Judas Priest in there before Thom Yorke. Or Dennis Stratton. Or the guy that took over for Joe Perry for half a tour in '78. He would, however, have a prominent place - easily top five if not top three - on my lists of grossly overrated musicians and/or exceedingly pretentious musicians.
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Thom Yorke wouldn't get anywhere near my list - I'd put Ian Hill of Judas Priest in there before Thom Yorke. Or Dennis Stratton. Or the guy that took over for Joe Perry for half a tour in '78. He would, however, have a prominent place - easily top five if not top three - on my lists of grossly overrated musicians and/or exceedingly pretentious musicians.
Come on, you might not like his voice or his personality, but Thom Yorke is in many ways a defining musician of the last 20-odd years. His music with Radiohead may be pretentious indeed, but you can't deny the critical acclaim the band has gotten for being inventive and non-conforming. That's not even counting the 'classic' albums they have released with OK Computer, Kid A and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Insomniac. Their latest release was featured on many a top X list of 2016. Thom Yorke is an polarising artist, for sure, but an artist nonetheless and a damn good song-writer and musician.
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No, I am saying that Wakeman is a fast player. :lol
I never denied that, though.
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On to the top 10...
10. Freddie Mercury
(https://www.kiss959.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/11/freddi5-1024x576.jpg)
It was not my intention to have the two Queen members back-to-back, but it's just the way it worked out. Anyway, who can argue with the voice of Freddie Mercury? He is arguably both the greatest rock singer ever AND the greatest rock frontman ever. Watching Live at Wembley '86 is just inspiring, seeing him hold that many in the palm of his hand. His vocals over the years were jaw-dropping already, and then you listen to Innuendo and realize he did those when he was on the verge of death from AIDS...it's just unbelievable, no matter how you slice it. The list of musicians you never see anyone say a bad thing about is really short, and Freddie Mercury is at the top of that list. He might be the most universally loved rock star ever. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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It was not my intention to have the two Queen members back-to-back, but it's just the way it worked out.
No problem, so long as John Deacon isn't #9! ;D
Anyway, as I said, The Lovely Mrs TAC isn't wicked into music, but she loves Queen. I'm a casual Queen fan and Freddie Mercury is simply amazing. Amazing! :hefdaddy
As great as he was in his prime, I think his performance on Innuendo was one of his finest. Great album.
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It was not my intention to have the two Queen members back-to-back, but it's just the way it worked out.
No problem, so long as John Deacon isn't #9! ;D
Anyway, as I said, The Lovely Mrs TAC isn't wicked into music, but she loves Queen. I'm a casual Queen fan and Freddie Mercury is simply amazing. Amazing! :hefdaddy
As great as he was in his prime, I think his performance on Innuendo was one of his finest. Great album.
Agreed. I played some Queen albums yesterday during my 70's splurge of Zep, The Who , Queen, The Eagles and I came to the conclusion that I had been right all these years to keep it to their Best Of's because I rarely liked anything other than the hits :lol
I prefer the more standard commercial rock side of Queen to the "out there" theatrical, pompy stuff. Not that you could call Bohemian Rhapsody standard anything , but I think you know what I mean :lol Speaking of Innuendo , a good example of a song from Freddie that I love is The Show Must Go On , not only because it's amazing but because of the circumstances.
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Brent, I know I made a mistake of sending you The Prophet's Song in your roulette, but I hope you give a listen to the Queen song I was originally planning to send to you: It's Late. I think that would suit your tastes just fine. ;)
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Brent, I know I made a mistake of sending you The Prophet's Song in your roulette, but I hope you give a listen to the Queen song I was originally planning to send to you: It's Late. I think that would suit your tastes just fine. ;)
Yeah - I quite like that Erwin and it's more the rocking style of Queen I like. That riff sounds very familiar , so I have either heard it before or it's very close to another prominent song by someone .
Sorry about the rating I gave The Prophet's Song but I couldn't deal with all the waffle. I used Skip a few minutes in when I played A Night At The Opera yesterday :lol
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Notable exceptions who didn't make it because of non-musical reasons
Roger Waters (one of my favorite songwriters and my 2nd favorite lyricist, but he's been too much of a dick over the years)
I was curious if your list would be solely based on musical output or not. I try not to base my opinions of an artist too much around their personality characteristics. If they are a cool person outside the studio (like Brian May of Freddie Mercury, from your list) it just enhances my admiration for them. If they are pricks, I tend to look the other way and just enjoy their music. Though I will say seeing Roger enjoying himself as much as he seems to be doing these days is quite a pleasure.
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It was not my intention to have the two Queen members back-to-back, but it's just the way it worked out.
No problem, so long as John Deacon isn't #9! ;D
Anyway, as I said, The Lovely Mrs TAC isn't wicked into music, but she loves Queen. I'm a casual Queen fan and Freddie Mercury is simply amazing. Amazing! :hefdaddy
As great as he was in his prime, I think his performance on Innuendo was one of his finest. Great album.
Agreed. I played some Queen albums yesterday during my 70's splurge of Zep, The Who , Queen, The Eagles and I came to the conclusion that I had been right all these years to keep it to their Best Of's because I rarely liked anything other than the hits :lol
I prefer the more standard commercial rock side of Queen to the "out there" theatrical, pompy stuff. Not that you could call Bohemian Rhapsody standard anything , but I think you know what I mean :lol Speaking of Innuendo , a good example of a song from Freddie that I love is The Show Must Go On , not only because it's amazing but because of the circumstances.
That's my ONE knock against Queen; I don't want all AC/DC albums (ten variations on a theme every year and a half) but it's just too jarring sometimes to go from "Death on Two Legs" to "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon", then from "I'm In Love With My Car" to "My Best Friend", then from "The Prophet Song" to "Love of My Life"... That's in some measure why Queen II is by far my favorite Queen record; it's the most consistent and flowing.
By the way, technically speaking, Brian wrote "The Show Must Go On" as a sort of "Hey, I can only imagine what you're going through, my friend" gesture. Then, of course, Freddie sang the ever-living SHIT out of that song.
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I'm always mystified at the love for Prophet's Song. Most of the song is good, but the middle section is way too long and gets annoying really quick. I know quite a few Queen fans in "real life" :P, and not a single one ever brings that song up when we talk about them.
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Thom Yorke wouldn't get anywhere near my list - I'd put Ian Hill of Judas Priest in there before Thom Yorke. Or Dennis Stratton. Or the guy that took over for Joe Perry for half a tour in '78. He would, however, have a prominent place - easily top five if not top three - on my lists of grossly overrated musicians and/or exceedingly pretentious musicians.
Come on, you might not like his voice or his personality, but Thom Yorke is in many ways a defining musician of the last 20-odd years. His music with Radiohead may be pretentious indeed, but you can't deny the critical acclaim the band has gotten for being inventive and non-conforming. That's not even counting the 'classic' albums they have released with OK Computer, Kid A and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Insomniac. Their latest release was featured on many a top X list of 2016. Thom Yorke is an polarising artist, for sure, but an artist nonetheless and a damn good song-writer and musician.
Not going to hijack someone else's thread too much, but while I see some of what you write - and have already gotten my arms around the ludicrous idea that Radiohead will be first-ballot inductees into the Jann WennerTM Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - some of the stuff you write is subjective, and no, I don't buy all of it. Sure, lot's of critical acclaim, and sure their "non-conforming" angle is part of that. But I don't see all the "inventive", and while Yorke clearly doesn't "suck" (I'm able to separate the idea that just because I don't like it doesn't mean he "sucks"), in my view, he's not the legend that some make him out to be.
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I'm always mystified at the love for Prophet's Song. Most of the song is good, but the middle section is way too long and gets annoying really quick. I know quite a few Queen fans in "real life" :P, and not a single one ever brings that song up when we talk about them.
Prophet's Song is my favorite Queen song..... and unrelated, Queen II is my favorite album of theirs... but I'm an established weirdo.
Great list thus far. Freddy Mercury was all-time.
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Thom Yorke wouldn't get anywhere near my list - I'd put Ian Hill of Judas Priest in there before Thom Yorke. Or Dennis Stratton. Or the guy that took over for Joe Perry for half a tour in '78. He would, however, have a prominent place - easily top five if not top three - on my lists of grossly overrated musicians and/or exceedingly pretentious musicians.
Come on, you might not like his voice or his personality, but Thom Yorke is in many ways a defining musician of the last 20-odd years. His music with Radiohead may be pretentious indeed, but you can't deny the critical acclaim the band has gotten for being inventive and non-conforming. That's not even counting the 'classic' albums they have released with OK Computer, Kid A and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Insomniac. Their latest release was featured on many a top X list of 2016. Thom Yorke is an polarising artist, for sure, but an artist nonetheless and a damn good song-writer and musician.
Not going to hijack someone else's thread too much, but while I see some of what you write - and have already gotten my arms around the ludicrous idea that Radiohead will be first-ballot inductees into the Jann WennerTM Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - some of the stuff you write is subjective, and no, I don't buy all of it. Sure, lot's of critical acclaim, and sure their "non-conforming" angle is part of that. But I don't see all the "inventive", and while Yorke clearly doesn't "suck" (I'm able to separate the idea that just because I don't like it doesn't mean he "sucks"), in my view, he's not the legend that some make him out to be.
I've yet to hear a Radiohead song I like
Mercury :hefdaddy
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I'm always mystified at the love for Prophet's Song. Most of the song is good, but the middle section is way too long and gets annoying really quick. I know quite a few Queen fans in "real life" :P, and not a single one ever brings that song up when we talk about them.
It's loved in prog circles, and my mistake in sending that song to Brent is because I thought he was a prog-head. I should have paid attention to the Kip Winger clues. :lol
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Brent is not a prog head.
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Brent is not a prog head.
:)
I do find the majority of prog that I hear loses my interest very quickly.
Having said that there is the odd rare example of an album that combines prog , rock/metal and melodic hooks in a way that could well be my favourite type of music. It's just so rare. Recent examples from Fates Warning and Symphony X would qualify and Images and Words is as good as my favourite album of all time ............. yet I have no love at all for Train Of Thought etc....
tastes eh?
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A Night at the Opera is highly overrated. The Prophets Song is a great song and the best song on it.
I couldn't name one Radiohead song.
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I'm always mystified at the love for Prophet's Song. Most of the song is good, but the middle section is way too long and gets annoying really quick. I know quite a few Queen fans in "real life" :P, and not a single one ever brings that song up when we talk about them.
It's loved in prog circles
Probably because it's the longest song they ever did.
Queen II is my favorite album of theirs... but I'm an established weirdo.
Great list thus far. Freddy Mercury was all-time.
Queen II is pretty awesome. I'd probably put it 4th on my Queen list, behind Sheer Heart Attack, Innuendo and A Night at the Opera.
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Kev, here are various versions of 'Too Much Love Will Kill You' (if you weren't aware of them). A shame that due to copyright problems, a polished version did not make it onto 'The Miracle' LP. Also a shame that other demos, a couple of solo tracks, along with the nonalbum B sides, were not chosen. The songs were there to make it a very good/great album.
TMLWKY Brian demo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVrfEqjGZ4A
TMLWKY Brian demo with Elizabeth Lamers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PokXANl5fxU
TMLWKY Brian demo, slightly different vocals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCptxc2wJn0
TMLWLY inst demo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVgtCScH4P4
TMLWKY Freddie demo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxmpcRCpjFU
fan made 'combo' of Brian and Freddie studio versions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKFEjZ98Q4s
Brian guitar version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy4HMj10QXw
fan piano version (since I can't find Brian's)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guz9XJx7IfA
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That's a lot of versions to get to. :lol :biggrin:
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9. David Gilmour
(https://matterofsound.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/david-gilmour-fender.jpg?w=1038&h=576&crop=1)
Gilmour has long been my favorite member of Pink Floyd. Not only is he a phenomenal guitar player, a good singer and a great songwriter, he was always the taker of the high road when it came to the decades-long feud with former bandmate Roger Waters. I could have put him on this list for his contributions to the classic Floyd records, which some Waters fanboys try to marginalize, but in the last 25 years, he's given us The Division Bell, On an Island and Rattle That Lock, all of which I adore as well. Lastly, that four note lead that kicks off Part 2 of Shine On You Crazy Diamond... :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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that four note lead that kicks off Part 2 of Shine On You Crazy Diamond... :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
If those were the only four notes he ever played he'd still be worthy of this list.
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Like May , Gilmour is someone I rated very highly without having a comprehensive knowledge of his discography. As is obvious I have more of an affinity for the 80's period of most artists . So although I only knew the hits of their classic period (and saw them live once...with flying pigs and all) , as a guitarist I knew one of the finest players going around when I saw/heard him.
And when it came time to do my DTF Top 50 one of the obvious choices was A Momentary Lapse of Reason, which stood out like a sore thumb in the middle of all the hard rock and metal. That is more the Floyd of my childhood and the slightly harder more accessible edge made it one of the most listened to albums of the period for me.
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David Gilmour is a top 5 guitar player for me. Maybe top 3.
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I love him as a guitar player, he's never been a favorite singer or lyricist of mine. In terms of songwriting, he doesn't touch me as much as Roger Waters does, but nevertheless, his melodies and solos give me chills, and that's more than enough.
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8. John Petrucci
(https://youtube-guitar.up.seesaa.net/image/John20Petrucci.JPG)
What can I say about John Petrucci that hasn't been said here already? The guitarist, main songwriter and the true heart and soul of Dream Theater. Think of the other "guitar hero"-type players and then realize that none of them have the songwriting skills that he has. A true all-world talent. :metal
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Awesome!
John Petrucci is awesome. He is talented in many ways: writing songs, playing the guitar, leading a band, management and all those nice stuff.
His lyrics writing is always top notch for me and his guitar playing is way out there. One of my favorite guitarists among others.
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His lyrics are kind of hit and miss for me, but he does have some really good ones, especially back in the 90s.
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Ah yes the early ages. I think his songwriting was at its peak on Awake-Falling Into Infinity.
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Can't argue with this selection :metal
And every time I see that photo that Kev used , the first thing that comes to mind is stuff like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3okO9qGt7A4
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Well, JP would definitely be in my Top 10, and quite possibly my Top 5.
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On to the top 10...
10. Freddie Mercury
(https://www.kiss959.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/11/freddi5-1024x576.jpg)
It was not my intention to have the two Queen members back-to-back, but it's just the way it worked out. Anyway, who can argue with the voice of Freddie Mercury? He is arguably both the greatest rock singer ever AND the greatest rock frontman ever. Watching Live at Wembley '86 is just inspiring, seeing him hold that many in the palm of his hand. His vocals over the years were jaw-dropping already, and then you listen to Innuendo and realize he did those when he was on the verge of death from AIDS...it's just unbelievable, no matter how you slice it. The list of musicians you never see anyone say a bad thing about is really short, and Freddie Mercury is at the top of that list. He might be the most universally loved rock star ever. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
About 10 spots too low! ;)
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7. Roine Stolt
(https://progshine.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/roine_stolt3.jpg?w=400&h=400)
The highest rated Swede in my list!! :biggrin: One of the greatest songwriters ever in the prog rock genre, Stolt is also one of the best guitar players ever, and to top it off, can also sing pretty well, although his unusual style is certainly an acquired taste for a lot of people. Some of my favorite albums and songs ever feature Stolt as the or a main songwriter (Flower Kings and Transatlantic). What's really amazing is how prolific he has been over the last 23 years. Something like 25 or so total studio albums amongst his various bands and projects, and quite a few of them are either double discs or have a bonus disc of more new material and/or covers. In other words, he has tons of quality AND quantity!! :tup :tup
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:corn
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Hey, TAC. Do you know who that is?
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Hey, TAC. Do you know who that is?
Yeah, he's in Transatlantic (yawn) and The Flower Kings (Zzzzz).
I've sampled both bands as DTF folks do gaga over them, but they are definitely not for me.
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(https://cdn.business2community.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/tumblr_m26nwnRvVT1r78rf5o1_5003.gif)
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(https://i.onionstatic.com/avclub/5351/33/16x9/960.jpg)
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:lol
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Tim, I love when you fail.
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The real question is, is anyone going to comment on this selection?
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Hey, TAC. Do you know who that is?
Yeah, he's in Transatlantic (yawn) and The Flower Kings (Zzzzz).
I've sampled both bands as DTF folks do gaga over them, but they are definitely not for me.
TAC and I might have been separated at birth.
I do enjoy his guitar playing, but those vocals....
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I find Roine a chameleon. He has the ability to fit in any band yet still sound like Roine.
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The real question is, is anyone going to comment on this selection?
Oh, right. Back on topic. There are never too many good things to say about him. His vocals are an acquired taste but I think they're great. They are never overdone and fit perfectly.
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The highest rated Swede in my list!! :biggrin: One of the greatest songwriters ever in the prog rock genre, Stolt is also one of the best guitar players ever, and to top it off, can also sing pretty well, although his unusual style is certainly an acquired taste for a lot of people. Some of my favorite albums and songs ever feature Stolt as the or a main songwriter (Flower Kings and Transatlantic). What's really amazing is how prolific he has been over the last 23 years. Something like 25 or so total studio albums amongst his various bands and projects, and quite a few of them are either double discs or have a bonus disc of more new material and/or covers. In other words, he has tons of quality AND quantity!! :tup :tup
Look, all the usual caveats: I know it's "favorite", I know it's all taste, and I love hearing about OTHER people's taste, etc. etc. etc., but for me personally, as much as I love Roine, and have all the Transatlantic stuff (and LOVE it) and even like the Anderson/Stolt stuff, I can't in good conscience have him at 7 on a list where Dave Gilmour and Fred Mercury are 9 and 10 respectively. I just can't.
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So don't put Roine ahead of them when you do your list. :P
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6. Geddy Lee
(https://archives.rickresource.com/oldattachments/69004.jpg)
One of the most talented musicians ever and a classy, humble guy to boot. Given that Alex Lifeson and he pretty much wrote all of the music in wrote, while Neil Peart wrote the lyrics, Alex was always the heart of the band, Geddy always struck me as the brains behind Rush's music, generally speaking (not that either didn't supply a lot of both). I get why many dislike him and Rush because of his voice, it grew on me and became something I saw as a strength in the band for much of their career. His singing in the 70s was very shrieky and his singing here in the 21st century has been a bit too yelpy more often than not, but from around 1980 through the mid 90s, his voice was in perfect form, in the studio and live. And his bass playing...I can't say enough good things about it. I can still listen to certain Rush songs I've heard probably thousands of times and still be floored by his bass lines - Territories, YYZ, Turn the Page, Freewill, etc. The list goes on and on. Bottom line: Rush has been my favorite band since late 1991, and Geddy Lee is one of the three reasons why. :hat
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^^ Is it safe to say the other two guys of Rush are going to be revealed in this rest of this list? Or at least, Alex Lifeson? That stated, Geddy Lee did a whole lot of stuff for the band, live and studio. Bass, lead vocals, keyboards/synthesizers. I would like to think, vocally, he's aged as well as one can be compared to the 70s. Although, I do think that it peaked around the Snakes & Arrows tour where the tours following that the live vocals kinda went downhill, but he still delivered nicely in the Clockwork Angels album.
That stated, if Rush isn't going to be doing anything in the future, I liked to hear another solo album from him. I liked My Favorite Headache.
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Good choice. I have been turned off by countless bands because of the vocal characteristics of the vocalist, but I never had that issue with Rush.
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Love him. :heart
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Good call with Geddy. As someone who has played guitar since I was 15, and even though I've been lucky enough to be a "professional musician" (albeit not full time) for a while, to this day can barely strum and sing at the same time, and for him to play THOSE bass lines, with the pedals/triggers, AND sing, it's freaking crazy to me. But he made a comment, in an obscure interview about four years ago or so, where he said he WORKS at that. He plays and plays each line so that he doesn't have to think about it, before he ever gets to the point of singing over it. Taught me a lesson, and my playing has improved markedly since then. I would learn a part then move on to the next one, and it never really became "mine". Now I play them over and over until - like he said - I don't even have to think about it. The upshot? I've got a "setlist" of about five or six songs that I can now play AND sing in case I'm ever called on to do so (probably not. ;)).
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Geddy Lee as a bassist is amazing. As a vocalist, though, at first I thought I already gained the acquired taste needed for his voice. Then I got to listen to the Subdivisions tribute albun and that's when I admitted to myself that I love listening to Rush songs more when somebody else is singing. Loved Jani Lane's take on Bastille Day. Even Kip Winger was amazing. :metal
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Geddy Lee as a bassist is amazing. As a vocalist, though, at first I thought I already gained the acquired taste needed for his voice. Then I got to listen to the Subdivisions tribute albun and that's when I admitted to myself that I love listening to Rush songs more when somebody else is singing. Loved Jani Lane's take on Bastille Day. Even Kip Winger was amazing. :metal
He's not a singer in the sense that Elton John is, or Freddie Mercury. I don't think you'll ever hear him in the context where you trot out a noted "singer" (though he did sing the national anthem of Canada at the MLB All-Star game once, go figure). But he's not THAT bad. He carries the note well, he does not sing in a monotone (like some bad singers...). I mean, in a genre that has Vince Neil, Anthony Keidis, Lemmy, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen, I think Geddy gets short shrift.
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I don't think Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen are in the same genre as Geddy. :p
Kev is correct, though, that there was a run of albums where Geddy's voice was good. I love his singing in Counterparts. In fact, I am listening to it now because of this post. :lol My favorite Rush album. :metal
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I don't think Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen are in the same genre as Geddy. :p
Kev is correct, though, that there was a run of albums where Geddy's voice was good. I love his singing in Counterparts. In fact, I am listening to it now because of this post. :lol My favorite Rush album. :metal
Well, we can argue Bob, but you're probably right about Cohen. I put him in there because of the reverence that so many hipsters have for him (I don't get it personally) but I won't argue with you on that one.
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To expand what I said last night, yes, I think Geddy's voice was shrieky in the 70s (how can anyone not think that :lol), but I still liked it most of the time. For the style of music they were playing at the time, it worked most of the time. I just meant, from a traditional POV and for non-hardcore fans, his voice in the 80s and 90s was more...listenable.
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Agreed. I eventually became more tolerable of the caterwauling of the 70s. His later vocals were definitely more tolerable.
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I got into Rush when Moving Pictures came out. I remember a kid on my school bus blasting Rush, and that high pitched voice sounded so cool and different. It really appealed to me, and I count it as the genesis to love singers like Kiske.
Geddy is a great pick on any list.
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I had the pleasure to shake his hand outside or the 1st show of the Power Windows tour in Maine. I was a puddle.
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I think the fact that it was 32 years ago, it's probably safe to wash that hand.
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It's the hand I.......
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...glaze the donuts with?
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I had the pleasure to shake his hand outside or the 1st show of the Power Windows tour in Maine. I was a puddle.
You said the same thing about me when I sent you that mix tape.
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...glaze the donuts with?
I'm glad you used plural there.
I had the pleasure to shake his hand outside or the 1st show of the Power Windows tour in Maine. I was a puddle.
You said the same thing about me when I sent you that mix tape.
All I need is 2 songs. I win the race.
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To expand what I said last night, yes, I think Geddy's voice was shrieky in the 70s (how can anyone not think that :lol), but I still liked it most of the time. For the style of music they were playing at the time, it worked most of the time. I just meant, from a traditional POV and for non-hardcore fans, his voice in the 80s and 90s was more...listenable.
But would you be like me who would want to hear Kip Winger sing all the Rush songs? :lol
Kip Winger's Limelight (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_KoxJIxCHRA)
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Pass. I didn't like a single song by Winger even back in the day, when I was knee deep in that kind of music.
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What is your favorite Geddy Lee song?
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What is your favorite Geddy Lee song?
If you mean favorite song that Geddy Lee has ever been a part of, the answer is 2112.
If you mean favorite Geddy Lee solo song, the answer is The Present Tense.
If you mean the song that most encapsulates how great Geddy Lee is, in all aspects, the answer is...unclear. Top of my head, the first song that comes to mind is Tom Sawyer. Two catchy as heck keyboard parts (intro and the middle section before the guitar solo), some of his catchiest vocal melodies ever, and bad ass bass playing as always. Call it overplayed, but there is a reason it is so popular.
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Slipping and Still are my 2 favs on MFH.
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I like those both a lot, as well. The whole album is good, but I gravitate to The Present Tense the most because of that bridge in the middle of the song.
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If you mean the song that most encapsulates how great Geddy Lee is, in all aspects, the answer is...unclear. Top of my head, the first song that comes to mind is Tom Sawyer. Two catchy as heck keyboard parts (intro and the middle section before the guitar solo), some of his catchiest vocal melodies ever, and bad ass bass playing as always. Call it overplayed, but there is a reason it is so popular.
Tom Sawyer is also what comes to mind when I think of Geddy at his best.
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Geddy :hefdaddy
I find it impossible to pick just one song as Geddy's best performance, but I'd say Hold Your Fire on the whole is his finest hour: his voice sounds great and the vocal melodies and harmonies are awesome, plus his basslines on songs like Force Ten and Prime Mover are cool as hell, and the keyboards are used nicely (though some of that credit goes to Andy Richards).
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Pass. I didn't like a single song by Winger even back in the day,
Best post of the thread!
(that didn't come out right, Kev. You know what I mean!)
But would you be like me who would want to hear Kip Winger sing all the Rush songs? :lol
Kip Winger's Limelight (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_KoxJIxCHRA)
Dude, WTF??
The wuss thread is here:
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=29408.0
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:rollin I think I need Brent to back me up.
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No Winger talk in this thread as we approach the top 5, please. ;)
I find it impossible to pick just one song as Geddy's best performance, but I'd say Hold Your Fire on the whole is his finest hour: his voice sounds great and the vocal melodies and harmonies are awesome, plus his basslines on songs like Force Ten and Prime Mover are cool as hell, and the keyboards are used nicely (though some of that credit goes to Andy Richards).
For sure. :coolio
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Looking forward to the Top 5. I know two of them. Maybe 3. But I also know that I am not a fan of them though.
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Geddy is just an awesome musician :hefdaddy His playing on every album is great but if I had to choose my favorite album vocally, it'd be Grace Under Pressure or something else in that era.
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Vocally, I go with Permanent Waves/Moving Pictures.
Playing wise, I go with Hemisheres.
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Power Windows through Counterparts is my favorite era vocally - to me that's when Geddy became a singer. He started utilizing his voice to the fullest, and I feel like Peter Collins and Rupert Hine as producers got the best performances out of him. He sounds good on the first 10 albums as well (apart from the most over-the-top 70s screams :lol), but there are vocal harmonies on just two or three songs, and I like the maturity that his voice gained over the years.
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5. Devin Townsend
(https://metalassault.com/Interviews/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/devin_rc2_small.jpg)
I am generally not a big metal guy - there are probably only a handful or so of artists I would label as metal that I am a big fan of - but Devin Townsend is one of my favorites from any genre. Not only is he a great songwriter, a great and unique guitar player and a phenomenal singer (and screamer :lol, which I normally do not like), but he is about the most down to earth musician you'll ever come across; he's always super cool and that comes across in every interview he ever does. Plus, he acts like a big goof at times, which I can certainly relate to! Life is too short to be dead serious all the time. :lol :lol His toilet humor doesn't always work for me, even when he occasionally throws it into a song, but everything else about the man is great enough to where I can overlook that. I mean, the guy gave us Terria and Addicted. Those two albums alone would make him :hefdaddy in my eyes, and then you realize he has a shit ton of other great music. I can say the same thing about him that I said about Roine Stolt: he is amazingly prolific, meaning he gives us quality AND quantity. :metal :metal
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There's one that I knew was coming. I have tried, checked out a ton of youtube videos, but he is not for me. Still, he seems like a very creative guy and has made a ton of music.
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Devin Townsend's singing in Touching Tongues still gives me goosebumps.
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:tup
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This is the first musician on your list I'm not crazy for. Like Tim said, very talented but I just can't get into his music.
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This is the first musician on your list I'm not crazy for. Like Tim said, very talented but I just can't get into his music.
You mean you don't even like his song "Bend It Like Bender (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4PkL5FwDEA)"?? Out of all the people!
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This is the first musician on your list I'm not crazy for. Like Tim said, very talented but I just can't get into his music.
You mean you don't even like his song "Bend It Like Bender (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4PkL5FwDEA)"?? Out of all the people!
It's possible not to like studio version but not this one :woot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQLxkGGP3M0
I may not like all of his music but I love him :D his latest album with DTP is in my top 5 of 2016.
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This is the first musician on your list I'm not crazy for. Like Tim said, very talented but I just can't get into his music.
You mean you don't even like his song "Bend It Like Bender (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4PkL5FwDEA)"?? Out of all the people!
It's possible not to like studio version but not this one :woot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQLxkGGP3M0
I may not like all of his music but I love him :D his latest album with DTP is in my top 5 of 2016.
God I love Dev so much. He's just an all rounder and I'd love to just chat to him about random bullshit. He's very self aware, I feel, and I like that.
Tomi, that link might be the new one that I show to people to get them into Dev, it's just too much fun not to want to listen to on repeat. Also, Anneke :heart
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This is the first musician on your list I'm not crazy for. Like Tim said, very talented but I just can't get into his music.
You mean you don't even like his song "Bend It Like Bender (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4PkL5FwDEA)"?? Out of all the people!
:lol. I know right!
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God I love Dev so much. He's just an all rounder and I'd love to just chat to him about random bullshit. He's very self aware, I feel, and I like that.
Tomi, that link might be the new one that I show to people to get them into Dev, it's just too much fun not to want to listen to on repeat. Also, Anneke :heart
And butts :P
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I get why some are not big fans of Devin. A couple of friends (who have known me for 25+ years) have on several occasions expressed a lot of surprise at how big a fan I am of Devin, considering his style is not usually in my wheelhouse.
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I get why some are not big fans of Devin. A couple of friends (who have known me for 25+ years) have on several occasions expressed a lot of surprise at how big a fan I am of Devin, considering his style is not usually in my wheelhouse.
I'm not surprised actually. He's one of those artists that defies boundaries.
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Very true. And despite him being one of my favorites, I am still not a fan of his speed metal side. I have zero interest in SYL, and when he does speed/trash stuff as a solo artists (or DTP/DTB), those songs are usually skippers for me.
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I was never into SYL either. I love the work he does with Anneke.
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There's one that I knew was coming. I have tried, checked out a ton of youtube videos, but he is not for me. Still, he seems like a very creative guy and has made a ton of music.
Ditto.
Until I came here he was that weird guy who did that album with Vai that stuffed up a great run of albums :lol
Like Tim I can't deny his originality (or his personality) but I have never managed to connect with anything I have sampled unfortunately.
Devin Townsend's singing in Touching Tongues still gives me goosebumps.
If memory serves correct I did actually like that song Erwin :angel:
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I was never into SYL either. I love the work he does with Anneke.
Hell yes! Her voice is suited perfectly for his music. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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I was never into SYL either. I love the work he does with Anneke.
Hell yes! Her voice is suited perfectly for his music. :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
The first time I saw the live Bend It Like Bender on YouTube I was hooked. You're right about him. He seems like a fun guy just based on his stage persona. He's one of the more underrated frontmen in music.
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Ditto.
Until I came here he was that weird guy who did that album with Vai that stuffed up a great run of albums :lol
Like Tim I can't deny his originality (or his personality) but I have never managed to connect with anything I have sampled unfortunately.
Put me in that camp as well. I like HIM, I really liked that series of vids where he wrote, recorded and produced a song in real time, that was entertaining and illuminating, and he's clearly a talented guy, but his music is just not... I don't know. I won't say he sucks, it's on me, but it just doesn't connect at all. (And I agree on that Vai comment; I was big into Vai, really liked the Flexible work and even the Alcatrazz work, then that album came out, with a ton of hype about the singer, and... pfffft. Did nothing for me.)
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Sex and Religion had lots of problems, primarily that Vai actually works better with an actual band instead of an all-star lineup. I personally don't find Devin Townsend's vocals as one of the album's problems. More of Vai not really knowing at the time how to write good vocal melodies that capitalize on Devin's vocal abilities.
Devin Townsend's singing in Touching Tongues still gives me goosebumps.
If memory serves correct I did actually like that song Erwin :angel:
It's heavenly (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNvWBtDIf3g)
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I really liked Sex & Religion when it came out and I think Devin did an awesome job with his vocals. Deep Down Into The Pain is one of my favorite Vai tunes. Some of the songs are a bit too out there for me, but that's always the case with Vai.
And even if the tour didn't feature Bozzio and Stevens it was a really great concert experience.
Then I heard Ocean Machine and was blown away, one of my alltime favorite records. :metal :metal :metal
Sadly, in my opinion, Devin never reached that level again. He had some great records, some good, some boring ones, but he hasn't really grabbed me, maybe since Synchestra.
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4. Neal Morse
(https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_band/712.jpg)
Say what you want about Neal Morse - "he's too religious"; "he's too formulaic"; "he's too this or too that" - but the guy is an unbelievable songwriter and musician. It is staggering how much great music he has written over the last 22 years. Between Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Flying Colors and his solo career (or with Neal Morse Band), I count around 25 studio albums, a handful of which are doubles, and I would say that I am a huge fan of probably 18-20 of them (and I like the rest to some degree). He is not a great singer in the traditional singer, but his voice just has a warm quality that is great to listen to; he could sing the phone book and it would sound great, especially since he is the king of melody. And as a multi-instrumentalist, he has improved his electric guitar playing over the years to where he is no longer a slouch in that area, at least relative to his skills on the keys and acoustic guitar (where he slays at both). It's a shame that he will never get his due and forever be the "great nothing," but that takes nothing away from how much I've enjoyed his music for 17 years now. :coolio
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I know you are seeing him next week but I get to see him in May at RoSfest. I was so happy to see him in Spock's Beard in the late 90's.
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Easily in my top 5. The man is brilliant and, like Steven Wilson, anything he touches is gold. I can't say enough good things about him. Even his religious lyrics, which many people have a problem with, are simply inspiring, and this is coming from an agnostic.
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Neal Morse is indeed a great song-writer, even though he is quite formulaic. I don't really see that as a negative thing either, since he has this distinct style that you can hear it's him. That's highly admirable in a song-writer. You mentioned him being the 'king of melody', and I agree, for his melodies are what stand out most about his writing, to me at least. Add to that that he's a great keyboard player too. Even though too much of his music in a row gets tiring for me (because, quite frankly, a lot of it IS similar), I can definitely see why you would put him up this high.
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Quite possibly my favorite musician of the last 20 years, along with Steven Wilson. Such a talented man, no words do him justice. And he's the nicest guy in the history of rock music, hands down.
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I just picked up some of his older solo work and wow. Just wow. "Formulaic" is a dumb term, because the list of true music legends that are probably "formulaic" if you looked really closely is as long as my weiner. Arm. I meant arm.
Good pick.
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Great pick, would be my #1 for sure without much thought. With all of his strengths, I think his strongest points are the songwriting and keyboard. Not to take away from his guitar playing and singing. Oh, lyrics are another strong point. Although they can get a bit repetitive at time (at least some phrases), they totally touch my soul unlike anything else I listen to by a mile. I don't mind him being formulaic because his formula is EPIC. And I think his bands (solo, Transatlantic) use a gratuitous amount of old school prog sounds which is awesome.
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:corn
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Quite possibly my favorite musician of the last 20 years, along with Steven Wilson. Such a talented man, no words do him justice. And he's the nicest guy in the history of rock music, hands down.
You might be right. Neal strikes me as a guy who'd be nice to just about anybody.
"Formulaic" is a dumb term, because the list of true music legends that are probably "formulaic" if you looked really closely
Agreed. I think, in Neal's case, 2000 was when he mastered the structure for an epic, seen in TA's All of the Above and SB's The Great Nothing, and the vast majority of his long epics since then have pretty much followed that same structure. While I get that it can be samey, he does it so damn well.
Oh, lyrics are another strong point.
I actually do think his lyrics are good, too. He always throws in a hokey one or two ('I had mustard today"; "Seņor Valasco"; etc.), but even when writing spiritual or even religious lyrics, he usually has very interesting word play. And I can honestly say that few songs hit me lyrically as much as Emma does. Such a great and bittersweet song about childhood.
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3. Neil Peart
(https://theparadiddler.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/np-hyf-tour.jpg)
I've always been more of an air drummer than an air guitarist, and who is more awesome to air drum to than rock's greatest drummer, Mr. Neil Peart? Not only is he my favorite drummer (from my favorite band), but he is my favorite lyricist, too. Okay, he had some hokey fantasy stuff in the 70s, but once the 80s hit, he was on a roll lyrically for over a decade where nearly everything they came from his pen was just fantastic. Peart can come off as standoffish to some fans, because he's really not a social guy, so while it's easy to wonder how a guy who has done so many shows in public over the last four decades can still be so shy around strangers, I totally get it; not everyone is built to treat every stranger like they are a long-awaited friend. ;) And when it is all said and done, when you consider his ability on the drums and his way with words, he is, at the same time, both one of the most impressive and unlikely rock stars ever. I will leave this with the gesture that I have seen throw his way countless times at concerts over the years... :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy :hefdaddy
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Yep. My favorite lyricist, my favorite drummer and a member of one of my favorite bands. It would end up very high on my list as well.
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One of my favorite tidbits that he stated was during the Beyond the Lighted Stage documentary when he talked about his long journey in the late 90s. He stated that while he was driving across Canada, across Southwest America, etc., he thought no one recognized him once during that long trip and he was more than fine with that since he just wanted to be a guy driving across roads and that's excitement enough for him.
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Yep, I remember that. Neil just wants to not be recognized, and I am guessing most people wouldn't (Geddy is probably the one guy from Rush more than a tiny percentage would recognize on a glance in public).
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Another thing he said in that was "I didn't want to be famous, I just wanted to be good."
Neil Peart is awesome. What else can you say. Great choice for the Top 3.
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So anyway, I definitely know one of the Top 2, and I can accept him before Peart. I'm torn between two guys for the other pick, and either one of those, I cannot accept.
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I am honestly stumped on the last two. I think I know who one of them might be, based on my knowledge of his music tastes. But I wouldn't have thought he would put him as high as #2.
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I am sure some can guess the two, but let's wait for the reveals. :biggrin:
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Power and precision. There was something technical that drew me to Neil's playing. He set the tone to the music.
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There was sometime technical that Drew new to Neil's playing. He settled tone to the music.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/CiYImHHBivpAs/giphy.gif)
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:lol
Fixed!
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There was sometime technical that Drew new to Neil's playing. He settled tone to the music.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/CiYImHHBivpAs/giphy.gif)
:rollin
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The funny thing is a write a huge 200 word post and nothing is wrong. 2 sentences and I never look what I type and fuck it all up. :lol
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The funny thing is a write a huge 200 word post and nothing is wrong.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JUSnEmgNvNM/hqdefault.jpg)
I DARE you to write a 200 word post.
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Not on my phone. A computer yes but not on my phone.
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2. Steven Wilson
(https://wpmedia.montrealgazette.com/2015/06/montreal-que-june-27-2015-english-musician-steven-wil.jpg?quality=55&strip=all&w=840&h=630&crop=1)
My favorite songwriter of the last 25 years, by just a hair over Neal Morse. I give SW the slight nod in that regard because he is more diverse in regards to style and genres. All that aside, he can do it all. Phenomenal songwriter, phenomenal producer, great guitarist (especially as a soloist), underrated piano/keyboard player and an effective singer (given his God-given limitations). Plus, he is just an interesting guy to listen to; every time he does an interview, you always know it is going to be interesting, since he is not one to give boring answers. Sure, he is kind of pretentious, but he is British, so what do you expect? :p :lol Between Porcupine Tree, his solo career, Storm Corrosion and Blackfield, he has many of favorite albums, just not of the last few decades, but of all-time. There aren't enough superlatives in the English language for how highly I think of him as a musician.
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He's right up there for me as well. I agree about how strong his songwriting skills are.
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Yeah figured he was one of them. Not the one I'm sure of though.
He gets a lot of love around these parts. I've tried Porcupine Tree a number of times. Fair to say that I don't get it.
But anyway, not unexpected. He has a career (so far) to be totally respected, and seems to have given his fans lots of material. Like Devin Townsend, who I am also not into, Wilson seems to be productive and effective.
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Tim, that is a great comparison with Pete Townsend.
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The comparison was Devin Townsend though. :lol
Anyway, I'm not the biggest SW fan. He's undeniably creative, but something about him just rubs me the wrong way, and I've never been able to get into the majority of his stuff, even though there are some absolutely great tunes scattered through his discography here and there.
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I love him :hefdaddy
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Steven is definitely in my top 3 as well. :tup
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But anyway, not unexpected. He has a career (so far) to be totally respected, and seems to have given his fans lots of material. Like Devin Townsend, who I am also not into, Wilson seems to be productive and effective.
Tim, that is a great comparison with Pete Townsend.
Dude?? :lol
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Wow. I guess I was pushing my thoughts onto Tim's post. I still stand by it. He's way more Pete, than Devin.
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Tim, that is a great comparison with Pete Townsend.
WHO? :neverusethis:
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Pete Townshend is awesome, but no one from the Who is making my list. I am not even sure he'd be the highest Who member if I had to expand this to 50 or 100. Keith Moon probably would, since I put him just behind Bonham, who was 25 on this list, on my pantheon of drummers.
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:facepalm: :lol
There is something about both being very experimental that makes them very similar.
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Fantastic choice, I love that guy.
Now, I have a feeling I might be slightly disappointed by what I think would be your number one. So I better go back a few pages, hoping the musician I'm thinking of was already included in the list. ;D
EDIT: OK, went back a few pages, it's not who I thought it might be. To be completely honest, I don't know who the number one might be. We'll see.
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No argument from me. He is a Top 5 artist for me. There isn't too much that he does that doesn't impress me. His older stuff with Porcupine Tree is some of the best music I've ever heard.
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Number one is definitely either Steve Harris or James Hetfield!
Actually, I have two guys in mind for #1. Which means one of those was left off the Top 25 completely, which to me, based on Kev's post history, would be quite shocking.
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Lifeson would be number 1, methinks.
I understand the appeal of Wilson, but with the exception of the Hand.Cannot.Erase album, I always just get him at the intellectual level. I just don't connect emotionally with his music, even the often-praised The Raven That Refused to Sing and Porcupine Tree's Heart Attack in a Layby. Routine from HCE, however, gets me all the time. Powerful song. If only the music video is better. :lol
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Lifeson would be number 1, methinks.
He's not even one of the two I'm thinking of.
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Lifeson would be number 1, methinks.
He's not even one of the two I'm thinking of.
That's why you fail Tim.
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Lifeson would be number 1, methinks.
He's not even one of the two I'm thinking of.
Who are the two?
Also, have you read the whole thread? Did you see the honorable mentions? Just curious.
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Number one is definitely either Steve Harris or James Hetfield!
Either of those would be disappointing at the top spot. Especially Mr. Yeah-heah :lol
(https://68.media.tumblr.com/456a8cd475ffa8cd28b2dc53f274ca97/tumblr_ntqq0mCdHd1tpri36o1_500.jpg)
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Have I read the thread? I've been the Assistant OP! ;D
*double checks Honorable Mentions*
Honorable mentions
Mikael Akerfeldt
Notable exceptions who didn't make it because of non-musical reasons
Roger Waters (one of my favorite songwriters and my 2nd favorite lyricist, but he's been too much of a dick over the years)
:blush
;D
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Can I just say that in reading your list, Kev, I have come to realize that I am not really a prog-head. :lol
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Can I just say that in reading your list, Kev, I have come to realize that I am not really a prog-head. :lol
The funny thing is, I listen to a crap load of non-prog, but a lot of my favorite music is prog (Neal Morse, Flower Kings, Genesis, Yes, etc.) or has strong prog leanings at times (Rush, PT/SW).
Have I read the thread? I've been the Assistant OP! ;D
*double checks Honorable Mentions*
...
Heh.
Waters probably would have been number 1 on my list had I done it in late 1990/1991, right after I really got into Pink Floyd.
Akerfeldt just missed the cut, as I pointed out. The fact that every interview I see with him bores me to death didn't help his cause. :lol
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Akerfeldt just missed the cut, as I pointed out. The fact that every interview I see with him bores me to death didn't help his cause. :lol
It probably doesn't help that the interviews I read about him usually has the topic, "Why does Opeth don't do death growls in the vocals anymore?" I understand the reason why and all and it's valid. I just don't need to read it in every interview.
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1. Susanna Hoffs
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mrPQ_wl0M_Y/U6563KwrEHI/AAAAAAAAExA/RyRXUsqXf88/s1600/Susanna+hoffs+2014.jpg)
Was there ever any doubt as to who number 1 would be? This iconic member of the Bangles, known for a handful of smash hits in the 80s, Hoffs has one of the greatest moments in music video history, as seen in the still photo above. She is the best.
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:lol
#1 Hottie! I'd walk like an Egyptian for her anytime.
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I have no problem with this pic. In fact, she has aged gorgeously. That lovelyh smile is still there without that ridiculous hair.
Killing myself to think who I danced with in middle school to 'Eternal Flame.'
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Close you eyes
Give me your hand...
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Can't tell if serious... lol
No disrespect if this is #1, just not what I expected haha.
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Oops, wrong thread. :P
The real number 1...
1. Alex Lifeson
(https://www.doublenecksg.com/images/star_page/Alex3.jpg)
My favorite member from my favorite band, just happens to also be my all-time favorite musician. I'll be the first to admit that there are certainly better musicians than him, but he has a style and a vibe that is just so special; I cannot imagine any other guitar player having been in that band. And Alex Lifeson the person is a big reason why he is number 1 here, too. Basically, he acts how I would if I were a successful musician: serious when he has to be, but just silly the rest of the time; he works hard and he plays hard. Plus, I ultimately view him as the heart and soul of Rush's music. While Geddy was more the brains, Alex was more the heart (although both brought plenty of both to the table). Lerxst is a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, and that part of his personality just oozes out of his playing. Even in Rush songs where they went nuts with the playing, he would always bust out a solo or two that just dripped with emotion. He has been my favorite musician since 1992, and I doubt anyone will ever overtake him.
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Cue the Bastille Day riff...
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Thank you for the thread, Kev, this was an enjoyable read!
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Alex rocks (as do Neil and SW)! :metal His playing style is one of the biggest reasons why I love Rush as much as I do, and on top of that he's a hilarious dude.
Nice list, Kev! :tup
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Thanks for the list, Kev. Because of this, I am reconsidering checking out Neal and Roine's work.
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I have no problem with this pic. In fact, she has aged gorgeously. That lovelyh smile is still there without that ridiculous hair.
Killing myself to think who I danced with in middle school to 'Eternal Flame.'
Seconding a couple posts here:
1. Susanna Hoffs is just as beautiful now as she was in her heyday. She has really aged gracefully.
2. Steven Wilson Does.Not.Compute. I just don't connect with him. I love some of his work with others - "Sunsets on Empire" may be Fish's greatest solo song, and the Crimson remasters are the standard by which all others should be judged from here on out - but I've tried and tried and... let's just say that if there was a "supergroup" with Devin Townsend and Steven Wilson, I wouldn't walk across the street to see them.
3. Not sure he's my number one, but I like the Alex Lifeson pick; he's surely the most underrated member of Rush, and watching him play little snippets of things in the Snakes and Arrows documentary just shows how much more he's capable of beyond Rush. Plus he has the biggest hands.
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Hell yeah, a fellow Serb. :metal
Yep, Alex is awesome. Great player, unique style, and an extremely funny guy. I love him. :heart
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My guitar idol. His chordal phrasings are second to none. He can fit any mood for a song and I love hearing him solo. So emotive.
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Excellent choice.
Kev, can you or do you play any instrument?
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Nice list, Kev! :tup
Thank you for the thread, Kev, this was an enjoyable read!
Thanks for the list, Kev. Because of this, I am reconsidering checking out Neal and Roine's work.
Thanks!
And thanks to everyone who read and participated in it. :tup :tup
Because of this, I am reconsidering checking out Neal and Roine's work.
Sweet. Feel free to ask for recommendations. :)
1. Susanna Hoffs is just as beautiful now as she was in her heyday. She has really aged gracefully.
Damn right. Call it good genes, but someone shouldn't like as good as she still does (or did a few years ago when I saw a picture of her at like 52 years old).
Hell yeah, a fellow Serb. :metal
Yep, Alex is awesome. Great player, unique style, and an extremely funny guy. I love him. :heart
:hat
My guitar idol. His chordal phrasings are second to none. He can fit any mood for a song and I love hearing him solo. So emotive.
:coolio
Kev, can you or do you play any instrument?
No. I dabbled with the piano about 20 years ago, but just never put in the time necessary to get good at all. It actually was for lack of trying. :lol :lol
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I get why some are not big fans of Devin. A couple of friends (who have known me for 25+ years) have on several occasions expressed a lot of surprise at how big a fan I am of Devin, considering his style is not usually in my wheelhouse.
I think it really depends on what they've been exposed to. His music is all over the place, so it's very easy to believe they simply haven't heard the songs that might make an impact on them.
I avoided Devin's music for many years myself because the very little I heard seemed like pure silliness. Then I saw/heard "Deadhead" from the Royal Albert Hall Show early last year and was floored. I waited my whole life to hear something like it. Of course, this prompted me to dig a bit deeper into his stuff, and wow, I became a huge fan very quickly. Luckily, he stopped in my city on September 11th of last year, and it was amazing. I met him and the band afterward. Great people all around.
And Anneke. Damn. Talk about an instantly recognizable and distinct voice.....and that smile.
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Ironically, it took me over 10 years to really appreciate how awesome Deadhead is. For a long time, it was on my "good song that I rarely listen to" list. Not anymore.
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What I appreciate, Kev (and which also infuriates me in a good way), are the good topics that you come up with. I am not as 'hip' on all of them, but I LEARN from them. Some of your artists, due to a lack of input from my older inner circle, I have never heard of.
Nice guys, such as Mike Miles, Peter Buck, etc..........I 'initially' never heard of, but cohorts of the time pushed them on to me in a good way. Those times are over.....except for posts such as yours.
I'll be a putz as to Lifeson for one reason: the two times I saw Rush in Baltimore this decade, he wore a plaid flannel shirt. The 'C'mon, Man' line came to mind. If you are a lead guitarist in a rock band (unless it is grunge), you don't wear plaid. ;)
On a personal note, rearrange the positions for Freddie Mercury and Geddie Lee, as with Brian May and Alex, and we're good. Thanks for the education.
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I have no problem with Neal Morse being "formulaic", since he's formulaic in the same way that Beethoven wrote 9 symphonies that each had 4 movements of allegro, adagio, scherzo and rondo.
And while I'm not religious, I love his lyrics. Not a great vocalist, but there is an "every man" or common man quality to his singing that just works well with the subject matter of his lyrics. He's not preaching. He's making a very personal appeal.