KevShmev's FAVORITE 25 MUSICIANS (#1 now featured!!)

[Destiny Of Chaos]

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" , 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.

[Big Hath]

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 Wenner^TM 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 

[erwinrafael]

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" , 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. 

[TAC]

Brent is not a prog head.

[bl5150]

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?

[Cool Chris]

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.

[KevShmev]

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" , 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.

[DragonAttack]

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

[KevShmev]

That's a lot of versions to get to.

[KevShmev]

9. David Gilmour



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...

[Imaginos]

that four note lead that kicks off Part 2 of Shine On You Crazy Diamond...

If those were the only four notes he ever played he'd still be worthy of this list.

[bl5150]

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.

[LudwigVan]

David Gilmour is a top 5 guitar player for me. Maybe top 3.

[Mladen]

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.

[KevShmev]

8. John Petrucci



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. 

[Serah Farron]

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.

[KevShmev]

His lyrics are kind of hit and miss for me, but he does have some really good ones, especially back in the 90s.

[Serah Farron]

Ah yes the early ages. I think his songwriting was at its peak on Awake-Falling Into Infinity.

[bl5150]

Can't argue with this selection 

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

[Prog Snob]

Well, JP would definitely be in my Top 10, and quite possibly my Top 5.

[As I Am]

On to the top 10...

10. Freddie Mercury



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. 

About 10 spots too low!

[KevShmev]

7. Roine Stolt



The highest rated Swede in my list!!    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!!

[TAC]

 

[Prog Snob]

Hey, TAC. Do you know who that is?

[TAC]

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.

[Prog Snob]

[TAC]

[bl5150]

 

[King Postwhore]

Tim,  I love when you fail.

[KevShmev]

The real question is, is anyone going to comment on this selection?

[Cool Chris]

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....

[King Postwhore]

I find Roine a chameleon.  He has the ability to fit in any band yet still sound like Roine.

[Prog Snob]

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.

[Stadler]

The highest rated Swede in my list!!    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!!

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. 

[KevShmev]

So don't put Roine ahead of them when you do your list.