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

[King Postwhore]

Power and precision.   There was something technical that drew me to Neil's playing.  He set the tone to the music. 

[bl5150]

There was sometime technical that Drew new to Neil's playing.  He settled tone to the music.   

[King Postwhore]

 

Fixed! 

[TAC]

There was sometime technical that Drew new to Neil's playing.  He settled tone to the music.   

 

[King Postwhore]

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.

[TAC]

The funny thing is a write a huge 200 word post and nothing is wrong.   

I DARE you to write a 200 word post.

[King Postwhore]

Not on my phone.  A computer yes but not on my phone.

[KevShmev]

2. Steven Wilson



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? 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.

[King Postwhore]

He's right up there for me as well.  I agree about how strong his songwriting skills are.

[TAC]

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.

[King Postwhore]

Tim, that is a great comparison with Pete Townsend.

[Scorpion]

The comparison was Devin Townsend though.

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.

[Tomislav95]

I love him

[SomeoneLikeHim]

Steven is definitely in my top 3 as well.

[TAC]

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??

[King Postwhore]

Wow.  I guess I was pushing my thoughts onto Tim's post.  I still stand by it.  He's way more Pete, than Devin.

[bl5150]

Tim, that is a great comparison with Pete Townsend.

WHO? 

[KevShmev]

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.

[King Postwhore]

 



There is something about both being very experimental that makes them very similar.

[Mladen]

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. 

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.

[Prog Snob]

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.

[TAC]

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.

[erwinrafael]

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. 

[TAC]

Lifeson would be number 1, methinks.

He's not even one of the two I'm thinking of.

[King Postwhore]

Lifeson would be number 1, methinks.

He's not even one of the two I'm thinking of.

That's why you fail Tim.

[KevShmev]

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.

[Prog Snob]

Number one is definitely either Steve Harris or James Hetfield!

Either of those would be disappointing at the top spot. Especially Mr. Yeah-heah 

[TAC]

Have I read the thread? I've been the Assistant OP!

*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)

 


 

[erwinrafael]

Can I just say that in reading your list, Kev, I have come to realize that I am not really a prog-head. 

[KevShmev]

Can I just say that in reading your list, Kev, I have come to realize that I am not really a prog-head. 

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!

*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. 

[Anguyen92]

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. 

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.

[KevShmev]

1. Susanna Hoffs



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.

[King Postwhore]

 

#1 Hottie!  I'd walk like an Egyptian for her anytime.

[Cool Chris]

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.'

[erwinrafael]

Close you eyes
Give me your hand...