Today's Music...

Good call on the Dave, I am really ignorant for not mentioning him.

I just feel that STS9 has it. I mean there music just flows so well.
as long as murph can stay of the hard stuff..:X

lips for sure

I think there's some great music being put out now. In my opinion, there's been some of the best new acts in the past few years, than I've heard in a long time. It's great to be a part of it!

Here's a few of my notables... Not necessarily the best, but notable:

Muse
MIA
Gogol Bordello
Girl Talk
Ghostland Observatory
Justice
The Shins
Tool
Infected Mushroom
Regina Spektor
Randy "Macho Man" Savage
CSS
The Klaxons
The Decemberists
Radiohead
Amy Winehouse (She may be a crackhead, but she's got a hell of a voice.)
Mute Math
The White Stripes
Digitalism
Battles
LCD Soundsystem
Dragonforce
El-P/Aesop
The Polyphonic Spree
Norah Jones
Rodrigo y Gabriela

I have to say I can't argue with this list.....although I did edit it a bit ;D - LOL!

Yeah, it bothers me when people are trying to tell me that the 90s and now are the worst eras for music. Look, when people look back, the good music will be remembered. . .that said, Radiohead is definitely up there. They ushered in at least two or three new styles, and none of their albums are the same. Also, the White Stripes. Maybe the strangest band of the last twenty years. A lot of mystery and great music. They'll be remembered.

I'm not such a fan of Pablo Honey as a whole, but the first half is good. But that's just me. Now, here's my list (it probably agrees with most of what's been said):


Wilco - these guys have been rocking steady for years, and they're only getting better. They've been playing consistent live shows for at least the past five years or so, and their chops are increasing as they add new strengths. I can definitely see my kids listening to Wilco some day ;D

Radiohead - How could you not include them? What started as comparisons to The Beatles continued on to one of the greatest albums of the 90's (if not all time), O.K. Computer. With ever changing styles, the band is continually challenging the listener as well as the industry in general. And as far as challenging the industry goes, it won't take long searching on Google to see what the higher-heads at BigMedia have to say about In Rainbows. When my kids find out that I was a Radiohead-head, they're gonna flip out. Yes, your dad is that cool!

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals - Ben started off as a college radio hit, which history can attest is a great way to start off as a legend. Ben's voice is as soulful as his influences are numerous - who else can play Marvin Gaye more tenderly and full of soul than Marvin Gaye? Who else can play reggae that sounds just as good as (if not better than) Bob Marley? Then, in the same show, who can rock out a Zeppelin tune before going into acoustic ballads that could melt your heart? I can't think of any that are in Harper's league. And his backing band has only been getting better with each album.

The Shins - they may not be quite as big as any of the other bands I've listed so far, but they've also only released three albums. They started off as a big hit in the movie Garden State, and Simon & Garfunkel can tell you how being in a film can provide a major jump-start to your career. All three of their albums show an already matured style of pop hoods a la Brian Wilson or Paul McCartney during their acid heydays, and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon was also a huge influence on The Shins' latest album, Wincing the Night Away. James Mercer is one songwriter to keep an eye out for, for he is destined for great things.

The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and At War With the Mystics. Bing, bang, boom. If their next album is at least on par with Mystics (arguably the weakest of their three "masterpieces") then you know the Lips will go down in the history books again (see: Zaireeka and The Flaming Lips' usage of multiple sound sources). Add to all this an envigorating party of a live show, and you've got one for the ages.

Elliott Smith - he was this generation's Nick Drake. Widely unrecognized until his death, his songwriting was superb and his music emotional. He had pop tendencies that were extremely Beatlesque and his vocals were angelic. In a few years you'll be seeing him listed as a major influence on lots of popular artists.

Gov't Mule - Warren Haynes is the hardest working man in the music business, and his hard work will pay off. This band has already gone through enough tragedy (Allen Woody's death) to match many of the other sad stories of rock and roll. And on the plus side, Warren's riffs are as classic as his guitar playing is remarkable. Any band that's born of an Allman Brothers revival is definitely one you want to see (also: Derek Trucks Band).

The Decemberists - if Lou Reed can have a famous voice, so can Colin Meloy. The Decemberists have the vocabulary of an English major, and their unique blend of folk-rock with progressive suites leaves one reminiscing of David Bowie's early years. History repeating itself, indeed.

Muse - I kind of see these guys as being the U2 of our time period. They started off very good, then released a couple stellar albums (Origin of Symmetry and Absolution are modern classics) that were jam packed with arena rock anthems. Unfortunately, their newest, Black Holes and Revelations, shows a bit of a decline in song quality (and a rise in arena-rock tendencies) that almost mirrors U2's success after The Joshua Tree.

Tool - the heavy band for the thinking man. Tool's music is so unique and filled with witty criticisms and Jungian predictions, and every album they've released since AEnima has been remarkable from start to finish. And they have a live show (or, rather, a live experience) that rivals Pink Floyd in terms of visual artistry.

The Mars Volta - definitely the King Crimson of our time. Each album is different enough that you can tell what period it comes from, yet you can instantly tell it by the signature Volta sound. They've done a concept album (De-loused in the Comatorium), a song cycle (Frances the Mute, a pseudo-concept album in itself) and a near jazz-fusion sound barrage (Amputechture, their darkest work yet) that will all certainly be recognized as albums that shape the music that is yet to come. The band is filled with some of the best players of today, and is constantly changing and challenging themselves to move forward into uncharted sonic regions. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is our Robert Fripp, no questions asked.


Honorable mentions:
Iron & Wine - if Sam Beam creates another album as good as The Shepherd's Dog (instantly one of my favorites), he'll be praised for changing the music scene.

Sufjan Stevens - nobody can write songs that sound quite like Stevens. Who uses the oboe as a primary instrument in today's music? What looked to be a promising star after the huge success of his 50 State Project (Welcome to Michigan! and Come On, Feel the Illinoise!) has been quiet for far too long, without even an announcement of a single plan on his monumentous project, nor word of a new album for nearly two years. Then again, if the next album is near as good as Michigan, Illinios, or Seven Swans he will become a household name.

Damien Rice - with only two full albums under his belt, it's hard to tell what the future beholds for this Irish singer/songwriter. All I can say is I'm a big fan, and he'll soon get more attention if his songwriting stays as beautiful as it is now.

Ray LaMontagne - Damien Rice minus the Irish and plus the occasional Gospel singing. Every bit as good, though.

moe. - with the jam-band torch not really being held by anyone right now, I can definitely see moe. snatching it up and carrying on the tradition of the Grateful Dead and Phish.

Rufus Wainwright - one of the better singer/songwriters of our time. I wish he was getting a bit more attention. Kind of like our generation's Elton John, with a little extra homosexuality (scary, I know). His own style of "popera" is something that you don't usually see, and his voice is magnificent.



Sorry this got so long! I didn't even realize how the time passed so quickly. This only seemed to take five minutes to type, but it was really like 45! Whoa!

Dammit, I knew I forgot someone! DMB, while not at their prime anymore, is still a force to be reckoned with. Their first three albums are essential, and Before These Crowded Streets is in my top 10 of all time. Their studio stuff hasn't been great lately, but their live game is still top form.

Have you seen their new DVD, Live at Radio City Music Hall? It is fantastic, I highly recommend it. They do some songs that you wouldn't think could be done with just two people on acoustics, like "Crush", "Bartender" and "Don't Drink the Water". They also do a cover of Neil Young's "Down By the River" which is awesome!

Tim is an acoustic beast.

My votes looked like this;

1. Trey Anastasio
2. moe.
3. Ornette Coleman
4. Keller Williams/SCI (Had to say it)
5. Xavier Rudd

How about he tours with The Dead..and instead of Jimmy Herring playing guitar it could be Derek Trucks. I love Herring, but its fine by me.

I knew I should have thought about it more

Ya, the two times i saw dave it was 1/2 jerk offs- 1/4 girls-and another 1/4 of people like me. I was listening to Xavier today, and I got the weirdest look from this couple next to me, it was oddly 70 degrees in Lexington KY. and I enjoyed it

I didnt get to see dave at all, But I saw Mule X2, FLips X2, and Bobby, Phil, Xavier, les claypool, and Tool. I'm happy with my summer.
Of course I saw more shows, after all, it is Bonnaroo. But those stick out in my mind.
+STS9

Well all were Bonnaroo and Echo Project.
I got lucky and Mule came to me. haha. They seemed happy w/ the venue, I hope they make it a regular stop. Where are you in Ohio. They were in the Cincinnati area.

Oh sweet Millenium Force!!!
ahah jk jk. But ive been there, pretty sweeeet