The 411 Music Top 5 04.29.08 Our Favorite Bands/Artists

Posted by Blake Lauderback on 04.29.2008

It is time for another round of the Top 5 with the Music Zone. This week we will be getting to know each other a little better by constructing lists of our Top 5 Favorite Musical Acts.


Hello all, and welcome back. We hope that you enjoyed the big comeback last week, and we are proud to say that they are willing to allow us to continue spreading our propaganda.

Now that we have gotten back in to the swing of things, I think it is time to really get to know one another. That said, this week I asked all of the writers to assemble a list of their favorite acts in music. Not the best acts, or the acts that everyone else says you should like because that's the cool thing to do, just their favorites.

So this week, there is no right or wrong answer to find. It is simply an opportunity for a bunch of music lovers to share their passions, and a chance for you all to better understand our perspectives. I hope that you enjoy reading the list as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.

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Our Top 5 Favorite Musical Acts of All Time

Dan Marsicano
[What The Hell Happened To…, News, Reviewer]

5. Muse - I first heard of Muse back in 2004, right around the release of Absolution. I was watching Fuse network, flipping through the channels, when I saw the video for "Hysteria." It might have been the crazy guitar solo with the background being outer space or the absolutely over the top use of the color red, but I was hooked. I picked the album up and was blown away. I sat there and listened to it from top to bottom. From there, I worked my way back and slowly became a huge fan. I knew I was hooked when I saw them live in August of 2006 at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Muse is one of my favorite bands and I eagerly anticipate their new record.

4. Led Zeppelin - When I first became a fan of music, it was all basic pop/punk stuff, but Led Zeppelin was one of the first bands that drew me away from pop and towards classic rock. It was so different, so epic sounding, so awesome that my young mind almost couldn't take it. I find myself cranking up Led Zeppelin II way more than I should. Zeppelin is one of the greatest bands alive.

P.S. I am still waiting on a world tour!

3. Opeth - I hated death metal as a teenager. Couldn't stand it; couldn't understand the appeal behind it. To me, it was just a bunch of growls and down tuned guitars pounding my eardrums. Thank god for Opeth; they helped me see the light. There is more to death metal than just Satan and blast beats. You could have acoustic guitars, clean vocals, progressive movements, and not have to sacrifice your core sound. With one listen of Ghost Reveries, I became a long-time fan. I have all their albums and have listened to each of them way too much. Hell, as I write this, I'm listening to "In Mist She Was Standing." They have influenced me more as a music fan than almost any band.

2. Dream Theater -For some, it was Pink Floyd or Yes or Rush that got them in progressive rock. For me, it was Dream Theater. The first time I had ever heard the band was at Gigantour 2005. I was there for Nevermore and Megadeth, but Dream Theater left an impression on me. It was such a great impression that I bought Octavarium out of curiosity at my local music store. From there, I fell in love. I got my best friend into them and found a passionate and hardcore fan base that knew way more about the band than any person should know. The band is filled with five talented individual and they have arguably never released a bad album. Dream Theater is the reason that I'm into progressive rock/metal and I will always be grateful for that.

1. Metallica - I can almost tell you where I was when I fell head over heels for Metallica. I was 12, or 13, somewhere around there, and my family was driving home. It was dark as hell out and my parents were listening to the "Turn the Page" single, which had "Damage Inc." and "Fuel" on it as well. My parents loved the "Turn the Page" song and wanted the single. I was intrigued by the song and had my dad buy me the Garage Inc. album. After that, I worked my way backwards, with Kill Em All and Ride the Lightning first. I was like a kid on Christmas with those two albums, and even after seven years, I still have both of them, broken covers and all. No matter the ups and downs the band has had over the course of its career, Metallica will always be the band that introduced me to heavy metal music. Without them, I really don't know what my musical tastes would be or that I would be doing what I'm doing right now; writing for 411 Mania. If Metallica ever reads this (wishful thinking, I know), I want to thank them for contributing so much to heavy metal and showing me that there was more to life than Green Day or Blink 182.

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Patrick Robinson
[The 37th Chamber, The Hip-Hop Herald, Reviewer]

HONORABLE MENTION: The Game, Big Punisher

5. Pharoahe Monch - Probably best known for his song "Simon Says" which featured an illegal sample from the old Godzilla movies, Pharoahe Monch is a rapper that never ceases to amaze me. One listen to any of his tracks and you are immediately captured by his unorthodox flow, incredible vocabulary and the effortless ability to paint a picture within your mind. What makes it even more amazing is that Monch actually suffers from asthma, so for him to be able to rap the way he does adds a whole new level of appreciation for the work he does in my eyes. His last album cemented his place in my Top 5 as rarely have I heard such a diverse arrangement of topics discussed so easily, especially as it was his first in almost 8 years!


4. The Wu-Tang Clan - If I was to include individual members on this list, it would have been Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and GZA and there wouldn't be much diversity now would there? As a collective however, one thing that has always made me admire their work is their ability to effectively share mic time between 9 (now 8) emcees on their albums. I think that their debut album really catches the energy and synergy that the Clan had and is exactly what makes them one of my favorite acts of all time. While some of their later work has not been up to the standards they were setting in the 90s, I still find it quite enjoyable simply because their style is something that had never been seen before and likely won't ever be seen again after they retire.


3. Little Brother - Back in early 2005, I was reading one of Phil Watts' columns about a group called Little Brother. I had never heard of them, but as the hype surrounding their album, The Minstrel Show began to grow, I couldn't resist the temptation to check out their work. Needless to say, I was amazed at the ease Phonte and Big Pooh complemented each other's rhyming styles as well as the sample-based production techniques of 9th Wonder. Since then, I've been trying to pick up their earlier works, along with their most recent album, GetBack. What makes them one of my favorite artists is the fact that they choose to rap about simple, everyday topics, but do so in a manner that is engaging and often thought-provoking at the same time.


2. Common - I only recently became a fan of Common after the exposure he received with Be, mainly because before then, I was heavily into the mainstream rap only, and of course, Electric Circus was in the process of being forgotten at the time. Since then, I've picked up every album he's made (including the aforementioned Electric Circus) and I've loved every single one of them. What makes Common one of my favorite artists, is his simple, yet emotional and charismatic rapping technique. His ability to make a song about virtually anything, ranging from love and relationships, to raw battle rapping (and his extremely impressive freestyling ability which I've had the honor of witnessing live) and make it seem all too easy in turn makes his albums extremely easy to listen to.


1. Canibus - This is yet another emcee I was put on to from reading an article here on 411 back in 2004 by Aaron Cameron. Canibus to me, represents the purest form of battle emceeing you could want. Every time he begins rapping, he tears into the track with such vigor, you can almost picture the microphone in the studio catching fire. Canibus also possesses the equivalent of a dictionary, thesaurus, and University level Physics textbooks as well as a sampling of different religious text in terms of lyrical ability. There are few songs where I don't find myself searching for some reference he makes on Google in order to better understand what he is rapping about. His magnum opus as such, would be Rip The Jacker and "Poet Laureate II" from that, where for nearly 7 minutes straight, he raps from three different perspectives over three different beats. Whilst he may not be for everyone, to me, he is my favorite artist simply because even his worst work is still extremely entertaining on a raw lyrical level, something that no other rapper alive can come close to (except maybe Rakim).

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Rob Samuels
[The Classic Record Review]

HONORABLE MENTION: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Beatles, Foo Fighters, The Ramones, The Who, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Janis Joplin, ZZ Top, The Yardbirds, The Small Faces, Rage Against the Machine and Thin Lizzy. (to name a few!)

Before I launch into my picks, I feel I should explain my background. I was born in 1987 and grew up in a world where Brit Pop, Dance music and Boy Bands roamed the UK freely. In a typically teenage rebellious manner I started to look for an alternative and thus slowly immersed myself in 60's and 70's Rock ‘n' Roll – I've never looked back since.

5. John Lee Hooker - Music is very much a personal thing – we often associate certain acts and songs with happy memories and positive feelings. I am no different - which is reflected in my first pick. Aside from being a complete legend, John Lee Hooker reminds me of some great times. The first song I can ever remember hearing is the Blues standard ‘Boom Boom'. One of my earliest memories is hassling my dad to copy the record to a cassette tape so I could listen to it anytime I wanted. Who knows, had I never heard that song I could be going to clubs getting Gary'd (That's Ecstasy for non-brits) off my tits and listening to Scouse House until the wee hours. Thank you John Lee Hooker, thank you.

4. Iron Maiden - Ever since I picked up a copy of ‘Best of The Beast' about eight years ago on the recommendation of a friend, I have been obsessed. Steve Harris was one of the reasons I decided to learn Bass, and the obsession with writing and playing music blossomed when I saw them live for the first time in 2003. Iron Maidens passion and energy is incredible and their songs are musical masterpieces. Tracks like ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner', and ‘Hallowed be thy Name' are personal favorites of mine – taking you on a journey for several minutes before leaving you begging for more (I could make a sex joke now – but I'm too classy for that).

3. Electric Light Orchestra - This is another childhood one for me. I can remember driving through France on holiday in my dad's company car (a Nissan Primera, I believe) listening to ELO songs like ‘The Evil Woman' and ‘Mr. Blue Sky'. About 10 years later when I dug out an old ELO record and slapped it on I was delighted at what I had discovered. Now I can appreciate them as the excellent musicians and songwriters they were – and have fallen in love with them all over again.

2. The Rolling Stones - I don't think either of my final two picks are a surprise. I had the honor of inducting The Stones into the 411 Music Hall of Fame this year – which was a fantastic experience for me, as during my research for the piece I learnt so much about the band. I have loved the Stones for years, everything about them speaks to me: Their incredible ability to reinvent themselves, the ‘guitar weaving' between Richards and Jones, Ronnie Wood's hair, Jagger's stage presence and of course Wyman and Watts – my favorite Rhythm section of all time. Songs like ‘It's only rock ‘n' roll', ‘Jumpin' Jack Flash' and many, many others speak volumes to me. Their history and off stage antics only add to their aura.

I remember hearing a great quote from Mick Jagger - when asked if he would write an autobiography he responded by saying "I can't remember anything interesting". This is a man who has met almost every significant figure in pop culture since the 60's - and he can't think of anything good to write! That's Rock ‘n' Roll.

1. Led Zeppelin - My first article on this ‘ere website was a review of Led Zeppelin's fourth album - probably my favorite record of all time. I remember the first time I picked up a Zeppelin record and heard ‘Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' - I was blown away. The more I have learnt, the more I have loved Led Zeppelin. Their music is simply unreal; the four musicians combine together seamlessly, and their versatility is unparalleled. Their music ranges from raw and sleazy Rock ‘n' Roll, to beautiful acoustic melodies. Zeppelin's life on the road is the stuff of legends and once again adds to the mystical aura surrounding the band. I have just finished reading Richard Cole's book ‘Stairway to Heaven', which really paints quite a picture (How true it is we will never know.) Simply put - they invented, perfected and then clichéd the phrase ‘Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n' Roll'.

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Blake Lauderback
[Ask 411 Music, Reviewer]

HONORABLE MENTION: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Our Lady Peace, Metallica, Cream, Aerosmith, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Black Sabbath, Dave Matthews Band, Queen, Eric Clapton, Foo Fighters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steve Miller Band, The Rolling Stones, Rush, The Police… and countless others I am sure I am going to regret not mentioning.

5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Every year, when the day get longer and warmer in the spring, I go through my RHCP's phase. That is not to say that I don't love the band year around, but there is something so perfect about driving down the road with the windows rolled down, listening to these guys. If I had to sum up their work in a single word it would have to be "fun."

4. Led Zeppelin - There was once a point in my life that I looked down on Led Zeppelin as an old dinosaur in hard rock that I assumed (without hearing a note) had nothing to offer me or the "current" world of music. Then one day I decided to download "Stairway to Heaven" to see what the fuss was about. I was blown away. I grabbed my keys and sped to the nearest record store and loaded up on Zeppelin, never looking back. My ignorance at that time still pisses me off. Think of all the time I lost that I could have been getting the Led out! With the thundering drums of John Bonham, flowing bass lines of John Paul Jones, the brilliance of the great Jimmy Page, and the primal howl of Robert Plant, these guys have cemented themselves as the band that I plug in and rock out to when I need to let off a little steam.

3. Weezer - I can remember EXACTLY where I was the first time I heard a Weezer song. We pulled into a parking lot, and just as my friend was about to take the keys out of the ignition, "Say it Ain't So" came on. He paused, exclaiming that this was the greatest rock song EVER! So there we sat, until that last guitar chord finished ringing, and while I won't give in the hyperbole about it being the greatest ever, I was most certainly hooked. I personally believe that Rivers can do no wrong, and I believe that every album of theirs is a classic. I am not sure if I am drawn to the music because of its simplicity, its honesty, or maybe just because I am a little nerdy myself, and it is easy to identify with it. Not to mention, Weezer is by far my wife's favorite band (and one of the only ones we truly agree on) so there is not a happier time in my house musically than when Weezer is blaring.

2. The Who - To me, The Who are the perfect bridge between Led Zeppelin and the band that tops my list. One second they can be showing off their brilliant musicality with amazing harmonies and complex orchestrations, and the next they can be rocking your freaking face off with blaring guitars and one of the best one-two punches for a rhythm section in history. I believe that The Who deserve much more credit than they receive for their amazing career and outstanding catalogue. Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey are two of the greatest minds in rock and roll, and their list of classic albums is astonishing. Albums like Who's Next?, Tommy, and Quadrophenia are masterpieces that will live on forever.

1. The Beatles - So there I am, standing in line to check out at Border's one day during my junior year of high school. I had a tendency to blow every dollar I made on CD's, and here I was, doing it again. I had picked up two Cds (I have no idea what they were now) and I was waiting for the guy in front of me to stop arguing with the cashier. While waiting, I noticed the Beatles 1 display, so I picked up a copy to check it out. To this day I have no idea what sparked my decision to buy it, because all I knew of The Beatles were their names and that my father (and lots of other people) claimed they were the best ever. Very matter-of-factly, I purchased the CD, and popped in into the CD player in my car.

The experience was like falling down the rabbit hole into musical heaven. Track after track blew me away as I found myself sitting in silent awe of their work. That night I hardly slept as I spent all night trying to find out more about this amazing foursome. Within a few months I owned every album they ever released, plus copies of every film. (In fact, I have been known once or twice to enjoy every record consecutively in chronological order. It is a near religious experience!) My fascination with The Beatles had turned into a full on obsession, one that I still harbor to this day. Every last note stirs emotion within, and I am fairly sure that if you can listen to "A Day in The Life" and not feel anything, you actually have no soul. Just a theory.

There are no words that I could say to describe the genius of the Fab 4 that haven't been spoken or written before. There is no new insight into what made their star burn so brilliantly that I can impart upon you. I would just like to say thank you to John, Paul, George, and Ringo for providing the perfect soundtrack for my life whether in good times or bad. Your work together has left a positive mark on my life that will never fade.

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And there you have it. Hopefully after reading this week's edition you know a bit more about the musical tastes of the writers here at the Music Zone. We will continue on with our "get to know you" session next week when the Music Zone takes on the challenge of making their "Top 5 Albums You Are Ashamed That You Own."