This one is for those who don't know me. It is not a list of the best eleven bands of all time.* As you can see below that list is completely subjective and hard to argue right or wrong. First, what consists a band. Do they have to play instruments, because the Temptations are a better group than Nirvana to me. That's why I changed the title to musical acts, and I'm not talking best careers, the one's with the most albums in my collection, or even the hippest ones as most of these acts are mainstream enough that no one can accuse me of being one of those pricks.*** I'm saying if I had to pick eleven concerts to go to in the next year I would see these bands, and you will see I have seen many of them. Of course, I would love to see the Beatles in concert, but they are alas dead or still incredibly awesome single acts.
*The Beatles, The Beach Boys,The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, The Who, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Coldplay, U2, Nirvana**List after the jump:
**Main points of contention here are the last three. I hate U2, but they are the only great stadium rock band of the past two decades. Metallica hasn't made good albums since the 80's. Nirvana isn't better than Pearl Jam, I know. but one is far more important than the other. Look at Coldplay's Discography and picture them having ten more years to make music, maybe more. Tell me who puts out more consistently great mainstream records in the next decade. If you say Lil' Wayne, murder is your gift.
***Hey, I'm going to see a concert tonight.
"Who are you seeing?"
"Sid Stabbing Nancy****, they're a fusion of trip-hop and death metal who dress up as cheerleaders and flash their genitals at people. I'm sure you've never heard of them."
****Not a real band as far as I know, but I'm sure someone thought this name up before me for their Sex Pistols cover band. Although, covering the Sex Pistols would be pretty shitty considering their short lifespan.
1. Murder By Death
Favorite Song: Fuego!
This is by far my favorite band if you didn't know already. Picking a favorite song is basically a day to day thing. If everything is hopeless, "Three Men Hanging" is a good choice, though a tad suicidal. If it's a rip-roaring good time tonight, "Brother" is the song. "Foxglove", "Shiola", "Spring Break 1899", "Steal Away", and "As Long as There is Whiskey in the World" all come in at different times.
2. The Airborne Toxic Event
Favorite Song: All At Once
The two albums TATE have released have both been solid from top to bottom. "All At Once" is the title song off the second album, and is simply epic. It starts off soft and builds as the song goes through life and just like life fades out. It's a brilliant song, where they just decided to go for it to magnificent results.
3. Bon Iver
Favorite Song: For Emma
I haven't talked about the new album yet, but I'll get around to it when I see them live. The old album is built around this song and it's theme. It is the lifeblood of the loneliness and heartbreak of "For Emma, Forever Ago", and it also has the coolest video making French people look crazy for not stopping, but of course English falsettos may not go over as well in Paris.
4. The Black Keys
Favorite Song: Next Girl
The video with the dinosaur. The artists that seem almost at odds with their fame, although that just might be an act as well. This song is a follow up to Tighten Up to me. Their videos are hilarious; their songs would be out of a different era, if anything defined the current one except shitty pop music; and most of all. they kill with just two instruments and sweet lyrics.
5. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Favorite Song: Big White Gate
I almost like her better when she was singing less mainstream music. That sounded douchey as I wrote it. I just think that the songs where her voice is more gospel and the tone almost sounds like a hymnal is interesting. "Nothing But the Water" is another one of my favorites, and while I admit not perfectly recalling her concert, I could imagine it not being sung much as she gains popularity. Big White Gate is more accessible so I could see it being in future set lists. Don't mean to complain; the newer stuff is pretty awesome as well. That's understatement; it's sex, covered in kickassery. (Yes, I have the right to make up words)
6. Florence and the Machine
Favorite Song: Howl
It might just be the line, "I drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart." I said enough about her in my last post, so I hope I don't need to reiterate her skills.
7. Blind Pilot
Favorite Song: Paint or Pollen
Why do all DJs on indie stations feel the need to have the effing NPR voice? Speak dammit, we won't stab you for having emotion, and you aren't doing the news. However, this song is beautiful after you get past the DJs voice. Their new album coming out later this year is one of the things on my reasons to live longer. I gave this CD to a woman once and told her it is the best CD to go to sleep to. It's like a forty minute lullaby for adults, but you don't really sleep but rather fall into a relaxing trance.
8. Old 97s
Favorite Song: Rollerskate Skinny
Like Murder By Death, it's hard to pick a song as I've been listening to Old 97's for half of my life. This one sticks out, because they always seem to play it at shows and it's lyrics are amazing. The part where he says he wouldn't be here if the Athenia hadn't sunk (His grandma was on the ship and survived) is sentimental, and then he follows it with "Or if dear ole Dad hadn't got so drunk." It's a feel good song, it's a lament, it's Old 97's. It's also a Catcher in the Rye reference, if you didn't catch it.
9. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Favorite Song: 40 Day Dream
If you've ever seen them perform this live, then you know why. If you are a Republican, you probably don't approve of this at all, because their music seems drug-induced, fun, and hippie crazy. I've found most conservative people don't approve of hippies who might think they are Jesus, or at least think that if Jesus returned he would get distracted and start chasing women. Then again, maybe we can all agree that having a commune for a band isn't the worst concept especially when you put ten people on stage. Nobody better pinch me, bitch I swear, I go crazy.
10. Admiral Fallow
Favorite Song: Squealing Pigs
Like the last song, this one was featured in Chuck, but I actually heard this first on Chuck so the video linked will be from Chuck. I apologize to the guys, it's a female friendly video, but it also features the stunningly beautiful Yvonne Strahovski. Winners all around. This also was the first album I ever bought using British Pounds for what it is worth. Yeah, this song has a Mumford and Sons quality, but they are not nearly the same.
11. Broken Social Scene
Favorite Song: Texico Bitches
Eh, I guess NPR voice could be this douche. Maybe Florence and the Machine beat them for best live performance I ever saw, but these guys are a hell of a live act when their sound technicians aren't retarded. They played an extra thirty minutes at LouFest last year, and that couldn't have been any cooler. This song is smooth. One can imagine the chaos capable when so many guitars are on one stage, but this is magic. I'll include the official video as well, because it's a wtf'er.
Why eleven bands? Nigel will tell those that have forgotten.
My list goes to eleven so it's obviously one louder.
Notes: Those that missed the cut, but I still would love if they came to St. Louis to see me when I'm not broke:
Adele, Matt and Kim, Mumford and Sons, The Shins, Cold War Kids, Cee Lo Green, Paolo Nutini, Joshua Radin
(Yeah, most have come to St. Louis but I was either broke, occupied, or they are Mumford and Sons popular.)
As always, those reading on Facebook, sorry about the lack of embedded videos. Facebook controls and fails to understand the interwebs.
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