My 10 Current Favorite Musical Artists
This list is not to be confused with my 10 favorite musical artists of all time, though at least one on this list would also make that one. I am focusing on those musical artists who are really top of mind right now, so I decided to exclude anyone who’s been performing with their current act longer than 20 years (which is why neither The Who nor Steely Dan are on this list). I also established the requirement that in order to be eligible for this list, the artist(s) must have at least three full-length albums to their credit (which is why neither Art Brut nor The Broken West are on this list).
Now that my parameters have been fully explained, let’s begin the countdown, shall we?
10. The Black Keys
Loud and raunchy guitar-drum duos may have been brought into vogue by The White Stripes, a band I am also quite fond of in their own right, but nobody does it louder and raunchier than Akron, Ohio’s own The Black Keys. Their most recent album, Attack & Release (2008), is one of their best. Here’s one of my favorite tracks from that one, “Remember When (Side B)”:
9. Hayden
He’s Canadian, he’s introspective and he knows his way around a guitar. Though that seems like an apt description of Neil Young, I’m actually referring to Hayden Desser, who performs sans surname despite the risk of being confused for the cheerleader from Heroes or teen Anakin Skywalker. But his voice and music are much more reminiscent of a young Neil than a young Darth. His latest album, In Field & Town (2008), is excellent, and includes “Damn This Feeling”:
Based in Seattle, this band features John Roderick and a revolving cast of musicians, including Harvey Danger frontman Sean Nelson. Their melodious and intellectual brand of power pop has gotten better with each passing album, culminating with their best release to date, Putting the Days to Bed (2006). One of the most enjoyable songs from that record is “Fire Island, AK”:
7. Neko Case
Blessed with one of the most beautiful voices on the planet, Neko Case has lent her immense talents to many projects, most notably the Canadian indie supergroup known as The New Pornographers. But Neko is at her most majestic when on her own, as evidenced by her brand new album, Middle Cyclone (2009). This soon-to-be-released record (March 3) is an early contender for album of the year, thanks to such fantastic songs as “People Got a Lotta Nerve”:
6. M. Ward
Best known as the “Him” to actress/singer Zooey Deschanel’s “She” in the duo She & Him, retro guitar virtuoso M. Ward calls Portland, Oregon home. His whispery vocals are the perfect compliment to his folk rock musical stylings, never more perfectly displayed than on his new album, Hold Time (2009). Here is just one of many superb tracks from that record, “Never Had Nobody Like You”:
When it comes to politically-charged indie punk rock, nobody on the scene today does it better than Ted Leo & The Pharmacists. Their high-energy music translates even better in a live setting, where the hyperkinetic Leo bounds around the stage with a euphoric intensity that drives the crowd into a frenzy. One of the best tracks from their latest album, Living With the Living (2007), is “The World Stops Turning”:
4. Jim White
Jim White has mastered the spooky Southern gothic vibe and made it his own unique melange of sounds and imagery. He infuses his sublime music with equal parts wit and weirdness, telling stories better than just about anyone going today. His most recent album, Transnormal Skiperoo (2007), is among his finest works and includes such great songs as “Diamonds to Coal”:
Probably the best known band on my list, Louisville, Kentucky’s My Morning Jacket has been headlining big-time festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza for several years now. But do not mistake them for the jam bands who usually appear on the festival circuit, because MMJ delivers so much more than about any band around. They can slay you with full-throttle Southern fried rock and segue right into a ballad that would have sounded right at home on a Soul station in the ’70s. Their latest opus, Evil Urges (2008), contains several future classics, including “Thank You Too”:
From Minneapolis by way of New York City, The Hold Steady is led by the most unlikely frontman in rock, a bespectacled middle-aged nebbish named Craig Finn. The fact that Finn really speaks more than he sings actually works brilliantly when backed by the monster riffs and propelling beats of his bandmates. Their signature are the gritty Springsteenesque lyrics, which often depict the brief highs and prolonged lows of the partying lifestyle. Stay Positive (2008), their most recent triumphant release, features “Magazines”:
1. Spoon
Austin’s Jim Eno and Britt Daniel have formed the core of Spoon since they first burst onto the indie scene back in the mid-’90s. Their saga during the past 15 years has been fueled by major label betrayal and a drive to keep pushing the envelope with their one-of-a-kind brand of indie pop-rock. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007) is one of the best records in their canon, and contains the fantastic song “Don’t You Evah”:
LOST Thoughts – S5 E7
Here are my thoughts on the seventh episode of Lost (season five), “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”:
- When wrapped in an Ajira Airlines blanket, Locke bore more than a passing resemblance to a wizard.
- That whole scene made for one of the most uncomfortable nighttime beach parties captured on film since Johnny and his Cobra Kai buddies rode in on their dirt bikes and destroyed Daniel’s jam box.
- I’ve always thought Kate was way hotter than any of the other so-called babes on Lost (Shannon, Claire, Juliet, etc.), but this mysterious new character named Ilana not only gives Kate a run for her money, she just might knock her out of the top spot. I watched in hi-def and they were pretty much in extreme closeup mode during her chat with the mango-eating Locke, and she was about as perfect as you can get. Nothing humorous about this observation, I know, but it still had to be made.
- Remind me to double-check my HMO to make sure “Dr. Bite On This” at the Tunisia 4077th isn’t defaulted as my Primary Care Physician!
- Widmore has never come anywhere close to being as sympathetic a figure (or convinicing a speaker) as when having his debriefing sessions with Locke. It’s the very first time I’ve been willing to even consider the possibility that he’s even slightly less evil than his real-life doppleganger Rupert Murdoch.
- Lt. Daniels probably thought a sweet chauffeur gig “Driving Mr. Gimpy” would be a lot safer and less stressful than the many years he spent working narcotics detail in Baltimore, but soon learned that visiting the “Peg Cemetary” would prove far deadlier. Turns out Ben’s handy enough with a handgun to get on with Stringer Bell’s crew. Maybe Widmore should consider bringing in Omar as Abaddon’s replacement…
- Given the run-down hotel room and impending hanging of self, would it have killed John to whip out his Crocodile Dundee brand boar-killing knife to carve “Lockesy Was Here” in the ceiling? It certainly would have been a fitting tribute to the recently departed James Whitmore. Wait a minute…Whitmore, WIDMORE?!? THIS SHOW IS MESSING WITH MY HEAD!!!
- Has any character in the history of television ever continued to one-up himself over such an extended period as Ben Linus? I mean, who else has given such a convincingly heartfelt and desperate plea to stop someone from killing themselves at quite literally the last possible second, only to turn around and murder them mere moments later? He’s just SO damn diabolical! The only way it could have possibly been more heinous is if he’d waited until they left the room and then pushed him down the elevator shaft, just so he could use Locke’s choke cord to take the “Put the lotion in the basket” page from the Jame Gumb playbook.
- Did anybody get a close look at what Hurley was drawing when Locke visited him at the nut house? I’m pretty sure it was a Liger.
- Who would have ever thought that Sayid’s coping mechanism for dealing with his post-assassin guilt disorder would be to volunteer as a builder in the Shacks for Shortstops program?
LOST Thoughts – S5 E6
Here are my thoughts on the sixth episode of Lost (season five), “316”:
- I love how whenever she’s under tremendous stress, Kate’s reflex is to automatically switch into full-blown slut mode. Whether you lock her in a zoo cage or steal her ersatz son, her coping mechanism is always to immediately begin restaging Behind the Green Door. Too bad for Hurley that Kate always happens to be alone with either Jack or Sawyer whenever her survival libido kicks in.
- Leave it to Locke to turn a suicide note into an “I told you so!!!” Of course, I’m assuming he’s not REALLY dead, since most corpses don’t grow fresh stubble.
- One guy who has no stubble whatsoever is everybody’s favorite pilot, Frank Lapidus, who’s face is as smooth as a baby’s bottom – even though he’s still unwilling to part with his patented salt and pepper mullet. Maybe Sayid and Hurley could help him spruce up his look by giving him tips on how they are able to maintain such lush and lovely Jheri curls.
- Speaking of Lapidus, is he the first person in history to ever express such disappointment at NOT going to Guam???
- It’s kind of touching that Hurley brought along CHAHHH-leez guitar, but so help me Jacob, if it means we have to hear Hugo’s acoustic cover of “You All Everybody,” I’ll spontaneously combust like so much Arzt!
- I’m not saying Jack’s grandfather is too young to be his Dad’s Dad, but he’d probably challenge the record held by Little Alfie, Britain’s beloved baby bastardmaker.
- Travelocity and Priceline ain’t got nothin’ on Mrs. Hawking’s Big Book of Interdimensional Flight Schedules.
- Jin proved Sayid isn’t the only cast member handy with a soldering iron, as he somehow managed to re-wire the Dharma microbus Blaupunkt so it could play something other than “Shambala.”
- Jack: “What’s going to happen to all of these other people on the plane?” Ben: “I don’t care.” Has any pathological liar ever been more brutally honest than Ben?
- As much as I like ol’ Desmond, I can’t be the only one who was hoping to see him get hit in the crotch by the giant swinging pendulum, can I?!? Dharma’s Funniest Home Videos would be a ratings smash! Surely ABC can afford to hire Tom Bergeron to host yet another show.
LOST Thoughts – S5 E5
Here are my thoughts on the fifth episode of Lost (season five), “This Place is Death”:
- Island getaways are so expensive these days, you might even say they cost an arm and a leg.
- Speaking of which, I’ll bet Locke is wishing he still had his wheelchair right about now.
- I’m not sure why the smoke monster makes all of those mechanical cranking sounds, but they sure remind me of an old school rollercoaster. Come to think of it, I wouldn’t really be all that shocked to learn that Montagne de L’espace at EuroDisney has severed the limb of many a Frenchman over the years.
- By the way, if the folks in R&D over at Brinks aren’t working around the clock feverishly trying to develop their own version of the smoke monster for consumer use, I’m switching to ADT! It warms the gravy-soaked cockles of my heart to envision ol’ “Smokey” billowing out of my hedges whenever one of those supposedly reformed gang bangers come to my door fully intent on giving me the hard sell on a three-year subscription to Family Circle.
- It now makes perfect sense that Rousseau turned into a psychotically paranoid one-woman militia. And all this time I just thought she was simply off her meds.
- Ben’s got the biggest set of huevos in the history of television. Who else would go so far as to call out the people whose lives he’s ruined as ingrates?!? It was like a frazzled parent on vacation after hearing one too many “Are we there yet?”s…”DON’T MAKE ME STOP THIS VAN!!!”
- I will give Ben credit for not pawning Jin’s wedding ring to fund the purchase of a new parka.
- Did Faraday’s Mum re-marry since Daniel was born, or is she one of those die-hard women’s libbers who insists upon keeping her maiden name. OR, was she never even married in the first place??? I’d be willing to bet she’s probably rocking a Dharma tramp stamp.
- Jack’s Dad and Jacob are one and the same, but I don’t think that makes him a ghost. If he was really a ghost dad, he’d have to be played by Bill Cosby.
- The only way Lost jumps the shark from here on out is if Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell come climbing up out of the well.
LOST Thoughts – S5 E4
Here are my thoughts on the fourth episode of Lost (season five), “The Little Prince”:
- Has anyone ever successfully outpaddled gunfire WITHOUT the random intervention of a metaphysical hyperspace button?
- Is it just me, or did Claire’s Mum become immediately flush like a dingo in heat when a drenched Jack showed up at her hotel room door? She sure loves her some Dr. Shepherds! Who knew they had cougars down under?
- It kind of surprised me to know Ben has a lawyer, as he’s always struck me as the type who would serve as his own counsel if ever in any sort of legal bind. I can only imagine what it might be like were he to ever cross-examine Henry Gale…
- When trying to decide what to get Sun for Valentine’s Day, your best bet is to send her a box of Russell Stover assorted chocolates and hollow points.
- I’m starting to think Juliet might be some type of cyborg or android, given her complete and utter inability to express or convey anything remotely resembling human emotion.
- Are bounty hunters being lured to Sayid by widely distributed posters that say “Wanted: Dead or Asleep?” ENOUGH WITH THE TRANQ DARTS ALREADY!
- Network TV hasn’t seen this many nosebleeds since Lisa Loopner’s boyfriend Todd was administering repeated noogies to her on SNL back in the late ’70s.
- I have a sneaking suspicion Charlotte will eventually rebuff Faraday’s advances in favor of saving herself for Marvin Hamlisch.
- Hurley should keep the orange jump suit after he gets out of jail. That way, if he ever needs to become incognito, he can quickly and easily disguise himself as the Syracuse mascot.
- Unless Sawyer has managed to stumble onto the remains of an abandoned Dharma Supercuts at some point off camera, shouldn’t his hair be at least Sebastian Bach length by now?
Nailing The Triple Lindy 