Jimmy's abc bands
An abc list, with my favorite album by that particular artist. I'm probably going to make up a band for X. |
| 1 |  | Alice In Chains
Alice In Chains
I love how AIC can go from absolute sludge to heavenly in the span of two songs (sludge factory, heaven beside you.) The vocal interplays between Staley and Cantrell are terrific. |
| 2 | | Beethoven
6th Symphony
Beethoven was a musical genius that I don't believe will ever be equaled. The 6th symphony is one of his finest works, along with his 14th Piano Sonata. I was lucky enough to see the Cleveland Orchestra perform the 6th Symphony and it was amazing. If it wasn't for Beethoven, I would certainly put The Beatles here, since they're my favorite band. Beethoven gets the edge though. |
| 3 |  | Cake
Prolonging The Magic
My favorite Cake album changes every few months, but right now the laid back, depressing attitude of Prolonging the Magic is doing it for me. Cake is just so damn catchy! |
| 4 | | Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin'
What can I say? I'm a sucker for a guy with an acoustic guitar! Bob Dylan's simple melodies with intricate lyrics are perfect for chilling to. |
| 5 |  | Extreme
Extreme II: Pornograffitti
I can't think of a band I love to put in for E, so I'm putting in Extreme, just for the song He-man Woman Hater, which kicks so much ass I'm sure I would love their other stuff. |
| 6 |  | Foo Fighters
The Colour And The Shape
The Foo Fighters were the best thing to come out of Nirvana. I don't like them as much as I used to, mostly because their last couple albums have been rehashes. If Dave Grohl does something completely different, I think the Foo's could come out with an album better than anything they've done before. |
| 7 |  | The Grateful Dead
American Beauty
I love Garcia's unconventional approaches to guitar. The Dead were one of the finest jam bands to ever grace this earth. |
| 8 |  | The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Electric Ladyland
What a tragedy that Hendrix died after releasing his greatest album. Listening to all the songs he was working on before he died, he might have been ready to top it. Hendrix is the man who made me want to play guitar. |
| 9 |  | Incubus
Morning View
Incubus is one of my guilty pleasures, since they're so different from anything else I listen to. I love how every single one of their albums is drastically different from any of their other albums. Variety is something I prize very highly in bands. |
| 10 | | Johnny Psycho
Nightmares In Technicolor
Johnny Psycho was a local Cleveland band. They were a three piece Psychobilly group. I saw them several times while I was in High School and the guitarist greatly inspired me. I would get up front at their shows to try to see how he did the things he did. If anyone out there is a big rockabilly/psychobilly fan, get in contact with me and I'll give you the hook up. These guys are not to be missed. |
| 11 |  | King Crimson
In The Court Of The Crimson King
While a lot of Crimson's stuff is hit or miss for me, a few of their albums are absolute gems, especially this one. Crimson pretty much defined progressive with this album, which still sounds revolutionary and fresh today. |
| 12 |  | Led Zeppelin
Physical Graffiti
Who else? Zeppelin were masters of taking old blues and folk classics and blending them with hard rock to make music that is undeniably classic. |
| 13 |  | Paul McCartney
Ram
Since I couldn't get The Beatles in as a group, I'll throw in McCartney as a solo artist. I've always found his solo material more listenable than the other Beatles. Ram particularly is a catchy pop album, one of the first albums I ever got into as a young boy. |
| 14 |  | North Mississippi Allstars
Electric Blue Watermelon
There aren't too many new blues bands out there, but the NMA are a great blend of psychadelia, blues, rock and jam. Not the most original group, but they'll get your feet tapping and your head rocking. |
| 15 |  | The Offspring
Smash
I don't listen to much punk, but I've always loved The Offspring. There's something about their songs that I can't put my finger on. They're catchy, fun and great for singing along to. Smash stands alone as their greatest achievement. |
| 16 |  | Pink Floyd
Meddle
Pink Floyd is one of my favorite bands of all time. Nearly all of their albums are slices of brilliance. If Pink Floyd were to reunite for a tour, I would shit myself upon hearing the news. |
| 17 |  | Queens Of The Stone Age
Songs for the Deaf
The best hard rock band out there right now, QOTSA has music that is impossibly heavy but relaxing at the same time. |
| 18 |  | Radiohead
OK Computer
Radiohead is one of those incredible bands that has put out several albums, with each one being as amazing as the one before it. I would love to see them live, hopefully they'll do a full on world tour after their next album comes out. |
| 19 |  | Soundgarden
Down On The Upside
Soundgarden is my favorite grunge band, and one of my favorites in any genre. Soundgarden blends together so many genres of music it's sickening. Add their affinity towards odd time signatures and incredible vocals and you've got a top knotch band. |
| 20 |  | Ten Years After
Cricklewood Green
A lesser known 60's blues rock band known for their incendiary live shows, TYA also released one of the most overlooked gems of all time: Cricklewood Green. The rest of their albums aren't nearly as good, but TYA is still too often overlooked. |
| 21 |  | The Presidents Of The USA
The Presidents Of The USA
I'm going by the U in USA. I know it's a stretch, but you try finding great bands that start with U! POTUSA are one of the most bizarre bands I've ever heard, but they pull it off with great songs. |
| 22 |  | The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground and Nico
Lou Reed has one of those voices that is horrible... in an amazingly awesome way. The Velvet Underground were so far ahead of their time, I don't know if we've caught up with them yet. |
| 23 |  | Muddy Waters
Hard Again
Muddy Waters is one of the most down to earth musicians you'll ever hear. His music is a collection of stories that everyone knows, but hasn't heard so blunt and eloquently. |
| 24 | | XTREME SQUAD PATROL
THE XTREME SQUAD PATROL STRIKES!
I told you I would make a band up. |
| 25 | | Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Neil Young has stayed fresh and exciting over 40 years since starting in the music business. He reinvents himself so much with amazing results it's unfair to washed up musicians all over the world. |
| 26 |  | ZZ Top
Deguello
That little old band from Texas. Deguello, in my opinion, is their best album by far, partly for the fact that Gibbons, Beard and Hill each learned a different kind of saxaphone, just for this album. |
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