Who are your favourite groups?
Posted by: Guido Fawkes on 11 January 2009
Reading this forum, I had a good idea who may come out the favourite group of the forum members, but just who are your favourite groups.
Perhaps rather unsurprisingly my top 20 (approximately), I might give a different list if asked tomorrow, are
Half Man Half Biscuit - musically fine, but as a songwriter/lyricist I think Nigel Blackwell is up there with the very best: Noel Coward, Tom Leher, Jacques Brell and Ray Davies.
The Beatles - of course
The Kinks - just superb in every way, shape or form - the first Heavy Rock rift, the first Psych single and unique very English songs
ELP - entertainment of the highest order and they could really play
Fairport Convention - Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, Ian Mathews, Swarbs, Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg, Judy Dyble and it never stops: what a band.
Soft Machine - Psych, prog-rock, jazz-fusion and a sense of humour: what more could you want: Kevin Ayers?
Caravan - a set of faultless albums and my favourite long song - 9 Feet Underground the organ sound of dreams.
Amon Duul II - Totally unique and always interesting - their first six albums are fantastic and some of the later ones were pretty good too.
Martha and the Muffins - Underrated, but outstanding band who even made good records in the 80s.
Incredible String Band - Influenced the Beatles and played world music before anybody had even heard of it - some duff records true, but some gems. The early ones are always thought of so try Earthspan, which is beautiful collection of songs.
Desperate Bicycles - Only one album and several singles/EP - New Cross, New Cross so good they said it twice. The band that said of making records: It was easy, it was cheap, go and do it. The best punk rock by a country mile IMHO.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - My favourite American band led by John Fogerty and just made a great noise together - shame they all ended up hating each other.
Planxty - Christy Moore (vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhrán), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitars), Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, hurdy-gurdy, harmonica), and Liam O'Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle) - the best live band I have ever seen and they made mighty fine records too.
Bonzo Dog Band - Humour does belong in music and these guys proved it - now tell me more about Keynsham.
The Clash - Progressed very quickly from punk rock beginnings to something much finer and in London's Calling produced one of the best double albums ever.
The Zutons - Not just my token 21st band, but a group that demonstrates music is alive and well and hopefully there is lot more yet to come. Shame Ms Winehouse murdered one of their songs.
Deep Purple/Blackmore's Night - Created the great rock riff, one of the best ever rock songs The Shield - went from psych, to prog, to rock, to the sensation that is Blackmore's Night. To be Purple it has got to have Lord and Blackmore for me - don't mind who else joins in.
Kraftwerk - Electronic music for the rest of us; timeless.
Move/ELO - Well the Move did some of the greatest singles ever and my favourite song about calling the Fire Brigade and when out the ashes of the Move we got ELO then the music was to reach new heights - some great elpees and none better than Eldorado: one of the most played records I have.
Kaleidoscope/Fairfield Parlour - Wonderful, wonderful, but underrated band. The first two albums were sensational psych at its very best and then they become the very tuneful Fairfield Parlour and released Bordeaux Rose - surely a breakthrough record, but then came Ted Heath and the 3-day week and TOTP got pulled and they didn't get the air-play.
OK so I've missed out Third World War, Atomic Rooster, Colosseum and many other great bands - so put me right and add in yours.
ATB Rotf
Posted on: 11 January 2009 by Jono 13
Joy Division/New order - A stand-out back catalogue and still special.
Chemical Brothers - great dance music.
Basement Jaxx - great dance music and fab live.
A Certain Ratio - great dance music, or did I already say that?
Caberet Voltaire - breath-taking originality, plus wall of sound, plus samples from around the world years before anybody else and from Sheffield.
Arctic Monkeys/Last shadow puppets - how to start music again when all was kind of lost.
Radiohead - maturing nicely.
Lemonjelly - just lovely.
Portishead - looking forward to getting 3rd tomorrow.
Talking Heads - '77 was an opening gambit that David Byrne just built on until he could go no futher. So he did'nt.
Jono
Posted on: 11 January 2009 by JamieL
Van Der Graaf Generator / Peter Hammill (solo) - the prog rock band who influenced punk, great songs, a hard edge, and a stunning lyricist.
Led Zeppelin - four great musicians who just gelled.
Miles Davis - one of the greatest musicians, band leaders, and song writers, of the last century.
Underworld - another great lyricist, techno with a hard edge. Great live improvisers.
Mark Kozelek / Red House Painters / Sun Kil Moon - my favourite song writer, after Peter Hammill. A beautiful voice. Melancholy songs about lost loves, cats and dead boxers.
Orbital - 'conducting an electronic orchestra'. Intelligent progressive techno. A powerful live band.
Talk Talk - only five albums, even less tours, but their last two albums are pretty much perfect. Music that is hard to define as it melds so many styles.
Dead Can Dance - two of the greatest voices I have heard, have been described as 'world music before world music was a term'.
Yes - uplifting prog rock, yes they can be twee, but they marked out a place for themselves. Great musicians, delicate music. (Only line-ups with Steve Howe count).
Tangerine Dream - at their best pioneers of electronic music (at their worst - 1986 onwards, truly awful)
Also:
Tool, R.E.M, Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Pearl Jam, NIN, Kraftwerk, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Porcupine Tree.
(The 70's) Pink Floyd and Genesis would not quite make the list for me. The 80's Genesis would make quite a different list.
Posted on: 11 January 2009 by Ghom
20 bands I love (in no order, apart from the first one):
And Also The Trees - just my favourite band of all time, I can't explain why
All About Eve - goth meets cocaine-era Fleetwood Mac, great vocals from Julianne Regan
Arab Strap - Scottish Indie miserablists, Philophobia is harrowing and hilarious at the same time
Amon Duul II - best "krautrock" band ever?
Faust - actually maybe Faust are the best "krautrock" band?
Kraftwerk - not sure if they count as "krautrock" but also brilliant
Beatles - well of course - consistently brilliant throughout their career, more so than nearly any other artist
Current 93 - in their "apocalyptic folk" era
King Crimson - best "prog" band? continually evolving since the late 60s
Van Der Graaf Generator - another contender for best prog band...
Pixies - they do quiet/loud better than anyone
Pulp - best Britpop band
The Smiths - the soundtrack to my adolescence
Pink Floyd - until "The Wall"
Genesis - up to but not including "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"
Smashing Pumpkins - nice pretentious grunge
My Bloody Valentine - 2 great albums and disappeared - so we will never be disappointed by the follow up to "Loveless"
Faith and the Muse - arty goth
Joy Division - though I don't listen to them that often these days
Opeth - my newest love - Death Metal meets prog
Honourable mentions: Ashra Tempel, Blur, Coheed & Cambria, Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Genesis, Harmonia, House of Love, Lemon Jelly, Massive Attack, Mogwai, Ozric Tentacles, Orbital, OMD, Radiohead, Sisters of Mercy, Stone Roses, Tangerine Dream, Tool, Yes
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by seagull
Van Der Graaf Generator - Not prog (Hammill hates the term), simply unique. Not sure who they influenced - how many organ/sax/piano or guitar/drums rock combos have there been since? (that instrumental lineup usually reminds me of the dodgy bands who play 'live music' in hotels in British seaside resorts). Produced three of the best albums of all time (Pawn Hearts, Godbluff and Still Life) - VdGG that is not the dodgy hotel groups!
The Chameleons - released the finest ever debut album (Script of the Bridge), my favourite rock band.
Echo and the Bunnymen wrote some enduring classics, still great live.
The Cure - prefer their dark side (Pornography, 17 Seconds), Robert Smith on ToTP never quite seemed right to me.
Porcupine Tree the only recent entrant in my top 5 bands, consistently good albums superb musicianship. Steven Wilson is incredibly prolific.
Joy Division - Two classic lps, sadly never matched by New Order
The Cocteau Twins ethereal, gothic, beatiful music
The Undertones perfect pop songs, brilliant live
Simple Minds Reached a peak with New Gold Dream, but what a height to reach! Excellent live band.
Caravan Whimsical, musical, wonderful.
Steve Hillage Brilliant guitarist, love the swooshy synths and eastern influences in the songs.
Peter Gabriel first four albums were brilliant
King Crimson especially the Fripp/Wetton/Bruford years
Jethro Tull especially the earlier bluesy stuff. Thick as a Brick is my favourite album cover - they don't make them like that anymore.
Talking Heads token favourite American band (though David Byrne is Scottish by birth!)
Magazine punky, proggy, great musicians and songs (next live band on my agenda!)
Siouxie and The Banshees - moved from punk to Goth, producing many icy classics in the process.
Bowie some but not all, he's moved in and out of my radar over the years, liked the last two releases.
Madness See Undertones.
various R&B guitarists mostly live acts always bring a huge grin (Wilko Johnson, Carvin Jones), rarely play there records (exception being 'Walkin on the Edge' from the live freebie that came with the Solid Senders first album)
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by tonym
After a bit of careful thought (about five minutes actually) I’ve come up with the following. Pointless for me to go into long explanations about why I like what I do; there’s just a resonance for me in their tunes (I’m not much of a lyric person) and I certainly don’t like all they’ve done, it’s just that to me their best is just magical and enduringly so for me :-
In no particular order -
Procol Harum – seldom mentioned, criminally underrated.
Jethro Tull.
Pink Floyd – Gilmour/Waters era, plus Astronomy Dominé.
Yes – not their (relatively) modern stuff without Steve Howe.
Camel.
ELP.
The Moody Blues – up to & including Seventh Sojourn.
Little Feat.
Led Zeppelin.
Porcupine Tree (A recent addition!).
Blackmore’s Night (all of it!)
Fairport Convention.
REM.
King Crimson.
Hovering on the edge of my selection – Beatles, Genesis (with P. Gabriel), ELO, Rolling Stones.
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by saxondale
Looks like it could be a case of rinse & repeat with the posts that may get added to this thread ? - many familiar names thus far , so to add some more :
FROM THE 60'S = The Kinks , Moody Blues , Cream , King Crimson , Rolling Stones (this was their best era IMO)
worth a mention - The Beatles , like some of the stuff but the 5 artists above get a lot more listening time
FROM THE 70'S = Led Zeppelin , Black Sabbath (the first 5 albums) , Rush , Amon Duul II , Roxy Music (the first 5 albums) , Tangerine Dream (mid 70's period - Phaedra , Rubycon , Stratosfear) , Yes (Fragile - Close To The Edge and Tales From Topographic are legend IMO) , Genesis (the usual early stuff) , The Who , The Buzzcocks , Elvis Costello & The Attractions , Ian Dury & The Blockheads , The Jam
worth a mention - Pink Floyd , same comments apply here as written for The Beatles
FROM THE 80'S = Echo & The Bunnymen , Cabaret Voltaire , The Cure (early stuff) , The Smiths , Simple Minds (early stuff and up to NGD) , U2 (early and up to Josh' Tree)
worth a mention - Ultravox , OMD , John Foxx , Thomas Dolby - all turned out at least one decent LP
FROM THE 90'S & ONWARDS = now starting to struggle , but ... , Radiohead (some but not all) , REM (some but not all) , Echobelly , Porcupine Tree , Madonna (some) .... erm ?
worth a mention - .... erm ?
EASY LISTENING STUFF - Marvin Gaye , Clifford T Ward , Dusty Springfield , Abba
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by BigH47
My list is practically the same as tonym's. Minus Procal Harem. I never bothered to listen to any of their other stuff as I was fed up with that bloody single, beyond the pale.
I would have to add Rush, ZZ Top,some Deep Purple and a dash of AC/DC.
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Ghettoyout
No one's mentioned The Fall yet. How can that be so?
Currently the best band out there is Left Lane Cruiser.
The first couple of White Stripe's albums are excellent.
Ballboy were always good value for money.
Early Nirvana (applies to both 60s & 80s versions) is well worth a listen.
Hefner were very good too as were the mighty Extreme Noise Terror.
I could go on but it's probably best I don't.
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by 'haroldbudd'
Cocteau Twins
the Associates ( Alan Rankine years )
Harold Budd
Brian Eno
Roxy Music
P.F.M
Yes ( up till around 80-81 )
Genesis ( up to Hackett departure )
Caravan
Magazine
Japan
David Sylvian
Slowdive
Trentemoller
Simple Minds ( early )
El Aviador Dro ( odd new wave from Spain )
King Crimson
Boards of Canada
Plaid
Aphex Twin
Stereolab/Monade
Broadcast
Siouxie and the Banshees
The Chameleons
Van der graaf generator
Scott Walker
Dead Can Dance
Stravinsky
Jordi Savall
Julio Igesias ( 70's stuff )
Nino Bravo
The Pale Saints
Kitchens of Distinction
Rodrigo
Anette Peacock
Bill Bruford
Suede ( first 3 and all b-sides )
Kraftwerk
YMO
Vangelis (70's up to Bladerunner )
Os Mutantes
Caetano Veloso ( 70's)
Milton Nascimento (70's)
Bowie ( Station to Ashes )
Joy Division
The Stanglers ( till about 85 )
Sparks ( most )
Mahogany
His Name Is Alive
This Mortal Coil
My Bloody Valentine ( just Loveless )
.... my least fav of all would have to be Celine Dion
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Huwge
The Band
Black Uhuru
The Clash
Cowboy Junkies
Crazy Horse
Massive Attack
The Specials
Stranglers (up to but not including Meninblack)
various others already mentioned
not sure whether Martin Stephenson and the Daintees can be considered a group, similarly Bob Marley and the (original) Wailers. Also, not sure about the various groups bands where Gram Parsons was present. Like Fairport but prefer RT's solo work.
Responses confined to the rock / pop arena as various jazz combos would also appear
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
No one's mentioned The Fall yet. How can that be so?
Other than a song which I think was called
Elastic Man, I can't say I have heard anything by The Fall. Several other bands you mention are not ones I've heard.
However, there are a whole lotta bands posted that I'm unfamiliar with - so I guess still more avenues to explore.
Thanks to everybody who has contributed so far. In my initial list I only included groups; there are many solo artists that I like, but was thinking of bands for this thread.
I did leave out
Waking The Witch, which was rather stupid of me as they were totally unique and quite special.
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Luxen
Metallica
Led Zeppelin
Counting Crows
AC/DC (up to For those...)
Coheed and Cambria
Pink Floyd
Amon Amarth
Guns´n´roses (original line-up)
Jimmy Eat World
Long Distance Calling
Rage against the machine
Iron Maiden
Heather Nova
Sophie Zelmani
Mogwai
Nirvana
Pixies
RAMMSTEIN
Rush
Slayer
The Cult
Thin Lizzy
Tool
U2
Volbeat
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Chris Kelly
In addition to many fine names already mentioned I am exceedingly fond of the music of:
The Doors
The Beach Boys
Love
John Mayall's Bluesbrakers
(in various guises)
Free
Santana
C,S,N&Y (slo and collectively)
Timbuk3
The Byrds
Pretty Things
Dire Straits
Warren Zevon (even though not a band as such)
J.J. Cale
The Who
Lynyrd Skynyrd
to name but a few.....
Not much hip new stuff there I'm afraid.
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by 'haroldbudd'
I agree Dave, Nickleback and all other "Man-Rock" and Celine Dion on vinyl on the best system ever is my Hell.
forgot the Mondays on my list, Pill's and Thrills is one of my fave albums
forgot the Fall also, I like the later stuff
Not sure about actually killing Nickleback, but torturing them Torquemada style would be fun
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
Timbuk3
I listened to some tracks by them beyond the familiar
Future's so bright and thought they were great, but all their albums have been deleted from the catalogue so I wasn't able to follow-up.
Also should give a mention to
They Might Be Giants because, not to put to finer point on it, they are another superb band.
Nice to see I'm not alone in my love of Amon Duul II - afraid I don't like Amon Duul at all, but Amon Duul II are excellent.
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Chris Kelly
quote:
all their albums have been deleted from the catalogue so I wasn't able to follow-up.
Didn't know that. Still have them from first issue plus the "Some of the best of" compilation.
A quirky but fun band.
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Paper Plane
Groups - In vague order:
Status Quo
Rush
Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin
Iron Maiden
Rammstein
New Model Army
Yes
Curved Air
Marillion (Fish-era)
Muse
Santana
Ozric Tentacles
Rage Against The Machine
Magma
Judas Priest
Dire Straits
steve
Posted on: 12 January 2009 by Jet Johnson
Erm' ....Beatles
Stones
Hendrix
Steely Dan
The Move
Sex Pistols
Clash
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Allman Brothers
Talking Heads
Neil Young
Weather Report
Led Zeppelin
Ramones
Killing Joke
Miles Davis
Ten Years After
Public Enemy
That Petrol Emotion
Television
Can
Tom Petty
Flaming Groovies
Kraftwerk
Little Feat
Jesus and Mary Chain
Black Uhuru
The Byrds
Prince
.......Erm' ....thats it (for now!)
Posted on: 13 January 2009 by Naijeru
If I'm limiting it to groups:
The Doors
Depeche Mode
Underworld
The Future Sound of London
The B-52's
The Deftones
Nirvana
Square One
A Tribe Called Quest
De la Soul
The Roots
Pizzicato Five
Swayzak
Jazzanova
The Chemical Brothers
Thievery Corporation
Goldfrapp
CSS
The Eurhythmics
Portishead
Noisia
Kraftwerk
Posted on: 14 January 2009 by Ivor J
THE FALL...THE FALL THE FALL....AND...THE FALL !!!!....
Posted on: 14 January 2009 by Howlinhounddog
22 replys to this and only one person (Saxondale) gives a passing reference to the
ROLLING STONES quote:
Rolling Stones (this was their best era IMO)
That may be so but...
It's the STONES manPosted on: 14 January 2009 by Chris Kelly
I agree HHdog, I was trying to add to the list rather than just repeat what others had said. If I am having one of those indecisive, what shall I play now moments, the Stones are often first pick!
Posted on: 14 January 2009 by manicatel
Page 2, & I'm the first (I think) to mention
Jellyfish & XTC.
I'd also like to add
Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Steelye Dan
& agree with The Beatles, The Pixies, Marvin Gaye.
That list would make up most of my "desert island disc" type list.
Matt.
Posted on: 14 January 2009 by Ivor J
Not the FALL though are they ?
Posted on: 14 January 2009 by steveb
Can-alltime favourites
VDGG-close second
Amon Duul 2
Tangerine Dream-early years
Faust
Gong
Magma
XTC
Talking Heads
Genesis- Peter Gabriel era
Caravan
Nektar
Be-Bop Deluxe
Gentle Giant
Groundhogs
Man
Hawkwind- UA Years
Midnight Oil
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Ozric Tentacles
Porcupine Tree
Seventh Wave
Steve
