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
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
VW and Oysterband. 
Because I listen to a lot of producer based music I'll just list my fav's rather than a group thing
The Cure - Robert Smith & friends have given me more pleasure per mile than any other band Genius plus
Two Lone Swordsmen/Sabres Of Paradise - Andrew Weatherall is an ucking genius and anything he puts his name on should be heard.
Depeche Mode or The Mode to their mates - from bouncy dark synth pop protagonists to masters of the electronic world.
Beck - take any genre you fancy add surreal intelligent imaginative lyrics and Beck has been there already. Genius
Squarepusher - puts more creativity into one song than the whole mainstream pop scene combined for the last 30 years. Genuis
Felix Da Housecat - Sexy, funny, cool, dirty, mean, heavy, the King of modern electronic dance music for me.
Luke Vibert - from the land of pixies & pasties with music to match can turn his hand to any electronic genre and does it better than most of the specialists.
Booka Shade - Germanic based techno of the highest quality.
Miles Davis - especially his late 60's & 70's fusion music this man was and still is way ahead of the rest of the music world.
ELP - well ROTF said it all, if you don't like ELP you're just plain deaf with no musical bones in your body.
Pink Floyd - whats not to like!
Ludwig Van Beethoven - has anyone topped this guys compositions for scale, depth, emotion, beauty and life, I think not, just listen to ninth symphony.
Massive Attack - Real intelligent urban music from guys who know their roots unlike a lot of so called urban music.
Siouxsie & The Banshees - imaginative & distinctive Siouxsie Siouxs lyrics conjur up beautiful and thought provoking imagery
Aphex Twin - same as the Floyd whats not to like.
Yes - just say Yes to Yes and see the prog light at the end of the dark AOR tunnel.
Joy Division - dark, intelligent, original and captivating.
A special mention to all the House and Techno pioneers to many to mention but you know who you are, PEACE, LOVE & UNITY.
Dean..
The Cure - Robert Smith & friends have given me more pleasure per mile than any other band Genius plus
Two Lone Swordsmen/Sabres Of Paradise - Andrew Weatherall is an ucking genius and anything he puts his name on should be heard.
Depeche Mode or The Mode to their mates - from bouncy dark synth pop protagonists to masters of the electronic world.
Beck - take any genre you fancy add surreal intelligent imaginative lyrics and Beck has been there already. Genius
Squarepusher - puts more creativity into one song than the whole mainstream pop scene combined for the last 30 years. Genuis
Felix Da Housecat - Sexy, funny, cool, dirty, mean, heavy, the King of modern electronic dance music for me.
Luke Vibert - from the land of pixies & pasties with music to match can turn his hand to any electronic genre and does it better than most of the specialists.
Booka Shade - Germanic based techno of the highest quality.
Miles Davis - especially his late 60's & 70's fusion music this man was and still is way ahead of the rest of the music world.
ELP - well ROTF said it all, if you don't like ELP you're just plain deaf with no musical bones in your body.
Pink Floyd - whats not to like!
Ludwig Van Beethoven - has anyone topped this guys compositions for scale, depth, emotion, beauty and life, I think not, just listen to ninth symphony.
Massive Attack - Real intelligent urban music from guys who know their roots unlike a lot of so called urban music.
Siouxsie & The Banshees - imaginative & distinctive Siouxsie Siouxs lyrics conjur up beautiful and thought provoking imagery
Aphex Twin - same as the Floyd whats not to like.
Yes - just say Yes to Yes and see the prog light at the end of the dark AOR tunnel.
Joy Division - dark, intelligent, original and captivating.
A special mention to all the House and Techno pioneers to many to mention but you know who you are, PEACE, LOVE & UNITY.
Dean..