Bands you CAN'T go wrong with

[adouglas]

Okay, it's an age-old question:

What's your favorite band?

I've never really been comfortable with that. Your favorite band at the moment changes all the time.

So, let's change the question:

What band(s) are ALWAYS on your "good" list? What bands or artists have stuck with you over the years? What bands do you never mind listening to?

There's an important point here. There are great bands out there that you'll change the radio on, even though they're terrific. You know, the "classic rock station syndrome..." as in "I DO NOT need to hear 'Ramble On' again, dammit!"

But there are other bands that are so tasty in your mind that you listen every time, even if you've heard the song 10,000 times before.

So, to frame the question, the basic criterion is:

If the band comes on the radio, will you always (or almost always) leave it tuned in and listen?

Here are some (not all) of mine:

Steely Dan
Little Feat
Peter Gabriel
Bonnie Raitt
Paul Simon

How about you?

 

[robelinda2]

Deep Purple
Van Halen
Eagles
Steely Dan
Boston

 

[Colin]

Doobie Brothers
Steely Dan

 

[SteveB]

None of the bands that I consistently like get any airplay.. at least in the US.

That's why I have satellite radio, so I can actually hear a variety of music.

 

[adouglas]

Deep Purple
Van Halen
Eagles
Steely Dan
Boston

Just goes to show how people's tastes differ. Boston makes me puke, every time, all the time. It's ugly. The only thing I ever liked about them was the album cover art.

But then, they hit at a critical time in life for everyone...when I was age 15-16. At the time I was listening to Yes, Kansas and ELP (prog-rock). Boston was Top-40 BS to me.

Van Halen came along a lot later, when I was past listening to current rock radio. Eddie always struck me as a fantastic technician, but the music didn't move me much, with a few exceptions. ("Right Now" is one of my favorite songs ever, and I really like stuff like "Hot For Teacher.")

Eagles were okay, but they've since become a favorite, mostly because my band does some Eagles tunes that sound GREAT.

Keep it comin!

 

[robelinda2]

Dont Look Back is a cool tune though! Had more than enough of More Than a Feeling. but i guess so has everybody. I like the 2nd Boston LP more than the first.

 

[adouglas]

Doobie Brothers
Steely Dan

I like the Doobies a whole lot (in fact, Without Love (which isn't the actual name of the song, I don't think) was the very first time I had one of those "Hey, cool, this sounds GREAT" experiences), but they don't make the cut.

I can't listen to "O Black Water" any more. It's just TOO hokey. Remember, this is a strict criterion.

 

[adouglas]

None of the bands that I consistently like get any airplay.. at least in the US.

That's why I have satellite radio, so I can actually hear a variety of music.

My experience and preference is kind of like that, but it's more like "the songs I like never get played" rather than "the bands I like never get played."

Over the years, the songs I prefer are NEVER the hits.

Example: I really like Heart. But I HATE all of their songs that get airplay. "Barracuda" and "Magic Man" make me want to murder someone, preferably the program director. I cannot listen to that stuff. Yet I play the albums.

 

[adouglas]

Just to be clear....

The idea is to ID bands that are ALWAYS welcome to your ears, no matter what.

If there are bands that have cringers that get played a lot, they're out.

This is a fairly strict standard.

BTW, I'd add The Who to my list.

 

[Beth]

Anything Elvis Costello gets his grubby mitts involved in

 

[Progdude]

Dream Theater
Symphony X
George Bellas
Yngwie Malmsteen
Shawn Lane
Opeth
Mattias AI Eklundh
Pantera
Van Halen
Andy Timmons

Just to name a few

 

[adouglas]

Anything Elvis Costello gets his grubby mitts involved in

I knew I was going to like you.

I didn't like him back in the day, but now I REALLY like him.

I'm still trying to get my band to attempt "Start it up."

We're going through a traffic-jam period, with way more songs "on the list" than we have time to try. We're pushing and shoving against one another, which is a very healthy thing.

 

[SteveB]

I don't think I've ever turned off a Hendrix tune.

Or Robin Trower.

 

[Randracula]

The Cult
Duran Duran
New Order
NoFx
Radiohead
The Police
Guided By Voices
Depeche Mode
Descendents
Johnny Cash
Bad Brains

 

[bonzo]

The Four Tops
The Temps = Funk Brothers
The Spinners
Oh yea....Led Zeppelin

 

[Roubster]

Steve Morse
Deep Purple
Andres Segovia
Vinnie Moore
Vivaldi
Dream Theatre
Dixie Dregs
Bach
Steve Lukather
Tony MacAlpine
Anything PETRUCCI
Frank Gambale
Pat Metheny
Hendrix
Symphony X
Joe Satriani
Mike Oldifield
Bela Fleck
John McLaughlin / Mahavishnu Orchestra
Django Reinhardt
Shawn Lane
Travis Larson
Jordan Rudess
Liquid Tension
Philippe Thibaut
Ritchie Blackmore
Joe Pass
Andy Timmons
.....................................

....Not exactly in particular order, since there is so much Great music out there!!!

 

[Eilif]

Toto
Yes
Boston

 

[Colin]

Steve Morse
Deep Purple
Andres Segovia
Vinnie Moore
Vivaldi
Dream Theatre
Dixie Dregs
Bach
Steve Lukather
Tony MacAlpine
Anything PETRUCCI
Frank Gambale
Pat Metheny
Hendrix
Symphony X
Joe Satriani
Mike Oldifield
Bela Fleck
John McLaughlin / Mahavishnu Orchestra
Django Reinhardt
Shawn Lane
Travis Larson
Jordan Rudess
Liquid Tension
Philippe Thibaut
Ritchie Blackmore
Joe Pass
Andy Timmons
.....................................

....Not exactly in particular order, since there is so much Great music out there!!!

The only problem is.... most of what you have listed aren't bands But they're brilliant choices either way

 

[DaveB]

King's X
John Mayer

Dave

 

[Jimmyb]

Pink Floyd
Alabama 3
Dust Junkies
War of the World (ok, so it's not exactly a band)
Led Zeppelin
Madness
The Verve
Secret Machines
Black Keys
North Mississipi Allstarts
John Spencer Blues Explosion