Thread: On The Lighter Side - Music!

Guitarist: Eric Johnson
Songwriter: Dylan
Overall musician: Paul McCartney
Coolest BAnd: They MIght Be Giants
BEst Concert: Jimmy Buffet
Best Concert I didn't think I would like: Ani DiFranco

Hmm.....I listen to old country (Hank Williams, George Jones, and Patsy Cline). When I'm not listening to that, I often listen to '80s heavy metal (Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Metallica), and when I'm not listening to either, I'm listening to bluegrass (Bill Monroe, AKUS). I've also taken to listening to some big band stuff (Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller) as of the last couple of years. The only classical-type stuff I listen to is on movie soundtracks- my favorite being the soundtrack to "Conan the Barbarian". I enjoy bagpipe marches, for some reason, and have a few of those around. I really don't fixate on a group or individual much, and kind of switch to wherever my mood is at the moment. (I listen to the CD player in my car a great deal.)

See what you can figure out from this information . . .

I was a heavy metal rocker chick from, oh, 1985-1995.

I'm married to the lead guitar player of a country band.

In my house I can get one pop radio station to come in clearly.

I'm a classically trained pianist. I can also play flute & piccolo.

So . . . what DO I like?

You all sound like me in that you have eclectic tastes. I can go from the in your face heavy metal sound of Ronnie James Dio one minute to the complex sound of Yes and Kansas to Elton John to the country pickin' of Roy Clark.

I think the only music I detest - although some of it has interesting sounds - is commercial country. It's depressing! I can't stand listening to some redneck crying about how his wife left him at his trailer all alone to take care of his 8 year son who's dying of cancer. What entertainment value is in THAT? As I've said, the worst thing anyone has ever done is SING to country music! But give me Ricky Skaggs or Roy Clark any day of the week.

Hey duct.tape - you like Eric Johnson, hey? Then you'll absolutely love Steve Morse! Morse is a serious influence to Johnson. Check him out - he's unbelievable! What's so cool about him is that he plays a bluegrass song on every one of his albums. Otherwise, he describes his band(s) as "electric chamber music." He'll floor ya, I promise! And he's such a nice guy. With his stature, it's impressive that he doesn't look down his nose at anyone. It's cool, he'd rather talk about flying or fishing than music.

You all want to hear an interesting band? Check out Kerry Livgren's post-Kansas band Proto-Kaw. Especially their first CD. They have every element of music you and I listed - including flute and sax. Lynn Mereidth, the singer, is a phenom. And these guys are all in their 50's! I got to meet them with Kerry in Cleveland in 2005 before their show. Incredibly talented across the board and just incredible music. Here's their link......... [url="http://www.protokaw.com/"]http://www.protokaw.com/[/url]

Oh, duct.tape, here's Steve Morse's website.............
[url="http://www.stevemorse.com/"]http://www.stevemorse.com/[/url]

I cut my teeth on "classical" music and I mostly listen to that. My favourite period is Renaissance and Baroque. A few years ago, I decided to educate my colleagues on the differences in "classical" music. Through a school listening program, I started with Renaissance music (it blew their minds), Baroque (they liked that and found it quite soothing), Classical (again, they liked that), Romantic (some of it they liked, some of it they found too wild) and then I gave them a week of Modern music (they complained about Stravinsky).

One of my favourite groups is Quartetto Gelato--a quasi classical group out of Toronto. They play music from all over the world and all over the centuries.

There are some country singers I like (Faith Hill springs to mind). There are folk singers I like (Connie Kaldor, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie sometimes). I secretly love 80s music.

My favourite albums right now:
Four Seasons--Vivaldi
Wood River--Connie Kaldor
The Look of Love--Diana Krall
Bat Out of Hell--Meatloaf
Graceland--Paul Simon
Silvertone--Chris Isaak
Sunshine on Leith--The Proclaimers
Neapolitan Cafe--Quartetto Gelato

Yea, I'd keep being a fan of 80's music a secret to! Ha ha ha ha.......... I called that the era of "Electronic Disco." In fact, there's still a lot of that around today.

After the 70's, I have a pretty jaded ear about music. You can only ape the origionals for so long and it becomes redundant.

I love Classical Music as well. I believe that's why I'm so fond of people like Steve Morse, Kerry Livgren, Alex Lifeson, and many others who have classical roots and training. Steve Morse has a song which is essentially an acoustic guitar solo titled "Flat Baroque."

You seem to be on to some artists who don't follow commercial trends - and I admire that! I'm not about having the recording industry telling me who to listen to - I dig for the gems. It really is like movies - there's so much "product" out there, quanity over quality.

Kansas did a CD in 1998 with the London Philharmonic called "Always Never The Same." That was so cool! Thought I'd add that since this topic is up.

CSW

C. Stan I will check it out. Thanks.

Favorite bands -Metallica, Queens Ryche, Linkin Park, Alison Krauss & Union Station.

Favorite solo artist-Mary Chapin Carpenter, Niel Diamond (sometimes you just gotta have the cheese), Elton John, Billy Joel

Most fun groups-They Might be Giants, Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie

Favorite Song writers- Cohen and a close second is Dylan and Willie Nelson. Cohen and Dylan have no singing ability what so ever. WIllie can sing his songs. No one else can do them like him. Compare Patsy Cline's version of, his song, Crazy, with his. She is better known but I think he sings it better.

Favorite Album-Metallica's S&M. Metal and orchestra is a surprisingly great combination.

I grew up listening to everything from Bach to Manilow to Baez to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Mom is a trained opera singer, who decided to be a music teacher, and dad has a huge and varied music taste.

Discalimer-Mom listened to Barry Manilow, I was young and had no choice.

I forgot about best concerts:

Ella Fitzgerald. Her warm up acts were Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass. At one point Joe Pass and Oscar Peterson played together and THEN Ella came on singing "you must remember this...". Oh, man

Paul Simon. He was amazing in every way. What I liked best about him was that when the other musicians had solos, he got out of the light and let them go.


8)

Music I simply cannot abide:
Heavy metal (it's often so loud that I can't hear it, maybe I've never been educated)
Insipid boy bands (The Backstreet Boys and the Bay City Rollers spring to mind)
Rap (I just don't get it, maybe I'm too old)
:wink: