THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
Who would expect such wacked out, nutty, tweaked out music to come from two of the most normal looking musicians in the biz? They Might Be Giants are a cult success but have never really had a big hit, which is frustrating since I've been a fan for nearly a decade now. If you're not acqauinted with TMBG, it's likely that you hung out with stupid people in high school and never went to college; or you lived in a cave; or buy Hootie CDs and like them, something like that. TMBG are, well, wacky rockers who manage to make very happy and upbeat songs with even the most morbid and bizarre of material; and the only group I can think of who've dabbled in as many musical genres as they have. I don't have an actual list of favorite artists, but these guys would be in the top 5-- They're just so warped you have to appreciate them.
THIRD EYE BLIND
Perhaps a paragon of Flaccid Rock. I don't think Eddie Vedder tries to be himself as much as this band's lead singer does.
311
As the 90's have progressed, I've shifted from overplaying the sex-funk of the Chili Peppers to the rock-reggae of 311. Why, I don't know-- Like most, I never knew of 311 until "Down" hit the scene, but within a few months of that acquired all of their recordings. Originally, I liked them more for SA's rap stylings, but now find myself liking Nick's velvet voice, his song "8:16" probably one of my favorites at this point in time; one of their mellower entries, although "Gap" from the Enlarged to Show Detail EP runs a close second. (If anyone has the lyrics to that song, please let me know.) One element I really like about these guys is that as much as they rock-- and I don't know if it's on purpose-- there are little elements of cheesiness in bits of the songs that make them a little imperfect; and that much more human and better and fun to listen to. I look forward to overplaying all of their future recordings; They will always have a slot-- or two-- in my CD player.
TRICKY
Portishead was my introduction into trip-hop, the Chemical Brothers my enticement, and Tricky my entrapment-- The genre would never leave my CD player again. With his raspy vocals and tricked out seductive beats, not to mention the siren vocals of the lovely Martine, the album Maxinquaye became one of my first favorites of the genre. Take a listen to "Hell Is Around the Corner" and get hooked too.
SHANIA TWAIN
I hate country music. I recognize the beauty of Patsy Cline's voice and the musicianship of Junior Brown's steel guitar, but for the most part, mind you, I really, truly can't stand country music-- So it's with conviction that I say from what I've heard of her, Shania Twain brings the genre down.
