Music: Whats your favorite genre(s)of music and artists?

In my opinion, a good artist has a good guitarist, or good lyrics. A good guitarist as in Stevie Ray Vaughn, or Eric Clapton. I don't like lyrics that degrade women or trivialize violence. The Beatles have songs with great lyrics. Good song lyrics still apply years after it was released on album. There are certain bands that every person should know, whose influence extends to popular bands today. I'll list five bands that I think everyone should at least know of.

1. The Beatles

The influence of The Beatles, though they were popular in the late sixties to early seventies, extends to contemporary rock. After the Beatles disbanded all the members went on to their own careers. Notably Paul McCartney, who is still releasing albums. John Lennon, famous for his song Imagine, among many others. My username, Blackbird, is a great Beatles song:

Blackbird by The Beatles:

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise..."

Of course as great as their music is, I cringe when I hear their songs in commercials. Of course, correct me if I'm wrong, but it is not completely their fault as Michael Jackson holds the copyrights to more then 200 of their songs. [Although according to a 2005 CNN Money article he may loose his rights]

2. Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is amazing. Everyone should, at minimum, own a Greatest Hits album from Dylan. While his vocal ability may cower next to others, he is an artist. I'm tired of all the entertainers taking over the radio (even on my local classic rock station). If I want to be watch an entertainer I'll watch rent a kiss concert, whose marketing talents surpassed their musical talents, and continue to do so to this day.

For people of a musical taste who enjoy catchy tunes, no solos, lyrics that don't overwhelm the senses: this list, or artist, isn't for you. Bob Dylan is a poet, just like Jim Morrison (or The Doors). For those of you who disagree, thats fine - but if you disagree and turn on 50 cent then I roll my eyes at you.

Like a Rolling Stone - You Tube video of Dylan playing this live in 1966

3. Pink Floyd

If you have never listened to their album Dark Side of the Moon or Wish You Were Here then you need to. In fact if I were stranded on a desert island, and I could choose one album to listen to it would be Wish You Were Here.

Personally, The Beatles are my favorite band, but Wish You Were Here is my favorite album. The two have very different styles though. Wish You Were Here is great because it is a combination of great instrumentals and lyrical poetry.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond - You Tube concert

4. Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is still touring. Personally, my favorite song of his is Layla. I was lucky enough to see him in concert last year. Robert Cray opened, Robert Cray is incredible, click the link to see him perform Time Takes Two at Eric Clapton's Crossroad concert.

I saw Eric Clapton in concert last year in San Diego. It was amazing, he played with Derek Trucks (who is an amazing guitarist in his own right) and JJ Bramhall II and JJ Cale came out for a song. It was incredible to hear Clapton play all his songs, adding a few solos. Most definaetly something I would recommend.

Layla - You Tube live

5. Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is deceased, but his influence on music is reaching. In Eric Clapton's autobiography, there was a time in which Hendrix and Clapton played some shows together. Man, I wish I was alive for that. He had a big influence on Stevie Ray Vaughn - who, in this hyperlinked you tube video, is playing a cover of Hendrix's Little Wing.

As you have probably gathered by now, I am a fan of good guitarists. I'm not a fan of artists whose guitarist don't solo. Personally, I could listen to an electric guitar by itself and be (especially when watching Hendrix) amazed. True, he wasn't a technical wizard, but that doesn't bother me at all. His lack of technical skills gave way to creativity and inventiveness, his use of the wang bar was (and is) influential.

Voodoo Child - Live at Woodstock