Hello kids, I have been a little under the weather lately, I don’t think it is the swine flu, but I can’t be certain that it is not terrorist induced. I am finally feeling a little better though. I have been thinking a lot about music lately and I was recently inspired to make an all time favorite music list by my sister Ashley. I was trying really hard to make it an even 5, but I decided 6 would have to be the number. Just another note – I decided to pick all newer bands, stuff I listened to in high school and bands that have made a huge impact on me, not just one album, but the entire catalogue. I left off a few classic bands that I love like The Beatles and Tom Petty to name a few. It is weird how music just chooses to connect with people at different times, and the cool thing about picking your favorites is that no one can question it. Please leave your top 5 or so in the replies if you feel so inclined.
Something else, slightly off the subject that I have been talking about lately is how hard it is for one band to put out more than 2 great records. I mean, most bands have a few good records and then there are just 2 that are way better than the rest. It is really hard to get past that point. I think a greater number of older bands have been able to do it – The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, etc, but it seems hard to make a list of more than 10 bands that I like that have put out more than 2 great records. I don’t know exactly what makes this so hard, but let me know if you feel differently about this. You look at like Weezer, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, it is just really hard for me to say that they have more than 2 great albums.
Ok, just one more rant before I post my list. I recently heard from an unnamed source that (this person) doesn’t listen to Coldplay because they are the same thing as Nickelback, just vanilla radio crap. Are you serious? I just cannot respect this opinion, I feel like it is classic snobbery. Even if you said “I don’t like Coldplay”, I would say “cool, that is your opinion”, but to put them on the same level as Nickelback is just not correct. I never realized there was a negative backlash toward Coldplay, I thought everyone just liked them. I don’t think I realized this until I picked “Viva La Vida” as my favorite album of 2008 and most people disagreed. It was honestly a hard decision, and I was swayed by just seeing an amazing Coldplay concert, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is a great album and Coldplay is arguably one of the most consistently great bands of our time. All 4 of their albums are great in their own way, and none is obviously better than the others. I understand that people will always hate on what is popular, but Coldplay makes good music and I am not embarrassed to call myself a fan. (I would be embarrassed to call myself a fan of Nickelback, by the way), but enough about them…ha.
Here is my top 6 list, in alphabetical order, with my favorite album in parenthesis…
- David Bazan/Pedro the Lion (Control)
- Death Cab For Cutie (Transatlanticism)
- Denison Witmer (Of Joy And Sorrow)
- Jimmy Eat World (Clarity)
- The Get Up Kids (Something To Write Home About)
- Sufjan Stevens (Greetings from Michigan)
Also, I thought I would list a few links to what I am currently listening to. I feel like I get asked that question all the time, and I am never sure what to say. But here are a few things that I enjoy.
- David Bazan – Curse Your Branches – This is the only thing that I want to listen to all the time lately, I think it is brilliant. I don’t think that music needs to be theologically congruent because songs are feelings and ideas, not your life theology. And I really like to question things, and I like when other people do as well. I think it is the only way to really find out what you believe.
- Deas Vail - Birds And Cages (our first release on Mono Vs Stereo, coming out next week, more info to come)
- Mew – No More Stories Are Told – unbelievable album
- Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – just too catchy
- The Rocketboys – 20,000 Ghosts – great band, I can’t wait to hear more from these guys
- Sherwood – QU – Good friends and I am so happy for them that this record turned out so great.
- We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls – I am normally not into thick accents in music, but I love the Scottish brogue and great songs, and guitar sounds…
anyway, let me know what you are listening to lately, as well as your all time favorites. Isn’t it cool that Owl City is blowing it up right now? I love that guy and I wish him the best. Have a wonderful day friends.
I am so glad that Stella loves music! She is an amazing singer.
wow, phenomenal list. my top 6:
Copeland
Muse
Sigur Ros
The Killers
Lydia
Panic At the Disco
honorable mentions to Lydia, Owl City, & Between the Trees.
1) Beirut: The Flying Cub Cup
2) The Hazards of Love: The Decemberists
3) Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest
I love top 5 lists. High Fidelity, anyone?
Okay.
Switchfoot (Nothing is Sound)
Coldplay (like you said, ridiculously hard to pick one album)
Relient K (MMHMM)
The Fray (How to Save a Life)
John Mayer (Continuum)
I know, my music tastes aren’t very diverse, especially up high on my list.
Right now I’m listening to:
Relient K – Forget & Not Slow Down (slowly making its way to the top of my 2009 list)
Paramore – Brand New Eyes (currently sitting at the top)
Owl City – Ocean Eyes
Anchor & Braille – Felt
Playjerise – Better Life
By the way, I hate anti-conformists. I’m not a conformist, I’ve loved Coldplay since Parachutes, but I refuse to hate them just because they’re popular. They make good music and that’s enough for me. Viva la Vida tops my 2008 list too.
that’s a good top 5. these sort of lists always make me a little panicky though, cause i know 4 hours from now, i’ll think of someting obvious that i forgot. regardless (assuming: it’s top five of all time; they are songs that have had the biggest influence on me as a songwriter and a person; that i’m not tryin to impress anyone):
Counting Crows (August and Everything After)
Pedro the Lion / David Bazan (It’s Hard to Find a Friend / Achilles’ Heel…is a close second)
Jimmy Eat World (Can’t realy pick a fave. Least is the newest one, though. Ha,ha…)
The New Frontiers (Mending- This is a newish favorite, but this record is one of the best i’ve heard from any band in the last decade)
Coldplay (Rush of Blood)
BONUS:
Death Cab (TransAtlanticism…these guys have sorta tapered off for me, i don’t really care for the stuff after. or before or that matter, haha. But that record was a pinnacle. Amazing.)
Ok. Now that i’ve wasted a half hour..off to work.
Owl city is coming to Australia next year
So are you, I heard
Can’t wait!!!
Fav bands…
Hawk Nelson
Switchfoot
Relient k
Family Force 5
What I’m listening to:
Heyhihello
A rocket to the moon
FM static
Hawk Nelson
Brighten
Like you, Matt, it’s not impossible, but dang hard to narrow this list to five. I will touch on your point about bands that make more than two great records. Pearl Jam almost did it. With Ten, Versus and Vitalogy. All three were really good records, but I think what kept them (and PJ as a whole) from being “great” is that there’s not much diversity. Just great, 90s music that came at a time when disgruntled youth needed a voice or expression.
I’ll also say that We Were Promised Jetpacks, Mew and Phoenix make it to my ears at least once a day lately. Such amazing bands. Especially their newest efforts.
I’ll also agree on Viva la Vida. What a great record. The diversity in songwriting combined with the brilliance of Brian Eno made it great. And Nickleback is, indeed, bad. And Canadian.
Ok, enough of that. Here’s my top list (and you beat me to the punch on a few).
Pedro the Lion – Control
Jimmy Eat World – Clarity
Sigur Ros – ( )
The Get Up Kids – Something to Write Home About
R.E.M. – Document
Mew – Frengers
Radiohead – Amnesiac
The Appleseed Cast – The End of the Ring Wars
Snapcase – Progression Through Unlearning
Rage Against the Machine – The Battle of Los Angeles
NOFX – Two Heebs, White Trash and a Bean
Ok, that’s well over the limit and probably needs to be an entirely different list in it’s own, but I couldn’t resist. I think I could narrow that down to five or six and say with certainty that Sigur Ros, R.E.M. and Pedro would all be on that list.
And finally, one favorite of mine that I have a hard time adding to lists (for a reason I cannot explain) is Twothirtyeight’s “Regulate the Chemicals”
Patrick, I knew we had pretty similar taste, but I feel like I know way more about you now that I know you are into NOFX and Snapcase. Amazing! And I really wanted to put Twothirtyeight as well. That record is unbelievable and I wish I could re-release it, or at least put out a new record. Hope to hang out soon, we get home Sunday!
Matt, I cannot believe this is your list!! Why in the name of all that is holy are we not making music together?!?! I enjoyed your Coldplay musings and really appreciate the “2 good records”. I did something similar on fb a while back with records that shaped my world by year… Quite the undertaking
hope u r well.
Your paragraph on Coldplay is possibly the greatest paragraph of all time! I have tried to make that argument against so many people, but they are just too stubborn to listen to me.
Anyways, my top 6 would go something like
Weezer (The Blue Album)
The Beatles (Abbey Road)
Relient K (mmhmm)
Jimmy Eat World (Bleed American)
Anberlin (Cities)
Blink-182 (Enema of The State)
I’d say that some on that list change from time to time depending on how I change. I’ll be at the show Friday in Des Moines!
haha appreciate the high fidelity comment, thats weird ‘dot’ has two of my favourite all time albums in there and the others are pretty good too,
Switchfoot (nothing is sound) totally underrated album if there ever was one!
Coldplay (parachutes)
Relient K (mmhmm)
Mewithoutyou (Brother, sister)
Death Cab for Cutie (Transatlantacism) the title track just says it all and i was talking to Gary LIghtbody recently who also said he likes walking at night alone to this album!
Modest Mouse (Good news for people who love bad news) good grief what an album
Not the most diverse bunch there but my word how those albums have shaped my life, anyway this is what im listening to right now:
Relient K forget.. definately a real contender for album of the year and possibly up there with mmhmm the guys have really outdone themselves, again
Panama Kings, just random songs they dont have an album yet – they are an incredible northern irish band sooooo good!
Manchester Orchestra ‘Mean everything to nothing’ too good its mental
Nick Drake, pink moon where has this guy been all my life he sounds just as god today as he did in the 70s
Deer and the Headlights, Drunk steps heavy hooves, seen these guys earlier this year and wow
well written article btw and again i agree with dot, if a band can create consistenly good music that means something then dont knock it, but if its not for you move on to something else and wind your neck in!
mike ball , northern ireland
Michael, thanks for the double post, we definitely have a lot in common, hope to see you in Ireland someday, I have always wanted to go there.
My top 5 of 2009 so far (but most likely will be) are…
Gasoline Heart “Nostalga Ain’t What It Used To Be”
U2 “No Line On The Horizon”
Pearl Jam “Backspacer”
Bruce Springsteen “Working On A Dream”
Mike Dunn & the Kings of New England “Sundowner”
very nice Brad, super classy!
sorry im tired the spelling mistakes in that article i wrote were shocking, apologies, its dear and the headlights – *small steps, heavy hooves* also i realised after i wrote this i have so many more albums to include, should have thought this through alot more, like
sixstarhotel- a kind of crusade,
Sujan Stevens – illinois
Wintersleep – welcome to the night sky
Biffy clyro – blackened sky
Arcade fire – neon bible
Jacks Mannequin – everything in transit
Bon iver – For Emma, Forever ago
ah man i wish this list extended to a top 10/11 list, i only came back to fix mistakes in my other post and ended up thinking of ones id missed and liked that much i got their vinyls
ah matt i wish you were coming to northern ireland at some point so we could discuss this more and so that i could show you what northern irish bands have to offer you crazy americans!
Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape
Counting Crows – Recovering the Satellites
Face to Face – S/T
Jimmy Eat World – Clarity
Reeve Oliver – S/T
From the looks of this, im kind of stuck in the past…
My all time top five probably looks like this:
1. Relient K (MMHMM, Five Score, are great, Forget… is on a higher level though)
2. The Beatles (Revolver, Abbey Road, With the Beatles)
3. John Mayer (All his stuff, including, Trio, Where the Light Is Live)
4. Jon Foreman (His solo stuff and Fiction Family stuff)
5. *Switchfoot (Beautiful Letdown)
*I couldn’t decide between Switchfoot, John Lennon, Stevie Ray Vaughn, or U2
Alright, Matt. Forgoing The Beach Boys, The Zombies, Paul Simon etc., here are my top five-ish modeled after your format. If I wasn’t born, it couldn’t be on the list. I tried to think of bands that make me run out and buy every single album they’ve released (probably why Weezer isn’t on anybody’s list so far).
Ben Folds (Five) – Rockin’ the Suburbs
Jellyfish – Spilt Milk
Pas/Cal – I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura
Pedro the Lion/Bazan – It’s Hard to Find a Friend
Relient K – Whichever is most recent
Troubled Hubble/The Heligoats – Making Beds In a Burning House
Whew, that was rough. There are so many bands I want to put on that list… favorite records lists are much easier, I think. I wanted to put Jimmy on there so bad, but I don’t feel like enough of a “fan” to do that. I started with Bleed American and I LOVE Clarity, but those are the only albums I own (even though Futures is great as well). Do you have any bands like that?
Current listens:
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion – I don’t listen to this all the time, but I love that I have no idea what’s going on in any of these songs.
David Bazan – Curse Your Branches – His dad on piano for In Stitches… chilling.
The Antlers – Hospice – Only heard this once actually, but definitely need to do myself a favor and buy it. Heart-wrenching.
The National – Boxer – I wish I heard this in ’07 when everyone else did, because by now I could be celebrating my 1,000th listen or something. Cannot get enough of this one.
Your New Record
The toy that your daughter is playing with looks an awful lot like the ‘steel drums’ Matt T plays…
Noah, great list! I like a lot of the new indie stuff you are into. The Animal Collective is great…I left off that and Manchester Orchestra because I have worn them out a bit and don’t listen to them too much right now. And good work on the the steel drum sleuthing…
It looks like you might be done responding to this post, but I have to ask: Why Of Joy and Sorrow and not Safe Away (this album is in my top 10 of all-time)? It seems like you have a good reason for this, and I’m very curious.
They are 2 way different styles. I definitely love safe away, but I feel like Of Joy and Sorrow was really where Denison developed his own style and figured out songwriting…and I have listened to it the most. I don’t think it is a perfect record, but the songs are great.
No matter what Relient K will always be number one. There has never been a song or album that you guy have made that I did not fully enjoy. I know, I sound like such and arse kisser but it’s the truth. Don’t know about the rest of the list.
Awesome post, Matt! What a challenge, hmmm…
1. Relient K- Forget and Not Slow Down//Five Score/Mmhmm (They are all so brilliant and have taught me so much)
2. Ruth- Anorak ( I can keep that album playing no matter what I’m doing or feeling, and it will put a smile on my face)
3. Mamma Mia! Movie Soundtrack (You can’t go wrong with ABBA and Meryl Streep
4. The Holiday- Original Score (So relaxing and cheerful)
5. Making April- The Egg Hunt (Such a good album from a relatively unknown band. The lead singer has such a unique voice)
Picking five is so hard, but it was fun. Enjoy
Amen on your list except for Pedro….you know how I feel about that.
Although I am slightly annoyed that only my husband left a reply on my blog and like a million people replied to yours when this was my idea in the first place, but you are more famous than I, so what can I do. (all in one breath, hence the run-on sentence)
None the less, I will leave my top 5:
Richard Ashcroft
No Doubt
The Get up Kids
Sixpence
Smashing Pumpkins
#6 is Sigur Ros
Love you!
Ash, back up the salt truck!!! Ha. Yeah I was going to post on your blog, but it took me too long to think about it. And I totally gave you props with the link. But thanks for the idea, very High Fidelity, we should do another all-time top five list soon!
Matt-
What do you think of David Bazan old vs. new? Check out this article:
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-passion-of-david-bazan/Content?oid=1169181
It is definitely a different story if you look at where he is at now, perhaps I will write a whole blog about it. But really, I think it is good to question and be frustrated to not know the truth. And I feel like most of his backlash is against Christianity and people’s perversion of that, like questioning damnation and brimstone as a reason for living with morals. And like I said, it is not necessary to listen to songs for theology, but I think the honesty is refreshing.
Came over from your twitter, and why not, I’ll publish my opinions to the world.
RK- Forget… and Bird and the Bee Sides
Switchfoot- Beautiful Letdown
Jars of Clay- self titled
MAE- The Everglow
Indigo Girls- Poseidon and the Bitter Bug
Hmmm that was hard not because there were too many to pick from, but more because I prefer to make playlists rather than listen to full albums.
Coldplay is JUST like Nickelback in that they both have 4 members.
Lately I can’t get enough of the band ELBOW.
hmmmm….. let’s see. Top 5 bands.
Relient K – Forget and Not Slow down
Relient K – MMHMM
Relient K – The Anatomy of Tongue in Cheek
Relient K – Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right… But Three Do
Relient K – The Bird and The Bee Sides
tough to pick 5 with all your records and EP’s.
David, this is just silly…ha
haha. sorry dude, you guys are just my favorite band. i’m real into pop punk right now so my list will probably seem quite lame compared to everyone elses. so after you guys, it would probably be:
Philmont
Cartel
Switchfoot
We the Kings
and a toss up between Run Kid Run and Deas Vail
TOP 6
U2 (The Joshua Tree)
Relient K (Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right… But Three Do)
Switchfoot (Nothing Is Sound)
The Clash (London Calling)
Jars of Clay (Long Fall Back to Earth)
House of Heroes (The End is Not the End)
Weezer, Coldplay (I’m with you, Matt), Ramones, blink 182, and Family Force 5 are honorable mentions.
Matt, I’ve always wondered what bands sort of influenced Relient K to play punk.
Daniel, we listened to a lot of old Tooth and Nail bands like Slick Shoes, Mxpx, and Ghoti Hook, but also bigger stuff like Green Day and Blink 182. Also, Weezer, Foo Fighters, and rock stuff like that…
I saw you guys at Cain’s a few short hours ago… You get MAJOR props for playing Island in the Sun! Great show.
This is very hard, but a great topic! Clarity is defiantly one of the most poignant albums by Jimmy Eat World.
The Other Top 5 of mine in no particular order:
Elliott Smith: Elliott Smith
The Smiths: Louder Than Bombs
Mae: Destination Beautiful
Daft Punk: Discovery
Counting Crows: Hard Candy
I am listening to a lot of Ben Kweller, Keane, and Mute Math lately.
Felt like I couldn’t put The Beatles on my list before, but I have to say that Abbey Road is one of my favourite albums of all time.
@ all the Death Cab comments, I guess I’m one of the only ones here who loves Plans more than Transatlanticism?
Dot, I really like Plans. I also really like We Have the Facts and The Photo Album, but Transatlanticism is my favorite.
Being a DCFC fan, what do you think of The Postal Service? I remember one of the first things I thought of Owl City was that he sounded like the perfect cross between Relient K and The Postal Service. Agree? Disagree? I’d like to hear your thoughts.
I like the Postal Service. I love his lyrics. And yes, Adam does kinda rip them a bit, but he definitely has his own thing once you get into it.
Yeah, I guess. Still love Owl City though.
What’s happening with F&NSD vinyl? I’m thinking this one’s going to sound great on wax.
glad to hear irelands a possibility theres always a spare bed in the ball residence, anyway dangit i totally forgot about copeland – eat sleep repeat, jon foremans solo stuff and mae. This blog is ridiculous ive been thinking about it all day and night and i know im going to wake up in the night in a sweat knowing i forgot someone! get an all time favourite film list on the go too and your laughin, right im off before i get too obsessed with this!
Top 10 for me:
1. Green Day (Dookie)
2. Blink 182 (Enema of the State)
3. Jimmy Eat World (Clarity/Bleed American)
4. Radiohead (The Bends/OK Computer)
5. Foo Fighters (The Colour and the Shape)
6. Acceptance (Phantoms)
7. Anberlin (Never Take Friendship Personal/Cities)
8. Underoath (They’re Only Chasing Safety)
9. Yellowcard (Underdog/Ocean Avenue)
10. Imogen Heap (Hide and Seek)
And I hope this doesn’t seem lame, (I’m not trying to butter you up with compliments since I’m posting on your blog) I think Relient Ks last 3 albums were REALLY great albums. All of the albums are stellar from beginning to end. Lyrically, musically, and melody wise – amazing.
I’m currently listening to the new Cartel, Imogen Heap, Mayday Parade. I’m also listening to a lot of Forget and Not Slow Down
Hey Matt!
So my top 5 favorite albums are as follows, in no particular order (cause there is no way I could ever do just songs… I’d have some sort of breakdown haha)
Try! John Mayer Trio Live in concert Album
Pararmore – Riot
Relient K – (Tie between MMHMM and The Bird and The Bee sides. That only counts as one pick though cause its a tie)
Anberlin – Never Take Friendship Personal
Mariana’s Trench – Masterpiece Theatre (Don’t knock it until you’ve heard the ENTIRE album. that boy can SING.)
That’s them!
That was kind of fun.. even though it was hard!
Hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy the last bit of your tour and what not.
P.S Your daughter is adorable.
Oh I almost forgot!
My listening to atm list is as follows!
Default – Comes and goes
Relient K – F&NSD
Daughtry – Leave this town
Paramore – Brand New Eyes
Tokio Hotel – Humaniod
Recent Top 6:
Relient K (Forget and Not Slow Down)
The Bloody Beetroots (Romborama)
Justice (Cross)
Röyksopp (Junior)
Винтаж (Sex)
Reik (Un Día Más)
All-time favorites:
Relient K (Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right…But Three Do)
Porcupine Tree (In Absentia)
Protest the Hero (Fortress)
Soulwax (Any Minute Now)
Frou Frou (Details)
Fall Out Boy (From Under the Cork Tree)
I think I’d have to agree with you about the 2 good records per band, excluding Relient K. Anatomy, Two Lefts, Mmhmm, Five Score, and Forget and Not Slow Down are all fantastic, and not just because I am a huge fan, but because of the raw talent. I can’t get enough of Relient K’s lyrics and harmonies. Also, Porcupine Tree has several good albums…
Lol @ Nickelback.
Leah, what country are you from? I just ask because of these – Винтаж (Sex), Reik (Un Día Más) – I have never heard of them.
I live in the States, I am just into a lot of foreign music. Reik is actually a latin pop group from Mexico, and I don’t really remember how I came across them, but it was probably via last.fm, which is great for musical discoveries. Винтаж or Vintazh is a russian pop group that my friend recommended to me recently. Sometimes even I don’t understand my taste in music.
Off the top of my head, five of my favorite albums would be (in no particular order):
Sufjan Stevens – Seven Swans (I fell asleep to this for months after I got it)
Relient K – mmhmm
Five Iron Frenzy – The End Is Here (the live album)
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Abbey Road is great, but this one has always been my favorite)
Less Than Jake – Anthem (I get hooked on this every summer)
It’s hard to pick so few. Right now, however, I can’t stop listening to:
mewithoutYou – It’s All Crazy …
Denison Witmer – Are You A Dreamer?
Relient K – Forget And Not Slow Down
Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
the soundtrack to Battlestar Galactica
Also, I would have to say that RK is a band that has made more than two great albums and Coldplay is fantastic.
Clarity is an amazing record. Have you listened to the live version they released earlier this year? It’s wonderful. And I’ve been meaning to check out TGUK for a while now. Relient K definitely has made more than 2 great albums and I’m sure you’ll remain humble and not agree, haha. But that’s cool. Mmhmm was the record that got me into music. It’s definitely going to be too difficult to list my all-time favorites, so I’ll leave it at 2009, but I’ll list a few other albums. But lately, Broadway Calls and the Swellers both released amazing albums this year that I’ve been listening to all day.
Thrice – Beggars – If you haven’t listened to this album yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. One of the most honest and raw albums this year. You may notice a trend with my top, but there’s a few really raw/organic and honest albums.
Forget and Not Slow Down – Sitting at the number 2 spot, but it has a great chance of hitting number 1. Definitely your guys’ most organic album. And a very honest one at that. I’m still waiting on that vinyl pressing info, so let me know when you do, haha. I’ll be pre-ordering that with no hesitation. It’ll sound amazing on my record player.
As Cities Burn – Hell or High Water – This is just amazing music, a Tooth & Nail band, they used to be like post hardcore but they’re progression through their three albums has been amazing. Check out Come Now Sleep also. I’m bummed cause they called it quits after the release of HOHW.
Brand New – Daisy – They made an album that’s pretty different than what they’ve done before. It’s a really interesting listen.
I can go on with a few more amazing albums from this year, but I don’t want to bore you. (mewithoutYou, Manchester Orchestra, Every Time I Die, New Found Glory, MUTEMATH, and Set Your Goals, Oh Sleeper come to mind).
A few all time (doesn’t include rK):
Anberlin – Cities
Norma Jean – Redeemer
Underoath – Define the Great Line
As Cities Burn – Come Now Sleep
Hit the Lights – Skip School Start Fights
August Burns Red – Messengers
I laugh at your Nickelback comments. Haha. I’m enjoying the blogs, Matt. Keep it up!
hey man, ive taken a big thought and i really cant think of any specific albums exept one. but thats not my favorite of all time tho. anyways,
Relient K……(a mix up between two lefts, mhmm, apathetic ep, and five score)
Jimi Hendrix- little wing (fav song from him)
The New Frontiers- Mending
I dont really listen to alot anymore exept Relient K basically. im not trying to kiss ur butt, but the problem for me is that you guys have so many albums and its so easy to pick another rk album when i get burned out from another. u guys are addicting!! and no i dont have a problem. atleast i dont think. lol
The Get Up Kids – FMM/STWHA (impossible to choose between)
American Football – American Football
Sufjan Stevens – Illinoise
Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism
Bob Dylan – Freewheelin’/The Times they are A-Changin’
Marvin Gaye – What’s Goin On
Blind Pilot – 3 Rounds and a Sound
Joe Purdy – His entire discography.
Lydia – Illuminate
Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing
Bright Eyes – Entire discography.
Coldplay – Impossible to pick a favorite.
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
I guess those are the albums I listen to the most right now, but the albums that I feel have influenced me the most as a musician and writer would have to be:
Counting Crows – Recovering the Satellites
Bright Eyes – Lifted or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground.
Relient k – Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right But Three Do
Coldplay – Parachutes
Rhett Miller – The Instigator
That’s off the top of my head. I lean largely on acoustic folk stuff like Joe Purdy, Iron and Wine, Bon Iver.. Ect.
You probably have heard of Joe Purdy, but if not, you should give him a listen. He’s actually playing in Nashville in Nov. I driving up from Ga to see him.
this is one of my favorites http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg4NwkuDiFo
This took reviewing the itunes album quit a few times to decide what albums I have had in my collection long enough to say they are the top six. Which pretty much means these are the sixth albums I can listen to over and over screaming my head of to the lyrics and never get tired of them. : )
Brand New (The devil & God are raging inside me)
Cloud Cult (Feel Good Ghosts)
Bright Eyes (I’m wide awake it’s morning)
Manchester Orchestra (Golden Ticket)
Blink 182 (Enema of the state)
Marcy Playground (Marcy Playground)
The National (Boxer) & The Academy Is (Almost Here) were too close to call so I chose Blink 182 over them because I can so remember when this album came out I don’t think it left my cd player for an entire year. It’s just soooo fun to sing along to!
My Top Five:
1. Relient K (Mmhmm)
2. Switchfoot (Oh! Gravity)
3. Jon Foreman (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer)
4. Jacks Mennequin (The Glass Passenger)
5. Coldplay (Viva La Vida/X and Y)
Others are “The Rocket Summer” “All Time Low” and “Powderfinger”
I too love Coldplay and have for a long time, and they will always be one of my favourite bands, no matter how others see them.
Releint K will always be my favourite band. Mmhmm is an amazing album that will always be close to my heart, but in time im sure that “forget and not slow down” will take up a spot on my top 5.
To you Matt, and all the RK guys, your music has been a driving force in my life, and i thank you so much for that.
Thanks for sharing:) I found the Coldplay thing interesting. I like them, but I honestly don’t listen to them very much. I find it funny how people can be completely against what’s popular. Believe it or not, there’s plenty of popular stuff that’s good too, haha. I’ve only heard of half of the artists in your top 6… I have some research to do:) Also, the only reason I know about Pedro the Lion is because of a video I watched of you and Matt performing that one song at a radio station. Anyway, I really want to do a list too! So here is my top 4:
-Relient K (a tie between Mmhmm and Forget and Not Slow Down)
-Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift)
-Owl City (Ocean Eyes)
-Hawk Nelson (Live Life Loud)
I did a top 4 because those are the artists that I like and listen to the most. I listen to a bunch of other stuff too, but not as many songs per artist as these. If that makes sense…
What I’m listening to as of late:
-Relient K (Forget and Not Slow Down and bits and pieces of the other albums)
-Hawk Nelson (Live Life Loud)
-Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (The songs they wrote for movies such as Aladdin)
-Tenth Avenue North
-Owl City (Ocean Eyes and also listen to “Hot Air Balloon” on his myspace)
I also use slacker radio (slacker.com) a lot, so I listen to songs from a bunch of other artists: The Beatles, the Newboys, Julianne Hough, Switchfoot, Tears for Fears (yes Matt T is the reason I started listening to them…), Stellar Kart, Superchick, Paramore, Everlife, Fireflight, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and a few more including my top 4.
I love how Owl City is getting public attention. I saw the last half of Adam’s set when I went to see you and the rest of RK at Summerfest. I had listened to a few of his songs on his myspace, and had never heard Fireflies before. I remember him singing it and Matt T going on stage as I was trying find a spot in the crowd, haha, that was cool. Anyway, Adam deserves all his attention, love his music:)
Anyway, Matt I want to thank you and the rest of the Relient K guys for the wonderful music you make. I honestly can’t explain how much of an inspiration and a joy it is in my life. By the way, Relient K has had more than two great albums… I’d say 6… 7 if you want to include Beesides. Yes, I do love your old stuff too:)
Oh, something else I want to include, I have this green plush guitar toy that has a face and feet that I won from a crane game a while back. I named it Matt Hoopes Jr., I just thought I’d share that with you:) Sorry if that’s weird, haha.
Sweet list Matt.
Just 4 in the tops for me.
- AC/DC
- Brad Paisley (5th Gear)
- Green Day
- Relient K (MMHMM or F&NSD)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (Texas Flood)
I didn’t post an album for Green Day or AC/DC due to a slightly annorexic music collection that does not include an album for either band. I love their music though.
At the moment I’ve been listening to my top 4 (especially RK’s new album. Love it!) quite a bit along with
- The John Mayer Trio
- blink-182
- Owl City
- Barcelona (after hearing them at you guys’ show)
- Guns N Roses
- Keith Urban
- The Classic Crime
My musical tastes have taken on a very eclectic mix over the years. I grew up listening to country, Guitar Hero got me into blues and classic rock (as well as playing the guitar), and I got into Relient K about a year ago which got me listening to other bands that are kinda similar or that have some connection that brings them to my attention.
Also wanted to thank you for being so cool about talking to a group of people that kinda followed you a long way to the Pageant in St. Louis. I felt horribly awkward and stalker-ish about it. You guys put on a great show too. Made the drive from Wichita, KS totally worth it.
top 5 favorite bands and the best album they’ve released
1. Relient K (MMHMM, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek)
2. Emery (In Shallow Seas We Sail)
3. House of Heroes (The End is Not the End)
4. The Classic Crime (Albatross)
5. Blink 182 (Enema of the State)
Honorable Mention: Owl City, Switchfoot, Taking Back Sunday
What I’m Listening to Now
1. Relient K – Forget and Not Slow Down
2. Owl City – Ocean Eyes
3. Forever the Sickest Kids – Underdog Alma Mater
4. Taking Back Sunday – Tell All Your Friends
5. Search the City – A Fire So Big The Heavens Can See It
I must say that I have no idea how anyone finds indie music. But I have to thank you because your list is the perfect compliment to Forget and Not Slow Down. It’s probably going to be my favorite album for a longgg time, aside from MMHHMM, of course.
Thanks for the new music!
Well, not to be a suck-up, but Relient k really is my favourite band. I love how you guys keep variety in your music but you still stick to one general sound. I saw you in Denver during the three hour tour, and I decided that Barcelona needs to be in my top 5, even though that was the first time I’ve heard them.
I also like Coldplay quite a bit. Their music is just so wonderfully complex.
Switchfoot would also fit in there somewhere. They’re just fun and so deep at the same time.
Owl City also makes an appearance in my top five. I saw him with Relient k and The Classic Crime last spring in Salt Lake City. I was a fan of him and his music well before Fireflies became such a huge hit. I kind of wish he wasn’t as popular as he is, because half of the nation knows him by only one song. I’m not a huge fan of super-popular music. However, I’m positive he won’t let his success get to his head.
Thanks for the blog, I enjoyed it. :]
Relient K (Forget and not Slow Down-I love it!, Two Lefts-classic fav)
Nickel Creek (Why Should the Fire Die?)
Jon Foreman (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Counting Crows (August and Everything After)
and I can’t think of a 5th one off the top of my head…it’s hard to decide
Late to the party, but here we go:
All time:
1. Bleach (Again, For the First Time)
2. Weezer (Blue/Pinkerton depending on the mood i’m in)
3. Guster (Keep it Together)
4. Ozma (Spending Time On The Borderline)
5. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (Broom)
Currently Spinning:
1. Phoenix (W.A.P.)
2. Coconut Records (Davy)
3. Bon Iver (For Emma…) <— Not that new, but still enjoying
4. Relient K (Forget…)
5. Damien Jurado (Caught in the Trees)
6. Throw me the Statue (Creaturesque)
I too would like to know when the new rK will be on vinyl…
First off, HAHAHAHA NICKELBACK.
Second off, Coldplay is fun to listen/sing along to.
Thirdly and fourthly, I can’t get into Owl City.. I heard a song of theirs (or should I just say “his?”) at work today and got upset when my boss asked me if it was Death Cab playing and my coworker instantly responded with “I think it is.” (I introduced that guy to DCFC. I guess I didn’t do a very good job with that.)
(this is the fourthly that I referred to in advance) I have enough trouble choosing a top ten every year for new music. I’m not sure if I can accurately chart my all-time favorites without forgetting a few, but I’ll give it a try anyway.
Also, I’d like to add that these are in no certain order other than whichever was thought of first..
Regina Spektor – “Far”
*I’m destined to love pretty much anything coming from this girl. To me, she is magic.. If I could marry her, I would.
The New Frontiers – “Mending”
*Still get teary-eyed thinking of their breakup, I’m not over it yet (mending.. heh.) I wish they could have stuck around for so much longer than they did.
Brand New – “Deja Entendu”
*Guernica has made me cry once or twice or three times.. I feel as if this album was made just for me.
Relient K – “Forget And Not Slow Down”
*Seriously… it’s your best yet! I hope you all realize how great it is.
Manchester Orchestra – “I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child”
*We’ve discussed this before, but I’m going to bring it up again. I like this album waaaaaay more than Mean Everything To Nothing. I don’t see how they got so famous off of METN and not this album..
Radical Face – “Ghost”
*I blame you for this one. I fell in love that first time I heard a song of theirs on your profile. Thanks. I will be forever grateful.
I would do a recent list too, of great albums I recently discovered, but unfortunately I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t had a chance to listen to much new music.
Yeah, I know that’s a terrible excuse..
But! I did download new stuff the other day! I plan on listening soon…
Some music I got was “Beggars” by Thrice
“Raditude” by… Well, you know who. I heard it wasn’t that great of an album, but I’m gonna keep an open-mind for when I do get around to listening to it.
“The Atlas And The Ocean” by A Love Like Pi
“All The Plans” by Starsailor
And “Hazards Of Love” by The Decemberists
There are a few others I got, too. But I’m gonna stop writing because this comment is ridiculously long.. Possibly as long, if not longer than your original blog post! Sorry about that.
-Been Stuck In My Cd Player/Genius Playlist Lately
Ben Folds- Stems and Seeds
Devotchka- How it Ends
Hearts of Palm- The Bridge Ep
John Mark McMillan- The Medicine
John Mayer- Where The Light Is. Live in LA.
Kings Of Leon- Because of The Times
Relient K- Forget and Not Slow Down
Modest Mouse- Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Ryan Adams- Love is Hell
Say Anything- …Is a Real Boy
Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend
-Albums That Will Consistently Put a Smile On My Face/My Favorite Albums of All Time
Avett Brothers- Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Session
Frou Frou- Details
Jack Johnson- In Between Dreams
Mark Mathis- We Both Was Young
MxPx- Life in General
Peter Frampton- Frampton Comes Alive
Ryan Adams- Heartbreaker
Sufjan Stevens- The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album
Switchfoot- Legend Of Chin
Death Cab for Cutie- Plans
Dude, I can’t believe I missed this post. You have fantastic tastes in music. My brother would be happy to know you like Animal Collective.
Here is what I have been listening to recently:
Death Cab for Cutie – Plans
Anathallo – Floating World
Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
Relient K – Forget
Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane
House of Heroes – The End is Not the End
Mae – Singularity
Copeland – You Are My Sunshine
Standing Small – Sister Wisdom (great band from TN. No one has ever heard about them, but they play at an awesome local venue in my town in SC all the time. Really cool dudes.)
Feist – Let It Die
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
Sufjan Stevens – Michigan
Modest Mouse – Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Fionn Regan – The End of History
I’ll stop there.
Favorites of all time? Eeesh that’s a hard one. I’m never good at that, but I shall try. I too will stick to newer bands. These are in no particular order:
Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism
Jon Foreman – Limbs and Branches
MMHMM by you know who
Manchester Orchestra – I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child
Brand New – Deja Entendu
Whoa. That was hard.
Anyway, I agree with you about the Coldplay (and Nickelback) thing. I can’t believe anyone would ever put them in the same category. Not a bash on Nickelback… maybe. Hah.
Also, I’m excited that Owl City is huge now too! I do regret not talking to Adam when I saw you guys back in June though. No one was talking to him… but I had to leave. Now, it would probably be reeeally hard to get to talk to him after a show.
I second Dot’s question. Any news on if/when vinyl will be happening?
Oh, I forgot to mention The Decemberists – Picaresque on my list of what I’ve been listening to recently.
Everytime I try to figure out a favorite, I’ve left one off. I have really been listening to Forget and Not Slow Down a LOT lately. It helps that it’s easy to type to at work. Rather than “favorites” some of the cd’s I’ve listened to lately are:
The Everglow by Mae and I keep listening to the new song Seasons over and over because it’s just so relaxing
Forget & Not Slow Down by Relient K
Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot – one of their best, imo
Needtobreathe all of their cd’s (There are three great ones, actually – not a bad song on any of them imho.)
Armistice by Mute Math
Remedy Drive
I just bought two new cd’s on iTunes – Attack Cat’s new cd and
Joe Moralez called “If I Could” and loving them both, even though they are very different. I just bought a cd by a band called The Letter Black I plan to listen to next.
Coldplay is amazing live. I still have a zillion butterflies from the concert here a while back. People can hate on them if they want, but the best I could pull up the minute tickets went on sale was row 24 at $120 a pop. LOL
BTW, I think that a lot of bands break the 2 cd rule, you guys do.
I love all of Mae’s cd’s (even if nothing else ever touches The Everglow); Deathcab has more than two as well, imo.
BTW, do you have a favorite Beatles album? I’m particularly fond of Rubber Soul.
And you should get a video of Stella singing.
Um. I guess I have to add Hello Hurricane to one of these lists. If not my “favourite albums of all time”, definitely “favourite albums of 2009″.
Which looks like:
1. brand new eyes – Paramore
1. Hello Hurricane – Switchfoot (tied)
3. Forget and Not Slow Down
4. Felt – Anchor & Braille
Hoping to add Battle Studies by John Mayer on there sometime soon.
Wow…I read all of those comments through the whole way. Interesting stuff to read. Being the opinionated person I am, I must now post my top ten. Yet I feel as if my taste in music is totally inadequate and underdeveloped compared to some of you! However, I will be honest, and will not seek out obscure foreign bands or experimental projects in hopes of making myself seem more complex then I am.
Feel free to bash me for lack of originality and diversity in music, but hey, I like what I like. I’m curious as to where any of this falls into your list Matt!
1. Blink-182 – Enema of the State (no comment needed)
2. Relient K – mmhmm (probably the most played album on my iTunes; its like default music for me. Honorable mention – two lefts don’t make a right, five score and seven years, no offense but FNSD is my least favorite of all your albums, it just doesn’t seem to mesh together well in my mind)
3. Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown (amazing album that got me through a heck of alot)
4. All Time Low – So Wrong, It’s Right (Second most played album on my iTunes, which is something I know I will take a lot of heat for. Matt, I remember talking with you outside of the Maryland show about All Time Low [Jack had come to visit you guys] and I am wondering if they ever make it on your iPod. Also, if you have heard their newest release, and what your opinion is of it?)
5. The Cars – Greatest Hits (I know it’s lame, but none of their albums really had full playability – so I go with the Greatest Hits album! It counts! Maybe..)
6. Weezer – Red Album. Just Kidding! I’m not THAT much of a pop-punk conformist! Blue album all the way…
7. Aerosmith – Permanent Vacation (Nothing can match Tyler’s screamin’ vocals. They are the epitome of summer music in my mind, kind of like the next band on my list…)
8. Huey Lewis and the News – (Cheesy in a way that can only be cool in the context of the 80′s)
9. Jaimie Cullum – TwentySomething (An album consisting almost entirely of covers, but it’s made up for by his voice. I do not usually listen to Jazz, but I’d listen to anything if he sung it. God gave him a great gift in those vocal chords…)
Jack’s Mannequin – Everything in Transit (Just wish they made more albums like this one – I can’t stand the newest album, it just seems far too forced. But following up what they accomplished on Everything in Transit, I could see how there could be a temptation to try too hard).
And that is that! Sorry for all the extremely long, parenthetical notes made. Now for the honorable mentions –
We the Kings, The Maine, Every Avenue, The Wallflowers (bringing down the horse), Taking Back Sunday, Sum 41 (all killer no filler), Eve 6, Panic At The Disco (anything but their newest CD, because it sounds awful).
In closing, I’d like to comment that I cannot stand Coldplay. I realize that my opinion on the matter will be little respected after giving the obviously musically immature list above, but I just feel that most of their songs sound the same. It’s not even that they sound so completely unique, it’s that they sound too unique; I could recognize a Coldplay song immediately, but I’d only be able to know it’s Coldplay, not what song it was. Parachutes is the only exception to this little rant, as I really do get along with that album well – God Put a Smile Upon Her Face, and Yellow, are fantastic songs.
Matt…Don’t be such a snob, okay? Don’t dis Nickelback just because they are so successful! (my sarcasm is obvious..)
Anyway, there’s my rant on music.
P.S. when my band gets around to recording an EP, I’d kill to have you review it…
Top 6 for me would be
Relient k (Anatomy of Tongue in Cheek)
FM Static (can’t really pick an album)
Dashboard Confessional (probably a mark, a mission, a brand, a scar)
Taylor Swift (Fearless, odd liking to her songs)
Audio Adrenaline (worldwide)
Death Cab for Cutie (plans or transatlanticism)
i totally agree on the jimmy eat world, death cab, and dave bazan picks. but with jimmy i’m a static prevails fan. death cab’s “narrow stairs” is a favorite too. as far as christian music, david crowder’s new one is super cool.
i always hate to suck up, but “forget and not slow down” is my top pick this year, above muse, phoenix, and the new john mayer. i guess it hit me when i needed it.
you guys def. have two great albums, maybe even more. you changed the christian rock scene with “two lefts” and had a dramatic effect on pop with “mmhmm.” everyone has that album. i think “forget and slow down” is really catching on as well. cool stuff.
hmmmm let’s see here, it’s pretty tricky, but i’ll try
1. Newsboys (In the Hands of God)
2. Relient K (Five Score and Seven Years Ago)
3. Switchfoot (Learning to Breathe)
4. Hawk Nelson (Hawk Nelson… Is my friend!)
5. MercyMe (Coming up to Breathe)
mercyme is a pretty odd choice, they’re getting too CCM for me now, but coming up to breathe is an awesome album. but the songs i can’t stop listening to right now are:
1. Relient K christmas songs
2. Jars of Clay – Wonderful Christmas Time
3. Fiction Family – When she’s near
4. Hawk Nelson – From Underneath
5. Switchfoot – The Sound (John M. Perkins Blues)
Aw… Have you heard Foo Fighters’ “Echos, Silence, Patience, and Grace?” As an album in its entirety, it’s pretty great.
This is way late.. but i still wanted to share.
These are my favorites.=)
Relient K
1. The Civil Wars… I’m amped for the new Debut album.
2. Paramore- Brand new Eyes
3. NEEDTOBREATHE- THE OUTSIDERS
4. Anberlin – Dark is the way, Light is a place
5. Seabird- Rock into Rivers