Tropical Island Music Artist Draft - FINIS

[uolj]

Here's another artist that just ends up on my playlist all the time, even if I'm not making a conscious effort to seek him out. Gone, Flashing Lights, Jesus Walks, Stronger and so on and so forth. His music is similar to other artists on my list but I figure I still have time to start branching out a bit more. And while I'm no fan of his persona/personality, his music is still worthy of my next pick:

Kanye West
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kanye-west-p353484/songs

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Just going by record sales, Telsa would be Sac's biggest band. Tesla sold over ten million albums all together. Cake's total sales are probably closer to five million.

Interesting. I wouldn't have guessed. Do digital downloads of albums count as album sales?

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Interesting. I wouldn't have guessed. Do digital downloads of albums count as album sales?

I'd think they would but I'm not certain to be honest. I'm just going by reported sales on Wiki. According to that Cake have two platinum albums, and one gold album and Tesla have one multi-platinum album, three platinum albums, and one gold album.

 

[Bricklayer]

Interesting. I wouldn't have guessed. Do digital downloads of albums count as album sales?

Tesla was briefly a really big band. Does not surprise me really that they would have outsold Cake.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Tesla was briefly a really big band. Does not surprise me really that they would have outsold Cake.

Right. Tesla was pretty big in the late 80s and early 90s. Cake have certainly been the bigger band on the national scale for about 15 years now but in their prime Tesla were bigger than Cake ever was. I'd bet that to this day Tesla could pull more people to a local show, too. I saw them at Arco about ten years ago and the place was nearly full. I'm not even sure Cake could pack Arco.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

BTW I remember seeing Cake before they were big, too. I saw them at Cafe Paris around 1991. Their drummer at the time was a friend of a friend, so we were mainly there to support him. Does anyone remember Cafe Paris? Is that place still around?

 

[Spike]

Things are getting interesting. Tesla, Tool (wasn't sure where they would go - 1st round, 10th round, wouldn't have surprised me either way.) Oh, and als..

Crap. Just can't shake him.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I've let these guys hang out there long enough. My next selection is the Stray Cats.

Who knew three *ahem* cats from Long Island would have to move to the UK to bring rockabilly back for a time to American audiences. These guys fused classic 50s rockabilly and rock and roll with punk and new wave elements to great effect and their popularity helped kick off the modern rockabilly renaissance that was really only taking hold overseas up until their success. They also brought back the memories of several deceased legends and helped some surviving musicians reignite their careers inside the new scene, allowing many to make a living in music for the first time in 25 years. Most importantly they could play, especially Setzer.
Big Hits: Rock This Town, Stray Cat Strut, Sexy & 17
Personal Favorites:

Also:
Gene and Eddy
Bring it Back Again
Runaway Boys
Mystery Train

 

[jalfa]

Well, I did promise I'd address one particular need very soon, even if this means that I change gears back a bit, so here goes.

Cat Power

losing a star without a sky
losing the reasons why
you're losing the calling, you've been faking
and I'm not kidding
it's damned if you don't and it's damned if you do
be true 'cause they'll lock you up in a sad sad zoo
oh hidy hidy hidy what're you trying prove?
by hidy hidy hiding you're not worth a thing

First Album: Jukebox
Favourite Album: Moon Pix
Why I Started Listening: A friend once gave me Jukebox and I think it's one of the most replayed albums in my collection, has been that for a couple of years. I have no idea why, but I never checked out any of Mz Marshall's other stuff. BIG mistake. I knew that for the purpose of this draft I would need at least one, better yet several female artists, so I figured I'd start researching the favourites of my collection. Now I feel like a fool for not doing so earlier, because most of her stuff is just mindblowing to me. Love the voice, love the arrangements, just simply love her. Also, something which I didn't realise before, she is as beautiful as her voice. So, men of this draft, you're welcome.

P.S.: and two cat artists in a row. Awesome!

 

[Dime Dropper]

Since Tupac was cruelly taken from me, I'm going to go with another great hip-hop group:

Public Enemy


Undoubtedly these are up there with the best hip-hop/rap artists of all time. Known predominantly for their political topics, they are fierce and articulate. So many powerful songs.

I'm just going to post this one as it happens to be one of my favourite:

 

[jalfa]

Perhaps it's blasphemous to make this musical leap from Jim Croce to my next choice, but I need to add a taste of metal with my grunge and classic rock heavy list. With my 9th round pick I select:

Tool

Cool pick! Might have drafted them for the loud section of my draft later on. Love Lateralus and 10,000 days. Do you know about their DIY song, by the way? It's quite awesome:

 

[SacKings7]

Perhaps it's blasphemous to make this musical leap from Jim Croce to my next choice, but I need to add a taste of metal with my grunge and classic rock heavy list. With my 9th round pick I select:

Tool

Dark bass lines, fierce guitar riffs, haunting vocals, and ethereal lyrics. Tool was the band that was popular before I was old enough to truly appreciate them, but they still hold a soft spot in my heart, and on my island.

More: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tool-p23076

Damn they were next up for me! Good pick. Danny is the best current drummer imo. Schism is an awesome song. On my phone right now but check out Ticks & Leeches if you haven't heard that one, that's my favorite of Danny's.

 

[GoGoGadget]

I've let these guys hang out there long enough. My next selection is the Stray Cats.

Aaaaaaaand, finally, all of what would have been my top three have been taken.

 

[GoGoGadget]

Like the Cat Power choice, by the way, but I'm really surprised to see her go before a different artist with a number of similar qualities.

 

[jalfa]

Like the Cat Power choice, by the way, but I'm really surprised to see her go before a different artist with a number of similar qualities.

Haven't actually got any of her albums or listened to much (or even any) of her music. I'm planning on changing that soon though, so maybe later on.

 

[William Blake]

Not a big Cat Power fan but Nude as The News is one hell of a song.

Stray Cats have been on my "gotta check out" list for quite a long time.

Fun trivia: Barmy's riff was admittedly "borrowed" from Valleri by The Monkees.

pick coming

 

[William Blake]

Time to go mainstream, I pick:

Blondie (1974-active)

Favourite Album: Blondie (1976)
Sample Song: do you really need one? still, my favourite is Denis

Realised I needed some hits on my island and Blondie is my favourite "pure pop" group. Obviously never put out an album strong enough to figure in an hypotetical 100 favourite records list but they sure have an impressive catalogue of killer songs.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I love that WB and I seem to have plenty similar taste but our eyes on different bands every bit as much as I love that G3 isn't in this draft at all.

Oh and credit to Dime for taking what is now my highest ranked rap/hip hop artist.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

With this pick I draft, Willie Nelson.

Probably my favorite county artist overall. His music has a (deceptively) simple, honest, effortless quality to it that has always resonated with me on a pretty deep level.

He has a ton of great songs, numerous classic albums, and a large enough catalog to keep me busy for awhile.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

With this pick I draft, Madonna.

You can cross me off your misogynist list now, Brick...

I've been a big Madonna fan forever. She has at least a dozen songs that are personal favorites of mine and many more that I enjoy.

She's such a cultural icon and such a controversial figure that I think people often forget/overlook how talented she is. She doesn't have Maria Carey caliber pipes (few do) but she's a much better singer than she's generally given credit for. She's a great vocal performer with loads of charisma and that comes through in the recordings.

From a sound, arrangement, and song writing standpoint her songs are a master class in pop music production.

 

[NoBonus]

With this pick I draft, Madonna.

You can cross me off your misogynist list now, Brick...

I've been a big Madonna fan forever. She has at least a dozen songs that are personal favorites of mine and many more that I enjoy.

She's such a cultural icon and such a controversial figure that I think people often forget/overlook how talented she is. She doesn't have Maria Carey caliber pipes (few do) but she's a much better singer than she's generally given credit for. She's a great vocal performer with loads of charisma and that comes through in the recordings.

From a sound, arrangement, and song writing standpoint her songs are a master class in pop music production.

I guess this pick was inevitable...

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Glad to see love for Willie. Two of my faves:

Yeah its 9am on a Tuesday... so what?

 

[William Blake]

With hip hop acts being picked in masses I don't wanna risk losing them:

A Tribe Called Quest (1988-active)

Favourite Album: The Low End Theory (1991)
Sample Song: Check The Rhyme (from The Low End Theory)

The only hip hop group I can listen to for a whole album without getting bored. Clever lyrics, occasional jazz incursions, fantastic flow and beats make them my favourite hip hop act by a wide margin.

 

[jalfa]

With hip hop acts being picked in masses I don't wanna risk losing them:

A Tribe Called Quest (1988-active)

That's one of my top five.

Not a big Cat Power fan but Nude as The News is one hell of a song.

It strongly depends on which of her albums you're listening to. If, however, you don't like Moonpix, You Are Free, Jukebox or The Greatest, we have beef

 

[William Blake]

It strongly depends on which of her albums you're listening to. If, however, you don't like Moonpix, You Are Free, Jukebox or The Greatest, we have beef

I like Moonpix and You Are Free, but for some reason they don't blow my socks off, they're just in my "good but not great" tier.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

With this pick I draft, Madonna.

I was wondering when that was going to happen. I thought she was going to come off the board in the second or third round!

 

[Bricklayer]

Time to go mainstream, I pick:

Blondie (1974-active)

Favourite Album: Blondie (1976)
Sample Song: do you really need one? still, my favourite is Denis

Realised I needed some hits on my island and Blondie is my favourite "pure pop" group. Obviously never put out an album strong enough to figure in an hypotetical 100 favourite records list but they sure have an impressive catalogue of killer songs.

No, no WB, that band actually sold enough records that its members could move out of their moms' basements. Perhaps you got confused when making your pick?

A good pick btw.

 

[William Blake]

No, no WB, that band actually sold enough records that its members could move out of their moms' basements. Perhaps you got confused when making your pick?

You're right, my bad, I got confused and picked them instead of The Blondes

 

[GoGoGadget]

With hip hop acts being picked in masses I don't wanna risk losing them:

A Tribe Called Quest (1988-active)

Their absence was starting to drive me nutty.

 

[Henkel]

Well, I did promise I'd address one particular need very soon, even if this means that I change gears back a bit, so here goes.

Cat Power

losing a star without a sky
losing the reasons why
you're losing the calling, you've been faking
and I'm not kidding
it's damned if you don't and it's damned if you do
be true 'cause they'll lock you up in a sad sad zoo
oh hidy hidy hidy what're you trying prove?
by hidy hidy hiding you're not worth a thing

First Album: Jukebox
Favourite Album: Moon Pix
Why I Started Listening: A friend once gave me Jukebox and I think it's one of the most replayed albums in my collection, has been that for a couple of years. I have no idea why, but I never checked out any of Mz Marshall's other stuff. BIG mistake. I knew that for the purpose of this draft I would need at least one, better yet several female artists, so I figured I'd start researching the favourites of my collection. Now I feel like a fool for not doing so earlier, because most of her stuff is just mindblowing to me. Love the voice, love the arrangements, just simply love her. Also, something which I didn't realise before, she is as beautiful as her voice. So, men of this draft, you're welcome.

Great pick. I should have picked her up already, but I figured she would stick around until the later rounds.