Tropical Island Music Artist Draft - FINIS

[Bricklayer]

Don Henley

I wish this guy had a bigger post-Eagles catalog, or even a live album covering Eagles hits -- would have made this a no-brainer. For whatever reason he just sort of took the entire 90s off right at the peak of his solo popularity. But even so he has a decent sized catalog featuring a core of 4-5 songs that I love. Maybe not the sexy play here, but a dependable one.

 

[Jespher]

With my 25th selection, I choose:

Melissa Etheridge

With pipes to match any of her fellow female artists and a tinge toward the harder rock style, she's a welcome addition to my island collection.

More: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/melissa-etheridge-p4205

 

[GoGoGadget]

I'm not an Etheridge fan, but you can't pick her without completing the trifecta of Brad Pitt's exes. You just can't.

Spoiler

 

[Bricklayer]

I'm the Only One was a great tune. So rare to find a woman wiling to just step up and belt out a rock song.

 

[uolj]

I'm going to assume we'll end up at 30, although I guess it doesn't really matter at this point either way. If I was to spend an eternity on an island with only my selected music to listen to, I'd definitely want some classical. I sat down to pick a composer, but changed my mind and decided to go with an orchestra instead. Why not when they've performed most if not all of the works I'd be interested in from the composer I'd pick anyway. As usual, it's my bedtime and my wife is wondering what the hell I'm doing at the computer when she's ready to sleep. At least this time it's not because someone is wrong on the internet. But it does mean I need to make this quick again. So without further ado, my pick is...

Boston Pops Orchestra
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/boston-pops-orchestra-q14288/credits/all

By the way, if I didn't pay close attention to the rules and there is anything illegal or fishy about this pick then please don't wait for me or anything, I'll adjust as necessary later.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I don't really care but I had the Pops in mind during the rules discussion since they have two of the best known modern conductors and it sure seemed like we moved away from where this type of pick would be legal.

I will hold off on my selection until there is a ruling.

 

[Bricklayer]

Hell, I don't know. I wish people would quit taking classical music. Its never fit. Were it not for the fuzzy definition of classical music if I had it to do over again I might just have said its generally presumed that your island can get one radio station and one radion station only, and its all classical all the time and you cna listen to as much of it as you want to.

So I say...sure, Pops are fine. In fact Pops are a lot better than Andrew Lloyd Webber (not to pick on Prophetess). They are a PERFORMING artist, and that is what this draft was always centered around. Who perfeormed a song. Not who wrote it. I have no idea whether the Pops have ever creted any of their own music or are just basically a cover group, but they actually fit in better with The Beatles or The Temptations than does a 19th century composer or current songwriter.

Now we can have a run as everybody goes out and finds an orchestra of their choice.

 

[Warhawk]

I used to really like ME, but was on a cross-country drive one time with a college roommate (had a summer internship in Harrisburg, PA and was driving back to CA via Yellowstone and Seattle) and "Yes, I Am" was about the only CD we had that we both liked to listen to. So, needless to say, I haven't listened to it much at all since 1995.

Great pick, though!

 

[uolj]

Sorry, Brick. I feel ya, and I held off for a long time for the reasons you mentioned, but now that we're presumably going to 30 picks I just had to take some classical.

I was just hoping the draft wouldn't get held up waiting for a ruling. Oops!

 

[Prophetess]

Now we can have a run as everybody goes out and finds an orchestra of their choice.

nope, that's why I grabbed TSO earlier. I'm good with my orchestra.

 

[jalfa]

I find orchestras incredibly difficult to evaluate. The Boston Pops were founded in 1885. There are other, older orchestras. The grandkids of most of the founding members are probably dead by now, yet the "band" still exists and performs. I don't have anything against the pick, it's just that I'm unsure how I should rank them.

 

[uolj]

I find orchestras incredibly difficult to evaluate. The Boston Pops were founded in 1885. There are other, older orchestras. The grandkids of most of the founding members are probably dead by now, yet the "band" still exists and performs. I don't have anything against the pick, it's just that I'm unsure how I should rank them.

Honestly I didn't even think about how they would be ranked. I just wanted some classical on my island!

If/when I rank orchestras I don't know that I'd make major distinctions. To me it just adds a bit of diversity to the list. Something like Prophetess' picks might have a little more nuance where you can actually see a difference in styles between various composers/orchestras, but for me the Pops or another similar "artist" would just be like a generic cover band that has done covers of great classical pieces. While aficionados might be able to distinguish between the Boston Pops and a generic symphony orchestra, I personally don't need people to see anything more than "orchestra" on my list.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Back when we were discussing the rules I thought that orchestras should be evaluated by their conductors, suggested as much, then it seemed like we just ruled them out in favor of composers who were also conductors. I don't care as long as nobody else was confused and didn't pick the Pops early on. So I'll go ahead and make my normal music pick now.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Next for me will be another current band, the Street Dogs.

Original Dropkick Murphys singer Mike McColgan left the band to pursue a fire fighting career before ultimately deciding to go back to music. I always preferred his vocals to those of his replacement and so I was delighted when he returned to the scene.

 

[jalfa]

When we were going for 20 artists, I curbed the excesses of my musical taste to some extent. The only slightly extreme things I was going to draft were Monster Magnet and maybe Propagandhi. When it was expanded to 26, I started going a bit more extreme (Gluecifer, At The Drive-In), but I still kept it strictly Rock. However, now that it's 30, this is something that had to happen.

The Prodigy
Everytime we play, we are the roughest.
We are the roughest, see?
Come together, come together.

First: Experience
Favourite: The Fat Of The Land
Why: Well, they indeed are the roughest (or at least are quite close) and I can appreciate that. They also make very enjoyable rave music, which I also appreciate a ton. Moreover, whenever I'm going somewhere and listen to my Ipod, I get there about twice as fast, since they manage to boost my adrenaline levels a whole lot. They, admittedly, aren't anything normal people would listen to during the day. Then again, nobody has ever called me normal, which is why they are currently (to, I imagine, the great enjoyment of my neighbours) blasting through my stereo. Ultimately, I need at least some rave and or sports music on my island and The Prodigy are at the very top of my personal charts. Also, if this were a singles draft, Smack My **** Up might have been my first pick overall.

NSFW language in spoiler.

Spoiler

 

[Dime Dropper]

NOOOOOOOO!!!

I'm struggling to contain my absolute hatred of you right now I was going to take them about 10 rounds ago but figured no one here was a threat to me, least of all you. I would have taken them in the next couple rounds. That one hurts. Mainly because I generally detest dance music of any sort, but they are my one exception.

Seriously, damn you to hell! No dance music on my island then.

 

[Dime Dropper]

My pick:

Feeder


Really great band, so many terrific songs.

Actually, this pick has cheered me up a little after missing out on the Prodigy. I'll be visiting your island though, Jalfa.

 

[jalfa]

NOOOOOOOO!!!

I'm struggling to contain my absolute hatred of you right now I was going to take them about 10 rounds ago but figured no one here was a threat to me, least of all you. I would have taken them in the next couple rounds. That one hurts. Mainly because I generally detest dance music of any sort, but they are my one exception.

Seriously, damn you to hell! No dance music on my island then.

Well, I've been holding off on all the more rave-y stuff for basically the entire draft with pretty much the same rationale as you, so I'm pretty happy I got there first. But I wouldn't exclude dance music if I were you. There's still a ton of great alternatives out there (not all that surprising, seeing as how none had been drafted so far).

 

[William Blake]

It's cold and it's raining outside, which means I'm in the mood for

Low (1993-active)

Favourite Album: Trust (2002)
Sample Songs: Words and Sunshine (both from I Could Live In Hope, 1994) // Last Snowstorm of the Year (from Trust)

writeup coming

 

[Spike]

I kinda sat out the run on the hair metal bands, so time for me to take one (contrary to popular belief, aside from a handful of songs I don't consider Bon Jovi hair metal, just hair).

Motley Crue

Great pickup in this stage of the game. Probably the best all around hair metal band behind GNR. Great crunch to the guitars, lyrics not so bad, and fun all around. Maybe a little too much fun for most.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

With this pick I draft, Jane’s Addiction.

If these guys had a bigger catalog, they’d have been a top 20 pick for me easily. As it is, I still considered them as early as 15. “Nothing’s Shocking” is a really good album and “Ritual De Lo Habitual” is a flat out masterpiece. They also put out a “comeback” album around 2003 and a new album that just came out last month. I’m not that familiar with those, though.

Their blend of arty alternative rock and hard rock swagger make them pretty unique, as well as pretty awesome.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

With this pick I draft, Ratt.

I love Ratt. Gotta have a little hair metal on my island and Ratt are probably my favorite hair band.

They were definitely a singles band but they had a lot of great singles, so that's OK.

One thing I think that sets Ratt apart from a lot of hair bands is they had an awesome rhythm section. Juan Croucier and Bobby Blotzer really knew how to groove.

And of course, Warren DeMartini was a monster guitar player. Tone and chops galore.

 

[William Blake]

For the "music for rainy nights" theme, a favourite of my teenage years:

Galaxie 500

Favourite Album: On Fire (1989)
Sample Songs: Tugboat (from Today, 1988) // Strange(from On Fire)

Pioneers of the "slowcore" movement, Galaxie 500 (along with Low) are my favourite band of that particulat scene and On Fire sure is my favourite record. What makes them special is that while doing slow, slightly tuneless ballads like their peers they had a jangly, melodic edge and knew how to use their pedals.

 

[Bricklayer]

With this pick I draft, Ratt.

I love Ratt. Gotta have a little hair metal on my island and Ratt are probably my favorite hair band.

They were definitely a singles band but they had a lot of great singles, so that's OK.

One thing I think that sets Ratt apart from a lot of hair bands is they had an awesome rhythm section. Juan Croucier and Bobby Blotzer really knew how to groove.

And of course, Warren DeMartini was a monster guitar player. Tone and chops galore.

Heh, I was just looking at them last night and telling somebody I thought they might have been the best remaining hair metal band, but I just didnt see myself taking them as they had lost spark for me all these years later. Still, "Ratt N Roll" were one of the most serious entries in the hairmetal field in the first half of the decade and went about 10 deep in minor singles hits.

 

[Dime Dropper]

My pick:

A.R. Rahman

This man is a musical genius, there is no doubting it. I could listen to his music all day, he has many masterpieces and will be remembered as such. He certainly has his place in history.

 

[Bricklayer]

Ack, a musical genius who certainly has his place in history and was performing at the Nobels...and I had to go look him up to see who he was.

Actually given his stature overseas I should have known just as point of interest.

 

[jalfa]

Back to more sedate music (also: DAMN YOU TIME OUT!).

Bonobo
A night train, midnight, bags gathered round my feet
Possessions, some lessened, to carry with me
Heavy and soothing; Like a gentle symphony

I rest my, head right, back upon my seat
It's hard and cold though; The best thing for me
This train is, Movin' but my heart is stationary

First: Animal Magic
Favourite: Days To Come
Why: This goes back to the Trip Hop thing. Way back when I was a lot into that kind of music, I stumbled across Mr. Green here and immediately became enarmoured with his music. The very relaxed beats, especially when coupled with female vocals, preferably by Bajka, are some of the most soothing music I know. Maybe part of what fascinates me so much is that the music relies on actual instruments and not just synthesizers, which makes his music a very jazzy affair, especially live.

Spoiler

 

[Spike]

Heh, I was just looking at them last night and telling somebody I thought they might have been the best remaining hair metal band, but I just didnt see myself taking them as they had lost spark for me all these years later. Still, "Ratt N Roll" were one of the most serious entries in the hairmetal field in the first half of the decade and went about 10 deep in minor singles hits.

I like Ratt. I don't think that they're the best remaining, but I can't argue against them. One of my favorites (maybe not safe for work?):

Also, I love the Jane's Addiction pick.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

One of the better known punk acts that I thought someone might take but if not I will go ahead even though I tell myself to mix it up a bit more... the Dead Kennedys.

My words fail me to do them justice.

And that is their tame stuff.

 

[uolj]

This group would have been my 20th and final pick if we had stopped (they were option 3), but I figured they were pretty safe. I pick them now as a nice complement to my previous pick of the Boston Pops. My next pick is...

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bone-thugs-n-harmony-p44741/songs

This is really off the strength of the one album, E 1999 Eternal, which has a good eight or nine songs I'd be happy to shuffle up and listen to over and over. Plus they have several other albums that probably aren't as good but would be available to me if I was so inclined.