Actually, melon is the one who indirectly introduced me to Placebo, back when he had his Brian Molko avatar. But you didn't ask about that, so on with the Placebo songs:
The Bitter End
Special Needs
Without You I'm Nothing
Special K
Peeping Tom
Nancy Boy
Every You Every Me
Placebo
Manic Street Preachers
Radiohead
Interpol
AFI
[/b]
1. How to Disappear Completely - Radiohead
2. Burger Queen - Placebo
3. Love Is Blindness - U2
4. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers
5. In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction - Idlewild
6. 6 to 8 - AFI
7. Cooling - Tori Amos
8. Special Needs - Placebo
9. Gorecki - Lamb
10. I've Seen It All - Bjork and Thom Yorke
[/b]
I'm gonna have to say that whatever new hip hop style emerges will probably be the next big thing for the general public. It's gone from gangsta, to big money/playa, to Eminem, to krunk. Whatever direction the genre goes will probably become the next phenomenon.
[/b]
My answer will probably get me banned from ever participating in these 'special moments' in the future, but I gotta say, I wouldn't pretend. I would definitely scrounge up some food for both groups. I own both of their albums. I understand why both bands (and their fans) often rub people the wrong way, and I'm not saying either group is about to revolutionize the music scene, but they both have songs that I like listening to. Music doesn't always have to be original or weird or groundbreaking for me to enjoy it.
[/b]
'How to Disappear Completely' makes me ache. When I hear that song, I find myself longing for something, but I'm not sure what it is. I want to be enveloped by the music so that I cannnot hear anything else. When I'm listening to it, I could be carried off into oblivion and that would be just fine. Everything is right, and everything is wrong, with the world when I hear it.
[/b]
1. Placebo in Dallas, TX
It was such a pleasure getting to see my favorite band live. The setlist was incredible, and the band sounded phenomenal.
2. U2 in Dallas, TX, and the second Phoenix, AZ, show
I've seen them four times, but these two shows stand out to me for different reasons. The Dallas show was my second time seeing them. I was relaxed and knew what to expect so I enjoyed that show a lot more than my first U2 show. It was also not long after 9/11, so the vibe was intense. The second Phoenix show was wonderful because I was relaxed and because I got to attend the concert with u2popmofo. I wouldn't have met him if it weren't for our shared love of U2, so seeing them with him was really special. I also got my name on the big screen for texting my name to the ONE foundation, so that was an extra highlight of the evening.
3. Tori Amos in Oklahoma City on the Dew Drop Inn tour
Tori + Piano + Harpsichord + playing songs off 'Boys for Pele' was a damn fine way to see Tori Amos live for the first time
4. AFI in Tulsa, OK
This show was fun because the crowd was so crazy. Goth kids and moshers everywhere. The band rocked in ways I didn't know were possible.
Tie for 5th.
The Fiery Furnaces and The Shins in Salt Lake City, UT
I had a blast at this show. The FFs were just insane! And The Shins played a fantastic set. This was also the first show I ever attended with mofo, so that rocked.
and...
Interpol and Secret Machines in Tempe, AZ
Getting to see both of these bands on the same night was cool. The live show really sparked my love of Interpol.
[/b]
I absolutely love it when bands push themselves to the limits of what music they can make. I love it when bands get weird. That's a lot of why Kid A and Zooropa are my favorite Radiohead and U2 albums, respectively. On some levels, yes, I think it is important for bands to do this as much as they can. That's when the real genius of any band can truly emerge. And if the band is successful at it (and not just being out there for the sake of being out there), that's what can make a band legendary.
I do believe U2 have been playing it safe. I loved Pop, but I think the band were so maligned both critically and with the fans that they've been too scared to go out on a limb since then. I still think they make good songs, and I still find them interesting, but I think some of the relevance is lost when a band begins to settle or doesn't focus enough on making cohesive albums that continue to explore the depth of what they're capable of. That goes for all bands, not just U2.
[/b]
Prompted by mofo, I now regularly check Pitchfork, though I do take their reviews with a grain of salt. When I have time, I like going to Insound to see what they've got in the mp3 section and see what new stuff is coming out. I have definitely bought albums after hearing about a band on there. And though few people around interference will care, I spend a lot of time at Digitally Imported, where I listen to their chillout, trance, and DJ mix stations a lot. I hear about a lot of the trance music I buy by listening in on their site regularly. And not so much for music news, but I learn about new music in general by listening to my own radio station at LAUNCH. I have it set up where it recommends music from other listeners or according to what I already have rated, and I've ended up buying albums because of random songs my station has played for me. There are other radio stations and sites too, listed below. The majority of my music news, however, comes from mofo and b&c, in that order.
So here ya go, for those who need or want them:
www.pitchforkmedia.com
www.insound.com
www.digitallyimported.net
www.launch.yahoo.com
www.virginradio.co.uk
www.globalbeatz.net
www.progressive-sounds.com
Brian Molko of Placebo. He's prettier than most anyone, guy or girl, that I know. [/B]