Nevermind The Posers

TNT’s Top 5
5. “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train – I know that this song is over played and has been a hit since 2009, but I still love it; it definitely defined most of my summer soundtracks.
4. “Black Crows“ by HoneyHoney – What a song, what a band!  This was my favorite HoneyHoney song of the summer.
3. “Camera Talk” by Local Natives – “It’s alright, the camera’s talking / Oh / And even though I can’t be sure / Memory tells me that these times are worth working for.” =  🙂
2. “Daisy” by Fang Island – YES!  Fang Island is another amazing Brooklyn-based band that everyone needs to get addicted to.  Take a road trip and blast this song.  Yes, there are lyrics, they do make sense, but you don’t need them.  Your only responsibility is to have fun and whip out the air guitar every now and then.
1. “Burn It Down” by AWOLNATION – This chick has definitely gone AWOL.  Motherfucker, burn it down!  This song fits into any and every second of the summer, therefore, you need to blast it.

Daniel Edward’s Top 5
5) “Ghost” by Fefe Dobson – I was ambivalent about her music until I heard her sing an acoustic version of “Ghost” and then heard the album version.  It’s fun, sassy and a great song to jump around to.
4) “DJ Got Us Fallin in Love Again” by Usher – Usher is another artist I neither loved nor hated, but I can’t get this song off repeat.
3) “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant – I just love this song.
2) “Karate” by Kennedy – The song may be a few years old, but I just discovered it this summer.  The funky disco beat and tongue-in-cheek lyrics are ridiculously catchy.
1) “Dancing on My Own” by Robyn – Robyn’s first single from her latest album Body Talk Part 1 is one of her best yet.  Dancey yet melancholic.

Hoverbee’s Top 5
5. “Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear – It’s not the typical kick off your shoes and party summer song, but still so beautiful.  Picture yourself relaxing on the beach or catching some rays by the lake.
4. “Paisley Pattern Ground” by Black Hollies – What better time for psychedelia than summer?
3. “What We Do” by Devo – It’s a great song to listen to while you do what you do at the beach or with good friends.
2. “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – I love this song so much I’ve nearly played it to death over the last couple months.
1. “Got Nuffin'” by Spoon – This song is off an album that came out way before the summer but got crazy radio play so I can’t help but associate with the good times I’ve had.

Angela’s Top 5
These are all songs I’ve been bumpin’ in the car all summer.  It’s most of what I heard on the radio the most and when it was on, I was like, “yea, that’s good.”
5. “Cooler Than Me” by Mike Posner
4. “My Chick Bad” by Ludacris
3. “Bottoms Up” by Trey songz
2. “Find Your Love” by Drake
1. “Lil Freak” by Usher

Klone’s Top 5
Just a heads up, not all of my tracks will be new or even from this summer, but the tracks that I’ve been rockin’ steadily on my iPod and in my car all summer long.  These are effectively the top 5 tracks of my summer soundtrack for 2010.  (Goodbye summer, we will miss you.)
5. “City of Hate” by The Toadies – Got to check out a preview copy of their new, yet old (See Hoverbee’s review for full details) album Feeler (2010) and this was the ONLY track worth even listening to.
4. “Symphonies (Remix)” by Dan Black (featuring Kid Cudi) – A lovely blend of hip-hop and low-fi/pop goodness from Dan Black and Kid Cudi.  I love Dan Black’s Radiohead quality, and anyone looking for some of his earlier work that you might not realize you’ve probably already heard, check out his former project The Servant and their track “Cells”.  The instrumental version of the song was used in the Sin City movie trailer.
3. “Alejandro” by Lady GaGa – I know, guilty pleasures be damned, but I definitely was rocking this one to the point of memorizing the lyrics.  Shit happens.  😉
2. “Time” by Hans Zimmer – An instrumental track off of the Inception Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.  Awesome meditative quality, this song has definitely been inspiring some real creativity for me lately.
1. (TIE) “Burn It Down” & “Guilty Filthy Soul” by AWOLNATION – I was introduced to these guys very late in the summer here, but they both became instant repeat play tracks for me.  They have great party-atmosphere appeal and incredible energy, it’s hard to not get instantly addicted to their sound.

Honorable Mentions (I have no real rationale for why these didn’t make the list, but they did get significant play-time on planet Klone): “The Clincher,” “Jars” and “Letter From a Thief” by Chevelle, “I Will Not Bow,” “Give Me A Sign” and “Follow Me “ by Breaking Benjamin, “You and Your Heart” by Jack Johnson, “I’m Not Over” by Carolina Liar and “Sweet Soul Sister” by The Cult.

Mark’s Top 5
5. “Head Over Heals” by Tears for Fears – The last real favorite tune of the summer, thanks to the recent amazing show put on by TFF in Montclair.  A reminder of how great and underrated some of the new wave acts of the 80s were, and of the few acts of the era that really transcended the new wave label and became much more, like TFF.
4. “Ascension” by Dead Can Dance – A very simple, but dark and melodic piece that echoes the sounds of knights and the renaissance. Listen and imagine two knights of the round table squaring off in an abandoned castle… kick ass.
3. “Allelujah (Noisy Church mix)” by Recoil – Deep, dark and breathy hip-hop beats that accompanied me on many late-nite drives, acting as my soundtrack to the sights of dawn.
2. “Utopia” by Brendan Perry – The first single to be released from Dead Can Dance co-conspirator Perry, features a beautiful mixture of drum machines, building strings and melodic harpsichords laying the groundwork for lyrics of self-discovery tinged with sadness.  One of the best tracks of not just the summer, but the year.
1. “Little Secrets” by Passion Pit – The poppiest, happiest and by far the best danceable song of 2010.  The breakout star of my summer long multiple mood music playlists.

Honorable Mentions – “Blue Skies” by BT ft. Tori Amos – I rediscovered this amazing dance/rock tune during a long, late night drive down the shore mid-summer.  I forgot how much you can mosh, as well as dance to this track.  B to tha T never fails to surprise me sonically, even after all of these years.  “Burial (DJ Mehdi Mix)” by Miike Snow – Thanks to the incessant commercials from Palm’s Pre phone, this inescapable tune became pretty much an immediate favorite of mine, especially during DJ sets.  Luckily, it happens to be good, and an improvement over the original version both in mood and beauty, at least to me.

TNT’s Top 5
5. NOFX – I just want to party with these guys and play some drinking games, maybe spit some beer in their faces for once.
4. Tim Armstrong – I’d love to share a drink with this man to find out how he started Hellcat Records, you know, pick his brain a bit and maybe help map out a plan for my future label.
3. Willie Nelson – Okay, Nelson makes my list because a good friend of mine who is a security guard has told me some wild stories about hanging out with this man on his tour bus.  Drinks were not the main focus on that bus.  I’m interested to find out why he chopped off his braid and where it is now.
2. Chuck Berry – I think it’s important to know where your music comes from, therefore, I knew Berry had to make my list.  “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry.” – John Lennon
1. Jerry Garcia – I regret never hearing this man’s voice live, therefore, a conversation would just be sublime.  Sure, I’ve read many books about the GD culture and the time period, but hearing it from this man would be the biggest mind-fuck ever!  I miss Jerry.

Angela’s Top 5
This list is composed of musicians who I would love to sit down and have a conversation with because their presence on stage and in their music is so much larger than life, I just have to know the thought process behind it all.  I feel like I could sit down with these guys, drink all night and have a great time.
5. The Amish Outlaws – They are a cover band, who are all in fact, legitimately Amish.  But they rock the hell out something fierce and I did in fact share a drink with them.  They were gentlemen and bought me shots all night as we interviewed.  I later stumbled home drunk as anything and it was awesome.
4. Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys – He’s Brian Wilson.  He’s a legend and genius.  GENIUS.  Definitely a brain I would love to get inside of over some booze.
3. Joey Ramone of the Ramones – I feel like if I could have had the chance to sit down and have a beer with this guy, the wealth of things I could learn about music would be infinite.  Just like the Ramones music, I feel in his simplicity of living, there is brillance.
2. Freddie Mercury of Queen (he’s only in the number 2 spot because he’s dead and I can’t ACTUALLY do this) – I love Queen.  I love Freddie Mercury.  Yet another brilliant, brilliant musician.  He’s just amazing.
1. Jack Terricloth of the World/Infenro Friendship Society – Because if you’ve learned anything about this band from me by now, it’s that each show is basically a giant punk rock party in three-piece suits bearing the theme Drink, Dance, Destroy.  Being the frontman and leader of such chaos, Jack is an awesome guy.  Having a drink with him is only natural and right.  And I bet if I got a hold of him, he might actually agree and meet me at a bar in Brooklyn somewhere.

Hoverbee’s Top 5
5. Bjork –  I’d like to sit down with this Icelandic goddess and ask her where she gets the inspiration for her outrageous music video styles and album covers.  She always has some new, strange costume jewels glued to her head, or fantastic CGI that transforms her into something else.
4. Echo & The Bunnymen – Of all the albums released by this band, Flowers is by far my favorite.  I do love the classic sound and style of the band, but Flowers was a bit different for them.  Last year, the band released Fountain and I was hoping it would be like Flowers instead of their classic sound.  I liked the album, but was disappointed that they chose to return to their roots.  I’d like to ask them if they plan on releasing another album that is less like the original sound.
3. John Lennon – I’m sure there are many things that music lovers would like to discuss with Mr. Lennon, but I’d like to ask him the true meaning behind the song Come Together.  This song has such cryptically strange lyrics that it makes me rack my brain.  Phrases like “toe-jam football,” “monkey finger,” and “mojo filter” need to be elaborated on.  I’d also like to ask him if he likes Aerosmith’s version of the song.
2. Eric Burdon – I love his voice so much that I sometimes try to imitate him when I sing.  It’s such a deep, burly, and robust voice.  I’d like to ask him if he developed his singing voice by basing it on other artists he loved or if he just opened his mouth and that’s the way it came out.  Any answer he gives is fine by me.
1. James Brown – I’d like to ask “The Godfather of Soul” what it feels like to be a bandleader.  He directs the other musicians in the band on many of his songs.  He is known to say things such as “horns,” “bring it to the bridge,” and “hit it and quit.”  I’d like to know if he made these decisions purely on instinct, musical composition, or a little of both.  I’m curious if there is a sense of power that accompanies these commands.  I’d also like to ask him how he feels about his influence on rap music and what are his favorite hip-hop artists.

Mark’s Top 5
5. Dave Brubeck – There would be nothing like sitting in a half empty jazz club, discussing music, history, life, piano technique and asking endless “Take Five” questions over gin and tonics.  He is walking musical history.
4. Charlotte Martin – Her warm and friendly demeanor made me feel like we were old friends getting reacquainted, and that was just  from interviewing her.  All that’s needed is a few bottles of good wine for some lively and meaningful conversation.
3. Alan Wilder – We both share a love for some of the finer things in life: cinema, travels, restaurants and art.  It’s always nice to enjoy the company of a like-minded individual.
2. The Police –  I could just picture knocking back a few with Sting, Steward and Andy, listening to everything from old tales of the road, to artistic influences, to what it feels like waking up ridiculously wealthy.
1. BT – If you’ve ever read his blogs or twitter posts, you would see that not only is he a psychically talented audiophile, but also a highly observant philosopher, positive thinker, poet, film scorer and adventurer, all in the body of a punk rock genius.  It would be nothing but multiple rounds of imported beers with a true renaissance man.

Klone’s Top 5
5. Courtney Love of Hole – Seriously, even if she’s not everyone’s cup of tea, this starlet has literally been through hell.  Fate seems to have been on overdrive when Hole’s early 90s album was titled “Live Through This”.  Recently, on a business trip to California, I wound up watching the “VH1 Behind The Music” episode on Hole and I had a new-found respect for Courtney Love.  I can imagine catching a drink with her would be quite an eye-opening experience…provided my drink doesn’t get mickied or anything.
4. Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins – I have a feeling after catching a drink (or a few) with Courtney Love, I’m going to have some serious questions for Billy Corgan.  Not only do I love The Smashing Pumpkins and find myself curious as to what the 90s phenomenon was like from the artist side of things, but also to get his side on the rumors and stories that come from camp Courtney.
3. Jack Black of Tenacious D – I love Tenacious D.  They are hilarious.  Especially since they are the “working class heroes” for overweight white guy guitar players who are into sex and drugs (there are dozens of us…DOZENS!!!), and for those reasons alone, I’d love to not only grab a drink with Mr. Black, but tear up the Jersey Shore boardwalk in search of guidos and guidettes to demolish…WITH OUR ROCK!!!!!
2. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails – Nine Inch Nails is Trent Reznor…enough said.  Who wouldn’t want to get a drink with this guy?
1. Maynard James Keenan of Tool – In what could very well be the last act of a desperate fan, I think the ultimate mind-fuck would be imbibing some witch’s brew with one of the most twisted minds in rock and roll history.  Something tells me this would be more likely to be the moment where you find yourself saying, “Well, I always wondered what a week-long peyote trip would be like,” knowing full well that this is Maynard’s typical Friday night.  (NO, this is not a known fact, just an assumption by someone who has spent close to two decades trying to figure out what Tool is really all about, and coming up with “drug experience” as the only possible explanation.  Seriously…these guys are probably huge FRINGE fans…)
Honorable Mentions: • Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains – The reason he didn’t make the list is because this would be a conflicted encounter.  Something tells me I’d spend most of my time asking questions about Layne Staley, instead of focusing on Jerry Cantrell himself, and that would just be unfair.  Cantrell is awesome and amazingly talented, so I wouldn’t want to embarrass myself or insult one of my heroes, or ask him about something he doesn’t want to talk about so much;
• Ke$ha – Might be the only opportunity to poison this bitch and end the nightmare that is her voice broadcast over the airwaves;
• (Posthumously) Peter Steele – Short of Ozzy Osbourne, I can’t think of a better artist to ask about death (especially now that he’s been to the other side.)  Rest in peace, Peter Steele.

TNT’s Top 5
My Top 5 is composed of bands that I’ve seen live and have had the running thought of “Holy shit!  When I throw a party big enough to hire a band, they’re getting the slot!  The entire audience is loving every second of this set, no matter what their preferred taste of music is.”  This is so for every band on here, so the hardest part I had this week was putting them in some sort of order; think it depends on the rager I’m throwing.
5. Washington Square Park – An up and coming band from NJ, their lyrics will instantly floor you.  Take my word for it and Click to listen
4. Jukebox the Ghost – There is no explanation needed here, as I’m sure you’ve already become memorized by JTG.  In the words of Ron Burgundy, “Compelling and Rich”.  Click to listen
3. Black Taxi – Phenomenal live!  One song and you’ll be in love with their addicting beats, high energy, body paint and megaphone.  Click to listen
2. Belikos – They blow me away every time.  You’ll have to catch a show to find out why.  So much energy and a great mash-up of genres, Belikos will keep you on your toes and your spirits high.  Click to listen
1. Bodega Girls – I saw the Bodega Girls in NYC at CMJ 2009 and have not forgotten about the performance.  I was blown away at what a band could do without a stage.  I do not dance unless heavily intoxicated, but danced sober at this show.  My feet couldn’t help it and my mind was tricked into thinking it was drunk (at least that’s what I’m sure it looked like to others).  Click to listen
Honorable Mentions: AWOLNATION (Have you gone AWOL?) and Drink Up Buttercup (Click for DUB)

Daniel Edward’s Top 5
5. Electric Six – Click to listen
4. Passion Pit – Click to listen
3. Men, Women & Children – Click to listen
2. Lola Ray – Click to listen
1. No Doubt – Click to listen

Hoverbee’s Top 5
I tried hard to concentrate on the Top 5 bands I’d hire to play a private party.  These choices were supposed to reflect bands that are superb live, but if I threw a private party and hired a band, fun would be at the top of my list.  So, these bands may not be the best to hear live, but they sure would be a lot of fun!
5. Cake – Add hilarious lyrics, John McCrea’s beatnik vocals, an awesome horn section, and stir.  Bake for thirty minutes and enjoy your party.  Click to listen
4. Clinic – These four lads from Liverpool (no, not The Beatles) can provide any party with outrageous, psychedelic insanity.  Click to listen
3. Gogol Bordello – Want a party that is unstoppable?  This punk rock band of Gypsies is sure to deliver.  Click to listen
2. Beck – We could all dance around in our chain smoke Kansas flashdance ass pants and be merry!  Need I say more?  Click to listen
1. George Clinton & The Parliament Funkadelic – A night with Mr. Clinton and the P-Funk would be a blur of dancing, positive vibes and some pretty far-out folks.  Watch out for the guy in the diaper!  Click to listen

Mark’s Top 5
5. Charlotte Martin –  With the warmth and intimacy that she exudes at her shows, it already feels like you are hanging out.  Why not do it in the comfort of your own home?  Click to listen
4. Peter Gabriel – A talented, highly collaborative artist who conjures up incredibly inventive and multi-genre infused music.  It is very likely that you would be involved in some highly interesting and worldly conversations before, during and after the set.  You might even get to recording with the man himself right there.  ROCK!  Click to listen
3. Bloc Party – Probably one of the most energetic and fun bands that you will ever see live.  Perfect for closing down the local bar and rocking out with some friends; a ridiculously danceable band.  Click to listen
2. Paul Oakenfold – One of the world’s top DJ’s deserves to have a residency in one of the finest and most intimate venues in the world, your own home.  Whether grooving out with chill tunes, or trying to rock the joint with solid trance or electro, he is the man who knows exactly what the scene he’s in needs.  Click to listen
1. Bt – No surprise that the sonic architect himself would make the list.  He is a quadruple party threat…either DJing with self-developed bad-ass plug-ins, the Real-time mash-ups of the Laptop Symphony, Live Synth playing, or ripping it up with a live band.  He would probably get wasted with you after the set.  Click to listen

Angela’s Top 5
5. DJ Tiesto – I like his work.  I’ve partied to it a bunch before and it always provides me with lots of beats to move to.  Click to listen
4. Reel Big Fish – You know what?  After having interviewed them and their willingness to play live, I’d love to hire them for a private party.  Their humor on stage carries over offstage and they always show the house a good time.  Click to listen
3. The Extra Action Marching Band – The name may be a little misleading, but this isn’t your average marching band.  A mix of punk, burlesque, and marching band type instrumentals coupled with (mostly) naked bodies, they’re definitely entertaining and engaging.  Click to listen
2. DJ Pavo – I’ve partied on more than one occasion to his music and I am absolutely in love with “99.9.”  Fantastic track.  Great DJ.  Click to listen
1. The World/Inferno Friendship Society – Loud.  Reckless.  Deviant, yet classy.  This band knows how to have a good time.  From singing in the streets of Brooklyn to a giant floating concert via cruise, each show has ALWAYS been a party.  Many a concert venue has banned them from ever returning, so you know they tear shit up.  Click to listen

Stigz’s Top 5
5. Reel Big Fish – Said it before, and I’ll say it again.  This band just makes you want to party, and with tracks like “Beer” and ska influences, who couldn’t help getting down with a cold one in their hand at a shindig?  Click to listen
4. Minus The Bear – Funky, feel good indie rock for the masses…need I go on?  Click to listen
3. Mind Control (Richie Santana & Peter Bailey) – Another duo I know personally, these two have been on my radio show Clubsessions years ago, before they hooked up and created soul penetrating tracks and techy grooves having you change your religion to bass-ism.  I had the pleasure of partying in the booth with them on New Years Eve at Pacha and would hire them in a second to spin at whatever blowout this hypothetical write-up is for.  Click to listen
2. Jonathan Peters – The man, the myth, the legend and another DJ I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and seeing a ton of times.  Every time, he breaks out tracks and grooves nobody has ever heard, and no two sets are ever even close to the same.  With his ungodly collection of rack gear, Macbooks, and Ableton live slaved to every software under the sun, this is the only DJ I’ll give a pass for using a computer.  He doesn’t use Serato or any similar program, but creates nearly every groove he drops on the dance floor. For anyone that’s caught his 24hr sets in NYC or attended his S&M or underwear parties, this guy can rock any party I would throw, without a doubt.  Click to listen
1. Danny Tenaglia – This DJ has been in the game for decades, and is the reason and inspiration for 90% or my dance music endeavors.  If you don’t know who he is, you don’t know anything about house music.  I’ve seen him countless times, met him a few, and he never ceases to amaze me.  He can work the crowd, and create the deepest, darkest, and funkiest grooves your eardrums can handle.  Click to listen

Klone’s Top 5
If I were going to throw a private party featuring a band, it would be one of two venue types – First, Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ.  The perfect mix of restaurant/bar, chill place, with a kick-ass stage and sound-system, and a space for everyone to rock out in front of it.  The guacamole is awesome and the ATM across the street dispenses 50s.  The second would be a laid back, acoustic lounge…think MTV’s Unplugged shows for the stage set-up and you’ll get the idea.  I also take the liberty to choose from acts both living and dead.
5. Laughing Colors {Mexicali Live} – These guys played my college back in 2000, and they were fucking awesome.  They’re a Baltimore area band who had made their way into rotation at the local DC rock stations.  I never followed them after I graduated, and have been consistently disappointed that they haven’t blipped onto the music world at large’s radar.  They’re the most fun bar band you’ve seen time 1 million.  Their energy is limitless, their music is rockin’, and they bring it to the event.  Click to listen
4. Evans Blue {Mexicali Live} – Saw these guys in 2007 at School of Rock in Hackensack, NJ. (http://www.schoolofrocknj.com/), and they sound just as awesome live as they do on their CDs.  They rock, and you can’t help but rock along.  They would definitely bring the house down on a private gathering of close friends.  Click to listen
3. Tenacious D {Unplugged Show} – It’s Tenacious D.  Need I really explain this?  Two guys with acoustic guitars melting your fucking nuts off with their molten hot magma metal, complete with destiny laden guitar picks and Satan-taming tonalities.  It was said that one day a band would come.  Well that band has come, and they’re here to cum again…in your ear pussies.   Click to listen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenacious_D
2. Chevelle {Mexicali Live} – I’ve never seen these guys live, but their music absolutely makes me want to head bang my car to tiny pieces when I crank it while cruising the highway.  In particular, songs like “The Clincher” (my favorite track of theirs) makes me feel like it would literally be the most rockin’ party ever if I had these guys bringing the walls crashing down with their monstrous rock.  Click to listen
1. Alice In Chains – Original Line-Up {Unplugged Show} – We all saw it on MTV, but after catching these guys this year with new front man William DuVall, I never lamented more that I had never seen the band while Layne Staley was still alive.  What was haunting was that DuVall sounded so much like Staley, it was eerie.  I’d love to have my own private Alice In Chains Uplugged show as the center-piece of a private party.  Click to listen