Blog

Air Traffic (2x)
Alanis Morissette
The Answer
Arcade Fire
Arctic Monkeys
Aux Raus
Black Kids
Bloc Party (3x)
Cavalera Conspiracy
Chris Cornell
CSS
De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig
Dizzee Rascal
Duesenjaeger
Dúné
Eagles of Death Metal
Editors (2x)
Enter Shikari (5x)
Flogging Molly
Foals
Foo Fighters
Friendly Fires
Funeral for a Friend
The Hives
Incubus
Interpol
Jack Penate
Kasabian (2x)
Kaiser Chiefs (2x)
The Killers
Klaxons
La Roux
Metallica
Pendulum
The Pigeon Detectives
Prodigy
queens of the stoneage
Rage Against the Machine
The Rakes
The Rifles
Serj Tankian
The Subs
Voicst (2x)
White Lies
The Wombats

Coming up:
23/11 Prodigy + Enter Shikari
17/12 De Staat
30/01 Enter Shikari
?/06 Muse

10. The Overture & the Underscore - Sarah Blasko
9. The Libertines - The Libertines
8. In Rainbows - Radiohead
7. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
6. Funeral - Arcade Fire
5. Don't Believe the Truth - Oasis
4. Aerial - Kate Bush
3. Is This It - The Strokes
2. A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay
1. Kid A - Radiohead

• Name your next 15 artists.
• Come up with a set list for them to make your perfect gig
• The first 8 artists get a 5 song set list
• The next 4 artists get a 8 song set list
• The 3rd and 2nd artist get a 10 song set list
• The top artist gets a 12 song set list with a 3 song encore.

The National
Arctic Monkeys
Material Issue
Simon & Garfunkel
System of a Down
The Doors
Arcade Fire
The Replacements
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes
Regina Spektor
Morrissey
The Frogs
The Killers
Heatmiser
Switchfoot

The National

Squalor Victoria
Start A War
Karen
Daughters of the Soho Riots
Mr. November

Arctic Monkeys

My Propeller
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Brianstorm
Crying Lightening
A Certain Romance

Material Issue

Valarie Loves Me
Goin' Through Your Purse
Lil' Christine
Eko Beach
Kim The Waitress

Simon & Garfunkel

The Sound Of Silence
Mrs. Robinson
Hazy Shade Of Winter
The Boxer
Bridge Over Troubled Water

System of a Down

B.Y.O.B
Kill Rock 'n' Roll
Hypnotize
U-Fig
Aerials

The Doors

Gloria
Stoned Immaculate
Peace Frog/Blue Sunday
The Soft Parade
The End

Arcade Fire

Keep The Car Running
Antichrist Television Blues
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Black Wave / Bad Vibrations
Rebellion (Lies)

The Replacements

Alex Chilton
Bastards Of Young
The Ledge
Androgynous
Here Comes A Regular

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Science Fiction Double Feature
Superstar
San Fransisco (Wear Flowers In Your Hair)
Over The Rainbow
Nothing Compares 2 U
Rocket Man
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Regina Spektor

On The Radio
The Calculation
Chemo Limo
The Flowers
Blue Lips
Dance Anthems Of The 80s
Somedays
Us

Morrissey

Something Is Squeezing My Skull
The Last Of The Famous International Playboys
That's How People Grow Up
Irish Blood, English Heart
Let Me Kiss You
First Of The Gang To Die
Everyday Is Like Sunday
It's Not Your Birthday Anymore

The Frogs

Lord Grunge
Raped
Weird On The Avenue
Starboy
I Only Play 4 Money
Stargirl
I've Got Drugs (Out Of The Mist)
Rearviewmirror

The Killers

Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
Somebody Told Me
Human
Smile Like You Mean It
Spaceman
Bling (Confessions Of A King)
All These Things That I've Done
Mr. Brighside
Sam's Town
When You Were Young

Heatmiser

Disappearing Ink
Flame!
Pop In G
Collect to NYC
Blue Highway
Low Flying Jets
Bastard John
Hitting On The Waiter
Plainclothes Man
Antonio Carlos Jobim

Switchfoot

Lonely Nation
Stars
Needle And Haystack Life
Oh! Gravity.
Company Car
Dirty Second Hands
4:12
Mess Of Me
The Sound (John M. Perkins Blues)
American Dream
Gone
On Fire
Meant To Live
----------
Politicians
Hello Hurricane
Dare You To Move

Andrew Bird
Apostle of Hustle
Arcade Fire
Arctic Monkeys
Atmosphere
Battles
Beck
Ben Folds
Black Joe Lewis
Bloc Party
The Black & White Years
City and Colour
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah x 2
The Cribs
Damien Rice
Death Cab for Cutie
The Decemberists
Deerhoof
DeVotchKa
Eagles of Death Metal
Explosions in the Sky
Final Fantasy x 2
Fleet Foxes
Franz Ferdinand
Frightened Rabbit
Ghostland Observatory
Gogol Bordello x 3
Grizzly Bear
Heartless Bastards
Here We Go Magic
Hollywood Gossip
Icy Demons
Islands
Jaguar Love x2
Jamie Lidell
Jenny Lewis
Kaiser Chiefs
The Killers
The Kills
Larkin Grimm
Living Things
Minus the Bear
The Mountain Goats
Muse
The National
The New Pornographers
of Montreal x 2
Okkervil River x 2
Patrick Wolf x 2
Plasticines x 2
The Raconteurs
Regina Spektor
Ringo Deathstarr
sharon jones & the dap kings
Sondre Lerche
Spoon
St. Vincent
Stars
The Strokes
The Swell Season
Thomas Dybdahl
Vampire Weekend
Voxtrot
We Are Scientists
Willy Mason
Yeasayer
Yellow Fever

Opening Credits
The Kills – U.R.A Fever (you’ve no Idea...)

Waking Up
Arcade Fire – In The Backseat (oh,cute!)

First Day At School
The Lodger – The Good Old Days (GOOD days?for real?dude,I’ve suffered during my school time)

Falling In Love
Oasis– Supersonic (did I felt in love with Gin and Tonic?more likely than falling for any of the boring girls I’ve met during my school time)

Losing Virginity
Animal Collective – In The Flowers (So,have we done in the garden?and it's Animal Collective,gosh,it must have been insane...)

Fight Song
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names– Funeral Face (so,did I lost the fight and died?likely…)

Breaking Up
Fischerspooner– We Need a War (AWESOME breaking up!I guess I’ve kicked someone’s ass!)

Prom
Vive la Fête – Mr.Le President (was it a sexual prom or has Lula gone to my party?)

Life
The Magnetic Fields– Papa Was a Rodeo (Are we hillbillies?)

Mental Breakdown
Tegan and Sara – Walking With a Ghost (Totally,as soon as I walk with a ghost,I’d go bananas)

Driving
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black (gee,I guess I’m driving drunk!nah,but,seriously,this is one of my favorite driving songs ever,it really fits the mood)

Depression
Regina Spektor– Blue Lips (oh,cute depressive song…and it kinda makes sense)

Partying
Santogold– Say Aha (AWESOME party,I had a blast,that’s for sure)

Happy dance
The Wombats – Let’s Dance To Joy Division (yeah,definitely a very childish,awesome and mind-blowing dance,I loved it)

You & friends
Bat for Lashes -Horse and I (oh,good,I'm friends with a horse...I hate horses)

Betrayal
The Pigeon Detectives – Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye (Damn it?does that mean I still want her?)

Regretting
Dengue Fever – Tiger Phone Card (I LOVED IT!I’ve had something with a Cambodian lady,she’s cheated on me,she’s sorry,I forgave her and now we’ll spend the rest of our days living as the most happy couple ever.I love my life,dude!)

Long night alone
Ladyhawke – Manipulating Woman (mmm,my Cambodian bride,why did you left me alone?did I cheated on you with a manipulating woman?)

Flashback
Hello Saferide – Long Lost Penpal (Oh,super!this really is my flashback song and I really have penpals I’ve been in touch with for more than 6 years,it’s a shame knowing I’ll lose them)

Getting Back Together
Love Is All - Make Outfall Out Make Up (What a wild and sexy getting back together,my Cambodian wife!)

Wedding
White Lies - The Price of Love (was it an expansive wedding?)

Honeymoon
Client - Down To The Underground (I had a sexy and wild honeymood,hadn't I?)

Birth of Child
Hello Saferide – Parenting Never Ends (O___o wow,dude!NEVER ?!)

Losing someone dear
Kings of Convenience - Winning a Battle,Losing The War (beautiful...too bad I lost someone I loved,though)

Final Battle
Late of the Pier – Mad Dogs and Englishmen (so is it me X The UK?I don’t wanna fight aganist englishmen…)

Death Scene
Juliette & The Licks – Death of a Whore (AHAAHAHAHAH!OH MINE!That says it all,doesn’t it?!)

Funeral Song
Regina Spektor – Genius Next Door (thank you,I don’t deserve a funeral song that pretty,I’m a whore,remember? [gee])

Final Credits
Franz Ferdinand – You’re The Reason I’m Leaving (See?I’m only leaving because of YOU!)

[I loved my life!]

So here's how you do it:
- Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
- Put it on shuffle
- Press play
- For every question, type the song that's playing
- When you go to a new question, press the next button
- No cheating!

1. What's your favorite song by 15?
Nine Inch Nails - Hurt

2. How did you get into 20?
Green Day - Heard them when I was much younger and liked them since.

3. Who is your favorite member in 1?
Bruce Springsteen - Kind of obvious lol

4. What’s your favorite lyric bit by 29?
Lifter Puller - "Love is like a battle of the bands, crank up your amps man." - Lifter Puller vs. The End Of The Evening

5. Have you ever seen 22 live?
Neutral Milk Hotel - No.

6. What's your favorite album from 10?
Bright Eyes - Lifted Or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground

7. Do you own any merchandise from 3?
The Hold Steady - No, but I should.

8. What is a good memory you have of 7?
Elliott Smith - The first time I saw the scene in The Royal Tenenbaums that uses Needle In The Hay.

9. Is there a member of the same age as you in 2?
Pearl Jam - No.

10. When did you first get into 8?
Pink Floyd - 6th grade, heard The Wall and never looked back

11. Who likes 4 along with you?
Bad Religion - My brother

12. Which song did you first hear from 16?
TV on the Radio - Dreams

13. What song made you fall in love with 5?
Allison Iraheta - Her cover of Alone by Heart.

14. Which song do you not like by 18?
X - I was never that into Devil Doll.

15. Why do you like 14's songs?
The Decemberists - They're deliciously indie.

16. Where did you first hear 6?
The Beatles - Probably when I was very young.

17. How long was 19 a singer before you liked them?
Frank Zappa - I started liking him way after he had died, so I guess since the 60s.

18. Does 13 have a song that gives you a bad memory?
Hair - No.

19. When did you get into 17?
Marilyn Manson - Sometime during middle school.

20. How long have you been into 9?
Stars - A little over a year.

21. If 11 had a concert 300 miles away, would you drive there to see them?
The Flaming Lips - Oh hell yeah.

22. How many CDs do you own of 12?
Weezer - Two or three I think.

23. Does 21 have a song that makes you cry?
Neil Young - The Needle And The Damage Done is pretty damn emotional.

24. Does 27 have a song that makes you happy?
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Phenomena

25. Does 23 have a song that makes you smile?
R.E.M - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

26. What's the last song you've listened to from 28?
Stone Temple Pilots - I think it was their cover of David Bowie's "Andy Warhol."

27. Is there a song by 32 that you've listened to more than 30 times?
Switchfoot - No, but Awakening's got 23, which is close.

28. What is a song from 50 that you've only listened to once?
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Mark David Chapman

29. Is there a song you are sick of hearing by 24?
The Smiths - Nope, they have amazing replay value.

30. What song got you into 40?
Arcade Fire - Probably Antichrist Television Blues.

31. What is your favorite single by 25?
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

32. If 49 hated you, what would you do?
Karen O and the Kids - It's funny, because I actually know her, and she doesn't.

33. What would you say if 42 or one of the members from 42 asked you out?
System of a Down - That's an odd question.

34. Would you care if 41 had a boyfriend/girlfriend?
The Doors - Well one of them is dead, and I'm sure the rest are married.

35. Who has the best voice in 46?
The Who - Roger Daltrey

36. Do you think 26 is/are good looking?
The Gaslight Anthem - They're pretty cool looking.

37. How many times have you listened to your favorite song by 36?
Morrissey - Irish Blood, English Heart, 28 plays.

38. How many CDs do you own of 30?
The Velvet Underground - One.

39. Is there a song from 38 that makes you mad?
The Replacements - Nope.

40. Which member from 31 do you want to see go solo? If 31 is only one artist, what would you do if they joined a group?
The Pixies - Frank went solo, and Kim joined the Breeders so...yeah.

41. What does your favorite song from 48 remind you of?
Billy Joel - Miami 2017 (I've Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway), New York.

42. Did you hate 43 at first?
Simon and Garfunkel - Actually I did.

43. Does your best friend also listen to 33?
Heatmiser - lol I think I'm the only one who listens to 33.

44. Do you think your parents would like 37?
Regina Spektor - They do.

45. Does 47 have a song that makes you want to dance?
The National - Most of their songs are pretty dark and down, so not really.

46. Have you ever seen 34 in person?
The Killers - Yeah, Coachella 2009.

47. Do you like 44's name?
Material Issue - Yeah, it's a cool name.

48. Is there someone in 45 that you want to go out with?
Arctic Monkeys - lmfao, no.

49. Do you know anyone that hates 39?
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Nope.

50. Have you ever danced to a song from 35?
The Frogs - Nope.

It's Bjork's Birthday! Party Time!


Over the course of my life, there’s been only a few artists that really have affected me personally with their powerful and timeless music. I generally enjoy diverse music, including the likes of Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, Klaxons, Goldfrapp, Coldplay, Metallica, Arcade Fire, múm, Kings of Leon and even a few of The Beatles songs. But of all the music I’ve listened to, Björk has been the most influential on my life.


Before I had ever listened to Björk’s music, I thought she was just another strange female artist you occasionally hear in the media. But then one day I heard Hyperballad and that amazing music video that went with it, and I was hooked ever since. I then took the plunge, taking a risk on an unfamiliar artist, listening to more and more of her music and getting more and more hooked with each song. I then discovered that not only is she an ageless beauty, and so unique in personality, her entire life is consumed by music. And I’ve been consumed by her music ever since!



As Bjork celebrates her birthday today, I thought it’d be appropriate to list her top 100 songs of her glorious career thus far. Happy Birthday Bjork! and here's hoping to another 20 years of musical excellence. Of course this list is just my personal opinion, and some people rank songs more than others, but nonetheless:

100.Catacea
99. Öll Birtan
98. Show Me Forgiveness
97.Nattura
96. Ruby Baby
95. Violently Happy
94. Sweet Intuition
93. Karvel
92. My Juvenile
91. Submarine


90.Where Is the Line
89. My Spine
88.Frosti
87. Pleasure Is All Mine
86. Verandi
85. Sidasta Eg
84. Vertebrae By Vertebrae
83. Aeroplane
82. Cover Me
81. Vokuro
80. In the Musicals


79. Nature Is Ancient
78. Oxygen
77. Ambergris March
76. Foot Soldier
75. Ancestors
74. Pneumonia
73. Komid
72. Hope
71. Mouths Cradle
70. The Boho Dance


69. Headphones
68. The Anchor Song
67. There's More To Life Than This
66. Gloomy Sunday
65. It's Oh So Quiet
64. Cvalda
63. Sweet Sweet Intuition
62. An Echo, a Stain
61. I See Who You Are
60. Sod Off


59. Declare Independence
58. Sun in My Mouth
57. Scatterheart
56. I Go Humble
55. Like Someone In Love
54. Dull Flame of Desire
53. You've Been Flirting Again
52. Come To Me
51. Scary
50. Charlene


49. Amphibian
48. Cocoon
47. Enjoy
46. One Day
45. Immature
44. Pluto
43. Triumph of a Heart
42. So Broken
41. I've Seen It All
40. Alarm Call


39. Oceania
38. Innocence
37. 5 Years
36. Heirloom
35. Mother Heroic
34. Human Behaviour
33. Army Of Me
32. Earth Intruders
31. Undo
30. Isobel


29. Hidden Place
28. New World
27. Crying
26. It's Not Up to You
25. The Modern Things
24. All Neon Like
23. Possibly Maybe
22. Domestica
21. Big Time Sensuality
20. Play Dead
19. Generous Palmstroke


18. Storm
Off her Drawing Restraint 9 soundtrack, this is probably one of the most terrifying and haunting songs you’ll hear. I think this sums it up: "Björk's lone vocal soars in the chorus like the booming siren of a blue whale who suddenly realized she was the last of her species."

17.I Remember You
An unlikely choice, seeming as it is a Bjork cover. But this is a slow moving, touching love song that hits a nerve. “When my life is through, and the angels ask me to recall, the thrill of them all, I shall tell them… I remember you.”


16. Wanderlust
Off her most recent album, this is definitely one of her best efforts off it. Heavy Beats with some elctronic sounds combined with Bjork’s great vocals works well.


15. I Miss You
A slightly more hip-hop type song, but Bjork pulls it off again with a catchy tune and odd lyrics. “I miss you, but I haven’t met you yet.”


14.It's in Our Hands
“It’s in our hands, it always was”. Great track.


13. Hunter
A brilliant use of hard drumming beats makes this song completely, and is a slight change from her other music in tempo. “I thought that I could organise freedom, how scandinavian of me.”


12. Venus As A Boy
With a quirky xylophone beat and lush strings, mixed with Bjork’s playful lyrics this song is one of her most catchiest and upbeat songs .


11. Harm of Will
A soft and touching song which relies on Bjork’s magnificent vocals and nice choir in the background.

10. Pagan Poetry
A sort of Japanese sounding song with it’s intro and parts throughout the song, but mixes with some great electronic beats to make a elegant and beautiful song. “On the surface, simplicity. But the darkest part of me is Pagan Poetry."


9. Desired Constellation
A song that you usually listen to alone, at night, or star-gazing. A moving melody background sound that was apparently made from voice loops making a bell type sound which suits the mood perfectly. It can’t be repeated, which makes this a great song along with fantastic lyrics. “With a palm full of stars - I throw them like dice, repeatedly…until the desired constellation appears...”


8. Bachelorette
A raw, powerful song featuring violins and pounding beats mixed with Bjork’s soaring vocals is a true treat to the ears.


7. Who Is It
A song that is beat-boxed (I didn’t even know the beats in this song were non-computer until I re-listened to it) entirely with no instruments sounds bad right? Wrong. A great song, and great lyrics. Possibly one of the strangest and cute music videos ever made which accompanies this song, which shows Bjork in a bell suit (yes you heard right) dancing with bell kids.


6. Aurora
“Goddess sparkle.” A heartfelt song that showcases Bjork’s sweet vocals but also has great help from a fantastic choir, and combined is match made in heaven.


5. Unison
Such a powerful song. An AMAZING use of Bjork’s vocals, as the song builds to it’s amazing climax along with the help of a beautiful choir.


4. All Is Full of Love
The top 5 are very, very hard. This song is purely amazing and touching at the same time, with it’s electronic melody and use of instruments combined with great lyrics makes it an elegant yet beautiful song.


3. Unravel
A song that has to be heard to be believed. “My heart comes undone, slowly unravels, in a ball of yarn”.Thom Yorke says it’s the most beautiful song he’s ever heard, and I’m not one to disagree! Strange sounding organs works brilliantly, the song is just another Bjork classic.


2. Hyperballad
A strong but twisted song about love that’s not easily explained. It’s about waking up early in the morning, being destructive, throwing small things off a mountain, and imagining what her body would feel like slamming against rocks at the bottom of the cliff, asking “And when I land will my eyes be closed or open?”, and then finally returning to her lover's arms in the morning as if nothing’s happened.


1. Jóga
Perhaps the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. It’s a gorgeous song which not only showcases Bjork’s vocals but just how good music can be in Bjork’s hands. A masterpiece.


So there you have it. My opinion on her best 100 songs from an amazing artist. Feel free to agree or disagree with me, or even add your own list of her favourite songs.


Note: I didn't use any The Sugarcubes songs. I highly recommend Birthday if you want to hear Bjork's vocals soar to unimaginable heights.









-Bjork performing Oceania at the 2004 Olympics.

As a music fan that has developed strong and lasting affinity for my favorite songwriters over the years, I have given a lot of thought to what qualities an artist/band has that promotes deep and meaningful fan connection. And it isn’t just the qualities that the songwriter has - a devoted fan also possesses attributes that enable them to be profoundly moved by music at an elevated level than the more casual listener. Personally speaking, I believe that my fandom is fueled by an analytic and obsessive mind that - once inspired by the music or words - must dig deeper to question the meaning behind the art by revisiting lyrics, reading interviews, and mining for clues. I dream in lyrics, and they often follow me throughout my waking hours. My music obsession is at once a great love and a debilitating foe (particularly when Beyonce released that fucking “Single Ladies” song). But I digress.

Far more interesting are the qualities that some musicians possess that set them apart from other musicians in fan admiration. Every band has fans, but what separates the bands that produce great music that is fun to listen to from the bands that produce life-changing music that has a profound and inspiring effect on their listeners? In evaluating my own fan experience - and also observing the fan culture for artists that I don’t personally connect to strongly, but that seem to evoke very strong emotion in fans - I have drawn the following conclusion. A songwriter’s willingness to reveal vulnerability - lyrically, vocally, and through performance – is a quality that cannot be faked, and I believe it is the single most important component in creating music that resonates deeply with fans.

The ability to authentically reveal vulnerability is the key to greatness for any artist, no matter what artistic form they use. For a singer-songwriter, it is an especially critical quality because, not only are they producing the material (as the writer), they are also channeling the emotion (as the performer). Whether it reveals itself in lyric, in the tremor of a vocal, or in the form of nervous ticks during performance, the ability of a songwriter to uncover his or her own vulnerability offers the audience the human element that is critical to forming a deeper connection to the music.

Whatever you may think of Morrissey (vocally, he’s not one of my favorites), he is a prime example of an artist who bares all his self-doubt, narcissism, and regret within the lines of his songs. He typically writes in the first person narrative, not passing off emotion to other characters, but instead leaving himself completely exposed. His songs are dripping with a self-absorption that I can’t really appreciate, but his fans eat it up and he has one of the most cult-like followings in rock music.

Other songwriters are subtle in their openness by using characters to channel their own personal experiences and emotions. A writer like Springsteen can be perceived as writing more with empathy than vulnerability because the joy and heartbreak of his characters may not translate as his own personal experience. However, that does not make him any less endearing to fans. People connect deeply with the characters in Springsteen’s world because they portray basic human emotions that we all know– restlessness, loneliness, yearning, desire, and disaffection. It doesn’t matter if the vulnerability belongs to Mary, Wendy, Candy, Sam, or any of the other dozens characters Springsteen has created. HE KNOWS how they feel, and he knows how you feel, too. Springsteen is unquestionably worthy of all of the accolades and adoration he has received over the years. He writes about human fragility with the same Old Soul clarity that I attributed to Van Morrison.

One of the newer bands that has developed a fiercely loyal fan base, in addition to landing themselves on most music publications’ top ten lists for the decade, is Arcade Fire. Arcade Fire produced two of the most beautiful, honest, and musically stunning albums in recent years. String instruments, heartfelt lyrics, Win Butler’s ability to vocally convey emotion, layer together to create a humility and rawness that is so attractively genuine to the listener. Arcade Fire is a relatively new band but already fans have formed a deep connection to their music that will sustain the life of their career as a band.

Lastly, I want to mention a couple of my favorite songwriters that perform with such openness and vulnerability, that I didn’t truly fall in love with their music until I saw it physically come out of them. Is it strange writing about Stevie Nicks and Brandon Flowers in the same paragraph? Probably, but they happen to be - as performers - my sentimental favorites. Seeing Stevie perform ‘Rhiannon’ with such fury, or the heartbreaking ‘Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You,’ was pivotal for me as a fan. She has an amazing ability to connect with live audience and you feel as you are watching her that she is graciously handing over her heart for those few hours. Her fans sense her undying devotion and they are as loyal as any fan community out there.

Performing is not second nature for Brandon Flowers, and I think that he seems outwardly nervous and jittery, endears him to fans. There is a lot of realness to him. He uses bravado on stage, but equally there are moments of sincerity and vulnerability, gesturing and singing with such emotion that you feel he is begging, pleading with you to feel his words the way he feels them. I had bought and regularly listened to the Killers first two albums before I was aware of how they perform. The Killers, like Arcade Fire, are a young band with a hugely devoted fan community. And to witness them live is spectacular, just ask a Victim.

Of course, there are many qualities that attract fans to different musical artists. I like all kinds of music that I may not be sentimentally attached to, but that makes for great listening. Some of the best musicians and bands convey a detached coldness that, although is a quintessential rock and roll attitude, does not cultivate the kind of fan adoration of artists who open themselves up a little more. So many great artists that I didn’t get to! Help me write the next chapter! Who are your sentimental favorites, and why? I would love to hear from you!

-AZ

http://audiozealot.com

Morrissey, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, Stevie Nicks, Brandon Flowers, The Killers