My personal musical heroes (Top 10 Artists)

Member Name: Chelle1969

Product:	Top 10 Artists
Date:	02/07/09 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I love them all

Disadvantages: None, they're all brilliant!

When I saw this category, I thought it would be a doddle to put together a quick top ten. It did, however, prove to be a much harder task then I expected, top 5 no problem, but the other 5 took some careful consideration and close examination of my record collection. It proved to be an interesting exercise and I discovered much about my tastes, for instance it became blatantly clear that I tend to gravitate towards singers with 'interesting' voices, not necessarily technically perfect ones. Oh and three of my top ten are from Canada - I think I must have been Canadian in another life!!

Anyway enough waffle, here're my choices counting down from 10 to number 1


10 - Leonard Cohen

I can't remember exactly when I discovered Leonard Cohen but I think it was after hearing the song 'First We Take Manhattan' sometime in the late '80s. Something about his voice just captivated me, his deep monotone style and laid back jazzy music style connected with me at the time. He's inspired many other artists to cover his songs over the years, probably most known one would be 'Hallelujah'. The Canadian singer-songwriter, now in his mid 70's has been frequently described as, "the godfather of gloom" and his songs as, "music to slit your wrists to" and I can see how some would find him depressing, but his lyrics are witty and poetic and, despite not knowing anybody else who shares this view with me, I think he's great.

Favourite track - Democracy
Favourite album - The Future (1992)


9 - Tom McRae

I got into Tom McRae after seeing him live at the Borderline venue in London, I'd gone along to photograph him not ever having heard of him before and found myself blown away by his incredible voice and style. He's an English singer-songwriter creating heart felt acoustic guitar and cello based songs about issues he feels strongly about. His songs have a simple beauty about them and his voice can be haunting at times. I guess he falls more into the folk category than pop and I feel that of late he's been overlooked a bit in favour of others of his ilk such as Damien Rice and James Morrison. I still hold out hope that his time will come, but if not I'll just continue to enjoy his first class music.

Favourite track - End Of The World News
Favourite album - Tom McRae (2000)


8 - Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, a bit of pure American Rock 'n' Roll, music to turn up loud, open the car windows and hit the open road with. She's pretty much unknown in the UK but a huge rock star in America, with a gravely voice (think Bonnie Tyler crossed with Suzi Quatro) and some kick-ass rock tunes to rival anything Bruce Springsteen has released. She can turn out a pretty good ballad too and writes some intensely personal and passionate songs. A while ago she would have made it higher into my top ten, but in recent years she's become a bit of political campaigner championing various causes, which is great, good for her, but to be honest I can't be doing with it. The music is what it's about for me if she sticks to making more great albums I'll be happy.

Favourite track - I Want To Come Over
Favourite album - Breakdown (1999)


7 - Sparks

Oh you've got to love Sparks haven't you? The quirky slightly crazy Mael brothers Ron and Russell have been releasing their particular brand of pop into the world since the 1970's. They've had numerous hits such as 'No.1 Song In Heaven', 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us' and not forgetting 'Beat the Clock'. I love Sparks because it's just such fun music, the track titles themselves can make you laugh (how about 'How To Get Your Ass Kicked', 'Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls' or 'Lighten Up Morrissey') The rhythms will have your toes tapping and the lyrics will worm there way into your brain and stay there long after the album as finished. I've seen them live numerous times, it's always a fantastic show with older brother Ron (he of pencil moustache fame) standing stock still behind his keyboard while singer Russell bounces around like a kangaroo on acid belting out the songs in his semi-falsetto voice. Great fun.

Favourite track - Suburban Homeboy
Favourite album - Balls (2000)


6 - Nick Cave

Certainly not to everyone's taste, Nick Cave is another artist viewed as a merchant of doom and gloom. His songs are often dark and about subjects many would shy away from such as religion, rape and murder and his voice is, well, he's not what you'd call a technically perfect singer, but he's got something special going on. I find many of his ballads to be sensitive and quite beautiful, great melodies to accompany very poetic lyrics. I've been a fan since the early '90's and although I don't play his music constantly he's someone I will always come back to and can enjoy virtually any album from his back catalogue. I was lucky enough to see him live at a recording for BBC4 at St Luke's in London last year, and it was real privilege to see him and The Bad Seeds perform in such an intimate space. It was stunning gig.

Favourite track - The Witness Song
Favourite album - Let Love In (1994)


5 - kd lang

The Canadian singer-song with THE most incredible voice was always going to be high up in my top ten. kd lang started her career as a country singer but made a very successful move away from that into the 'pop' world. I love all aspects of her music including the country stuff just due to her amazing vocal range. Her voice is so pure and smooth, when she holds a high note with such perfect clarity it sends shivers down my spine - boy she can belt out a tune. Probably best known for the hits 'Constant Craving' and 'Miss Chatelaine' but I prefer her less commercial side such as the albums 'Drag' (themed around smoking not cross dressing!) and 'Hymns Of The 49th Parallel' her tribute to some of the other great Canadian artists.

Favourite track - Barefoot
Favourite album - Drag (1997)


4 - Kate Bush

In my experience Kate Bush is the Marmite of the pop world, people either love her or hate her. Personally I think anyone who falls into the latter category needs his or her ears cleaning out, she has the most amazing voice. For me there is an almost ethereal quality about her and her music, when I put on a Kate Bush album I'm transported somewhere else, somewhere away from the humdrum of the ordinary. For me she's the only artist whose most famous song (in this case 'Wuthering Heights') I never tire of hearing, usually the appeal of a single release wears thin when it's been played to death on the radio, but not so this one, I love it. She's not the most prolific artist so it can be pretty frustrating being a fan, her most recent album in 2005 was 13 years in the making, and in a career spanning over 30 years she has released just 8 studio albums and toured just once! There's a real air of mystery surrounding her, she pops up now and them with a stunning album, does virtually no publicity for it and disappears again. More please, and soon!

Favourite track - Running Up That Hill
Favourite album - Aerial (2005)


3 - Cowboy Junkies

My all-time favourite band, I have a huge admiration for everything Cowboy Junkies release. Three siblings (Margo, Michael and Peter Timmins) plus a friend (Alan Anton) form this Canadian band of laid-back country-rock groovers. Despite a career of over 20 years many people I come across have never heard of them, which I kind of like; it makes me feel like I belong to a secret club of followers. Their music is just wonderful, the song-writing talents of Michael combined with the velvety smooth vocals of Margo create an incredible soundscape. Most of their output would come into the alternative country-folk category, but it's usually laid-back and relaxing music, music to sway to rather than dance to. I got into them quite early in their career, about 1990 and saw them live in London, a gig I remember well for the fact that you could have quite literally heard a pin drop on stage; such reverence they inspired from their audience. Brilliant late night music, I love it all!

Favourite track - Witches
Favourite album - The Caution Horses (1990)


2 - Marc Almond

I consider Marc Almond to be the most under-rated British singer-songwriter of recent times. He, for the main part, goes pretty much un-noticed by the press and public alike but continues to make well-crafted great music for his army of followers. He found fame in the early eighties as half of synth-pop band Soft Cell - who doesn't remember 'Tainted Love'? After Soft Cell split in 1984 he went on to have, and still has a prolific solo career. Marc Almond has always released exactly what he wants to and doesn't bow to the commercial requirements of the major record labels (which is why he's been through so many of them). Over the years his output has included albums of Jacque Brel songs, French chansons and a well-respected collection of Russian folk songs (recorded in Russia with Russian artists). I love his diversity, you never know what you're going to get next from him as his musical styles range from pop, electro, chanson, dance and jazz. His voice is magnificent and has certainly improved over the years (with age), he has a wonderful vocal range and always delivers with immense passion. I've been a fan since the mid-eighties following his career throughout its highs and lows and have been to numerous concerts (he puts on fabulous shows, if you get a chance go and see him live), he's a national treasure and a real star, I just wish he could be recognised as such.

Favourite track - Saint Judy
Favourite album - Stories Of Johnny (1985)


1 - David Bowie

Oh, well what can I say, David Bowie international rock god, chameleon of pop, hero, idol, musical genius. You get the idea; yes I'm quite a fan! The very first record I ever owned was a Bowie single, my parents bought me a copy of 'The Laughing Gnome' when I was just 3 years old - see I recognised talent even then! A career spanning over 40 years has produced an incredible body of work, admittedly not all of it great (I'm thinking 'Lets Dance' and the' Tonight' albums here), but most of it fantastic. He's as much known for his and on (and off) stage personas as for the actual music, but it's the music that ultimately will stand the test of time. He's been a huge influence on numerous contemporary artists and a new Bowie release (long over-due by the way) is big news worldwide. I find there's a Bowie album to suit every mood but the Ziggy Stardust album is the one I always find myself drawn to - I just wish I was old enough to have seen him perform live as Ziggy back in the '70s. Everyone will know at least one Bowie track, guaranteed. This man is an icon, definitely my all-time favourite artist. Pure class.

Favourite track - Rock 'n' Roll Suicide
Favourite album - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (1972)

Summary: My top ten!