The Sex Pistols

I feel that i've given off the impression that i'm a classic rock lover who hates teen pop idols and knows nothing about music. However, i've not mentioned any of my favorites when making my lists, and maybe I came down a little too hard on the popstars. I would like to share with you some of my favorite artists, songs, and albums that I have in my iTunes as an iPod Essential.

iPod Essentials: Part Two

I love the Sex Pistols. If you've ever seen me, it's easy to tell either from my shirts, or my watch, or my bag, or my wristbands that i'm flying the Sex Pistols flag proudly. Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, and Sid Vicious make up the foursome that I would listen to over anyone else. Not beside of their outstanding musical ability-because i'll admit, they aren't that talented-but because of their energy and their raw edge. The Sex Pistols ignited the punk revolution in the UK, and with songs like "God Save the Queen" and "Anarchy in the UK" they waged war on an entire country without that ambition. The Sex Pistols poured freedom and rebellion into their songs, and the outcome is the raw spirit oozing from tracks like "The Great Rock and Roll Swindle" and "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone." In 1996 the Sex Pistols(minus Vicious) released a new live albums Filthy Lucre Live with a harder edge and a total punk feel talking about issues like abortion and submission. The new live album featured many of their older singles but I believe the Sex Pistols were in their prime from 75-79 with the original four.

A modern pop/rock mainstream band that I absolutely adore- Maroon 5. The vocals of Adam Levine, especially is their latest album It Won't Be Soon Before Long- display a flawless and beautiful appeal that match perfectly with the rock elements and pop production of the band. It is not uncommon to hear a rocked out guitar solo in the middle of a mostly pop and beat driven song. That's the beauty of Maroon 5, and the one thing that draws me most to their sound. There is usually a sexual undertone to their albums except for the B-Side Collection. The B-Side Collection is a complilation of 7 songs that did not make it onto their secon studio album-It Won't Be Soon Before Long. The B-Side Collection features two of my favorites "Until Your Over Me" and "Figure It Out". This album is more focused on finding and losing love, than sex- at least not in the sense of the their other album with songs like "Kiwi" and "Can't Stop". To me, Maroon 5 is that feel good music, that also is good music.

Among other bands and songs that I consider as "my essentials" include:

Motion City Sountrack-"Perfect Teeth", "Everything is Alright", "Hold On", and "LGFUAD"

Jack's Mannequin- the entire Everything in Transit album

Stevie Ray Vaughan-"The Sky is Crying", "I'm Leavin' You(Commit a Crime)", "Manic Depression", and "Wall of Denial"

Electric Light Orchestra-"Mr. Blue Sky", "Evil Woman", "Turn to Stone", "Rock Aria!", "Sorrow About to Fall", and "Lattitude 88 North"

Casting Crowns-"East to West" and "Praise You in This Storm"

The 13th Floor Elevators- albums: The Psychadelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, Bull of the Woods, and Fire in my Bones

The Scorpions- "No One Like You"

Shooter Jennings- Put the O Back in Country album

Drive By Truckers- "Tornadoes" and "Plastic Flowers on the Highway"

The Beatles- "The Ballad of John and Yoko"

Showbread- "Mouth Like a Magazine_

The Higher- "Insurence"

RENT- "La Vie Boheme" and "Take Me or Leave Me"

Other bands: Avenged Sevenfold, Grateful Dead, Alkaline Trio,Number One Gun,The Cure, Earth Wind and Fire, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Aqualung, Bad Company,Nine Inch Nails, Ben Folds, Guns N' Roses, Husker Du Sugar, Black Flag, The Misfits, Blessed Union of Soul, Bonnie Raitt, Charlie Hall, Bebo Norman, Tesla, Chicago, The Clash, Collective Soul, Meat Loaf, The Cranberries, Kings of Leon, The Dead Kennedys, Deep Purple, Elvis, Eric Clapton, Faster Pussycat, The Rolling Stones, Taking Back Sunday, Led Zeppelin, Something Corperate, The Ramones, The Kinks, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Sly and the Family Stone, Buddy Holly, Ray Charles, Yes, Pink Floyd, Senses Fail, The Everly Brothers,Our Lady Peace, Run Kid Run, Simon and Garfunkel, The Velvet Underground, CCR, Five for Fighting, Freezepop, Plushgun, Tegan & Sara, Incubus, Rush, Frank Zappa, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Johnny Lang, The Juliana Theory, Mae, Radiohead, Ten Years After, REM, The Matchbook Romance, Ryan Adams, Seven Mary Three, Blue Oyster Cult, Traffic, The Jayhawks, Smashing Pumpkins, Thin Lizzy, The Verve, Alice Cooper, and Hanson-yes the long haired pop boy band from Oklahoma.

This is my favorite stuff, all for different reasons. I love new indie music, and even some pop-i will admit I bought the first Hannah Montana cd; i also love the classics. If you've never heard some of these artist you should really check them out.