- The Beatles
Always number one. They're so far up there that everyone should just leave them off lists. Like "Here are my favorite bands - oh, besides the Beatles, of course."
- They Might Be Giants
The first group I really enjoyed as a fan, as early as middle school. Thought I would grow out of it, but the songs get even more intelligent the longer I listen to them. Some of their stuff is hit or miss, but they keep trying. A lot.
- R.E.M.
Another band I liked super early (with Green, when I was a kid), and I'm very happy they turned out to be really good and not just a pop phase I went through. I'm in the minority, but I continue to like their current work immensely. Again and again, their songs I missed years ago turn out to be great on a relisten.
- Radiohead
Unlike R.E.M., I think their work has deteriorated, but is still good. The Bends is a wonderful album, and OK Computer is a tour de force about our technological age.
- Ben Folds
Their Sessions at West 54th is my favorite music DVD. Incredible to watch Folds on the piano, and amazing live.
- Wilco
Screaming up the charts, I only got into Wilco more recently. I've tracked down all their albums, even their Woody Guthrie songs with Billy Bragg. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a great album, and everybody's favorite. I love it too ... but in my opinion, A Ghost is Born is even better. Not only are there great tracks, but the entire album works as a whole and it's groundbreaking and innovative. It demands many listens, and now serves me almost as some sort of meditative mandala.
- Cake
Not really groundbreaking in any way, just an overlooked band that's a lot of fun and slips in some good poetry in their caustic, catchy beats.
- Spoon
I guess you could use this Spoon to eat that Cake.
- Bob Dylan
One of the most important contributors to music history, and his recent work is amazing too. Also, recently read his Chronicles.
- Paul Simon
- Flaming Lips
- Guster
- The Dandy Warhols
- The Who
- Nirvana
- Tom Petty
- U2
- Soul Coughing
- Pearl Jam
- Modest Mouse
- Phish
- Ben Harper
- Beck
- Flight of the Conchords
- Moby