TOP 15 BANDS

#3: ALBERT HAMMOND, JR. (KING OF MY HEART)

(OK, I have to be careful I don’t get overly dramatic…but it’s going to happen anyway)

Favorite Songs: Bright Young Thing (which I thought was called “Call An Ambulance” til APRIL 2011), Lisa, In Transit, Everyone Gets A Star, & So It Goes, Bargain Of The Century, Feed Me Jack, Hard To Live In The City…essentially everything he’s ever released ;__;

Favorite Album: Yours To Keep

First Song: “Cartoon Music For Superheroes”

Favorite Member: If you don’t know the answer to that, you have no business following me (but OK, after Albert, Matt Romano, who is The Best). 

Favorite Lyrics: “”I’ve been following you for blocks and I wish that you would stop and tell me your name, but I couldn’t understand what you told me as you ran away,” “I’m not gonna change til I want to,” And all my dreams are a part of you now,” “Dear, can I be wrong?” “Believe, you’ll be alright” “And when I’m getting closer, so close, everything just falls apart,” JESUS CHRIST, OK, that’s enough or I won’t be able to stop. 

When You Became A Fan: October 2006. This is how my story goes: I heard Albert was going solo from The Strokes and was automatically miffed, thinking that meant the end of the band and Albert was a big selfish poop face (which ultimately resulted me in being vaguely disappointed HE was the only Stroke I saw “in the wild” in the street before my first Strokes gig, though I said hi anyway). The album wasn’t coming out in the US til February 2007, which was just ridiculous, so my Stroke friend Lauren got the Rough Trade version when she visited England and brought it back. I was like “well, I guess I have to listen to this thing, just to say I did,” so my mom and I put it on while we were driving to my aunt’s house one day. After listening to just half of it, I was like this:

Albert’s one of the three artists ever that I’ve liked instantaneously. Since then, it’s been a mad, one-sided love affair (even if it took me much longer to really love Como Te Llama, but I do now). (OK, and then I kind of pushed The Strokes + associated acts to the back of my mind until Spring 2010, but yeah, UNDYING LOVE). 

TOP 15 Bands

#4: Radiohead

Favorite Songs: Let Down, I Can’t, Down Is The New Up, Airbag, True Love Waits, Sulk, Thinking About You, There There, 15 Step, Lurgee, Idioteque, Black Star, Optimistic

Favorite Album: I can’t choose between In Rainbows and, shockingly…Pablo Honey

First Song: My friend gave me OK Computer in like 2005. I only really “got” “Airbag,” so “Airbag.”

Favorite Member: Ed O’Brien

Favorite Lyrics: “So I declare a holiday, fall asleep, drift away” and “Because I know today has been the most perfect day I’ve ever seen,” among countless others.

When You Became A Fan: I’d heard the name Radiohead all my life, but I knew they were kind of a big bite to chew, musically. I thought that the day I liked them was the day I’d be cool, or at least have some credibility when it came to music. I tried multiple times, mostly just with OK Computer which I got off a friend, but it was just too far out for me, mostly. I would periodically put it on to see if I had acquired the taste yet, and I hadn’t. But then In Rainbows was coming out in October 2007, and I knew all about it with the release style and format and stuff because I’m a nerd. So because you could pay whatever you wanted for it, I was like “fuck yeah, I’m getting that shit, even if I don’t really like it.” I paid $2. I listened and my mind exploded, and suddenly I understood their previous albums (except Amnesiac, which I’m still not big on). From October 2007 to when the Coldplay world heated up in March 2008, I don’t think I listened to a single other artist besides Radiohead once. I felt bad that I only paid $2 for the best shit that had ever entered my ears, so I bought the deluxe vinyl album set and felt like a better person (AND JESUS CHRIST, THE BONUS CD MAKES IT SO WORTH IT). Weirdly, Pablo Honey is one of my favorite albums of theirs, even though that’s the one everyone else in the world writes off. It’s definitely different from their other stuff, but damn, I listened to that CD in the car EVERY DAY when I commuted to work for 45 minutes. I still think of my car when I listen to those songs. 

TOP 15 BANDS

#5: Sigur Rós

Favorite Songs: Með Blóðnasir, Hafsól, Viðrar Vil Tel Loftárása, Hljómalind, Heima, Njósnavélin, Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur, Vaka, Starálfur…TOO MANY

Favorite Album: Takk…

First Song: Hoppípolla

Favorite Member: Orri Þall Dýrason…and Jónsi, of course

Favorite Lyrics: Two lines, both of which I have vaguely considered tattooing on my body (and I am NOT a tattoo person)

Við áttum okkur draum áttum allt (we once had a dream we had everything)

Það besta sem Guð hefur skapað er nýr dagur (the best thing God has created is a new day)

When You First Became A Fan: Complicated. I got into them through Coldplaying, but…slowly. I bought Takk… in 2006 and thought it was pretty, but Jónsi’s voice put me off somewhat, because I’m not really a falsetto person. “Hoppípolla” was a big favorite, though, but I think eventually something just clicked, especially with Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust and I became nutso. I’ve always had a thing with Iceland since I was about five, and this just blew that up to the point where I made sure to visit Iceland within the next few years. I strongly, strongly associate the song “Starálfur” with my high school graduation, which was a very emotional and complex time, so I know I was at least decently pretty crazy about them by May 2007.

(ALSO, Jónsi as a solo artist is in this category, and I fell in love with his record the day it came out on April 5, 2010 IN THE KEFLAVÍK AIRPORT OUTSIDE OF REYKJAVÍK BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY IN ICELAND AND IT WAS THE BEST COINCIDENCE EVER. My favorite song of his is “Sinking Friendships”). 

TOP 15 BANDS

#6: Julian Casablancas

Favorite Songs: Glass, River Of Brakelights, Out Of The Blue, 11th Dimension, Left and Right in the Dark

Favorite Album: Phrazes For The Young…

First Song: The instrumental version of “Glass” in the PFTY preview video in June 2009, which made me pee in my pants. Then “11th Dimension,” which I loved.

Favorite Member: Like this is even a question. 

Favorite Lyrics: “Eyes will follow you, weapons can’t break through,” and “Together we’ll sing songs and tell exaggerated stories about the way we feel today and tonight and in the morning,” and “I’m at your feet, where critters meet, who should asleep and not crossing roads or highways, in the afterlife of super cities, rapidly devouring its outskirts”

When You First Became A Fan: Complicated. I hadn’t thought about The Strokes etc. in a while when I heard Julian had a solo thing coming out, to which I sighed and said “well, Albert’s was amazing, so let’s see.” The promo trailer video came out and I was basically hospitalized with how excited I was. I loved “11th Dimension” as a single…and then I got the album the day it came out and was like “what the fuck is this.” I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was really disappointed besides “Glass.” I listened to that a bit, but besides that, really didn’t feel the need to go back to the other songs much at all. My mom had a Christmas party and had at least two of the songs on the playlist for it, which got me into “Out Of The Blue” and “Left & Right,” but I still didn’t see the big deal about the album. My mom was basically like “YOU ARE AN IDIOT, DON’T TALK TO ME TIL YOU LIKE IT,” and by Spring 2010 I loved the whole thing (minus “Ludlow St.,” which I still skip more often than not, and I’m not a song skipper). For the record, “River Of Brakelights” is probably one of the best songs I’ve ever heard in my life.

TOP 15 BANDS

#7: Snow Patrol

Favorite Songs: How To Be Dead, If There’s A Rocket Tie Me To It, The Finish Line, Grazed Knees, In A Dream I Saw Satellites, You Could Be Happy, Run…(really everything on the last three albums except for Chasing Cars)

Favorite Album: A Hundred Million Suns, which I wouldn’t have thought I’d ever have said a few years ago

First Song: Umm, I think “Chocolate.” My friend made a mix CD of her favorites and that was on there, but only Final Straw was out at that time.

Favorite Member: Gary Fucking Lightbody, who really is only second to Albert in the “Most Adorable Human” award

Favorite Lyrics: Like the DCFC situation, Gary is one of my favorite lyricists in the business. I think he’s beyond brilliant. If I had room, I’d just quote the whole of “How To Be Dead,” but this works for now:

“Two weeks later like a surplus reprieve, I found a hair the length of yours on my sleeve. I wound it round and round my finger so tight it turned to purple and a pulse formed inside.”

When You First Became A Fan: I’m actually not sure. My friend really liked them pre-Eyes Open, and I had a few songs from her that I really liked. But I think it was Eyes Open that did it for me, so Spring 2006. 

TOP 15 BANDS

#8: Phoenix

Favorite Songs: One Time Too Many, Lost And Found, Countdown, Consolation Prizes, Rome

Favorite Album: It’s Never Been Like That

First Song: “Lizstomania”

Favorite Member: Thomas Mars (REALLY, I need to get over lead singers, but COME ON, he has THE BLUE SHIRT). And Deck. 

Favorite Lyrics: “Do you remember when 21 years was old?” and “Did you get older doing nothing today?” and…ugh, too many to list, even though they have very odd lyrics. 

When You First Became A Fan: April 4, 2009. The reason I know this is because that’s the date they performed on SNL. When their bumper picture came up on the screen on the opening credits, I’d literally never even heard their name before (despite being a Sofia Coppola fan?). By the end of their first song, which was “Lizstomania,” I was already on the phone to my mom asking why the HELL we had never heard of these guys before, and she was yelling the same thing and we downloaded the back catalog the next day. This doesn’t happen with me and music—THREE bands in my entire life have been instant loves, and Phoenix was the most instantaneous of those three. 

TOP 15 BANDS

#9: Kings of Leon (yeah, yeah)

Favorite Songs: Cold Desert, Talihina Sky, Notion, The Bucket, Fans, Closer, King of the Rodeo…oh God, stop me now. 

Favorite Album: Only By The Night, with Come Around Sundown a very close second. I’m aware this makes me “suck.”

First Song: “The Bucket,” which is really one of the only songs of theirs I liked until October 2010

Favorite Member: This is one of those “I really can’t choose” situations, but I usually say Matthew.

Favorite Lyrics: [Insert all lyrics of “Cold Desert”], but especially “I’m too young to feel this old,” and “Hand over your heart, let’s go home.”

When You First Became A Fan: OK, well my mom has been obsessed with them since their debut, but the only song I liked at ALL was “The Bucket,” and I was obsessed with that. I didn’t really see the appeal in much of anything else they did, although I did really like “Use Somebody” and “Notion” as overplayed singles. I got Come Around Sundown when it was released off my mom, and…that’s one of those classic albums that I listen to after trying to get into an artist and suddenly everything they’ve ever done makes sense to me when it never had before. Now there are really just a few songs on Because Of The Times that I can’t really abide by, and that’s it.

TOP 15 BANDS

#10: The National

Favorite Songs: All The Wine, Apartment Story, Terrible Love, The Geese Of Beverly Road, Mr. November (I’m only doing 5 favorite songs until we get to the top 3 or else I’ll be here all night)

Favorite Album: Boxer

First Song: “Bloodbuzz Ohio”

Favorite Member: I’m going to be predictable again and say Matt, but really, he’s so endearing and was SO nice to me when we met

Favorite Lyrics: “I carry the dollhouse, safe on my shoulders, through the black city, night lights are on in the corners, and everyone’s sleeping upstairs, all safe and sound, all safe and sound, I won’t let the psychos around, all safe and sound, I won’t let the psychos around.”

When You First Became a Fan: Sadly, not til pretty recently, I think December 2010. I want to punch myself in the face for that— via my mom as usual. I think she was pushing High Violet on me, but actually a few months before that, the guy I had a crush on mentioned them to me and I made a mental note but never got around to checking them out. Obviously I don’t know how to do crushes. 

TOP 15 BANDS

#11: Arcade Fire

Favorite Songs: Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies), No Cars Go, Keep The Car Running, Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)

Favorite Album: Funeral

First Song: I actually really have no idea. My brother was a huge fan (and still is) for a long time while I was just kind of noncommittally appreciative of them. Probably “No Cars Go,” that’s his favorite

Favorite Member: REGINE. 

Favorite Lyrics: “But sometimes we remember our bedrooms, and our parents’ bedrooms, and the bedrooms of our friends.”

When You Became A Fan: Like I say, I generally appreciated them for a long time before I really “got” them. I think the release of The Suburbs was really what made me get a lot more into them, so August 2010 (coincidentally, in Canada itself). And seeing them live (and almost getting murdered by balloons) made me in love for ever and ever amen. 

TOP 15 BANDS

#12: Vampire Weekend

Favorite Songs: Giving Up The Gun, Horchata, Walcott, M79, White Sky

Favorite Album: They only have two, and I have to say I really like them pretty much equally. I think they’re just as good as each other. 

First Song: I think I YouTubed “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” because Chris Martin mentioned it in a magazine interview, but also “Oxford Comma”

Favorite Member: Chris Baio and his adorable ankle moves. And his Twitter account.

Favorite Lyrics: Vampire Weekend has really eclectic and obtuse lyrics. Hmm. 

“Here comes a feeling you thought you’d forgotten
Chairs to sit and sidewalks to walk on
Ooh, you had it but oh no, you lost it
Looking back you shouldn’t have fought it”

When You Became A Fan: Spring 2008, my first semester of college, towards the end of the year when it was turning into summer. I really strongly associate the first album with that time in my life.

TOP 15 BANDS

#13: Death Cab For Cutie

Favorite Songs: Marching Bands of Manhattan, Cath…, Blacking Out The Friction, A Movie Script Ending, Title and Registration (+ many more)

Favorite Album: Plans, I think…

First Song: Uncertain, since one of my friends used to play old skool DCFC when it was her day to pick the CDs for art class, but I think it was really “Soul Meets Body” on VH1 MegaHits that got me interested, the awesome channel they took away

Favorite Member: Ben Gibbard (I’m so predictable, I have a lead singer weakness)

Favorite Lyrics: Ben is one of my favorite lyricists in the business, so I really can’t pick JUST one, but I’ll go with this for now: 

“I wish we could open our eyes
To see in all directions at the same time
Oh what a beautiful view
If you were never aware of what was around you
And it is true what you said
That I live like a hermit in my own head
But when the sun shines again
I’ll pull the curtains and blinds to let the light in.”

When You Became a Fan:  With the release of Plans in 2005

TOP 15 BANDS

#14: Mumford & Sons

Favorite Songs: After The Storm, The Cave, Winter Winds, White Blank Page

Favorite Album: Well, they’ve only got the one, so…Sigh No More

First Song: The Cave, via YouTube to see what all the fuss was about

Favorite Member: Marcus, but Ben Lovett is definitely the cutest

Favorite Lyrics: “And there will come a time, you’ll see, with no more tears, and love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears, get over your hill and see what you find there, with grace in your heart and flowers in your hair”

When You Became a Fan: Early 2011, I think February when I realised I’d be seeing them at Coachella and should figure out what everyone was banging on about