Top 50: Part IV

20:Artist: Moby

Learned About 'em: From Dad, hah!

Ideas!: Moby was on repeat in my house for several years, but somehow I don't mind that. His mellow electro stuff is generally very enjoyable, good background music. His best known song is probably Extreme Ways which was featured at the end of each “Bourne” movie. Play is his best album, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes electro pop.

Chicka-dee-dee-dee:

19:Artist: Beirut

Learned About 'em: I don't know, maybe eMusic

Ideas!: I love sitting down on a sunny day and listening to Beirut. Very rhythmic, awesome vocal stuff. I don't know how exactly to describe their sound. You cannot understand any lyrics on some songs, but others have really cool lyrics (or half a song is coherent while the other have is incomprehensible) it's all good though. Listen to Elephant Gun and Scenic World.

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: They popular because they're different, but they should be because they're talented.

18:Artist: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Learned About 'em: Nate, on the way to school. Every day.

Ideas!: Their two albums Show Your Bones and Fever to Tell are full of catchy Karen O. hooks. It's Blitz is full of new stuff but overall they haven't changed much over the years. It's good music for people who like Karen's voice. Heads Will Roll is probably my favorite song of theirs right now.

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: Eeeeelongated things are common.

17:Artist: Arcade Fire (Nate is a guest contributor for this section)

Learned About 'em: “Probably eMusic”

Ideas!: NATE-"Funeral is a great album, lots of good songs. It was extremely popular when released making many peoples top lists for the year. My most listened to song is Intervention, a very dramatic organ plays throughout the song which is joined by floating backing vocals halfway into the song."

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: (They're from Montreal, which makes them all the more awesome.)

16:Artist: Iron and Wine

Learned About 'em: Iron and Wine/Calexico, awesome duo

Ideas!: Smooth melodies paired with clever, meaningful lyrics. Iron and Wine front man/song writer Sam Beam writes songs by drawing upon his past and like many of my favorite songwriters focuses heavily on naturalistic themes. My favorite song is probably The Trapeze Swinger, although there are many, many other great songs. I would highly recommend the album In the Reigns for any first time listeners.

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: I love Iron and Wine, lots.

15:Artist: Heartless Bastards

Learned About 'em: NATE-"eMusic probably because of their name" (I first heard them on a mix of HB and Demetri Martin.)

Ideas!: NATE-"All This Time is the album I've listened the most, specifically the songs All This Time, and Gray. Lead singer Erika Wennerstrom has striking deep vocals that carry many of their songs along with loud guitars. The theme of many of their songs is “lost” and “searching”."

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: (“I'm gonna take everything, everything.”)

14:Artist: Sufjan Stevens

Learned About 'em: eMusic? Achsah? Christmas?

Ideas!: Sufjan is... different. He has a very mellow voice and plays very mellow instruments. He is an ambitious song writer (he claimed he was going to complete a 50 part series, one for each state though thus far he has only done Illinois and Michigan and has recently said he will not complete this series after all. Damn, I really wanted to hear him sing about Delaware.). He is the epitome of indie rock, dresses like it, sings like it, the whole sha-bang. He is from what I understand a pretty religious guy, and released an awesome Christmas album a few years back that is actually enjoyable. My favorite song is definitely Chicago.

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: Good luck with New York Sufjan!

13:Artist: of Montreal

Learned About 'em: eMusic

Ideas!: These guys are totally wild, and their music videos are only crazier. None of their songs make sense in any kind of literal sense. I wouldn't say I love them but they are interesting to listen to occasionally.Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse is a favorite of mine, enjoy the insane video.

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: Bah-Bah-Bonkers!

12:Artist: The Mountain Goats

Learned About 'em: Downloaded Sunset Tree

Ideas!: 36 Hudson in the garage. All sorts of junk in the unattached spare room. Dishes in the kitchen sink, new straw for the old broom. Friends who don't have a clue, well meaning teachers. But down in your arms, in your arms. I'm a wild creature. Floor two foot high with newspapers. White carpet thick with pet hair. Half eaten gallons of ice cream in the freezer. New fuel for the sodium flares. I write down good reasons to freeze to death, in my spiral ring notebook. But in the long tresses of your hair, I am a babbling brook.

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: I am a babbling brook.

11:Artist: blink-182

Learned About 'em: How does anyone learn about Blink-182? I don't know.

Ideas!: Super popular power punk. They are most recognizable for their guitar leads and famous drummer Travis Barker. Most or all of their popular songs seem to be about growing up and dealing with life during the high school/college transition period. They are widely identifiable and thus exceedingly popular.

Chicka-dee-dee-dee: Not head, 'ead.