Straight-up part 2. The Top 11, because I like to go one step beyond. Actually because I reached character limit on the last blog.
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#11
Skillet
Recent release: Awake (2009)
Favorite song: Savior
Other good ones: Comatose, Monster, Awake & Alive
As an atheist, I can confidently say some Christian rock is awesome. Mostly because most C. rock bands tend to keep the heavy noticeable themes out of their music (or, if they do, the songs can be interpreted both religiously and non-religiously). Skillet is awesome, and here's why. Their songs are incredibly powerful, with strong vocal and instrumental sounds. Hell, in a lot of their songs, they've got f*cking violins that sound so amazing, and just make the track so much more epic. Their songs also have some range to them, and they all sound great, regardless of how they sound. Epic, somber, calm, inspiring, powerful, all amazing song types they have owned. I recommend everyone give 'em a listen.
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#10
Lupe Fiasco
Recent release: Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 (2012
Favorite song: Little Weapon
Other good ones: The Instrumental, Words I Never Said, SLR
Back onto the "mainstream rap is garbage" thing. It is. The good rappers, again, tend to be more underground or independent, or just not mainstream enough. Tech N9ne and MGK are good for not making sh*t in their songs. But then there's Lupe, who not only lacks any kind of crap in his music, actually has a conscience towards the world, making rap songs that actually have thought and meaning. When I mean meaning, I mean like poverty, hunger, politics, everything that is wrong with the world. He writes songs for the world's problems, not about his problems with his b*tch not having enough money to buy 20 cars. It's a look on the world with this smart and conscientious perspective, and he is the shining lightbulb in the dark waters of "money money b*tches money" rap.
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#9
Papa Roach
Recent release: The Connection (2012)
Favorite song: No More Secrets
Other good ones: Last Resort, Getting Away with Murder, Forever
Punk rock mixed with alt metal mixed with hard rock mixed with nu metal mixed with rap rock? These guys are these and everything in between. Bringing some of the hardest-hitting, fastest-paced rock out there, Papa Roach is exciting, thrilling, rockin', and just all-around awesome. Songs ranging from every theme, with every kind of pace, and so many styles incorporated into their music (their new album even has minor (good) dubstep influences that went well with the rock nature). This is all I need to say about them. If you haven't heard of their songs, you are nothing.
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#8
Eminem
Recent release: Recovery (2010)
Favorite song: 'till I Collapse
Other good ones: Lose Yourself, The Real Slim Shady, Without Me
Eminem. Next.
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#7
...oh, yea, probably need some explanation on him or something anyway. Eminem is probably one of the greatest rappers alive according to everyone. I think most people call him the greatest. So many people like this guy; I even know some rap-hating rock fans who think he's good (or at least OK). Why is this? He's 100% unique; his rapping tehcnique, his song lyrics, his production, his wordplay, it's all Eminem. But it's some of the best rapping out there, usually being something real. He also avoids the mainstream trash themes of money and stuff, and when he raps, he completely rips it up. He's ferocious, violent, intense, and is one of the greatest rappers ever, and deserves the title.
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#7
Stone Sour
Recent release: House of Gold & Bones Pt. 1 (2012), Pt. 2 (2013)
Favorite song: Say You'll Haunt Me
Other good ones: Through Glass, Gone Sovreign/Absolute Zero, 30/30-150
Have you heard Slipknot? Dislike their heavy sound, but want to hear more anyway? Stone Sour for you. Stone Sour includes two of Slipknot's members (Corey Taylor on vocals and Jim Root on guitar), but not as super heavy. Their styles are different though, not much in common despite the two members, so disregard what I said actually. But... Stone Sour! They're awesome! You get some of the best vocals of rock music that are loud and intense, plus some high-quality hard rock music that ranges from the soft (see Through Glass, their biggest hit on the pop stations) and the heavy (30/30-150, off the same album as Through Glass), they present a true range of music for every fan of rock. Everyone should check these guys out.
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#6
Thousand Foot Krutch
Recent release: The End is Where we Begin (2012)
Favorite song: Rawkfist
Other good ones: Move, War of Change, Phenomenon
There is something about these guys that have quickly turned me into a person of "who is TFK?" into "f*ck yea TFK!" Having only really began listening to them a little over a year ago, they've quickly become a favorite. Why? Something about their style is just so exciting, so interesting, and something of greatness. They have an awesome nu metal sound (not as much now as they did on their first couple of albums) that is unique, infectious, and just awesome to hear and jam to. It's a shame they aren't as well known as they should be, but regardless, they are pretty damn sweet.
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#5
Avenged Sevenfold
Recent release: Nightmare (2010)
Favorite song: Afterlife
Other good ones: Beast and the Harlot, Scream, Seize the Day
Nothing better than fast-paced, hard-hitting sound delivering bliss to your ears. Even if "bliss" is not a word to describe these guys. But fast-paced, hard-hitting sound? Definitely. These guys bring some of the greatest in pure sound, in awesomely-crafted instrumentals and solos alongside a strong metal voice that just makes the instruments sound great. The guitarist of A7x, Synyster Gates, is probably one of my favorite guitarists, just being so incredible when playing that stringed instrument of awesome. Their songs are ballads, not just some songs, something more, something awesome to listen to. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with these guys, and I don't think that it could change for the worse.
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#4
Rise Against
Recent release: Endgame (2011)
Favorite song: Savior
Other good ones: Re-Education Through Labor, Prayer of the Refugee, Help is on the Way
Most people like to assume punk rock and punk bands are, well, punks; no-good douchebags who just stick their middle finger to society and have more ink on their bodies than a pen factory. Sure, maybe there are some punks like that, maybe a few punk bands who are absolute douchebags, but not Rise Against. They manage to keep themselves decent while delivering fast-paced and lyrically inspiring punk rock. If you feel like being technical, they're post-hardcore (moreso the earlier albums). They also have a hard rock taste to their punk, so it has this interesting flavor of this hard punk rock kind of thing, and it sounds really awesome. Also, these guys make songs of meaning and substance; for example, the song "September's Child" is about gay bullying, a huge topic in today's society. They aren't going to make some throwaway pop love song, but songs that really mean something, and sound awesome while doing it.
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#3
Hollywood Undead
Recent release: Notes from the Underground (2013)
Favorite song: Sell Your Soul
Other good ones: Been to Hell, Dead Bite, Everywhere I Go
The following phrase I used in my last favorite artists list: "Take note, Limp Bizkit, this is how real rap rock is done." I mean, Limp Bizkit isn't good, they suck at both rapping and being rock. They have one song I like, but it's still not a great song, but it's fun to listen to. They're maggots. Hollywood Undead, though, are both good and have great songs that are fun to listen to. Blending rapping and rock pretty awesomely without one getting underwhelmed by the other, they have this awesome sound that just enters your ears so smoothly. Plus, they have a wide arrange of songs and themes; they have heavy, serious songs with some strong vocals, and on the other end, they have genuinely funny and entertaining party songs - and they're pretty awesome, of course! They have some awesome energy to them, awesome music-making abilities, and are just an awesome band. Admittedly, not everyone will like them, but they're worth trying out.
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#2
Aerosmith
Recent release: Music from Another Dimension (2012)
Favorite song: Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
Other good ones: Walk this Way, Ragdoll, Dream On
They were my number 1, but I dunno. It's not that I like them less, I just like my new #1 more. BUT ANYWAY THESE GUYS ARE AWESOME kthnx. Why? They're just f*cking awesome. Their songs have this amazing energy, this truly inspiring thing about them, and they're just... so... f*cking... fun. I mean, you can't listen to Aerosmith and be like "wtf they sound so boring." You can't. Aerosmith is exciting, awesome, and just so great. I mean, I'm getting excited writing this, can't you tell? HEY BLONDIE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE? Aerosmith know how to rock, they have fun rocking, I have fun listening to them rock, they have so much energy, and it's so great. Love 'em.
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Before #1, here's a generic recap of everyone else.
#25: Gorillaz - Band members not actual gorillas.
#24: Ozzy Osbourne - Surprisingly still alive.
#23: Flyleaf - Lacey's voice omg.
#22: Bullet for my Valentine - Screamo songs that don't suck.
#21: Nickelback - Greatest band of all time.
#20: Five Finger Death Punch - Violence is always a solution.
#19: Seether - These guys are from South Africa by the way, and they AREN'T black, because not everyone in Africa is black. The more you know.
#18: The Offspring - I'm pretty fly for a white guy.
#17: Tech N9ne - I don't think Sonic can run as fast as he can rap.
#16: Three Days Grace - ADAM WHY'D YOU LEAVE US!?
#15: Machine Gun Kelly - Not to be confused with the gangster of the same name.
#14: Metallica - F*ck yes.
#13: Foo Fighters - Praise be the Cloud.
#12: Shinedown - The man in the moon disappeared in the stratosphere, you say? Bullsh*t.
#11: Skillet - Their new song is amazing also.
#10: Lupe Fiasco - I thought rappers were only allowed to rap about money and b*tches.
#9: Papa Roach - CUT MY LIFE INTO PIECES
#8: Eminem - He's the real Slim Shady.
#7: Stone Sour - Better than Slipknot.
#6: Thousand Foot Krutch - A thousand thumbs up for them.
#5: Avenged Sevenfold - Seriously, man, those guitars.
#4: Rise Against - Punk-ass non-punks.
#3: Hollywood Undead - Get undead.
#2: Aerosmith - Steven Tyler wrote "Dude" about Motley Crue's lead singer.
Now... #1... after honorable mentions who are also great bands but not great enough and I'm sorry don't hurt me other bands.
Blink-182
B.o.B
Breaking Benjamin
Deadmau5
Halestorm
My Darkest Days
P.O.D.
Paramore
Rolling Stones
System of a Down
Theory of a Deadman
Yelawolf
3 Doors Down
OK #1 for realz.
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#1
Linkin Park
Recent release: Living Things (2012)
Favorite song: Hit the Floor
Other good ones: Bleed it Out, One Step Closer, Lost in the Echo
Yes Linkin Park is my favorite band. Why? My best guess has to do with how long I knew who they were. I think I had an understanding of who they were before I even knew who Aerosmith were. I know I'm a bad person but I always knew them and enjoyed them. Even before my musical tastes evolved into what it is today, I liked them. Even when the only crap I ever heard was f*cking country music, I still knew them and stuff. They were always good. And over the years, I've liked them more and more as I listened to them more and more and became more familiar with their music. Now they're my favorite band. Their stuff is just so awesome to listen to. Their albums are all unique and sound great (yes, even A Thousand Suns is a good album) and I always am in a mood for some LP. They have such intense intruments, something unique in their sound, something unique with the combined rap and rock vocals of Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington, something in the lyrics that makes me... attached to their songs. Somthing about them truly is amazing, and inspiring to me. Like, I am inspired to do things cuz of these guys. Linkin Park, like 'em or hate 'em, are my favorite musical artist ever.
And that's my list. Check back in 2015 when I do another of these maybe.
kthnxbai