Tops  (In no order)

Jack Johnson

He always puts me in a good mood. He is consistently good and upbeat. Even his sad songs make things seem fixed. I adore his voice and his guitar together.  He also does great collaborations. My favorite song of his is "Banana Pancakes." H is an important aspect of my well being.

Regina Spektor

She is one of the most talented lyricists I have ever come across. Her voice combined with her piano is over powering. When her songs play I an't help but stop and analyze them. She has found such abstract ways to express her metaphors. Some of her greatest songs are "Man of a Thousand Faces" and "The Genius." These are both from the same album. I have cried listening to both songs. they are so captivating.

Tom Petty

I don't know why I have an obsession with Tom Petty. He can be incredibly cheesy, but I still find him priceless. Full Moon Fever is my favorite album. Mainly because of "American Girl" and "Zombie Zoo." I have been listening to Tom Petty my whole life. I appreciate him in every band he has contributed too and his solo career.

Amanda Palmer

She is my sole inspiration at the moment. She mental disorders are completely relatable and expressed through her songs. I feel a a strong connection with her music and words. Her lyrics are truly real and meaningful. She is as great a solo artist as when with the Dresden Dolls. Her and her drummer find a way to make their random two person band to work magic.

Coldplay

Coldplay has been consistently one of my favorite bands. Most every song i feel connected to, particularly their older stuff, like "Yellow" and "The Scientist." The scientist may be my all time favorite song. It is really easy to borrow those lyrics when you need to apologize to someone. They are incredible live. I cried at their concert. 

Johnny Cash

I have incredibly vivid memories of listening to Johnny Cash when my parents split up. I was about four and it was always on at my dads house. I know all the words to every song. It is one of my biggest dreams to reenact the Folsom Prison concert. Johnny and June created amazing renditions of songs and he is some one i really wish I'd had the chance to meet.

The Ramones

The Ramones may have been the first band I have ever, ever heard. They come on road trips and are the best to dance to. I used to listen to them all the time but don't as much. It's really nice and refreshing when they appear on the radio out of the blue.

The White Stripes

Jack and Mag white have influenced my life a lot. Their style is incredibly original and I latch onto like a leech. They have just recently decided not to be a band anymore. They want to preserve their legacy and not carry on and die out. I tink this a very respectable choice. Jack Whit's voice is so intense and like a howling cat and it's incredible. Their whole aura is enchanting.

Paul Simon

Paul Simon is by far one of the most incredible artists out there. His songs cover so much and only are very distinguishable. They're not  redundant and yet you can always tell it is him. His voice is so unique. I'm always in the mood to listen to him. I feel like a lot of my principals on relationships are from his songs, like "Darling Lorraine." I feel like there are stories behind every one of his songs and it makes the listening experience so much more powerful and personal.

Lupe Fiasco

I tend not to be  fan of rap. Lupe Fiasco however, is one of the most intelligent people a ave ever encountered. His songs are more than rhymes. They are pure cleverness and he is a genius. His raps focus on worldly issues and important matters. He finds ways to write about hope  at the end of these, or sometimes he writes about how there is no escape. He is so inspirational to me.