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Top Ten Musician’s List for 2008
by Jeff Boule in Editorials, Musician Reviews, Opinion Posts, Reviews, bands to watch
Happy New Year to all! On my recent visit to the Princeton Record Exchange, the sheer volume of inventory overwhelmed me. The things that were available were equally astounding. Yes, I have been blogging about PREX site unseen until now. I can only further recommend getting down there and checking things out. That is, if you have a ton of time to peruse the massive inventory.
All those artists and genres, it would take hours upon hours to examine everything they have that one might have an interest in. The scope of the variety that the Exchange contained has inspired and reminded me that it is time for my picks of this past year and overall.
My personal picks for the best musicians from not only this past year, either on record, download or performance but also overall achievement. This year a new category has been added, Vocal Performance.
Guitar
1 Robert Fripp
2 Todd Rundgren
3 Josh Homme
4 David Byrne
5 Robin Finck
6 Jesse Gress
7 Troy Van Leuuwen
8 Rob Fetters (Bears, Raisins, National Advertising)
9 Bob Mothersbaugh (Devo)
10 Spot vacated by the disqualification of Adrian Belew for unethical management practices
Keyboard
1 Vince Welnick (Posthumous and in perpetuity)
2 Brian Eno
3 Alan Parsons
4 Trent Reznor
5 Peter Gabriel
6 Mark Mothersbaugh
7 Bob Casale
8 Mark Degli Antoni (David Byrne live band)
9 Todd Rundgren
10 Alessandro Cortini (formerly NIN)
Bass
1 Paul Raven (Posthumous and in perpetuity)
2 Tony Levin
3 Kasim Sulton
4 Justin Johnson (NIN, Beck)
5 Jerry Casale
6 Flea
7 Les Claypool
8 Nick Oliveri
9 Bob Nyswonger (Bears, Bucket)
10 John Entwhisle (Posthumous and in perpetuity)
Drums
1 Bill Bruford (For perpetuity)
2 Prairie Prince
3 Josh Freeze
4 Joey Castillo
5 John Dolmayan (System Of A Down / Scars On Broadway)
6 Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree / King Crimson)
7 Chris Arduser (Bears / solo / Graveblankets)
8 Stewart Copeland
9 Michael Urbano
10 Josh Homme
Vocal Performance
1 David Byrne – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
2 Todd Rundgren – Arena
3 Peter Gabriel – “Down To Earth” Wall-E soundtrack
4 Josh Homme – Era Vulgaris
5 Trent Reznor – The Slip
6 Rob Fetters & Chris Arduser (The Bears) – Eureka (Adrian Belew omitted)
7 Chris Arduser – Hapless
8 Jaz Coleman – Killing Joke
9 Mark Mulcahy – In Pursuit Of Your Happiness / Love’s The Only Thing That Shuts Me Up
10 Randy Newman – Harps & Angels
Well happy blog readers, I have some interesting reporting to do from last night’s Todd Rundgren New Year’s Eve private show. Yes, that’s right; if you weren’t able to attend, or if you are uncertain as to what these New Year’s shows are about, check out the next blog. We will review my exploration into the unique experience that is a Todd Rundgren NYE show/party. Plus many, many unbelievable surprises. Thanks go to Rundgren Radio’s Doug and CruiserMel, Mary Lou Arnold Gress, Kasim Sulton, Todd Rundgren, and the fantastic staff at The Painted Bride Art center, Darrel and Donald. You MUST check it out!
I hope every one you has a great New Year at least as good, if not better than the New Year’s Eve I have had, and I had one hell of a New Year’s Eve.
8 Responses to “Top Ten Musician’s List for 2008”
Leave a Reply
January 1st, 2009 at 7:34 pm
What are the “unethical management practices” by Adrian Belew of which you speak?
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I think it would be great to see a top 10 list of bands for 2008!!!
Evan
http://www.beyondrace.com
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
For Mr. Ash,
I invite you to peruse both of the artists (Belew and Fripp) current and PAST blogs and please make sure you read each one carefully and then I urge you to draw your own conclusions.
Thank you for your interest, thank you for reading,
JB
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
You have libeled Adrian Belew. Your reply to David Ash is cowardly and evasive. I’ll repeat his question: What are the “unethical management practices” by Adrian Belew of which you speak? If you don’t have the guts to answer and give specifics, you should retract your libelous comments and apologize.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 pm
To Mr. DeVito,
Mr. Belew equally libeled me when he insinuated that I either take “Jonestown” Kool Aid and die, or some filled with mind-altering substances. I do in fact drink Kool Aid, diet, as I am diabetic.
Next, what your opinion dictates as cowardly and evasive my education details as fair and balanced.
Lest we all lose perspective on this, perhaps I should make it clear, you are dealing with a die-hard Adrian Belew fan here. I bought all of the discs he sold that were available with autographs, Bears, solo, Power Trio, all my copies are signed, purchased from the artist (guess I can kiss that good-bye). I own the Japanese imports of Lone Rhino and Twang Bar King. Next, I own the original DCI copy of The Adrian Belew Electronic Guitar on VHS. Mr. DeVito, do you own that?
Lastly, I spent over one thousand dollars to get a guitar painted, inspired by Belew, and another thousand to have it outfitted with a guitar synth so I could play along with Belew’s parts on solo, Bears and King Crimson records.
Perhaps I should put you all in touch with my wife who saw me AGONIZE over having made such a discovery?
Again, I recommend reading Fripp’s words for yourselves. Poor excuse, as was mentioned in another post, I cannot attest, all I did was gather the facts and report on them.
This is the last I will speak on this matter as I have been assigned other things. The final word on this is that it is my opinion, that’s all. For all our sakes, let’s hope this is all for naught.
January 4th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
You still haven’t answered the question, so I’ll repeat it once again: What are the “unethical management practices” by Adrian Belew of which you speak? If you don’t have the guts to answer and give specifics, you should retract your libelous comments and apologize. Nothing in Fripp’s diaries (yes, I’ve read them) OR Belew’s blog indicates that either man has been “unethical.” (And nothing in your reply is relevant to the issue, either.)
January 6th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Chris, I think, by “unethical,” Jeff means, “I don’t get to see KC this summer because of a scheduling misunderstanding between Ade and Robert!”
He hasn’t said what he means by “unethical” because he’s embarrassed by his childish overreaction and misuse of the word. Hopefully, he’ll summon his courage and be man enough to apologize.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Howdy All,
Just stopped in to say I am working dilligently on the Todd Rundgren NYE show review, it’s a doozy as they say!!! See ya soon!
Jeff