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Posts tagged with "The Top Five"

The Top Five Female Rock Bands

Tuesday, October 4, 2005 1:39:28 AM

Vixen, The Top Five, Go-Go's, Runaways ...

The Bangles - Along with The Go-Go's, The Bangles were one of the most popular bands of the 80's of either gender. Their jangly-pop songs were perfect for singing along to when you were cruising the streets of your hometown. Creative differences caused them to break up in 1989, but they reunited in the summer of 2000 and released Doll Revolution in 2003. That album featured the track, Something That You Said which is one of the best songs they ever recorded.

Preview The Bangles' music at CD Universe

The Go-Go's - The Go-Go's came out of the punk/new wave explosion of the late 70's/early 80's, and gave us such classics as We Got The Beat, Vacation, and Head Over Heels. Lead Singer Belinda Carlisle went on to have a very successful career. The Go-Go's reunited in the 90's and released God Bless The Go-Go's in 2001 featuring the hit Unforgiven.

Preview The Go-Go's music at CD Universe

The Runaways - The Runaways could be seen as a launching post for several well-known female musicians. Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Michael Steele, (of The Bangles) were all members. While they only had one hit, Cherry Bomb, their straight-ahead rock was a refreshing change in the "soft rock" 70's.

Preview The Runaways' music at CD Universe

The Donnas - Described as "The Ramones meets The Runaways", The Donnas were more of a punk band. They even took identical first names as a tribute to The Ramones. Plugging away for several years, they finally had a hit album with 2002's Spend The Night.

Preview The Donnas' music at CD Universe

Vixen - Vixen paid their dues in the L.A./Hollywood club scene for several years before getting signed by EMI in 1987. Their self-titled 1988 debut album sold millions, thanks to the catchy track, Edge Of A Broken Heart. While not critical darlings, Vixen proved that they could rock just as hard as any of the male metal artists.

Preview Vixen's music at CD Universe

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The Top Five Music Movies

Monday, September 26, 2005 3:48:10 PM

The Top Five, Soul, Rock, Blues

Note: This list deals with music-themed films, not movie musicals. As always, The Top Five list is in no particular order.

Crossroads [1986] - No, not the Britney Spears vehicle, but rather the 1986 Ralph Machio film. Ralph plays Eugene Martone, a classically-trained musician who's true love is the Blues. With the help of an old bluesman, Willie Brown (played by Joe Seneca), they travel to Mississippi, home of the Delta Blues, in order to revoke Willie's "deal with the devil". Eugene, who doesn't believe in any of the legends, agrees to a "head-cutting" contest versus a rock guitarist played by Steve Vai!

View the IMDB page for "Crossroads"

The Commitments - Jimmy Rabbitte forms the "world's Hardest Working Band" to bring Soul music to people of Dublin. The results are nothing but spectacular; not only in their success, but in their failure as well. The Irish people have truly raised swearing to a new level.

View the IMDB page for "The Commitments"

That Thing You Do! - This was Tom Hanks' directorial debut. He also wrote the screenplay and co-starred in it. It tells the story of the typical "One Hit Wonder". The Pennsylvania band in this film is suitably called The Wonders. A local radio hit goes national, and they find themselves on the top of the charts. Can they hold it together, despite the crush of fame?

View the IMDB page for "That Thing You Do!"

This Is Spinal Tap - The original "Mockumentary". This is certainly a film that "goes to 11". This is easily one of the most-quoted films in history. Rob Reiner directs Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, and Michael McKean in a fim that follows Spinal Tap, England's premier heavy metal band on their most recent tour; (hilarity ensues).

View the IMDB page for "This Is Spinal Tap"

Almost Famous - This semi-autobigraphical Cameron Crowe film follows 15-year old William Miller, a Rolling Stone journalist who follows the band Stillwater, and learns much more about the music industry than he cared to know.

View the IMDB page for "Almost Famous"

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The Top Five Canadian Bands

Monday, September 19, 2005 1:59:00 PM

Canadian, Music, The Top Five

Triumph - Triumph released 10 studio albums in their 20+ year career. Their brand of melodic hard rock featured crushing drums from Gil Moore, solid bottom end from Mike Levine and some of the best vocals and blistering guitar-playing you'll ever hear from frontman Rik Emmett. Their "Time Suite" from Thunder Seven is some of the most passionate, yet powerful hard rock you will hear anywhere!
Rush - Rush took their progressive hard rock to the top of the charts in the 70s and 80s. Who can forget classics like Tom Sawyer, Limelight, The Spirit Of Radio, and 2112 Overture?
The Guess Who - run, don't walk to your nearest record store and pick up Anthology, a 2-sic set that has all of their hits, and some great album cuts. I dare you not to sing along.
Loverboy - Loverboy played straight-ahead commercial rock music, and we loved it! Their "four-on-the-floor" beats made them easy to dance to at frat parties.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive - formed by Randy Bachman from The Guess Who, BTO had quite a nice string of hits in the 70s, many of which are staples on Classic Rock stations.

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