A Taste:

Marilyn Manson, Slayer

Sitting in traffic, working out and touring with Marilyn Manson all seem to have the same effect.

They make you want to crank Antichrist Superstar, Manson’s classic sophomore full-length. That’s held very true for Mr. Kerry King. The Slayer guitarist has toured with Manson twice in the U.S. now, and right after he got off the road from Mayhem 2009, Antichrist was lighting up King’s iPod.

Slayer’s Kerry King sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino to discuss what’s on his iPod in this exclusive interview.

Check out Kerry’s playlist below and be sure to grab Slayer’s latest, World Painted Blood!

Kerry King’s Playlist:

1. Slayer — World Painted Blood

2. Marilyn Manson — Antichrist Superstar

I’ve just been listening to our record actually. Before that, I went through another Manson phase because we just got done touring with him last summer. He’s like a fucking virus, every time you hang out with him you just play his shit all the time [Laughs]. I go back to Superstar. I haven’t been really listening to music, once our touring got postponed, I went into being-at-home mode. My wife’s more of a person that needs to have music when she drives, whereas I’m just zoning out.

—Rick Florino
01.18.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Lou Reed, Television, Patti Smith, Eagles of Death Metal

Michael Imperioli is a man of many talents.

Not only is he an engaging and thought provoking screen presence, but he’s also a bona fide rock n’ roller. Fronting New York City rock group, La Dolce Vita, Imperioli cranks out his own brand of rock n’ roll. So in addition to talents in front of the camera and behind the mic, he’s also branched out further into filmmaking with The Hungry Ghosts.

He wrote and directed this drama about five New Yorkers whose lives crisscross in crisis during a 36-hour period. Plus, he also is currently lighting up the screen in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones.

Michael Imperioli sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview to talk about what’s on his playlist and more. Check out his playlist below and don’t miss The Lovely Bones!

Michael Imperioli’s Playlist:

1. Lou Reed

2. Television

3. Patti Smith

I like a lot of New York music from the ’70s, the CBGB scene and stuff like that—Lou Reed, Television and Patti Smith. That’s my favorite period of rock music.

4. The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

I like The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs a lot.

5. Franz Ferdinand

6. Eagles of Death Metal

7. Brian Eno

I love Brian Eno’s stuff. I’m actually a big fan. I thought he did a great job on the score. It’s really cool.

—Rick Florino
01.12.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Wolfmother

“What am I listening to right now?” laughs Slash with a big grin.

Given how open-minded the legendary Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver axe-slinger is, it could be anything. However, right now Slash has sights set on a couple current records that he’s been cranking. Slash shared his playlist at the moment with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature

Check out Slash’s playlist below and be on the lookout for his solo record due out this Spring!

Slash’s Playlist:

1. Wolfmother — Cosmic Egg

As of today I just got Wolfmother’s new record, so I’m listening to that! It’s really great! At this second, as we speak, that’s what I’m listening to [Laughs]

2. Slash

I’m listening to mixes of my record too [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
01.11.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Michael Jackson, Fleet Foxes, Feist, Grizzly Bear

Maxwell has had a hell of year.

His latest album, BLACKsummers’ Night, proved why he’s one of the most important “soul men” of the 21st century, skyrocketing up the charts and leading to all kinds of crazy acclaim from the press and biz. His voice, style and swagger are undeniable and unmatched in the R&B game right now. He’s just plain cool…

Why is Maxwell so cool? Well, he’s really got his finger on the pulse of what’s happening, and his musical palette knows no bounds.

He laughs, “I’m always listening to a lot of music.”

Maxwell sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino to discuss what he’s spinning. He shared his playlist with us, check it out below…

Maxwell’s Playlist:

1. Michael Jackson

Oh my goodness, I can say Michael Jackson is overwhelming me right now. Every and any chance I get to listen to him, I’m listening to him. I look at what he’s done, and I’m blown away.

2. Fleet Foxes

I love Fleet Foxes!

3. Grizzly Bear

I’m checking out Grizzly Bear. They have a really good song that I’m getting into.

4. Ryan Leslie

I like Ryan Leslie a lot.

5. Johnny Guitar Watson

6. Mad Lovers

I love all the old greats. Johnny Guitar Watson, Mad Lovers—I put that on before I go on stage. If you can hit certain notes, then you’re good for the night.

7. Heat Wave

8. Quincy Jones

9. Feist

—Rick Florino
01.05.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Sade, Willie Hutch, Linkin Park

Three 6 Mafia are always ready to attack.

However, lately they’ve been gearing up for the latest assault on hip hop—Laws of Power, set to hit stores this March. In the midst of that though, they cranked out a sick guest appearance on “Demons” with Tech N9ne that’s definitely some of the darkest fire they’ve dropped. Three 6 Mafia’s forthcoming album promises to be just as fiery as Last 2 Walk but with even more genre-mashing—stirring in a little more rock n’ roll and electro this time around. It’s no surprise that Juicy J’s musical taste runs a wide gamut.

His iPod is all over the map, and he sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino to discuss what’s rockin’ his world right now in this exclusive feature.

Check out Juicy J’s playlist below and be on the look out for Three 6 Mafia’s next rap epic….

Juicy J’s Playlist:

1. Sade

I’m listening to Sade. She’s hot. I saw her perform live and she ripped the show up. She did a great performance. She’s been around for years, and she still gigs! I actually grew up on her music.

2. Willie Hutch

I listen to all kinds of music. I dig Willie Hutch!

3. Linkin Park

I’m into rock n’ roll too. I listen to Linkin Park.

4. Johnny Cash

I’m into pretty much everything, man [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
01.05.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

The Beatles, Bob Marley, Leadbelly, Howlin’ Wolf

So what makes someone country?

Just ask acclaimed artist Ryan Bingham—”It’s not the hat and the boots. It’s about your story and where you come from.”

Crazy Heart is quite the story. Jeff Bridges gives the performance of a lifetime as hard drinkin’ down-n-out country singer Bad Blake. Bingham pops up in his backing band adding some real country cred to the flick. The real life country artist definitely had quite the experience with Crazy Heart.

Ryan Bingham sat down in this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino about what’s on his playlist. Check out Ryan’s playlist below and don’t miss Crazy Heart.

Ryan Bingham’s Playlist:

1. The Beatles

2. Bob Marley

3. Leadbelly

4. Howlin’ Wolf

5. The Rolling Stones

6. Kris Kristofferson

I listen to a lot of old blues—Lead Belly, Howlin Wolf—as well as The Rolling Stones, Kris Kristofferson. I mix it up quite a bit.

—Rick Florino
01.04.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Daniel Johnston, Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater Revival

Juliette Lewis is like a more badass Madonna.

If the material girl had a rock n’ roll edge and an undeniable spark for life, she’d be Miss Lewis. Juliette isn’t afraid to think outside the box—especially with her music. On her latest album, Terra Incognita, she sonically ventures into the deepest regions of space and the psyche to create a theatrical and infectious rock n’ roll record—one of the year’s best and most adventurous.

So what’s Juliette cranking these days?

Juliette Lewis sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on her playlist. Check out Juliette’s playlist below and be sure to pick up Terra Incognita now! Don’t miss Juliette on tour either!

Juliette Lewis’s Playlist:

1. Daniel Johnston — “True Love Will Find You in the End”

2. Tina Turner

3. Creedence Clearwater Revival

4. Solid Gold

That’s funny because I just made a mix CD. It’s in my car. Daniel Johnston is on there. Tina Turner’s on there and a little Creedence—that cover of “I Put A Spell On You.” My new band that I love is electronic music. It’s called Solid Gold. This song “Who You Gonna Run to” is so meditative and it all hinges on this bass line and the synths. It puts you in this fuzzy lust zone. I’m all over the map!

—Rick Florino
12.14.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Adele, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Notorious B.I.G., Jason Mraz

There are two personalities to every great artist.

The first is that of the introspective and thoughtful artisan, crafting songs alone and truly conveying feelings. Then there’s the charismatic, outspoken performer—delivering said songs every night on stage for the world to hear.

Colbie Caillat’s iPod reflects that sentiment.

She laughs, “I have an upbeat playlist, and then I have a chill-out playlist. However, some songs are on both mixes because the have the same vibe!”

Colbie sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s currently rocking her world.

She filled ARTISTdirect.com in on the songs that currently make up both of her playlists. Check out Colbie’s selections below!

Colbie Caillat’s Playlist:

1. Adele

2. Amy Winehouse

3. Kings of Leon

4. Beyonce

5. Notorious B.I.G.

6. Jason Mraz

7. John Mayer

8. Bob Marley

Bob Marley, Adele and Amy Winehouse are on the chill mix, while the upbeat mix has Kings of Leon, Notorious B.I.G. and Jason Mraz. Right before I recorded this new Christmas song, I was in Paris on my balcony practicing it. It was at night and I was looking at the Eiffel Tower playing the song. It felt like I was in Paris at Christmas time. It was really amazing. Being back in Cali, it’s sunny outside, and I’m in the studio singing a Christmas song. It’s funny [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
12.10.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

The Beach Boys, Arctic Monkeys, Julian Casablancas

Every sly fox needs a fully loaded iPod.

That’s just a fact of forest life. So what was The Fantastic Mr. Fox star Jason Schwartzman listening to in order to get into the character of Ash the fox?

“The first thing that I ever do when I get to work on a character is make his playlist. It helps me a lot to know what my character would listen to. I’ll only listen to that music the whole time I’m working. For Ash, I was listening to The Beach Boys,” says Schwartzman with a big smile.

There’s definitely a classic vibe to the film balancing humor and whimsy perfectly. So The Beach Boys definitely serves as the perfect soundtrack!

Schwartzman continues, “I’d compare this movie to Smile by The Beach Boys because it’s a combination of beauty and a little bit of spookiness.”

Jason’s musical palette extends beyond The Beach Boys as well. He sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on his personal playlist. Check out Jason’s playlist below and don’t miss The Fantastic Mr. Fox in theaters everywhere November 25, 2009!

Jason Schwartzman’s Playlist:

1. The Beach Boys — Smile

2. Arctic Monkeys — Humbug

3. Julian Casablancas — Phrazes for the Young

4. Animal Collective

5. The Dirty Projectors

6. Roxy Music

I’m listening to the new Arctic Monkeys album, the new Julian Casablancas album, Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors and then like Roxy Music [Laughs]. I’ve always dreamt of being part of a kids movie. It just makes me excited. I hope kids go to see this movie and remember it. I remember a movie I saw when I was a kid more in detail than a movie that I saw two weeks ago [Laughs]. It’s exciting to me that we made something that could make an impression on a young person and maybe make them happy.

—Rick Florino
11.24.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

The Dirty Projectors, Chet Baker

Phoenix has taken the indie rock world by storm. However, most importantly, they have the validation of the cast of The Hangover [Check out our exclusive video interview to see that…].

Right now, they continue to dazzle audiences across the U.S. and beyond in support of their phenomenal new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It’s a swirling melodic masterwork worthy of your time. What went into Wolfgang? Well, we talked to vocalist Thomas Mars in this exclusive interview about what’s on his playlist.

Thomas shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino. Check it out below and don’t miss Phoenix!

Thomas Mars’ Playlist:

1. Minnie Riperton

Last night, we played Minnie Riperton.

2. The Dirty Projectors — Bitte Orca

I like the new Dirty Projectors record!

3. Chet Baker — Chet Baker Sings

Chet Baker is nice in the summer. I love Chet Baker Sings.

—Rick Florino
11.17.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Justice, Daft Punk, Peaches

You can’t properly go to outer space without a good chunk of electronica on your iPod. Just ask Powerman 5000’s Spider One.

In order to get into that galactic mindset that makes Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere so damn epic, he spent a lot of time cranking the best and brightest names in modern electronic music. Spider one shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and be sure to pick up Powerman 5000’s latest album, Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere available everywhere now!

Spider One’s Playlist:

1. Justice

2. Daft Punk

3. Peaches

I’m not listening to much. After a show when I’m on the bus, I’ll put a movie in. When we were making the record, the last music I dove into was stuff like Justice, Daft Punk, Peaches, trying to get a handle on that world and bring a little bit of that vibe into what we were doing.

4. Powerman 50000 — Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere

Unfortunately, with the reality of the world, we can’t have a 50-foot spaceship land on stage. We can’t quite get there yet [Laughs]. We’ve definitely stepped it up a little bit production-wise on this tour. We touch a little bit on each album, but we really lean towards the new stuff because the new material has been getting the biggest response.

—Rick Florino
11.16.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

2pac, Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots, Z-Ro, Michael Jackson

Rock n’ roll needed a gangsta.

For a long time, there’s been a void for a badass with real attitude, swagger and talent to step in and take over. Houston-born, L.A.-based MC Hyro da Hero seized the moment, and he’s ready for both hip hop and rock supremacy.

Hyro is armed with a fiery flow and a rock n’ roll intensity that makes his “gangsta rock” simply explosive. Looking at his playlist, it’s clear that Hyro knows his shit when it comes to both rock and rap. He opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check out Hyro’s playlist below and be sure to keep your eyes on him…see his video for “Dirty South Rock” below!

Hyro da Hero’s Playlist:

1. Hyro da Hero — “Dirty South Rock”

One must always listen to something amazing to start the day!

See the video here!

2. 2pac — “Nothin’ to Lose”

I love this track! I can’t find it in good quality so I always listen to it on Youtube.

3. At the Drive-In — “One Armed Scissor”

Amazing song, amazing CD, awesome band…and they rep Texas like I do!

4. Pantera — “Cemetery Gates”

I sit back and close my eyes and vibe to this all the way through. The Dimebag strings at the beginning make a brother lose it. I repeat it over and over—Texas reppin’.

5. 50 Cent — “Baby By Me”

Both versions—the song is catchy!

6. Flight of the Conchords — “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room”When I first heard this I laughed so hard. Some girls are the most wonderful human beings, depending on the street.

7. Michael Jackson — “PYT”

An iPod is not complete without this!

8. The Bravery — “Believe”

The song had me hooked right at the beginning, I bump this when I’m skatin’ in LA!

9. Stone Temple Pilots — “Plush”

I loved the song already, but then I saw them in concert and loved it even more.

10. Z-Ro — “Too Many N*****”

If you are like me and come from where I’m from, you’ll dig this.

—Rick Florino
11.12.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

Check out Hyro’s video for “Dirty South Rock” below!

A Taste:

Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Black Eyed Peas

David Guetta’s something of a dance music wizard.

Not only is he lighting up the clubs with his undeniably infectious collaboration with Akon, “Sexy Chick,” but he also produced The Black Eyed Peas‘ mega-hit, “I Gotta Feeling.” Anything he touches is bound to magically get asses shaking worldwide! He’s continuing to rise to prominence as well with his brand new album One Love and enough remixes to stock any DJ’s record crate. “Sexy Chick” is just one of many surefire club bangers in Guetta’s varied arsenal!

In order to get inside his decks, David Guetta shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview. Check out David Guetta’s playlist below and be sure to pick up One Love now!

David Guetta’s Playlist:

1. Marvin Gaye — “Inner City Blues”

Marvin Gaye is a genius; it’s as simple as that.

2. Stevie Wonder — “Living for the City”

Stevie Wonder is the second genius [Laughs]…

3. Black Eyed Peas — “Boom Boom Pow”

I produced the new single, “I Gotta Feeling,” but I’ve gotta say, this track is the most innovative and exciting track I’ve heard in a long time!

4. N.E.R.D. — “Rock Star”

Pharrell Williams is one of my favorite producers and I love it when he does rock.

5. Lenny Kravitz — “I Belong to You”

The album that this track is on, 5, is one of my favorite albums ever.

6. Michael Jackson — “Dirty Diana”

Thriller is my favorite album, ever!

7. Kanye West — 808s & Heartbreaks

The whole album is really inspiring to me and is probably one of the main reasons why my new album is a bridge between electronic music and urban culture.

—Rick Florino
11.10.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Queens of the Stone Age, AC/DC, Perish

Hollywood Undead have a whole arsenal of influences. That’s precisely why their sound is so enigmatic and edgy.

On Desperate Measures, Hollywood Undead further carve out a style that’s all their own. Industrial gnashing gives way to massive rock n’ roll choruses and some of the most raucous raps to ever be committed to tape. “Explosive” doesn’t even begin to describe just how fiery Hollywood Undead’s latest musical time bomb is…

In order to get closer to their music, Hollywood Undead’s J-Dog and Funny Man shared their playlists with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview.

Check out their playlists below and pick up Desperate Measures now!

J- Dog’s Playlist:

1. The Sleeping

J-Dog: I’m listening to this band called The Sleeping that we toured with. They sound like a mix between At the Drive-in and Murder City Devils. They’re really good. Funny Man’s been into Bring Me The Horizon. We played some shows with them in England, so he’s been listening to them nonstop. I was into them, now he started listening to them. The Sleeping’s one of the only new bands I’ve been listening to recently though.

2. AC/DC

J-Dog: I put my shit on shuffle and let it go. I’ve been listening to a lot of AC/DC lately for some reason. You know how you go through phases with bands? I always do that. It’s usually one band at a time with me. Right now it’s AC/DC because I watched their Behind the Music again. It’s such a good one. All the shit they’ve been through is crazy.

3. Perish

J-Dog: I’m listening to a band called Perish. They’re a metal band but they’ve got melodic choruses. I’ve always liked metal that has melodic choruses that get ingrained in your brain. They’re from Orange County—the dirty OC [Laughs].

Funny Man’s Playlist:

1. Queens of the Stone Age — Songs for The Deaf

Funny Man: That’s my all-time favorite album by them. The first song is awesome!

2. The Talking Heads — Best Of

Funny Man: I’m always listening to them! I like his style and the storytelling. It’s great shit!

3. Dub-C

Funny Man: I’m always listening to the Dub-C album. I picked that up in Vegas when we were last there, and I don’t think I’ve stopped listening to it. I heard that album when I was a kid, and I still love it!

—Rick Florino
11.09.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Muse, Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Black Eyed Peas

Tina Parol likes to rock.

She makes delightfully catchy pop with a serious dose of rock n’ roll swagger on her debut EP, Bite My Tongue. It’s that edge that makes Tina’s music so sharp and unique. Looking at her playlist though, the rock and roll leanings are not a surprise!

Tina’s got a real appreciation for classic rock and modern alt rock, and it shows on her iTunes. She shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview. Check it out below and get Bite My Tongue now!

1. Aerosmith

2. Led Zeppelin

3. Blondie

4. The Clash

5. The Police

I grew up on everything from Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin to Blondie and The Clash to the Police. I’m a big, big classic rock fan. That’s my shit.

6. Green Day

7. Garbage

8. Foo Fighters

My taste in rock spans all the way to Green Day, Garbage, Foo Fighters and all of that stuff. I definitely listen to a lot of rock, but I have a big love of reggae. I think that’s where my rhythmic edge comes into play. My music definitely has a big pop rock sound with a little reggae sprinkled on top—sometimes it’s just the way I pronounce something or a lyric. I try to incorporate that because it makes me happy.

9. Muse

I like the new Muse record a lot. I think they’re really cool.

10. Black Eyed Peas

I’ve been listening to a lot of Black Eyed Peas because they’re just so fun. It makes me feel very L.A. I’m so New York, and in New York, I listen to dark shit—back in my element. Will.i.am’s the shit though!

—Rick Florino
11.09.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Queens of the Stone Age, The Beatles, Steely Dan

Kristinia DeBarge has spent the past year turning pop music upside down with her undeniable R&B sensibility and a whole lot of soul. From “Goodbye” to “Sabotage,” Kristinia’s got the kind of arsenal of hits that could unseat Lady GaGa and Britney Spears at the top of the heap. Kristinia’s well on her way to supremacy on the charts too…watch out…

In order to accompany that journey to the pop palace, Kristinia’s got quite a stacked playlist—running the gamut from psychedelic rock to dance music. She sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on her iTunes playlist.

Check out Kristinia DeBarge’s playlist below!

Kristinia DeBarge’s Playlist:

1. Queens of the Stone Age — “Tangled up in Plaid”

The last song I downloaded was “Tangled Up in Plaid” by Queens of the Stone Age.

2. Armin van Buuren

3. Steely Dan

Before that I was downloading Armin Van Buren’s Imagine album and Steely Dan’s Aja.

4. Guns N’ Roses

5. Eric Clapton

I’ve also got a couple Guns N’ Roses and Eric Clapton tracks on my playlist.

6. The Beatles

My mom and step dad just got me this really cool DVD of The Beatles. It’s their anthology, and it has volumes 1-8 with special features. I’m really looking forward to checking it out when I get some down time in the hotel in San Diego and Vegas!

—Rick Florino
10.28.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

David Crowder, Rise Against, Sleeping at Last

Flyleaf’s new album Memento Mori is everything that a great rock record should be.

From unforgettable guitar riffs and raucous rhythms to massive melodies and hypnotic lyrics, Memento Mori is one of the best rock n’ roll albums this year. Singer Lacey bares her soul on each and every track, and she gives with every line that she belts out. Just take one listen to the first single, “Again,” for proof. However, “Missing” and “This Close” will close the deal for you…

Lacey sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what tunes she’s rocking these days!

Check out Lacey’s playlist below and pick up Memento Mori when it drops on November 10 everywhere!

Lacey’s Playlist:

1. Rise Against

I love Rise Against!

2. David Crowder

We’re going to buy the new David Crowder CD. He covered “All Around Me” on piano, and it’s really cool! I sang on “The Nearness” I went into that studio and screamed my head off and I can’t hear one scream on the final song though [Laughs].

3. Skillet

4. Muse

I really want their new record!

5. Sleeping at Last

I like a lot of Sleeping At Last’s stuff. I like a lot of Christian music. I don’t have to always listen to Christian music, but there are seasons in my life where that’s what I want to hear. I just want to hear something that’s going to speak to me.

—Rick Florino
10.26.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

AC/DC, KISS, Pink Floyd

Staind have the pop power and the heavy metal heart to solidify them as a legendary band. It’ll only be a little while…

They’ve got a whole host of modern classics in their catalog—from the massive melodies in “Right Here” and “It’s Been Awhile” to the cathartic chaos of “Mudshovel” and “Suffocate.” The multi-platinum Massachusetts quartet knows how to write hard rock anthems better than anyone, but when it’s time to get heartfelt few are better than frontman Aaron Lewis. Ever since the moment he busted out an acoustic guitar on the 1999 installment of the Family Values tour for “Outside,” Aaron’s songwriting prowess and undeniably incredible voice have captivated listeners. Given his penchant for a potent tune, we were curious about where it all began.

In this exclusive interview. ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino spoke to Aaron Lewis about the first three albums to ever inspire him. Aaron went way back in the catalog and gave us three classics for this exclusive playlist feature. Check it out below and pick up Staind’s most recent masterpiece, The Illusion of Progress if you haven’t yet.

Aaron Lewis’s Playlist:

1. AC/DC — Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

2. KISS — Alive II

3. Pink Floyd — The Wall

The first three records ever given to me as a kid were AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, KISS’s Alive II and Pink Floyd’s The Wall. It was the first music I was ever really able to listen to, rewind and listen to again at my leisure.

Now on my playlist is Andrew Wilkow and Mark Levin [Laughs]. If I’m not listening to that, it’s usually country music.

—Rick Florino
10.27.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers

Wolfmother are ready to bark at the moon again.

On their brand new album, Cosmic Egg, vocalist/guitarist Andrew Stockdale and co. tear through rock n’ roll with some seriously sharpened teeth. Riffs rip through airtight grooves, while Stockdale’s inimitable wail carries hooks to the heavens and back. Stockdale’s got a howl that few can match, and it’s only gotten fiercer on the new material! Cosmic Egg most definitely sizzles!

Stockdale’s personal taste covers quite the spectrum though. He sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about his playlist. Be sure to check out Andrew Stockdale’s playlist below and don’t miss Wolfmother’s Cosmic Egg in stores everywhere now!

Andrew Stockdale’s Playlist:

1. Kate Bush

At the moment I’m listening to Kate Bush. Do you know who Kate Bush is? I’m in love with her!

2. Fleetwood Mac

3. Steve Miller Band

I’m listening to a lot of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac—also Steve Miller Band [Laughs]. What else is there?

4. Bonnie Tyler — “Total Eclipse of the Heart”

5. The Doobie Brothers

6. Patti Smith — “Because of the Night”

7. Gary Wright — “Dreamweaver”

—Rick Florino
10.27.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Empire of the Sun, Tom Petty, Jay-Z

Leighton Meester wants to make you sweat, and that’s just what her music is going to do.

“Somebody to Love,” the first single from her forthcoming debut album, is a bona fide club anthem that’ll be lighting up dance floors for a long time to come. It’s sexy and sassy just like the young starlet. Even though Leighton definitely loves her fair share of dance music, she’s got quite an eclectic playlist overall. The fact that she’s all-over-the-map makes her tunes that much more interesting.

Leighton’s in the studio finishing up the album right now, but she found the time to sit down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive playlist feature.

Check out Leighton’s playlist below and be sure to keep an eye out for her debut album!

Leighton Meester’s Playlist:

1. Empire of the Sun

I’ve been listening to Empire of the Sun a lot. They’re amazing! They have a lot of really good songs, but “Walking on a Dream” is one of the most-played on my iTunes. They’re very electro. It’s beautiful music, but it’s a little disco-sounding too. This song holds a lot of memories for me. I started listening to it about a year ago, and it reminds me of dancing all night in my hotel room in Paris drunk on champagne [Laughs].

2. Tom Petty

I love Tom Petty. I’m a huge Tom Petty fan. I really like a lot of his songs. I think “Refugee” is a really good song. I feel like the song has got so much soul and personality. I really like singing it. If I ever do karaoke, that’s my song!

3. Jay-Z

Lately, I’ve been listening to “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z. A collaboration between Jay-Z and Empire of the Sun would be amazing. I love this song though; it’s gorgeous. It’s an instant classic, and it’s like an anthem. I live in New York so I really love the song.

4. Lykke Li

I really like “Little Bit” by Lykke Li. Her voice is so beautiful. It’s very honest and simple, and it captures the feeling of young love.

5. Peter, Bjorn and John

I really like Peter, Bjorn and John. I love that song “Paris 2004.” It’s such a happy song. It reminds me of a sunny day.

6. Jori Hulkkonen

I really like this song called “Lo Fiction” by Jori Hulkkonen. A friend of mine introduced that song to me over two years ago, and I’m still not tired of it. It’s the kind of music that I love to make. There’s a good electronic beat, but the vocals are melodic and the lyrics are very personal but simple. It reminds me a little bit of “Somebody to Love” because it feels like a nighttime song.

7. Neil Young

8. Leighton Meester

I’ll say my own song, since it’s out now [Laughs].

9. Outkast

10. Gnarls Barkley

I love Gnarls Barkley. I have such a huge variety because good music is good music!

—Rick Florino
10.22.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Phoenix, Metric, Muse, Cage the Elephant

“I’ve got some pretty interesting stuff going on in my world right now,” says Dead By Sunrise and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington with a smile.

Not only did he just release one of the best rock albums of the year, Dead By Sunrise’s Out of Ashes, Chester has spent a fair amount of time spinning his favorite acts for inspiration.

Dead By Sunrise mixes the ethereal whimsy of Depeche Mode with Alice In Chains‘ raw vitality for a sound that’s undeniably badass. It’s definitely an amalgam of many different styles, but, most importantly, it’s personal, real and refreshing.

While on the set for Dead By Sunrise’s next video, “Let Down,” Chester sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about his playlist. Check it out below and be sure to pick up Dead By Sunrise’s Out of Ashes, available everywhere now!

Don’t miss them when they play your town either!

Chester Bennington’s Playlist:

1. Phoenix — Wolgang Amadeus Phoenix

I really like the new Phoenix album!

2. Metric — Fantasies

I like the new Metric record a lot. It’s really, really good.

3. The Dead Weather — Horehound

This really grew on me!

4. Cage the Elephant

They made an amazing record as well.

5. Manchester Orchestra

There is a lot of really great music out right now.

6. The Airborne Toxic Event

Airborne Toxic Event made one of the best records of the year. Talk about a storyteller, that guy can write lyrics! I feel the same way about Rise Against. Those guys are always making great records. The lyrics are amazing. That’s what’s going on in my world right now.

7. Rise Against

8. Muse

Muse is one of my favorite bands, and they keep getting higher on my list. They may now be my favorite band of all time. Hearing their records is amazing, but when you go see them live you’re like, “I had no idea that it was this badass. I didn’t realize I was going to walk out of here with a broken face.” They’re a band that can play with anybody, and I really enjoy that.

—Rick Florino
10.20.09

Check out Rick Florino’s new novel Dolor available now for FREE here…

A Taste:

Kings of Leon, Passion Pit, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

Drake is undeniably the hottest new rapper in the game.

So we had to know…what the hell is he listening to?

“Indie rock,” Drake laughs with a big smile. “I feel like that that music is the best that it’s been in years. There are so many bands that are simply phenomenal.”

Even though he’s rolling with Lil Wayne and trading verses with Slim Shady, Drake prefers to kick back and turn up some fuzzed out artsy bands. That’s probably why he’s got such a unique style and melodic sensibility. You can’t mess with Drake and his shoegazin’ playlist!

Drake opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive playlist feature. Check out what Drake is spinning below and pick up his brand new EP, So Far Gone, available now!

Drake’s Playlist:

1. Passion Pit

2. Frances and the Lights

3. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

4. Kings of Leon

I listen to a lot of Passion Pit, Frances and the Lights, Edward Sharpe and Kings of Leon.

5. Grizzly Bear

I love Grizzly Bear. There are almost too many great indie bands. They’ve got their own sounds going on. From the lyrics to the melodies, everything is great. I feel like indie rock is at a real strong place right now.

—Rick Florino
10.13.09

A Taste:

Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Queens of the Stone Age

Being a badass rock star is a full-time job.

Corey Taylor should give seminars on it because, these days, he’s flawlessly fronting not one or two, but three bands.

The Slipknot and Stone Sour singer has added the Junk Beer Kidnap Band to his ever-growing list of mindblowing musical projects. In the Junk Beer Kidnap Band, Taylor’s love for the likes of Foo Fighters and Alice In Chains shines bright, as he churns out some of the catchiest hard rock we’ve heard in recent memory.

Right now, Taylor is about to finish up the cycle behind Slipknot’s fourth masterpiece All Hope Is Gone, with a U.S. tour alongside the Deftones and what are bound to be legendary headlining sets at Cypress Hill’s Smokeout on Saturday October 24 in San Bernardino, CA and Fangoria’s “Trinity of Terrors” in Las Vegas on Halloween night.

In the meantime, Taylor opened up his iTunes for this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino. Check out Corey’s playlist below and don’t miss Slipknot at the Smokeout and “Trinity of Terrors.”

Corey Taylor’s Playlist:

1. Alice In Chains — Black Gives Way to Blue

I am listening to the new Alice In Chains—constantly! It is so good, man! I am not kidding. Let me just say, “If you buy one album, buy my album!” [Laughs] “But if you buy two albums, buy the new Alice In Chains.” I cannot back that album enough, and this is coming from a sick, sick fan. I’ve been an Alice In Chains fan for years. In a lot of ways, Alice In Chains is responsible for the way I write. “Would?” is one of my all-time favorite songs ever written. When I heard that song, it showed me that anything was possible with music because everything was real—even with the alternative movement going on. I was heavily into that because I was a punk kid growing up. Even within the alternative style, there was this sentiment that you had to write a certain way. “Would?” came out, and it just punched me in the face. I was like, “This could be one of the greatest songs ever written!” That’s what this whole new album reminds me of—feeling like, “God, I’ve missed this band!” It’s their best work since Dirt. I’ll be straight-up honest. People are going to love it.

2. Pearl Jam — Backspacer

The new Pearl Jam album, Backspacer, is actually really good as well. It’s weird because I’m usually the guy who says, “I don’t listen to anything new.” It’s been a really good year though!

3. Green Day — 21st Century Breakdown

The new Green Day is amazing. There’s a lot of good stuff out there!

4. Them Crooked Vultures

I’ve never wanted to sleep with men before, but that trio—Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones—are you kidding me? My buddy heard it, and said it’s even better than you could ever imagine.

5. Queens of the Stone Age

Songs for the Deaf is a great album. You know what? I loved Lullabies to Paralyze. Lullabies is so sickeningly dark! Seriously!

—Rick Florino
10.12.09

A Taste:

Slipknot, Pantera, Slayer, Deftones

Paranormal Activity is the scariest film of the past decade and one of the year’s best movies.

Like a demon, it takes up residency inside your conscience and rips and tears at every last shard of sanity—until you’re thoroughly, completely and utterly terrified beyond belief. Since it’s the best movie about possession to ever come out, ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino compiled the perfect playlist for the film.

This is the ideal soundtrack for Paranormal Activity, featuring the best anthems of the devil, drugs and bad dreams ever recorded. The only thing scarier would be the licensing cost for all of these KILLER songs…

Check out Rick Florino’s Paranormal Activity playlist below and demand the film NOW! After one-million demands it will infect theaters everywhere, and you too won’t be able to sleep.

Also, speaking of scary, check out Rick Florino’s first illustrated horror novel Dolor: Lila now!

Rick Florino’s Paranormal Activity Playlist:

1. Slipknot — “Purity”

A “love song” about a dead girl in a box…only Slipknot could write a song this entrancing and hypnotic about a subject so sickening and evil. Corey Taylor’s voice engages during the chorus, while ripping a hole right through your soul during the bridge. The paranoia, sense of lost love and connection to good ole Lucifer make this best song for Paranormal Activity’s most emotionally charged freak-out scenes.

2. Deftones — “Rikets”

Chino Moreno questions sanity, himself and basically everything else over a twisted and gnashing guttural riff. As he screams in demonic fashion over a wall of distortion, any apparition would smirk at his unbridled pain. It fits the film’s scenes where characters end up running from the unknown.

3. Korn — “Helmet In the Bush”

As James “Munky” Shaffer cuts through a woozy detuned riff, Jonathan Davis pleads to God for the chance to sleep this one night away without more torment. That’s half the premise of Paranormal Activity right there!

4. Metallica — “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”

The song’s slow build-up into a thrash massacre mirror’s Paranormal Activity’s catatonic to chaotic flow all too perfectly. Plus, this is just one of the greatest metal songs—EVER.

5. Slayer — “Bloodline”

It’s Slayer. It talks about killing people and dreams. Need I say more. Again, it’s Slayer…all you need to know…

6. Pantera — “By Demons Be Driven”

Phil Anselmo never sounded more possessed as he tears through a refrain given to him by Satan and fueled by Dimebag Darrell’s inimitable fretwork.

7. Acid Bath — “Venus Blue”

Dax Riggs asks, “How much more must we bleed her?” As Paranormal Activity’s Katie Featherstone inches further away from sanity, the question resounds like a demon’s voice in the wind.

—Rick Florino
10.08.09

For more on this incredible film visit the below sites…

Twitter – “Tweet Your Scream”

Facebook

Official Site

Also, be sure to DEMAND the film now to ensure nightmares!

A Taste:

White Zombie, Slayer, Slipknot, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Devildriver

Surviving Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is not going to be easy this year.

Chucky’s crazy ass will be on the loose, Michael Myers will be only a few steps behind you and Jigsaw will be behind the curtain manipulating every little detail in an attempt to inflict pure punishment on you. Universal has put together what’s bound to be their scariest and most fright-tastic Halloween Horror Nights yet, and it all kicks off tomorrow, October 2, after their Chiller Eyegore awards!

ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino compiled the perfect playlist of songs for you to listen to in order to get pumped up to out run these iconic screen demons. Crank these tunes and you’re guaranteed to have enough adrenaline to escape…as long as Jigsaw doesn’t plant anything in your car, that is.

Go to Halloween Horror Nights this month!

Halloween Horror Nights Survival Music Mix:

1. White Zombie — “More Human than Human”

This is the best song for any narrow escape! It’s been in more horror movie trailers than we can count including, My Bloody Valentine 3-D, which also has a maze dedicated to it at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Plus, Mr. Rob Zombie will be present at the Eyegore awards earlier in the evening.

2. Alice In Chains — “Check My Brain”

You’re going to need to check your brain to make sure it’s still there after Michael Myers swings his butcher knife at you! Spin this incredible new Alice In Chains tune at full blast while Michael is coming after you. Jerry Cantrell’s guitar is almost as evil as Myers!

3. Slayer — “At Dawn They Sleep”

It’s Slayer. It’s about vampires. It sounds straight up evil. Need I say more?

4. Pantera — “Living Through Me (Hell’s Wrath)”

Wait until the breakdown where Phil Anselmo starts talking—it’s the most Satanic interlude you’ve ever heard, and that riff will get you running from Michael Myers too!

5. Slipknot — “The Heretic Anthem”

Slipknot crafted the ultimate anti-everything anthem. The double bass, guitar and vocal assault is so deadly it may just help you get off the Terror Tram trip alive if you play it loud enough. Keeping chanting it over and over again, “If you’re 555, then I’m 666…if you’re 555, then I’m 6-6-6…”

6. Devildriver — “Pray for Villains”

With demons all over Universal, you’d better be praying. Devildriver gives the perfect sermon.

7. Ministry — “Psalm 69″

Uncle Al feeds us the gospel of industrial metal, and it’s oh so filling.

8. KoRn — “Sean Olsen”

This eerie early KoRn gem gets really evil, really fast. It’s slow, brooding and sick. It’s also the perfect soundtrack for trying to weave through Jigsaw’s clutches.

9. Deftones — “Headup”

This song has one of the most bludgeoning riffs of all time. Vocalist Chino Moreno also bleeds all over the hook alongside Max Cavalera. Their back-and-forth makes for one of the best metal collaborations ever. It’s great for dodging the scare zones in Universal as well.

10. Nine Inch Nails — “March of the Pigs”

What would any horror playlist be without the prince of pain himself, Trent Reznor? Jigsaw definitely listens to The Downward Spiral.

11. Type O Negative — “Love You to Death”

The ultimate in vampire love ditties…

12. Five Finger Death Punch — “The Bleeding”

You’ll be bleeding inside and out from the Saw maze. Five Finger Death Punch has made the best song to bleed too.

13. Lady GaGa — “Just Dance”

The undead like to get down…Home girl will prob have her own maze one year too…

—Rick Florino
10.01.09

A Taste:

Obituary, Devildriver, Imogen Heap

“My playlist is silence,” laughs Five Finger Death Punch skinsman Jeremy Spencer, just prior to kicking off his band’s current, Shock and Raw tour.

He continues, “I’m so fried right now from doing music [Laughs]. Anytime I’m not making music, I’m shutting down.”

However, Jeremy still found the time to crank some important new records. He opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check out his playlist below and be sure to pick up War is the Answer, in stores everywhere now!

Jeremy Spencer’s Playlist:

1. Obituary — Darkest Day

I did just get the new Obituary album.

2. Devildriver — Pray for Villains

I think the drumming on the Devildriver record is amazing! I love John and those guys. They always deliver that style well, and the talent level in that band is ridiculous. They’re awesome!

3. Imogen Heap — Ellipse

That’s a little diverse. I love everything. Metal’s amazing. I jam it a lot but I also want to get away from it occasionally and jam something that’s not quite so abrasive.

—Rick Florino
09.25.09

A Taste:

Queen, The Beatles, Flo Rida

V Factory’s Asher Book is about to become quite the pop culture presence.

From starring in Fame to singing on V Factory’s highly anticipated Warner Bros. debut, Asher does it all. He also listens to it all as well!

“I’ve got a very eclectic iPod,” he exclaims. “It’s got a lot of ’80s rock and random stuff. I try to pull from as many different places as possible.”

Asher opened up his iTunes and showed us his playlist for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and don’t miss him in Fame, in theaters today, September 25.

Asher Book’s Playlist:

1. Queen — “Bohemian Rhapsody”

2. The Beatles

3. Flo Rida

4. New Boyz

—Rick Florino
09.25.09

A Taste:

Lupe Fiasco, Jay-Z, Phoenix

Marié Digby’s got folky croon that could serve as the perfect soundtrack for a dream.

Her sophomore album, Breathing Underwater, is ethereal and smoky in all the right ways. She’s got a lot of heart, but at the same time, she knows how to carry a big pop hook.

Marié opened up her iTunes and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what she’s spinning. Check out her playlist below!

Marié Digby’s Playlist:

1. Lupe Fiasco — “Shining Down”

Right now I’m really into Lupe Fiasco. He’s got this new song called “Shining Down.” He’s such a smart lyricist and he’s very fresh. I really appreciate everything he does.

2. Jay-Z — “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”

I’ve been listening to “Death of Auto-Tune” by Jay-Z. He and Lupe have been in constant rotation. I love Jay-Z too. I admire rap artists who are unique and fresh and they don’t rap about the things that everyone else raps about. I like those two rappers a lot!

3. Phoenix — Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

I’m listening to the new Phoenix album. The song “Fences” is great. They’re able to take these chords that shouldn’t normally work in a pop song and put the perfect melody on top of them. I love the vocalist. I’ve been a fan for a long time, and they’re fantastic. I’m upset because I was doing a TV show in this little tiny building in Japan a few weeks ago and they were next door literally 20 feet away doing a show on the same side of this building. I really wanted to introduce myself, but I didn’t have the courage to do it [Laughs].

4. Imogen Heap

I’m obsessed Imogen Heap’s new album Ellipse. I’m obsessed with it. I think it’s epic. I look up to her a lot. She does almost everything by herself. She’s independent. She mixes, writes, produces and plays just about everything on her albums. No one can do what she does.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

Phoenix, Keane, M83

“This is the best job in the world,” exclaims LIGHTS.

The singer’s elation about her career path is extremely palpable. LIGHTS is music. She lives it, breathes it and loves it. She also happens to be damn good at it. The Canadian songstress crafts theatrical and hypnotic. Her Warner debut, The Listening hits shelves on October 6th, and it’s bound to illuminate everyone that hears it. LIGHTS also comes to life on stage, and you can catch her on tour all fall.

She gave us a gander at her playlist in this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino. Check it out below!

LIGHTS’ Playlist:

1. M83

2. Friendly Fires

3. Phoenix

4. Keane

Lately, I’ve been listening to M83, Friendly Fires, Phoenix and the new Keane. I love Keane. They’re amazing. I’m over the moon that I’m getting to tour with them.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

Black Light Burns, Cannibal Corpse, Lil Wayne

“Right now the main focus is on the record,” says Korn frontman Jonathan Davis with a big smile.

Korn’s in the middle of crafting what’s bound to be their most brutal record yet. So in between all of that thrashing in the studio, Davis has been spinning his fare share of, get this, club hip hop and death metal. Brutality abounds in both, and it’s getting Davis in the perfect mindset to get ready to lay down vocals.

Jonathan shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and keep your eyes on Korn. They’ll be releasing another landmark album within the next year.

Jonathan Davis’s Playlist:

1. Black Light Burns

I like Wes Borland’s project, Black Light Burns. That’s pretty much all I’m listening to other than hip hop. I’ve been DJing a lot, and I’m listening to all the top rap songs. Because I’m in the middle of writing a record, I don’t usually listen to music. That’s how I live all day, so when I get home, silence is kind of nice [Laughs].

2. Lil Wayne

It was really cool that Lil Wayne asked us to come be his band for the “Prom Queen” video. It was fun. I did a cover of “Got Money” that he really liked, and I think that’s how we got the gig. I love that song. I think it’s cool he’s doing some rock shit. It always seems like rappers want to be rock stars and rock stars want to be rappers [Laughs]. I think it was done well, and I love the video. I think he’s a badass artist. A tour with us and Lil Wayne would be sick.

3. Suicide Silence

I like Suicide Silence. I saw them first at the Golden God Awards. I was blown away. They’re a mixture of grindcore and I-don’t-know-what. It’s just different. I grab on to bands that have their own thing going on. They’re huge Korn fans, and I got to meet them all and they were freaking out. So I decided to start sporting their shirts because they’re really cool kids and they’re doing it. They’re coming up, and it’s hard right now in this business. I think they’ve got a shot.

4. Cannibal Corpse

I like the new Cannibal Corpse record. I love everything they do. They’re the kings—the godfathers of all that Florida death metal, grindcore shit.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

MGMT, RATATAT, Lykke Li, Animal Collective

Kid Cudi just wants to rock.

Cleveland’s “lonely stoner” loves a good rock song—indie or otherwise. His playlist is practically a who’s who of popular and up-and-coming bands. It’s way more Pitchfork than Vibe, but it’s just another Kid Cudi curveball. He’s one of the best new rappers on the scene, and he’s constantly rocking out. It’s all part of this space man’s legend though.

Kid Cudi shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check it out below!

Kid Cudi’s Playlist:

1. Kid Cudi — Man On the Moon: The End of Day

Damn, I really can’t stop listening to my own album to be honest [Laughs]. I really made this album for me first, and I hope that other people like it.

2. MGMT

I’m always into MGMT.

3. Lykke Li

I’m always listening to Lykke Li.

4. RATATAT

RATATAT is still on my playlist of course.

5. Animal Collective

I’m very selective about what I get into. Animal Collective, I just got familiar with them a couple months ago, and I’ve been jamming to them. I’ve got my ear to the streets.

6. Kings of Leon

I like Kings of Leon. They’re awesome! Their album is dope because I like the single but there are other songs that are just as good on the album, than just the single. I love constantly discovering new artists, getting their album and realizing they have more shit to offer.

—Rick Florino
09.20.09

A Taste:

RATATAT, Ghostface Killah, Nina B

New York’s DJ Lexey has assembled a playlist of some of the hottest free tracks on ARTISTdirect.com.

You can download any of the tracks and start mixing them with our free trial of the Cimio DJ software. The list of tracks runs the gamut from electronic to pop to hip hop, and it’s bound to yield some killer mixes.

Download the below tracks from DJ Lexey’s playlist and download Cimio now to start DJing!

DJ Lexey’s Playlist:

1. RATATAT — “Mirando”

2. POS — “Goodbye”

3. Nina B — “In My Own Lane”

4. Air France — “Collapsing At Your Doorstep”

5. Ghostface Killah — “Charlie Brown (DJ Mehdi Remix)”

6. Lykke Li — “Little Bit (Aether Remix)”

7. Islands — “Creeper”

8. Autumns — “Killer In Drag (Le Petit Mort Mix)”

9. Hot Chip — “One Pure Thought (Supermayer Remix)”

10. Metric — “Help I’m Alive (The Twelves Remix)”

11. Lady Sovereign — “I Got You Dancing”

12. Pnau — “Embrace (Feat. Lady Hawke) (Fred Falke & Miami Horror Remix)”

13. Brazilian Girls — “Good Time (Diplo Remix)”

14. Ursula 1000 — “Zombies (DJ Ayres Remix)”

15. MSTRKRFT — “Bounce (Feat. Nore) (Felix Cartal Remix)”

—Rick Florino
09.08.09

A Taste:

Beach Boys, Justice, The Animals, Ratatat

Cobra Starship’s dance-y pop rock never fails to “Make them good girls go bad!”

On their latest album Hot Mess, the merchants of pop dance ecstasy light up one infectious anthem after another. They’ve got the groove to make any dance floor go off, and they’ve got enough melody to make you hum all day. It’s quite the combination, and the perfect mess of melody and mischief.

Guitarist Ryland Blackinton has a very diverse taste in tunes. He opened up his iTunes and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what he’s spinning. Check out Ryland’s playlist below and pick up Hot Mess now!

Ryland Blackinton’s Playlist:

1. The Creation — “Painter Man”

2. The Animals — “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”Classic Animals. This is also one of my favorite videos from the 60’s. Eric Burdon walks around so nonchalantly while he lip syncs.

3. Ratatat — “Mumtaz Khan”

Ratatat’s newest album, LP3, really blew my mind. They started using a lot of Middle Eastern percussion and this song, in particular, has one of the best baroque guitar riffs I’ve ever heard. Seeing them live is psychotic.

4. The Beach Boys — “In My Room”

Brian Wilson perfectly encapsulates the sense of security one feels in his respective bedroom. This song also has some of the most beautiful four-part harmonies they’ve ever done. The album art [for Endless Summer] is crazy too. It features strung out mountain man drawings of them hiding in the grass. Way far out.

5. Patrick Cleandenim — “Motorik”

Patrick just recently released Orange Moonbeam Floorshow in the States, and it’s the best dance album to come out in a while. He used to make this really Bacharach-y piano pop music, and I fully back his movement into electronic dance music.

6. Crystal Stilts — “Prysmatic Room”

Like hearing a song you’ve loved in the past, the Stilts have an amazing nostalgic quality. I remember the early demos had so much reverb it sounded like the music was drowning. I can’t put it on without listening to the entire record.

7. Dinosaur Jr. — “In A Jar”

8. Justice — “Planesphere Part II”

Insanely dark and classical…Even more impressive that it was madeexclusively for Dior Homme.

9. Breakbot

This guy just got signed to Ed Banger records and basically every remix he’s ever done is better than the original. Hopefully we’ll be seeing an album of his soon!

10. Talking Heads — “Naive Melody”

Perfect song. David Byrne once said, “The better the singer, the harderit is to believe them.” It’s true, though not a pitch perfect performance, you get every word of the song. I also love that weird little warbly synth sound. The live version on “Stop Making Sense” will make a Talking Heads fan out of anyone.

—Rick Florino
08.31.09

A Taste:

Pantera, Tool, Slipknot, Down

Drowning Pool axeman C.J. Pierce knows metal better than most.

He’s been slinging riffs for Drowning Pool for a long time, and his playing has only gotten more and more fiery with each and every album. Coming off a successful run on this summer’s Crüe Fest 2, C.J. remains pretty stoked right now. Not to mention that Drowning Pool will soon be heading back in the studio to record their next album.

C.J. gave us a bit of a hard rock education in this exclusive feature. Check out his playlist below and pick up Drowning Pool’s Full Circle if you haven’t already!

C.J. Pierce’s Playlist:

1. Pantera

I always go back to my all-time favorite bands every single day just to get pumped up for the shows. Pantera is always on. I don’t know if it comes from growing up in New Orleans and living in Dallas now or just the fact that they’re the most metal band ever. Even when Phil screams, you can understand all of the words and it comes across as powerful. Phil has a lot of soul and flavor when you break it down musically.

2. Tool

I love Tool! I just can’t get past it. They can play 10-minute long songs and you never lose interest. The dude can play one riff 40 different ways in 10 minutes, and it’s mindblowing. If you listen to Undertow and then Aenima, you can hear the transition. But when you listen to Lateralus, they just go off into Pink Floyd land. They evolve by leaps and bounds on each of their records. I really like A Perfect Circle too. I got right into 10,000 Days. I went to Jamaica with my wife and we listened to it then. It was the only CD we had with us for the whole week. We didn’t have a TV just a radio. We spent the whole week jumping in the ocean, going out to eat and listening to 10,000 Days. It soaked in right away.

3. A Perfect Circle

4. Slipknot

5. Stone Sour

I’m a big Corey Taylor fan. He has a great voice. For hardcore music, he’s got a great scream. A lot of that stuff sounds like Cookie Monster nonsense, but he’s got a lot of conviction in his voice. I listen to Come Whatever May every day, and I’m really looking forward to what Corey Taylor is going to bring to the table next. He has one of the greatest rock voices right now.

6. Down

The Down records are awesome! I’m a Corrosion of Conformity fan. The whole mix of Pepper Keenan’s guitar and Phil’s voice is just pretty perfect. I listen to Down all the time.

7. HELLYEAH

The HELLYEAH record is awesome! I’m looking forward to their next record as well. Hopefully we can tour together. That would be a great tour!

—Rick Florino
08.30.09

A Taste:

The Misfits, Edward Sharpe, Taking Back Sunday, Ink & Dagger

The Used main man Bert McCracken is always listening to something.

Right now, he’s got Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes turned up to 11 in his living room, and he’s rocking out to it with a big smile. However, Bert’s full playlist is extremely eclectic to say the least. What’s he listening to other than Ed Sharpe? Well, Bert fired up his iTunes and scrolled up and down for ARTISTdirect.com giving us a look at the tunes that inspire him on a daily basis.

Check out Bert’s playlist below and be sure to pick up The Used’s latest album Artwork when it drops September 1st, 2009.

Bert McCracken’s Playlist:

1. Taking Back Sunday — New Again

I love the new Taking Back Sunday record! The lyrics are really cool!

2. Gallows — Grey Britain

3. Harper Simon

I like the new Harper Simon record. He’s Paul Simon’s kid. It’s great.

4. Killing Joke — Killing Joke

I’ve been listening to the self-titled Killing Joke record over and over. That’s one of my favorite records. Dave Grohl played on it.

5. Mastodon — Crack the Skye

I’m listening to the new Mastodon record, Crack the Skye a lot.

6. Elliott Smith

I’m always listening to a lot of Elliot Smith.

7. Sunny Day Real Estate

8. Texas is the Reason

9. The Misfits

I love The Misfits!

10. Ink & Dagger

If you love The Misfits, you’d love Ink & Dagger! They’re a vampire punk rock band from Philadelphia but they’re like thrash. The singer died in ‘98, but they were awesome. They’d set up a Christmas tree on stage and throw up on it. They’d huff gas and eat acid before they went on stage. They were the raddest band—punk rock to the core. They were vampires and shit with full makeup.

—Rick Florino
08.30.09

A Taste:

Flo Rida, Hollywood Undead, Stevie Wonder, Massive Attack

Backstreet Boys are back, and they’re ready for pop supremacy once more. Most likely, girls worldwide are already rejoicing at just the thought of their new album This Is Us dropping on October 6th, 2009. However, they’ve also got a massive jaunt planned as well.

Right now, everyone’s favorite pop group is rehearsing pretty hardcore in a Los Angeles rehearsal studio for what’s bound to be their most epic and bombastic tour yet. AJ McLean took some time to talk to ARTISTdirect.com about what’s on his iPod right now though. It’s very surprising.

Check out AJ’s playlist below and catch the Backstreet Boys soon…

They’re baaaackkkk…

AJ McLean’s Playlist:

1. Hollywood Undead — “Everywhere I Go”

I just heard a song last night that I’d never heard before, but I’m obsessed with it now. The song is Hollywood Undead’s “Everywhere I Go.” Dude, check it out! It’s amazing. On the chorus it talks about Charlie Sheen’s little weenie and how he loves to show it to everyone [Laughs]. Oh my God, this song is freaking brilliant! That is my new favorite thing right now.

2. Stevie Wonder

3. Creedence Clearwater Revival

4. Lynyrd Skynyrd

I’m listening to a lot of older stuff like Stevie, Creedence Clear Water Revival, a little bit of Skynyrd here and there.

5. Flo Rida

6. Backstreet Boys — This Is Us

I’m listening to our new album, just to get familiar with it. I don’t always listen to our albums but I’m trying to get to know it for the tour’s sake.

7. Massive Attack

I am a huge fan of Massive Attack too. I’m all over the map!

—Rick Florino
08.30.09

A Taste:

Gallows, Thrice, The Beatsteaks, Metallica

Papa Roach are out on the road slaying stages across the U.S. per usual.

Their most recent offering, Metamorphosis, is one of the year’s most raucous rock n’ roll records. The band stripped down their sound to the raw necessities—cranked up distortion and passionate, powerful vocals. Singer Jacoby Shaddix spends a lot of time listening to music in order to get psyched up. He shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Jacoby’s playlist below and catch the band on the road now!

Jacoby Shaddix’s Playlist:

1. Thrice — Beggars

I just bought it on iTunes, and it’s a fucking stellar record. It’s really cool to see how that band has evolved.

2. Gallows — Grey Britain

I’m really digging Gallows’ new album, Grey Britain. Gallows totally caught me by surprise. This record is a good blend of metal, punk rock and “Fuck you!” They’re definitely a UK revolutionary punk rock band.

3. Billy Talent — Billy Talent III

Billy Talent’s got a new record out that I have got to get. I know it’s going to be one of my favorites.

4. Led Zeppelin

Obviously, I’ve been listening to the classics like Led Zeppelin.

5. Red Hot Chili Peppers

I’ve been digging on early Red Hot Chili Peppers lately.

6. The Beatsteaks — Limbo Messiah

The Beatsteaks have an album called Limbo Messiah. They’re a German punk rock band, and they’re one of my favorite bands of all time. They rock. They run the gamut from The Clash to straight-up punk rock to rock n’ roll to pop music. It’s a very eclectic sound, and I really like that band a lot.

7. Snapcase — Progression Through Unlearning

Obviously, I’m listening to Snapcase. Progression Through Unlearning is a great record.

8. Mother’s Finest

Another band that I just discovered, an old school classic band, is Mother’s Finest. They have some cuts. Now I know where Rage Against the Machine got some of their grooves. Rage reminds me of a cross between Led Zeppelin riffs and Mother’s Finest’s grooves. They’ve got a song called “The Truth Will Set You Free;” it’s fucking off the chain.

9. Letter Kills

They’ve got an album called The Bridge, which is great.

10. LostProphets — Start Something

I love Start Something by LostProphets. I like that record a lot. I’m really excited to see where they’re going to take their music in the future.

11. Guns N’ Roses

12. Metallica

I’m listening to Guns N’ Roses and early Metallica—Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightning.

—Rick Florino
08.30.09

A Taste:

Stone Temple Pilots, Guns N’ Roses, Phil Collins

Adelitas Way make down n’ dirty rock n’ roll with heart.

On their self-titled Virgin Records debut, the Las Vegas rebels churn out one anthemic banger after another. These Sin City mavericks definitely are on their way towards to the top of hard rock. Singer Rick DeJesus sat down with ARTISTdirect.com and shared the perfect rock playlist with us in this exclusive feature.

Check out Rick’s playlist and pick up Adelitas Way now!

Rick DeJesus’s Playlist:

1. Stone Temple Pilots — “Sex Type Thing”

Scott Weiland is a rock star, and the riffs on this song are amazing.

2. Motley Crue — “Dr. Feelgood”

Who doesn’t love the Crue?!

3. Phil Collins — “In the Air Tonight”

Phil is a genius.

4. Incubus — “Make Yourself”

This is definitely a band you can play full records at a house party on repeat.

5. Minus the Bear — “Knights”

It’s our drummer, Derek’s favorite band right now!

6. Def Leppard — “Love Bites”

I’m a sucker for an 80’s love song.

7. Bon Jovi — “Living On a Prayer”

C’mon it’s Bon Jovi…ultimate party music.

8. Eddie Murphy — “Party All the Time”

We love Eddie Murphy!!

9. Guns N’ Roses — “November Rain”

One of the best videos of all time!

—Rick Florino
08.27.09

A Taste:

Rage Against the Machine, Sevendust, My Chemical Romance

Sick Puppies‘ latest offering, Tri-Polar, is an incendiary and infectious collection of hard rock tunes. The Puppies balance melody and mayhem perfectly over the course of the album’s 12 epic tracks. Pop Tri-Polar in, crank it up and be ready to be blown away by one of the finest rock trios from down under.

Bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin shared their collective playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and pick up Tri-Polar for the perfect ass-kickin’.

Emma Anzai and Mark Goodwin’s Playlist:

1. Foo Fighters — “Pretender”

This is a great video! They always seem to have interesting and memorable videos.

2. My Chemical Romance — “Famous Last Words”

Just a great song—we played an Australian festival called “Big Day Out” with them, and I’ll always remember how this song went off.

3. Rage Against The Machine — “Bulls On Parade”

This band has the best grooves on the planet! Also this is the song we come out on stage to.

4. Sevendust — “Face to Face”

We played a festival with them recently, and they played this song last, great song.

5. Soundgarden — “Spoonman”

This song also has a great groove, legendary song, love it. I tried to play this song when I started out playing bass, needless to say it was a workout!

—Rick Florino
08.27.09

A Taste:

Miles Davis, The Who, Captain Beefheart

Melvins mainman Buzz Osbourne likes to switch it up when it comes to his playlist.

He’s rocking everything from The Who to Captain Beefheart right now, and that eclectic side definitely bleeds over onto the Melvins’ forthcoming remix release, Chicken Switch [Ipecac Recordings]. Due out on September 29, Switch gave various remixers the chance to chop up a Melvins album and make one song out of it. The results are quite mind-bending…

ARTISTdirect.com spoke to Buzz about his playlist for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and pick up Chicken Switch when it releases on September 29.

Buzz Osbourne’s Playlist:

1. Miles Davis

The last album that I listened to was Bitches Brew by Miles Davis. That was yesterday. I haven’t had time this morning yet. I like Bitches Brew, and I like the On the Corner record. By and large, I don’t usually like most of his stuff. A lot of his best stuff is from the Bitches Brew and On The Corner sessions, they just chopped it into different records. The stuff he did before that is just like elevator music. I like the weirder stuff.

2. The Who

I was always a huge fan of The Who. I’ve been listening to a lot of their stuff. That was one of my first and favorite bands ever.

3. Captain Beefheart

I was listening to a little bit of Captain Beefheart recently. I like the two records that most people don’t like. I dig “Clear Spot” and “Spot Lake.”

—Rick Florino
08.24.09

A Taste:

Elvis

“I’ve been listening to Elvis,” laughs Slayer vocalist and bassist Tom Araya.

It’s no surprise that the mouthpiece for the kings of thrash metal cops to being a fan of the king of rock n’ roll. They’re both music royalty in their own right! What better way to unwind during the Mayhem Tour than a little Elvis?

There’s always music playing in the Araya home too. Tom explains, “My kids listen to new music all the time. They’re hip to MTV, VH1 and all that crazy stuff. They go through phases though. My daughter liked The Jonas Brothers, but I don’t think she does anymore. They liked My Chemical Romance at one time and Fall Out Boy at another time. They like one or two songs from each and that’s about it.”

He continues, “It’s sad because I always ask them, ‘Aren’t the other songs on these records any good? You should listen to the record as opposed to just one or two songs.’ They honestly admit that the other songs aren’t great. I tell them, ‘If you really enjoy music, you should enjoy the entire record instead of listening to one song and discarding the rest.’ That’s the joy of iTunes though, right? You haven’t wasted fourteen dollars; you’ve only burnt two. It’s a whole new world from trading tapes to iTunes [Laughs].”

Check out Tom’s playlist below and be sure to pick up Slayer’s next epic, World Painted Blood when it drops this fall.

Tom Araya’s Playlist:

1. Elvis — “Suspicious Minds”

I have been listening to Elvis. My wife loves Elvis. There are so many songs she likes, and I’m just fiddling with them on the acoustic guitar—trying to learn them. I love “Suspicious Minds” and “Always On My Mind.”

2. Elvis — “Always On My Mind”

3. Elvis — “Love Me Tender”

Of course, there’s always “Love Me Tender” too [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
08.24.09

A Taste:

U2, Rihanna, Blondie

Boh Runga specializes in soulful and catchy pop. Her debut album, Right Here, perfectly balances sultry and saccharine. The New Zealand sonic temptress shared her playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and pick up Right Here now!

1. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z — “Umbrella”

This song with was on mega-high rotate for a VERY long time. I remember walking around with a friend in the supermarket, and we were singing it to ourselves. Two little girls pushing the shopping trolley for their mom joined in on the ”Ella, ella, ella…” Made us smile.

2. The Beach Boys — “That’s Not Me”

The singing on Pet Sounds is so very special that I truly believe everyone should have the album. The life of Brian Wilson is also one of those tragic stories of passion and genius and madness. It makes the music even more unique.

3. Blondie — “I’m Always Touched By Your Presence, Dear”

I think Deborah Harry is a one of those legendary figureheads for music in the early 80’s. She was talented, sexy and wore her smile and clothes like no one else. This song is off an early Blondie album called Plastic Letters. She’s one of my heroes.

4. Justice — “Let There Be Light” A friend said I should get Justice because they were like a hard Daft Punk. I did. They were. I like the abrasive sounds that drill into your brain but do so melodically. I hope to hear them play live one day. I hope I remember my earplugs.

5. U2 — “North and South Of The River”

I’ve never heard this song before! It was on a Best Of U2—The B Sides compilation that I put into my iTunes.

—Rick Florino
08.24.09

A Taste:

N.W.A., Dr. Dre, Prince, Madonna

Erika Jayne keeps it pretty “O.G.”

Though her new album, Pretty Mess, is pure pop ecstasy on tape, she likes to get down and dirty when it comes to her hip hop.

“I listen to a lot of old hip hop,” she laughs with a smile. “I do listen to everything, but right now it’s a lot of old school rap.”

Erika opened up her iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check out her playlist below and pick up Pretty Mess available now!

Erika Jayne’s Playlist:

1. Eric B. & Rakim

I’m a big fan of Eric B. and Rakim, Dr. Dre, N.W.A. and Ice Cube. I like the West Coast and the East Coast stuff.

2. Dr. Dre

3. N.W.A.

4. Ice Cube

It’s nice to have young guys from the south carry that torch like Lil Wayne and T.I.

5. Madonna

6. Prince

7. Michael Jackson

I’m a huge Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson fan. Those three do it. They’re all tremendous performers in their own right. Their ability to connect and put on a show is great.

8. Beyonce

I saw Beyonce the other night, and she was amazing! I love her band and the costumes. Her show is two hours, and she was wearing me out [Laughs]. My live show is certainly not two hours, and I’m not floating from the ceiling like Beyonce does—though I would like to.

—Rick Florino
08.12.09

A Taste:

Mildred, Michelle Gonyay

In It Might Get Loud, Jack White discusses his deep blues background while getting the chance to volley licks and riffs back and forth with Jimmy Page and The Edge.

However, when it comes to actually listening to music, The White Stripes main man can only listen to artists that he’s working with. White shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and catch It Might Get Loud in theaters this Friday!

Jack White’s Playlist:

1. Mildred

“I’ve been recording a lot lately. I just opened this institution in Nashville, and I’ve been producing records and listening to a lot of artists that I’m producing. There’s this goth punk named Mildred and a girl Michelle Gonyay, who’s an accordion player. I’ve been playing drums behind her. I can only listen to music I’m working on. I can’t listen to anything else because I don’t want to copy it.”

2. Michelle Gonyay

—Rick Florino
08.10.09

A Taste:

Jonas Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley

Who says you can’t be bad to the bone and listen to The Jonas Brothers?GeorgeThorogood, one of the baddest mofos to ever destroy a stage, admits to listening to the Jo Bros—a lot. It isn’t necessarily, his choice, but he does.

Thorogood laughs, “I listen to a lot of Jonas Brothers. I’ve got an eleven-year-old daughter. I have no choice. That’s it! A few years ago, it was Hilary Duff [Laughs]. I like The Jonas Brothers because they make my daughter happy and they get her to eat her vegetables. I tell her, ‘I’ve got the Jonas tickets, but you’ve got to brush your teeth’” [Laughs].

Thorogood opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com and gave us an exclusive look at his playlist. Check it out below and be sure to pick up his latest album, The Dirty Dozen.

George Thorogood’s Playlist:

1. Jack Johnson

Actually my daughter turned me on to Jack Johnson. He’s good! For a kid that young to be hip to him is cool. She put him on and I said this is good stuff. She said, “Jack Johnson tells the truth!” [Laughs] I said, “Okay, he’s hot!” I’m on the treadmill. I’m talking to you. I don’t really have the time to find new music. If there’s something out there you’re supposed to hear, it’ll find you.

2. Elvis Presley

I grew up on being blown away by Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Peter Wolf, Little Richard, the really great live performers.

3. Jimi Hendrix

4. The Rolling Stones

5. Peter Wolf

6. Little Richard

7. The Who

Seeing The Who was like being in a pinball machine. It was fantastic.

—Rick Florino
08.09.09

A Taste:

Artic Monkeys, Santigold, Animal Collective, Hercules and Love Affair

“The groups that I think are amazing right now happen to be at Lollapalooza this year,” laughs Perry Farrell with a big smile. “I keep pumping Lollapalooza because I’m excited!”

Perry has every reason to be thrilled. This year’s installment of the festival has an epic lineup including Tool, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Jane’s Addiction, Ben Harper, Lou Reed, Depeche Mode and many more. It goes down in Chicago’s Grant park once more from August 7th until August 9th.

For this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature, Perry shared his iTunes playlist. Check it out below and don’t miss Lollapalooza 2009!

Perry Farrell’s Playlist:

1. Gomez

I’ve never seen Gomez. For many years, I wanted to have Gomez perform at Lollapalooza and it never quite worked out. I’m excited about them.

2. Artic Monkeys

They’re playing Lollapalooza for the first time, and I’m excited to see them. They’re a super-cred band.

3. Santigold

She has a voice that I particularly love.

4. Animal Collective

They’re a group that, over the past year, has been the music blogs’ darling. I really love what they do. They have these great harmonies that they play with electronics live. They’re super interesting. Their videos are really fun.

5. Fleet Foxes

I’m really looking forward to seeing them for the first time.

6. MSTRKRFT

In the dance area, I’m excited about playing on a bill with MSTRKRFT and Simian Mobile Disco.

7. Simian Mobile Disco

8. Deadmau5

I’ve tried to get a track going with Deadmau5 over the past few years and I was never able to. I have been recording with Kaskade though.

9. Hercules and Love Affair

Europe is a couple years ahead of us as far as dance music goes. In fact, MTV plays dance music videos all night every weekend. I was able to see people I’ve never seen before while I was over there. I’m looking forward to seeing Hercules and Love Affair. This man has a very interesting voice.

There you go. That’s a pretty good list of people that I’ve been listening to and I’m looking forward to seeing.

—Rick Florino
08.04.09

A Taste:

Clutch, Mastodon, Metallica, Eagles of Death Metal

So what was Mudvayne main man Chad Gray doing before he left for the Pedal to the Metal Tour?

“I was working on my house and then we had to go,” laughs Chad. “I go back to that handyman root that I have—working on the floors, painting, drywalling and stuff like that. In situations such as those, I turn on the radio, find the rock station and jam out.”

Chad’s home improvement got slightly interrupted by his band’s current tour schedule, but you can catch Mudvayne destroying arenas all summer with Black Label Society. In order to keep that energy on the road, Chad cranks a lot of his favorite hard rock and metal bands. He shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Chad’s playlist below and catch Mudvayne on tour now!

Chad Gray’s Playlist:

1. Clutch — Blast Tyrant

I’ve been listening to a lot of Clutch, man. I’ve been listening to Blast Tyrant over and over for like a year. All of my favorite Clutch tunes are on Blast Tyrant. That record fucking touched me. Neil’s such a fucking badass.

2. Mastodon — Crack the Skye

The new Mastodon is fucking phenomenal!

3. Bury Your Dead — It’s Nothing Personal

The new Bury Your Dead is awesome. I’m not just saying that because they’re on the tour with us either [Laughs]. Those guys are great.

4. Eagles of Death Metal — Heart On

That shit is badass too!

5. Metallica

Metallica, Slayer, Clutch, Mastodon—that’s generally what I listen to.

6. Slayer

—Rick Florino
08.03.09

A Taste:

The Budos Band, Quick Silver Messenger Service, Mula Flustatke

Clutch remain one of the most unique and enigmatic hard rock bands out there.

Their brand new album, Strange Cousins From the West, only further proves that. It’s because the Maryland monsters of rock aren’t afraid to take listeners to outer space. In fact, that’s where vocalist Neil Fallon and Co. feel most at home. Constantly trucking through the far most regions of the sonic stratosphere, Clutch are masters of this odd universe. It’s a place you definitely have to go!

Neil has got quite an intriguing taste in music too. He shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com, and it was a lesson to say the least.

Check it out below and be sure to pick up Strange Cousins from the West now.

Neil Fallon’s Playlist:

1. Ofege

A friend of mine turned me on to a band called Ofege. They had a record that just got re-released. It’s from ‘73, and it’s really awesome acid rock from Nigeria.

2. The Budos Band

I’m a big fan of the Budos Band!

3. Quicksilver Messenger Service

I’m listening to a Quicksilver Messenger Service record called Who Do You Love?

4. Mula Flustatke

I’m also listening to an Ethipian fellow named Mula Flustatke. He put out a couple records in the ’70s. The music is acid jazz fusion with Ethiopian instruments.

5. Various Artists — Nigeria ‘70

I’ve been listening to a lot of Nigerian and African funk from the ’70s. I’ve got a couple great compilations. They’re amazing. You can hear the influence of some MoTown, James Brown and rock n’ roll there. That’s all combined with some amazing African rhythms and harmonies that are out of this world.

6. Various Artists — Nigeria ‘70: Lagos Jump

—Rick Florino
08.03.09

A Taste:

Madlib, Animal Collective, Yelle, LCD Soundsystem

There’s about to be a revolution on the dance floor.

It’s going to come courtesy of two Las Vegas electro rock outlaws known as Afghan Raiders. This duo stirs up a flurry of electronic ecstasy, blending massive infectious hooks with warm sonic flourishes for a sound that’s both entrancing and hypnotic. Mikey and Beans elevate electronic music to a whole new plain, and they want to take you to outer space with them. Just crank “Admiral’s Doorbell”…

In order to get closer to their enigmatic sound, we spoke to Mikey and Beans about what they’re listening to. Check out their playlists below in this exclusive ARTISTdirect.com feature.

Don’t miss Afghan Raiders!

Mikey’s Playlist:

1. Madlib — “Distant Land”

Madlib is an artist who redefined the way I listen to music. He is all about the power of the mix and exploring the endless possibilities of mixing and messing with the listener’s ears. I find Madlib to be a truly creative, visionary producer, and he is definitely an artist I look to for inspiration when mixing and producing tracks. “Distant Land” is one of many gems on the album Shades of Blue, where Madlib sampled and reworked tracks from Blue Note’s catalog. His unique choice of loops and the organic feel and groove of the track take the listener to another universe.

2. Digitalism — “Pogo (Digitalism’s Pogo Robotic Remix)”Digitalism remixed their own track here and came up with an awesome new take on an already great song. Their choice of synths, use of stripped down drums and overall production technicalities never cease to amaze me every time I hear it. These guys are experts in building the energy of a song, and I always find myself listening to them for inspiration.

3. Late of the Pier — “The Bears Are Coming”

This is one of my favorite tracks to listen to when I’m out and about, because it’s a great soundtrack to the chaotic world around us. It’s a haunting, raw, filthy and, somehow, completely harmonious journey from start to finish. It’s a beautiful trainwreck…The production is killer thanks to the genius work of Erol Alkan. You never know what to expect with each successive part, but somehow amongst the chaos they tie it all together for a fun, energetic, lovable track. I had the pleasure of seeing these young guns play live in NYC and it was cool to see it all come together on stage.

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs — “Heads Will Roll (Passion Pit Remix)”

Here is a track that exemplifies the incredible potential of a remix. Passion Pit took what was the best track off It’s Blitz! and completely reinvented it… making a new track that was both better than anything off the new Yeah Yeah Yeah’s record and the new Passion Pit record. Their improvisation on the original chord progression is great and the energy makes me want to rage.

5. Danger Mouse & Sparkle Horse — “Revenge” (Featuring Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips)

I have been playing this song over and over and over again, and it’s so damn good. I’m a big fan of artist collaborations, and this track illustrates how three completely different brains can come together to make some magic. I’m also really feeling Wayne’s lyrics on this one… it’s like I took some crazy experimental Flaming Lips drug and Wayne has totally found his way into my head.

Beans’ Playlist:

1. Animal Collective — “Summertime Clothes”

Animal Collective consistently impress me with every album. This song really stuck out to me upon first hearing Merriweather Post Pavillion. The rhythm is very fun and upbeat, and the electronic loops are hypnotic. I also love the harmonizing between Avey Tare and Panda Bear. They have a magical way of blending their melodies.

2. Yelle — “Mon Meilleur Ami”

Yelle is hot in every sense of the word. I’ve had the good fortune of seeing her live twice and, both times, it was a sweaty sexy dance party. You can’t help but bust out into a full blown techtonic sesh while listening to her. This track always gets me moving and wishing I spoke French.

3. LCD Soundsystem — “Yeah (Crass Version)”

James Murphy is one my biggest inspirations for making dance music. At just under 10 minutes, this track starts off very stripped down and then gradually builds into an intense rager. It houses some of the dirtiest synths and percussion I’ve ever heard. If you’re not flailing your arms and shaking your booty by the six minute mark, you’re not alive.

4. No Age — “Teen Creeps”

A raw track full of energy and youth. This song always makes me want to skate.

5. Yeasayer — “2080″

I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it. But I didn’t fully grasp the intense energy of “2080″ until I saw the song performed for La Blogotheque’s Take Away Show. The a capella live version (in an apartment in Paris, with the help of a few new friends made on a subway) completely floored me. I felt all the enthusiasm and joy that is uproariously sang post chorus. It’s now impossible for me not to sing a long when I hear it.

—Rick Florino
07.31.09

A Taste:

Radiohead, Blind Melon, Tom Waits, Neurosis

“My musical taste seems to change from day to day,” says He Is Legend’s Schuylar Croom. “Here are just a few of the jams I would pump on any given day.”

With It Hates You, He Is Legend skyrocket their cinematic southern rock into the next stratosphere. Vocalist Croom scoured his iTunes and assembled quite the playlist for ARTISTdirect.com.

Check it out below and pick up It Hates You now!

Schuylar Croom’s Setlist:

1. Radiohead — “Reckoner”

I got the opportunity to see this band twice last summer and it was the highlight by far. Radiohead’s records have always held a special place in my heart, and In Rainbows has become one of my favorites.

2. Bob Dylan — “Subterranean Homesick Blues”

This is a classic throwback that makes me stop and shake my ass whenever I hear it.

3. Neurosis — “The Eye of Every Storm”

This is one of the most powerful songs ever, if listen to in the right frame of mind…and through headphones.

4. The Presets — “Yippiyo-ay”

This Band is one of my new favorites and has the greatest videos.

5. Jeff Buckley — “Lover, You Should Have Come Over”

The greatest song ever recorded.

6. Motorhead — “Overkill”

Sleaze at its finest.

7. Queens of the Stone Age — “A Song for the Dead”

One of the best jukebox jams ever recorded. Dave Ghrol is legend.

8. The Beatles — “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”

You hear that badass stoner riff?

9. Tom Waits — “Make It Rain”

I would spin any of the songs in his catalog but this one came to mind right now.

10. Blind Melon — “Galaxie”

Soup is one of the most under-rated records of all time. This song will get you moving.

—Rick Florino
07.27.09

A Taste:

Alice in Chains, Guns N’ Roses, Stone Temple Pilots

James Hart has always had rock n’ roll pumping through his veins.

Even while fronting metalcore mavens Eighteen Visions, Hart had a whole lot of swagger that distinguished 18V from their peers. Burn Halo gives him a chance to fully realize all of those rock inclinations. On its self-titled debut, Hart’s new band hearkens back to ’80s arena bombast while nodding to grunge simultaneously. However, it’s a potent concoction all its own.

Hart shared his very rawk playlist with us in this exclusive feature. Check it out below.

James Hart’s Playlist:

1. Guns N’ Roses

This is probably the obvious choice for any fan of pure rock n’ roll. This band had danger written all over them. My favorite rock vocalist and guitarist of all time are in GNR. Their solos are timeless. Their rock songs are dirty, and their ballads are epic. The danger element finally caught up to them as they ended up imploding. Damn shame since they could’ve ruled the world for decades.

2. Stone Temple Pilots

I love the attitude and swagger that came along withthis band. They wrote great rock songs and ballads that were just as good, if not better. What I love most about this band is their musical progression from album to album. They weren’t afraid to try new things. Their fan base may have decreased because of it over the years, but it’s definitely something I can appreciate.

3. Alice In Chains

They’re my favorite early ’90s grunge-era band. I absolutely love the vibe they created and stuck with throughout their career. I can’t think of another band with two vocalists that complimented each other as well as Layne and Jerry did. Great riffs and very deep, painful lyrics..this band just felt more real to me than the others that sprouted up at the same time.

4. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Great songwriter. I love how simple his song arrangements are. Good, pure rock and to the point. I think he has a different, but very cool sounding voice. It’s super laid back, and I really like how he builds his melodies and harmonies.

5. U2

Musically and lyrically, U2 is inspiring. There is so much depth and meaning behind their songs. I think they do a better job than anyone of building a song from a tiny vocal and guitar then adding to until it becomes this wall of beautiful music.

—Rick Florino
07.27.09

A Taste:

Fiona Apple, Emily Haines, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Erin McCarley could very well be Fiona Apple’s successor for the Facebook generation.

Like Miss Apple, she crafts warm, brooding and poignant pop music that’s deeply personal and truly poetic. Just listen to “Pitter-Pat” from her debut album Love, Save the Empty for proof. She examines life and love through vibrant lyrics and undeniably catchy melodies.

After spin of Love, Save the Empty, it’s obvious that Erin is pulling from a lot of different places musically. So she shared her highly eclectic playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature.

Check out Erin’s playlist below and pick up Love, Save the Empty now.

Erin McCarley’s Playlist:

1. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss — Raising Sand

Obviously on the road you need all different kinds of moods to take you to those different places. When I want to chill out and feel good and warm, I have Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. I love the Raising Sand album. “Gone Gone Gone” is fun to get you going, and then “Killing the Blues” is great too. Those are probably two of my top songs on there.

2. Emily Haines and the Soft Skeletons — “Winning”

She’s part of Metric and Broken Social Scene. Her album is called Knives Don’t Have Your Back. There’s a song on there called “Winning.” It’s just her alone on piano and you can hear every little thing—her pedals and all. It’s totally stripped down. The way they recorded it sounds like she just put a mic in the room and you can hear everything. It’s really dark, intimate and crazy. I love the song.

3. Gnarls Barkley — The Odd Couple

The song “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” came on when we were driving the other day. There is typically so much production these days that it’s real hissy and it almost hurts your ears. “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” is so warm though, and it has a lot of depth. I love the samples that they use. Cee-Lo’s voice is ridiculous.

4. Fiona Apple — “Get Gone”

I always have to say Fiona Apple because if I put my iPod on “shuffle,” she always comes on. I have all of her records and all the bootlegs too. The song that always rises up for me is “Get Gone” from When the Pawn Hits…. She sings with such passion. She’s angry in that song, and I love it [Laughs].

5. Brooke Waggoner

I live in Nashville, and there are so many good musicians and artists there. There’s a girl from there named Brooke Waggoner. Her album is called Heal for the Honey. She has a song called “Beaut” that sounds like “Little House on the Prairie,” but it makes you want to cry because it makes you feel so good [Laughs]. Going along there’s a soft harmonica that starts the song out and then these massive strings come in. All of these waves of emotion happen with the song. It’s so beautifully composed. It’s pretty crazy.

6. St. Vincent

She’s a badass. She’s from Texas originally, but she lives somewhere in New York now. She went to Berklee. Her newest record has a song called “Actor Out of Work.” The composition of her songs is intricate but really interesting. She’s got all of these melodies that stem from fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty. There are these massive beats, real grungy guitars and then this really beautiful soft voice. It’s not the kind of voice we always hear today though. She doesn’t sound like other girls out there. I like it. I’m not good at listening to music [Laughs]. We do it every day and a lot of the time, I’m in complete silence and okay with it. Being on the road you’re around so many music lovers that you get exposed to a lot of new music and I do love that aspect of it. That’s how I found out about St. Vincent.

7. Bob Marley

Whenever you want to chill out, you’ve got to love Bob Marley and the Wailers. I love “No Woman, No Cry.” I have the live version on my iPod.

8. Radiohead — “15 Step”

I love the beats and the melodies. That guitar comes in, and it’s so good.

9. Def Leppard

I grew up listening to Madonna—total ’80s pop. My sister was about nine years older than me. She fed me Top 40 ’80s pop. I liked Def Leppard too! I’m probably not inspired or affected by it but I liked them! I did love Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and all that stuff too.

10. Depeche Mode

—Rick Florino
07.27.09

A Taste:

Bob Marley, Eminem, Method Man & Redman

Twista has a need for speed.

On his latest album, Category F5, the Chicago MC fires off rhymes at lightspeed, turning verses on a dime. However, he still manages to get soulful at the same time and that combination of lyrical fire and raw passion makes for one of the most epic hip hop releases on 2009. He’s about to tear through them game once more with this storm.

In order to get inside Twista’s head we conducted this exclusive playlist interview with him.

Check out Twista’s playlist below and pick up Category F5 now.

Twista’s Playlist:

1. Bob Marley — Legends

To be honest, I can’t stop listening to this.

2. Dustys

We’ve been bumping some Dustys here and there.

3. Drake

I like Drake.

4. Eminem — Relapse

We’re bumping this a lot in the car right now.

5. Method Man & Redman — Blackout! 2

I love this CD. It’s crazy!

6. Robin Thicke — The Evolution of Robin Thicke

7. Gnarls Barkley — St. Elsewhere

I’m still bumping this!

—Rick Florino
07.26.09

A Taste:

Snoop Dogg, Pinchers, Radiohead

Right now Slightly Stoopid are causing trouble coast to coast on The Blazed and Confused Tour with the one and only Snoop Dogg.

This tour lineup is like a match made in stoner heaven, and crowds will most definitely be burning one or ten, when this caravan rolls into town. Slightly Stoopid remain a Southern California treat, seamlessly blending hip hop, alt rock, punk, funk and reggae into a tasty sonic concoction all their own.

Miles and Rymo of Slightly Stoopid shared their playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and catch them with The Doggfather all summer!

Slightly Stoopid’s Playlist:

1. Pinchers

2. Snoop Dogg

Rymo: “We were just listening to Snoop.”

3. Camille Bob

Miles: “We love this crazy old funk stuff.”

4. Radohead

Rymo: “Of course, right [Laughs].”

5. Marlon Asher

Miles: It’s always a hard question…we really listen to everything!

—Rick Florino
07.20.09

A Taste:

Motley Crue, Van Halen, Michael Jackson, Diplo

LMFAO’s Redfoo and Sky Blu know how to rock out in the club.

Underneath their smooth and funky electro hip hop, there’s a rock n’ roll lion roaring. Just crank their new album Party Rock for proof. Given how diverse the band’s sound is, we decided to grill them about their playlist.

LMFAO shared their playlist with ARTISTdirect.com. Check it out below and be sure to pick up Party Rock now.

LMFAO’s Playlist:

1. DJ Chuckie

2. Afro Jack

3. Diplo

Redfoo: We’re listening to a lot of dance stuff from Holland: DJ Chucky, Afro Jack and Diplo.

4. Michael Jackson

Redfoo: We’ve been going down memory lane with Michael Jackson.

5. LMFAO

Redfoo: Then we like to browse we’re still heavily on the blogs searching from new stuff to play and DJs as well. We like to relax and listen to the radio from time to time and see if we can hear our song pop up here and there. We run the gamut!

6. Red Hot Chili Peppers

Sky Blu: I still listen to The Red Hot Chili Peppers. I love them!

7. Van Halen

Sky Blu: We like the old school ’80s rock. We were rockin out to Van Halen the other day.

8. Motley Crue

9. Journey

10. AC/DC

11. David Bowie

12. The Knack — “My Sharona”

Redfoo: One of my favorite songs of all-time is “My Sharona!” That’s a classic to me; we might have to redo that. We could call it, “My Corona” [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
07.17.09

A Taste:

Patty Griffin, Tamela & Malina, Feist, U2

Tyrone Wells knows pop music.

The man can create a hook with ease and, as a result, his music can be heard all over hit TV shows like Rescue Me. However, it’s on his latest solo album, Remain that the SoCal singer truly shines. He’s studied song structure, and he breaks everything to down to its necessary components, constantly creating meaningful music.

Wells decided to share his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. He opened up his iTunes and gave us an exclusive look at what he’s spinning.

Tyrone Wells’ Playlist:

1. Tamela & Malina

I’m listening to the new record that my wife and my sister made together. My sister was a main influence on me in terms of being musical. I have four older sisters, and they all were writing songs in high school. They made a little record while they were in school. When they did that, I was six or seven. Tamela had three kids and now she put out a new record with my wife, which is really cool.

2. Patty Griffin

I will always love Patty Griffin. She’s one of those songwriters that flies under the radar, but so many songwriters love her. She’s written songs that big acts like The Dixie Chicks cover. She’s not real country; she’s more of a singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar. I think she started writing and became known in her ’30s. She continues to make heartbreaking beautiful music. It’s perfect in its own way.

3. Ray LaMontagne

4. Snow Patrol

5. U2

6. Regina Spektor

I’ve been really digging her lately.

7. Feist

It’s about lyrics and melody. I think all of those artists are doing something really cool. What moves me is anything with soul and vulnerability. Great music is usually really vulnerable.

—Rick Florino
07.14.09

A Taste:

Avenged Sevenfold, Escape the Fate, Shiny Toy Guns, Flyleaf

“I tend to like newer bands more than older bands,” says Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider.

That’s a surprising statement from a genre mainstay like Snider. He was a big catalyst in pushing metal into massive popularity in the ’80s, and he remains a fixture in pop culture due to his radio shows, film projects and much more. However, the man loves new music!

In fact, his daughter is his biggest influence. He laughs, “She is always filling my iPod up with a new shit—a lot of screamo! I listen to it while I’m working out!”

One project that Snider is particularly psyched about is the sequel to the first film he wrote and starred in, the cult classic Strangeland. He tells, “We start principal photography in October. It’s called Strangeland: Disciple. Robert Englund is coming back reprising his role. Of course, I’m back. We’re looking at 2010 for release. Strangeland was my first movie. I’m happy with it. I launched the torture genre of movie with Strangeland. The makers of Saw and Hostel are all Strangeland fans. This movie is very intense, and I’m going to take back the sick motherfucker crown [Laughs].”

In between vying for his crown and releasing the fantastic reissue of Twisted Sister’s Stay Hungry [Rhino], Dee opened up his iTunes and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at his playlist. Check it out below.

Dee Snider’s Playlist:

1. Escape the Fate

I tend to discover things a little bit later because music isn’t my focus anymore. My kids turn me on to shit. I love Escape the Fate! I like that they get the ’80s without imitating the ’80s. They bring it into what they do but they have a very modern sound. I went to see them in New York, and they’ve sold a couple hundred thousand units but the place was sold out. People were out of their fucking minds! Young bands have got to stay on the road because that’s where they make their money. It’s a different world out there now.

2. Death Before Dishonor

I also like Death Before Dishonor. They’re a real sledgehammer of a hardcore band—just fucking brutal.

3. Dethklok

I like Dethklok a lot.

4. Shiny Toy Guns

One band I dig is Shiny Toy Guns. They’re fucking great!

5. Flyleaf

Flyleaf is great. They’re not screamo, but they definitely have their moments. There are so many factions within heavy music. Sometimes I’ll say a band is hardcore, and my kids will go, “They’re not hardcore! That’s screamo!” Okay, what the fuck? I just like it [Laughs]. Even back in the day, I really fought that notion of so many sub-genres. I’ve been around since heavy metal was born. I did my part to destroy the Woodstock Nation because it sucked. Even back in the ’80s, people would ask, “What’s real metal?” There was pop metal, hair metal, thrash metal, fake metal, etc. I always felt like we were only hurting the genre by subdividing and not supporting each other. Maybe you’re not a fan of some types of metal, but at least be supportive for the genre as a whole. Now that metal’s more popular again, the sub-genres exist. That’s basically the deal with that shit. The style hasn’t died though. Rock Band and Guitar Hero turn kids onto the music and break it down so they get why it was cool. They look at the song parts and say, “That’s fucking badass.” I can appreciate that. A lot of the newer bands do a lot more screaming than singing. Back in the day people thought what I did was screaming [Laughs].

I remember a conversation with the president of my record label. They were getting to introduce Twisted Sister and they wanted to introduce a more commercially oriented producer and video director. They wanted to bring these elements in but we were a metal band. I was arguing with these guys to death. I was like, “We’ve got to protect the fans!” He said, “How many fans do you think you have?” This was in ‘82 or ‘83. I said, “I don’t know, about 100,000.” He responded, “What do you want—the 100,000 fans you’ve got or the 900,000 who are going to make your album platinum?” Now, the correct answer is “both,” but I was kind of thrown off by the statement. You’ve got to get the masses involved. If you don’t crossover, you’re band is going to die. No record company is going to keep you around for 100,000 units. Back in the day, the majors would dump you for that. Throw all of your children in the ocean and keep the ones that don’t drown. What’s the logic there? A lot of good bands get lost because they weren’t able to hit the road hard on their own. From day one, Twisted Sister never really got any support. We had to make our own scene. We were fighting disco music, which was a nightmare. We thought, “What can we do to get people’s attention and make them remember us as opposed to other joe-blow bands that were there?” For awhile, it was putting on women’s clothing and makeup. I was buying my clothing at women’s shops. You’ve got to be remembered. So I was the scary Muppet guy [Laughs].

6. Avenged Sevenfold

I love Avenged Sevenfold. Their last album should’ve gotten a lot more appreciation than it did. It’s a sign of the times. People just move on to a new flavor too quickly.

7. Coheed & Cambria

Coheed and Cambria definitely deserves recognition.

8. Devil Wears Prada

Devil Wears Prada is on my iPod too.

9. Bullet for My Valentine

I’m enjoying Bullet for My Valentine’s shit too. My daughter’s 13 and she loads this shit up for me.

10. Drop Dead Gorgeous

I like Drop Dead Gorgeous too.

11. I Am Ghost

I Am Ghost is very cool. There are a lot of great new bands out there!

—Rick Florino
07.10.09

A Taste:

Black Eyed Peas, Madonna, N.E.R.D., Michael Jackson

Paradiso Girls just want to have fun.

That’s exactly what they do on their sizzling hot new single “Patron Tequila,” and it’s only a prelude of the fun to come on their fall debut Crazy Horse [Interscope]. These five international divas are about to breakthrough big; however, they found some time to talk to ARTISTdirect.com about the music that moves them.

We sat down with Girls Kelly Beckett and Aria Crescendo, and they gave us a peek at the tunes that make them shake it.

Check out “Patron Tequila” now!

Kelly Beckett’s Playlist:

1. Black Eyed Peas — The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies)

I’ve got the new Black Eyed Peas album, and I can’t stop playing it.

2. N.E.R.D. — In Search Of…

I go through phases with all of the music I listen to. I’ve been playing a lot of old school rock at the moment. I’ve been also digging out old albums from N.E.R.D. I love their first record.

3. Ladyhawke

I’ve been listening to a lot of new artists coming out. There’s an English girl called Ladyhawke that’s really good. Her music has got a very Blondie-esque feel.

4. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I love them too!

5. Goldfrapp

I love strong female singers like Alison Goldfrapp and Debbie Harry.

6. Blondie

Aria Crescendo’s Playlist:

1. Michael Jackson

To be interesting, I’m going to be like everyone and say Michael Jackson. I was so shocked by his death. My biggest dream in life was to meet Michael Jackson and Madonna. They’re two icons, and they’ve inspired the world. I can’t believe that he’s passed away.

2. Madonna

3. The Black Eyed Peas

I love the new Black Eyed Peas album!

4. Goran Gorbevich

I have a very diverse iPod. I even have some gypsy music! Goran is like a gypsy from Eastern Europe.

5. Gwen Stefani

I love Gwen Stefani!

—Rick Florino
07.09.09

A Taste:

Kid Cudi, Mike Snow, Passion Pit

3OH!3 represent Colorado proudly by creating a sound that’s just as majestic as their home state’s mountain ranges.

The alternative electro hip hop duo has been lighting up the charts with their fresh and fiery rhymes. They’ve also been tearing up stages across the world and garnering a massive fan base in the process.

Nathaniel Mott of 3OH!3 opened up his iTunes and shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and catch 3OH!3 on this summer’s Warped Tour!

Nathaniel Mott’s Playlist:

1. Kid Cudi

This dude is great. His rap style is really innovative and, his mixtape might be my favorite collection of the past year.

2. Mike Snow

What happens when Swedish super producers Bloodshy andAvant and American “wonder boy” Andrew Wyatt come together? Magic!

3. Neon Hitch

Lok out for her! This British wonder has one of the most amazing and unique voices I’ve ever heard!

4. Passion Pit

I know everyone is all over it, but it is really, fundamentally pretty cool sounding music!

5. Christoph Eagleton

He’s producer and beatmaker from Colorado—look out!

—Rick Florino
07.06.09

A Taste:

Michael Jackson, Crookers, Justice, Chromeo

Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas isn’t afraid to step outside the box.

On The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies), he helps elevate The Black Eyed Peas’ signature sound to a whole new stratosphere. On the album, B.E.P. has incorporated flourishes of European electro and dance music into their unique hip hop, and it’s a sonic concoction that’s undeniable.

Taboo also pops up in Streetfighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, busting different kinds of moves than he’s used to rocking on stage.

In this exclusive feature, he opened up his iTunes and shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com. Check it out below!

Taboo’s Playlist:

1. Michael Jackson

I’m listening to Michael Jackson, dude. I know it’s cliché, but right now I’m all about Mike. Mike has been one of the biggest inspirations to our group. The fact that Will.i.am got to work with him and produce some of the songs on his hopefully his upcoming record is incredible. God forbid, those songs never get to see the light of day. They’re amazing. Will played them for us, and we were blown away by the chemistry that they had on the record. Hands down, Michael Jackson was one of our biggest inspirations as far as performing and musical genius.

2. The Crookers

3. Justice

I’m listening to a lot of electro right now; we’re in this electro mode!

4. The Presets

5. Kraftwerk

6. Chromeo

7. MGMT

8. David Guetta

—Rick Florino
07.06.09

A Taste:

M83, Talking Heads

While he was packing up for Blink-182’s hotly anticipated reunion tour, Tom DeLonge spent a lot of time choosing what he’d listen to on the road.

DeLonge’s taste is quite eclectic to say the least. Even though he’s known for hyper-catchy punk anthems about the trials and tribulations of chicks and growing up, DeLonge’s a pretty artsy dude. That’s why he’s so good at writing about girls and being a kid!

One look at his playlist, and you’ll find some new favorites! In between gearing up for tour, he opened up his iTunes and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what he’s spinning.

Check out Tom’s playlist below and make sure to catch Blink-182 on tour this summer!

Tom DeLonge’s Playlist:

1. M83

Have you heard of them? I don’t even know the title of the album, but I heard it one day at this party and I was like, “What the fuck is this?” So I just went out and brought three of their albums. I’ve been listening to them a lot. M83 sounds like Angels & Airwaves to me, but obviously with different singing and more synthesizers. It’s that same kind of ethereal thing. It’s right up my alley. That was my newest find.

2. Talking Heads

I’m telling you but something that will change your life, maybe not change your life but at least make you really happy is to go to Starbucks and buy the “Best-of/Greatest Hits” of Talking Heads. It’s so good! I grew up obviously listening to the singles, but I picked up the record a couple months ago. Glancing at the pictures, they look like these little college indie rock kids—like art kids. It’s what they were! It’s cool because the songs on the album are almost like Vampire Weekend or something [Laughs]. In their own way, they’re even more avant garde. It’s happy. You turn this on, and it will put you into good spirits.

—Rick Florino
06.29.09

A Taste:

Drake, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy

Jim Jones knows music.

Not only did he crank out the year’s best hip hop record, Pray IV Reign, but he’s also a vice president of A&R for E1 Music. He’s constantly listening to something, and his taste covers the entire spectrum.

Jim smiles, “I listen to all kinds of music. I don’t listen to just one particular artist on a regular basis. I love rock n’ roll, country, calypso and reggae. That’s why we had such good live instrumentation on Pray. If I like it, I like it. It doesn’t matter what it is.”

Being the consummate rhyme hustler that he is, he’s currently bumping mixtape tracks. “I’ve started doing mixtapes, so I’ve got my own music in rotation now,” he continues. “If it’s a good song, then I’ve got it on [Laughs].”

So who else is making some of those “good songs?”

Check out Jim’s playlist below to find out! Also catch his phenomenal new documentary, This Is Jim Jones in stores on June 30, 2009.

Jim Jones’s Playlist:

1. Drake

2. Lil Wayne

3. Young Jeezy

4. Gucci Mane

—Rick Florino
06.29.09

A Taste:

Mastodon, Kings of Leon, M.I.A., Black Sabbath

“The beauty of the world is, there’s something for everybody,” says iconic skinsman Matt Sorum [Velvet Revolver/Guns N’ Roses/The Cult/Camp Freddy] with a smile.

He’s right, and diversity is definitely one plus side of modern music.

Matt continues, “People can find so many things to satisfy themselves. I don’t think one form of music is better than another. If some people dig pop that’s cool. It’s up to the person who likes it. Would I rather go back and listen to Led Zeppelin IV? Yeah, I would. That album still makes me experience that entire feeling that I did when I first heard it. I went, “Fuck!’ and then it just became part of my life and my essence.”

In between producing The Darling Stilettos, running his boutique Sorum Noce and pounding out some of the biggest rock n’ roll grooves ever, Matt Sorum sat down with ARTISTdirect.com to talk music. He opened up his iTunes and gave us an exclusive look at what he’s spinning. Check out his playlist below!

Matt Sorum’s Playlist:

1. M.I.A.

I got into M.I.A. because of my girlfriend. She buys more stuff than I do. She still goes and buys records, which is cool!

2. Kings of Leon — Only By the Night

I listened to this album and went, ‘Wow, these guys have really found their niche!” They had this Southern rock thing going on and then they made this album with these great vocals, very simple structures and melodies. It said something too. It had great guitar tones. Everything was very simple but majestic like an early U2 album. I’ve heard dashes of that when I first listened to Rattle and Hum.

3. The Killers

I think the Killers are coming into their own and turning into a class-A band. I saw them at Coachella, and they were stellar.

4. Mastodon — Crack the Skye

I really got into Mastodon. Their new album is awesome. Brendan O’Brien produced it, and I thought the tones were really cool.

5. Alice In Chains

I’m very excited about their new stuff. When we toured with them, I realized that I forgot how many fuckin’ hits they had. They waited and were respectful. God bless them. Why shouldn’t Alice In Chains be on tour playing those songs?

6. Darling Stilletos

I’ve been producing this group and we’ve been dabbling in listening to a lot of older stuff lately. We’ve pulled out stuff I love—The Clash, David Bowie and The Stooges. I turned all of these young girls onto this stuff. Let’s recreate the message here! Why does rock n’ roll make people feel good? When I was a kid, it was a lifestyle for me.

7. Black Sabbath — Vol. 4

The greatest era of rock n’ roll ever was the ’70s. Sorry, it was. Where could you find a band like Black Sabbath on the same stage doing a concert with Earth, Wind & Fire and The Eagles on the same day? It was California Jam 1974. The headliner was Emerson, Lake & Palmer. What happened to the fuckin’ world? The closest thing I’ve seen to it is the Coachella lineup. Shit’s so stagnant. When one band blows the doors off, the whole culture will change. It’s going to turn on a fuckin’ dime.

8. AC/DC — Back In Black

With this album, AC/DC were like, “We’re back, and we’re going to throw down the rock.” That’s fuckin’ heavy [Laughs].

—Rick Florino
06.29.09

A Taste:

“Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Beat It”

In order to commemorate the career of one of history’s most dynamic and unique performers, Michael Jackson, ARTISTdirect.com has assembled a special playlist of his most extraordinary videos.

Like everything in his life, Michael Jackson always went above and beyond. These videos are an example of him reaching to the heavens and bring us all with him.

Michael Jackson Video Playlist:

1. “Thriller”

2. “Bad”

3. “Beat It”

4. “Billie Jean”

5. “Smooth Criminal”

6. “Rock With You”

7. “You Rock My World”

8. “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”

9. “Heal the World”

10. “Jam”

—Rick Florino
06.26.09

A Taste: 

Metric, The Prodigy, Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Working on the score for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Mike Shinoda and the boys of Linkin Park have crossed another “New Divide.” The hard rock juggernaut remains are more indestructible than Optimus Prime, and their brand new single and epic film orchestration prove that.

However, vocalist Mike Shinoda’s personal musical palette runs the gamut. He decided to share his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below and don’t miss Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen this Wednesday.

Mike Shinoda’s Playlist:

Mike: Here were the first seven things that came up on my “current playlist” in iTunes, on random!

1. Metric — “Gold Guns Girls”

2. Fugazi — “Margin Walker”

3. Diamond D — “Sally Got a One Track Mind”

4. The Prodigy — “Omen”

5. Pete Rock & CL Smooth — “Act Like You Know”

6. Radiohead — “Knives Out”

7. Does It Offend You, Yeah? — “We are Rockstars”

—Rick Florino
06.22.09

A Taste:

Marvin Gaye, The Whispers, R. Kelly

Tyrese Gibson has got style and soul.

Musically, he’s able to blend together the best elements of hip hop and R&B, while on screen he can play the action hero with a conscience and real depth. That’s exactly what he does in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Tyrese takes his character Epps to another level, adding tangible emotion amidst all of the bombastic explosions.

Tyrese is always listening to music too. So he decided to share his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and don’t miss Tyrese in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in theaters everywhere on Wednesday June 24, 2009.

Tyrese Gibson’s Playlist:

1. Marvin Gaye

2. The Whispers

3. Stevie Wonder

4. R. Kelly

I’m an oldies but goodies guy. I stay with Marvin Gaye, The Whispers, Stevie Wonder and R. Kelly. I still listen to classic music because I feel that’s where the soul and foundation of music was built.

—Rick Florino
06.21.09

A Taste:  

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan

Scott Weiland has very good taste.

The Stone Temple Pilots frontman has always dressed debonaire on stage, but his musical taste is equally refined. In fact, glancing at Scott’s playlist shines a little bit of light on this enigmatic legend’s inimitable presence.

Sitting in the studio between recording takes for Stone Temple Pilots’ next offering, he smiles and says, “Recently, my playlist has literally just been The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Bob Dylan for about the last two weeks. I grew up with those artists. I was even turned on to them by my father—my natural father.”

The Stones, Beatles and Dylan have a secured spot in Weiland’s heart the same way Stone Temple Pilots takes up permanent residency in the souls of millions of fans. After working some more, Weiland opened up his iTunes and gave ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what he’s spinning.

Check out his playlist below and, if you’re in Los Angeles, catch Stone Temple Pilots on July 1st at St. Jude’s Rock N’ Roll Hope Show.

Scott Weiland’s Playlist:

1. The Beatles

2. The Rolling Stones

3. Bob Dylan

4. The Libertines

You always go back to the bands you first heard when you were a kid. There are bands that come around every once in awhile that inspire me like The Libertines. They didn’t last very long—kind of like The Sex Pistols. I think they had that magic element. I wish they could’ve stayed together for a longer period more like The Clash did. They were amazing while they were together.

—Rick Florino
06.18.09

A Taste:

My Favorite Highway, Thriving Ivory, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye

Green River Ordinance mix Texas swagger with massive melodies for a brand of infectious pop rock that’s as rowdy as a rodeo. On their EMI debut Out of My Hands, the band churns out groove after groove of pure pop gold. Guitarist Jamey Ice sat down with us in this exclusive interview and gave us a look at the music that inspires and influences him. Check out Jamey’s playlist below.

Jamey Ice’s Playlist:

1. My Favorite Highway

“They’re also on Virgin and we listened to them on the drive home last night from Oklahoma. Their album came out yesterday. It’s a really cool pop rock record in the vein of Fall Out Boy. It’s a really catchy album!”

2. Thriving Ivory

“They’re another cool pop alternative band. The singer has a crazy voice. He almost sounds like Geddy Lee from Rush. Their single, ‘Angels on the Moon,’ is massive. Aerosmith wanted to buy the song and do it like ‘Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,’ but Thriving Ivory wouldn’t sell them the song. They wanted to do it themselves. That definitely gives you an idea of what it is. They’re a great new band.”

3. Paper Route

“They’re like Radiohead meets Coldplay. I’ve been listening to them a lot.”

4. Marvin Gaye

“I got into an old school Motown mood so I was listening to a lot of Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson. I don’t know why, but I’ve been stuck on Pandora’s Motown channel.”

5. Smokey Robinson

6. Chuck Berry

7. U2 — No Line On the Horizon

“It’s growing on me. I was honestly a little disappointed by it at first compared to the last two records. I’m a huge U2 fan. It’s definitely growing on me. The music and instruments are really cool. It’s more like the pre-Joshua Tree U2. It doesn’t have those massive instantly singable anthem choruses. The more I listen to it the more I like it. The Edge is probably my favorite guitar player of all-time. I love him.”

8. Led Zeppelin

“They’re the reason I play guitar. I got II when I was in sixth grade and ‘Heartbreaker’ just rocked my world. I grew up listening to blues and classic rock and I probably didn’t listen to any new music at all until my senior year of high school.”

9. Stevie Ray Vaughan

10. Eric Clapton

“When I was in middle school my dad took me to see Eric Clapton. I grew up listening to that.”

11. Third Eye Blind

12. Coldplay

13. Zac Brown

“It’s a southern country Americana record. They’re insane musicians.”

14. Tom Petty

“We’re huge Tom Petty fans. If Tom Petty and U2 had a baby hopefully it would be something like our music. We’ve always tried to be a band that writes songs people can sing to, dance and enjoy.

15. Kings of Leon

“It’s so good!”

—Rick Florino
06.16.09

A Taste:

Kings of Leon, Sick Puppies, Phil Collins

Chris Daughtry is a real rock n’ roll cowboy. He rolls into towns, takes over their largest venue and then rides off into the sunset.

Instead of a six-gun and a horse, he’s got a huge voice and a knack for riffs. On his forthcoming record, Leave This Town, Daughtry takes everything to a new plateau. His band is tighter than ever, busting out massive melodies like there’s no tomorrow. Daughtry has created one of the most epic rock records of the year, and he and the boys are ready to bring that sound to the masses.

Sitting on the set of his video for first single “No Surprise.” Daughtry delves into one stand out track, “September.”

He says, “I was out on the road away from my family. A lot of times, when you’re rundown and isolated, you’re forced to think about things you haven’t thought about since you were nine or ten years old. For me, that’s the only way that I could’ve written ‘September.’ With everything going on your brain, there are things you forget about in your life. Then you finally calm down and get in a place where your thoughts go somewhere else.”

He continues, “I started thinking about my childhood—how simple growing up was, how playing in the rain was something special and how you actually remembered summers back then. Then you grow up, and every day is the same. Birthdays aren’t any different. You barely remember the summers. You’re always working, and there’s no separation and nothing to look forward to. That song captures my entire childhood, and I wouldn’t have been able to write that five or six years ago. Being on the road for so long, you’re forced to live outside of what you’ve been used to for so long. You almost have a different worldly view of life in general. All of that goes into lyrics.”

It’s pretty heartfelt and heavy, to say the least. Daughtry and guitar player Brian Craddock shared their playlists with us in this exclusive feature.

Daughtry’s Playlist:

1. Kings of Leon — Only By the Night

Chris: As a band we all got into Kings of Leon at the same time. I’d been hearing about them for a while because they’re on our label. I heard this album, and I was like, “Wow!” I really think I became a fan when I saw them at the Clive Davis’ Grammy Party. I just thought, “These dudes are incredible!” Then I met them in the bathroom [Laughs]. We were washing our hands. What’s up guys?!

Brian: I’m listening to all things old! Kings of Leon is probably the only new thing I’m listening to.

2. Sick Puppies

Chris: There’s a band called Sick Puppies that’s amazing. They’re sick [Laughs]. They’re an incredible trio from Australia. Oddly enough, a gentleman by the name of Richard Marx turned me on to them. You’d never think!

3. Daughtry — Leave This Town

Chris: Everyone infused their influences into this record, and you’ll hear different chemistry on the record, and I think that’s what makes this stand out so much. When we were recording, Howard Benson said, “This reminds me more of a Led Zeppelin record because it’s a little grittier and more loose.” It wasn’t so mechanical, slick and polished. It sounds like a band. At the end of the day, that’s all we could’ve hoped for. I thought the album title was all-encompassing with the record’s themes of people wanting to get up, start over and get away from their problems but figuring out no matter where they go the problems are going to go with them. The album sums it up and many songs touch on that subject, and it felt like the right title.

Brian: We toured for two and a half years solid. Not only did we get better as a band, we also got four new best friends out of the deal. When you hear the record you can hear the evolution of the band. I think this album is a pinnacle moment for us so far.

Brian’s Playlist:

1. Phil Collins

2. Don Henley

3. Tom Petty

4. Van Halen

5. Whitesnake

Brian: I always go back to the stuff that takes me back to being a kid—Phil Collins, Don Henley and tons of Tom Petty, Van Halen and maybe some Whitesnake every now and again. These records are the soundtrack of my life. I go back and think about where I was at that moment.

Chris: Those are all classics!

6. Counting Crows

Brian: Counting Crows makes me think of a time in my life. I’m going to make you a mixtape!

—Rick Florino
06.15.09

A Taste:

Michael Jackson, T.I., Jay-Z

“There’s something exciting about rock n’ roll,” says MIMS with a smile. “Maybe I’ll pick up a guitar one day and learn that craft.”

MIMS’ latest LP, Guilt, has a bit of a personal homage to rock music, in addition to a slew of club banging tracks that proudly stand alongside any of the “This Why I’m Hot” MCs’ catchiest material.

MIMS decided to share his playlist with us in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and grab Guilt in stores now.

MIMS’ Playlist:

1. Michael Jackson — Thriller

My favorite album of all-time is Michael Jackson’s Thriller. That’s on repeat every single day. I love how it’s put together. It’s not a long record. Everything is straight-to-the-point. I don’t want to compare it to my Guilt album, because Thriller is one of the most successful albums of all time. However, I design my music so when you pop it in you can go from song one all the way until the end and say, “Man, I didn’t hear one record that sounds the same.” That’s what Thriller represents for me.

2. Kanye West

3. Lil Wayne

4. Jay-Z

5. T.I.

—Rick Florino
06.15.09

A Taste:

T.I., Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Kanye West

Bobb’e J. Thompson knows what’s up.

For a 13-year-old, he’s really got his finger on the pulse of what’s hot. The actor has already lit up the screen in the likes of Role Models and Fred Claus. In Imagine That, he’s the catalyst for one of the film’s funniest sequences. It involves Eddie Murphy and a ball pit. That’s all that really needs to be said.

He laughs, “It was awesome going up against Eddie Murphy in the pit! He was a good sport [Laughs]. We really took him down! The fact that he was in the movie got me into it.”

Bobb’e’s got the comedic fire to follow in Eddie’s footsteps, but he’s more likely to take the Jay-Z route.

“I have to be honest; acting was never really my dream,” he continues. “I started off in music. Acting is like a stepping stool for me. My music is all hip hop. I’m like a producer—I make the beats, I rap over them, I do a lot.”

He certainly does! Bobb’e shared his playlist with us below in this exclusive feature. Check it out and be sure to catch him in Imagine That this Friday!

Bobb’e J. Thompson’s Playlist:

1. Bobb’e J. Thompson

I listen to my own music mostly. I haven’t collaborated with anyone really famous just other actors like Nick Nervies. He’s on Curb Your Enthusiam, and we’ve done some tracks together.

2. T.I.

3. Jay-Z

I like T.I. and Jay-Z’s swag—the way they rap and the intelligence in their music. They’re big influences on me.

4. Kanye West

I love Kanye West! The last record was great with “Amazing.” It wasn’t the Kanye that we’d seen already at the beginning.

5. Eminem

The new Eminem record is great.

6. Dr. Dre

7. Snoop Dogg

8. Lil Wayne

I listened to a lot of Lil Wayne on the set of Imagine That. Everybody’s coming out with new swag. Lil Wayne’s just happens to be rock n’ roll.

—Rick Florino
06.08.09

A Taste:

The Beatles, Leonard Bernstein, Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield

RZA knows the hood.

However, he’s always had a philosophical perspective on it. That perspective has made him a bona fide ghetto prophet-poet-warrior. From creating Wu-Tang Clan’s spacey samurai soundscapes to his searing screen portrayal of Life Is Hot In Cracktown’s drug dealer Sammy, RZA always delves deep. In Cracktown he explores life on the edge in an enigmatic fashion, staring at the darkness with poignant understanding. For the multi-platinum, producer, musician and composer, acting is another brush for him to paint with, but there’s always music cranking in the background.

He shared his playlist with us in this exclusive feature, check it out below and catch RZA in Life Is Hot In Cracktown and Funny People this summer. If that’s not enough, he’s also on the Rock the Bells tour, sure to hit a town near you.

RZA’s Playlist:

1. Leonard Bernstein

I’ve studied Leonard Bernstein. When I began scoring films, I started looking up to people like Bernstein and Conti.

2. Ennio Morricone

He’s one of the masters of the masters.

3. The Beatles — “Come Together”

My playlist varies. Right now, we’re rocking “Come Together” by The Beatles. I’m listening to some old greats, while I’m reading the script for The Man with the Iron Fist. I’m going through for it corrections. I’m listening to some good vibes and shit like that.

4. Caravelli — “April Orchestra”

5. Randy Newman

I respect Newman, Zimmer and all of those cats. I love Spider-Man. Those movies keep you enjoying the popcorn, baby [Laughs]. There are a lot of good composers out there.

6. Hans Zimmer

7. Issac Hayes

I had to check out Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield. Their music, in some cases, made the movie! No disrespect to the movies, but one day, if you watch the movie without the music, there ain’t shit happening! [Laughs]

8. Curtis Mayfield

9. Conti

10. Bernard Herrmann

I just watched Taxi Driver no longer than eight days ago. Bernard’s scores for that, Psycho and Vertigo are all classics. At least Herrmann got a chance to knock it off with the last score for Taxi Driver. That’s like how Richard Pryor said his father died having sex. That’s a good way to go. Fuck it; it’s like recycling.

—Rick Florino
06.07.09

A Taste:

Beethoven, Bach, Metallica

Gallows guitarist Steph Carter, who is the brother of vocalist Frank Carter, may storm the stage and proceed to play some of the most pissed-off, venom n’ vingar soaked music to blow out of England since 1977. But offstage, it’s an entirely different story. Carter, who also plays piano, is an avid classical music fan.

In typical Gallows, “I don’t give a fuck” fashion, Carter isn’t apologizing for what he likes. Instead, he’s celebrating it. He doesn’t care what you think of his musical tastes or his band. And isn’t that the entire spirit of punk rock in the first place? To be free to do what you want, when you want and how you want? The band’s major label debut, Grey Britain, is in stores now and it’s an anarchic chunk o’ punk. It’s not shocking that Carter listens to much more mellow music in his personal life since he’s surrounding by skull-splitting tunes in his band. Without further adieu, here’s what Carter listens to when he wants to come down off a Gallows high.

Steph Carter’s Playlist:

1. Beethoven

2. Bach

3. Black Sabbath

4. Metallica

I also went through a phase where I listened to nothing by Metallica and Black Sabbath but now I can’t listen to anything but classical. I sit at home and do that. I went out and bought four Beethoven CDs. It wasn’t Strings in A or Sonatas in B. It was literally just 20-30 tracks done by loads of different people. I bought four of each! So I had different versions of exact same song played by different people!

— Amy Sciarretto
06.04.09

A Taste:

Notorious B.I.G., Animal Collective, Faust, Beatles, Of Montreal

The Honey Brothers make pop with a purpose.

They coat soaring sugary hooks with just the right amount of attitude. The Honey Brothers’ new EP, Demonstration (due out on 6/16), infuses true lyrical poetry into massive melodies. Oh yeah, upping the cool factor, Adrian Grenier of Entourage plays drums and lays down some vocals. In between cruising L.A. with Turtle, E, Johnny Drama and Ari Gold, Adrian found the time to make quite the record with his “brothers.”

In order to get closer to Demonstration, Adrian and guitarist/vocalist D.S. Posner wanted to give us a look at what makes The Honey Brothers tick musically. So they opened up their respective iTunes playlists and gave us an exclusive peek at what they’re spinning.

Check out their D.S. and Adrian’s playlists below and don’t forget to pick up Demonstration on June 16th!

Adrien Grenier’s Playlist:

1. Notorious B.I.G.

Adrian: My ever-continuing, never-ending playlist always has a little Notorious B.I.G.

D.S.: Oh come on!

Adrian: What? I’m not allowed to listen to “Big Poppa?” [Laughs]

2. Faust

Adrian: There’s always a little bit of Faust on my playlist.

3. Fischerspooner

Adrian: I’m actually going to see Fischerspooner tonight!

4. Of Montreal

Adrian: I do like Of Montreal! They won me over with some really great songs.

5. The Ting Tings

6. Black Kids

Adrian: I’ve been getting into dance stuff—music to make you move your body. I saw Black Kids the other day, and they were amazing.

7. Mates of State

Adrian: I think Mates of State has come a long way. They’ve always written really catchy and classically indie rock songs, but I think they’re becoming more poppy and dancey as well.

8. Funkadelic

Adrian: I was a big Funkadelic fan as a kid, besides the obvious Beatles and Zeppelin combination. I got really into funk and soul.

9. Led Zeppelin

10. Beatles

D.S. Posner’s Playlist:

1. Dirty Projectors

D.S.: I’m very excited to hear their new record. I’ve been following them recently, and I find them very inspiring.

2. Animal Collective

3. Deerhunter

4. Girl Talk

D.S.: I think we’re playing one of the festivals with Girl Talk, and that’s always a fun phenomenon.

Adrian: We’re playing with Roy Ayers too. Did you see that?

D.S.: Who is that?

Adrian: You don’t know who Roy Ayers is? C’mon, man [Laughs]. “My life, my life, my life…everybody loves the sunshine! We live in Brooklyn baby.”

D.S.: I’m going to have to admit that I don’t.

Adrian: You’re going to have to be lashed for this.

D.S.: I’ll take my lashing.

5. Grizzly Bear

D.S.: I love Grizzly Bear. I think they’re new records going to be dope, but I haven’t really heard it just yet.

—Rick Florino
06.03.09

A Taste:

Tom Waits, Joe Cocker, Beyonce, Allah Mathematics

“Lumberjack man, lumberjack man, lumberjack, man! Come on Doc, I just need my belt,” yells Method Man as he bangs on Redman’s dressing room door before their appearance on The Carson Daly Show.

Meth is rocking a green flannel shirt ready to hit the stage, but he’s missing that one crucial accessory. Redman pokes his head out, clad in a new Gucci vest, and hands Meth the belt.

“Look at the wardrobe difference, man. I ain’t gonna say nothing—it’s all gravy. I’m going into the other room with my cheap shit,” exclaims Meth with a laugh. “I’m going to throw on my fuckin’ Old Navy [Laughs].”

Regardless of personal fashion choices, Method Man and Redman’s music never goes out of style. That’s instantly apparent after one spin of Blackout! 2—their epic collaboration and hotly anticipated sequel to Blackout! In fact, the sequel follows the Hollywood formula successfully. It’s bigger, better and more badass. These two legendary MC’s are more on fire than ever, and each incendiary track proves it.

However, we were curious about what Method Man was spinning, and he happily shared his playlist with us below.

Method Man’s Playlist:

1. Tom Waits

I’ve got a lot of old shit on my playlist—a ton of Tom Waits.

2. Joe Cocker — “With a Little Help from My Friends”

I love this song. It was from The Wonder Years [Laughs].

3. Miss TK & The Revenge — “No Biterz”

This shit is rockin!

4. Beyonce

I like Beyonce’s music. Her shit is rockin’ too, bro [Laughs].

5. Allah Mathematics — Hip Hop Volume 1

I love this new Allah Math CD. It hasn’t even dropped yet. The new joints on it are great. That’s heavy in rotation right now. I love that.

6. Method Man & Redman — Blackout! 2

That’s hot!

7. Michael Jackson — Thriller

I remember getting Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and damn me if I didn’t play that shit from beginning to end without skipping a damn word. You didn’t have skip back then anyway, so you had to listen to it [Laughs]. It’s about those vibes.

—Rick Florino
05.28.09

Check out Redman’s playlist here!

A Taste:

Santogold, MIA, Cut Copy

Even though Tiësto remains at the top of electronic music, he grew up a metal head! With a smile he laughs, “As a kid, I was a big Iron Maiden fan!”

What was it about hard rock that appealed to the electronica pioneer? Well, believe it or not, it was actually the intelligence and intricacy behind the genre’s more, dare I say, bookish bands.

“I loved the guitar riffs that Iron Maiden used, and their lyrics were always smart,” continues Tiësto. “The songs were like crazy fairy tales. Bruce Dickinson wasn’t just singing, ‘I love you!’ I got to see them at Monsters of Rock with Van Halen, Dio, Whitesnake, Michael Schenker Group and all of my heroes at the time. It was funny because I was into only heavy metal like old Metallica back then. Dickinson has an amazing voice, but I couldn’t imagine putting his voice on a dance record. The guitar melodies, maybe [Laughs].”

Tiësto shared his current playlist with us below. Check it out, and if you’re in Northern California this weekend, be sure to see Tiësto at Sacramento Conventions Center on Saturday May 30th. It’s his first-ever Sacramento show, and it’ll run from 8pm until 1am (18+). For more info on the show click here.

Tiësto ’s Playlist:

1. Sigur Ros

I like Sigur Ros a lot. They really make beautiful music.

2. Santigold

3. Cut Copy

4. MGMT

I love the indie electronic music with a little rock in it.

5. MIA

—Rick Florino
05.28.09

Photo: Stephanie Pistel

A Taste:

Lil Wayne, Nat King Cole, Anita Baker, Apache

“On my playlist right now, I’ve got everything,” laughs Redman. Sitting in his dressing room for the Carson Daly Show, Redman cycles through “everything” and offers, “I’m listening to Anita Baker all the way to ‘I Need a Bitch’ by Apache” [Laughs].

That is everything indeed.

Redman opened up his iTunes for us in this exclusive feature and gave us a look at what he’s spinning. Check out his playlist below and be sure to pick up his epic new album with Method Man, Blackout! 2, in stores now!

Redman’s Playlist:

1. Lil Wayne

I’ve got Lil Wayne and Lil Wayne’s rock group!

2. Nat King Cole

3. Snoop Dogg — “Can I Get a Flicc Witchu”

4. DeBarge

5. N.W.A.

6. Anita Baker

7. Apache — “I Need a Bitch”

—Rick Florino
05.28.09

Check out Method Man’s playlist here!

A Taste:

Death Cab for Cutie, Slipknot, Lamb of God, Nickel Creek

311 is all about phases.

On Uplifter, every song goes through its own metamorphosis. Styles shift seamlessly from funk to reggae to alt rock to heavy metal. In the same fashion, singer Nick Hexum’s iPod is also constantly shifting. However, it’d have to be to inspire 311’s veritable musical melting pot!

“Music is all about unity,” he says. “I try to have that attitude in my day-to-day life. I’m the kind of guy who likes almost everything! If you open your mind, you can hear what any artist was aiming for and relate to it on some level.”

Nick opened up his iTunes for us and gave us an exclusive look at the music that’s “uplifting” him right now. Check out his playlist below and snag 311’s latest album, Uplifter on June 2nd!

Nick Hexum’s Playlist:

1. Death Cab for Cutie

I’m all over the place musically, but I recently went through a big Death Cab for Cutie phase. They’re amazing songwriters, and the singer’s great!

2. Slipknot

I workout to crazy, heavy stuff like Slipknot and Lamb of God.

3. Lamb of God

4. The Avett Brothers

I went through a bluegrass phase where I was listening to The Avett Brothers and Nickel Creek all the time.

5. Nickel Creek

—Rick Florino
05.26.09

A Taste:

Graveyard, Spiritualized, Muddy Waters

“I’m all over the place,” laughs CKY’s Jess Margera.

Not only is he running around trying to take care of a new baby, but the CKY drummer is also trying to organize his CDs. In between tending to newborn cries and making coffee, he explains, “Right now, I’m looking at my desk with all of my CDs on it. I’ve got the new Graveyard. They’re my favorite band right now!”

Graveyard isn’t the only thing on Margera’s playlist though. In fact, it’s all over the place. He shared his selections with us in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and be sure to pickup CKY’s latest, Carver City [Roadrunner Recrords].

Jess Margera’s Playlist:

1. Graveyard

“They’re from Sweden, and they rule!”

2. Muddy Waters — Electric Mud

“I’ve been playing the shit out of this!”

3. Viking Skull

“I love this band out of England called Viking Skull. I’m a huge fan, and they let me play drums on the record so that was fun.”

4. Clutch — Strange Cousins from the West

“I got some of the new Clutch record. I’m rocking that; it’s really good. With those guys you never know what you’re going to get, but it’s always awesome.”

5. Spiritualized

“This is also really good.”

—Rick Florino
05.25.09

A Taste:

Deftones, Ministry, Patsy Cline, U2

Filter have always been able to pack just the right dose of anger and melody into the same song.

Who could forget “Hey Man, Nice Shot” or “Welcome to the Fold,” they were about as pissed off and passionate as rock music gets. However, Filter mainman Richard Patrick is as fired up as he’s ever been on the band’s most recent offering, Anthems for the Damned, a scathing and soulful slab of rock.

Richard Patrick decided to share his playlist with us in this exclusive feature. Check out what he’s spinning below!

Richard Patrick’s Playlist:

1. Deftones — “Feiticeira”

I find Chino’s sense of melody astounding.

2. U2 — “The Unforgettable Fire”

U2 has always been a huge inspiration to me, and this is one of their grand achievements.

3. Jane’s Addiction — “Three Days”

Having toured with Jane’s Addiction, this brings back tremendous memories.

4. Radiohead — “Everything In Its Right Place”

I Love the Fender Rhoads on this.

5. Ministry — “You Know What You Are”

The inspiration behind Nine Inch Nails and Filter.

6. Patsy Cline — “Sweet Dreams (of You)”

Al Jourgensen once told me her sense of vocal control is amazing, and I agree.

7. Neil Diamond — “And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind”

My father played Neil Diamond records when I was growing up, and that is a huge reason why I make music today.

8. Air — “La Femme D’Argent”

Always good on a Sunday afternoon.

9. The Beatles — “The Long and Winding Road”

A wedding song.

10. Veruca Salt — “Sick as Your Secrets”

Louise Post is an amazing artist, and I have the utmost respect for her.

—Rick Florino
05.19.09

A Taste:

Alice In Chains, ZZ Top, The Gutter Twins

Duff McKagan wants you to get Loaded.

On his new solo album with Loaded, Sick, he delivers thirteen hard rockin’ anthems that are just as down and dirty as any of his Velvet Revolver output is. Putting down the bass and taking over guitar and vocals duties, Loaded shows another side of Duff. He’s quite the rock and roll songwriter, and given his time in Velvet Revolver and Guns N’ Roses, it all feels real.

Duff shared his playlist with us for this exclusive feature. Check out what he’s spinning below.

Duff McKagan’s Playlist:

1. The Gutter Twins — Saturnalia

You want a record to be a journey from the beginning to end. The Gutter Twins made that record last year.

2. Shiny Toy Guns — We Are Pilots

They had a great record last year too!

3. Katy Perry

I’ll take my oldest daughter to see some artists you wouldn’t even associate me with like Katy Perry. [Katy] kissed a girl or whatever, and it’s fine [Laughs]. We went to the gig at the Wiltern. It was an amazing gig, and she’s really talented. She puts on a real show. Her band left the stage in the middle of the set, and it was just her and an acoustic guitar. I was like, “Oh she’s a real player.” She wrote that song and can play, to me, that means a lot.

4. ZZ Top

If I’m playing a lot of guitar or a lot of bass, I listen to the first two ZZ Top records a ton.

5. Alice In Chains

I’ve heard the new Alice in Chains. I don’t own a copy, but I’ve heard demos [Laughs]. It’s great! For me, it was awesome touring with the Alice guys. They’re my friends. Sean [Kinney, Alice In Chains Drummer] and I had our motorcycles out together, and we rode all over the United States. They added a lot of levity to what could’ve been a bleak-all-the-time predicament we were in; Alice came in and brought a ton of humor to that thing.

—Rick Florino
05.18.09

A Taste:

Lady GaGa, The Script, The All-American Rejects

The White Tie Affair will make you dance. Stirring up a mix of vivacious synths and vibrant riffs, the Windy City dance pop pundits know how to get a club grooving for sure. On their debut album, Walk this Way, they fire off one delectably danceable ditty after another. If you didn’t catch them rocking with Lady GaGa, you’ll have a chance to see them on this summer’s Warped Tour.

Vocalist Chris Wallace sat down with us for this exclusive playlist feature. He turned on his iTunes and gave us a look at the music that moves him.

Check out his playlist below!

Chris Wallace’s Playlist:

1. The Script

They’re on Epic too, and they have a Maroon 5 meets U2 vibe.

2. The All-American Rejects — When the World Comes Down

The new All-American Rejects record is really awesome!

3. The Veronicas

4. Lady GaGa

We’ve been listening to Lady GaGa every night, which is awesome.

—Rick Florino
05.18.09

A Taste:

Dave Matthews Band, The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie

Two-thirds of acoustic rockers Lady Danville met at an UCLA a capella group audition in 2005. The pop rock trio have since been featured inHulu’s #1 webseries “Dorm Life” where band member Michael Garner made acameo appearance. The show highlights new and upcoming artists – watchepisodes on http://www.Dorm-Life.com.

Singer/keyboardist Michael Garner shares his influences with us:

1) Ben Folds – Whatever and Ever Amen

“Made me want to be a rock star from the moment I heard his piano and purewit.”

2) Guster – Lost and Gone Forever

“I love the dual melodies/harmonies/two-man lead style with the “ThunderGod” laying down the beat. I’ve never skipped a song on this album”

3) Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism

“Ben Gibbard knows exactly what to say in the most non-BS, straight-forwardmanner. The simplicity is pure poetry.”

4) The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

“Colin Malloy tells stories like Aesop. No. Like Shakespeare.”

5) Rufus Wainwright – Want One

“He’s everything in one…a singer songwriter, a great orchestral composer,a rocker and absolutely not afraid to be himself. His piano melodies arecreative and his voice lends itself well to his romantic lyrics. Let’s notforget that the guy has like a 200 octave range. On his tour this year, hedid a cabaret style performance where he dressed as a woman and danced aboutthe stage with his full band (choreographed and all). Oh Rufus”

6) Sara Bareilles – “Careful Confessions”

“She’s got the insight of a 500 year old sage, and i think she has masteredHOW to say every word she utters. Also, we were in the same a cappella groupat UCLA. I was in awe of her then and not a lot has changed.”

7) Dave Matthews Band – Live at Red Rocks

“Listening to DMB is an experience. It’s more than just about the lyrics orthe music but rather their collective effect. and when they start takingturns grooving and jamming… it takes me back. RIP LM.”

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

“Watching Bon Iver live was one of the most surreal experiences ever. JustinVernon’s ethereal falsetto combined with his intricate choice of guitartunings create an out of body experience that leaves you floating in the airwhile you see yourself standing on the ground.”

9) Ratatat – Classics

“The melodies and beats are off the chains. Just TRY standing still whilstlistening to this masterpiece.”

—Frances Zapanta
05.18.09

A Taste:

And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Beirut, Jeff Buckley, PJ Harvey

“Eclectic” doesn’t even begin to describe Incubus. The SoCal alt rock luminaries still crank out a catchy combination of hard rock and funk with a whole lot of soul. Since S.C.I.E.N.C.E., Incubus have always surprised listeners.

So it makes sense that singer Brandon Boyd’s playlist is all over the map. He opened up his iTunes for us and gave us an exclusive look at what rocks his world.

Check out Brandon’s playlist below and check out Incubus’ collection of rarities and B-Sides Monuments & Melodies on June 16!

Brandon Boyd’s Playlist:

1. And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead — “Giants Causeway”

This is the first song on their newest album, and it’s an amazing song to enter a room filled with Dignitaries to—preferably wearing a cape made of velvet. I just saw them in LA, and the show almost melted my face off.

2. Band of Horses — “The First Song”

There is something beautiful about this song. It has an effortlessness to it.

3. Beirut — “Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)”

I went to Coachella to see a handful of bands, Beirut in particular. But somewhere in amongst the chaos and dust, they slipped out from under me. I heard the show was fantastic so until they come back into a city I’m in, I shall have to settle for this strange and mysterious record.

4. Jeff Buckley — “Nightmares By the Sea”

I know this album is unfinished, but it sure sounds good to me…

5. John Zorn — “Punk China Doll”

John Zorn started to officially corrupt my sense of art in music when I was still a teenager, thank Science. This album has moved mountains in my mind.

6. The Kills — “U.R.A. Fever”

This is a sexy song from a sexy couple of kids. I got to see them from in front of the stage at Coachella, and I liked how I felt.

7. Metric — “Wet Blanket”

A friend took me to see these guys in LA before they were signed, and I really liked them. I don’t know the singer’s name, but she is a very clever lyricist. Let’s all thank her when we see her, shall we?

8. Pj Harvey & John Parish — “The Chair”

I saw them in LA a couple months back, and Polly never skips a beat. This new album with John Parish is so worth buying legally.

9. Dungen — “Satt Att Se”

Dungen is an amazing band! This song reminds me of something James Bond circa 1977 would have playing in his car as he shoots bad guys in slow motion.

10. Brian Eno & David Byrne — “Pitch To Volatage”

In the same way you want to enter a room to something mighty yet subtle, the art of exiting is just as profound. With David Byrne and Brian Eno at the helm, and this track in tow, you will leave a lasting impression as you walk out the door.

—Rick Florino
05.17.09

A Taste:

Beck, cLOUDDEAD, The Weakerthans

The Indie Rock quartet So Many Dynamos take their name from a popular palindrome. After supporting acts such as The Postal Service, Junior Senior, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, it’s finally their time to shine once their record, The Loud Wars, drops June 9.

The band members huddled up in their hometown Edwardsville, IL with an iPod to give commentary on the first 10 tracks that show up when shuffled for us.

See what they’ve stirred up for us below!

So Many Dynamos’ Playlist:

1. Say Panther – “That’s Just Fine”

Ryan Wasoba: [laughs] I like this one! We recorded this at the Dynamos house.
Griffin Kay: I asked James (Butler, Say Panther singer) when this was going to come out and he said “I had the money to put it out and then I got fired, so now I don’t know when it’s going to happen.”
RW: That keyboard in the chorus, that’s the Micro Moog Aaron borrowed to record The Loud Wars
Aaron Stovall: I listened to our record for the first time in a while the other day and all I could think was, man…I really miss that keyboard.

2. The Avalanches - “Flight Tonight”

AS: The Avalanches?
RW: I guess so, since they keep saying “Avalanche” in it.
AS: Are they saying “Jamaican, Jamaican, Jamaican”?
RW: I’m not sure. Don’t they milk this “I need to book a flight tonight” sample forever?
GK: It seems like sample-milking is kind of their thing.
AS: (two minutes later) Is it done? This song is like being on mushrooms and just wanting it to stop but it won’t. Like “AHHH, this is cool and everything, but I just want to go to bed.”

3. The Beatles – “Michelle”

GK: This song kind of feels like The Beatles haven’t started to do a lot of drugs yet or maybe they started doing drugs but were trying to keep it on the down-low.
AS: It’s okay when it comes up on shuffle.
RW: I heard “Hey Jude” today and there’s that part where Paul goes “JUDY JUDY JUDY JUDY,” it’s like, Come on Paul…

4. Beck – “Novacaine”

GK: It’s weird to think that this came out way before rap metal.
AS: Yeah! I was thinking the same thing
RW: Oh wow, horn sample right into a bass slide!
AS: Horn sample into bass slide is like sax solo into key change, it’s just what you do.
RW: It’s really weird hearing DJ scratches in music you actually like.
AS: Oh man, this end part is awesome. All of those little noises there, that’s just what the Micro Moog sounds like. Damn, I miss that keyboard.
GK: I bet (keyboard owner) Eddie is pretty hard up for money.
AS: I don’t know if he’ll ever talk to me again.

5. Wilco - “I’m Always In Love”

GK: They should use this song in a car commercial.
RW: “I’m always in love with my Volkswagen.”
GK: I can see, like, two middle aged white people driving a Jetta to this.
AS: And he has his hand on the gear shifter and she puts her hand on top of his.
GK: And then they drive off into the sunset with their happy dog in the backseat.
RW: And they superimpose the VW logo onto the sun.
GK: [laughs] Volkswilco.
AS: The end of that kind of sounds like the end of a Saved By The Bell-type show and there’s a slow-motion high five on the last chord.

6. cLOUDDEAD - “Rifle Eyes”

RW: This is one of those ones where they actually rap.
AS: It’s so weird that Andrew, our booking agent, books all of these guys.
GK: It’s just weird to think of them performing, they seem like guys that don’t really leave their house much.
RW: I want to be friends with them.
GK: I still want a guest spot, I want to get good at rapping just to be friends with them.

7. The Weakerthans - “Diagnosis”

RW: I love The Weakerthans, but Aaron ruined them for me when he said that John K. Sampson sounds like Kermit the Frog.
AS: Man, sometimes he does a lot more than other.
GK: Especially on the acoustic songs.
RW: Because you can just imagine Kermit the Frog actually singing it.
AS: With a little acoustic guitar.
RW: Yeah, and a straw hat.
AS: I’ve only fallen asleep at two shows in my entire life, one was The Weakerthans and the other was Bright Eyes.
GK: I fell asleep at Matt Sharp’s solo show, but that was encouraged.

8. Demetri Martin – “The Start”

GK: The other day after watching Lost I watched an episode of Demetri Martin’s new show. It’s pretty funny.
AS: I’ve only seen the first episode, it was good.
RW: And the music is good too. The theme song kind of sounds like the copyright-free version of that one really sweet song by Blitzen Trapper, the first track on Wild Mountain Nation.

9. Death Cab For Cutie - “Information Travels Faster”

GK: The first time I bought this CD, I got it at Best Buy.
RW: That’s back when you would go to Best Buy and see the obscure band you like and you couldn’t believe they were in there.
GK: “Cursive is at Best Buy?!”
AS: I hated this the first time I heard it. It just wasn’t angsty enough. I was like 16 or 17.
RW: It’s kind of funny now because after recording with Walla, we know some of his tricks and listening to his older recordings, they’re kind of cute.
GK: I was listening to The Photo Album the other day and just paying attention to the drums it’s like, (in proud mom voice) “He’s just gotten so much better at recording drums. His hi-hat sounds have just really improved.”

10. Franz Ferdinand – “Darts of Pleasure”

AS: This is the most fun thing in the world to play. We did that tribute band for New Years a while back.
RW: Franz [sic] Ferdiband.
AS: And Nathan (Bernaix, singer of Target Market) wore guyliner.
RW: Oh wow, I forgot about that. Remember the first version of “Let’s Move Mountains”? I think we tried to make it sound like Franz Ferdinand and that didn’t really work.
GK: And the bridge to that version wound up being in “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”.
RW: Aaron, if you ever sing like this I would want to punch you in the face.
AS: [laughs] To this day, this is still the last CD I purchased. I guess I haven’t bought music since 2004.

—Frances Zapanta
05.12.09

A Taste:

Glasvegas, MGMT, The Stills

Kings of Leon don’t mess around. On their latest album, Only By the Night, these four southern boys churn out straightforward rock n’ roll. With undeniable anthems like “Sex Is On Fire,” they pay homage to the classics, but they venture into new territory through moody and massive sonic textures on the likes of “Use Somebody” and “Closer.” The hypnotic flourishes arise from Matthew Followill’s guitar playing. He doesn’t simply play; he paints aural landscapes, blending bluesy licks with a heightened sensitivity for ambiance.

It’s no surprise that Matthew’s playlist is all over the map. He opened up his iTunes for us in this exclusive feature and gave us a look at what he’s spinning. Check out his playlist below!

Matthew Followill’s Playlist:

1. White Lies — To Lose My Life

“I just downloaded their album, and I really like it.”

2. Glasvegas — Glasvegas

“If you haven’t checked out Glasvegas, you should! They’re really good.”

3. MGMT — Oracular Spectacular

“The MGMT record is a little older now but that one’s good. We’ve been listening to it forever.”

4. The Whigs

“The Whigs are simply awesome!”

5. The Stills

“I’m always listening to The Stills.”

—Rick Florino
05.11.09

A Taste:

Eminem, Fall Out Boy, Papa Roach, Dr. Dre

Hopsin is hypnotic, hard and heavy. In fact, he doesn’t spit rhymes about the norm—bling, booze and babes. Rather, he takes listeners on a dark journey through a sonic hood more horrifying than most slasher flicks. He’s like hip hop’s gothic tour guide for all things evil, and he relishes every moment of it.

He opened up his iTunes for us and shared his playlist with us in this exclusive feature. Check out what Hopsin is spinning below!

Hopsin’s Playlist:

1. Dr. Dre — “Forgot About Dre (Featuring Eminem)”

“I like this song because, to me, the beat is the sickest of all time. The overall song has a sick vibe to it.”

2. Papa Roach — “Last Resort”

“This song gets me through my down stages.”

3. Method Man & Redman — “Da Rockwilder”

“The song is one of the sickest collabs ever made, and the ill swag that they had in the video was amazing.”

4. Outkast — “Ms. Jackson”

“This was the first out-of-the-ordinary song that I ever liked. It actually made me open my eyes to be a lil’ different.”

5. 50 Cent — “In Da Club”

“This is the best club song ever made!”

6. Eminem — “Role Model”

“This is the illest rap song ever created, ever! I never get sick of it.”

7. Fall Out Boy — “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down”

“This song makes me want to get revenge on my ex-girlfriend [Laughs]. I don’t know why, but it does.”

8. Michael Jackson — “Leave Me Alone”

“I love Michael’s harmonies in this song. They are really good, and the chorus is beyond a smash hit in my book.”

9. Missy Elliott — “Gossip Folk”

“This song opened my eyes up to a more funky side of hip hop and got me into funk beats. It’s like how I worked my single ‘Pans in the Kitchen.’ It also showed me that I can have fun on songs while telling a story.”

10. Foo Fighters — “The Pretender”

“This will probably be the song that I listen to before I go and whoop somebody’s ass. So if you ever see me pull up while this song is on….RUN!”

—Rick Florino
05.06.09

A Taste:

Montrose, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, Budgie

What do Slash, Lars Ulrich, Scott Ian and Lemmy Kilmister have in common?

They’re all Anvil fans!

They announce their allegiance the Canadian thrash in the fantastic new documentary, Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

Drummer Robb Reiner breaks it down simply. “We’re Anvil! We’ve been fuckin’ kickin’ ass for years, man,” he bellows with a hearty laugh. The simplicity of the drummer’s statement resounds louder than a Black Sabbath riff. Anvil have rewritten the thrash book on kicking ass, and they’re never going to stop as evinced in the documentary.

Robb continues, “Even if the movie didn’t come about we’d still be rocking. The movie has changed things in a big way, but we’ve worked damn hard. We’re dedicated to one thing only: the music. It’s fantastic people are discovering it through the movie. I love it.”

You’ll love Robb and singer Steve “Lips” Ludlow’s playlist selections below. Check them out!

Robb Reiner’s Playlist:

1. Montrose — Montrose

“This is the almighty blueprint for hard rock power metal. The production is unbelievable.”

2. Cactus — One Way…Or Another

“Carmine Appice’s best drumming was in Cactus, and this album proves it.”

3. Grandfunk Railroad — E Pluribus Funk

“This is probably the most raw and heavy album Grand Funk ever made, and that’s why I love it.”

4. Black Sabbath — Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

“I love all of the Black Sabbath albums, but Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is hard to top. It inspired all metal, and the riffs stay with you forever.”

5. Deep Purple — Burn

“These are all great hard rock records than any rocker should rock out to [Laughs]. I love Burn because Ritchie Blackmore came to play finally. He felt like he was saving himself on the previous albums, but this one rips. Ian Paice plays drums like the motherfucker he always has been here. It’s a smoking album.”

6. Cream — Disraeli Gears

“This album has some of my favorite songs on it—‘Sunshine of Your Love’ included. It was right in the middle of the psychedelic period.”

7. Captain Beyond — Captain Beyond

“It’s an amazing progressive hard rock album.”

8. Foghat — Energized

“They’re probably my favorite boogie rock n’ roll band on the planet.”

9. Budgie — In for the Kill!

10. Thundermug

“Of course, you haven’t heard of them [Laughs]. They’re a Canadian band, and they’re fucking awesome.”

11. A Foot In Cold Water

“They’re another amazing obscure band. Their first album was mindblowing.”

12. Troyka

“They’re totally hardcore underground psychedelic metal. They were like a really really bad Led Zeppelin [Laughs].”

Steve “Lips” Ludlow’s Playlist:

1. Black Sabbath — Master of Reality

“‘Into the Void’ is probably the heaviest song ever! There are particular parts that are amazing like the beginning of ‘After Forever.’ I remember the first time I smoked a joint and listened to that—it was like walking through walls of tissue paper [Laughs]. The backwards symbols really freaked me out. I loved how bizarre how it was. Of course I can’t forget the opening of ‘Sweet Leaf.’ The coughing is great. I can really relate to what that song’s about [Laughs].”

“I was 15-years-old when I saw Black Sabbath for the first time in 1970. Nothing has ever surpassed that. There were certain moments that happened during that concert I’ll never forget. It was called The Beggar’s Banquet. They were opening for Three Dog Night. The lineup was Humble Pie, Black Sabbath and then Three Dog Night. When Three Dog Night came out, people were throwing tomatoes and watermelon at them. In those days, it was like five bucks to get in and they gave free fruit and vegetables to eat. After the crowd heard ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Wicked World,’ Three Dog did ‘Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog’ and they were covered in tomatoes. It’s as if every moment was tape-recorded in my mind—really unbelievable. Sabbath played for just about an hour, but it was probably the most incredible hour of my life.”

2. Montrose — Montrose

“This album was very influential. It was Van Halen years before Van Halen. You can even hear the similarities to The Doobie Brothers because of Ted Templeman’s production. It’s a very interesting sound particularly on the beginning of ‘Space Station #5.”

3. Grand Funk Railroad — Grand Funk

“This is one of my all-time favorite albums. I love ‘Paranoid’ and ‘Inside Looking Out.’ They’re such amazing songs. ‘Winter & My Soul’ is probably my favorite song on this album. The chords and the bass guitar are extraordinarily influential on everything that came after.”

4. Cactus — Restrictions

“This album has ‘Evil’ on it, and that’s one of my favorite songs on the record. It’s actually a blues cover song, but it’s really heavy. I was so influenced by the song that I wrote a track called ‘Safe Sex’ that used some of the same ideas.”

5. Deep Purple — Deep Purple In Rock

“This is my favorite Deep Purple album. There isn’t one lame song on this record. It is completely crushing and killer heavy from ‘Speed King’ at the beginning to ‘Hard Lovin’ Man’ at the end. ‘Child In Time’ is obviously the almighty classic. I love ‘Bloodsucker.’ Every song on this record is crushing. It’s probably one of my favorites of all-time.”

6. Cream — Fresh Cream

“My favorite song is ‘Toad.’ Ginger Baker’s drum solo is amazing. It doesn’t get any better.”

7. Captain Beyond — Captain Beyond

“My favorite song is either ‘Dancing Madly Backwards (On a Sea of Air)’ or ‘Raging River of Fear.’ They’re really heavy. The guitar playing is absolutely stellar. It was very ahead of its time in a lot of ways. It captured a lot of Hendrix’s overtones in a much more controlled and melodic fashion.”

8. Budgie — In for the Kill

“I love the song ‘In for the Kill.’”

9. Jethro Tull — Thick As a Brick

“I can’t listen to this enough. You can’t pick a song because it’s all one song.”

10. Uriah Heep — Very ‘eavy… Very ‘umble…

“‘Gypsy’ is great. This was the first horror or high screaming I heard on a record. Bands like Mercyful Fate and King Diamond were completely inspired by this. They were the originators. Uriah Heep was like a hybrid of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. You can’t help but love that. They’re amazing guys too.”

11. Jimi Hendrix

“Before Black Sabbath and Grand Funk, there was Hendrix.”

—Rick Florino
05.06.09

A Taste:

Sam Moore, Otis Redding, Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters

Rock n’ roll needs more guys like Paul Rodgers. Rodgers has got an undeniable, soulful voice that’s solidified his place as a pillar of inspiration for generations of musicians. The legendary singer has fronted some of the most important and influential bands in the genre’s pantheon—Free and Bad Company. He’s even recorded and toured with Queen, never failing to carry a hook to the heavens and back. However, even legends like to rock out. So we talked to Paul in this exclusive feature about what’s on his playlist. His tastes were quite diverse and extremely interesting, illuminating his undying love for all kinds of music.

Paul opened up his iTunes for us and gave us a peek at what he’s spinning. Check out his playlist below!

1. Otis Redding

“Otis Redding is probably my main man as a singer. I listened to him throughout my teenage years. He’s a soul singer, but there’s a touch of gospel in there. When he sang things like Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change Is Gonna Come,’ he sang them very slow and soulfully. I loved that! I just bought that on CD, and it still gives me chills. ‘That’s How Strong My Love Is’ is great too. He’s fabulous.”

2. Sam Moore

“He’s from Sam & Dave. When I was a kid, I listened to those voices and thought, ‘Oh my God, that is singing!’ I met and recorded with Sam Moore. That was an honor. He’s actually a good friend, and he came up for a special guest spot when I played Seattle. He sang some of his songs and then we sang together on stage, which was fantastic. It was a dream come true! When I recorded with him it was quite scary! We were both standing around the microphone doing the song. Sam started singing, and I couldn’t believe I was singing with Sam Moore [Laughs]. I was like a 12-year-old boy in shorts, you know? [Laughs] I had to really keep it together.”

3. Wilson Pickett

“When I hear all of these voices, they send shivers up and down my spine. When I hear Wilson Pickett’s ‘In the Midnight Hour,’ it’s still unbelievable. He completely nails the song. It’s never overdone. It’s just enough. He sits on the beat and drives it forward. The very core of his being is projected onto the music. I listen to all of these people, and I try to soak them up. I initially tried to do the intonations that these singers were doing, and that really was where I learned to sing. It was a great exercise.”

4. James Brown

“He had a completely unique sound. He was the most amazing dancer on stage. I believe he was actually an ex-boxer, so he moved like a fighter. The footage of him is unbelievable. It’s like he’s dancing on air. That’s the performance. The singing is amazing. I love the drama that he puts into these performances. He has that act where he’s singing and he just can’t sing anymore. A guy comes out and puts a coat on him and says, ‘Man, you’ve got to stop! You can’t do anymore.’ Then James Brown bursts up, throws the coat off and starts singing again. It’s so unique. You’ve got to love him for it. It’s like a boxer going up for another round. It’s brilliant!”

5. Ray Charles

“I listened to Ray Charles when I was 13 or so. When you’re a teenager, you go through lots of emotional changes and you try to figure out what it all means. Ray Charles was like having a father sing to you. He had really good advice! ‘It’s No Use Crying’ is fantastic. He really reaches inside and moves you.”

6. Elmore James

“I think he only made one record with about ten songs. He was awesome because he lived a rough life and you can hear it in the lyrics. He could be very tender or very powerful. He played the bottleneck like no one else.”

7. Muddy Waters

“He’s something else, isn’t he? He was like the black Elvis. I feel like that’s where Elvis got a lot of his thing from. Muddy’s songwriter Willie Dixon played the bass. I believe Willie would write songs for Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. I did a tribute to Muddy Waters back in ‘92, and it was actually Grammy nominated. I had a lot of great guitar players guest on the album—Jeff Beck, Slash and Buddy Guy. I sat in the studio with Buddy Guy and played the title song together. I only wrote the title song which was called, ‘Muddy Water Blues.’ All of the other songs were Muddy’s. Muddy eventually gravitated toward the Chicago style of electric blues. In my mind, that’s where rock n’ roll was born. It’s that same kind of formula with the drums, electric bass, electric guitar, keyboards, possibly harmonica and a vocalist. That’s your basic rock n’ roll outfit. That was truly the genesis of rock. He did some awesome things with songs like, ‘I just want to make love to you.’”

8. Howlin’ Wolf

“He was a giant! Everything was slowed down. His intonations were just awesome and so gravelly. They were so down and dirty. The world that they lived in was a totally different world than we see today. These guys talked about voodoo, black magic, black cats crossing the road and good luck and bad luck, gambling, boozing, women, traveling and all of those rock n’ roll things. It was absolutely raw, and I don’t think they knew it was raw. It was what it was. It was a reflection of the life.”

9. Elvis Presley

“I can’t go without mentioning Elvis Presley. I have so many influences!”

10. The Beatles

11. The Rolling Stones

12. Aretha Franklin

13. Jimmy Bowskill

“I played with him last year at this big festival in Canada called ‘The Cusp.’ He’s got a great feel. He reminds me of Paul Kossoff [Free], who we sadly lost all those years ago. He’s almost the spitting image of him which is incredible.”

14. The Four Tops

15. Levi Stubbs

—Rick Florino
05.04.09

A Taste:

Led Zeppelin, Alice In Chains, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden

When Seventh Void drum extraordinaire Johnny Kelly whips out his iPod the first thing that plays is quite surprising. No, it’s not Venom, Black Sabbath or Metallica. It’s an episode of The Odd Couple.

“The Odd Couple is the last thing that was playing on my iPod,” laughs Johnny. “I was watching it on the plane to L.A. How awesome is that?”

Really, how metal is that?

Kenny Hickey and Johnny have been playing together in Type O Negative almost as long as Felix and Oscar have been making mischief in T.V. Land. However, with Seventh Void, Johnny and Kelly made some of their best music yet. On Seventh Void’s epic debut, Heaven Is Gone, they channel classic rock more than anything else. Nodding to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and even The Beatles, the album shows Johnny and Kenny’s knack for melody and love for a good old fashioned groove.

Their playlists also display that love for all things timeless in rock n’ roll. Kenny and Johnny each gave us a gander at their iPods in this exclusive feature. Check out what they’re spinning below.

Kenny Hickey’s Playlist:

1. Led Zeppelin — Physical Graffiti

“I’ve been listening to Physical Graffiti because we’re going to start writing the next record and I need to rip the songs off [Laughs]. I start with Zeppelin. I’ll go from Physical Graffiti to Sabotage and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.”

2. Black Sabbath — Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

3. Black Sabbath — Sabotage

4. Soundgarden

“Of course our intention was to do something fun with Seventh Void. I feel like we embraced our influences—Zeppelin, Sabbath, AC/DC, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains.”

5. Alice In Chains

6. AC/DC

7. Seventh Void — Heaven Is Gone

“There’s a funny story behind our album title. I had a friend who died on the operating table and was revived. He was religious. So when he was recovering, I said, ‘Bro, did you see the light at the end of the tunnel?’ He yelled, ‘No, it’s all a lie!’ He was really pissed off [Laughs]. That’s where we got the title, Heaven Is Gone.”

8. Type O Negative

“Our whole Type O Negative story would be a bestseller if we ever wrote a book. We basically hire outpatients to work for us just for entertainment value [Laughs]. We make the circus. That’s how we have fun. It’s an insane life. As we get older, we get odder. It’s getting worse [Laughs]. When I tour with other bands like Kingdom of Sorrow, I even bring the same nuts with me.”

Johnny Kelly’s Playlist:

1. Aerosmith

“I got on an Aerosmith kick recently. We had something that we had to do in Boston last weekend, so we drove up from New York. I sat in the car for four and a half hours by myself, and I was listening to a ton of Aerosmith. Since I was going to Boston I felt obligated. When in Rome…listen to Aerosmith [Laughs].”

2. The Beatles — Help!

3. Led Zeppelin — III

“I’ve got a Zeppelin tattoo on my arm!”

4. Led Zeppelin —IV

5. Shinedown

6. Elton John

7. Kings of Leon — Because of the Times

8. The Beach Boys — Pet Sounds

9. Alice In Chains — Facelift

10. Type O Negative

“Think of Type O like this…Put 12 guys in a bus together, add alcohol, idiosyncracies and it really makes for an incredible experience—both good and bad. It’s always memorable. Now that I’m older, I appreciate it more! When you go home, you have your family and you have to be a responsible adult. The minute you set foot on that bus, it’s a rolling mad house. It’s insane! I don’t want it to stop ever.”

—Rick Florino
05.01.09

A Taste:

Ray LaMontagne, Sia, Zero 7

Jessie James is just what pop music needs. She can belt out infectious melodies with the best of them, but she eschews the veneer of Hollywood glitz and glamour. Plus, she’s not afraid to mix up her sound with a country edge, farther separating her from the pack.

Jessie has quite a diverse musical palette too. She talked to us in this exclusive feature about what’s on her iPod.

Check out Jessie’s playlist below and be sure to pick up her debut on Island/Def Jam this summer!

Jessie James’ Playlist:

1. Ray LaMontagne

“I really like him. I was just listening to him on a plane, and he always puts me in a good mood.”

2. Shelby Lynne

“I listen to her frequently.”

3. Zero 7

“I sing really loud, and I have a big voice. Most people would think that I like to listen to music that’s similar to mine. However, I really like to listen to very chilled-out music. I love Zero 7. It’s very easy music to listen to. It’s nice to relax with this because I’m belting all the time [Laughs].”

4. Sia

—Rick Florino
04.30.09

A Taste:

Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, The Black Crowes

Lamb of God can certainly pummel with the best of them. However, lead guitarist Mark Morton really just wants to kick back and listen to the blues.

He laughs, “I spend so much time around heavy metal that it’s constantly floating around in my head. Personally, I find more inspiration in that soulful, finesse-y blues playing than I do in modern shredding. That’s not to take away from anything anybody’s doing because there’s a lot to be said for really fast licks. I work on some of that myself [Laughs]. For me, great blues players are who really give me goose bumps.”

Morton opened up his iTunes for us and gave us an exclusive look at the artists that truly inspire him. Check out his playlist below!

Mark Morton’s Playlist:

1. The Black Crowes — Warpaint

“This is probably not what a lot of people want to hear from me [Laughs]. But, I’m still really into the latest Black Crowes record. Luther Dickinson’s slide and lead work is really some of the more exciting guitar playing that I’ve heard lately.”

2. ZZ Top — ZZ Top’s First Album

“I’m still stuck on my old ZZ Top. I listen to ZZ Top’s first album a whole lot. That Billy Gibbons stuff is amazing. Most of my inspiration comes from real heavy blues playing. That’s where my head’s at.”

3. Led Zeppelin

“Jimmy Page is probably my all-time favorite guitar player.”

4. Fleetwood Mac

“Recently, I was looking into some of Peter Green’s stuff—his early work with Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood’s so famous for the Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham-era, but there’s a whole catalog of Top-40 stuff from before. During that time, they were really a heavy British blues band. There’s some great guitar playing there.”

5. The Yardbirds

“The Yardbirds were really ahead of their time.”

—Rick Florino
04.29.09

A Taste:

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Arthur Brown, The Tramps

Bigelf make timeless hard rock. Blending a pronounced theatricality with bombastic riffs and balls-to-the-wall vocals, they conjure an ungodly rock n’ roll thunder on their latest album, Cheat the Gallows.

Frontman Damon Fox spoke to us for this exclusive playlist feature. He opened up his iTunes for us, and it’s no surprise that he’s been blaring a whole lot of classic rock! Check out Damon’s playlist below!

Damon Fox’s Playlist:

1. The Clash — “This is Radio Clash”

“I always dig a song with the band name in the title. The Clash proves you can be cool and be political. I remember wearing army jackets in the early ’80s because of them, but then again, camo is always in.”

2. The James Gang — “Funk 49″

“Joe Walsh is completely underrated as a guitarist. Whenever I want to just let it hang loose, James Gang is the only way.”

3. Arthur Brown — “Fire”

“Arthur Brown the originator! No Alice, no Kiss, no shock in rock without him. Having Vincent Crane as your organist doesn’t suck either.”

4. The Beatles — “Hey Jude”

“My trusty iPod always delivers this song. It inspires me to always try to write a better, better, better song. YEAAAAAH! Simply untouchable, best outro EVER!”

5. Ozzy Osbourne — “Suicide Solution”

“I grew up with this album. The ‘Behind The Music’ clip always kills me. ‘Get the gun, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.’ Yeah right, whatever. Ozzy’s finest solo material about Bon Scott.”

6. The Beatles — “Piggies”

“It’s a Beatlefest on my iPod. When I hear this I want to put more harpsichord in Bigelf songs. Too bad Charles Manson historically attached himself to this little gem. Cool bridge.”

7. The Rolling Stones — “It’s Only Rock & Roll”

“This has got to be one of the greatest lines in rock history! ‘I know it’s only rock and roll, but I like it?????’ I’ll never come up with something so genius. Maybe I need a sailor outfit?”

8. Sweet — “Medussa”

“I always listen to Sweet, another criminally underrated band. They were so original, metal, yet pop and glam as well. ‘Medussa’ is a cool track, and it’s only on the import of Desolation Blvd.”

9. The Tramps — “Disco Inferno”

“Ah yes, disco—so trashed and frowned upon at the time. But I love disco. Amazing production, catchy songs (bad lyrics though, I mean how long can you talk about wanting to boogie?) and something most people forget about… phenomenal musicianship! Something that’s seriously lacking in the modern dance music scene today.”

10. The Move — “Do Ya”

“Bigelf covered this in the mid-90’s. What a chorus!”

11. Queen — “Brighton Rock”

“Queen has had a big impact on me throughout my life. They proved you can take chances and get away with it(well, maybe not “Hot Space”). Freddie Mercury is definitely a special, unique artist, I wish he was still alive. He’s definitely one of my idols.”

—Rick Florino
04.29.09

A Taste:

Foo Fighters, Jeff Buckley, Incubus, Bruce Springsteen

Thomas Ian Nicholas lives quite the life.

From starring in blockbuster films such as the American Pie series to releasing records as a solo artist, Thomas’ talents extend to music and movies. He’s also quite adept at both too. Right now, he’s gearing up to release Without Warning Acoustic, his latest batch of soulful alterna-pop. However, he found some time in between everything to give us an exclusive peek at the tunes that rock his world at home, on tour and on set.

Thomas shared his playlist with us in this exclusive feature. Check out what he’s spinning below and be sure to crank Without Warning Acoustic when it drops May 5th.

Thomas Ian Nicholas’ Playlist:

1. Bruce Springsteen — Magic

“Bruce! Magic, in my opinion, is a combination of all of his styles over the years with a modern flare. The only thing better than listening to the album is seeing him live. If you haven’t seen him live, you haven’t experienced his music.”

2. John Mayer — Continuum

“I’ve dug all of Mayer’s albums. I already knew he was an amazing songwriter and lyricist, but this album showcases his guitar ability. To hold your own with Pino Palladino is something that I can only dream about.”

3. Switchfoot — The Beautiful Letdown

“Switchfoot has been the biggest influence on my sound and style. If you A-and-B all of their albums to mine starting in 1997, you’d realize that I’m almost a Switchfoot tribute band [Laughs].”

4. Foo Fighters — There is Nothing Left to Lose

“Do I really have to justify the FooFighters, no, but why this album? It’s been in my truck since the day I bought it. I pop it in the CD player anytime and I am instantly in a good mood. It’s also a must-have for road trips, especially with the band.”

5. Led Zeppelin — Houses of the Holy

” Led Zeppelin is one of my all time favorite bands since I was 10-years-old, and this was the album that I listened to until the cassette tape wore out. As an adult, I listened to this album until my iPod crashed.”

6. Weezer — Weezer (Red Album)

“Weezer has been writing amazing songs since I was in junior high school. I cover “Say It Ain’t So” in my acoustic concerts sometimes. Their latest album proves that the hits just keep on coming. Now, I cover “Troublemaker” on Rock Band [Laughs].”

7. Chris Cornell — Euphoria Morning

“I’ve tried to write songs like Chris Cornell. I think ‘Without Warning’ is the closest I’ve come, but even that doesn’t hold a candle to his tunes. C’mon, Soundgarden, Audioslave. The common denominator is Cornell, so that’s why I like this album the most.”

8. Jeff Buckley — Grace

“My cousin introduced me to Jeff Buckley’s music one late night in Las Vegas. The sun was just starting to pierce the dark sky, and as the lyric, ‘Love, let me sleep tonight on your couch’ rang out and I was hooked.”

9. Ben Harper — Live from Mars

“I knew Ben Harper’s hits but this was the double disc live album that made me listen. I was working in Vancouver in 2001 when I bought it and I’ve basically carried these discs from car to car since then.”

10. Incubus — Light Grenades

“My friend Kenny Morrison shot an album for Incubus back in the day. Since then I have followed their musical road and this latest album sounds fresh and reminds me of when and why I first dug their tunes.”

—Rick Florino
04.27.09

A Taste:

Manchester Orchestra, M.I.A., Nine Inch Nails

On their new album, Attics to Eden, Chicago’s Madina Lake conjure up an infectious brand of alternative rock. Channeling everyone from their hometown heroes Smashing Pumpkins to industrial gods Nine Inch Nails, Madina Lake are a band to watch in 2009. Further distinguishing them from the pack, they also have an intriguing lore surrounding their albums that stems from their very name.

In between rocking crowds across the country, Madina Lake main man Nathan Leone found time to share his playlist with us in this exclusive feature. Check out Nathan’s playlist below!

Nathan Leone’s Playlist:

1. Manchester Orchestra

“I’ve been really getting into Manchester Orchestra recently.”

2. Dillinger Escape Plan

“We just did a festival tour in Australia with Dillinger, and they’re one of our favorite bands.”

3. I Am the Avalanche

“I’ve been getting into their record like crazy.”

4. M.I.A.

“I always find myself listening to M.I.A. I can’t help it [Laughs].”

5. Nine Inch Nails

—Rick Florino
04.24.09

A Taste:

The Beatles, John Prine, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson

The Boxmasters know how to rock. However, they do it with some serious country soul thrown in the sonic crock-pot for good measure. Blending the best and brightest elements of The Animals, The Stones, Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, The Boxmasters forge their own brand of infectious and countrified outlaw rock on their latest opus, MODBILLY.

In order to bring us closer to the music, Boxmasters main man, Billy Bob Thornton (W.R. “Bud” Thornton), shared his playlist with us in this exclusive feature.

Check out what Thornton is spinning below and pick up MODBILLY, out now!

W.R. “Bud” Thornton’s Playlist:

1. The Beatles — “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”

2. Kris Kristofferson — “Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down”

“This is quite possibly, in my opinion, the best written song ever in history because it takes you right to the place. You see it, you smell it and you feel it. Kris is the best songwriter I ever knew anything about. It’s a classic song. Johnny Cash’s version of it is amazing, but I love to hear Kristofferson do it.”

3. Kris Kristofferson — “The Pilgrim Chapter 33″

“It’s kind of crappy that I have to do this, but I have to list two Kristofferson songs. In the beginning of this song, it not only mentions a lot of the people that I know and love, but it also talks about the life of all these guys that Kris knew. It’s just about that guy—the artist on that search for happiness or whatever it is and all the trials and tribulations of coming up and going down.”

4. John Prine — “Hello In There”

“This is probably the most melancholy song I’ve ever heard. John told me once it was the first song he wrote and that he just put all the guitar chords that he knew together and wrote a song. This really makes you angry when you’re a songwriter; it makes you want to quit. It’s a song about old people and nobody writes about old people. If you’ve never heard it, it’s a must. Again, he’s one of the greatest songwriters that ever lived. Once you get into talking about Prine, Kristofferson and all these people, you have to start talking about Warren Zevon and Robbie Robertson and one million other people. Unfortunately, the list is not long enough to include everyone.”

5. Webb Pierce — “Sparkling Brown Eyes”

6. The Allman Brothers — “Melissa”

“This song is so lonely and beautiful, and the chord progression is so pretty. I’m a big Allman Brothers fan. I could just pick everything they ever did, but “Melissa” is just a beautiful song, and I love to hear Gregg do it acoustic when they play live.”

7. Johnny Cash — “Ring of Fire”

“I love Johnny Cash and even though he didn’t write this one, his wife did along with Merle Kilgore, I would have to say, ‘I fell into a burning ring of fire’ is just an amazing phrase. Just to hear him sing it, it’s just a classic song and I have no other description for it.”

8. George Jones — “He Stopped Loving Her Today”

“This is maybe the saddest song in history. It has to be the biggest tear jerking country song ever. I’d like to hear it all stripped down without the strings to hear the production of it.”

9. Elvis Presley — “King Creole”

“This is my favorite Elvis song. I just love the way the song moves and his voice is exactly Elvis in it. The movie, which he starred in, was actually a really legitimate movie. It was one of the ones where Elvis actually shined as an actor. My mom had the record when I was a kid, and I used to listen to ‘King Creole’ over and over. It was just rhythmically so amazing, and his voice is completely the guy we loved.”

10. Del Reeves — “Girl On the Billboard”

“I don’t know how Del crams all those words in there! It’s just hysterical. I’m a big Del Reeves fan. For anyone that hasn’t heard Del Reeves, go get his greatest hits, you’ll be very happy, especially with the way all his songs start.”

—Rick Florino
04.21.09

A Taste:

Muse, Alice In Chains, Deftones, Pantera

Devildriver conjure a catchy cacophony of guttural grooves, double bass dementia and searing solos. It’s a heavy metal formula that’s impenetrable and strangely infectious. Right now, the band is finishing their hotly anticipated fourth epic, Pray for Villains, due out summer 2009 on Roadrunner Records.

However, while at Fangoria Weekend of Horrors, guitarist Jeff Kendrick talked to us about what he’s currently spinning for our playlist feature. He delved into some other inspirations too!

“Heat is one of my favorite movies ever, and I’ll always go back to that. However, my musical taste is all over the place, and that shows in my playing,” said Jeff. “We’re a band that a lot of people who don’t necessarily love metal can listen to. We’re catchy and we write songs that display technical proficiency at the same time. Our fans know we’re not going to let them down. We’ve stuck around.”

There’s no doubt they’ll be around for a long time to come too. Check out Jeff’s playlist below and get ready for Villains this summer.

Jeff Kendrick’s Playlist:

1. Muse — Absolution

“I just bought Absolution, and I’ve been listening to that a lot.”

2. Devildriver — Pray for Villains

“I’ve been cranking our new record non-stop because we’re going over mixes now. It sounds amazing.”

3. Guns ‘N Roses — Chinese Democracy

“I listen to Chinese Democracy all the time. The guitar playing is incredible!”

4. Alice In Chains

“I don’t feel like there’s anything coming out that’s going to really surpass the bands I’ve loved forever. Getting into music at a certain age, certain bands will seem more magical because you were in that moment. Alice is one of them along with Pantera.”

5. Pantera

6. Metallica — Death Magnetic

7. Deftones — White Pony

8. Lamb of God — Wrath

—Rick Florino
04.19.09