Cool Band Names

Holly Williams- The Highway: 2.5

My way or The Highway. This is music you need to be in the mood to listen to. Lots of ballads. Songs about the road. Songs about lost love. This is moody, introspective, and kind of depressing music. I've been really happy lately so this stuff kind of bums me out.The cd was just a little too somber for me. I know she is country royalty, but that's still only going to get her a 2.5. It would have been lower if it wasn't for The Railroad. Give me more of that, Hol.

The Sugarplastic- Bang, The Earth is Round: 3.5

If you like XTC, and I do, then you'll like The Sugarplastic. They had me right from the opening number. Quirky, cool lyrics and lots of great hooks and melodies that stay in your head for hours. This is alt/indie stuff that's right up my alley. Great power pop cd.

Refreshments- Let It Rock: 2.5
The question is- would I rather listen to Chuck Berry or this Refreshments cd?  No question these are talented guys and I definitely enjoyed this cd. But they're white guys from Sweeden. Arguably- Chuck Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that defined rock 'n roll and made it distinctive. His guitar riffs and showmanship influenced everyone that followed. So, I guess I'd rather listen to Chuck.

Marillion- Clutching at Straws: 4.0

First and foremost you have to be a fan of prog-rock to enjoy this stuff. Lucky for me!

Look up prog-rock in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of Genesis followed by a picture of Marillion. In fact- I have a hard time believing it's not Peter Gabriel doing the vocals on a lot of these songs. This is a great cd from start to finish- happy ending indeed. If you have to own just

one prog-rock cd... this would be a great choice.

Mother Hips

California cool music if ever I heard it. Songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Tim Bluhm and guitarist Greg Loiacono are as talented a pair as you'll meet.  Great songwriting;  beautiful harmonies and country-tinged melodies are a winning combo in my book.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Topic:

I definitely think the music is the most important thing because there are a lot of successful bands that I think have pretty lame names. Does the Zac Brown Band have any imagination or cleverness associated with it. Not really. Are they popular? Just a little. But then you can also make an argument for a name like The Goo Goo Dolls. Would they be as popular if they stuck with their original name of The Sex  Maggots? I like Goo Goo Dolls. A name they supposedly got out of a magazine called True Detective.  It's the music for sure, but a cool or clever name certainly adds to the whole package.

Some fav band names:

The Snake, The Cross, The Crown.- From the crest off Alfa Romeo cars

Panic! At The Disco- from a Smith's song called panic- it's about a disco fire.

Dr. Dog- orig called Raccoon. Good name change

Hot Tuna;  Foxymorons;  Mofro;  Built To Spill; Portugal, The Man; Telekinesis; Jane's Addiction;

And of course The Mother Hips