What are you favorite artists and songs to listen to on your system?


So, I just read a post about listening to Rap on a hi end system and it got me thinking about what other people listen to on their hi quality setups.  I listen to a very broad range of music so I am curious to learn of some of your favorite artists/songs no matter what the genre.  The purpose for me is to learn of new music, no matter what the genre.  Please include a few brief details if it adds to the comment.  I will start with some of the music I am listening to this week.  Lastly, I am 46 and grew up in Denver, CO for any additional context to my tastes.

  • Alicia Keys, If I ain't got you
  • Drake, Hold On, We're going home
  • Lang Lang, The Season, Op. 37a/X. October
  • Disclosure, Magnets
  • Cecile McLorin Savant, John Henry
  • Joanne Shaw Taylor, Bones
  • Itzhak Perlman, Tchaikovsky: violen concerto in D Major - numerous tracks
  • Tears for Fears, Woman in Chains
  • Nils Lofgren Band, Bass & Drum Intro
  • Daft Punk, Instant Crush
  • Christy Moore, Shine on You Crazy Diamond
  • NIN, Hurt - Trent Reznor has always placed high standards on his productions.  You may not like some of his lyrics or sounds but he is very creative.  He has won a Grammy and an Oscar more recently for movie scores. One of the original "industrial music" creators.
  • NIN, Into the Void - any "noise" you hear is intentional 
  • John Cash, Hurt - remake of NIN song
  • NIN, The "Perfect Drug" Single - will push your system's bass capability




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Way too many to list them all.  On the classical side, two pieces I really enjoy are Mozart's Violin Concerto #3 and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.  The various interpretations and my sense about them:

Mozart's Violin Concerto #3:
Perlman-like B.B. King playing a Gibson ES335
Zuckerman-like George Harrison playing a Rickenbaker 235
Rachael Barton Pine-like Eric Clapton playing a Gibson Les Paul
Anne-Sophie Mutter-like Jimi Hendrix playing a Fender Strat

(my favorite, tossup between Rachael & Anne-Sophie)

Beethoven Symphonies:
Ricardo Chailly (excellent modern digital recording, conductor has himself and the orchestra in control)
Herbert Von Karajan (incredible recording of a 1963 performance, conductor seems to push himself and the orchestra, very dynamic)
Leonard Bernstein (best of both worlds, several recordings with different orchestras, like the DG recordings the best)
ejr1953, you caught me off guard with those comments about the players.  Interesting analogies, I'll have to think about those a bit.  FWIW I like all four of those violinists.  And all four guitarists.
Bdp,

I've got Joseph Barden pups in my tele - Can you guess why?
Red Neck Jazz, baby!
Very cool Marty! One of the best times I ever had was recording with Danny's early partner Evan Johns for a week (on his Moontan album). A Telecaster player himself, he told me Danny was the best musician he ever worked with.