Who are your all time top ten favorite bands/artists?

[Bonemachine]

Normally I'm not big on lists but this always prompts great discussion and discovery of great music.

For me, in no particular order:

Pixies
Nirvana
Tool
Radiohead
The Clash
Talking Heads
David Bowie
Chemical Brothers
The Cure
The Beatles

[MartinNL]

For me in random order:

Kraak & Smaak
Michael Jackson
Marie Fredriksson
Groove Armada
Ben Howard
Lenny Kravitz
Chemical Brothers
Massive Attack
Thievery Corporation
Tosca

[Mormel]

10 artists and groups I really dig...

1. George Michael
2. Usher
3. Living Colour
4. Spandau Ballet
5. Culture Club
6. Isley Brothers
7. Deep Purple
8. Stacie Orrico
9. Janis Joplin
10. Christina Aguilera

[Romero]

No particular order:

1. Dinosaur Jr.- J Mascis absolutely slays on guitar and buries some awesome riffs and hooks under that fuzz as well. I've never given up on them in 20+ years.

2. Tom Waits- Almost no one can make me weep like his songs. The sheer variety is just mindboggling.

3. Queens of the Stone Age- In particular the first three records, although the latter ones have their good points. Josh Homme creates amazing riffs. I can listen to "Regular John" on continuous loop for life.

4. Screeching Weasel- Yeah, it's easy to sneer at "pop-punk" and I could just listen to the Ramones and get the same thing, but this still moves me. There is humor and intelligence in there. Something I was listening to at 19 that I can't let go of.

5. Elvis- past all the cheesiness and grandiosity is some great rock n roll and an amazing voice. His earlier more rockabilly sides for Sun and his early hits are still awesome.

6. Ted Leo- I love most of the stuff with the Pharmacists but I still go back to Chisel more often. Maybe it's because I discovered them at just the right point in my life where it really hit me and I've never forgotten it. Amazing voice, lyrics and guitar skills.

7. Samiam- Another act I haven't forgotten from my 19 year old self. They could variously be lumped with pop-punk or that second wave, early 90s "emo" but I thought they were a bit beyond that. They still put out great songs all this time later.

8. BR5-49- brought back classic country sounds without sounding dated or copy cats. Just fun, great country music that throws in a lot of different sounds. They even recorded songs with Steve Albini! If I played in a country band, this is what I would want to be.

9. Beastie Boys- What can I say? I grew up on the Beastie Boys from "Licensed to Ill" onwards. I'm glad I got to see them live.

10. The Monkees- I discovered the Monkees during their 80s rennaisance. The first real concert I ever attended. You can argue they were manufactured blah blah blah but I have too many good memories attached to let them go.

[jesse_custer]

1. Miles Davis - I haven't found a purer example of a musical artist. A Tribute to Jack Johnson is the most exciting album I've heard; In A Silent Way the most soothing; and Live-Evil the most startling. And that's just from Davis' electric period.

Miles was a great musician and leader for almost three decades. His leadership faltered during the 1980s; that's the only reason his music from that period wasn't good. But his trumpet playing was ALWAYS outstanding.

2. Howlin' Wolf - There is no such thing as a bad Howlin' Wolf song. Best voice of all time.

3. Elvis Costello - My personal favorite. His lyricism, songwriting, instrumentation, and vocals are all top-notch. Most importantly, his pop sensibility is off the charts. My Aim Is True, the best rock debut ever, through Imperial Bedroom seemingly can't be topped as a stretch of rock albums.

4. Q-Tip - His stuff with A Tribe Called Quest is great, but his solo work on The Renaissance is even better. He has groove, spirit, and creativity in spades. Perhaps the most underrated rap lyricist. Just a great man.

5. Jerry Reed - This guy is a real guitar hero. Unparalleled technique and songwriting with humanity and wit to spare.

6. The Smiths - Morrissey is a funny, humane guy. Johnny Marr is the best guitarist of the 1980s. Their band produced pop gems like they were about to go out of style.

7. Alabama Shakes - This band hasn't been around that long, but they prove that good pop music will always be made. Brittany Howard has the potential to become one of the best singers of all time. Watch her live and tell me otherwise; she's like Aretha Franklin with a guitar. Her band's blend of soul and southern rock should be appreciated and studied.

8. Frank Turner - His honesty, humor, and depth are what most punk and folk acts lack.

9. The Beatles - You just can't beat some of their pop songs.

10. Roger Miller - He always makes me laugh.

[The Black Guardian]

1. Cowboy Mouth - I don't kid myself into thinking they're better than these other guys, but they're a local band (that's gotten a tiny bit of outside fame) that I feel a deeper connection to.

2. The Beatles
3. Sting/The Police

The rest (in no order):
The Rolling Stones
The Who
Led Zeppelin
Stevie Wonder
The Clash
David Bowie
Madness

Marvin Gaye, The Ramones, and Parliament/Funkadelic occasionally enter my Top 10 depending on my mood.

And in the last 5 or so years, there's a Russian pagan metal band named Arkona that just might become one of my all-time Top 10.

[sibbo]

Michael Jackson & Jane's Addiction

then in any order:
Daft Punk
Chelsea Wolfe
Geinoh Yamashirogumi
Nine Inch Nails
Killing Joke
The Sisters of Mercy
Joe Hisaishi

...The Presets to make it to ten *?*

don't think they are the best so to speak, but enjoy listening to them the most..

[jessecuster3]

Oasis
The Beach Boys
Blur
John Hartford
Jane's Addiction
Yonder Mountain String Band
The Black Keys
Rx Bandits
Ben Folds(+5)
Fountains of Wayne

[DennyK]

In no specific order:

Cheap Trick
Waylon Jennings
Iron Maiden
Rory Gallagher
The Kinks
Led Zeppelin
Oasis
Warren Zevon
The Police
Ozzy Osbourne and The Blizzard of Ozz

[idlewildered]

Another in no specific order:

Rush
Cat Stevens
Idlewild (and by extension Roddy Woomble)
The Cure
Fleetwood Mac
Cake
Led Zeppelin
Jeff Buckley
Muddy Waters
One Minute Silence

[Deep_Sleeper]

Top 10 Favourite Bands/Artists? In no particular order

Tool
Nine Inch Nails
Pearl Jam
Queens of the Stone Age
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Alice in Chains
The Black Keys
Nirvana
Dallas Green
Jay-Z

[Shikidum]

Mr T Experience
Rolling Stones
AC/DC
Immortal Technique
Parazitii (romanian hip hop group)
Roxette
Johny Cash
Rednex

[aNamored]

Goblin
Deicide
Ufomammut
Motorhead
Discharge
Bolt Thrower
Sly and the Family Stone
The Beatles

Edit:

ditched Hanzel und Gretyl and bigelf for 1) any band Martin Van Drunen screams in (see Hail of Bullets, Asphyx and Grand Supreme Blood Court) and 2) Celtic Frost.

[G. Wayne]

In no particular order

Ministry
The Mad Capsule Markets / Wagdug Futuristic Unity / AA= (the first split off into the latter 2)
Dropkick Murphys
KMFDM
Rammstein
Turmion Katilot
The CNK (super obscure French industrial death metal)
Organic Cage (obscure Russian "techno" act far as I can tell, but I love everything from them I've heard)
Diablo Swing Orchestra
The Misfits

[Gram]

Probably...

Ronnie James Dio
Guns n' Roses
Metallica
Black Sabbath
Heavenly
Daikaiju
Machinae Supremacy
Project JAM
Queen

In no particular order.