Top 5 Tuesday x2: DMB & 311

I have been waiting for this day for 3+ years now. But a new Dave Matthews Band album AND a new 311 album on the same day? Unprecedented. A new album is the culmination of years of creativity for the artist. Hopefully, both of these albums will subsequently provide years of listening enjoyment for us, the fans. In honor of this historic double-decker album drop, let's double our Top 5 Tuesday pleasure and get ready to count down the five best tracks from both Dave Matthews Band & 311.

Your role young reader is going to be a little bit different than normal. See, DMB & 311 are probably my two favorite rock-ish bands. So, I am essentially counting down the five best songs of my favorite artist(s). You, therefore, will do the same. In the "Comments" section (we need more comments people, this is slowly starting to grow), I need you to 1) identify your favorite musical artist, 2) provide a brief summary of why you like them, and 3) name your five favorite songs by that artist, in order. To serve as a sample:

Artist: 311

Why: Chad Sexton is a fantastic drummer, they are the best band I have ever seen live, they have provided years worth of bonding between myself and one of my best friends (helllllo Jason Howie), & their music is consistent - great melodies, some throw-down mixed with some mary jane chill, and a side of reggae funk. Love it.

My 311 Top 5:

5) Champagne (7th track off From Chaos) - sounds like a good song to toast to at a wedding to me

4) Don't Stay Home (11th track off 311) - kicking drum intro, really tight song

3) Applied Science (6th track off Grassroots) - the drum solo song. Played live at every concert, includes an extended solo for Chad Sexton and a joint-percussion section with the rest of the band. You think that's not making the top 5? Take the time to click the link on this one to get a taste of a live show. Awesome.

2) Beautiful Disaster (4th track off Transistor) - love the guitar rift and the general feel of this song.

1) All Mixed Up (4th track off 311) - yes, a mainstream track. I can't help it. Just love the flow of the verses, it has a hip-hop reggae feel to it. Chorus is solid and I dare you to play it at a bar and not see people singing along. I never skip it on the ipod.


Artist: Dave Matthews Band

Why: Carter Beauford is one terrific, bass-akwards drummer, their songs are complex & intricate, there are few things better than chillin at a Dave concert, & I never get tired of listening to them.

My DMB Top 5:

5) Pantala Naga Pampa/Rapunzel (1st & 2nd tracks off Before These Crowded Streets) - played together, and oh so creative. Best track off the best DMB album. But boy, does Halloween give it a run for its money.

4) Grey Street (2nd track off Busted Stuff) - the harmonies on this one, lots of energy, and it's great live.

3) #41 (5th track off Crash) - the #41-Say Goodbye-Drive In, Drive Out trio of songs is what caught my ears the first time I heard this album. Dad gave it to me for Christmas because some people had recommended it as something I might like. He didn't know I actually "hated" Dave Matthews Band because I did not like the song "Crash". Naturally, he gave me not only that song, but the entire album. Turns out I kind of liked it. And then it grew on me. And then it became an entry for Top 5 Tuesday. Carter's high-hat work and the live jam on this one put it in the list.

2) Dreamgirl (1st track off Stand Up) - I just love it.

1) Ants Marching (7th track off Under the Table and Dreaming) - very popular song across the masses. Encompasses all things DMB, in my opinion, and is just a fun song.

(For the record, the next five DMB tracks would be Drive In Drive Out, Say Goodbye, Recently, Grace is Gone, and Halloween, in no order).

There you have it, twice the Top 5 Tuesday fun. Hit it up with your favorite artist and your personal top 5. I've gotta run - two albums to pick up and play.

Know that we will always be down, down...