- The Who
They are legen-wait for it-dary. They were HUGE in the 70s and are still touring today, which says a lot about how phenomenal they are already. Each member of the Who has been named the best of their crafts. Their songs are catchy and actually have meaning to them. They comment on society and the (Vietnam) war. They spoke to their entire generation, listening to the Who is like getting a history lesson while jamming out to amazing music. They did a full length rock opera, does it get any cooler than that? - Neutral Milk Hotel
- Emerson Lake and Palmer
Don't let their name fool you! They are the quintessential progressive rock band that is known for inspiring the punk rock revolution. They were also big in the 70s. I absolutely love when rock bands incorporate more than just the vocal, guitar, drums, and bass. Emerson Lake and Palmer merged classical music with progressive rock and made masterpieces. - Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf is Chester Arthur Burnett, a Chicago blues singer, harmonica player, and guitarist. He was popular from the 40s until his death in the 70s. He was one of the most electrifying blues performers of all time. He inspired the Black Keys, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin.
- Gogol Bordello
They're all from New York, and the lead singer is Ukrainian American. They give off some serious Ukrainian vibes, and I love it. All of their songs are deep and spiritual, but they are best described as a gypsy Eastern European disco rock circus thing. They're perfect and wonderful and I love the crazy vibes they give off live. - Jay-Z
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The most mainstream artist on this list, Jay-Z is a popular rapper that has been popular since the 90s. He is a pure genius, and he has consistently been putting out amazing hits throughout his career. He combines smart lyrics with wordplay and rhymes that are unmatched by other rappers. And of course I have a soft spot for anyone from Brooklyn (718!!!). - Kanye West
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I have to admit, I laughed at the person who REALLY introduced me to Kanye, because I didn't really take him seriously. After an intense listening session, I'm in love. Kanye is a genius lyricist and producer. He is one of the greatest and most influential artists alive, and that title is well deserved. He has completely changed the landscape of hip hop with the release of College Dropout.
I absolutely love when rock bands incorporate more than just the vocal, guitar, drums, and bass. They use a singing saw, an accordion, brass instruments, and a variety of other instruments. Their album "In the Airplane Over the Sea" is basically the life, death, and reincarnation of Anne Frank. Everyone knows the basic story of Anne Frank, but Neutral Milk Hotel went beyond the holocaust stories and explored her as a beautiful, complex person.




















