Eels

Mark Everett - the mastermind of Eels also known simply as E - has had a spectacularly sad life, but at least music comes easily for him, and appears to make the most of it. Both his parents died of cancer when he was still young and then after this, his sister committed suicide, a series of depressing events that would have a life changing effect on anyone, and maybe this reflects in the melancholic and mellow music he produces.

Some say that they jumps from "50's garage rock, roadhouse blues and swampy distortion", I just love the sad sound to all their music, and how the lyrics touch on depression, love, and sometimes glimpses of hope amongst despair.

One of my favourite songs by the Eels is 'I need some Sleep', this song sums up everything I like about the Eels, a soft tune that immediately soothes you before the lyrics kick in and then your heart turns heavy as his voice almost croaks. The lyrics suggest he has a problem so deeply inflicted on him that he can't sleep to the point where he tries 'counting sheep' but then he says 'there's one I always miss', and everyone is telling him to leave it and 'let it go' but it obviously means a lot to him if he simply can't.

Another great song is 'That look you give that Guy' another classic song by them, there's just something about these sorts of songs by them that always make me stop and suddenly become immersed in the simple, ponderful, forlorn lyrics that make me want to just cry... Anyway, if you just listen to the lyrics they really leave a mark on you. If that was too cringe worthy, then to be quite honest, this time I don't care because this band are really special.

Here are the two songs:

Kasabian

Hailed at one point as "Britain's hottest band" Kasabian are and always have been one of my favourites. Partly because they are one of the better British bands, but also because they remind me of a modern day Oasis - they're from Manchester, they like football, they both appear to be arrogant twats, they have the same sort of sound to their music, they're amazing.

In my opinion Oasis's albums have got worse as the years progressed with an odd exception, but there is no doubt thatDig Out Your Soul is an absolute pile of crap compared to Definitely Maybe whereas with Kasabian, its sort of the opposite... I think their most recent album - Velociraptor is incredible and has some of my favourite songs. La Fee Verte is brilliant, and I genuinely hope they continue to create more songs with that almost melancholic and dreary tone that they manage to pull of so well, and then at the complete opposite end of the spectrum comes Switchblade Smiles which has a taunting start and you can just 'feel it coming' which I love hearing just before the heavy drum beat and Serge's screaming voice followed by the penetrating bass line. 

Anyway... as long as Kasabian keep making songs close to the likes of Club Foot, and La Fee Verte, then I'll be happy.

Here they are:

Red Hot Chili Peppers

One of my favourite bands with some of my least favourite songs. They are recognized for their funk and groove, with Flea attacking the bass jamming out some of the most psychedelic tunes. But those are the songs I really hate.

I love the chilled back songs with Antony Kiedis's voice softly singing the lyrics to 'Under the Bridge', or the tune of the guitar to 'Snow'. They have been going for a really long time and loads of things have happened to their members, including death, so thats probably why their songs vary from almost heavy metal to quiet, reflective songs. Some people say their latest stuff has become to forced and is based more on advertising and business, but I prefer their latest songs to the songs when they first started out as a garage band, playing songs for their school.

Here are my favourite songs by them:

• Under the Bridge
• Californication
• Can't Stop
• By the Way
• Scar Tissue
• Soul to Squeeze 
• Snow (Hey Oh)

Give It Away is one of their more funky songs which is alright, but not as good as the ones mentioned above.

The Rolling Stones

Although this band have pretty much died out now and rubbed out by all the shit going round, I still kind of like them, but just a couple of their songs at the most. Probably because I want to be a rock star and dream about playing the incredible solos in front of thousands of screaming people. But its not just the solos, the whole mood of the band just seems really cool and their tone just sounds really special, especially the singers voice and the inevitable solo in every song. One of my favourites is 'Sympathy for the Devil' and I just love how he sings it and the lyrics, especially when he's talking about the Russian Revolution and how he thought it was time for a change as Anastasia screamed in vain and all these other infamous events that happen throughout the course of history, and how he almost seems proud of his accomplishments, but also there are a couple of incredible solos in there that I wish I could play.

Here are a couple of their songs: