Jesse Stapp's "Top Five" artists and films
First of all, this is hard. To narrow down my favorite artists/films of all time to five slots is intimidating to say the least. After several moments of contemplation, however, here it is. My favorite artists and films to date. In no particular order:
Artists:
1. Ben Folds- Have you ever heard this man play the piano? His fingers move in an amazingly-entrancing way and his melodies are sheer genius. If you play the piano, you'll appreciate the complexities of this man's sheet music, as it is some of the most encompassing music of all time. On top of this, he has a smooth, relaxing voice that fits so well over the top of his instrumentals. Check out "The Luckiest" if you're looking to add another song to your Valentine's Day CD- probably one of the coolest, most artistic love songs ever.
2. Aerosmith- I truly believe that everyone has an emotional attachment with the first band they saw in concert, even if your style changes. Well, that's my story anyway. I saw Aerosmith rock out at the Target center when I was 13 and they will forever be in my top five. Everything from the drums to the heavy guitar riffs rocks. Plus, Steven Tyler's a badass, so that helps the band score major points.
3. Bob Marley- This one needs little to no explanation. Marley was a revolutionary and his music legendary. Leaders and prominent figures could learn a lot from Bob Marley's ideologies- I know I have. Marley for Prez!
4. Jason Mraz- For those of you who may not know Mr. A-Z, he's approximately a 5'6" singer/songwriter from the Carolina region. What Mraz lacks in stature, he makes up for in vocal strength and creativity. This man's a poet and the things he can do with his voice amaze me every time i listen to one of his songs. For example, on his latest record- Mr. A-Z-he sings opera towards the conclusion of a song entitled, Mr. Curiosity. For the true experience, download the trifecta: You and I, The Boy's Gone Home and Bella Luna. You'll get vocal range, some anti-war messages and pure poetry from this package.
5. Oasis- Great songs, great harmonies, great buildups, great... Oasis is one of the best, and the album '(What's the story) Morning Glory?' should more than explain this stance.
Films
1. Fight Club- This film is a trip from start to finish. WIthout giving too much away (for those of you who haven't seen it), the film depicts the journey of a man who yearns to find something more to life than simply a 9-5 job and material possessions. In his search, he finds an underground fighting ring that is meant to completely break an individual and mold him into a definitive man. There's so many layers to this movie and possibly the greatest twist in cinematic history.
2. Snatch- A lesson in script-writing full of mindless banter and humor. How can you miss when the plot involves the russian mafia, illegal gypsy-boxing and the schemes of many to steal the most valuable diamond in the world?
3. Momento- Filmed from the viewpoint of a character suffering severe short-term memory loss, Momento is an editing masterpiece that places the viewer directly in the mindset of having such a disease. The encounters of the aforementioned character with friends, enemies and lovers only start to build depth when the movie is in full force. This is not a flaw, but a wonderful tool to keep the viewer guessing at the outcome of the film.
4. Across the Universe- This film is perhaps the most visually-stimulating of all time. With beautiful camera shots and a phenomenal soundtrack, this is a great movie that gets better with each viewing.
5. Home Alone 1 & 2- I could probably write a novel on these selections, but i'll keep it short and concise. The idea for this movie is genius, but wouldn't work half as well without the boyish innocence of Caulkin or the neurotic behaviors of O' Hara. The supporting cast is equally as impressive, with the hilarious stylings of Stern and Pesci. This is a great family movie, a great holiday movie and a great movie to quote. Plus, who hasn't played out the scenario of being home alone or in an entirely new city without your parents at the age of 9 before? I include both 1 & 2 because this is the first time in cinematic history in which the sequel has matched, if not surpassed, the quality of the original. A+...greatest movies of all time!