Fate and free will. The sublime and the subversive. I love it when things are beautiful for the wrong reason. Proper spelling and grammar. Food-both preparation and consumption. Drinking. Dancing. Drinking and dancing.
Music:
I'm pretty passionate about music, although I confess I listen mostly to rock and roll. I like music that is raw and sexy and danceable. I like intelligent pop music. I like a good beat, but if the only thing a song has is a beat, I probably won't like it. I like interesting lyrics. I like harmonica solos and the use of miscellaneous percussion. I like harmonies and layered vocals. I like music that is stripped down and bare, but I also like huge string arrangements. I prefer guitar to piano, and a voice that is edgy and interesting to a voice that is technically skilled. I like honesty and a sense of humour, especially if the humour leans toward the dark side. I like to be told stories. I don't like being yelled at. I don't like music in the background. Play it loud.
Some more or less chronological examples:
Raffi, John Lennon, Janis Joplin, Harry Chapin, Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, 60's girl groups, Buddy Holly, Muddy Waters, The Turtles, Tommy James, Dion, Jimi Hendrix, The Animals, Herman's Hermits, John Cougar/Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary
Minipops, K-tel compilations on vinyl, American Top 40 and Video Hits, Madonna, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Corey Hart, Platinum Blonde, Depeche Mode, OMD, INXS, Blondie, The Cars, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Rick Springfield, Joan Jett, The Go Gos, Prince, Tom Petty, David Bowie
The Clash, The Monks, New Order, The Pogues, Love and Rockets, The Cure, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychedelic Furs, The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Ramones
Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Hole, Aqua, Pixies, Social Distortion, Rancid, Oasis, Garbage, Ash, The Catherine Wheel, Spice Girls, Dandy Warhols, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer
The Raveonettes, The White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Strokes, The Hives, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Metric, The Sounds, The Shins, The Kills, The Velvet Underground, Stellastarr*, Sarah Harmer, Juliette and the Licks, The Lorrainas, Mando Diao, The Duke Spirit, The Primitives, The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Kill Cheerleader, The Long Blondes, The Cribs, The Rakes, The Kooks, Cat Power, Riverboat Gamblers, Dirtbombs, King Khan and BBQ Show, Matt Mays, Joel Plaskett, The Fratellis, Albert Hammond, Jr., Billy Bragg, The Cramps, The Damned, The Misfits, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Iggy Pop, The Stooges, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Television, Black Lips, The Horrors (UK),The Gun Club, The Ponys, The Horrors (US), The Replacements, Suicide...
