Chris Tasler - The Stuff In My CD Player

Chris Tasler
Musical Tastes

Since I'm a college radio DJ, I have to keep up on tons of different music, and I especially have to vary my musical tastes. So here's a little sample of my favorite bands, complete with links to official and fan-run websites, so you can do a little investigating yourself.

Ben Folds Five OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.benfoldsfive.com
FAN SITE: http://www.oeonline.com/bff/
An awesome piano band out of Chapel Hill, NC. Self-described as "punk rock for sissies," this trio - Ben Folds on piano, Robert Sledge on bass and Darren Jessee - plays a unique mix of biting, funny, fast-paced tunes ("Song For The Dumped," "Redneck Past," etc.) and deep, heartfelt stuff ("Don't Change Your Plans," "Evaporated," etc.) My favorite band by far. But they're gone now... *sob*

Beck OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.beck.com
FAN SITE: http://slojamcentral.tripod.com/
You want the most out-there music you've ever heard? This is your man. Beck Hansen takes the concept of fusion to the Nth degree. And that's why I build thousands of shrines in his image. Praise the Beck!

Beastie Boys OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.beastieboys.com
FAN SITE: Any suggestions? E-mail me @ tas@iastate.edu!
The last of the cool white rappers. These guys have withstood the test of time. What can I say, besides "put out another album NOW!!!!"

Dave Matthews Band OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.dmband.com
FAN SITE: http://www.naples.net/~nfn01005/dmb/
A band legendary for their live performances. Many people refer to them as our generation's Grateful Dead, but I'll pass on that. Leave that to Phish...

Soul Coughing OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.soulcoughing.com
FAN SITE: http://www.wbr.com/soulcough
This group was best described as "avant-garde hip-hop." The nonsensical rhyming, funky samples and futuristic leanings made this a band to check out. Now, they've gone their separate ways and frontman M.Doughty's doomed to be known as "that 'Never Gonna Come Back Down' guy." Sigh...

Radiohead OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.radiohead.com
FAN SITE: http://www.greenplastic.com
The modern carriers of the art-rock torch. "Kid A" is a-friggin'-mazing. If you don't own it yet, then 1) go see a psychiatrist, 2) buy "Kid A," and 3) go see a psychiatrist again.

The Aquabats OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.theaquabats.com
FAN SITE: http://sanborn.simplenet.com/eNoise/aquabats/
As far as I know, the Aquabats are the world's only crime-fighting ska band, protecting the world from the threats of boy bands, melody-free hip-hop and whiny rap-metal. Oh, and the drummer from Blink 182? He's an ex-Aquabat. So he's got that goin' for him.

The Presidents of the United States of America OFFICIAL SITE: None at the moment
FAN SITE: http://fly.to/porch
One of the oddest pop bands around. They broke up in 1998, did stuff on their own, hooked up with Sir Mix-A-Lot (don't ask...) and now they're back together! Check out "Freaked Out and Small" on MusicBlitz Records now!

Currently, this is all my attention span allows me to type. I'll have a lot more here later, as I get around to it.

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Ben Folds Five	OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.benfoldsfive.com FAN SITE: http://www.oeonline.com/bff/ An awesome piano band out of Chapel Hill, NC. Self-described as "punk rock for sissies," this trio - Ben Folds on piano, Robert Sledge on bass and Darren Jessee - plays a unique mix of biting, funny, fast-paced tunes ("Song For The Dumped," "Redneck Past," etc.) and deep, heartfelt stuff ("Don't Change Your Plans," "Evaporated," etc.) My favorite band by far. But they're gone now... sob
Beck	OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.beck.com FAN SITE: http://slojamcentral.tripod.com/ You want the most out-there music you've ever heard? This is your man. Beck Hansen takes the concept of fusion to the Nth degree. And that's why I build thousands of shrines in his image. Praise the Beck!
Beastie Boys	OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.beastieboys.com FAN SITE: Any suggestions? E-mail me @ tas@iastate.edu! The last of the cool white rappers. These guys have withstood the test of time. What can I say, besides "put out another album NOW!!!!"
Dave Matthews Band	OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.dmband.com FAN SITE: http://www.naples.net/~nfn01005/dmb/ A band legendary for their live performances. Many people refer to them as our generation's Grateful Dead, but I'll pass on that. Leave that to Phish...
Soul Coughing	OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.soulcoughing.com FAN SITE: http://www.wbr.com/soulcough This group was best described as "avant-garde hip-hop." The nonsensical rhyming, funky samples and futuristic leanings made this a band to check out. Now, they've gone their separate ways and frontman M.Doughty's doomed to be known as "that 'Never Gonna Come Back Down' guy." Sigh...
Radiohead	OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.radiohead.com FAN SITE: http://www.greenplastic.com The modern carriers of the art-rock torch. "Kid A" is a-friggin'-mazing. If you don't own it yet, then 1) go see a psychiatrist, 2) buy "Kid A," and 3) go see a psychiatrist again.
The Aquabats	OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.theaquabats.com FAN SITE: http://sanborn.simplenet.com/eNoise/aquabats/ As far as I know, the Aquabats are the world's only crime-fighting ska band, protecting the world from the threats of boy bands, melody-free hip-hop and whiny rap-metal. Oh, and the drummer from Blink 182? He's an ex-Aquabat. So he's got that goin' for him.
The Presidents of the United States of America	OFFICIAL SITE: None at the moment FAN SITE: http://fly.to/porch One of the oddest pop bands around. They broke up in 1998, did stuff on their own, hooked up with Sir Mix-A-Lot (don't ask...) and now they're back together! Check out "Freaked Out and Small" on MusicBlitz Records now!