Irish Musicians - Best 5/ Worst 5

karaokeman

The latest poll for greatest ever Irish musicians had some interesting results;

http://www.gigwise.com/news/71566/U2-voted-greatest-ever-Irish-musicians

I'm posting this thread as a matter of interest to see who would you rate as the best 5 Irish acts and the worst five in terms of musical talent?

My top 5;
1. Jimmy MacCarthy
2. Thin Lizzy
3. U2
4. Phil Coulter
5. Van Morrison

My worst 5;
1. Jedward
2. Mary Byrne
3. Boyzone
4. Eoghan Quigg
5. Bressie

Irish Aris

a friend of mine thinks that Jedward are not a music act, it's a circus!!! (I guess we are getting old).

Best Irish acts for me:
U2
the Cranberries
Gavin Friday
Sinead O'Connor (just for her voice, most of her albums are not to be taken seriously)

I am not commenting on the worst ones, as I am not very familiar with Irish music, and even some of the pop boy/girl bands have a good song here and there.

DHYNZY

If we're talking about combined talent and success (because there are a lot of talented players who never made a commercial success of themselves) Rory Gallagher has to be up there. Phil Lynott as a songwriter, along with Van Morrison.

There are far too many bad efforts out there in the charts at the minute to bother listing!

Squeeonline

Cant be bothered to come up with the worst 5 since there are so many.

God is an Astronaut have to be in the top 5 somewhere though.

Malice

Squeeonline wrote: »

God is an Astronaut have to be in the top 5 somewhere though.

I had opened this thread to specifically write that. They are a criminally underrated band!

Rud

Top 5 Irish best

1. Thin Lizzy
2. JJ72
3. Horslips
4. The Dubliners
5. Ash

Top 5 Irish worst

1. The Script
2. Sinead O Connor
3. Snow Patrol
4. Ryan Sheridan
5. Glen Hansard

Explosions in the Sky

Rud wrote: »

Top 5 Irish best

1. Thin Lizzy
2. JJ72
3. Horslips
4. The Dubliners
5. Ash

Top 5 Irish worst

1. The Script
2. Sinead O Connor
3. Snow Patrol
4. Ryan Sheridan
5. Glen Hansard

Are we basing this thread on musicianship or bands we don't like ? seems to be based on dislike. The script while they make very popular pop/rock music that isn't everyone's cup of tea Mark their guitarist is definitely a good guitarist live and in the studio. Don't know if Sinead O Conor wrote her songs but she sounds good on a record atleast. Snow patrol are comparable to the Script. Glen Hansard is a talented musician imo and Ryan Sheridan, how could you call him one of Irelands worst musicians, his career has only started recently and he has released one album which was really good ?

Rigsby

Explosions in the Sky wrote: »

Are we bashing this thread on musicianship or bands we don't like ? seems to be based on dislike.

Good point. Though I think people should take these polls with a huge chunk of salt. :pac:

Being talented and a good musician is one thing, but if people dont like the music itself, the likelihood is they wont give it their vote.

Is it fair ? No, but such is the way with these type of silly polls.

Why silly ? Well for starters, U2 are in there while Rory Gallagher, Louis Stewart, or Noel Kelehan are not. Granted the last two are jazz musicians, but are n't we talking about Irish Musicians ?

CiaranK

5 is very hard.

Van the Man is pretty much at the top
Glen Hansard is an amazingly talented musician
Phil Lynott too has to be there
As does Planxty
And Horslips

Sooooo many more. Too hard to contain it to 5.

Deus Ex Machina

Only naming the worst five because I like to be negative.

1. The Coronas
2. The Script
3. Damien Rice
4. Crystal Swing
5. Jedward

narddog

Top 5, no particular order:
U2
Thin Lizzy
Van the man
The Undertones
The Dubliners.

Bottom 5. Feels a little like shooting fish in a barrel, but here goes:
Any crap that came out of TV 'talent" show
The Corrs
Bewitched
Brian Kennedy
Ronan Keating (Christ, he makes me want to have looser Irish guns laws)

SilverScreen

Best 5:

1. My Bloody Valentine
What can you say really? They're one of the most inventive and influential bands to ever come from these shores and indeed the entire World. Their music is what I can only describe as a big delicious cake for your ears and it never fails to amaze me.

2. Stiff Little Fingers
They may have jumped on a couple of bandwagons but their aim was sharp, their message was true, and they made some of the best punk rock albums of all time.

3. God Is An Astronaut
Listening to their albums feels like sonic heaven. Their music can capture many moods and paint vivid images in you mind without the need for lyrics. The power and majesty of their music makes them a national treasure.

4. Rollerskate Skinny
A band that don't get near enough credit as they deserve. Their music was wonderfully weird and creative yet still catchy as fuck. Ireland's very own Flaming Lips seemingly being lost to the mists of time.

5. JJ72
They may not be the most original band ever and their vocalist has a very nasal voice (not to mention being a tosser). But fuck it, I connected with their music and it made a great impact on my life in my mid-teens. I still listen to their albums occasionally to this day and they bring back a flood of great memories.


Worst 5:

1. The Blizzards
WARNING: Only enjoy if you are drunk in a student bar surrounded by fellow drunken gobshites. We are not responsible for any irritation caused by exposure to the music of The Blizzards while sober. If you are suffering from any side effects please contact your doctor or local off-license.

2. The Coronas
Didn't they have only two songs or something?

3. Republic Of Loose
Please just... just stop, it's not funny anymore.

4. Aslan
Come on you boys in blue, there's a reason you're playing venues like The Well in Moate. You had your moment in 1986 and no point trying to live off it anymore.

5. The Script
Maroon 5 want their songs back. Actually no never mind...

Explosions in the Sky

Well this thread has turned out well :cool:

Havermeyer

karaokeman wrote: »

My worst 5;
1. Jedward
2. Mary Byrne
3. Boyzone
4. Eoghan Quigg
5. Bressie

How does the word musician relate to any of these?

dasdog

Sticking to the appropriate word in the thread title and only counting the better ones:

Eddie Clarke
Harmonica player, "unheard" being his posthumous release of reels and tales

Louis Stewart
World class master jazz guitarist who preferred the quiet life in Ireland

Rory Gallagher
Never really got his sound but I can appreciate

Brian Downey
Rock/Funk drummer from Dublin of all places

Davy Spillane
There most likely are or have been better but I'm ignorant to their existence

CajunOnTour

Top 5 Irish best

1. U2
2. Christy Moore
3. Thin Lizzy
4. Van Morrison
5. Jimmy McCarthy

Top 5 Irish worst

1. Jedward
2. Boyzone
3. Westlife
4. Big Tom
5. Boomtown Rats

karaokeman

Interesting that The Script were not on the poll.

The Westlife/Boyzone/Jedward thing has been done to death of course, they are singers and nothing more.

A quick look on thefreedictionary, definition of musician comes up as "One who composes, conducts, or performs music, especially instrumental music".

Eggonyerface

karaokeman wrote: »

Interesting that The Script were not on the poll.

In the best or worst?

Sugarlumps

In no order

Rory Gallagher
An Emotional Fish
U2
Graham Hopkins
Therapy?

ricero

i really like damien dempsey, u2, the undertones and thin lizzy. lethal dialect for the rap

SilverScreen

karaokeman wrote: »

A quick look on thefreedictionary, definition of musician comes up as "One who composes, conducts, or performs music, especially instrumental music".

Which begs the question: what would you define as a musical instrument?

karaokeman

Eggonyerface wrote: »

In the best or worst?

Neither, I'm not a huge Script fan but I don't hate them wither, I'm indifferent about their music. I wouldn't have them in the best or worst 5.

Zero1986 wrote: »

Which begs the question: what would you define as a musical instrument?

Any physical object (i.e. guitar/piano/drums/violin etc etc) that a person uses to play music, that does not include vocals.

SilverScreen

karaokeman wrote: »

Any physical object (i.e. guitar/piano/drums/violin etc etc) that a person uses to play music, that does not include vocals.

I know I'm going off-topic here and this could be a matter for a completely different thread, but I think the human voice can be used as a musical instrument. I'm not running to the defense of Jedward or Westlife here but if you listen to the way Jonsi uses his voice in Sigur Ros or the way Liz Fraser uses her voice in Cocteau Twins you'll understand where I'm coming from. Not to mention choirs.

Stompbox

The voice is most definitely a musical instrument, and it's one of the most expressive musical tools available. All instruments are used to convey either melody or rhythm; why exclude vocals?

JerryHandbag

Best:

Rory Gallagher
U2
Planxty
Bell X1
My Bloody Valentine

Worst:

<insert 5 random boy/girlbands>

I-Shot-Jr

Best five Irish Music Acts

1 And So I Watch You From Afar
2 Redneck Manifesto
3 Adebisi Shank
4 Jape
5 Cast of Cheers

Worst:

Too many to bother mentioning

lordgoat

karaokeman wrote: »

Neither, I'm not a huge Script fan but I don't hate them wither, I'm indifferent about their music. I wouldn't have them in the best or worst 5.

Really but what about this?

karaokeman wrote: »

That top five selling list is not really accurate because its from wikipedia, out of date and lacking citations. The Corrs have sold more records than Westlife but Westlife are the best selling Irish act of the 2000s, mainly because The Corrs were bigger in the 1990s.
Here's my list;

1. U2
2. Jimmy MacCarthy
3. The Script
4. Christy Moore
5. The Corona's

And then there was this:

karaokeman wrote: »

Best Irish Band overall - U2
Best Irish Pop Band - Westlife
Best Irish Rock Band - Thin Lizzy (definitely true)
Best Modern Irish Band - The Script
Best Irish Trad Band - De Dannan
Best Irish guitarist - Rory Gallagher or The Edge
Best Irish Songwriter - Jimmy MacCarthy
Best Irish Male Singer - Tommy Fleming
Best Irish Female Singer - Nadine Coyle
Best Irish Entertainer - Christy Moore

And then not forgetting this cracker of a thread about The Script.


http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056469363

Then there was this post where you named them ' The future of Irish Music'

karaokeman wrote: »

The time has come anyway.

At least Shane, Mark, Kian and Nicky will finally have some space to grow individually.

With regards to the Jedward comment, no the future of Irish music lies with The Script.

And then they were the best Irish Bans since U2

karaokeman wrote: »

You forgot....

The Corona's
The Corrs
Republic of Loose
The Blizzards
Imelda May

Yeah but I know what you mean there's not many at the moment. But if you want to know whose the best Irish band since U2 I would say The Script.

So ya i think it's fair to say, no you're indifferent about them.

Also those posts are all from within the last year.

lordgoat

I-Shot-Jr wrote: »

Best five Irish Music Acts

1 And So I Watch You From Afar
2 Redneck Manifesto
3 Adebisi Shank
4 Jape
5 Cast of Cheers

Worst:

Too many to bother mentioning

Finally some good modern music mentioned in here. Squeeze some Jimmy Cake in there too.

Gonzovision

Little Green Cars are very promising, enjoyed their gig with the Antlers.

Squeeonline

I-Shot-Jr wrote: »

Best five Irish Music Acts

1 And So I Watch You From Afar
2 Redneck Manifesto
3 Adebisi Shank
4 Jape
5 Cast of Cheers

Worst:

Too many to bother mentioning

Dang, forgot about ASIWYFA. They are simply amazing live!

walshb

Best 5:

Thin Lizy: Really stand out. Sensational performers

Who else is there?

Ok, U2 did have some real good stuff in the 80s.

Gilbert O'Sulivan was a very god writer and had some great tracks.

Van Morrisson. A horrible little man, but good music.

As singers/performers go I will add in Westlife.

Worst:

Sinead: Exteremely overrated. What voice? Moaning and whingeing her way thru tracks.

The Script: Bore me to tears.

Boomtown Rats: Wannabe Thin Lizzy

Mary Coughlan. Seriously, whoever told that woman she could sing? Deplorable is being kind to that mess.

Going to throw in Mary Byrne. She ruined, and I mean ruined a fantastic song for me; "It's a Man's World." A glorified lounge singer at best. Shouts and screams her way thru a certain type of song. The hype surrounding her was laughable.