Ah, a diversion!

Kate Bush - everything
Oh, it's a long story, but anything my KB gets me to a happy place. I was a HUGE Nina Hagen fan and I still am. She was the German Grandmother of punk, all in-your-face with her Uberself. Kate Bush was her British offspring, but not so much like her that I rejected her outright. She had a more theatrical flair and greater depth. I gave her music a listen, fell in love with her lilting voice and unique interpretations, gave in to the desperate passions that beat just beneath the surface of her music. Eeventually, I collected all of her ALBUMS and playing them until the grooves were worn off. I've just recently replaced my KB with digital files and I'm taken right back to my college days without the 4 gay roommates and the disgusting squatters' 2 bdrm. hovel we called an apartment. I won't justify my love of KB's music and I won't ever try to get anyone to listen to her if they aren't open to it because it's such a unique experience you either GET IT or you don't.

2 Skinnee J's - Love Like Mountains
Unending gratitude to T for introducing me to 2 Skinnee. They are such a unique band. I love their humor, energy, and intelligence - they are like what T would be if he was a band! This is not the most window-rattling song of theirs (usually a prerequisite for me to dig a song) but it is purty. I find myself stuck with this very pleasant earworm often. My son is a huge fan, too, especially after seeing the Sext Karate concert DVD.

Alter Bridge - Open Your Eyes
Breaking my rule of not liking anything that's on MTV ... this song made me sit up and notice Alter Bridge. Their sound was familiar and when I recognized some of the band members from Creed, I was interested. Now, I liked Creed ... liked, I LIKED them ... yes, I said it. BUT ... but I hated Scott Stapp. He had a weird look, a weird voice and a creepy little Napolean/Jesus complex. I was sad when he left Creed only because I thought Creed THE BAND was over. Then I heard they were coming back as Alter Bridge with a kickass new singer and I was hopeful. Heavier on the guitars and harmonies than before, they are a BAND now, not just the guys that back up Stapp. They didn't disappoint. Many of the songs on this album are in heavy rotation ... Metalingus is another great one.

System of a Down - Chop Suey
This was the first song I heard by SOAD and I absolutely fell in love with it. It was not only a new sound but it was almost like a Heavy Metal Queen. Our love affair continues with their latest release (Mezmerize) but this song from 2001, which I recently downloaded and rediscovered, reminds me of what caught my attention in the first place.

Seether w/Amy Lee - Broken
Beautiful song ... introduced me to Seether. Something about this song touches me. I'm not normally very sentimental (oh, shut up!) but this song seems to touch on a lot of emotions. I found an acoustic version recently that makes it feel even more intimate. Very bittersweet.

Foo Fighters - Times Like These (acoustic version)
I love me some Foo. I always thought Dave Grohl was the best thing about Nirvana (did I hear someone say they were overrated? Amen, brothah!) and he gets to show off his voice in this song. Yeah, I love the energy of the Foo Fighters and I think he screams better than most but when he slows down, well, that's the test and he passes every time. He's a Rock Star.

Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
I love the Femmes. It was a toss-up between this song and "Just One Kiss" or "Gone Daddy Gone" or even "KISS OFF!" (emphasis mine) for that matter, but this one won out because my kids absolutely LOVE this song. Let me tell you, when your kids love a band like the Violent Femmes and you can listen to your favorite music from college without your kids wrinkling up their noses and saying "but it's so OLD", you've got it made.
UPDATE: HOLY CRAP, did you watch Jessica SLAUGHTER this song on RockStar INXS?!?! PLEASE, put us out of our misery, America, and send her home. How DARE she suck so much?!

Static-X - I'm with Stupid
Not only was this the first Static-X song I heard, but it was the first time I saw them, yes, in a music video. (BACK OFF! I CAN'T HELP IT!) I didn't know if I liked them right away but there was something about their sound that was just so ... different. I was fascinated that a band could actually make a new sound surrounded as they were by so much vanilla pop and grunge. The fact that in their video they were looked SO bizarre AND they were standing in a church playing such angry, powerful music gave the little lapsed Catholic in me a secret thrill. Since then, there have been so many bands trying to emulate them but their sound is still unique to me.

Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas
I love the Kennedys but this song is just too funny to me. With an intro by Johnny Depp (as Hunter S. Thompson in one of my favorite movies, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"), there is just something so wrong about the Kennedys singing an Elvis song. It makes me laugh, what can I say? And it's waaaaaaay better than Elvis ever was. Hey, I just calls 'em like I sees 'em.

So, there is my list. Your thoughts? I don't really have anyone to tag ... I'm still thinking about it and I'll try but, if you would like to leave your list (or a link to a list) in the comments, please feel free. Right now, I have to think about calling my son since THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME YET!!!!!! *rolls eyes*