Which song has the best music from a technical standpoint???

[SmileyBoy]

In your opinion, if you're looking at a song, and just looking at the music, which song in your life do you think has the best harmony/melody and ensemble musicianship??? I'm talking about ALL instruments, not just a kick-ass guitar riff. Don't concentrate on the lyrics. JUST concentrate on the music.

As for me, I would have to say "Gone Away" by Cold. The lyrics are sad enough (it's a sad song), but the first time I listened to the song, I almost cried because it sounded so beautiful. It's a hardcore rock song, yet it's more soulful, musically well-put together and beautiful than a lot of classical music, IMO.

Honourable mention would go to "Blurry" by Puddle of Mudd.

[wryter2000]

1. Knock Yourself Out -- the long version

The best collection of musicians in pop music is Tower of Power. Their most amazing track is the long version of Knock Yourself Out on Live and in Living Color (about 1975, I think). Everyone thinks of them as a horn band, and the sax solo by Lenny Pickett is beyond amazing. But Chester Thompson rocks on the B3. And if you listen to the rhythm section (Rocco Prestia on bass and David Garibaldi on drums) you realize that they anchor the whole thing with some pretty awesome music. Garibaldi must have lost a few pounds of doing that for over 23 minutes. All that, plus a really funky song and wonderful, complex composition that builds to a crescendo that Ravel would envy. It's one of the finest pieces of music ever recorded.

[rucky]

2. The Stars of Track & Field - Belle + Sebastian

and Paranoid Android... just off the top of my head.

nearly everything B+S does is tightly arranged & showcases their musical talent in a subtle way that doesn't compete with the melody.

[SmileyBoy]

3. Yes, I agree with Paranoid Android also...

I should've put that on there as well...:)

[Fenris]

8. Agree with both

[NashVegas]

4. gotta be Todd

song? aiyeeee .. "Real Man?"

[Whitacre D_WI]

5. Little Johnny Jewel

by Television.

[Old and In the Way]

6. Here's a few good ones....

Wynton Marsalis "Smokehouse Blues"
Louis Armstrong "Up a Lazy River"
Armstrong/Miller "Basin Street Blues"

[guitar man]

7. "I Wish"

By Stevie Wonder. Amazing feat of performance and production.

Speaking of Feat, Just about anything by Little Feat is amazing.

[geniph]

9. anything the Funk Brothers played on

which means every classic Motown hit of the 50's and 60's. Those guys were (and are - the surviving members are still playing and still touring) consummate musicians.

[guitar man]

10. I'll second that

The Funk Brothers rule!

[geniph]

13. I got to see them in concert a few months ago

they ROCKED the house! Not too shabby for a bunch of guys in their 70s!

[Failure]

16. the unsung HEROES of mowtown...n/t

[DontBlameMe]

11. You might laugh, but...

"Xanadu" by Rush. The whole thing just fits like a glove.

Also, just about anything by Bela Fleck.

[DontBlameMe]

12. Thread killer strikes gain!

Do I smell, is that it?

WTF!!! It seems every thread I reply to dies.

Oh, well. RIP.

[mitchum]

14. John Coltrane Quartet's version of "My Favorite Things"

I defy you to name me any ensemble playing better than that

[tigereye]

15. ooh I was going to say old Steely Dan

is technically astonishing/ maybe from the studio standpoint. It still sounds really good.

But when you put it next to Coltrane... now I am embarrassed. :)

Anonymous Four and Piffaro are pretty amazing from a technical playing Renaissance standpoint.

[solinvictus]

17. Shine on You Crazy Diamond

By Pink Floyd. Second would be Windowpane by Coil.

[Deja Q]

18. "The Saint" movie soundtrack had a phenomenal mix of

techno with classical/real instruments. It was a technical achievement as well.

As far as songs go, I recall one with a multi-layered melody that was jammin' as well, but I don't recall the name. (I've been listening to too many different artists lately, all of which are pre-1995, oddly...)

[-..__...]

19. Queen

"Bohemian Rhapsody".

Runner up...

Guns and Roses: "November Rain".