A year ago, our web editor Mike asked nine local musicians to "pick six." (It was almost literally that open ended.) The result of said request was an interesting window into the souls and iPods of local musicians we admire. And as a musician myself, I'm always intrigued by what others listen to. So I asked a bunch more to take part, and here's three more of them:

Josh Ingersoll

The Heart Pills

The Outfield, "Your Love" (The perfect amount of ambiguity, loneliness, and nostalgia.)

Billy Bragg, "A New England" (Uniquely electric, folk, and punk his quirky lyrics really ring true. "I saw two shooting stars last night I wished on them, but they were only satellites! Is wrong to wish on space hardware?")

Townes Van Zandt, "Fare The' Well Miss Carousel"

Paul James, "Color of My Bloody Nose: Possessed" (Eddie turned me on to this in the Clancy's jukebox. This guy is an ex Mennonite, sort of speaks in tongues and is the most raw and angst filled song I've ever heard.)

New Order/Joy Division, "Ceremony" (Erie and awesome guitars.)

The Police, "So Lonely" (Sting's voice cracks!!! This low-fi anthem is maybe their most urgent song.)

Peter Diedrick
The Perennials, Bewilderbeest

Big Star, Number 1 Record/Radio City (I'm grouping these 2 albums together because they are grouped together as a single purchase on iTunes. A 70s band called "Big Star" that has a debut album called Number 1 Record sounds sort of cocky, but the album lives up to it. Too bad barely anyone heard it until the 90s. Oh and Radio City has September Gurls.)

George Harrison, All Things Must Pass (My favorite Beatles solo effort. A triple album of solid gold released just a year after Abbey Road. I lose a lot of respect for John and Paul knowing that a lot of these songs somehow missed the cut for Beatles albums. Do you really think that Birthday or Everybody Has Something to Hide But Me and My Monkey are more appropriate for The White Album than Isn't it a Pity? Whatever. Oh yeah, the album has a sweet Dylan cover that is infinity times cooler than the original.)

Weezer, Blue Album/Pinkerton (I grouped these two together because they are both emotional, clever, nerdy Pop/Rock masterpieces, and I can't choose which I like more. I spent most of my high school years worshipping these albums and a lot of music I write still sometimes reeks of it. Sadly, almost everything after Pinkerton isn't worth renting at the library. Pinkerton referenced Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly. Hurley references ABC's Lost. I rest my case.)

The Altos, The Altos (I like to play this album to make people think that I'm cool. Odds are they haven't heard it yet. And if they have they're probably cooler than me. Anyway they're a Milwaukee-based 12 piece that recorded their album at *CENSORED NAME DROP*(@blobtower)'s studio *CENSORED NAME DROP* by recording gurus *CENSORED NAME DROP*(@crudplyson) and Jaime Hansen (@IslandofDrLee). I'd describe it as indie minimalism. Or something like that. I dunno theys gots violins and stuff. Check out their bandcamp site (altos.bandcamp.com) and buy their album for $5.)

David Lang, Pierced (Speaking of minimalism ... This is a little more artsy and avante garde of a selection, but it’s a great example of what is current in the classical music world. I was actually assigned a track from this album as a listening assignment in one of my music courses. The rhythmic variances and conflict can take just a few notes a long way, as evidenced in the pieces Pierced and Cheating, Lying and Stealing. There's a cello/vocal arrangement of Heroin by the Velvet Underground, as well.)

Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Schmilsson (This guy was a pop genius. The lime in the coconut song is an afterthought after you get acquainted with the rest of the album. Also, he partied with John Lennon and wrote the soundtrack for the Popeye movie with Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall.)

Eric Bertrand
Down the Stairs

Billy Corgan (To me, Billy Corgan is responsible for the strongest path to nostalgia. Aside the Smashing Pumpkins, which I need not explain, Zwan’s Riding A Black Swan is a tune much overlooked. Yes, the relationship of the band mates went down the toilet and suffered along with Corgan’s wanting to forget the whole thing, but it was a start nonetheless.)

Dio (Dio’s This Is Your Life off of Angry Machines is what I believe everyone should remember his message and legacy by. This is what he wanted for all; to be strong, to succeed and to try to understand. Tears to this one.)

Bob Dylan (For better or for worse, Bob Dylan has changed so much over the years from the man and his guitar. No one alone to me has brought forth from his time and age so many strong viewpoints on societal issues as in It’s All Right Ma (I’m Only Bleeding).)

Turbonegro (Turbonegro, previously known as Turboneger, play a vital role in rocking with their nether regions to maximum bloodflow. Yes they borrow, steal, and cheat when it comes to material, but it’s for a worthy cause. Off of Scandinavian Leather, Sell Your Body To The Night is downright tits and gravy.)

Axl Rose (Axl Rose has kept it long and hard throughout the transition of the old and new. From Chinese Democracy, Better resembles every relationship to date. Why? Because at least one person has to be crazy.)