Music Under the Influence

We all have artists that we absolutely adore. They mean a lot to us, and we often consider them to be major influences upon our own lives. But let’s be honest, as brilliant as they may be, most of them don’t pull their material from their asses; they have people who they admire too. If you’re looking for some new music, examining the forefathers of your favorite artists is a great way to go about it. This is besides the fact that it’s super cool to hear the people who have left your favorite artists’ awestruck, and to look for what similarities you can distinguish between them. If we’ve piqued your interest, or if you’ve always had some vague interest in the inspiration of your inspirations, then you’re in luck: compiling lists from www.rollingstone.com and www.myspace.com, we’ve handpicked 40 artists (from every genre) and their influences for you to enjoy.

 (in alphabetical order)

1) Fiona Apple: P.J. Harvey, Kate Bush

2) Arcade Fire: The Cure, Talking Heads, Bruce Springsteen

3) Erykah Badu: Billie Holiday, Roberta Flack

4) The Beatles: Elvis, Little Richard

5) Eric Clapton: Albert King, B.B. King, Robert Johnson

6) John Coltrane: Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon

7) Dag Nasty: DYS, Minor Threat

8) D’Angelo: Marvin Gaye, Prince

9) Kevin Devine: Elliott Smith, Pavement, Wilco, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Nirvana

10) Bob Dylan: Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly

11) Aretha Franklin: Otis Redding, Rev. C.L. Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, Dinah Washington

12) The Get Up Kids: Jawbox, Jawbreaker

13) Goo Goo Dolls: Buzzcocks, The Replacements, Cheap Trick.

14) Grandaddy: Pavement, Radiohead

15) The Greenhornes: The Animals, The Yardbirds

16) Indie.Arie: Lauryn Hill

17) Jay-Z: Slick Rick, Scarface

18) B.B. King: Bukka White, Charlie Christian

19) KISS: Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Slade

20) Led Zeppelin: The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf

21) Madonna: William Orbit, Hall & Oates, Marilyn Monroe, Mirwais, Michael Jackson

22) John Mayer: Dave Matthews Band, Aztec Camera, Elliott Smith, Ben Harper

23) Sarah McLachlan: Joni Mithcell, Cocteau Twins

24) Motion City Soundtrack: Superchunk, Sunny Day Real Estate

25) Sean Paul: Super Cat, Shaggy

26) The Ponys: The Cramps, The Velvet Underground, Charlie Feathers, Spacemen 3, Sonic Youth.

27) Radiohead: U2, Pink Floyd, Pixies

28) Rascall Flats: The Judds, Marie Osmond

29) Otis Redding: Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter

30) Red Hot Chili Peppers: Sly & the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Bad Brains, Ohio Players, George Clinton.

31) The Rolling Stones: Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf.

32) Shakira: Selena, Gloria Estefan

33) Sigur Ros: Slowdive

34) Bruce Springsteen: Bob Dylan

35) George Strait: Merle Haggard

36) Sufjan Stevens: Mouse on Mars, Stereolab

37) The Strokes: The Velvet Underground, The Ramones

38) KT Tunstall: Rickie Lee Jones, Fleetwood Mac, Edie Brickell

39) Kanye West: RZA, Mase, Pete Rock, NO I.D., DJ Premier, Large Professor, Diamond D

40) White Stripes: The Kinks, The Gories, Blind Willie McTell, Blacktop