In honor of my stint in Chitown checking out Pitchfork and Lollapalooza, we've decided to list the artists that do what Chicago musicans do best - invent and reinvent.
This list could pretty much be summed up as the best musicians from Chicago, too, because, hey, the best are the ones who make it weird.
10. Bill Callahan aka Smog
A lo-fi leader that has been at it for over fifteen years, longer than most. Daniel Johnston of the North:
9. The Ponys
The Ponys are making rock and roll rock and roll again, and doing it well. Turn the Lights Out is one of the year's best.
8. Umphrey's McGee
Wait, a post-Phish jamband that doesn't suck? On the list you go.
7. The Smashing Pumpkins
Alright, alright. I know what you're thinking. But, we're talking about The Real Smashing Pumpkins here, not this current Zwanfest. When Billy Corgan and Co. stormed onto the scene in the early 90s, it would be hard to say that you had heard or scene anything quite like this:
6. Liz Phair
Such a pretty lady; such a dirty mouth.
(Hahaha, this is from "Charmed"):
5. Tortoise
Seventeen years of insane instrumental post-rock, jazz, and what-have-you put these guys in the mucho respecto category.
4. Frankie Knuckles
Yeah, he invented house.
3. Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy took his boyhood riffs from the South up the country and, with his help, Chicago blues was born.
2. R. Kelly
Mr. Kelly solidified his inventiveness with this year's Double Up, but "Trapped in the Closet" will go down as his master stroke.
1. Wilco
One of the best bands of the last couple decades, Jeff Tweedy and his chosen ones blur the lines between rock, country, and folk, all while being consistently solid as a rock.
Honorable Mentions:
Kanye West
Common
Lupe Fiasco
Earth, Wind, and Fire
Styx
That's right. Styx.
PS - Sorry emo fans. I guess...
