When getting to know a person, there is the first wave of questions, in which we speak of things like hometown, occupation, alma mater, and major. To get a better sense of a person, we attempt to place them within preexisting contexts. We use deductive reasoning: "People who come from that city are X. Most people who have that job are Y. People who attended that university are usually Z. Therefore, you are X, Y, and Z." We have come to a preliminary (though prejudicial) conclusion about what that person is like.
Then, there is the second wave of questions, which typically include things like hobbies, favorite movies, favorite books, and of course, favorite music. At this stage in the conversation, we are further honing our understanding of a person by determining what their tastes and preferences are. We understand that even within a small sample of people who are largely similar, tastes and personal preferences can vary quite drastically. So even as we hone and particularize our portrait of the person, we are actually having to expand our notion of what "that kind" of person can be. Coming from the rough sketch we created from broad background-oriented questions, we now inquire into more personal things, things in which people are often highly emotionally invested.
So then comes "What's your favorite band?"
Some people freeze up. Some ask for clarification of the word "band" (I used to). Others say "I can't answer that, I listen to soo much music, like, every style...except for country" (NB: people who say this never possess the broad and eclectic taste they pronounce; they really mean they listen to five mainstream radio stations - everything from pop and alternative to hip hop and oldies(!) - and have heard of Feist).
Why is "What's your favorite band?" such a hard-hitting question? Because it demands concision and exclusion.
A favorite band is a distinctly different thing from a favorite producer, favorite composer, favorite singer, and favorite rap "artist." The restriction is that it cannot be a solo artist - there must be 2+ people in it.
But when asked the question, I don't hesitate.
"Don Caballero."
You can read all the background info about them at Wikipedia or Don Fanallero.
As for the overlong intro, for my part, I'll just say they changed my understanding of and taste in music forever, and to this day, I still haven't found another band that has truly been able to do the same.
The first track, "Palm Trees in the Fecking Bahamas," is a real poppy one from the new incarnation of Don Cab, which some people refer to as Fake Caballero (given that drummer Damon Che is the only original member and he basically has the guitarists try to mimic Ian Williams's style). Their music is simply not as good as the Williams years, but it's far from bad. Sure the song rips a riff from Earth, Wind & Fire's "September," but it works so, so well.
Don Caballero - Palm Tree In The Fecking Bahamas
Moment of Pop Bliss:
01:02.87 - The pop enters slyly...
01:44.00 - Earth, Wind & Fire
02:12.71 - DON CAB POP
02:55.47 - "" "" ""!!
The second track, called "June is Finally Here," is the final track off my favorite Don Cab album, What Burns Never Returns. This is back when they had Ian Williams. You'll quickly understand why this song is more innovative. Should've posted it a month ago based on the title, but it works any day of the year.
Don Caballero - June Is Finally Here
Moment of Pop Bliss:
03:14.59 - Math pop heaven
04:13.77 - Sublime ending
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