"Oh yeah, well what do you like?"

Last Friday I found myself at a table with several people who are essentially members of what one might call the cult of U2. Well, not being the full-fledged members they were, I jokingly referred to them as "the worst band ever," blah, blah, blah, etc, etc.

The tables were turned today. Lefty Brown was one of the people at that table and he asked me to write a post about the music that I listen to with a focus on those bands that are my "go to" bands. This will be his opportunity to come criticize my musical tastes. Hey, it's cool. I know I have several bad albums (ok, so more than several) in my collection.

I do have to preface this with the fact that I have very few, if any, albums that I crave or go rifling through my CDs or playlists to find that one song that will satiate me.

I'll give you a musical history of Adam so you can see where I'm coming from.

My first CD ever was Newsboys' Going Public. I followed that with over 60 albums more of religious (specifically Christian) music. Everything from DC Talk to Steven Curtis Chapman to Bride to Grammatrain to Geoff Moore to Third Day to Jars of Clay to, well, you get the picture.

Then I went to college. Christian college at that. That's where I met my good friend, secular music and learned all about people like Bob Dylan and the Beastie Boys and well, that list could go on forever as well. In fact, the very reason I have so little knowledge about so many great bands is because I didn't start listening to them until I was 19. My first "secular" album was Creed's first (I've been lambasted over and over for this, but I'll argue that a borderline band like this was fine for crossing over, regardless of how shitty their music was). Then, my dumbass roommate decided he was going to get rid of all his secular CDs because they were making him stumble or whatever the hell that means. I picked up things like Bush's Razorblade Suitcase and Third Eye Blind's self-titled album. This was also when I met people like Dana who introduced me to Cake and Nick who introduced me to the techno genre and 311.

My sophomore year, I started buying stuff up as quick as I could, regardless of the quality. This was also my angry, rebellious year. I picked up things like Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, anything with screaming or cussing or whatever suited my angry mood. This was also when Napster hit it big, a year before Metallica got all pissy, so I had tons and tons of illegal music on my laptop (all lost when it died the summer after I graduated).

As I sort of leveled off, I developed a taste of sorts that helped to keep me from buying whatever was top 10 at the moment. Oh, I just remembered, freshmen year was when I was introduced to N'Sync and the No Strings Attached album. I still hold a deep, deep affinity for that album.

Anywho, as I get older, I've steeled myself and become determined not to fall behind the cutting edge of music (though I do). I don't want to be that old guy shaking his cane at "the kids these days, with their music." I make a balance between filling out what I call the classics while still trying to buy things like Shiny Toy Guns, Sufjan Stevens, OK Go or Bloc Party. My Radiohead collection is coming along nicely, as is my Johnny Cash.

I've been working on getting some jazz in the mix and I have about 10 albums now. For example, Thelonius Monk, Coltrane, Jacque Loussier, Spaceheater, Nina Simone.

But, after all that, to what Lefty wants to know. Who are those bands that I hold near and dear and why?

My first obsession was Linkin Park. It's mostly because I like what they do and that they do pretty much all of it on their own. But it's also partly because their debut coincided quite well with my parents' separation. Their first album offered me a sound that complimented my mood at the time.

My second obsession was Paul Oakenfold. I have a thing for both rhythmic and loud/bombastic/rockin' music. So electronica fits the mold well, but when you have a techno DJ like Oakenfold who takes rock or alternative songs and "enhances" them, well, that's just music to my ears.

I should note, if it's syncopated or has triplets, I'm all over it, see Tool. Love, love, love Tool.

System of Down. They rank at the top of my list if not the top. Great songs, great driving music to just scream your head off to while cruising down the freeway. I've nearly lost my voice several times with their albums blasting out of the stereo.

But...but, there is a balance. Coldplay hit the scene at about the same time as Linkin Park. I would often alternate back and forth between the two.

Radiohead also fits neatly on the quieter side of the spectrum, thank you Justin and Ed for unknowingly introducing us.

It's hard for me to pick a favorite of favorites though and there are so many that I don't have listed like Devotchka, Cat Stevens, Nick Drake, John Denver, Prodigy, Massive Attack, Travis, The Eels, Simon and Garfunkel, Queen, Our Lady Peace, Sarah McLachlan, Eve 6. I range all over and more days than not, you'll find my computer playlist set on random rather than something specific.

So, Lefty, I rambled and spilled my guts all over the place. All are welcome to either mop up or pour out some salt and start rubbing it in. Also, this would be a very interesting meme so all are welcome to share your musical histories on your blogs. Or you can all leave me hanging, whatever.