I like a lot of stuff. In high school I LOVED punk. Gang of Four. The Ramones, The Clash. AND - I also loved the opposite of that which were bands like Pink Floyd, Rush, and Frank Zappa. New bands: The National, Vampire Weekend, Savages, Elenor Friedberger, Radiohead, Flaming Lips.
Right now? Kanye West. Been my favorite for the last decade. Probably the greatest all around artist in the history of hip-hop. writes his own rhymes, largely makes his own beats. Triple double no assist. And he's 7 for 7 in terms of albums as far as I'm concerned. Dark Beautiful Fantasy is a fucking masterpiece. Blame Game makes me tear up. Never been anyone like him in hip-hop. Come to think of it, he's one of the greatest musicians of all times. Now I'm talking like him. YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, JKLAP.
To be honest, I'm kind of challenged in terms of new music. I listen to a lot of Jazz, specifically Keith Jarrett piano solos. And for me, if you want just wonderful ballads and love songs, Tom Waits. I might also have to throw in Radiohead, but I can't quote specific lyrics. AND PRINCE! For those special nights.
Bill Evans (spells like it sounds), Thelonius Monk (spells like it sounds), Charles Mingus (spells like it sounds), Miles Davis, most of my favorites came out of the "Bebop" era in Jazz. I didn't listen to a lot of big band jazz, although Duke Elllington was a real genius, and when he wrote something it could be either played on a piano or by a big orchestra. I could go on forever talking about jazz, so just stop me there!
I definitely think of myself as not a super-cool music person. I'm not a person who knows the latest and newest by any means. So if I have my radio on — it's so old. My Pandora radio will have an Elvis Costello channel and a Loretta Lynn channel. And all the show tunes. That's kind of where I max out. I'm not the coolest. That's the big perk I miss about not being at SNL anymore — hearing the house band every week and the guest every week. Because that would be my only exposure to new music, and just what you want: Give me your top two songs.
I loved listening to John Williams music as a teenager. (nerd) I loved Oingo Boingo, X, The Specials, The Motels -- all the great new wave stuff here on KROQ in Los Angeles.
Lots of different stuff. I listen to a lot of Alt Nation on XM radio. Loved the new Portugal, The Man album. The new Kanye is great. I've had Grimes "Oblivion" stuck in my head for a week. I'm all over the place.
I'd save my cats, because most records are replaceable. Though I do have an original pressing of Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn that I'd probably grab.
HOLY SONS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFIg6zVnx0k (emil and I went to college together)
JOHN PRINE RIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEy6EuZp9IY
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOPbXQ86NuA
JAD FAIR AND DANIEL JOHNSTON: This album changed my life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXAWTnVy2js
SEBADOH: I've listened to this album at least a billion times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWPv3KyLgRk
In the mornings I play this when I wake up early and make breakfast for my wife and son: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15BouyAB83o
And My mom LOVED this song and now I do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35x_rwyBh-8
AND ZEFFFFFF DIE ANTWOORD: If anyone knows them they ...
It's my favorite moment of the week. It's the one time I can stand in the studio and look around and think how grateful I am to work at SNL.
This was one of my favorite performances of all time. And it was the first time Rihanna played this song anywhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-dW7z0QBNg
Thundercat is dope. I listen to him Fly lo, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, Open Mike Eagle, Chance, Vic Mensa, Tree, YC the Cynic, Jean Grae, there's a lot. Janelle Monae is amazing. I saw her twice in one day at SXSW in 2008 or 09
Fred Armisen