M is for Music and a list of 10 bands you should hear at least once.

I am sure many of my friends have listened to all of these already, but there is always a chance that I might save someone from missing out.  :)

01.  The Sisters of Mercy:  This was the most obvious one.  I could happily make it in a world where this was the only band.  One of the progenitors of the goth rock movement, The Sisters seem to fall somewhere between post punk and goth (regardless of Andrew's insistence).  The Sisters also have the benefit of having Andrew Eldritch.  :: sigh :: <3

02.  Cruxshadows:  Cruxshadows are one of the few goth rock bands that manage to perform frequently, reliably release quality albums, and maintain the staying power you rarely see, even in mainstream bands.  Besides that, Rogue is a sweety.

03.  The Damned:  They were the first British punk band to come to America -- the ones that started it all.  Of course, The Sex Pistols get all the credit, but they had the goods.

04.  The Cherry Poppin' Daddies:  Most people only know this band as a neo-swing band, but that's just the beginning.  They have also released work from the styles of punk, jazz, rock, and even country (ish).  Also, Steve Perry is great eye candy.

05.  Siouxsie and the Banshees:  If Bauhaus is the grandfather of goth rock, Siouxsie is the cool grandmother.  She is beautiful, talented, and had no problem showing the guys how music was done.  Like The Sisters of Mercy and The Damned, without Siouxsie, I doubt the goth and punk genres would have been nearly as strong.

06.  Adam Ant:  Not only is he an amazing singer/ songwriter; he is also responsible for a lot of the things that we take for granted now.  His wardrobe was responsible for sparking much of the 80s fashion, as well as the goth and punk fashion.  His video, "Stand and Deliver" was the first cinematic music video -- instead of just a video of the band performing the song.  He also was the first to manipulate the tabloids magazines to get himself promoted.  It is a tragedy that someone who gave us so much is generally only remembered for "Goody Two Shoes". 

07.  Duran Duran:  They are the epitome of 80s pop music.  They were artsy, fashion influenced, experimental, and took music video making seriously.  Many of their videos went far beyond just a video, into short movies.  This is another band that should not be remembered simply for "Hungry Like the Wolf"?

08.  The Smiths:  This is another of the bands that led the way with beautiful songs, a unique singer, and an interest in promoting the causes they believed in.  Indie music would never be the same without them.

09.  Voltaire:  Voltaire took goth rock and added to it a gypsy flare, campy humor, and poignant moments.  He has songs that go from the ridiculous (like "Brains", made for the "Billy and Mandy" cartoon and his Star Trek parody EP) all the way to the serious ("Feathery Wings" -- a pleading for those that are suicidal to reconsider).  He has a hand in music, artwork, books, comic books, dolls, and so much more.

10.  Creature Feature:  If you took horror films, books, and art and put it through a juicer to create music, you'd have Creature Features.  Their tongue in cheek songs have been tributes to E.A. Poe ("Buried Alive"), zombie films ("Aim for the Head"), "The Twilight Zone" ("How to Serve Man"), and many more.  I adore this band.  

N.B. The restriction of only picking ten was the only reason that I did not include such fantastic bands as Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, Iggy Pop, etc.  They are no less worthy.