Best Band Names

I've mulled over the idea for this entry for a long time. Yesterday I finally found myself with the opportunity to pursue it to its conclusion. I was in the living room near the CD rack so I would skim the spines here and there and jot down names while concurrently playing with baby Owen on the floor.

This list constitutes my favorite band names. The criteria here is crucial. First of all, I have to like the band (enough to own a disc of theirs, otherwise I wouldn't have seen it on the wall). Secondly, not only should the name be a good one but it should fit the band, too. Most obvious example for me, to be perfectly honest, is "School for The Dead." It's a cool name for a band but I never felt like it really fits us terribly well.

Anyway, here's my Top 20 (vaguely in order but it's not like #13 is carefully considered to be placed ahead of #15 but in general the Top 5 are the best overall kinda-thing). Make sense?

20. The Ventures
19. The Byrds
18. The Strokes
17. Devo
16. Lynyrd Skynyrd

15. Tree Fort
14. Model Rocket
13. The Replacements (although their original name, The Impediments, I like even more)
12. Nag Nag Nag
11. Minor Threat

10. The Monkees
9. The Go-Gos
8. The Velvet Underground
7. The Temptations
6. The Clash

And these are the absolute best names ever:

5. The Kinks
4. Blur
3. XTC
2. The Drunk Stuntmen
1. Tizzy

Congratulations to local bands for not only placing five names in the Top 20 but also notching the top two. But come on, The Drunk Stuntmen is an awesome name- it's clever, funny (without being a stupid obvious joke name) and evocative all at the same time and fits that band to a T. And how could you not like the name Tizzy for a trio of noisy punky rock kids who jump all over the stage as they play?

Please post comments, dear readers, with some of your own... I'd be curious to know.