Slug -- the poster boy for indie hip-hop -- is just about the most punk artist out of "Minne-snow-ta" since the Replacements. The founder of Atmosphere has curated a countdown of his top five dolls for Spinner. "I don't really consider myself a toy collector, but I do collect things that make me laugh and I do collect things that will make my friends laugh," he tell us. "These are my five favorite dolls that I have had the pleasure of obtaining, none of which were bought online," he boasts, adding, "All of them were found and purchased from stores upon original release, because I am that awesometastic."




1. Pee-wee Herman: How could you not buy this -- it says different things when you push his belly! No explanation needed.

Freak? I know you are, but what am I?

2. Christopher Walken as the "King of New York": This movie was great! I am a fan of anything that involves Christopher Walken or Schoolly D. But to have them both in the mix? Get outta here!

What is the doll doing with his hand?

3. Al Pacino as "Scarface": As a rapper, I am required to have a love for 'Scarface.' What better way to show that love than to own the dolls? I have practiced and mastered both of these facial expressions. I will show you sometime.

Look at the doll money!

4. Master P: Plastic bling; camo gear. If you push his chest, he says, "Uhhhhhhhhh nah-nah-nah-nah," and then he waits for a few uncomfortable seconds before he repeats it. Awesome!

I just wish they'd have let Pen & Pixel design the package.

5. Cheech Wizard: If you are not a graffiti writer, or a comic collector, or a pervert, you probably have no idea who Cheech Wizard is. And I am probably breaking some sort of code by exposing you to him. Deal with it.

I consider myself an amateur historian of country music, or the world's most enthusiastic fan of country music's female artists. And it bugs me how some amazing artists are virtually unknown to the general public. So here's my initial attempt to change all that, courtesy of Spinner's Count Five -- Country Music's Greatest Underappreciated Female Artists (you won't find these names in the Hall of Fame):

1. Molly O'Day: A booster of the young Hank Williams, O'Day recorded several of his songs before Hank was famous. She thrived on rural radio's airwaves, appearing on dozens of stations across the Southeast under such stage names as Dixie Darlin' or the Mountain Fern. Her singing and banjo playing had a fire-and-brimstone edge and gospel fervor unmatched by anyone in country music today

2. Jean Shepard: At first she was a little bitty slip of a girl who whomped the bass fiddle and sang with a great big voice, conquering the airwaves and jukeboxes of the early 1950s with hits like 'Dear John.' She became a fixture of the Grand Ole Opry along with her husband, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and was widowed by the tragic plane crash that took his life and that of fellow Opry star Patsy Cline. But she persevered and is still belting out songs to Opry audiences on a regular basis.

Alison Sudol, who does her music-making under the name A Fine Frenzy, doesn't have a lot of rainy days to herself. That's a by-product of both living in perpetually sunny Los Angeles and being a perpetually busy singer, songwriter and pianist who last year released her debut album, 'One Cell in the Sea.'

However, when one of those rare wet Southern California days does occur, Sudol says that "there's nothing quite as cozy as a blanket-wrapped, couch-bound movie-watching marathon. If I were to be a total bum and watch an entire day of films, these would be my selections":

1. 'Sabrina': Audrey Hepburn is as elegant as can be, Humphrey Bogart is gruff and wonderful, the story is heart-burstingly lovely, and I can't help but smile every time I watch it.

2. 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest': I haven't seen this in a while, but I'd like to watch it again with fresh eyes. From what I remember, it's shocking, funny and horribly sad. It will probably take the next three movies to cheer me up, but it's worth it.

Devonte Hynes, the former Test Icicles member now better know as Lightspeed Champion, gives the lowdown on his all-time favorite comic books. Although his music has progressed and matured radically over the years, Hynes has always found inspiration in graphic novels.

1. 'Madman,' by Michael Allred: It's one of my favorite comic characters and one of my favorite artists. Basically, nobody knows who he was – he died. A guy called Dr. Boiffard brought him back and then nicknamed him Frank Einstein, after Frank Sinatra and, obviously, Einstein. He's perfectly scarred but he's completely insane.

2. 'Unlikely,' by Jeffrey Brown: There's an honesty to it. I don't actually read a lot of comics like this. Its all about girls usually, but the pacing of each frame is just perfect.

The New York City borough of Staten Island's musical landscape isn't only widely known for Wu-Tang Clan and Buster Poindexter anymore. Indie folkster Ingrid Michaelson got her big break when 'The Way I Am' was featured in an Old Navy Fair Isle Sweater commercial last fall. Michaelson took the time to count down her top five romantic songs in order to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day.

1. 'I Will Follow You Into the Dark,' Death Cab for Cutie: This song breaks my heart. It is so simple melodically and lyrically -- but so powerful.

2. 'The Luckiest,' Ben Folds: This is another very simple song whose lyrics are so sweet and moving. Anyone who listens to these words is moved.

With Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow and Jewel all having recorded or about to record in Nashville, the undying love for country possessed by a lot of rockers has never been more evident. Still, bright young metal band Avenged Sevenfold, a Huntington Beach, Calif., quintet that made it to platinum status on the strength of opening for Metallica and playing Ozzfest, might be considered a longshot to embrace the twang. However, on its new self-titled album, the band explores the Nashville terrain on the track 'Dear God.' Lead singer M. Shadows says country is a big influence on him, starting with these five artists.

1. Big & Rich: I like a lot of the country pop stuff, so 'Horses Wear Color' is one of my favorite country records. I listen to older country, but they got me into it because they had a lot of rock influence and they're super-eclectic and super-crazy and they were the outlaws of Nashville for a while because they were doing so much wacky stuff on their record. They have Cowboy Troy rapping on some stuff. They're just like a rock band that plays country music, and I think their songwriting is amazing. Those guys write for everyone, and when I pick up that record every song is a smash hit in my eyes.

2. Toby Keith: I love Toby Keith, though, because I love his voice, his songwriting, and he's got a cool message. He's very pro-troops and he's got some funny songs. He's got some over-the-top songs about Al Qaeda and stuff, but I think he's got a great voice and I love his songwriting.

In addition to being one of the world's most popular DJs, Paul Oakenfold has been an increased presence in Hollywood recently, creating the score for 'Swordfish' as well as contributing cues to films such as 'Collateral' and the popular 'Shrek' series. "I've been doing more and more film and enjoying it, really," he tells Spinner. Oakenfold is on tap for three scores in the upcoming year, including the Danny DeVito/Eliza Dushku vehicle 'Nobel Son.' So as an active member of the film-scoring community, who better than Oakey to reflect on some of his favorite combinations of music and movies? And he even threw in a sixth as a bonus.

1. '3:10 to Yuma' (2007 version): It took a classic cowboy film and turned it around in terms of music and added a lot of new sounds. I was really impressed with that score.

2. ' Elizabeth: The Golden Age': It's a good score because they've married two composers, one from Bollywood and one from the West, and it works really well. That's visually a good one to see.

The gentle acoustic folk songs that singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez is best known for are radically different from the music that inspires him the most. When the Swedish musician appeared on The Interface for the first time, he mentioned in passing to Spinner, in regard to New York hardcore foursome Sick of It All, that "Lou's [Koller] voice is amazing, one of the best hardcore voices ever!" With Gonzalez holding such deep passion for such an unlikely genre, it was natural he would come up with a list of his five favorite hardcore songs.



1. Sick of it All, 'Scratch the Surface': [One of] the ultimate hardcore singalong records! 'Step Down' was for a long time the song we used to listen to before going out.

2. 108, 'Threefold Misery': The wiiiiiiiickedest bass intro of all times!

With the new Bruce Springsteen album, 'Magic,' just released and a much-anticipated tour with the E Street Band under way, even Springsteen's fellow musicians aren't immune to the excitement. Against Me! lead singer Tom Gabel has volunteered to be at the ready should the Boss be looking for an opening act. "I would love to do a tour with Bruce Springsteen," Gabel told Spinner, then added, laughing, "I don't know if that would happen." Certainly, the tour would be a good match, in that the Gainesville, Fla.-based Gabel and his bandmates share Springsteen's commitment to social and political messages in their music. But until that mythical tour takes place, Gabel gave us his five favorite Springsteen songs, in no particular order -- making sure to add 'Streets of Philadelphia' as an alternate choice.

1. 'Born in the U.S.A.': That would have to be one. I know that's probably a cliché, but it's a really great song. That was my first Springsteen album.

2. 'I'm on Fire': I feel like that song has a lot of emotion, and you can really tell he's honest in yearning for a girl or love and affection or something. It's a great song.

Sinead O'Connor's heart-wrenching version of Prince's 'Nothing Compares 2 U' deservedly made the list of Spinner's 25 saddest songs ever. But it doesn't even rate a mention in O'Connor's own melancholy hit parade. The Irish singer-songwriter, who returned to the States in mid-September for another round of touring behind her double disc, 'Theology,' tells Spinner there are a diverse group of songs that can move her to tears, including one by her opening act on this tour, fellow Emerald Isle troubadour Damien Dempsey.

1. 'Fool for You,' Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions: My favorite track, really, if I had to pick one. I just think [it] is outrageously brilliant. Everything about it, the drummer in particular, the drums are louder than the vocal, which I like when that happens. But the lyrics and everything about the track is completely perfect.

2. 'The Streets of London,' Ralph McTell: There are a couple of songs that I can't sing ever, 'cause if I did I'd just crack up. One of them is the 'Streets of London.' It's a really beautiful song, kind of about homelessness, and the melody and everything is gorgeous.

Making the festival rounds, Juliette Lewis -- the lead singer of Juliette and the Licks, that is, as opposed to Juliette Lewis the Oscar-nominated actress -- has had the chance to watch some amazing performances up close and personal. For example, she was able to witness the Who from a vantage point on the side of the stage. Known for her own energetic live performances, which have garnered admirers from Dave Grohl and Chris Cornell to Muse, whom she will be opening up for on their current tour, Lewis used her viewing and performing experience to compile her top live performers list for Spinner.

1. The White Stripes: Jack White and Meg without question -- I was calling him this generation's Elvis, except probably a little bit more dangerous. His charisma and his guitar playing, then the dynamic between those two is just electric and it jumps off the stage. That is so fun to watch.

2. Queens of the Stone Age: We just got to watch them recently. Their new record, I was shocked. We all know they're good, inventive, amazing, but this new record to me was like on the level of [David] Bowie 's 'Low.' There's such a tension, it punctures the epidermis, the top layer, then it goes deeper, it starts to get into your blood, and you're buzzing. It's meditative, but really intense. And there's a song, 'Turning on the Screw,' that was really amazing to watch live.