By Tom Lynch, with additional contributions by Melissa Lane, Duke Shin and Jarrett Spiegel

It's been quite a year for Chicago music. The growing domination of the music world by Kanye, a mega-hit single from R. Kelly, the eruption of emo-pop youths Fall Out Boy--all make Chicago a womb for epic, mainstream super-stardom. Making a list of Chicago's top musical artists can be tricky: How do you treat those artists who've moved their homes out of Chicago, yet still live and breathe the city through their work? How much should commercial success influence ranking? We pondered these and other questions and decided to list the artists by cultural impact and influence, and thus be able to include all of the above. So, we present our 2006 edition of Music 45, the artists edition, and we celebrate all that they've done for our ears, our minds and our dear city.

1.

Kanye West

So George Bush doesn't care about black people, as Kanye famously announced during a Katrina-aid TV special. Mr. West didn't let that stop him. Kanye isn't just an artist--he's a cultural movement unto himself. The producer and superstar MC has his hands in a huge percentage of the hip-hop you hear these days, not to mention the work he's released himself. After clonking the hip-hop world over the head with 2004's "College Dropout"--which, worldwide, sold five million copies-- it seems he ran off with the pot of gold, producing material for or working with the likes of Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and Jamie Foxx, and launching his popular mixtape series. "Late Registration," Kanye's follow-up, saw its sales top 900,000... in one week. The two records have earned him five Grammy awards--and he won another for co-writing Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name." But the best part about Kanye's success? His influence and dedication to his hometown has brought out the best in Chicago hip-hop, from veterans Common and Twista to up-and-comers Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco, and it should all culminate this year when he headlines Lollapalooza.

2.

Fall Out Boy

Wilmette's emo-punk pride and joy skyrocketed to massive acclaim in 2005 with the release of "From Under the Cork Tree" on Island Records, which debuted at #9 on the Billboard charts, making them the biggest band in the world to ever steal its name from an episode of "The Simpsons." The record has already passed double-platinum with the help of radio hits "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" and "Dance, Dance," both accompanied by quirky, energetic music videos. Bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz has other popular ventures--he owns his own clothing line, Clandestine Industries (which also distributes books), and he runs his own record label, Decaydance Records, an imprint of Fueled by Ramen, the label that originally launched Fall Out Boy. Bartskull Films? You guessed it, his own film production company. Not all good news, however--last month nude pics of Wentz were scattered across the Internet, which he says were stolen from his cell phone. While we don't expect any negative fallout for the band, he probably should've kept that leak, ahem, corked.

3.

R. Kelly

Despite the whole--all allegations of course--urinating-on-teenagers thing, or the child porno in Chicago thing, or the sex acts with minors thing, or the child-porn-found-in-Florida-but-charges-dropped-on-technicality thing or last year's abusing-his-wife thing (breath), we can't get enough of R. Kelly. After all, 2005's "TP-3: Reloaded" gave us the ridiculously entertaining "Trapped in the Closet" saga, in which Kelly croons of making love with a taken woman, only to be caught by her man and having to hide in the closet. Thus, trapped. Get it? So did almost everyone else, causing a widespread panic that even led to parody on an episode of "Saturday Night Live." For better or worse, Kelly's sexual antics--both in song and in real life--keep him constantly in the headlines and on everyone's minds.

4. Derrick Carter

Easily the most influential of the second wave of house DJs that backboned the early- to mid-nineties club and rave scene, Carter carries on as strong as ever with anthems like last year's "Boompty Boomp Theme." He has an upcoming full-length on his own label Classic, an installment on the MN2S' "Masterclass" series and just added a residency at London club Neighbourhood and a slot at Coachella. But just two Fridays ago, any Chicago Joe could catch him playing at Darkroom for free.

5.

Wilco

A book by the Tribune's Greg Kot. A film by Sam Jones. A classic record with an even-more-classic making-of story. Wilco, led by Chicago rock icon Jeff Tweedy, is the fabled band that fought adversity and came out golden. While 2004's "A Ghost Is Born" may have not had the same impact as the legendary "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," the band continues to habitually sell out shows, even when not an entire band--Tweedy toured solo just last fall, playing songs from the Wilco and Uncle Tupelo catalogs, as well as songs by his side band, Loose Fur. Plus, as a sort of thank-you note, the band released a live double-disc late last year, titled, "Kicking Television: Live in Chicago," which chronicled a multi-night stay at the Vic Theatre during the "A Ghost Is Born" tour. With a new Wilco record on the horizon--the band is eyeing a late 2006 release as it's already waist-deep in writing and recording--Tweedy and crew prep for a headlining gig at this year's Lollapalooza.

6.

Common

With the help of Kanye West--who produced a handful of songs on "Be," Common's latest record--the hip-hop visionary, often labeled as America's leading "socially conscious" rapper, has proven to be one of the country's most talented and that his career--this was his sixth record--is just getting started. Recent sold-out dates at the House of Blues show that Chicago still has love for him, despite his departure from these parts some years back. Currently he looks forward to "Finding Forever," due sometime in 2007.

7. Felix Da Housecat

After his "Kittenz and Thee Glitz" blitzkrieg of critical and commercial success, Felix has been one of the most in-demand remixers and producers, sought out by everyone from Kylie Minogue to Puff Daddy. His signature blend of classic Chicago jack, futuristic electro and guitar-driven punk-disco have him on a near-constant touring schedule, but it's never too long before he swings back home where he maintains his residency at Crobar.

8.

Buddy Guy

The guitarist remains Chicago's blues backbone as his club, Buddy Guy's Legends, continually proves to be one of the top blues joints within city limits, and he--who was, just last year, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame--keeps putting out records in which he works with both legends and newcomers, like Keith Richards and John Mayer, as he did on the recent "Bring `Em In." And don't forget about his annual January residence at Legends, which pulls Chicago crowds out of their houses and into the streets in droves, even as the temperature plummets.

9.

Billy Corgan

The rumor mill started churning with excitement ever since Corgan took out an ad in the Chicago Tribune last summer announcing that he had plans to revive the Smashing Pumpkins, but since then, it seems that it's remained just that--rumors. First, the band would headline Coachella. Then it was Lollapalooza. But alas, nothing. Corgan's solo effort, "TheFutureEmbrace," garnered a mixed reaction from critics and less-than-enviable sales--more incentive for him to return to his roots, even if he can't smooth the torn-up road that separates all the original band members. Until we hear more, we wait.

10. Green Velvet/Cajmere

Curtis Alan Jones (aka Green Velvet and Cajmere) is the man behind both Cajual and Relief Records. Not only has he paved the way for some of Chicago's biggest dance acts, he is also one of house music's most delightfully eccentric personalities. His records have often been a truly bizarre mix of the fun, the humorous and the banging, and his seemingly never-ending DJing schedule is testament to his ever-increasing popularity.

11. Tortoise

The post-rock wonder boys--whose influence is so heavy across the globe that it cannot be measured--surprised some earlier this year with "The Brave and the Bold," the band's collaboration with Will Oldham's alter-ego Bonny `Prince' Billy, a record of cover songs so diverse it jumps from Bruce Springsteen to Lungfish to The Minutemen.

12.

Daniel Barenboim

So this is it. The Argentina native's seventeen-year tenure as conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra officially ends this year, with the CSO currently in the middle of a yearlong retrospective of Barenboim's classical explorations. The world-renowned conductor and pianist is also set to receive the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation Music Prize in Vienna this May, from which he reportedly plans to donate a third to a new Barenboim Foundation for Music Education.

13. Frankie Knuckles

They call this guy the Godfather of House Music and it's really pretty self-explanatory. The career of Frankie Knuckles began more than three decades ago and he has celebrated more milestones than just about anyone currently at work in the dance-music world. He was a seminal DJ behind such Chicago house institutions as the Warehouse (hence the title, "House") and the Music Box. He even made recent history by getting the state to fork over $200,000 for the Chicago International House (Electronic) Music Festival.

14.

Smoking Popes

The brothers Caterer shocked the scene last November when their seminal pop-punk band reunited for Flower 15 at the Metro, and then shocked us even more when they announced that it wasn't a one-shot deal--the Popes are back together for good. The band then embarked on a full-fledge tour and has since released a live record of the reunion show. New material? Our fingers are crossed.

15.

Kurt Elling

Chicago's spokesman for traditional jazz, Elling continues to take jazz vocalizing to all-new levels. He continually charts on Billboard's Top Jazz Records, has scored a few Grammy nods, was elected into the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and, when he's not on tour, does his weekly thing at the Green Mill.

16.

Disturbed

Just last September, the South Side metal band debuted #1 on the charts with its third record, "Ten Thousand Fists," which quickly shipped almost 250,000 copies. Since then, it's been certified platinum, which puts the crew in the same category as Kanye and Kelly, and the band is currently headlining across the globe with the Jagermeister Tour.

17.

Jon Langford

The founder of art-punk legends The Mekons dabbles in various fields; he produces, he serves as studio musician and he draws a comic strip, just to name a few. His contributions to the work of endless Bloodshot Records' artists have been priceless excursions in and of themselves. Most recently, Langford hit the Museum of Contemporary Art with "The Executioner's Last Songs," a performance that combined his music with spoken word, while his paintings hung as backdrop.

18.

Rise Against

"Siren Song of the Counter Culture," the act's 2004 release, put the band on the map with its unique fusion of hardcore and punk with scattered pop hooks. The re-release of the band's early record, "The Unraveling," last August shines some light on its previous work, and the band has even appeared in movies, most notably "Lords of Dogtown," paying tribute to Black Flag. Rise Against--whose members are famously straight-edge and vegetarian--looks forward to touring with this year's Warped Tour and the release of "The Sufferer & the Witness" this June.

19.

Peven Everett

Everett's blend of house, jazz, soul and R&B makes him one of the most unique artists that Chicago can claim. He famously jumped ship on a Berklee School of Music scholarship to tour with jazz greats Betty Carter and Wynton Marsalis when he was only 17, which led him to a career of profound ingenuity. Last September's "Latest Craze Part I," Everett's most recent record, solidified his place in Chicago's history.

20. DJ Heather

DJ Heather has been a growing force in house music's boys' club for years. Alongside Colette, Dayhota and Lady D, she made her name as a member of Chicago's all-ladies Superjane DJ collective. Recently, she has held down a prestigious residency at Fabric, London's hyper-progressive superclub, and her "Fabric21" mix serves as a fine representation of Chicago house in a series that is constantly raising the bar in the world of international DJ culture.

21.

Steve Albini

Though his engineering work gathers him most praise these days, Albini's Shellac and his earlier band, the celebrated Big Black, have more street cred in Chicago than anyone could ask for. Shellac still sells out shows whenever it decides to play, as evidenced by last spring's three-show stay at Martyr's.

22.

Local H

The two-man assault has gone through some rough waters during its more-than-a-decade career--lineup changes (tough when there's only two guys), major-label battles and more. But front man Scott Lucas keeps the band alive and pumping. "Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles?", Local H's last studio record, brought back some grunge in 2004, and last year the band released a live record, nicely titled "Alive '05," which features the surprise hit cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic." As long as Local H keeps headlining those Halloween shows at Double Door, we'll keep listening.

23.

Ok Go

It took a while for the popsters to follow-up on their 2002 self-titled debut--which included the radio-heavy "Get Over It" single--but "Oh No," last year's effort, put the band back into barroom discussions because of its first single, "A Million Ways," and the song's subsequent video. The video--which features the band performing a deadpan choreographed dance in a nondescript back yard (through one take, no less)--quickly became one of the most downloaded videos of all time, with the numbers reaching the millions.

24.

Fred Anderson

Although the legendary sax player has seen his Velvet Lounge battling financial challenges surrounding its impending move--the venue officially closed last weekend--he still remains one of the most well-regarded avant-garde jazz musicians alive, now well into his seventies. Over time, he's released more than thirty records and reissues--plus helped found the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.

25. Farley Jackmaster Funk

Farley Jackmaster Funk IS Chicago house music. His Isaac Hayes cover, "Love Can't Turn Around," was the first house-music tune to ever hit the pop charts and his sets on WBMX-FM, as a member of the Hot Mix 5, are the stuff of house music legend. His music and DJ sets have amassed legions of overseas fans and he has played a pivotal role in the international success of house music.

26.

Rhymefest

Writing songs with Kanye West is not a bad idea. As the co-writer of "Jesus Walks," Rhymefest won a Grammy award in 2005 for Best Rap Song and generated huge buzz despite not having a record. That all changes in a month however, as the rapper releases the Kanye-produced "Blue Collar" at the end of May. If the single "Brand New" is any indication, it's gonna be big.

27.

The Academy Is...

Fall Out Boy's little brother splashed last year with "Almost Here," its debut full-length of emo pop-punk, which led to last month's string of sold-out shows at the House of Blues. "In three years we plan to be one of the biggest bands in the world," leader William Beckett told Newcity last fall. With that sort of ambition, paired with the band's talent, The Academy Is... might do just that.

28. Roy Davis, Jr.

Davis Jr. is one of Chicago's most celebrated dance-music figures, making many graceful transitions over the course of his fifteen-year-plus career. We've seen the early jackin' house stages as a member of Phuture, the mid/late nineties move towards garage and R&B-influenced grooves and the fine synthesis of both of these worlds that we see in his sounds today. He continues to craft quality music in the tradition of great R&B, soul and gospel music.

29.

Alkaline Trio

The emo-punk staple--who paved the way for the likes of Fall Out Boy and The Academy Is...-- has gone through several lineup changes since its inception a decade ago, but that didn't stop the production: five full-lengths, a special edition reissue of last year's "Crimson," plus multiple EPs and compilation appearances. Next? Three back-to-back-to-back sold-out dates at Metro during the first week of May.

30. Steve "Silk" Hurley Steve "Silk" Hurley claims a mythical seat in the pantheon of Windy City house heroes. "Jack Your Body" was the first house record to top the UK charts way back in 1987 (as J.M. Silk), but Hurley had already cemented his reputation at home as part of the Hot Mix 5 DJ crew. Additional #1 dance hits would continue to follow, as would an impressive list of artists who came calling for Hurley's Midas remix touch. Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Ace of Base, Inner City, New Order, En Vogue... Hurley's remixes would eventually net him four Grammy nominations over his decades-spanning career. "Silk"'s record label, Silk Entertainment, has released numerous hit tracks (including singles from CeCe Peniston), many of which can be heard mixed with newer music in Hurley's "New Skool/Old Skool Remix" radio segment, which appears on the nationally syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show."

31.

The Sea and Cake

The indie-rock stalwarts--comparable to Tortoise in invention and worldwide influence--have since the mid-nineties combined rock, pop, soul and jazz into several releases, one of the highlight bands on Thrill Jockey. Its leader, Archer Prewitt, has had a successful solo career for himself, most recently releasing last year's "Wilderness," also on Thrill Jockey.

32.

Pelican

The instrumental doom metal that Pelican has perfected came to glorious fruition last year with "The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw," one of 2005's best local releases. Since then the band has toured on the 2006 Taste of Chaos tour with the Deftones and Atreyu, bringing its sound to even bigger audiences than the ones so dedicated in Chicago.

33.

Lupe Fiasco

Lupe's appearance in Kanye West's "Touch the Sky" video--the Evel Knievel-themed mini-movie that features Pamela Anderson--rocketed him into mainstream attention after a few years of limbo, and "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor," his debut record, is set for release on Atlantic Records this spring. With Kanye's help, anything is possible.

34.

Greenskeepers

Like a dancefloor experiment gone horribly right, the Greenskeepers throw in all the right monkey-wrenches in all the right places--which is fittingly where they seem to turn up. As the story goes, house DJ prodigy James Curd partnered up with back-in-the-day skate buddy Nick Maurer to form Greenskeepers. Initially showcasing a signature swing-house sound, interest in Greenskeepers grew as they released tracks on Derrick Carter and Luke Solomon's seminal Classic record label, and late great BBC jock John Peel pimped their tracks from his radio show. Cult status would soon follow as "Lotion," their homage to Buffalo Bill (the cinematic serial killer, not the Wild West legend), had pop-culture freaks around the world downloading their cleverly edited video. Curd brought the beat, and Maurer brought the freak, add in additional Keepers Coban Rudish and Mark Share for their full-on live band performances, and the Greenskeepers are now a refreshingly understated powerhouse: they DJ, play live, run their own label (Greenskeepers Music) and remix artists--all while releasing their own quirky-fried versions of Chicago thump. Did we mention Greenskeepers tracks or remixes appear on the soundtrack to "The Incredibles" and a couple episodes of "Grey's Anatomy," or even Curd's other labels, G-Swing and Igloo?

35.

Dajae

Ms. Brighter Days is still singing after all these years and producing what many consider to be her best stuff to date. Her recent collaboration with Cajmere, "Say You Will," garnered high praise, as did the two previous productions with Felix Da Housecat. While the songbird can occasionally be caught around town at places like Four or Boom Boom Room, she is mostly in the studio working on her second full-length with Harrison Crump, Jeri McAllister and Ron Carroll, which will be released later this year on Dustraxx.

36.

Tim Kinsella

Surely an influence on all indie rock for the last ten years, Kinsella--check it: Cap'n Jazz, Joan of Arc, Owls, Make Believe--remains one of the most highly respected guitar-warpers in Chicago, although record sales may not show it. Make Believe, his current project, released its first full-length, "Shock of Being," last fall on Flameshovel, and played with the Promise Ring during Flower 15, whose leader, Davey von Bohlen, was one of the members of Cap'n Jazz, as you recall.

37.

Magnolia Electric Co.

Singer-Songwriter Jason Molina officially changed his band's name from Songs: Ohia to Magnolia Electric Co. in 2003 during its tour in support of "Magnolia Electric Co." Confused? Well, fans generally refer to Molina's Will Oldham-esque work as all being Songs: Ohia, whatever the title (he's also released material under Jason Molina). Secretly Canadian plans to release the Steve Albini-recorded "Nashville Moon" under the Magnolia Electric Co. moniker later this year, and coupled with Molina's recent string of solo shows at Schubas, it could be a big one.

38.

Bad Boy Bill

Few Chicago DJs are regarded as fondly and with as much reverence as Bad Boy Bill. Over the years, our man Bill's numerous radio shows helped raise more than a generation of dance-music heads in our city and he's still pushing on to this day. His harder brand of house music has landed him legions of fans worldwide and has afforded him the opportunity to host residencies in several different countries, not to mention poll-topping positions in various America's favorite DJ surveys.

39.

The M's

The Beatles-esque foursome triumphantly returned with "Future Women" earlier this year, a solid follow-up record to the band's self-titled debut, and coupled with the exposure of a recent month-long weekly residency at Schubas, represents the group's best shot at stardom. Even better, one of the band's songs, "Plan of the Man," just aired on "The OC." Need we say more?

40.

Telefon Tel Aviv

Charlie Cooper and Josh Eustis produce pensive electronica as well as remix work that can bring a wistful soul to any song. Last year, their arrangement of "Stolen Moments" by Oliver Nelson was nominated for Song of the Year in the Radio 1 Gilles Peterson World Music Awards and their contribution to "Exit Music: Songs for Radio Heads" was widely considered the standout track. This year, they will be producing original work for the Neotek Series II and playing Mutek in Mexico City along with Hefty Showcases throughout Europe and the States.

41.

Ken Vandermark

The jazz artist, who relocated to Chicago from Boston in 1989, has offered up more than fifteen full-length records, played on a vast variety of others and, in 1999, was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship, aka the "genius grant." The Vandermark 5 can be seen around town at various clubs, including the Empty Bottle.

42.

The Tossers

The seven-piece Celtic punk band released "The Valley of the Shadow of Death" in October of 2005 on Victory Records, a mash of mandolin, fiddle and banjo--plus thrashing guitars and beat-down drums. The band screams South Side fury and pride and continues to sell out shows--and not only in Chicago.

43.

Bang! Bang!

Chicago's major sex-punk outfit--whose inexhaustible live shows helped spark buzz behind its two previous EPs--looks ahead at the release of its first full-length, "Decked Out," this May on Morphius Records, and continue to supply us with a grand display of dance-inducing rhythms of scandalous rock.

44.

Head of Femur

After wowing crowds during its two-show celebration of New Year's Eve this past year at the Beat Kitchen, the indie-pop band--now reduced to a smaller lineup, that makes it more edgy and less Polyphonic Spree-like--aims to release its new record, the follow-up to last year's "Hysterical Stars," later this year, its second on spinART Records.

45.

The National Trust

Neil Rosario and Mark Henning's just-released "Kings & Queens" on Thrill Jockey--a volcano of dance, funk and soul--makes The National Trust one of the more unique offerings from Chicago as the duo blends styles of music that could soundtrack a dance party and a study session, if you're so inclined. And attention is being paid: Urb magazine's "Next 100" list, high-profile gigs last month in Miami, and a track featured on, once again, "The OC."

(2006-04-11)

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