There's always one or two people that kinda stand out as the "tastemakers" when I join a board. Somebody that is the person about whom I say, "That is the person that everybody here kinda looks to as the 'cool one'... the 'popular kid'."

When I joined CMJ back in '00 it was one KP_Haley. And the Boston crowd with whom he was affiliated (velouria, DS_Bruce, bluestar, etc) - "The Plan" crowd.

Who did you notice when you joined?

Dónde está la leche que compraste?

You forgot the 454, PT.

Yeah, I keyed in on yekcojsuolaej...lol.

There was never anybody I thought was cool but there were people where I said "oh, they like a lot of the same acts that I do. I should keep an eye out for what they rave about."

For me it was Kevin, you Todd, Mojo, Tommy, FT, and a few others. But yes indeed Kevin was surely at the top.

I joined the board in an effort to stop people from falling for the hype around the Soundtrack Of Our Lives. Of course, nobody listened... and once I realized I was being ignored I decided to stick around out of spite.

I only joined because I needed someplace to vent about "Once Bitten Twice Shy" being identified as a Great White song in the mainstream press.

I've always thought my taste was the best.

I only joined CMJ because somebody was talking shit about Guns and Roses. I don't think I really keyed in on anyone in particular.

When I was first brought into this travesty, by Derris, I remember 2 things: Spoon taking me to task for mentioning David Allan Coe in a positive light, and buying some John Vanderslice album that was getting a lot of run, and hating it.

I don't remember at what point I realized Rads was The Prophet of Jail Rock...but the rest is, as they say, GAR.

It's been too long since I joined to remember that.
I know that I typically watch what elephantstone, Ish and Saint are getting into. My secondaries are OPA!, Drinky and Dalen.

Chase, Cotton, PhilSpoon.

I can't really remember either. At first, I didn't think I really liked anyone else's tastes on here, but over time I found that billy g, Ish, discostu, polly six, and a few others could be reliable in certain areas. Initially, I got a lot from Fast'n'Bulbous, too. He might be the first person I really "keyed" in on, especially his lists of late '50s/early '60s jazz.

I can't remember how i happened upon the obner cult, but after i joined Tania was really nice and i loved Dalen's passion. I get a lot from the now playing threads. I guess Drinky, Billy G, Nobody, and Ish are the guys i pay the most attention towards.

crack, cotton, dhrjericho.

he had me at shrimpboat.

old friend mfkc directed me to cmj where i immediately crushed on mellontrongirl - some red krayola thread.

best first impressions: f'n'b, f4df, 454, billy_r, shiv (hip-hop), dude who moved from hawaii to arizona. pretty much take my cues from hip-hop threads & Billz posts anymore.

LeonardShelby

i was introduced to the board by tania... lurked for awhile but noticed dalen's taste in music was the closest to my interests so i paid attention to what he said sans the porn.

I can't really remember if there was anyone in particular. I always checked on recommendations then and now. And, I did take Rad's "ignore the hype" of TSOL seriously.

Tom Arico... that 'Live From Jerusalem' album slays.

What's she up to these days? Last I heard, they moved to San Franshisky.

I found the board while searching for music board's in general. Wasn't drawn in my anyone in particular...just the idea of a community of people who were really, really into music.

Definitely seemed like the board was ruled by kphaley454 (KPH) and fractured_take (FT) when I first joined. shiverhead (shiv), PopTodd, mojo, marianfudge (tommy two thumbs), freak4dafunk (f4df), HideousLump, vixen (velouria) and chase were other big forces, and eventually billy g, NankerPhelge (Sleepytime Tea), Aural Fixation, Charli_lady (Guinevere) and OPA_SaidTheGreek (OPA!).

timmyjoe42, DHRJericho, and seafoamrush were also pretty active back then, but I don't recall much of their musical tastes, except for Collective Soul and KEXP.

I'm sure I'm forgetting "important" people.

I feel sorry for anyone who was following Opa's taste in music.

I started to when he was as into cLOUDDEAD - Ten as I was.