For me, I prefer instrumentals to have a more calming soothing effect: Link
To this date, I wish I could find even a single artist like The Pillows yet the closest I can find is The Almost. The Pillows are rock, but they're so unique that I can't really describe them.
The classical rock like "ACDC" have some good songs, but they get old really fast in a session. I like more range to include artists like Def Leppard and Aerosmith. The former getting old after awhile too while Aerosmith has some good songs (though I tend to stick to the Big Ones album).
Screamo and Hardcore tends to turn me off except for very few artists. Screamo, I think I've only liked one or two songs in that fashion (Art of American Football and Raise the Dead). Saosin is a pretty good band to listen to when I want some dramatic stuff in my music.
I think my favorite genre are the artists like The Almost, Lostprophets, Ellegarden, The Pillows. All of them tend to be lighter in terms of theme and somewhat fast paced.
Hmm that link was better than I expected. Based on the song I listened to they sound reminiscent of Radiohead. They have the same Alt/experimental rock vibe going on. In fact I'm sureIve heard a Radiohead song very simlar to that I might have a look around later.
Oh and love lost Prophets 4am forever is one of my favorite all time songs.
Right now I'm listening to a lot of stuff by Nine Inch Nails as well as A perfect circle. Mainly stuff that has something original or creative to it. Creative talent in bands is a must imo.
Even though I liked em a few years ago I can no longer stand the more formulaic kind of emo bands that pump out the same repetitive songs all the time with the same old lyrics.
Overall Muse still do for me. One of the best live bands around and a huge amount of quality songs all with their own distinctive, creative, brilliance. In fact some of the B-sides are better than the singles. It's hard to see any one over take them in my list.
I'll leave at that but in general I listen to mainly rock/metal/classic rock and a bit of prog now and again.