Help me out...here's music that matters to me...who else might I dig? (1 Viewer)

[Jon_Are]

I no longer have the time or energy to aggressively seek out new music, but I feel that I'm in a rut. Here's a list of some of my favorites - as well as some recent discoveries I'm fond of. Based on this list, I'm counting on y'all to steer me toward some new pleasures.
All time faves: Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Velvet Underground/Lou Reed, Paul Simon.
Also like: Liz Phair, Joe Jackson, Cowboy Junkies, Violent Femmes, The Beatles, Robert Gordon, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Wallflowers, Talking Heads.
Recently discovered: Beck, Ben Folds...cripes, that's about it (hence my problem)!
As you might notice, I value: originality, real musical ability, lyrics of depth and/or cleverness, and variety. What I despise most is lack of originality.
Thanks for any input!
Jon
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"This one goes to eleven." (Nigel Tufnel)
[Edited last by Jon_Are on October 06, 2001 at 08:59 PM]

 

[Kevin Leonard]

Well, here's a partial list of some reccomendations; these are mostly little-known or obscure musicians that I always push onto my friends when they look at my music collection. If I think of any more (and I will), I'll post 'em. The format goes like this:
GENRE
Name of Band/Musician (Reccomended Album(s))
POWER-POP/ALTERNATIVE
Big Star (#1 Record/Radio City--two classics for the price of one!)
Captain Soul (they only have one album out--Beat Your Crazy Head Against the Sky--but damn, is it one hell of an album)
The Feelies (Crazy Rhythms)
Matthew Sweet (Girlfriend, 100% Fun)
Velvet Crush (Teenage Symphonies to God)
XTC (Drums and Wires, Skylarking, English Settlement, Nonsuch...hell, buy 'em all!)
The Zombies (The Singles)
COUNTRY/ALT-COUNTRY
The Jayhawks (Hollywood Town Hall)
Gram Parsons (GP/Grievous Angel--two classics for the price of one! (again))
Son Volt (Trace, Wide Swing Tremolo)
SINGER-SONGWRITER
T-Bone Burnett (Truth Decay, Talking Animals, Proof Through the Night)
Hamell on Trial (Choochtown)
Robyn Hitchcock (Element of Light, Globe of Frogs, Eye, Jewels for Sophia)
Aimee Mann (I'm With Stupid, Whatever, Bachelor No. 2, Magnolia)
Nick Lowe (Basher, Jesus of Cool, The Impossible Bird)
Beth Orton (Trailer Park, Central Reservation)
Graham Parker (Passion Is No Ordinary World)
Michael Penn (MP4, March)
Jennifer Trynin (Cockamamie, Gun Shy Trigger Happy)
Frank Zappa (200 Motels, Sheik Yerbouti, Freak Out!)
ROCK
Dinosaur Jr. (Bug, Without A Sound, You're Living All Over Me; there's a recent compilation named Ear-Bleeding Country that's a pretty good sampler)
fIREHOUSE (If'n, Fromohio)
Husker Du (Zen Arcade, Flip Your Wig)
The Minutemen (Double Nickels on a Dime, Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat)
Pere Ubu (The Modern Dance, Picnic Time, Dub Housing)
The Pixies (Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Trompe Le Monde)
The Replacements (based on your choices, you'll probably enjoy some of their more mainstream work--Tim and Pleased to Meet Me)
The Soft Boys (Underwater Moonlight, and if you can find it, A Can of Bees)
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Have you ever noticed anyone driving slower than you is an idiot? And anyone driving faster than you is a maniac!! - George Carlin
ICQ: 55259446 (or just search for "John Shaft"...can you dig?)
[Edited last by Kevin Leonard on October 06, 2001 at 10:13 PM]

 

[Vince Maskeeper]

Sounds like you're a singer-songwriter fan.
Maybe try:
Mary Lou Lord
Jeremy Enigk
Matthew Sweet (his first "rock" album GIRLFRIEND specifically)
Freedy Johnston
Nick Drake
Elliott Smith
Aimee Mann
Lois
Pete Droge
And if you're adventurous:
Pavement
Neutral Milk Hotel
The Silver Jews
Tsunami
Yo la tengo
Daniel Johnson
Shawn Smith (solo album)
-Vince
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http://www.musicianassist.com
AIM: VinceMaskeeper
Interested in moving into FRONT PROJECTION with huge 6-10 foot widescreen? Buy my whole HDTV-ready CRT based front projection system delivered, cheap! Click here

 

[Kevin Leonard]

Oh, another person you might want to look into is Marshall Crenshaw. He's a singer-songwriter who is sort of like Buddy Holly crossed with the Beatles, with a dash of Elvis Costello thrown in...his debut album Marshall Crenshaw (duh) is to me the definition of a perfect pop album.
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Have you ever noticed anyone driving slower than you is an idiot? And anyone driving faster than you is a maniac!! - George Carlin
ICQ: 55259446 (or just search for "John Shaft"...can you dig?)

 

[Brian Bunn]

Jon--Don't know if you saw the post from an earlier similar thread but here is a list of some new music that I have been listening to the last several years. Much of it should fall in line with your criteria for musical enjoyment. In other words...there is some damn good stuff in this list! Most of them should be on Amazon.com where you can listen to sound clips and read reviews, etc.
You want storytellers and lyrics that "mean" something? Here are a few names to check out:
Freedy Johnston
Tim Easton
Ryan Adams
Steve Earle
Josh Rouse
Vigilantes of Love
Pete Yorn
Man, I could make a huge list of some great stuff. I will list some of the stuff I have been listening to recently:
Wilco-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (of course)
Bob Dylan-Love and Theft
The Waxwings-Low To The Ground (buy this album!)
Neil Finn--One Nil
Josh Rouse-Dressed Up Like Nebraska and Home (get these!)
Vigilantes of Love-Summershine (don't miss it!)
The Honeydogs-Here's Luck
Whiskeytown-Strangers Almanac (maybe the best alt-country album ever)
Whiskeytown-Pneumonia
Pernice Brothers-The World Won't End (get it!)
Chappaquiddick Skyline
Travis-The Invisible Band
Tim Easton-The Truth About Us
Steve Ward-Opening Night (this one is a requirement!)
Cherry Twister-At Home With Cherry Twister (as is this one)
Freedy Johnston-Right Between The Promises
The Choir-Flap Your Wings (outstanding Christian Pop/Rock)
The Elms-Big Surprise (more outstanding Christian Pop/Rock)
Teenage Fanclub-Howdy!
Ryan Adams-Heartbreaker (don't miss)
Ryan Adams-Gold (ditto)
Ron Sexsmith-Blue Boy
Pete Yorn-Musicforthemorningafter
Old 97's-Satellite Rides
Neilson Hubbard-Why Men Fail
Map of Wyoming-Trouble Is
Map of Wyoming-Round Trip
Clem Snide-Your Favorite Music
Clem Snide-The Ghost Of Fashion
Ivy-Long Distance
Longwave-Endsongs (definitely check it out)
The Supers-Spklaang! (infectious pop/rock)
Orange Peels-So Far (more infectious pop/rock)
Adam Daniel-Blue Pop (even more infectious pop/rock)
The Drowners-Is There Something On Your Mind? (and more!)
The Apples In Stereo-The Discovery of a World Inside The Moone
The Flashing Lights-Where The Change Is
Quite a list! I ain't having no problem finding stuff I like. And even if you don't like music along these lines (pop/rock for the more "mature" listener) I am sure you can find other stuff to your liking with a little searching. Seriously, any of the above is a great place to start. But start with The Waxwings and Steve Ward...if you don't like these albums I will personally refund your money!
Also, check out anything from The Innocence Mission, starting with their '95 album "Glow". Great stuff.
And definitely check out The Waxwings "Low To The Ground" and Steve Ward "Opening Night". Hope that helps you some.

 

[Sam Hatch]

And don't forget to pick up a copy of Jeff Buckley's
"Grace" while you're out buying all that other great stuff!
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"Negative. I am a meat popsicle."

 

[Christine Warren]

I'd put Jeff Buckley's "Grace" at the head of the queue of purchases if I were you!!
And also the latest "Live at Olympia" - a concert recorded in paris and worth having (ignore Mystery White Boy as it is rather piecemeal).
Christine

 

[Josh LeClair]

You might want to check out Kasey Chambers too.
----edit----
Also check out John Hiatt
I should be getting in a new CD in the next couple days titlet "Sputnik and the Angel". Supposedly rather good, i'll let you know in the next couple days.
[Edited last by Josh LeClair on October 07, 2001 at 11:49 PM]
[Edited last by Josh LeClair on October 07, 2001 at 11:50 PM]

 

[isobel meldar]

a few bands you may like:
Bright Eyes - honest, depressing, chaotic crybaby bedroom rock. one of the best songwriters around today(that no one knows about).
The Calendar Hung Itself real audio
Going for the Gold real audio mp3
Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh real audio mp3
Padraic My Prince real audio
Son, Ambulance - refreshing
An Instant Birth real audio mp3
Brown Park real audio mp3
Lullaby for the Working Class - Nebraskan sadgrass
Show Me how the Robots Dance real audio
Hypnotist (song for Daniel H) real audio
[Edited last by isobel meldar on October 08, 2001 at 04:49 AM]

 

[Mike Broadman]

I haven't read through all the lists, so just in case no one mentioned my favorite singer-songwriters:
Peter Gabriel ("Jeux sans frontier")
Joni Mitchell ("I'm a country station, I'm a little bit corny...")
Warren Zevon ("I went home with a waitress, the way I always do. How was I to know she was with the Russians, too?")
Frank Zappa ("Poodle bites, poodle chews it")
(I don't know if he counts, but he goes on every musical list I make)

 

[Ken_McAlinden]

The new Jay Farrar album, "Sebastopol" has been competing with the 2-disc John Prine anthlogy for my car's CD player time over the past several days. It's more or less just like a Son Volt album with a little more varied instrumentation, as he was the primary singer-songwriter for that band. He was also one of the two main singer-songwriters for Uncle Tupelo. The other was Jeff Tweedy who formed Wilco. Their albums, especially "Summerteeth" are also highly recommended.
Regards,
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Ken McAlinden
Livonia, MI USA

 

[Philip Hamm]

Oh, another person you might want to look into is Marshall Crenshaw. He's a singer-songwriter who is sort of like Buddy Holly crossed with the Beatles, with a dash of Elvis Costello thrown in...his debut album Marshall Crenshaw (duh) is to me the definition of a perfect pop album.

Anything my Marshall Crenshaw is pure pop genius. His latest album #447 is incredible, as is practcially everything he has ever done. I am a huge fan.
Check out Bruce Cockburn if you can. He's one of the most important artists out there.
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Philip Hamm
AIM: PhilBiker

 

[Henry Gale]

Jon,
I think you might want a little more roots music in your diet.
Check out early blues, swing, bluegrass, cajun and country.
Costello, Prine and Dylan are all huge hard country fans.
In Bluegrass, explore Bill Monroe, and the Stanley Brothers.
For Western Swing you can't go wrong with Milton Brown (our founder

) or Bob Wills. This is the music that consistanly gives me a smile and goosebumps.
[Edited last by Jim Armstrong on October 08, 2001 at 06:46 PM]

 

[Rutledge]

For contemporty blues how about Keb' Mo' "Keb' Mo'", "Just Like You", "Slowdown", "The Door". "Big Wide Grin" is not as
good as his earlier stuff.

 

[Chuck Parker]

Jon,
A great number of the above recommendations are great!
to fuel the fire, here's a few more, mostly from the singer/songwriter categories:
The Badlees (see also side projects Pete Palladino, and the Cellarbirds)
Patty Griffin
Emmylou Harris
The Clarks
Jeffrey Gaines
Lucinda Williams
Darcie Miner
Gillian Welch
a bunch of these are indies, but are easily found on the net -
happy hunting! I'll be checking out a few of these recommendations myself - always on the lookout for new stuff!
-chuck

 

[Rain]

I'll second most of Kevin's recommendations and add:
T-Bone Burnett: The Criminal Under My Own Hat
Graham Parker: Squeezing Out Sparks; Howlin' Wind; The Mona Lisa's Sister; Struck By Lightning
The Replacements: Let It Be; All Shook Down
Big Star: Third/Sister Lovers
Grant McLennan: Horsebreaker Star
Grant Lee Buffalo: Mighty Joe Moon
John Hiatt: Bring the Family; Stolen Moments
Sam Philips: Martinis and Bikinis
Billy Bragg: Talking With the Taxman About Poetry; Workers' Playtime
Richard and Linda Thompson: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight; Shoot Out the Lights
The Proclaimers: Sunshine on Leith
Van Morrison: Astral Weeks; Moondance; St. Dominic's Preview; His Band and the Street Choir; Tupelo Honey
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited; Bringing It All Back Home; Blonde on Blonde; Blood on the Tracks; Infidels; Oh Mercy; Love and Theft
Ryan Adams: Gold
Rickie Lee Jones: Pirates; Flying Cowboys
Patti Smith: Horses; Dream of Life; Gone Again; Gung Ho
Lyle Lovett: Joshua Judges Ruth
Warren Zevon: Excitable Boy
The Byrds: The Notorious Byrd Brothers; Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here; The Wall; The Final Cut
Steely Dan: Gaucho; Aja
And for the Canadian content:
The Tragically Hip: Up to Here; Road Apples; Fully Completely; Day For Night; Trouble at the Henhouse; Phantom Power; Music @ Work
Neil Young: After the Gold Rush; Tonight's the Night; Rust Never Sleeps; Freedom; Ragged Glory; Harvest Moon; Sleeps With Angels
Hayden: Everything I Long For
Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill; Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
The Pursuit of Happiness: Love Junk
Mary Margaret O'Hara: Miss America
I'll add stuff as I think of it.
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"Imagine all the people, living life in peace..." - Imagine by John Lennon
Anyone in the Vancouver Canada area interested in a meet? Click here
[Edited last by Rain's evil twin on October 10, 2001 at 03:57 PM]
[Edited last by Rain on October 10, 2001 at 03:59 PM]

 

[KrisM]

Damn!! I'm a HUGE Uncle Tupelo/Wilco/Son Volt fan and I didn't even know Wilco and Jay Farrar had new albums out.I guess its off to the store to pick em up.
Any disc by these bands are amazing.
KrisM
[Edited last by KrisM on October 10, 2001 at 06:23 PM]

 

[MatS]

Kris -
Jay Farrar's brilliant 'Sebastopol' is out in stores now (released Sept 25th). However, Wilco's new release Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is being held up due to the fact the band left Reprise records and had not signed yet with a new label (though I have word they just have). Expect the new Wilco at retail sometime early next year. If you want to hear it I belive wilcoweb.com is streaming songs.

 

[JonZ]

The Flaming Lips
Theyre all good(except Soft Bulletin) but my favs are:
In a Priest Driven Ambulance
Hit To Death In The Future Head
Transmitions From Sattelite Heart
Clouds Taste Metallic
This band is brilliant.
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Visit My Pathetic WebPage
"....With that in mind,I humbly add my own prophecy of
what the dawn of the new millennium shall bring forth-
one thousand more years of the same old crap" Jose Chung

 

[Charles Gurganus]

"As you might notice, I value: originality, real musical ability, lyrics of depth and/or cleverness, and variety. What I despise most is lack of originality."
Well, with this in mind, you MUST try some Tonio K....specifically "Life In the Foodchain" and "Romeo Unchained". Check out this link for a great resource....
http://www.allmusic.com/
Type in Tonio K (or whoever) and check it out.
Also, with what you said you may like Peter Himmelman. I like "Synesthesia" and "From Strength to Strength" the best. Top notch lyrics and originality.
Also Split Enz "Time and Tide" and fantastic and fits the bill.
Lots of great suggestion already so I'll keep mine short.