# Album recommendations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458 "2003-12-28T21:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mogiaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mogiaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mogiaw)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/1 "2003-12-28T21:54:49Z")
Hiya folks, I got a rake of music vouchers for christmas that are burning a hole in my pocket. Anyone recommend some recent albums worth purchasing? My favourite bands include the Eels, Wilco, REM, Radiohead, Skatalites, For Stars. I like all sorts of music but current favourites are lo-fi country/acoustica and ska/reggae. so any suggestions? thanks, Mogiaw ---
**Author:** ![sam0156](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sam0156](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sam0156)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/2 "2003-12-28T23:10:54Z")
I’ve never listened to the Eels or Skatalites, but I am a fan of REM, Radiohead and Wilco…how about the Samples album The Last Drag, or The Tragically Hip? Both from a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/3 "2003-12-28T23:27:40Z")
Get the 3 E.P.'s by The Beta Band. It’s beautiful, deep, funky music, like a cross between alt-country and trip-hop. The CD is aptly titled, as it’s a combination of three of their EPs that didn’t get too wide a release the first time around, and it’s a great intro to the group. ---
**Author:** ![Dogman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Dogman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/4 "2003-12-29T00:02:45Z")
Coldplay - both albums are pretty good and have some similarities to Radiohead (The Bends era) I’d also highly recommend Sea Change from Beck. ---
**Author:** ![mogiaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mogiaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mogiaw)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/5 "2003-12-29T02:17:14Z")
I have the 3 EPs and the Coldplay albums and the Beck album too! thanks for the suggestions though. I’ll check out whether my local store has the samples album. thanks, mogiaw ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/6 "2003-12-29T02:21:19Z")
Ack. Try the album Kill The Moonlight by Spoon. ---
**Author:** ![Foolonthehill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Foolonthehill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foolonthehill)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/7 "2003-12-29T03:10:25Z")
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men; “Outakes from California” Dwight Yokum; “In Others’ Words” ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/8 "2003-12-29T03:32:24Z")
“The Wind” by **Warren Zevon** “Rainy Day Music” by **The Jayhawks** “Odelay” by **Beck** , since you already have “Sea Change” “Welcome Interstate Managers” by **Fountains of Wayne** “Fully Completely” by **The Tragically Hip**. Among about 5 other fantastic CDs by the Hip. ---
**Author:** ![desapar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@desapar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desapar)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/9 "2003-12-29T05:22:22Z")
Neutral Milk Hotel, Secret Stars ---
**Author:** ![Tarrsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@Tarrsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarrsk)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/10 "2003-12-29T12:41:14Z")
**Rx Bandits - "The Resignation"** A really stellar reggae/punk album which also features some creative use of synthesizers as well. Their previous album, **“Progress”** , is also excellent, and has more of a ska feel. It also sounds like you might be into Wilco- check out **“Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”** if you have a chance. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/album-recommendations/221458/11 "2003-12-29T13:14:42Z")
I’ll second the recommendation for Neutral Milk Hotel. Check out the song _Holland, 1945_. It’s a beautiful, ramshackle mess. It’s certainly indie rock, but the raggedness gives it a sort of alt-country feel.