# ask the guy who wants to help you listen to better music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240 "2004-08-10T18:52:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![dry\_gear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@dry\_gear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dry_gear)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/181 "2004-08-14T20:27:54Z")
S&S, they also have album reviews at [www.allmusic.com](http://www.allmusic.com). The reviews aren’t always useful in a general sense, but they’re good to see which album is best by a particular band. You might also like The Shins. They’re another band with brilliantly poppy songs. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/182 "2004-08-14T21:22:24Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > I find myself listening to my phonograph record of Ernie Kovacs singing “Hot Cakes and Sausage” over and over again. Can you steer me toward more of this type of entertainment? > > Also, I adore the musical stylings of [Csokolom](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005NC37/qid%3D1092172103/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-8637462-6051115). Please recommend some other virtuosic Transylvanian/Croatian string-band albums. I only recall Mr Kovacs as the comedian who said “Television: A medium - so called because it is neither rare nor well done.” If his musical stylings were as iconoclastic as his TV work then possibly Australia’s [The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band](http://www.geocities.com/soho/square/8216/matchbox.htm) may provide some joy if they are available. They were a _lunatic Melbourne-based ensemble played a uniquely zany brand of jug-band blues, spiced with jazz, swing, popular standards, cabaret, sideshow chutzpah and vaudeville routines including slapstick, tap dancing, juggling, magic and even fire eating._ Leader Mic Conway most recently had [The National Junk Band](http://www.nationaljunkband.com/junkband.html) who performed a strange mix of stuff including a half jug band version of the Sex Pistol’sa _God Save The Queen_. My favourite nod to the past with a touch of modern sensibilities remains the work of Mr Leon Redbone (_From Branch to Branch_ particularly) on a rainy afternoon with a good cup of tea. In relation to gypsy type entertainments I can recommend _Taraf De Haidouks_ heartily. After seeing them earlier this year I began a thread stating that they were the most enjoyable band I had ever seen where I knew none of their names, none of their songs or anything they said onstage. They ranged in age from maybe early 20s to 70s or 80s, wandered on and off stage at will and were absolutely enchanting. They can be seen in the movie _Latcho Drom_ which I have on video but I’m sure it must be available on DVD. If you aren’t familiar with the movie I strongly recommend that you track it down. The gypsy music is awesome but it is a very fine piece of movie making as well. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/183 "2004-08-14T21:28:58Z")
Oh by the way congratulations on a most fruitful thread. Especially good because I read the OP and thought “who is he kidding” and he kiddeth not. Good one. ---
**Author:** ![dry\_gear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@dry\_gear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dry_gear)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/184 "2004-08-14T23:45:42Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > Oh by the way congratulations on a most fruitful thread. Especially good because I read the OP and thought “who is he kidding” and he kiddeth not. Good one. No kidding. Seeing the thread title I was expecting this guy to be a jerk with crappy taste in music, but I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ersatz_Shmoe)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/185 "2004-08-15T00:50:12Z")
S&S, if you like Death Cab, you’re almost guaranteed to like All-Time Quarterback!, which was Ben Gibbards’ lo-fi solo album. You might also want to look for Kind of Like Spitting, which is headed by John Vanderslce’s guitarist. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Cooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@Agent\_Cooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Cooper)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/186 "2004-08-15T03:01:37Z")
> [@racinchikki](#): > > Apocalyptica plays heavy metal music on cello. Is there anything else out there with that sort of sound? Classical instruments with a rock sound. No vocals. Even rock or metal-like treatments of real classical songs (I have an AWESOME version of “In The Hall of the Mountain King”). Rasputina is a string quartet (i think), all women, with some of the same sound. It is still very different, with drums and vocals usually. ---
**Author:** ![dry\_gear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@dry\_gear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dry_gear)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/187 "2004-08-15T03:54:17Z")
Nightime: I’m listening to High Land, Hard Rain right now. I love it. If I wanted to simplistically describe it, I’d call it a happier version of The Cure. But that wouldn’t really do them justice. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/188 "2004-08-15T05:02:19Z")
> [@racinchikki](#): > > Apocalyptica plays heavy metal music on cello. Is there anything else out there with that sort of sound? Classical instruments with a rock sound. No vocals. Even rock or metal-like treatments of real classical songs (I have an AWESOME version of “In The Hall of the Mountain King”). The closest I know to what you’re looking for is Therion and Lacrimosa. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/189 "2004-08-15T05:12:00Z")
> [@fighting ignorant](#): > > My brother is an unreconstructed, ossifed, calcified classic rock listener. Beatles, Stones, Bob Frickin’ Seger, The Who, blah blah blah. Driving in his car is pure torture, help! Where do I start? Well, for one, it’s kind of annoying that you sound like you want to reform your brother’s taste instead of being helpful and getting him some music he might like. There are some great bands represented by the label ‘classic rock’ (even though I hate the term), but the static-ness and of the whole thing is awful, the reverence can be annoying, and the radio stations are the worst. If he’s listening to that, even though I do the same sometimes, I do pity you because you never get outside the 3-5 most famous songs by each band. If you can keep your lunch down, can you give a clearer picture of who he likes? If not, I hope he enjoys torturing you. ---
**Author:** ![dry\_gear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@dry\_gear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dry_gear)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/190 "2004-08-15T06:54:09Z")
I have to admit that I actually like some of Bob Seger’s stuff :o I love “Old Time Rock and Roll” and the live version of “Turn the Page”. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/191 "2004-08-15T19:42:53Z")
Okay. What I’m wanting here is ambitious, pompous, bombastic, majestic, even arrogant alternative/indie rock. Muse’s “Absolution” comes pretty darn close to what I’m looking for here. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/192 "2004-08-15T19:45:21Z")
As does Radiohead’s “OK Computer”, of course. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/193 "2004-08-15T21:50:38Z")
> [@Kantalooppi](#): > > As does Radiohead’s “OK Computer”, of course. You should listen to Porcupine Tree’s _In Absentia_. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/194 "2004-08-15T22:02:20Z")
Here’s one for you, **Freejooky** , or for anyone else who knows: I really like the psychedelic metal I’ve heard from Alchemist, Neurosis, and Isis. I’m looking for more stuff like that. I’m not necessarily against Kyuss-influenced stoner metal, but I’m more interested in stuff that sounds like the three artists I mentioned before. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![dry\_gear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@dry\_gear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dry_gear)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/195 "2004-08-15T22:09:05Z")
**Kantalooppi** , check out The Flaming Lips. Their last two albums,“The Soft Bulletin” and “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” are both excellent. They also have an album called Zaireeka that has four cd’s, and you need to have four cd players going at the same time to listen to. Also check out The Polyphonic Spree. They have over 20 members! ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/196 "2004-08-16T01:35:46Z")
> [@Kallessa](#): > > At the risk of sounding plebian, not to mention old, what can you recommend for someone who likes Julia Fordam, India. Aire, and Bonnie Raitt? And who has flirted with others, but must admit that sooner or later I always go back to James Taylor? > > But when I’m in another mood, who could I listen to instead of Jesse Cook or Oscar Lopez? > > I’ve listened to Altan and Clannad until I can actually tell them apart–what’s next? > > And finally, how about the best zydeco to get the blood racing and the feet tapping? **Freejooky** , is there no hope for me ever listeninging to music from this century, or did you just miss me? I got some help on zydeco, but I’m still lost in the 70’s for most of my music. Please help me, I don’t want to be an old fogey. Would it help if I said I love _Evanescence_? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/197 "2004-08-16T01:38:03Z")
> [@Kallessa](#): > > Would it help if I said I love _Evanescence_? You should check out Lacuna Coil. A buddy of mine who heard them for the first time last night said they sound like Evanescence, but more pensive. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/198 "2004-08-16T03:05:15Z")
I saw Rodney Crowell on Letterman not long ago. Anything on him and similar artists? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/199 "2004-08-16T06:21:56Z")
Hmm. I’ve only recently (well, in the past four years or so) really started getting into music. Lemme give you my typically preferred stuff, see if I can get other recommendations: -Yello -David Byrne/Talking Heads -Air -Thievery Corporation -Tom Waits -Pink Floyd -Beck -George Acosta -Momus -Franz Ferdinand -Curtis Mayfield -Creedence Clearwater Revival -Earth, Wind, and Fire What say the music gurus, here? What else should I delve into? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/200 "2004-08-16T07:40:59Z")
And where’s **freejooky**? Needed a weekend off? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=11)