# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/81 "2004-08-11T14:44:38Z")
> [@dry gear](#): > > Could it be? Another Glen fan here? > Yeah, I forgot to mention Toad. Yup, though I actually haven’t bought his newer stuff yet! I was a huge fan of TtWS. And it looks like he’s hooked up with some other folks (forgetting who atm) to form Mutual Admiration Society. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/82 "2004-08-11T14:48:39Z")
> [@Kallessa](#): > > And finally, how about the best zydeco to get the blood racing and the feet tapping? I’ve got a lot of Cajun and zydeco music around the house, and for my money no one kicks as much ass as [Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys](http://mamouplayboys.com/). I’ve got their first album and the 1995 release _La Toussaint_, their first with guitar leads and original compositions. The first cut on that one really _smokes_. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/83 "2004-08-11T15:32:27Z")
> [@The\_Seeker](#): > > 1. If I was to buy one Death Metal album, which one should it be? _Still Life_ by Opeth. Quite possibly the most brilliant album I have ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/84 "2004-08-11T15:34:53Z")
> [@Satasha](#): > > Know any instrumental metal bands? Not Vai ect. Like Iron Maiden or Metallica without vocals. They don’t exactly sound like Maiden or Metallica, but if you’re a fan of Dream Theater I’d suggest [Liquid Tension Experiment](http://www.yesiknow.com/lte/). ---
**Author:** ![curious\_kell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@curious\_kell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_kell)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/85 "2004-08-11T15:47:55Z")
I really like Portishead, but have never been able to find anything musically similar w/predominantly female vocals. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/86 "2004-08-11T15:58:58Z")
My favorite bands: Weezer, System of a Down, Sublime, Queens of the Stone Age, Greenday, Less Than Jake, and Linkin Park. But I definitely need some new music to listen to. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/87 "2004-08-11T16:03:30Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > I guess I am burned out on modern electric blues (Chicago and Texas styles) as well as its immediate ancestors (the Kings, the Alberts, Otis Rush, etc.). Maybe what I am looking for is something that is not so guitar-centric? If you’ve heard those guys, I’ll guess you’ve heard Robert Johnson - if not, feel free to hit yourself upside the head. Do you have anything by Son House or Honeyboy Edwards? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/88 "2004-08-11T16:26:06Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Appreciate the compliment. I love music, and I know metal very well, and I like to help people. Feel free to shoot me an email if you want more recommendations. > > btw, when did you change your name? No problem. It was overdue and well deserved. Not many people have the ability to hold their tongues when someone admits the like Korn (mostly the _Follow the Leader_ CD, though). I changed my userid a couple of months ago but don’t worry, I’m still a Tech at heart…and at work. But mostly at work, though. Freejooky, I tried giving the bands you suggested a whirl via [cdnow.com/amazon.com](http://cdnow.com/amazon.com) but they just seemed _too_ discordant for my tastes. I like a frenzied sound as much as next werido but they just weren’t working for me. I’m in a bit of a funk today so I will give them a whirl this weekend to see if I change my mind. There is a precedent for this as one of my favorite CDs is one that I absolutely hated the first few times I heard it. Thanks for suggesting them, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/89 "2004-08-11T16:34:20Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > One of our very own Straight Dopers, **AntaresJB** , is a singer-songwriter who has often been compared (including by herself) to Michelle Branch. Check her out: > > [http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/antaresjb.htm](http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/antaresjb.htm) Cool… thanks. I have it bookmarked for future perusal. No speakers on this thing. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/90 "2004-08-11T16:41:40Z")
> [@curious\_kell](#): > > I really like Portishead, but have never been able to find anything musically similar w/predominantly female vocals. Any suggestions? Sneaker Pimps immediately come to mind. (You might be familiar with the song “Six Underground”) Olive is another trip-hop mainstay with female vocals. Both Morcheeba and Moloko stray in and out of trip-hop territory, so it might be worth it for you to check them out. And don’t forget Beth Orton! She makes more use of acoustic instruments than the artists I’ve mentioned, but she still has that trip-hop backbeat on her earliest albums. (I’m thinking _Trailer Park_.) At any rate, she’s an awesome artist worth checking out. Finally, I suspect you might like The Cocteau Twins. While they’re not trip-hop at all (they’re described as ambient/dream pop), their records seem to evoke a similar atmosphere as Portoisehead. _Treasure_ and _Heaven or Los Vegas_ are good starting points. ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/91 "2004-08-11T16:43:49Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > I want to help everyone! > There’s so much bad music in the world, and so few outlets for the good stuff to get through that many people are stuck listening to phony, calculated crap. No music can be called _bad_ if someone, somewhere likes it. There are artists I unequivocally despise, yet I would never state they they make “bad music,” since my perception of them can’t be anything but completely subjective. Phony, calculated crap to you is someone else’s ambrosia. Just a niggling philosphical point. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/92 "2004-08-11T16:46:43Z")
> [@bat312](#): > > I have never been able to fill the void Frank Zappa left when he died. Any suggestions? Mike Keneally played with Zappa on a few albums, and has quite a few of his own. Clutch is standard guitar rock with a twist, but you can definitely hear a Zappa influence. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/93 "2004-08-11T17:11:22Z")
> [@Roland Orzabal](#): > > Depeche Mode are simplistic, happy, repetitious and boring. I cannot imagine why anybody (read: everybody) thinks I would like them. Happy? 😕 I’ve never once heard anyone accuse Depeche Mode of that one. They have maybe three or four happy songs in their entire catalog. The lyrics I can think of … “Death is everywhere, there are flies on the windscreen, for a start, reminding us that we could be torn apart tonight” “I look to you, how you carry on, when all hope is gone, can’t you see?” “I’m not looking for a clearer conscience, Peace of mind after what I’ve been through, And before we talk of any repentance, Try walking in my shoes” I also can’t see simplistic (well, maybe post-Alan), but I’m willing to put that up for debate. The “happy” comment is what gets me. Don’t many people refer to them as Depressed Mode?? ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/94 "2004-08-11T17:24:48Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > What about some outstanding Cuban music? I heard some great stuff on the radio where the piano seemed to as much percussion as melody. Do you know of anything like that? > > And, based on your interests, an easy one: I am a big blues fan, but the magic has been wearing off. What do you have that will knock me awake? for Cuban stuf - the Buena Vista Social Club movie/phenomenon really kicked off a wave of releases - each persona featured in the movie has had multiple releases spurred by the film. Check those out for a nice introduction and primer. [Ibrahim Ferrer](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000J7IL/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/002-1459706-0180831?v=glance&s=music&n=507846&st=*) is my favorite out of that group, and is very accessible. Also, Marc Ribot and the Cubanos Postizos have put out two or three cuban records. Ribot is a great guitarist who’s played with John Zorn and Tom Waits, and he and his group nail the vibe you seem to be looking for. As for blues - I personally can’t stand the whole “electric blues” movement. If it’s driving you nuts, look to the _real_ stuff - the early, primitive blues. There’s always the obvious ones like Robert Johnson and Leadbelly, but don’t miss out on lesser-heards like Skip James, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake, the aforementioned (but not mentioned enough) Son House, Charlie Patton, Memphis Minnie, and more. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/95 "2004-08-11T17:35:31Z")
> [@curious\_kell](#): > > I really like Portishead, but have never been able to find anything musically similar w/predominantly female vocals. Any suggestions? Portishead are an interesting group in that they bring together disparate influences (hip hop, John Barry/Bernard Hermann film scores, etc.) under one umbrella. There have been a lot of Portishead imitators, and honestly, most of them have been uninspired shit (here’s looking at you, Morcheeba and Sneaker Pimps!) First things first - do you have Tricky’s “Maxinquaye”? It’s the closest record, period, to Portishead’s “dummy.” They’re almost identical in sound, vibe, and aesthetic, were hailed as “sister albums” when they were released close together, and even use the same sample as the basis for one of their songs (tricky’s “hell is around the corner” / Portishead’s “glory box”). If you don’t have “Maxinquaye”, you HAVE to get it, because you’ll love it. Also, I’m not sure if you’ve heard/have them, but you have to check out the first two Massive Attack records (“blue lines” and “protection”) - both Tricky and Geoff Barrow (the main guy behind Portishead) worked with Massive Attack at one time or another, and MA invented the so-called “trip hop” sound that Tricky and P-head embraced. Those two records are very, very close in vibe and sound to Portishead, and were direct influences on Portishead. With that out of the way, where do you go? Have you heard Beth Gibbons’ (singer of Portishead) solo album that came out two years ago? It came out under the name “Beth Gibbons and Rustin Mann.” It’s not very good (it’s mostly a very boring, Beth Orton-ish “Starbucks folk” record), but if you just can’t get enough of Beth, give it a listen. You could also listen to those third-generation, watered down Portishead imitators like Morcheeba, the Sneaker Pimps, Alpha, Lamb…but do you really want to? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Seeker\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@The\_Seeker\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Seeker_1)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/96 "2004-08-11T18:06:53Z")
**Freejooky** , I am still waiting for your answers to my questions. **Lord Ashtar** & **ultrafilter** , thank you for the Death Metal recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/97 "2004-08-11T18:07:33Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > First things first - do you have Tricky’s “Maxinquaye”? It’s the closest record, period, to Portishead’s “dummy.” They’re almost identical in sound, vibe, and aesthetic, were hailed as “sister albums” when they were released close together, and even use the same sample as the basis for one of their songs (tricky’s “hell is around the corner” / Portishead’s “glory box”). If you don’t have “Maxinquaye”, you HAVE to get it, because you’ll love it. I love Portishead too, and I’ve enjoyed the Massive Attack and Morcheeba I’ve heard, but I’ve never gotten around to listening to Tricky. Does “Maxinquaye” have a female vocalist too? If so, then that’s one album I’m gonna have to buy! ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/98 "2004-08-11T18:13:01Z")
> [@PetW](#): > > My favorite bands: Weezer, System of a Down, Sublime, Queens of the Stone Age, Greenday, Less Than Jake, and Linkin Park. But I definitely need some new music to listen to. Less Than Jake, great live band! I actually know the guys too, from when I played in a ska-punk band of my own in Gainesville, FL. They are too cool, and their action figure and Pez collections put mine to shame. Since you like them (and Sublime as well), check out: Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Pietasters, the Toasters, Goldfinger, MU330, Mustard Plug, the Aquabats, Rancid, Skankin’ Pickle, Fishbone, Operation Ivy, the Clash, the Ramones, Long Beach Dub All-Stars (with the surviving Sublime members), Mad Caddies, and Voodoo Glow Skulls. All are ska, punk, or both mixed together! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/99 "2004-08-11T18:33:05Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Since you like them (and Sublime as well), check out: Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Pietasters, the Toasters, Goldfinger, MU330, Mustard Plug, the Aquabats, Rancid, Skankin’ Pickle, Fishbone, Operation Ivy, the Clash, the Ramones, Long Beach Dub All-Stars (with the surviving Sublime members), Mad Caddies, and Voodoo Glow Skulls. All are ska, punk, or both mixed together! Although unless you live in southern Qatar, I’m not sure how you wouldn’t have heard those bands… I own none of their CDs, I don’t even listen to the radio and I know about half of them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/100 "2004-08-11T18:35:02Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > So it seems that you dig girl-fronted pop-rock, with emphasis on the “girl.” BBVL hit you with some great reccomendations - I’ll second the Donnas and New Pornographers for what you seem to be into. > > Also, don’t be afraid to look to the past - I mean, if you haven’t heard the Runaways or original Go-Go’s stuff, that’s responsible for everything you seem to dig now. But also check out X-Ray Spex (for the punkier side of things) and Pylon (for early-80’s indie pop out of Athens - “crazy” is one of the better pop songs written in that decade, yet it’s relatively unheard). If you’re going with the New Pornographers because of the female vocal, then ya gotta check out Neko Case’s solo stuff (yeah, definitely on the alt-country side instead of the poppier NP stuff)(listening to NP’s _Mass Romantic_ right now.) And for the earlier stuff, don’t forget The Bangles before it became the Suzanna Hoffs Band. Their EP and first release, _All Over The Place_ fit right into that scene. Quote: Originally Posted by RandMcnally I adore Jason Mraz. He is my favorite singer. I love the sound of his voice. Who else would I like. I already have Gavin Degraw, Josh Kelly, Ben Jellin, Dave Matthews. Who can I add to my collection? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=6)