# 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:** 6
**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, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/101 "2004-08-11T18:38:34Z")
Ooops :smack: **Rand Mcnally** you might also want to try David Grey. And everybody, get out there and check out some of your local bands. That way you can recommend the good ones to people around the world before they get to be big stars (or drop off the face of the earth altogether.) ---
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/102 "2004-08-11T18:41:33Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > 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.) Neko Case is wonderful! I just didn’t mention her because a lot of people are hesitant to give “country music” a chance, even with that “alt-” in front of it. From what I’ve found, her album “Blacklisted” works best to hook new fans because it is the least “country”-sounding, and people who like artists like Tom Waits and Nick Cave (like me) are naturally drawn to it. ---
**Author:** ![Hot\_Buttered\_Toast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@Hot\_Buttered\_Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hot_Buttered_Toast)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/103 "2004-08-11T18:46:27Z")
Okay, I’d like some recommendations for new stuff to listen to but I have no idea how to classify most of the stuff I listen to and actually like, so I’ll just post a list. If someone could recommend a few bands that I might like based on this list, I’ll be extremely grateful. - Audioslave - Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five - David Usher/Moist - Finger Eleven - Goo Goo Dolls - Matthew Good/Matthew Good Band - Nick Cave - (some) Oasis - Pretty Girls Make Graves - Radiohead - REM - The New Pornographers - The Postal Service - They Might Be Giants - (some) Tom Waits ---
**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, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/104 "2004-08-11T19:45:33Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > 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. Check out Tricky as soon as you can. My brother gave me a copy of the album _Vulnerable_ a few months ago, and I just think it’s brilliant. ---
**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, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/105 "2004-08-11T19:49:19Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > 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! Tricky always works with a female vocalist, but on “Maxinquaye”, he actually takes a backseat to Martina’s vocals most of the time. It’s the most “female fronted” tricky album. ---
**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, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/106 "2004-08-11T20:02:03Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > Check out Tricky as soon as you can. My brother gave me a copy of the album _Vulnerable_ a few months ago, and I just think it’s brilliant. Not to quibble, but I think “vulnerable” is Terrible. Tricky’s been on a downhill slide since “maxinquaye”, and his last two (“vulnerable” and “juxtapose”) have almost no resemblance to the original good stuff. ---
**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, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/107 "2004-08-11T20:04:22Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > Tricky always works with a female vocalist, but on “Maxinquaye”, he actually takes a backseat to Martina’s vocals most of the time. It’s the most “female fronted” tricky album. Someone on [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) recommended this Noir album instead of Tricky’s Maxinquaye. Opinion? ---
**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, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/108 "2004-08-11T20:17:25Z")
> [@Hot Buttered Toast](#): > > Okay, I’d like some recommendations for new stuff to listen to but I have no idea how to classify most of the stuff I listen to and actually like, so I’ll just post a list. > > If someone could recommend a few bands that I might like based on this list, I’ll be extremely grateful. > > - Audioslave > - Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five > - David Usher/Moist > - Finger Eleven > - Goo Goo Dolls > - Matthew Good/Matthew Good Band > - Nick Cave > - (some) Oasis > - Pretty Girls Make Graves > - Radiohead > - REM > - The New Pornographers > - The Postal Service > - They Might Be Giants > - (some) Tom Waits Check out the Magnetic Fields (try “69 love songs” or “the Charm of the Highway Strip”) and the Shins (start with “chuts too narrow”). ---
**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, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/109 "2004-08-11T20:34:59Z")
> [@curious\_kell](#): > > Someone on [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) recommended this Noir album instead of Tricky’s Maxinquaye. Opinion? That looks terrible. It’s a cheesy, contrived, 8th generation “trip hop” DJ mix featuring no-name artists. Forget it. ---
**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, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/110 "2004-08-11T20:43:58Z")
Oh, for you Portishead and trip-hop fans, I also highly recommend Black Box Recorder. Great music and sexy, cold, detached vocals from the lovely Sarah Nixey. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/111 "2004-08-11T21:19:52Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > You like sensitive male songwriters that make you cream your jeans (i’m not being sarcastic). Yeah, that sounds about right. > [@](#): > > Have you listened to Spain or Red House Painters? Try RHP’s self-titled (with the rollercoaster on the front) or the retrospective. It wants you, baby. I listened to some of their stuff, but the lead’s voice isn’t smooth enough. Anything else? ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/112 "2004-08-11T21:26:22Z")
> [@Hot Buttered Toast](#): > > If someone could recommend a few bands that I might like based on this list, I’ll be extremely grateful. Try [Bishop Allen](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B00008E2M6/ref=cm_cr_dp_2_1/102-5614222-5289705?%5Fencoding=UTF8). “Charm School” is self produced and released on their own label, so don’t expect a expensive, shiny production job. But if you like They Might Be Giants you’ll appreciate that it makes for everything with its, er, charm and fine songs. ---
**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, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/113 "2004-08-11T21:41:41Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I listened to some of their stuff, but the lead’s voice isn’t smooth enough. Anything else? Seriously? I can’t fathom someone being smoother than Red House Painters’ Mark Koezelek. Maybe Jeff Buckley? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/114 "2004-08-11T21:42:34Z")
I like **Old 97s** , particularly the _Wreck Your Life_, and _Too Far to Care_ albums. I’ve been less pleased with later efforts and need a new fix that style. I’ve got some **Thrift Store Cowboys** and they come close to fitting the bill, but not quite. Any recommendations? ---
**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, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/115 "2004-08-11T21:44:23Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Oh, for you Portishead and trip-hop fans, I also highly recommend Black Box Recorder. Great music and sexy, cold, detached vocals from the lovely Sarah Nixey. BBR are an increidible band - Luke Haines’ impeccable songwriting (check out his previous band, The Auteurs) mixed with Sarah Nixey’s pants-spooging vocals are a thing to behond. I suggest “the facts of life” or “england made me” to begin with. I wouldn’t call them “trip hop” by any means, but I can see how people who are fans of that stuff would enjoy BBR. ---
**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, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/116 "2004-08-11T21:47:11Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > I like **Old 97s** , particularly the _Wreck Your Life_, and _Too Far to Care_ albums. I’ve been less pleased with later efforts and need a new fix that style. I’ve got some **Thrift Store Cowboys** and they come close to fitting the bill, but not quite. Any recommendations? Have you tried the Handsome Family? While it’s not as shit-kicking as Rhett and friends, it can hit that same spot. Stick to their earlier records like “in the air” and “through the trees.” They got slow and maudlin later in their career. ---
**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, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/117 "2004-08-11T21:49:38Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > Have you tried the Handsome Family? While it’s not as shit-kicking as Rhett and friends, it can hit that same spot. Stick to their earlier records like “in the air” and “through the trees.” They got slow and maudlin later in their career. Also, you might dig Clem Snide. They’re kind of like Old 97’s, if Rhett were replaced with Elvis Costello. It really works. Check out “the ghost of fashion.” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/118 "2004-08-12T00:19:21Z")
This is a most excellent thread. I’ve been taking notes of what to look for if I ever get inside a record store again. fat chance Xmas is coming up. I haven’t seen anything on this area, but I guess it would be considered Folk/instrumental. **Accordian Music.** I have a couple Sharon Shannon (who is wonderful) and Bridgetown by Johnny Connolly. I need some new stash. And since I am a housewife and love musical compliations of a band/theme hey, I didn’t buy any Stones until they came out with their 40 Licks album…I wanted to make sure they weren’t some flash in the pan 🙂 Can you recommend any compliations of a specific sound/genre. Like " Best of the 60’s" or " Beach Music" or should I just go to K-Tel and buy the _Sounds of the Hard Rockin’ 80’s or whatever?_ ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/119 "2004-08-12T02:07:02Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > This is a most excellent thread. Excellent and depressing – since my musical taste calcified sometime around 1972, I’ve never even heard of 80% of these artists. I like folk music – my favorite is The Incredible String Band, along with Dave Van Ronk, Peter Bellamy, (old) Joni Mitchell and John Renbourn. I also like Doc Watson, John Prine, Patty Griffin and Khaled. So can help me out too, **Freejooky**? ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/120 "2004-08-12T02:10:21Z")
OK, Freejooky, this might be a challenge for ya… [ul] [li] Rasputina[/li][li] Slipknot[/li][li] Ani Difranco[/li][li] Horrorpops[/li][li] Tool[/li][li] Lacuna Coil[/li][li] The Gathering[/li][li] Shadows Fall[/li][li] Damien Rice[/li][li] Disturbed[/li][li] Waterdeep / Don Chaffer[/li][/ul] Any recommendations? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=7)