# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/121 "2004-08-12T02:54:17Z")
I think you missed my request on the last page, **Freejooky**. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/122 "2004-08-12T03:44:56Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > 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. Hey **koeeoaddi** –are you into Martin Carthy? Or the Hutchings/Kirkpatrick stuff like _Rattlebone & Ploughjack, The Compleat Danching Master_, and the _Morris On_ series? ---
**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, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/123 "2004-08-12T04:13:08Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > Hey **koeeoaddi** –are you into Martin Carthy? Or the Hutchings/Kirkpatrick stuff like _Rattlebone & Ploughjack, The Compleat Danching Master_, and the _Morris On_ series? I like Martin Carthy very much, and if by the Morris On series, you mean [these guys,](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006OYLQ.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) then yes, that album is one of my favorites. Haven’t heard of Hutchings/Kirkpatrick, though. ---
**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, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/124 "2004-08-12T04:22:31Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Haven’t heard of Hutchings/Kirkpatrick, though. Gah! I just checked out my Morris On LP and see that Hutchings and Kirkpatrick are guys in the band. Except for Richard Thompson, I never knew them by their individual names. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/125 "2004-08-12T04:47:18Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Haven’t heard of Hutchings/Kirkpatrick, though. A year or so ago an album I’d dearly loved since the mid-‘70s–_The Compleat Dancing Master_ (spelled it right that time!) by John Kirkpatrick and Ashley Hutchings–finally came out on CD. I was shocked to discover that half of the album was completely different from the version I was familiar with. It turned out that my copy of the LP was a mispressing, and what I’d been listening to all those years was side one of _Compleat Dancing Master_ backed with side two of Hutchings’ _Rattlebone and Ploughjack_. Both are concept albums alternating traditional tunes with fascinating period spoken word passages. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/126 "2004-08-12T04:58:46Z")
> [@Roland Orzabal](#): > > I like Tears For Fears, and I like Radiohead. Mesh (the British one, not Mesh StL) is a close third. I enjoy musical complexity, stylized chord progressions, and interesting (or nonexistant) song templates. I loath reliance on simplistic melodies, lack of background ambience, and boringly repetitious vocals or music. A lead singer with unorthodox vocal styling is a plus, though ability to actually sing IS required. Thom Yorke = good, Tom Waits = borderline passable on certain songs, Robert Wyatt = oh my dear God please shut up before I commit seppuku. I do not care about lyrics, except insofar as they blend with the music to improve the song as a whole. Message is largely unimportant; if I want poetry, I’ll read a poem. If lyrics aren’t really important to you but music complexity is in a more rock vein, definitely check out [PJ Olsson](http://www.pjolsson.com). Especially his songs “Visine” and “She’s Got Eyes”. A bit like Beck but with a much broader voice. (His mom a voice coach, his dad taught 12 note theory). If you’re looking for something a little more mellow, check out [Sufjan Stevens](http://www.sufjanstevens.com), [Badly Drawn Boy’s](http://www.badlydrawnboy.co.uk/) new one “One and One Is One” which has been playing non-stop on my alarm clark, and [Sparklehorse’s](http://www.sparklehorse.com) “It’s a Wonderful Life” (which has Tom Waits guest on it a bit). For something (imho) that’s pretty similar to Tears for Fears, the now-defunct artist [Sinead Lohan](http://www.sineadlohan.com) is pretty cool (she had a baby and hasn’t released any music since). ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/127 "2004-08-12T05:10:33Z")
Oh, **Roland** I forgot about [John Southworth](http://www.johnsouthworth.ca/). Definitely not for everyone, but I really liked his “Mars, Pennsylvania” album… an ex-punk making quirky loungy hybrid stuff. You can pretty much sample all of his stuff on his website. (“American UFO” on the Mars CD is one of my faves). ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/128 "2004-08-12T05:14:53Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > 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**? **koeeoaddi** , I’ve gotta recommend [Cheryl Wheeler](http://www.cherylwheeler.com) to you. One of my favorite folky singer/songwriters. Check out the songs “75 Septembers” and “Gandhi/Buddha”. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/129 "2004-08-12T05:20:39Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > 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? My list is in the same order as yours. Darling Violetta Systematic dunno dunno Neurosis/Opeth/Dream Theater/Isis/A Perfect Circle Evanescence Collide Killswitch Engage dunno From Zero dunno ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/130 "2004-08-12T05:27:46Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > **Accordian Music.** > \* You might like the Tin Hat Trio, who make what I’d call “carnival jazz” which prominently features accordian. It’s damned good stuff. Also, Paulene Olivieros is the improvisational queen of the accordian, but she can be unlistenable. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/131 "2004-08-12T05:36:51Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > 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**? I hope so. Are you a fairport convention fan? If so, you must check out Richard and Linda Thompson’s “i want to see the bright lights tonight.” It’s probably my favorite folk record - it’s pretty amazing - and is way better than the Fairport stuff. Unfortunately, it’s out of print, but you can find cheap copies on [half.com](http://half.com) or ebay pretty often. There’s actually a somewhat fashionable “anti-folk” movement going on right now. My favorite person to come out of this is Devendra Banhart, who does a sort of Syd Barrett-esque, anachronistic take on folk. As you’d imagine, he gets into bizarre lyrics, but his songs are incredibly pretty. More, from the past - Kevin Coyne. Coyne is amazingly overlooked, but did some absolutely remarkable, english folky stuff. He’s got a bazillion records, so start with “case history” or “marjory razorblade.” I’m assuming you already listen to/like Nick Drake, given that you’re down with the Incredible String Band. Hell, they shared a producer! You may like Neutral Milk Hotel’s “in the aeroplane under the sea,” the second best album recorded in the 1990’s. I’d call it “acid folk” in that it gets pretty out there (thematically and lyrically), but it’s rooted in the folk tradition and is an absolutely jaw-droppingly amazing record. Also, check out Jackson C. Frank’s always-forgotten “Blues run the game.” He was a contemporary of both Paul Simon and Nick Drake, and did an incredibly dark take on folk. One might get away with calling him “gothic folk”, but it would be more like “american gothic folk” (think Flannery O’Connor), and he was british! ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/132 "2004-08-12T05:44:50Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > 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? I’ll not go into each individually, but if you like Rasputina, check out the recently released debut album by Cocorosie (“la maison de mon reve”). They’re sort of mining the same terriroty, but (i think) to greater effect. They’re two sisters doing spidery, rustic, even gospel-y songs with warbling vocals, dark themes, broken drum machines, and acoustic guitars. For Damien Rice and Waterdeep (ie. Christian folk-based music), you might really like Denison Witmer. He’s released records on a heap of tiny sub-indie labels, so you might have to dig a bit to track down his stuff. [Here’s](http://www.denisonwitmer.com/) a link to his webpage; there are sound samples there, and info on how to track down his records. It’s definitely worth it. Also of note to fans of Leonard Cohen, who he borrows from beautifully. For Slipknot, try the recs I gave to UrbanChic on the first place. As for Tool, they’re really the best specimen of what they do, although you might like Clutch, Fantomas, and Mr. Bungle. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/133 "2004-08-12T05:55:12Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > I really do not know how to describe my musical taste other than mostly mainstream alt/metal. My favorite bands are Tool and A Perfect Circle and I am also rather fond of Orgy, the more funky RHCP songs, Garbage, Eminem, and Bush. Can you suggest some bands along those lines? Sorry, Aesiron, I somehow missed out on this one. I’ll just itemize these to the best of my ability… Tool/A Perfect Circle - they’re a great specimen of their genre, but you might dig Fantomas (start with “the director’s cut”), Mr. Bungle (try “california”), Clutch, Isis, or any of the recs I gave to UrbanChic. Orgy - You have to check out The Faint. Their record “danse macabre” is probably the best starting point, although I haven’t yet heard their new one, the upcoming “wet from birth.” Garbage - I hate to use the phrase “ripoff”, as I prefer to think that most music is directly influenced by other stuff, but Garbage’s entire career, look, sound, and schtick has been a direct emulation of Curve, a far better band. You owe it to yourself to check out Curve’s first record, “doppleganger.” You might also like the debut record by [Client](http://www.client-online.net/) for a more electronic take on the sound. Eminem - he’s the mainstream, obvious white rapper, but have you checked out Aesop Rock (try "labor days’) or Edan (“primitive plus”)? Bush - I’ve always thought they were imitating Nirvana imitating the Pixies, so devote your life to those bands (especially the Pixies - start with “surfer rosa” or “doolittle”) before you listen to bush. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/134 "2004-08-12T06:11:47Z")
Okay, here’s mine: The Pogues (my gold standard, btw.) The Clash The Pixies Aimee Mann Ben Harper The Beta Band Flogging Molly Marcy Playground Moby Nick Cave Silly Wizard Smog The White Stripes Whatcha got for me? ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/135 "2004-08-12T06:18:14Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Okay, here’s mine: > > The Pogues (my gold standard, btw.) > The Clash > The Pixies > Aimee Mann > Ben Harper > The Beta Band > Flogging Molly > Marcy Playground > Moby > Nick Cave > Silly Wizard > Smog > The White Stripes > > Whatcha got for me? You’re really already listening to a good potpourri of good stuff. Congrats, Miller! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/136 "2004-08-12T06:59:52Z")
🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/137 "2004-08-12T12:09:07Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > Are you a fairport convention fan? If so, you must check out Richard and Linda Thompson’s “i want to see the bright lights tonight.” It’s probably my favorite folk record - it’s pretty amazing - and is way better than the Fairport stuff. Unfortunately, it’s out of print, but you can find cheap copies on [half.com](http://half.com) or ebay pretty often. Actually, it was just reissued earlier this year in an expanded edition. ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/138 "2004-08-12T12:35:11Z")
For Cuban music, get some **IRAKERE**. They are the best. Any recording. Fantastic. I really need some new music but am totally out of the music scene. Here are some of my favorites rotating in my CD player. Please help me find some new stuff!! The Fall-Outs Captain Beefheart/Frank Zappa Nina Hagen Underworld Bad Brains/Dead Kennedys The Meters/The Coasters Mingus/Coltrane/Monk Lee “Scratch” Perry/Linton Kwesi Johnson Thievery Corporation ---
**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 12, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/139 "2004-08-12T14:59:08Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Okay, here’s mine: > > The Pogues (my gold standard, btw.) > The Clash > The Pixies > Aimee Mann > Ben Harper > The Beta Band > Flogging Molly > Marcy Playground > Moby > Nick Cave > Silly Wizard > Smog > The White Stripes > > Whatcha got for me? If you like the Pogues, the Clash, and Flogging Molly (all great bands that I love too), try the Dropkick Murphys, the Swingin’ Utters, and the Real McKenzies. If you like Nick Cave, try Tom Waits. You’ll be happy you did. If you like the White Stripes, try any of the other recent “hipster/garage” bands: the Raveonettes, the Strokes, the Hives, and the Shins. ---
**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, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/140 "2004-08-12T15:20:21Z")
I thank you for your suggestions and I look forward to finding these artists in the store. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=8)