# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/141 "2004-08-12T15:52:57Z")
Great thread you’ve got going here, Freejooky. Can you help me fill the void that a Morphine fan is feeling after the death of Mark Sandman? Also, This weekend being the very last Phish concert and all, maybe you can direct the hippie-jam band folk among us to a new group to follow across the counrty while eating veggie burritos. I’m also a big fan of the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies, but they don’t seem interested in getting together anymore. I _don’t_ like the Black Crowes. Any thoughts? ---
**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, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/142 "2004-08-12T16:02:08Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > **Accordian Music.** Have you ever heard of the rock accordion band [Those Darn Accordions?](http://www.thosedarnaccordions.com/) They’re a lot of fun actually. ---
**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, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/143 "2004-08-12T16:21:27Z")
Thanks, Freejooky. I’ve heard of a few of those bands but have never heard their music (except Clutch and the Pixies). I’ll definitely give them a listen. ---
**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 12, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/144 "2004-08-12T16:25:08Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > 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. I think Vulnerable kicks ass. If you say it’s nowhere near as good as his old stuff, I guess I’m just going to have to go buy his older stuff, aren’t I? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/145 "2004-08-12T16:42:22Z")
**koeeoaddi** : All old stuff, but maybe you don’t know them: Fairport Convention: What We Did on Holiday (just called Fairport Convention in the US), Unhalfbricking, Liege and Lief, Full House, Live at the LA Troubador; Steeleye Span: Hark! The Village Wait, Please to See the King, Ten Man Mop, Below the Salt, Now We Are Six; Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band: No Roses; The Albion Country Band: Battle of the Field; The Albion Band: Rise Up Like the Sun Richard Thompson: Henry the Human Fly is as good as Bright Lights, mentioned by **Freejooky**. BTW, Thompson is not better than Fairport at it’s best, though he is as good; Sandy Denny: The North Star Grassman and the Raven; Alan Stivell: Live at L’Olympia; The Bothy Band: anything by them, Best of the Bothy Band if you have to pick one; Planxty: any, but especially the eponymous first album. Bandoggs: Bandoggs Dave Swarbrick: Swarbrick, Swarbrick 2 Dave Swarbrick and Simon Nicol: Live at the White Bear. This ought to keep you busy for a while. **Miller** too, I think. **Freejooky** : What can you do with this list, if I’m looking for something recent? ---
**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, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/146 "2004-08-12T17:32:30Z")
> [@AndyPolley](#): > > Great thread you’ve got going here, Freejooky. Can you help me fill the void that a Morphine fan is feeling after the death of Mark Sandman? Also, This weekend being the very last Phish concert and all, maybe you can direct the hippie-jam band folk among us to a new group to follow across the counrty while eating veggie burritos. I loved Morphine (and still do), and I strongly believe Morphine fans would embrace Tom Waits–and vice versa. Both Sandman and Waits have deep voices and “dark” songwriting styles, and both use lots of saxophones. And even though I’m not a big fan of the hippie-jam band scene, I enjoyed Phish’s music, and I highly recommend Keller Williams to anyone else who did. One of the most talented musicians I’ve ever heard. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones should also appeal, with their jazz-bluegrass-funk hybrid sound (and Bela played with Phish on the “Hoist” album). ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/147 "2004-08-12T18:34:10Z")
**Freejooky** , who can I turn to that will fill the void left by the Talking Heads? I already have a bunch of David Byrnes solo stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/148 "2004-08-12T19:26:01Z")
Habib Koite, Ali Farka Toure and to a lesser extent Salif Keita. Any other African comers? ---
**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, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/149 "2004-08-12T19:39:49Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > 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. [I _am_ the real Mackenzie!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268798&highlight=Mackenzie) Seriously, _Loch’d and Loaded_ is a great album. I’m so-so on the Dropkick Murphys. Haven’t heard of the Swingin’ Utters, though. I’ll check ‘em out. Ever hear Filthy Thievin’ Bastards? 'nother good band in the same vein. > [@](#): > > 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. Cool, lots of stuff to check out (way ahead of you on the Strokes, though). Thanks! ---
**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 12, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/150 "2004-08-12T19:41:36Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > 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). Are you sure? I thought that she was touring earlier this summer - I seem to remember hearing after the fact that she was playing in town as an opening act. (but of course, I cannot find reference one to back me up now.) ---
**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, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/151 "2004-08-12T22:47:18Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > **Freejooky** , who can I turn to that will fill the void left by the Talking Heads? I already have a bunch of David Byrnes solo stuff. I think the Dismemberment Plan were the only modern band to come close. They started out as a fairly standard D.C. post-punk band, but by the end of their career, they had embraced synthesizers, funk basslines, polyrhythms, and singer Travis Morrison even seemed to embracing his inner Byrne in his vocal sytlings. “Emergency and I” is their finest moment by far; follow with their swan song, the very Heads-y “change.” ---
**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, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/152 "2004-08-12T23:22:58Z")
So many suggestions, I’m overjoyed. Thank you so much, **Freejooky, stpauler** and **Biffy the Elephant Shrew**! And hey, **kelly5078** , have you been rifling through my record collection? I’ve got just about everything on your list. :wipes away tear and cues up _Casadh an Tsúgáin_: ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/153 "2004-08-13T00:22:48Z")
okay, I’ll give this a try **freejooky**. I’ve recently been listening to a lot of bluegrass/newgrass sort of stuff. Bela Fleck, Tony Rice, Ricky Scaggs, etc… . I’m also a big fan of the Grateful Dead, Southern Culture on the Skids and old southern rock. Can you pimp my CD collection? ---
**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 13, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/154 "2004-08-13T00:27:23Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > 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. Awesome. Toad is my favorite band. Do you hang out at Glen’s message board? you can find the link from here. Nickel Creek is the other main part, and on tour they have John Paul Jones from Led Zepplin on bass and Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello and the Attractions on drums. Try to catch them live, if you still can. The concert was incredible. And I met Glen in the bathroom before the show. Okay, I think I’ll regret it if I don’t try to get something out of this thread myself, so I’ll list some bands (or albums if I’m not familiar with a lot of their stuff): Toad the Wet Sprocket Glen Phillips The Velvet Underground The Meat Puppets New Order Joy Division The Beatles David Bowie Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd Syd Barrett’s solo stuff The Sex Pistols Bauhaus Peter Murphy Love and Rockets Tones on Tail REM The Smiths Morrissey Big Star (I heard about them from these boards, so thank you SDMB) The Replacements The Pixies The Stone Roses Echo and the Bunnymen The Flaming Lips If it helps, some preferences among my choices: I like New Order more than Joy Division (I know, I’m a heathen) I like Peter Murhpy’s solo stuff more than Bauhaus I like Tones on Tail more than Love and Rockets I realize that’s a lot of information, so I’ll try to say a bit more to keep it simple: I love new waveish music. I don’t know a lot of it because I wasn’t born until 1986. There’s this one song I heard once and really like, but don’t remember what it’s called or who did it, but the chorus goes something like “sitting by myself eating my birthday cake”. It’s cheesy but fun, and that’s one reason I like it. I also like folkish music. For some reason though, I don’t enjoy the really old stuff a whole lot. I love Uncle Tupelo’s version of No Depression. I also like the more hippy side. It says a lot that one of my favorite songs is “Shiny Happy People”. I’m also starting to get interested in the soulish stuff. I love Bowie’s “Young Americans”. I also really like what I’ve heard of The Box Tops. I love Chuck Berry, but am not a huge fan of the Stray Cats, even though they’re pretty much the same style. I’m also not a huge fan of Elvis. So, **Freejooky** , what have you got for me? ---
**Author:** ![drgnrdr07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@drgnrdr07](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drgnrdr07)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/155 "2004-08-13T01:40:11Z")
try this: jurassic 5 hieroglyphics dialated peoples planet asia blackalicious ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/156 "2004-08-13T02:10:45Z")
Hard to believe with my name, but I like 80s pop and new wave. Lately I’ve been really getting into some covers, things like: Snake River Conspiracy “How Soon is Now” Marilyn Manson “Tainted Love” Marilyn Manson “Down in the Park” System of a Down “Metro” Less than Jake “867-5309” What else would you recommend along those lines? Also, I really dig Ministry, but it seems that they made an overnight conversion from dance type music to much heavier rock. I really like both, but do you know what caused the transformation? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/157 "2004-08-13T02:17:09Z")
TommyTutone: Bowling For Soup - I Ran Afghan Whigs - When Doves Cry I’d ask for reccomendations, but I’m having a hard time coming up with a representative sample of what I listen to. ---
**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 13, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/158 "2004-08-13T02:20:11Z")
> [@TommyTutone](#): > > Hard to believe with my name, but I like 80s pop and new wave. Lately I’ve been really getting into some covers, things like: > Snake River Conspiracy “How Soon is Now” > Marilyn Manson “Tainted Love” > Marilyn Manson “Down in the Park” > System of a Down “Metro” > Less than Jake “867-5309” > > What else would you recommend along those lines? Less Than Jake does several other covers, often of '80s pop songs, metal songs, and TV sitcom themes. Doing '80s-style covers in an ironic way is common for ska and punk bands. Reel Big Fish covered “Take On Me” and “Hungry Like the Wolf,” Save Ferris covered “Come On Eileen,” and a punk band called Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is entirely devoted to playing punked-up cover songs. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/159 "2004-08-13T02:26:15Z")
Thanks **Marley23** , Son House is a great suggestion and Honeyboy Edwards is intriguing too. Since I can’t return the music-suggestion favor, I will make a food-suggestion: try the shepherd’s Pie at Tommy Nevin’s and the ribs at Merle’s (both in your new hometown). **Freejooky** outstanding suggestion for Marc Ribot and the Cubanos Postizos. I heard something from them once and loved it, but had since forgotten about them. I will check out the others too. I am sorry that I can’t suggest any food in DC. 😉 ---
**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 13, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/160 "2004-08-13T02:53:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Hard to believe with my name, but I like 80s pop and new wave. Lately I’ve been really getting into some covers, things like: > Snake River Conspiracy “How Soon is Now” > Marilyn Manson “Tainted Love” > Marilyn Manson “Down in the Park” > System of a Down “Metro” > Less than Jake “867-5309” > > What else would you recommend along those lines? I heard a really awesome cover of Love My Way a few months ago, but I can’t remember who did it. It’s not exactly new wave, but Arab Strap have a good cover of “You Shook Me All Night Long” Coldplay did a cover of Lips Like Sugar [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=9)