# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/161 "2004-08-13T03:48:48Z")
> [@dry gear](#): > > I love new waveish music. I don’t know a lot of it because I wasn’t born until 1986. You have to get some Aztec Camera. No question. _High Land, Hard Rain_ is their best album, and the best song on it (and one of my favorite songs) is _Walk Out to Winter_. I also suggest Orange Juice. Try _You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever_. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/162 "2004-08-13T04:31:52Z")
Well, since my favorite band is **Husker Du** , and I currently listen to everything from **Thievery Corporation** to **The Divine Comedy** to **The Magnetic Fields** to **Sleater-Kinney** , I doubt you could help me listen to “better” music (also have compiled a series of mp3 CDs tracing the history of rock, pop & soul from 1950-the present, so I’m arguably as big a music geek as you) (and I’m into jazz). However, since I haven’t heard a decent punk band since the early 90s (with the possible exception of **The Hives** ), maybe you know of one I’ve somehow overlooked. Also, any time I hear somebody who’s into popular music claim they don’t like **The Beatles** , I have to think one of three things: 1. They have Down Syndrome; 2. They’re trying to be provocative; or 3. They aren’t familiar with the band’s ouevre. Because I guarantee you, no matter what you like, there’s a Beatles track that will match it. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/163 "2004-08-13T05:02:18Z")
> [@](#): > > However, since I haven’t heard a decent punk band since the early 90s Check out Exploding Hearts, _Guitar Romantic_. Favorite song: _Jailbird_. ---
**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, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/164 "2004-08-13T06:46:07Z")
Thank you, Nightime. I’ll check those out. Any good jangly guitar bands? My two favorite guitarists are Peter Buck and Johnny Marr. ---
**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, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/165 "2004-08-13T06:53:31Z")
Oh, **woodstockbirdybird** , I have an old punk thread bookmarked for future reference. Chances are you’ll find something there: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=85155](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=85155) I keep bookmarks of threads like that that have recommendations. Never know when I’ll want to start following them. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/166 "2004-08-13T07:38:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Any good jangly guitar bands? #1 recommendation, even though they aren’t all jangle, is Television Personalities. Especially the album _And Don’t the Kids Just Love It_. Best songs are _I Know Where Syd Barret Lives_ and _Geoffrey Ingram_. I think you probably already have Big Star’s catalog, but if you don’t have Chris Bell’s excellent solo album _I Am the Cosmos_, you should pick it up. The Feelies, _Crazy Rhythms_. I think it has been mentioned in this thread, but it bears repeating. The Flying Burrito Brothers’ _Gilded Palace of Sin_ is one of the best, but if you can’t stand even a hint of country you may not like it. IMO it is much superior to The Byrds _Sweethearts of the Rodeo_, which was too “country” for my taste, and in my experience non country fans usually love it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/167 "2004-08-13T15:37:34Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > 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). I haven’t heard any of Honeyboy’s albums, so I can’t single one out- I heard him give a short concert about six months ago, and it was pretty remarkable. There are only a handful of the original blues guys left (he’s 88 or 89), and there was something powerful happening for sure. I got some great pictures of that. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/168 "2004-08-13T17:09:46Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > wipes away tear and cues up Casadh an Tsúgáin We used it for the processional at our wedding. Si Bheag Si Mhor was the recessional. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/169 "2004-08-13T18:02:05Z")
Thanks again for starting this thread. I’m making notes with basically every other post (my taste extends to more than the girlpop I started with). Two more questions: Public Enemy’s _Fear of a Black Planet_ is the best rap record I’ve heard. I’ve listened to (and have) some beyond that, but nothing has ever really topped it for me, or even approached it, in terms of wordcraft, technical complexity, and (perhaps most importantly) sociopolitical sophistication. (Individual artists may be better on each separate point, but Public Enemy has the best combination, I think. And that’s frustrating, because the album is quite a few years old, and I’m getting tired of waiting for somebody to be that good again.) Anyway: Agree? Disagree? And if the latter, what else should I look for? I also dig some highly produced, upbeat 70’s throwback trip-rock type stuff, of which Supergrass is probably the best example (I think “Life on Other Planets” is their best disc). I’ve also heard and enjoy a little bit of the recently released disc by Scissor Sisters, a club group out of New York (they sound to me like what Elton John might be doing if he were still cool and relevant instead of having been Phil-Collins-ized). Anything else in this vein? ---
**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 13, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/170 "2004-08-13T19:32:57Z")
from a brief random skimming of my CD collection: Flaming Lips Fountains of Wayne Idlewild REM Weezer Radiohead Iron and Wine Wilco Argentina The Frogs Death Cab for Cutie Pixies Belle and Sebastian Decemberists Recommendations welcome. ---
**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 13, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/171 "2004-08-13T20:36:17Z")
For the people looking for Zappa style, try Estradasphere - ‘It’s Understood’. It picks up where Peaches en Regalia left off. Some of their other albums aren’t quite as good as that one though. For metal (or socalled post-metal), I am a big Mike Patton fan (Mr Bungle, Faith No More, Fantomas, Dillinger Escape Plan, Lovage). He is easily the most talented rock/metal singer out there. I also like many of the bands already mentioned. I would add some of the bands on Chaosophy Records. My favorite is Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. The heaviest CD I have right now is Fredrik Thordendal’s Special Defects. It is a solo project of one of the guys in Meshuggah. I need to get some more of their CDs. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/172 "2004-08-13T22:36:16Z")
Okay, I have a good idea on most of the bands that sound like bands I like, so this is more for checks and balances. Y’know, to make sure I’m on the right path, assuming there is a path at all. Some favorites: Mesh (british) Color Theory Anything Box VNV Nation Assemblage 23 The Echoing Green ---
**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, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/173 "2004-08-14T02:47:37Z")
> [@Nightime](#): > > #1 recommendation, even though they aren’t all jangle, is Television Personalities. Especially the album _And Don’t the Kids Just Love It_. Best songs are _I Know Where Syd Barret Lives_ and _Geoffrey Ingram_. > I think you probably already have Big Star’s catalog, but if you don’t have Chris Bell’s excellent solo album _I Am the Cosmos_, you should pick it up. > The Feelies, _Crazy Rhythms_. I think it has been mentioned in this thread, but it bears repeating. > The Flying Burrito Brothers’ _Gilded Palace of Sin_ is one of the best, but if you can’t stand even a hint of country you may not like it. IMO it is much superior to The Byrds _Sweethearts of the Rodeo_, which was too “country” for my taste, and in my experience non country fans usually love it. I think I’ve had Television Personalities recommended to me. I’ve heard of the song I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives. I should have checked these guys out earlier. Thanks for reminding me of them. I Am the Cosmos is a great album. I’m allright with a little country. I actually agree about Sweethearts of the Rodeo. The Flying Burrito Brothers are another one I’ve been recommended but forgot to check out. I listened to a few songs on Orange Juice’s album Rip it Up. It reminds me a lot of David Bowie, with a little Psychadelic Furs thrown in on the first song. I will definitely have to buy it along with the one you recommended me. > [@Ersatz Shmoe](#): > > from a brief random skimming of my CD collection: > > Flaming Lips > Fountains of Wayne > Idlewild > REM > Weezer > Radiohead > Iron and Wine > Wilco > Argentina > The Frogs > Death Cab for Cutie > Pixies > Belle and Sebastian > Decemberists > > Recommendations welcome. You’ve probably also heard about these bands, but on the off chance you haven’t, you might like: Sonic Youth The Shins The Stills Bright Eyes ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/174 "2004-08-14T03:21:06Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/175 "2004-08-14T17:50:37Z")
I’m desperately in love with The Postal Service and Death Cab For Cutie. Same lead singer, Benjamin Gibbard, but who else would I like? Keep in mind I do not like Air (the group, that is). I also really like Bright Eyes and the Desaparecidos, for what that’s worth. Oh, and the Good Life is amazing, too. So, who can help me?! ~S&S ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/176 "2004-08-14T18:18:41Z")
Whenever I hear people talk about the Postal Service (their cd rocks, btw), I inevitably hear mention of the band the Faint. I’ve never heard them, mind you, but they’re often mentioned in the same breath. You might want to check them out. If you like a really Erasure-ish synthiepop, check out the new album by Neuropa, specifically the track “Standing Still in Time”. But if you like TPS primarily because of the vocals and not as much for the low-tech synthpop vibe, then skip Neuropa. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/177 "2004-08-14T19:25:06Z")
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”). ---
**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, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/178 "2004-08-14T20:00:43Z")
> [@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! When I hear “classic rock” I think of overrated post-British invasion bands. Classic Rock is a very closed genre that doesn’t care about other influential bands. Anyway, enough of my mini-mini-rant about classic rock. Some good post-BI bands that are all but ignored by classic rock bands. The Velvet Underground- Forgive me if you’ve heard of them, because I’m going to type this as if you didn’t. These guys are essential. They released their first album “The Velvet Underground & Nico” in 1967 I believe. They were part of the Andy Warhol crowd and were pretty shocking back in the day. Their fourth album, Loaded, is the most accessible. It was made in response to critics who said that they couldn’t do hits. Some VU fans dismiss it as a sell-out album, but they’re just being snobs. It’s great. You might want to go with this one because the others would probably be too weird for your brother. Personally, I’d rank their albums like this: VU & Nico Loaded VU White Light/White Heat There’s also Big Star, who are really popular on these boards. Hopefully someone else here will come along and tell you why they’re so great, because they’d do a better job than me. Or you can search Cafe Society for “big star” and see plenty of raving about them. > [@Sunshine and Smiles](#): > > I’m desperately in love with The Postal Service and Death Cab For Cutie. Same lead singer, Benjamin Gibbard, but who else would I like? Keep in mind I do not like Air (the group, that is). I also really like Bright Eyes and the Desaparecidos, for what that’s worth. Oh, and the Good Life is amazing, too. So, who can help me?! I looked up Death Cab for Cutie at [www.allmusic.com](http://www.allmusic.com) and they have a list of similar bands. You might want to look there yourself, but from that list, the ones I like are: **Built to Spil** - I’ve only heard one song by these guys, but I liked it. I think they’re similar to Death Cab, but I haven’t heard much of either. **Elliott Smith** - I haven’t heard much of Death Cab, so I’m not sure how they’re similar to him, but he does beautiful darkish acoustic singer/songwriter music. **John Vanderslice** - I’ve only heard one song by him, but I love it. It was a slightly weird indy rock/pop song. **Guided by Voices** - These guys do short, poppy songs. They’re really good. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/179 "2004-08-14T20:02:56Z")
Interface, I just checked out the faint. Splenddddid! Thanks for the recommendation! Anyone interested need only download “Worked Up So Sexual” and you’ll become a fan, too. Upon further digging, I recommend [saddlecreekrecords.com](http://saddlecreekrecords.com) for fans of bands like the faint, cursive, the good life, and bright eyes. ~S&S ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240/180 "2004-08-14T20:05:18Z")
Oh, and Dry Gear, thanks for the help. I went to a John Vanderslice/Pedro the Lion concert and JV stole the show! At any rate, I’m off to amazon to excitedly investigate Built To Spill and Guided By Voices! 😃😃😃 ~S&S [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-wants-to-help-you-listen-to-better-music/259240.md?page=10)