After reading a pit thread who’s title we dare not speak I got the hankering to hear people’s opinion on their favororite artist/song which is not mainstream.
It’s NOT a contest of who’s the best. post your favorite artist and also post your favorite album. The album should be one that has the most songs you like on it. I’m more interested in hearing (literally) your opinion. TWhat do you think other people are missing out on. I’ll start with my choice plus what was already posted.
Favorite albums:
Accoustic - Michael Hedges - Live on the Double Planet
Jazz - The Benny Green Trio - Greens
Rock - Jimi Hendrix - Blues
Favorite Artists/songs
New Age Accoustic - Michael Hedges - Because it’s There — I got to see him live 3 times before he died in 1997 (car accident) . I discovered him by accident when I belonged to a CD club and they sent me one of his CD’s. He was discovered by William Ackerman in a Palo Alto cafe and immediately got a recording contract with the Windham Hill label. Damn he was good. Had a sense of humor to boot.
Already posted:
Heavy Metal - Tool - Lateralus — Interesting song/video that shows the nature of the Fibonacci sequence of numbers.
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People – I have ~5000 songs in ITunes ranging from Soul to Rock to Bluegrass to Jazz to etc. My “Most Recently Played List” is fully half comprised of songs from this album.
**Soulive ** - Live From the Stockholm Jazz Fest – If I’ve earned anything of a reputation around here for knowing truly good music when I hear it (and I’m pretty sure I haven’t, although I should have), give me a couple minutes of your time and head on over to here and listen to Uncle Junior. Alan Evans on the perfectly timed drum rolls; Neal Evans on the Hammond B3 organ, bass keys, and clavinet; Rashawn Ross on the Trumpet; Ryan Zoidis on the Alto sax; and Eric Krasno on the Rhythm/Lead guitar (which I can only describe as sounding like a Strobe Light). Seriously, they deserve your attention, at least through this show.
Favourite Albums (I can’t decide between these): Rain Dogs - Tom Waits Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin Kind of Blue - Miles Davis White Pony - The Deftones
I listen to so much music and so many different styles that it’s extremely difficult to limit myself to a handful of favorites. But, gun to my head, these are 5 that I never seem to tire of:
Rhapsody - Symphony of Enchanted Lands
Italian symphonic epic fantasy power metal. A lot of people like the Power of the Dragonflame album more because it’s heavier, but this one is my favorite. Shreddin guitars, horns, violins, yeah!
Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle
“Space Rock” from the Netherlands. Elaborate sci-fi concept rock albums with at least 7-8 different guest vocalists per album. IMHO this is one of the finest modern rock albums ever made.
Tristeza - Dream Signals in Full Circles
Mellow psychadelic instrumental indie rock. Almost everyone I’ve played this for has liked it. Relaxing and inspirational at the same time.
Pinetop Seven - Rigging the Toplights
Imagine an old California ghost town, complete with ghosts. This is what would be playing in the saloon. Spooky and western sounding but not country. Awesome band IMHO.
Lana Lane - Queen of the Ocean
Prog rock from LA. Singer is similar to Heart or Stevie Nicks. I actually could pick any one of her albums (more than 14) as a favorite - they’re all good. Pretty wide range of styles, very powerful voice.
Michael Hedges is a favorite of mine as well. I got to see him a couple of times. He had a genuine rapport with the audience, one of the things that draws me to a performer. Of course the fact that he covered a couple of Who songs didn’t hurt either.
::Queens Of The Stone Age:::::::ФЦЗЗЙЅ ∆₣ ┼ЂЗ Ѕ┼∆ЙЗ ДБЗ:::::::QOTSA::
(Or, as Linus Van Pelt once said, “When I grow up, I want to be a fanatic. Not just any fanatic…I want to be a wild-eyed fanatic!”)
Brief question for Magiver. Since you’re a Hendrix & Hedges fan, had the latter done a cover of the former, which one(s), what work are they on, and how would you rate them?
Hedges recorded All Along the Watch Tower. (yes I know it’s a Dylan song) Not sure how to compare them. It’s so different I didn’t recognize it from the melody. Not sure why he changed some of the words. The video shows his sense of humor. His recorded version is quit intense. Actually he recorded it at least twice, once in 85 on Watching My Life Go By and again in 87 on Live on the Double Planet. The last one is much more aggressive and also my preference. The video clip is more like the 85 version. Hedges did a lot of covers but not all of them made it to CD. Live on The Double Planet is my favorite Hedges CD.
The reason I listed the Jimi Hendrix album, The Blues, is because I love the blues and Jimi Hendrix translated it so well. Love the CD. Also liked some of the tracks Scorsese found for his blues documentary.
I love this too, just not enough to put it on top (I also like The Human Equation more)
I got Songs for the Deaf for my 13th (12th?) birthday–will always hold a special place in my heart.
Here are my picks:
Dire Straits - Love Over Gold
for me this is one of those albums that are so much a part of you that you dont even consciously think “oh i love this album” when you put it on–you just do.
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
this album is opeth at the peak of their growth so far, the steven wilson/overall prog influence probably being what i love most about it. the only band with cookie monster vocals i listen to and love.
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
sugar prog? accessible prog rock
Queen - Innuendo
Freddie’s epic last stand. has its flaws, but the high points are perfect.
Radiohead - OK Computer
My first love from when I first got into music–makes me nostalgic for those early puberty days (or not actually)
Sublime -
I honestly can’t pick one album, mostly because their gems are scattered and unpolished. This band broke up due to a tragic accident before they could put out their magnum opus and you might remember them as just one of those 90s bands that were all over the radio for an obnoxiously long time, but I have no doubt there was an element of fun and totally unassuming genius in Bradley Nowell just waiting to mature. Or maybe I’m just in love.
Spock’s Beard - V
Every 70’s prog band in all their pretentious glory condensed into one little multivitamin tablet. whether its ripping off or ‘creative channeling’ depends on who you ask.
Scrolling through my music right now, basically my tastes aren’t too far from mainstream, just diverse (there are tons more genres I don’t have room to mention).
Rush is the best for rockin’. Permanent Waves is their best album.
Cocteau Twins-great, don’t know genre.
Roxy Music-jazz/cabaret?? Best album: Avalon.
I saw Michael Hedges live twice, and it was a fantastic experience. I don’t really know if he was such a hot guitarist, or if it was the overall experience, but he was great.
