Until quite recently I’ve been rather lazy about listening to new music - I grew up with my father’s musical tastes, which tended towards the 60-70s, and I really couldn’t be arsed to discover anything new. But lately I’ve been listening to more contemporary bands: Wilco, The Frames, Belle and Sebastian, Neko Case, and Rilo Kiley are now on my favorites list. So today I was looking through the Ticketmaster alerts email I get every week or so and started randomly searching for the listed bands on MySpace. So far I like Kathleen Edwards and Simple Plan. Both of them are going to be in Chicago soon - maybe I’ll buy a ticket. I don’t mind going to concerts by myself - it’s better than dragging along friends who only go because they feel bad for you.
Last Sunday I was introduced to the awesomeness of the musical side of William Shatner. I already knew of his awesomeness from Star Trek but damn his second album, “Has Been” made in 2004 is so cool. It’s all I’ve been listening to in my car.
“Live life
live life
like you’re going to die
because you’re gonna.”
Kathleen Edwards rocks - if you like her, may I suggest Lucinda Williams? Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (I think that’s the name) or West (her latest) are great CD’s. And if you like Neko Case, you might check out her work with the New Pornographers - Electric Version has her singing All for Swinging You Around - a great song. Edwards has a song called Back to Me which just throbs with sass - if a voice can have a strut in it, hers does on this song (my band is working up an acoustic version of it for an unplugged set - w00t!)
I am muddling along with a few bands I have been getting into recently, but are rather old:
Television (CD: Marquee Moon; I gotta write up a review of it - it’s brilliant, edgy pop, like Talking Heads but with more personal lyrics)
Cocteau Twins (nonsense lyrics, but huge melodies and arrangements)
The Jam (Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello-like new wave/punk)
Oh, and also if you like Neko - have you checked out Calexico? A great Tex-Mexy kinda alt-country band. They backed the lovely Ms. Case up on her Blacklisted CD. I have their CD - Feast of Wire? Something like that - and really enjoy it…and all of that points to Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway is a brilliant CD in that whole genre…
I saw Common Rotation a couple years ago as an opening act. (Couldn’t figure out why the singer looked familiar; turned out he had a recurring role on Buffy.) Ordered a few CDs from their website, great stuff. But every time I checked to see if they were coming to Boston again, I’d just missed them.
I’ve heard people talking about Death Cab for Cutie before, but never bothered to seek out any of their music (partly because of the stupid name…yea I know). Anyway, I happened to hear Passenger Seat by DCfC, and really liked it.
Stumbled across a Spanish Group, Ojos de Brujo, recently. Their music is a kind of a blend of Flamenco & Hip Hop (I know, I had the same :eek: reaction)
I saw Oppenheimer open up for They Might Be Giants a few months ago and really loved them. Indie Pop Electronica, some light, some a little harder, all fun.
And a friend sent me The Best Party Ever by The Boy Least Likely To a couple of years ago and it instantly became one of my most favorite CDs.
The OP named a few of my favorite artists: Belle and Sebastian, Neko Case (and the New Pornographers), Rilo Kiley… and you must check out their singer, Jenny Lewis, who released a wonderful alt-country solo album in 2006, Rabbit Fur Coat.
My latest musical discovery was actually thanks in part to the SDMB. In a recent thread about steampunk (the anachronistic sci-fi subgenre), I discovered a few steampunk-related blogs, and one led me to a cool Seattle-based band called Abney Park, whose members dress in a very steampunk-inspired style (or techno-Victorian, if you prefer). I’d have to describe their music as goth-industrial: kind of driving, intense, mechanical, danceable, exotic, sexy. You’d like them if you like nine inch nails, the Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Dead Can Dance, or even Garbage. They have a gorgeously-designed website with several free, downloadable songs in mp3 format, and also a Myspace page with even more songs and photos. There is also plenty of eye candy in the band for both sexes and all orientations!
I’m also a huge fan of trip-hop, like Portishead, Massive Attack, Morcheeba, Sneaker Pimps, Zero 7, and others. The style peaked in the '90s and hasn’t been as popular since, but I still love it. However, a couple months back I discovered Bitter:Sweet, a new band that is heavily trip-hop influenced, although with more of a retro-lounge exotica flair than the sensual noir of Portishead. You may have heard their song “Dirty Laundry” in a Victoria’s Secret commercial or promos for the ABC series Samantha Who?, or “The Mating Game” in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Totally hot, sexy, seductive music.
The Acro-Brats and All American Rejects - already mentioned above, The New Pornographers as well.
I know we’d heard them before, but I downloaded the rest of **Buck Cherry’s ** album - 15 - the one song that gets radio (edited) play simply does not do that group justice.
I went to see a friend’s band-The Metrosexuals- who are now defunct because the lead singer got LSD (Lead Singer Disease). They were on the bill two other bands. The opening band just blew me away with an awesome show. Full of energy. I bought their album on the spot, something I don’t normally do. They have a blues-funk-soul-70’s rock kind of sound. Check out The Josh Dion Band their sight has their music playing so you can listen without having to buy.
MGMT. They opened for an Of Montreal show I went to, but I missed the opening act. I decided to check out their music anyway, and I can’t believe I missed their part of the show. I think they’re going to be huge. The were on Letterman about a month ago.
A friend who stayed over for the holidays introduced me to The Bird and The Bee. They’re fantabulous in a loungey retro kind of way… and I love the sly humour in Polite Dance Song.
If you like Neko Case, I’d definitely second the recommendation for Calexico, and also throw in the Calexico/Iron and Wine collaboration In The Reins for good measure. It’s greater than the sum of its parts… both are good bands on their own, but great when they come together.
I recently discovered them too, and The Mary Onettes, through iTunes free downloads.
muzzynyc, and **interface2x ** thanks, I’ll have to get my hands on their last couple of albums. I was pleasantly surprised. That name had me expecting sk8ter boi (or however Avril spelled it) style music.
. I saw them live and they rocked.