I have never really gone out to look for good music, but I do enjoy listening to music and have found there are some groups I enjoy and many (most) which I don’t.
Those which I continue to play on long drives include:
They Might Be Giants
REM
The Residents
(some) Ween
The Postal Service
(some) Weezer
Moby
That’s All I Can Remember Right Now
Given that I like all these guys, and given that I am interested in finding out what’s new and interesting in newer music, please aid me w/ whatever information you have on these matters.
I suggest the Shins. They’re on sub pop, and have pretty much blown up in the past year (even netting some product placement in “Garden State”), but do a sort of pure, multi-hook indie pop that’s been lacking since the Elephant Six crew took a hike and Beulah started making crap and then broke up.
Not sure if these are available in the US yet - - but you should be able to source them from teh Internet…
I recommend two new UK group’s
Razorlight - Up All Night – ( I have heard a few people label these as the new Beatles - - not sure if I agree completely - but it is definitely the best new pop-rock I’ve heard recently )
and Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand - (good tunes, sort of a mix between the Divine Comedy and a more rock band)
of course I could recommend my own group - organized rhyme - - but that’s hip-hop, which I guess you wont be in to…
One more vote for Moxy Fruvous (why isn’t everyone on the SDMB listening to them?), the New Pornographers, and the Shins!
You might like Rilo Kiley, since they share some members with the Postal Service. They’re more of an indie-rock/alt-country sort of thing, but don’t freak out at the use of the word “country.” Give them a chance.
A friend who got ME into the Postal Service also introduced me to Pale Saints and Tindersticks, and I can sort of see how fans of one might like all the others.
Finally, if you like the weirdness, eclectic musical styles, and irreverence of Ween, you might want to investigate Frank Zappa. He has a huge body of work that appears quite daunting for a new listener, but maybe some other Dopers can help you narrow it down some.
Given Ween and TMBG, I recommend Chomsky, which are often compared to XTC.
Given R.E.M., you might try catching up on the whole No Depression scene, or at least the rock-ier elements (Old 97s, Whiskeytown; Ryan Adams is formerly of Whiskeytown).
A couple of female singer-songwriters come to mind as probably to the liking of anyone who really likes R.E.M. (or at least Michael Stipe as a songwriter): Amy Rigby and Mary Lorson, with Rigby being more country-tinged.
Driving music? A recent suggestion to me is O.A.R. (Of A Revolution). They’re a mix of reggae and Dave Matthews-ish music. 34th & 8th was my introduction, and I strongly recommend it. Plenty of 6+ minute songs, for the long drives, including an awesome 17 minute version of That Was a Crazy Game of Poker.