Good, modern, "clean" rock/top 40 albums

Cafe Society
1

I’d planning to send some CDs to a 14 year old. He likes rock, hip-hop and rock. The problem is that the rules for his house are pretty strict: no bad language, negative themes or references to drugs or alcohol, and no metal, gangsta rap or hard-core. Can anyone come up with three albums that this guy might like? I need something hip, upbeat and clean, sort of like a cross between either Foo Fighters or Gorillaz and Donnie and Marie. Wish me luck.

For what it’s worth, he doesn’t like Jack Johnson. I already came up with that one.

2

[QUOTE=cornflakes]
I’d planning to send some CDs to a 14 year old. He likes rock, hip-hop and rock. The problem is that the rules for his house are pretty strict: no bad language, negative themes or references to drugs or alcohol, and no metal, gangsta rap or hard-core. Can anyone come up with three albums that this guy might like? I need something hip, upbeat and clean, sort of like a cross between either Foo Fighters or Gorillaz and Donnie and Marie. Wish me luck.

For what it’s worth, he doesn’t like Jack Johnson. I already came up with that one.
[/QUOTE]

Jimmy Eat World? Their self-titled album (sometimes mistakenly called Bleed American) and Futures are really good, and their newest album Chase This Light sounds okay, although I haven’t given it a thorough listen.

Snow Patrol? I think there is a “hell” and a “damn” on Final Straw, but I can’t remember any swearing on Eyes Open, and both albums are good.

There’s always Maroon 5, unless the sexual themes in their music would be too much for the kid’s backwards family.

Also, you mentioned Foo Fighters. Why not send him one of their albums, unless he already has them. I don’t personally like that band, so I can’t comment on their albums.

3

Bishop Allen! Good, clean fun. Bright and intelligent indie rock.

Grandaddy. No sex or drugs or cussing, but lots of robots drinking themselves to death or crashing planes.

The Shins. Also intelligent, although there may be a “shit” in there somewhere. But generally very good.

The Weakerthans. Punk influenced, clever lyrics, no sex. Reconstruction Site has one “fuck” but Reunion Tour is ok.

4

Put something edgy in a Pat Boone case. Time Warp Family will never know the difference and the kid will be your biggest fan forever.

5

tiny tiny nitpick: well it was bleed american for a short time
but i do second that recommendation (i’d say self titled over futures), i also started listening to j.e.w. when i was around 14. Plus if he really likes it, he might naturally progress to Clarity (older album by them), which imo is the greatest album of its (frankly somewhat shallow) genre but a little less accessible right off the bat.

Also second these guys.

muse is a great rock band that is popular enough that he probably already has some of their cds. gets a bit emotionally intense at times, but thats allowed, no? on the off chance that he doesn’t know them, Absolution is a great album to start him off on.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, also hugely famous band that he might know already. some of their songs have some innuendo or allusions to drugs (like a song that’s titled Snow Hey Oh with various lyrics that rhyme with yeyo) but not obvious unless the parents are actively screening every time he listens. iirc By The Way doesn’t have explicit lyrics (but now im not so sure).

final recommendation is Hot Fuss by the Killers. Another favorite of mine when i was his age, really infectious melodies and songs that are upbeat but somewhat nicely melancholy at the same time.

I never realized how limiting those restrictions (clean with no depressing/drug related themes, etc) are–that kid’s gonna miss out on some amazing music :frowning:
disclaimer: because english is my second language, i dont always pay the most attention to the lyrics–any one of these albums might have PARENTAL ADVISORY STRONG LANGUAGE VIOLENT CONTENT warnings. iow please check them yourself first.

6

Most of what I listen to is forced fed through the radio (I’m just too busy to go out and find music). Anyway, here are my suggestions, since my favorite stuff actually falls into this category:

U2
The Killers (definitely Hot Fuss, great fucking album)
Coldplay
Counting Crows (I’m probably their only fan on this board)

Ice Cube (AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted)
J/K!! :stuck_out_tongue: Sorry, I just heard that today on my satellite player. I should really check out the other channels more often.

7

**The Shins ** are one of my favorite bands, but I don’t think a 14 year old will get them. IF you go with them grab Shoots to Narrow instead of their other 2 albums, it is poppier and more upbeat and probably easier to get into.

I like Modest Mouse a lot too and think Good News for People Who like Bad News is a good starter album. A little bad language, but most of it is tasteful.

Blur is always great, and when I was his age I loved stuff like Jane’s Addiction (but I don’t know if it will be allowed) and Pavement, the Violent Femmes and the Flaming Lips.

Newer more cutting edge bands(ish), Vampire Weekend. Let me say it again, VAMPIRE WEEKEND. They rock so hard they don’t even sound like rock. Kind of an african regee meets post punk sound. Freakin’ brilliant. This is my #1 choice. Get a copy for yourself too.
Art Brut, rock and freaking roll by a Brit nerd-punk band. They broke around the same time as the Arctic Monkeys, so get compaired to them a lot. They aren’t, they *are * fantastic however.

**Block Party ** (maybe some explicit lyrics, but honestly you don’t hear the lyrics much.) Self titled album. Something everyone should own.

Round it out with Funeral by the** Arcade Fire**. I liked it better than Neon Bible (which is good too, but not trancendant like Arcade Fire is).

If he likes hip hop and you want to get him some of that check out De La Soul and Common. Both are fairly clean and solidly good music.

This is probably more then you will get him, but I figure you can read reviews etc and this will give you options.

8

**Fountains of Wayne ** write amazingly catchy power pop - their album Welcome Interstate Managers has “Stacy’s Mom” on it which may be considered inappropriate but all the songs are very well done.

The band **Jet ** is a great rocking band - their first CD, Get Born has the song Cold Hard Bitch on it which would be inappropriate. Their second CD, Shine on, has more of a Beatles influence to go with their more classic rock feel. I can’t recall any language issues, but haven’t really given it a hard listen that way.

The **Raconteurs ** new album, Consolers of the Lonely is freakin’ brilliant. It features Jack White of the White Stripes but the songs are more straight up power pop vs. the bluesy/folky/Zep-py feel of the White Stripes. Again, I don’t recall any language issues and some of the songs rock hard.

And you can’t go wrong with the **White Stripes ** - Icky Thump, their latest is good, but Elephant and De Stijl are both better. No language issues I can think of - but the guitar work can veer from gentle and smooth to very raw and bluesy in the blink of an eye…

9

[QUOTE=NAF1138]
**The Shins ** are one of my favorite bands, but I don’t think a 14 year old will get them. IF you go with them grab Shoots to Narrow instead of their other 2 albums, it is poppier and more upbeat and probably easier to get into.

I like Modest Mouse a lot too and think Good News for People Who like Bad News is a good starter album. A little bad language, but most of it is tasteful.

Blur is always great, and when I was his age I loved stuff like Jane’s Addiction (but I don’t know if it will be allowed) and Pavement, the Violent Femmes and the Flaming Lips.

Newer more cutting edge bands(ish), Vampire Weekend. Let me say it again, VAMPIRE WEEKEND. They rock so hard they don’t even sound like rock. Kind of an african regee meets post punk sound. Freakin’ brilliant. This is my #1 choice. Get a copy for yourself too.

Art Brut, rock and freaking roll by a Brit nerd-punk band. They broke around the same time as the Arctic Monkeys, so get compaired to them a lot. They aren’t, they *are * fantastic however.

**Block Party ** (maybe some explicit lyrics, but honestly you don’t hear the lyrics much.) Self titled album. Something everyone should own.

Round it out with Funeral by the** Arcade Fire**. I liked it better than Neon Bible (which is good too, but not trancendant like Arcade Fire is).

If he likes hip hop and you want to get him some of that check out De La Soul and Common. Both are fairly clean and solidly good music.

This is probably more then you will get him, but I figure you can read reviews etc and this will give you options.
[/QUOTE]

Its funny because I was thinking of recommending Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire but decided not to for the exact reason you gave for the Shins (its Chutes btw). I figured if the kid would like them he’d already know them, and if he didn’t he’d hate em. I also loved the Violent Femmes (these guys in a no sexual innuendos household? :D) and the Flaming Lips in middle school.

I’m gonna have to check out Vampire Weekend.

10

I, too, had a perfect suggestion except for the one or two drug references: Cities by Anberlin, if he likes the other pop-punk suggestions. Unfortunately it does have a couple alcohol and/or drug references even though they are painted in a negative light. But it’s pretty clean (yet sounds like a lot of the other pop punk bands of the last couple years [as opposed to the more hardcore emo of the early 2000’s]), which makes sense as some of the members are confirmed Christians even though they don’t label Anberlin as a “Christian Rock” band.

11

[QUOTE=Mojo Pin]
Its funny because I was thinking of recommending Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire but decided not to for the exact reason you gave for the Shins **(its Chutes btw). **
I’m gonna have to check out Vampire Weekend.
[/QUOTE]

D’oh! I knew that too! It’s what I get for listening to iPod instead of CD’s these days. It’s possilbe he does know all three already, I don’t know what the kids are listening to these days (I feel like an old man at 25.)

And do check out Vampire Weekend, they are so fantastic it’s stupid.

12

I don’t recall anything particularly offensive in any Muse songs, and they are pretty kickass.

Black Holes and Revelations is their most recent studio album, and it is utterly awesome.

13

[QUOTE=Scupper]
I don’t recall anything particularly offensive in any Muse songs, and they are pretty kickass.

Black Holes and Revelations is their most recent studio album, and it is utterly awesome.
[/QUOTE]

I don’t remember anything offensive on that one either, and it is indeed awesome.

My teenaged brother (almost 16) and sister (14) are in pretty much the same boat. They’re home schooled, so they have almost no exposure to new music (or older stuff for that matter). I’ve given them a few CDs that my parents wouldn’t object to, mostly U2, Bruce Springsteen, the Beatles, and a handful of other classic rock/pop songs. My parents mostly object to naughty language and sexual content – they’re okay with darker themes in some cases. They get that when Johnny Cash sing about killing someone, it’s not necessarily an endorsement of murder.

On my brother’s 18th birthday, I’m thinking of making him a CD called “Sex, Drugs, & Rock & Roll” – all the music he was supposed to be growing up on but wasn’t allowed to. I went through the same crap, although I went to real school and had my own TV as a teenager, so I was able to absorb a lot more than my poor younger siblings.

If the OPer doesn’t mind, I’d love to hear recommendations for some clean classic songs or albums as well.

14

[QUOTE=cbawlmer]
…If the OPer doesn’t mind, I’d love to hear recommendations for some clean classic songs or albums as well.
[/QUOTE]

What do you mean by classic? d’you mean classic rock specifically or just classic? what kind of stuff do you listen to already? and why necessarily clean if you want recommendations (presumably) for yourself?

15

[QUOTE=Mojo Pin]
What do you mean by classic? d’you mean classic rock specifically or just classic? what kind of stuff do you listen to already? and why necessarily clean if you want recommendations (presumably) for yourself?
[/QUOTE]

By classic, I just meant “not necessarily new.” And I am looking for suggestions for my siblings, not so much for myself. I have some newer music (Muse, White Stripes, Foo Fighters), but my knowledge of new music is limited and I’m sure I have gaps in my older music.

I’m especially interested in music that might appeal to my sister. The only new music she’s familiar with is Hannah Montana, and at 14 she’s really too old for that. She shows no interest in boys, and I don’t want to push a ton of love songs on her, but I’d like to get her some good music by female artists. It doesn’t matter if it’s new or old. (I know many of you are going to think, “better get out the Indigo Girls and k.d. lang,” but I’m keeping it neutral for now.)

16

[QUOTE=cbawlmer]
By classic, I just meant “not necessarily new.” And I am looking for suggestions for my siblings, not so much for myself. I have some newer music (Muse, White Stripes, Foo Fighters), but my knowledge of new music is limited and I’m sure I have gaps in my older music.

I’m especially interested in music that might appeal to my sister. The only new music she’s familiar with is Hannah Montana, and at 14 she’s really too old for that. She shows no interest in boys, and I don’t want to push a ton of love songs on her, but I’d like to get her some good music by female artists. It doesn’t matter if it’s new or old. (I know many of you are going to think, “better get out the Indigo Girls and k.d. lang,” but I’m keeping it neutral for now.)
[/QUOTE]

New old and in between:
My first suggestion would be P.J. Harvey. Rockin chick with a great voice, but not a Lillith Fair style. She used to date Nick Cave if that gives you an indication of her senibilites. Not that she is dark, just that she rocks.

Magnetic Fields isn’t exclusivly female, but he uses some great female voices.

Rilo Kiley is mostly fronted by a female vocalist. They are very good most of the time.

Everyone loves Joni Mitchell.

For general non female artist who rock.

I suggest **Neutral Milk Hotel ** to everyone and their brother. In The Aeroplane Over the Sea is the album to get. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you can get into the sound of his voice, it is fantastic.

Built to Spill is also fantastic. I recommend Keep it Like A Secret as a first album, but There’s Nothing Wrong with Love or Perfect From Now On are good too.

As mentioned earlier, **The Flaming Lips ** are great. I would start with Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society is another one of those albums I think everyone should own. A beautiful album that I can listen to over and over again.

Hmm, that’s all for now. I will be back with more later as I think of more.

17

[QUOTE=Mojo Pin]

Red Hot Chili Peppers, …
iirc By The Way doesn’t have explicit lyrics (but now im not so sure).

[/QUOTE]

By the Way is almost clean, except for one song which has “Fuck” in it i believe. It totally caught me off guard as it took me about 8 listens or so to realize its there. But I was amused, the entire album is pretty clean except for a sole “fuck” somewhere in the middle of it, and its not easy to pick out.

I was gonna suggest the Raconteurs- but you said no negative themes- there’s an abusive boyfriend towards a mother, with a fight with a teenage son that kills said abusive bf iirc in the last song of their new album “Carolina Drama”, other than that it’s pretty clean and a REALLY good album. Their older album is pretty much completely free of negative themes and language though. But certainly not as rocking.

18

No to Vampire Weekend: half the songs say “fuck.” Same with Modest Mouse, the early stuff, especially their breakthrough Lonesome Crowded West, is some of the best modern “rock” whatever you’ll find anywhere, but over half the songs say fuck, shit, or whatever.

A cleaner sounding Vampire Weekend (kinda) can be found with Born Ruffians.

Second Bishop Allen, especially Charm School. It might be too cute for him, but I personally witnessed the lead (Rice, is it?) attempting to duck walk. That’s rock. Bishop Allen.

And, I don’t know. I think you should give him some more aggressive stuff, personally. I can go on and name a bunch of post-pop punk, sorta cute indie boy bands that he may or may not get into (Voxtrot, The Deadly Syndrome, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, etc. But, I think he’ll appreciate bands like The Plastic Constellations, The Black Lips, or The NEC a whole lot more.

Not to mention the classics: Television, The Damned, Ramones, Stooges, etc etc.

19

[QUOTE=ZebraShaSha]
No to Vampire Weekend: half the songs say “fuck.” Same with Modest Mouse, the early stuff, especially their breakthrough Lonesome Crowded West, is some of the best modern “rock” whatever you’ll find anywhere, but over half the songs say fuck, shit, or whatever.
[/quote]

Really? Shit, I must be totally desensitized. Seriously, I don’t feel like either band curses much, but my standards may be low I suppose. (I am going through the lyrics from Lonesome Crowded West in my head and I can’t think of anything other than Doin’ the Cockroach that has obvious cursing in it. Teeth like Gods Shoeshine has a fair bit, but he is screaming it all so it is mostly uninteligable.)

[QUOTE=ZebraShaSha]
A cleaner sounding Vampire Weekend (kinda) can be found with Born Ruffians.

Second Bishop Allen, especially Charm School. It might be too cute for him, but I personally witnessed the lead (Rice, is it?) attempting to duck walk. That’s rock. Bishop Allen.

And, I don’t know. I think you should give him some more aggressive stuff, personally. I can go on and name a bunch of post-pop punk, sorta cute indie boy bands that he may or may not get into (Voxtrot, The Deadly Syndrome, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, etc. But, I think he’ll appreciate bands like The Plastic Constellations, The Black Lips, or The NEC a whole lot more.

Not to mention the classics: Television, The Damned, Ramones, Stooges, etc etc.
[/QUOTE]

I don’t care for Born Ruffians, but I heartilly second Voxtrot, and The Black Lips.
(you have out nerded me on the rest though. I have a new project!)

I can see maybe Television passing, but if Modest Mouse won’t fly, I can’t picture the Stooges or The Damned being kosher. Husker Du maybe? But I don’t know if someone his age will be into that. **The Replacements ** he would probably dig, I like Let it Be best, but Tim is probably the safer start.

20

I just saw Duffy on Conan O"Brien a few nights ago, and she’s awesome! British soul singer (think Dusty Springfield, but contemporary). If she’s raunchy, it’s under my radar.

Jonny Lang might fit the bill. Shannon Curfman, too.

These are all contemporary acts with retro (blues and/or soul) sensibilities.