# Help me EXPAND my musical tastes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2004, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999 "2004-10-01T06:05:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/1 "2004-10-01T06:05:52Z")
Please tell me about one song or Artist that you think is so good most people would like and if possible provide a link. Just keep in mind I like rap music so if you tell me about a rapper or rap song whether it is underground or Mainstream, you are not really expanding my musical tastes. I do like Heavy Metal but don’t know to much about it and the same with Classic Rock so feel free to school me in Heavy Metal or Classic Rock. I hate most punk that I’ve heard but will still give anything a chance. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/2 "2004-10-01T06:26:32Z")
It’s been my experience that a lot of metal lovers like Kate Bush–especially “The Dreaming”–and NO ONE will open your mind to new music like Kate Bush will. ---
**Author:** ![Necro\_Romancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Necro\_Romancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necro_Romancer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/3 "2004-10-01T06:26:54Z")
Bad Religion, a punk band. Start with [All Ages](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001IQE/ref=pd_sim_music_8/102-9749782-3799303?v=glance&s=music) or [Recipe For Hate](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002IX5/102-9749782-3799303?v=glance). There are some mp3s you can download for free on Amazon. I dislike most punk/“punk” music I’ve heard, but this band is probably my favorite. Most punk fans I’ve spoke to list them, if not at the top, in their top five. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/4 "2004-10-01T06:58:47Z")
Loretta Lynn’s latest album, [_Van Lear Rose_.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001XASDA/103-4067811-9343803?v=glance#product-details) Yeah, I know, Loretta Lynn, country music, whine whine, piss piss, moan moan. 😉 Astoundingly good album, whether you like country or not. Track I think you’re most likely to enjoy, given your current preferences–Portland Oregon, although I’m terribly fond of the title track, Trouble on the Line, and Family Tree. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/5 "2004-10-01T07:00:08Z")
Definitely in the TOP of my top ten for this year. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/6 "2004-10-01T12:18:34Z")
[Cosmosquad](http://www.cosmosquad.cjb.net/) Guitar instrumental. Hard rock, jazz fusion mix. Really cool. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/7 "2004-10-01T12:59:45Z")
Any Bob Marley song will do, but start with the live version of No Woman No Cry. ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/8 "2004-10-01T13:16:39Z")
If you’re interested in metal, may I recommend one of the newer bands on the scene, Disturbed? Their first album is 2000’s “The Sickness”, one of the best examples of pure rage set to music I’ve ever heard. The front man, David Draiman, isn’t just a screamer either, he’s got genuine singing ability that he unleashes to great effect. One of my favorite songs of theirs is “Down with the sickness”, in which Draiman’s vocals take on two voices so distinctive you’d swear it was two singers instead of one. Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/9 "2004-10-01T13:30:17Z")
Lyle Lovett. He’s usually grouped as country, but he writes all sorts of music. “Live in Texas” is a good place to start – there are few CDs that are more just plain fun. Otis Taylor. Amazing blues musician. His stuff is dark, often about death and hatred, but it’s surprisingly uplifting. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/10 "2004-10-01T14:13:47Z")
You can’t go wrong with anything from the Beatles. Frank Zappa is great, but some of his stuff only makes sense if you’re an obsessive fan, so I would start with something that stands on its own, like _One Size Fits All_ or _Burnt Weeny Sandwich_ or _Hot Rats_. There’s a TON of other “classic rock” that’s great. Maybe if I have some more time I can’t post more recommendations. If you want to hear free legal mp3s of good new stuff, I recommend [this page](http://www.skingraftrecords.com/audio.html). My favorite bands on there are the Ruins, the Flying Luttenbachers, Shakuhachi Surprise, the Space Streakings, and Arab on Radar. I especially love [this](http://www.skingraftrecords.com/mp3/LP%20MP3%27s/ruins_prahainspring.mp3) Ruins song, which I’ve been obsessively promoting to everyone who will listen because I find it insanely great. A good site with an unbelievable quantity of free (and legal) mp3s is [epitonic.com](http://www.epitonic.com/). Most of what I’ve listened to on there is in the “Experimental” section, although I’ve had some satisfying forays into the 20th-century composers, electronic, and math rock areas. And I gotta promote my local Providence music scene. It’s a small city, but there’s an amazing variety of [great stuff](http://www.lotsofnoise.com/bands.html) happening. I give my utter and complete approval to [any](http://www.lotsofnoise.com/bands/Alec%20K.%20Redfearn%20and%20The%20Eyesores/AKR-Eyesores_mp3.html) [Alec](http://www.lotsofnoise.com/bands/Barnacled/Barnacled_mp3.html) [K.](http://www.lotsofnoise.com/bands/haldols/haldols_mp3.html) [Redfearn](http://www.aleckredfearn.com/listen.html) project. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/11 "2004-10-01T15:13:23Z")
> [@START](#): > > I hate most punk that I’ve heard but will still give anything a chance. 🙂 Well, you should give London Calling from The Clash a chance then. There is a [new compilation](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002Y4TZG/qid=1096643576/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/002-6153701-9246416?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) out that includes some lost studio tracks and a DVD with a documentary. Definitely worth the money! ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/12 "2004-10-01T15:24:03Z")
[Cowboy Mouth](http://www.cowboymouth.com/) “Cowboy Mouth is pure New Orleans rock n’ roll with more hooks and melodies then gumbo has spices and lyrics that bring you right into a hot steamy night in the French Quarter.” ~ CM site “If The Neville Brothers and The Clash had a baby, it would be Cowboy Mouth.” ~ Fred Le Blanc, band member “…on a bad night they’ll tear the roof off the joint and on a good night, they’ll save your soul.” ~ Cake magazine ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/13 "2004-10-01T16:09:25Z")
On the metal front, you should check out Biohazard, E. Town Concrete, Rage Against The Machine, and Anthrax. They’re pretty much the cream of the crop as far as rap metal goes. Faith No More are also widely cited as influences in the rap metal scene, but they’re a little far out there for a beginner\*. Actually, if you’re looking to get into metal, MTV has two compilations out related to their “Headbanger’s Ball” series. Those are a pretty decent introduction to what’s out there in the mainstream and alternative metal scenes. Disturbed is all right. If you like them, check out Helmet, Korn, Machine Head, and Devildriver. [sub][sup]\*Note, however, that _every single song_ that Linkin Park has ever done sounds like a poor imitation of “Kindergarten” off Faith No More’s _Angel Dust_.[/sup][/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/14 "2004-10-01T16:18:46Z")
[O.A.R.](http://www.ofarevolution.com/348/) **Bruce\_Daddy** tipped me off to these guys the other day, so I checked them out and bought the “34th & 8th” disc. Easily the best $16 I’ve spent on music since I bought “Living in Clip” by Ani DiFranco (worth checking out, as well). ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/15 "2004-10-01T16:30:03Z")
Also, [this site](http://www.mp3search.ru/) is great for listening to free mp3s. You have to register with an e-mail address and password, but I’ve not gotten any spam from them. If you put money into your account, you can download the songs for 10 cents each or less, and full albums under $2. I have not done this though, so I don’t know how that goes. They don’t have _everything_, no Cowboy Mouth which was noted above for example, but they do have a lot, including bootleg and concert CDs that aren’t widely available otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/16 "2004-10-01T21:47:33Z")
If you want to go to the opposite end of the spectrum from rap, then I highly recommend [Alison Krauss + Union Station](http://www.alisonkrauss.com/). They’re one of the finest group of musicians in any genre. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/17 "2004-10-01T22:10:21Z")
[The Crüxshadows](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/113085/ref=pd_ap_sr/102-5022691-3616919), a Darkwave band. My ex, who introduced me to them, has only introduced them to one person who didn’t like them - that includes her mother! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/18 "2004-10-01T22:11:56Z")
the best album i’ve bought in the last few years has been **‘O’** , by **Damien Rice**. Hasn’t left my boombox. Not rap, not hard rock, just the opposite. Slow, deliberate soft rock I guess. He’s Irish i believe. Real good. If you buy it, don’t turn it off until the last song is done, and I mean when it actually stops. > **[Damien Rice Official Website - Music, Tour, News, Community](https://damienrice.com/)** > > The official website for Damien Rice. Browse damienrice.com for the latest live dates, music, news and to join the Damien Rice community. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009V7P8/qid=1096668740/sr=8-1/ref=pd\_csp\_1/002-9842951-6191214?v=glance&s=music&n=507846](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009V7P8/qid=1096668740/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/002-9842951-6191214?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/19 "2004-10-01T22:12:59Z")
> [@Already in Use](#): > > A good site with an unbelievable quantity of free (and legal) mp3s is [epitonic.com](http://www.epitonic.com/). Holy Christ - at last, someone else who’s found the Holy Grail of online DLing. They only seem to update once a month right now, sadly, but that’s better than the nine months they spent between updates once. I’ve downloaded the _entire_ Experimental section, unbelievably, and the highlight is Pauline Oliveros’ track “[Suiren](http://www.epitonic.com/artists/paulineoliverosstuartdempsterandpanaiotis.html)”? I personally think it’s fanfuckingtastic, and the rest of the album is great as well, but I’d be interested to hear what other people make of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999/20 "2004-10-01T22:48:07Z")
I love [POE](http://www.realpoe.com/). Her album “Haunted” should have won a grammy, IMHO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-expand-my-musical-tastes/266999.md?page=2)