I just recently discovered Mongolian throat-singer Okna Tsahan Zam; his vocal abilities are completely amazing. As far as I can tell he only has one album, Shaman Voices: A Journey In The Steppe, available on Amazon, but only by download. Definitely worth checking out; his style is strangely enchanting, and forms just one more testament to the incredibly diverse musical power of the human voice.
The song in this YouTube video, “Edjin Duun,” is probably my favorite, and that video was also how I first encountered Zam’s music. The video is pretty awesome in itself; it records the traditional Mongolian practice of hunting wolves using golden eagles. :eek:
ETA: You can also preview other tracks in the “Shaman Voices” album here.
Lunch Money’s Dizzy. After I heard it on NPR I had to buy it now but because it was on NPR buying it directly from the band would take several weeks due to backlog, and I had just gotten broadband so they are the first band I bought online. (That album is basically alternative kids’ music, I wouldn’t blink twice if they opened for They Might Be Giants even though all of the songs are firmly in the kids music camp. Their first album is more traditional folky-kids music but what ties it together is the great trip-hoppy singing.)
I also bought Five Years Time by Noah and the Whale, and again, I am glad for online music purchasing as I listened to samples of their other songs and I’m glad I could buy only that one for a dollar (and it didn’t SUX! lol) But despite that song was the only one I wanted I still literally have it on repeat on my Windows Media Player after a couple straight days of play. (It’s the cowbell at the end that makes me want to keep playing it over and over.)
Today or tomorrow I also have to get some stuff by the Alkaline Trio. I am seeing them in concert this Saturday and I want to be prepared: I have literally never heard anything by them. I am seeing them for the band playing with them, Saves the Day, and the only thing I know about the Alkaline Trio is that Hotwater Music covered their song Radio, which is apparently a big concert hit so at least I will be able to rock out to that thius Saturday even if I don’t buy any more of their stuff.
I didn’t know anyone other than Mood and me were (still) here from VALIS, but I remember you as well, and am both pleased to see you and to hear of your daughter’s excellent taste in music.
This is the band that sponsered and appeared in the strange horror movie Dark Floors last year, right? Impressively ugly costumes! Now I want Slipknot to be monsters in a movie.
Hunter Hawk, yes to Tegan and Sara; I think I may even have mentioned their cover of “when you were mine” in the covers thread. The radio stations I used to listen to took a real shine to “Walking With a Ghost” and I’ve heard quite a bit of their music since then.
I joined here ages ago, made about 3 posts then it went paid membership. Since I hadn’t posted much I didn’t pay. Big mistake! I stopped coming since I couldn’t join in but started lurking a few months before it was free again.
Anyway the last CD I bought was then end of last year. NZ band **Op shop’s **Second Hand Planet. I also saw them in concert on the Winery Tours over here & they sound every bit as good live as they do on disc.
I haven’t bought any music in a long while but I’m listening to Amanda Palmer online, and the Raconteurs (Jack Black’s band) and Cat Palmer on an episode of Austin City Limits that luckily I dvr’ed. Raconteur’s cover of Bang Bang is my latest earworm, and I have a platonic girl-crush on Cat Powers, I want to be her. She has a great cover of Satisfaction, plus some stunning originals.
I really want to see that movie. Seems interesting. (And judging by the trailers, they seem to have made Lordi’s wings a bit more impressive.)
Their costumes are, indeed pretty awesome, although it looks like they’ll never really perfect Kita’s mask. (The drummer, with the head that looks like a cross between a crab and a grain thresher.)
My two most recent music purchases are Gavin Castleton’s “Home” and Neko Case’s “Middle Cyclone”. Both are excellent but I’ve been listening to Home constantly since I got it. Probably one of the best cds I’ve heard in ages.
I’ve recently acquired Dark Was the Night, a compilation album benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an HIV/AIDS awareness group. A million and one indie acts contributed either original tracks or covers- Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, Yo La Tengo, Beirut, Iron and Wine, The Decemberists, etc. ad nauseum. Cat Power lends a great version of “Amazing Grace”.
If you’re a fan of indie music at all, it’s definitely worth a purchase.
I’ve been listening to that a lot lately, too. In fact, that compilation introduced me to Bon Iver, which led me to pick up For Emma, Forever Ago, which is excellent.
I’ve bought and enjoyed a few of the discs already mentioned, including The Decemberists, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and especially Neko Case. Do reissues count? I recently bought the special edition of Elvis Costello’s “This Year’s Model”, and the remastered special editions of Radiohead’s “The Bends” and “OK Computer”.
Three new (well, new to me, anyway) albums -
Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman - Song X
Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden - Beyond the Missouri Sky
Adele - 19 (the deluxe version that includes 10 tracks recorded live at Hotel Cafe)
I’ve heard bits of Song X before, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to listen to it over and over. Love it, love it, love it.
I’m less enthusiastic about Beyond the Missouri Sky. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy Metheny’s work, but I prefer John Abercrombie’s body of work. Beyond the Missouri Sky is a little too New Age-y for my tastes, and has me wishing that John Abercrombie or Ralph Towner would show up and shake things up a little.
Adele - the songwriting, the voice, the playing are all really great. I’m enthusiastically digging into this album. Only one difficulty - I hate the sound of her guitar. Everything is recorded with the Piezo pick-up quacking, spracking and farting away. It’s like some of those Joe Pass albums where the playing is spectacular, but it sounds like he just grabbed whatever was handy at the pawn shop and wailed. She’s a grown-up, and I’m assuming she has the power to tell somebody about the sound she’d like, so I have to accept that it’s what she’s after. Makes me grind my teeth, though.
I haven’t gotten anything from them yet, but yesterday after seeing a video by Silversun Pickups “Panic Switch” and watching a few of their videos on YouTube, I put their albums on my Amazon Wish List for my upcoming birthday.