A friend of mine recently turned me onto the song “Acid Tongue” by Jenny Lewis and I was so taken by it that I got the album as well, and really enjoyed most every song on it. Around this same time, I also listened to She & Him for the first time, and was really quite taken with it.
They both have a indie neo-folk sound to them that I really enjoy and would like to listen to more of, but my taste tends more towards post-grunge, trip hop, synthpop, industrial, and various flavors of electronica, so I’m not being terribly familiar with their related genres and am not sure where to start.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I can state right off that even though I like Lewis’ solo efforts, I am not a fan of Rilo Kiley. I’ve tried repeatedly, but I just don’t care for them. Also, if knowing what other artists I like will help in suggesting music, my last.fm profile is in my signature for a quick perusal.
I bet the hubby can come up with more than I can, but how about Innocence Mission, “Bright as Yellow”, Whispertown 2000 (saw them on tour with Jenny), Joshua Radin, Kasey Chambers, Raveonettes? I can’t link to any of them from work, but try youtube. Also, Sara Lov’s “Fountain”.
I like Bright Eyes, sometimes. His stuff is hit and miss, and even when his music is good you have to be into alternative voices to really be able to enjoy it.
But give Bright Eyes a shot. The new album he put out (self titled under his real name Conor Oberst) is supposet to be his best work yet. Otherwise I would start with the Album I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning and explore from there.
I also really like Kimya Dawson. REALLY like her a lot. She, again, has kind of an alternative voice, and her songs are earworms, but in a good way.
Check out the soundtrack to Juno or even better grab a copy of Remember the I Love You which is a beautiful, brilliant folk album.
Also see the album she did as part of The Moldy Peaches. Good stuff there too.
You don’t like Rilo Kiely, that’s cool. I only like their first album myself. Check that out if you haven’t. Otherwise, check out what Jenny did with the Watson Twins. The album Rabit Fur Coat is what you are looking for.
There is other stuff out there that is newish, I just need to look at my iPod and try not to overwhelm you with options. I will be back in a bit with more new stuff.
But honestly, the stuff you really need to get is a bit older. Forgive me if you already have some or all of this, but even if you do someone else reading might not. And really, everyone should.
Patsey Clien: Some sort of greatest hits package. Anything, it’s all good.
Dusty Springfield: Dusty in Memphis
Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger.
Johnny Cash: Live From Folsome Prison
Then once you have decided which of all of the above you like go to
Holly Throsby, Clare Bowditch, Feist, Amy Millan, Emily Haines are all ones I recommend giving a go. Make sure to click through a few of the songs on the pages I’ve linked to because the style of songs can vary a little bit.
As for Rilo Kiley, have you heard this song of theirs?
Flea: Thank you. Most of those are pretty new to me. I just listened to the Lov song, and thought it was okay. I’m about to listen to some Whispertown right now, and am really curious to try The Raveonettes. The others are on backlog as well.
NAF: I went through a bit of an anti-folk spell after discovering Regina Spektor and tried giving Kimya and the Moldy Peaches a try. It was a little too experimental for me. I’m also not that big a fan of Conor Oberst or Bright Eyes. I do like The Faint, which he had a hand in creating, though.
I’m not terribly familiar with Dusty Springfield, and only know a little bit of Patsy Cline. Johnny and Willie are fantastic, though. I saw the latter at Bonnaroo 2008, and he outshined all dozen-plus acts I saw that weekend.
I look forward to your other suggestions. Just to throw some other similar acts out there, I also really like:
Jesca Hoop
José González
Nickel Creek
Steve Earle
Stevie Wonder
Iron & Wine
rebecca pronsky
Alison Krauss
Dixie Chicks
Eddie Vedder
Neko Case
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Junip
I already know I don’t like Cat Power, but I will try out the others. Please do come back with more suggestions!
Is Emily Haines seperate from Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton? I’ve listened to the latter and never much cared for it. All the rest is new to me, though, and I’ll gladly give them a listen.
That Rilo Kiley is proving tolerable.
I really like Poe quite a bit, and love Beth Orton’s She Cries Your Name but am indifferent to everything else I’ve heard. I’m really quite interested in The Gathering, though. Female fronted goth metal is a favorite subgenre, and I absolutely adore both Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil. Are they at all similar? If so, can you point me to the mid-period albums?
I’m a huge fan of Joanna Newsome, who I believe is classified solely as folk. She has a nice voice and does everything with a harp. If I recall, she only has two albums out: Milk-Eyed Meander and Ys, with the former being much better, in my opinion.
You might also like Blonde Redhead, but they may be a bit too “rock” for your tastes (judging from the selection shown).
You may also want to give Beiruit a try; they’re currently all I’m listening to.
How to Measure a Planet? and If_Then_Else are probably the most critically well-reviewed albums, but if female-fronted goth metal is a favorite, you should know that The Gathering was pretty much THE pioneer of the genre, and you should definitely check out Mandylion and Nighttime Birds as well.
Here’s a clip of the Gathering from 1995 (with an orchestra!) and here’s the former lead singer of The Gathering, Anneke van Giersbergen (now with Agua de Annique) doing a duet with Sharon from Within Temptation.
Also, I should definitely add Chairlift to this list. Not a good fit to either She and Him or Jenny Lewis, but they are a wonderful group with a female lead and an 80’s synth sound. I believe they are responsible for the song on the latest iPod commercials. Definitely worth a look.
My taste is all over the map, and one of my most favorite bands is Tool so no worries about anything that isn’t death metal being too rocking for me. That said, I’m already familiar with Blonde Redhead and they didn’t do much for me. Joanna Newsom sounds really interesting, though. I like artists who play instruments that aren’t typical of their genre. Rasputina, for example.
Thanks. Those are definitely getting bookmarked for later perusal.
I actually know the first song! It was on a Scandinavian metal mix a friend made me about five years ago. I really liked the song but I never knew the title. Hah. That’s pretty cool.
Heh. I think **Cuckoorex **has kind of derailed the thread a little with the goth metal chicks, and female fronted synthpop sounds right up my alley as well, so it’s all good. Feel free to look at my last.fm profile linked in my OP to get an idea as to what else I might like if you want to use me as your musical puppet. I love giving new musicians a try.
I actually discovered Agua de Annique not that long ago and really like them. If they’re similar to The Gathering, then I am sure I will love them.
I’m listening to Set Free on last.fm right now. It’s very atmospheric.
Oh, Cuckoorex, I meant to offer a suggestion in the same vein as the artists we’re discussing, but less metal and more symphonic: The Romanovs. They’re an LA band, and one of my absolute favorites. They’re amazing. Here’s a song on YouTube if you don’t want to go to MySpace.
I did listen to the Romanovs…I do like them. I’ll definitely have to investigate further. I assume you already are familiar with Nightwish? Personally, I like the new lead singer, though I understand the love that longtime fans have for Tarja.
