# Music Recommendations Needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327 "2005-03-07T06:42:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jeffh3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/34f0e0/32.png) [@jeffh3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeffh3000)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/1 "2005-03-07T06:42:13Z")
I have spent too much of my weekend searching for a particular type of music without much luck. Basically what I am looking for is a music that is somewhat pop, but may include classical instruments. One example that comes to mind is the theme song to the tv show “angel”. The ideal was something modern and includes a violin. Any songs or groups that may add a touch of classical strings, will staying modern and unique would be great. I know the music is out there, I just can’t find it. If anyone can provide some suggestions, it would be helpful. Any groups or particular songs that I should check out would be greatly appreciated. Any info is helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/2 "2005-03-07T06:48:02Z")
There is a group called Bond, which consists of four beautiful women in a string quartet. They play classical-inspired music, sometimes with exotic instrumentations or funky techno backbeats. Not exactly sure what you’d call it–definitely not mainstream pop, and not really new age or adult contemporary. Google for an official website that may have song samples, or check [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) for samples and reviews. Other than that, you may want to seek out more film scores. Danny Elfman, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and the legendary Ennio Morricone are just a few of the great film composers out there now. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/3 "2005-03-07T06:50:05Z")
There’s also gorgeous Israeli violinist Miri Ben-Ari, who just released an album (or is on the verge of releasing it) called “The Hip-Hop Violinist,” which will feature several different rappers performing songs with her violin music. She’s very good, and if you don’t have a problem with rap, I’d give her a shot too. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/4 "2005-03-07T07:27:26Z")
ELO used a lot of strings and other classical instruments. Get “Eldorado”, which is basically a rock symphony. Kansas also used a large string section. Warren Zevon was classically trained, and used a lot of string arrangements in his music. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/5 "2005-03-07T10:40:21Z")
_My Friend The Chocolate Cake_, _Belle & Sebastian_, _Cousteau_ and _Cardinal_ all have some elements of what you mean. Allmusic lists the genre as [Chamber Pop](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:4445~T00). As usual their take is comprehensive. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/6 "2005-03-07T12:07:33Z")
All that comes to mind right now is “Life in a Northern Town” by Dream Academy, and that’s from the mid-80s. They had an oboe and (IIRC) a cello. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/7 "2005-03-07T12:38:19Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > _My Friend The Chocolate Cake_, _Belle & Sebastian_, _Cousteau_ and _Cardinal_ all have some elements of what you mean. Allmusic lists the genre as [Chamber Pop](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:4445~T00). As usual their take is comprehensive. I love Belle and Sebastian and Cousteau. Good choices, those. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/8 "2005-03-07T12:47:17Z")
Check out **Andrew Bird** and **Final Fantasy**. **Matt Pond PA** are sorta worth a look too. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/9 "2005-03-07T13:09:03Z")
The original **Renaissance** (with Keith Relf) did a terrific melding of rock and baroque classical. Try finding “Kings and Queens.” ---
**Author:** ![dearissues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@dearissues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dearissues)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/10 "2005-03-07T14:23:08Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > ELO used a lot of strings and other classical instruments. Get “Eldorado”, which is basically a rock symphony. > > Kansas also used a large string section. > > Warren Zevon was classically trained, and used a lot of string arrangements in his music. The Moody Blues utilized symphony orchestras on nearly all of their works. Wonderful music, smoothe lyrics…take a listen. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/11 "2005-03-07T14:40:23Z")
There’s always The Corrs. They are an Irish pop group that uses a mix is Irish traditional music. (including violin) ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/12 "2005-03-07T15:03:58Z")
Look into **Crooked Fingers**. They are more along the lines of alternative rock, but they have many ballad-type songs that include strings. ---
**Author:** ![jeffh3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/34f0e0/32.png) [@jeffh3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeffh3000)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/13 "2005-03-07T21:29:24Z")
Thanks guys for your suggestions. All the music suggested is quite good Bond is very much what I am looking for and is a great help, I have been a fan of ELO. While not exactly what I was looking for here, I am a fan of pop irish music like The Corrs, and Belle & Sebastian also sounds like a band worth checking out. Any additional suggestions would be appreciated. You don’t need to mention Yanni, John Tesh, or Enya, as I am already familiar with their music. As someone mentioned earlier, I have found some of what I was looking for in soundtracks, but I am hoping for other groups that fall in the spectrum. If there are individual song or album recommendations in these groups, that would be helpful. thanks ---
**Author:** ![jeffh3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/34f0e0/32.png) [@jeffh3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeffh3000)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/14 "2005-03-07T21:38:16Z")
> [@dearissues](#): > > The Moody Blues utilized symphony orchestras on nearly all of their works. Wonderful music, smoothe lyrics…take a listen. Moody Blues is a great group and some of their music does provide what I am looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Aagramn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Aagramn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aagramn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/15 "2005-03-07T22:00:55Z")
How about Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack? ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/16 "2005-03-07T22:05:08Z")
> [@jeffh3000](#): > > I have spent too much of my weekend searching for a particular type of music without much luck. Basically what I am looking for is a music that is somewhat pop, but may include classical instruments. One example that comes to mind is the theme song to the tv show “angel”. The ideal was something modern and includes a violin. Any songs or groups that may add a touch of classical strings, will staying modern and unique would be great. I know the music is out there, I just can’t find it. > > If anyone can provide some suggestions, it would be helpful. Any groups or particular songs that I should check out would be greatly appreciated. Any info is helpful. Slipknot. Sorry i could not resist 😃😛 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/17 "2005-03-08T02:17:59Z")
_Apple Venus Volume 1_ by XTC ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/18 "2005-03-08T02:52:35Z")
Check out some of the High Llamas’ albums, such as _Gideon Gaye_, _Cold and Bouncy_ and _Hawaii_. Great albums. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/19 "2005-03-08T03:22:54Z")
Therion’s _Vovin_, while probably a bit heavier than what you’re looking for, is probably still worth checking out. Darling Violetta is another good choice. ---
**Author:** ![Nahk\_Ila\_Dihahs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Nahk\_Ila\_Dihahs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nahk_Ila_Dihahs)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-recommendations-needed/293327/20 "2005-03-08T22:00:18Z")
Try listening to Comforting Sounds by Mew…excellent song.