Music you really wish you had heard sooner

Cafe Society
1

I was reading another thread that got me to thinking about some of the music that has sort of fallen between the cracks, truly great stuff that you only found out about through some weird series of events. just looking for some tunes to check out but I have a few to post as well.
“Featured Content on Myspace” target=“Betty Davis”

a blend of Funk, Blues, R&B and a nuclear blast of strong female sexuality that knocks you on your ass all from a tiny black woman and all predating your ideas of women being this blatant and over the top.
Check out “F.U.N.K.” and “Anti Love Song” for a taste of Betty’s vocal gymnastics, also check out the interview, she wasnt just another pretty face, the woman was smart as hell to boot.

<a href=“The Sonics | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos” target=“_blank”>The Sonics</a>
considered by many to be the true godfathers of punk these guys were cranking out hard fast tunes and covers with a clear low-fi punk style back in 65. check out “the Witch” and “Strychnine”

<a href=“Featured Content on Myspace” target=“_blank”>Michael Penn</a>
got his start in the late 80’s with a couple decent hits, but had little follow up airplay (he and his label had some issues lets put it that way) but the man has been pumping out great albums ever since day one, love his work and you can check him out on youtube as well <a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkIY9Pl8IU4&feature=related” target=“_blank”>Michael</a>
<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcy9jL4fSQo&feature=related” target=“_blank”>Penn</a>

2

The Cure, The Pixies, and The Violent Femmes.

I cannot believe it took me so long to discover these bands that are now some of my favorites. But now, I would give anything to erase them from my memory so I could have that “Ho-ly CRAP” moment of hearing them for the first time all over again.

3

This thread title pretty much describes my music-listening life. I rarely pick up artists when they are actually hitting the charts or at least the Hot Buzz in their genre. I don’t trust “buzz” - the hit rate for bands I actually end up liking is pathetically low. So I ignore it.

Then, years later, I will find myself hearing folks wax nostalgic about some bands. I get a few data points to triangulate, decide to pick up a CD or download a tune and it starts.

My hit rate for this approach is of course far higher - time and other folks have done the bulk of the filtering work for me.

  • The Replacements
  • Big Star
  • Teenage Fanclub
  • Television
  • Peter Green (later John Mayall and earlier Fleetwood Mac)
  • Cocteau Twins
  • My Bloody Valentine
  • Minor Threat
  • Steve Reich

Jeez, the list could go on and on. I sometimes smack myself for missing stuff for years - I have cried in my beer listening to tragic beauty of Big Star and the Replacements, for instance - but overall, this approach works best for me…

4

Jeff Buckley so I could have enjoyed him while he was alive.