It’s basically Stephin Merritt’s project, and, while he writes the songs, there’s a number of people who sing them. Stylistically, the songs span a wide range of genres. 69 Love Songs is an amazing triple album and is, in my opinion, one of the best albums of the 90s. It’s really worth leafing through their catalog as they are, as you’ve noted, all over the place (but in a good way, in my opinion.)
Too bad VCO3 isn’t around, as he’s particularly knswledgable about this band. My recommendations from 69 Love Songs would be “I Don’t Believe in the Sun,” “All My Little Words,” “Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side,” “Time Enough for Rockin’ When We’re Old,” and “Kiss Me Like You Mean It.” I also have a soft spot for “Chicken With Its Head Cut Off,” which is not musically or lyrically as interesting as some of the other songs, but instantly hummable. I’m not much of a lyrics listener, but Stephin Merritt makes me pay attention to his words.
I like ‘When My Boy Walks Down the Street’ by the Magnetic Fields, though I’m not a huge fan. That song is too catchy for its own good. Many great choices in this thread, I second Stars and The New Pornographers. And The National, even if they’re not exactly bouncy fun indiepop.
Check out Pitchfork Media, they have good taste as a rule but the writers love the sound of their keyboard and can be a bit verbose. They can be very pleased with themselves, I have discovered some of my favorite new bands there.
I think it may be the last great work of the twentieth century, hard to believe that it’s 8+ years old and still as relevant as it was when it came out.
Tiny nitpick, but other than () the other albums are almost all in Icelandic. They’re good, but I actually recommend their movie *Heima *even more than their music–art at its most enjoyable (and better versions of the songs than on albums). If you like them Mogwai is another band in a similar vein (start at Rock Action).
Joey Eppard is currently one of the better guitarists/singers–his solo album Been to the Future is good and his band 3 is also worth checking out.
Jeff Buckley’s Grace has a cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah you may have heard, the rest of the album is great as well.
And although it’s pretty much the mainstream in jazz, Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue isn’t top 40, and could be a breath of fresh air. For something newer that’s still accessible and yet genius, try Mingus Ah Um from Charles Mingus
I know you said no metal, but this is more just hard rock, and Porcupine Tree does it tastefully on their three latest albums, In Absentia, Deadwing, and Fear of a Blank Planet. Their older stuff is more psychedelic and experimental, but really most of their discography is worth buying blind.
A.C.T. is a love it or hate it band, but for me their style is infectious, upbeat, and fun without feeling sugar coated like top 40.
None of my suggestions are exactly the hippest stuff out, but I hope you get as much enjoyment out of them as I do. I’ve got something like nine thousand more songs I want you to hear, but I don’t want to bore you to tears.
well, I came back to suggest Band of Horses since you like The Shins, but I see someone has beat me to it. I don’t personally like them except for one song (“Part One”), but most people who like The Shins do.
you might also try Rogue Wave…they’re in a similar vein, from what I’ve heard.
has anyone suggested Arcade Fire yet? I’d check out a few songs on the first album if I were you. the second album has some good songs too, but for me it’s very hit or miss-- I love “Black Mirror”, but I can’t stand “Keep the Car Runnin”.
finally, just for more bouncy fun-ness, check out Scissor Sisters. both albums are good times. (fair warning-- the guy sings in falsetto a large portion of the time and it often sounds distinctly disco. I like that; some people really don’t.)
as for Of Montreal, I hope you won’t let that one song ruin it all for you. It’s a great song, but you could easily skip it and not be much worse for it, since they have so much other good stuff. Try “Oslo in the Summertime”, “The Party’s Crashing Us”, “Eros’ Entropic Tundra”, and “Heimdalsgate like a Promethean Curse”.
I also wanted to mention that both Spoon and Interpol are creepers. they’re not immediately impressive (save for one or two songs), but if you keep on playing them over the course of a month or so, they bury themselves in your subconscious and eventually become indispensable. if it helps, I think Spoon’s best album is Kill the Moonlight (followed closely by A Series of Sneaks). personally, I’m very glad I heard that stuff before Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, as it sounds VERY different to me, and I prefer it. it doesn’t really matter where you start with Interpol, I guess… one of the first two albums would probably be better, as I found the newer one a little less inspired.
[dickhead hipster]And of course if you like Interpol you should also check out the band that they are blatently ripping off, Joy Division. [/dickhead hipster]
Elbow — fantastic band. Voice reminiscent of Peter Gabriel. They describe themselves as progressive music without the instrumentals. New album isn’t as strong as the previous Leaders of the Free World which is, in turns, muscular, dark, gentle, angry and sorrowful.
Goldfrapp — their latest album (Seventh Tree) is fantastic; not sure if it’s your kind of thing but it’s got a real melancholy day-after vibe with some great electronic work. Her voice is sweet and can soar.
Many excellent suggestions here that I could have made myself but for one notable exception being The Kooks; go watch and listen here and here for a sample.
One I forgot to mention is a guy I became familiar with before he moved back to Seattle: David Karsten Daniels. I’ve heard probably 40 albums so far this year, and Fear of Flying is easily my favorite. It’s half sad bastard music, half uppity hymnal inspired numbers, but the album works beautifully together. Each song just flows effortlessly into the next, sometimes solemn and sometimes an all out riot. Definitely, definitely check it out.
I second Beirut; I’ve heard it called Old World indie. There are a lot of instruments involved; I’ve also heard it called a folky wall of sound; this is an apt description.
I also have enjoyed the new Ratatat.
I dig New Order. I probably dig them more than Joy Division on the whole. (for those who don’t know New Order is the band that was formed after the lead singer of Joy Division died). Interpol doesn’t sound nearly as much like them as Joy Division though.
