I’m not sure if alternative is the best term to use, as I have widely varying musical tastes, but I am feeling stagnant with my music choices, and I need some new fresh music to listen to. Here’s a list of the bands/performers I have been listening to lately, and maybe you can see some order in the chaos!
Cake
Beulah
Beck
Dropkick Murphys
Reel Big Fish
The Offspring
Starlight Mints
New Order
Cracker
Hot Hot Heat
Burning Brides
I really value a good melody and musical range in a song, as well as good grinding power chords, and I am a fan of simple music instead of complicated solos. I also really like a good rhythm and some sort of progressive beat. If you can’t think of anything, just let me know what you’re listening to right now. I am up for trying any kind of music, I just need some new tunes!
I recommend the Faint. They’re sort of like a techno-punk-rock band thing. Kind of. Also I have to plug the band of this guy I know, because they just rock and sound sort of like a cross between the Faint and Hot Hot Heat, even though they don’t have a CD out yet. They’re called The Spotlight Syndicate
Also, you could try AFI on the punker side of things; the Offspring covered one of their songs and Dexter does back up vocals on some of their albums. And they fit most of your qualifications, I think, just don’t listen to any of their earlier stuff. Black Sails in the Sunset and up only. God Called in Sick Today is my favorite song.
At the moment, I’m really into !!! who are doing the whole punk disco thing. Also, check out Ben Kweller and Weezer, who both have great melodies, power chords and simple music. Wasted and Ready and Commerce, TX by Ben Kweller and El Scorcho, Buddy Holly, No One Else and Tired of Sex* by Weezer should start you off.
Also, if you’re looking for something like Hot Hot Heat that’s a bit emo, try The Get Up Kids or Jimmy Eat World.
And because I always want to promote Australian bands in these things, on the punk side of stuff, I’ll mention Frenzal Rhomb and hardcore group 28 Days.
Oh, sorry, forgot to mention: extend your eighties knowledge further by visiting Joy Division, The Smiths and The Cure. You like New Order, you’ll like these guys.
Some good alternative music eh? Well, I’m going to use a fairly wide definition of “alternative” in my recommendations.
For some newer / current bands… The Detroit Cobras - Detroit style garage rock with a sexy lady singer. They play mostly covers of old Motown songs, but in a souped up rock n roll manner. Check out Left, Love and Leaving… you won’t be disappointed. The New Pornographers - great pop-rock band with many talented members including Neko Case. They have two fine albums out, the newer one Electric Version hasn’t been out of my CD player since I got it. Spoon - An indie type band with lots of imagination and and some kind of undercurrent of new wave and funk simmering under the surface. Kill the Moonlight might be a good place to start. The White Stripes - You should be well aware of these people by now. They’re riding the rock revival wave, but they do it way more justice that most of the pretenders out there. Their new album Elephant is really good… get it if you don’t already have it. The Flaming Lips - Modern day psychedelic pop. Actually these guys have been around for quite a while, but have enjoyed renewed popularity due to their recent stint as Beck’s backup band. Yoshmi Battles the Pink Robots (their new album) is really good, and I also recommend Soft Bulletin The Now Time Delegation - more good garage punk from Detroit, again with the excellent female singer. They have one album, Watch For Today. The Sadies - If Ennio Morricone and Link Wray joined the Byrds, it would sound something like these guys. Their new album Stories Often Told is really good, but I would say, go with Tremendous Efforts, its a good introduction to their music.
For “classic” alt-rock, here’s some essentials The Minutemen - These guys emerged from the So-Cal punk scene in the early-mid 80’s… although “punk” is only one of the words that would describe their music. Tragically, their singer/guitarist, D. Boon perished in a car accident just as they were really hitting their stride. Double Nickels on the Dime is one of my all time favorite albums. The Rezillos - Crazy fast fun new wave circa 1980. Male and female singers… kinda like a more rock version of the B-52’s. They only put out one album under the name Rezillos (they had some personel changes and renamed themselves, the Revillos… still pretty good, but they lost just a bit of the magic somewhere)… Can’t Stand The Rezillos. The Meat Puppets - Punk rock from Arizona… but again not really “punk”. They probably took too much peyote and have too many prog rock influences to really be classified in that manner. They enjoyed a certain amount of fame when they became associated with Nirvana. Check out Up On The Sun. The Fastbacks - Some of the best music to listen to while driving around in you car on a sunny day. A great female fronted rock band. …And His Orchestra shows them at their best. The Young Fresh Fellows - an incredibly fun pop rock band also from Seattle. At one time they were, for my money, the best live band you could see. The Men Who Loved Music or Sounds of the Pacific Northwest would be equally good starting places. Big Star - these guys were writing beautiful pop music in the early 70’s… but not too many people noticed. They’ve enjoyed a bit of a revival in the last couple of years, helped no doubt by the fact that one of their songs is used as the theme song to That 70’s show. You can buy a CD that has their first two albums (#1 Record / Radio City) on it… that’s what you should probably do.
Some better known alternative bands that you would probably already know about, but I feel as though I should mention anyway… The Breeders - Last Splash Camper Van Beethoven - Telephone Free Landslide Victory Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? Morphine - Cure For Pain The Pixies - Surfer Rosa The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy and the Lash Ramones - Road to Ruin The Replacements - Tim Johnathan Richman - The Original Modern Lovers The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight The Stooges - Fun House Velvet Underground - White Light, White Heat X - More Fun in the New World
We should add: Big Black - Songs about Fucking Butthole Surfers - Locust Abortion Technician Beasts of Bourbon - The Axemans Jazz Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation Birthday Party - bithday party Scientists - Blood Red River. For historical interest - where the whole grunge thing started.
All are indie classics.
S’pose you know all about Mudhoney and Dinosour Jnr.
Currently enjoying Idlewild …their song “Modern Way of Letting Go” is a keeper.
A few bands I’ll throw out, might find something amusing in here:
Tegan and Sara digging these sisters…on the lighter side Caesar’s Palace kinda of funky…good song “Jerk It Out” Marah I’m forever touting these guys as the saviors of rock and roll…if it’s more of a Replacements meets Springsteen with a pinch of Steve Earl you’re looking for…these guys are it. Brighteyes considered emo to some…regardless, Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground is a truly sublime album…and I highly recomend it. Catpower Oh baby…does this chick have skills or what? Her new album You Are Free is a dark, brooding yet intoxicating 14 song vacation from the mundane.
Great suggestions! Keep 'em coming! I have heard of (not heard music of) a lot of the bands mentioned, so I will check them out, since apparently they’re worth it. Big fan of the Pixies, Pogues and The Cure, among others. Thanks everyone!
Are you kidding? I second, third and fourth this motion. Machine Gun Fellation are great. Paging Mr Strike, their second album is good, but I have to go with antechinus’ recommendation of Bring It On. Great album. Nothing beats Pinky Beecroft belting out “100 Fresh Disciples”.