# The "recommend an obscure CD" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892 "2003-07-16T15:11:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/1 "2003-07-16T15:11:55Z")
We’re all fairly diverse people, and our music reflects that. However, many of us are also always willing to expand our musical horizons. So…recommend an at least semi-obscure CD that people should pick up. I’ll start: _Mermaid Avenue_ by Billy Bragg and Wilco. A friend of mine turned me on to this, and it’s fantastic. Billy Bragg and Wilco doing old Woody Guthrie songs. Songs that Guthrie had written the lyrics to, but never set to music (as it was explained to me). Apparently, Guthrie’s daughter gave them carte blanche, musically. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/2 "2003-07-16T15:34:13Z")
Scenes from the second storey by the god machine. i’m seriously the only person on earth that bought this album when it came out in about 91/92. good stuff, in a janes addiction without the funky bits way. probable chance of finding this album: next to none even kazaa got next to nothing on them beleive me, ive tried ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/3 "2003-07-16T15:37:13Z")
Not an obscure artist, but, I think, a reasonably obscure CD: _Johnny 99_ by Johnny Cash. Sank like a stone when it was released in '83, reissued in recent years with the Cash renaissance. Amazing covers of _Highway Patrolman_ and _Joshua Gone Barbados_, and many other good things. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/4 "2003-07-16T15:47:45Z")
Yep, it’s a great CD. Your appraisal of its history is spot on too. OK, my pick… **Interpol** - Turn On The Bright Lights OK, it’s not hugely obscure, and to those in certain scenes it’s quite well known. But this is a great album, and it deserves a lot more love than it gets (even though the love it gets is quite passionate). They’re from New York City, although they don’t sound like The Strokes or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They’re most commonly compared to Joy Division, but I don’t think there’s that strong a connection. Regardless, they make beautiful, atmospheric rock that while not doing anything new, sounds completely unique. And to describe it as atmospheric is not really accurate (although I just did); this conjures up images of Eno-eqsue soundscapes, where Interpol are most definitely song based. The songs are incredibly catchy, but the guitars don’t really play identifiable hooks. Most of the time they just ring eerily and flow over the tight rhythms and melodic basswork and great vocal melodies. If you look at each individual part, it doesn’t seem to be made of much at all, but when you add them together they explode into dark, vicious torrents of sound or float ethereally about the room. Recommended tracks: _NYC_, _Obstacle 1_, _Stella Was A Diver and She Was Always Down_. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/5 "2003-07-16T15:53:11Z")
Merlin by Kayak. A Dutch symphonic rock band. The ‘A-side’ is a 20+ inute long suite of sings based on the Merlin legend. It is great. ---
**Author:** ![wakimika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@wakimika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wakimika)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/6 "2003-07-16T16:06:42Z")
_Sentimental War_ by **Just Desserts**. I only own it because I knew one of the band members but I think it’s a good album. Funny how that happens when you give music a chance. I was surprised to read that **Johnny Cash** covered two **Springsteen** songs from _Nebraska_ one year after it’s release. I have a copy of **Cash** singing **U2** ’s _One_ just for the sheer oddity quotient. ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/7 "2003-07-16T16:16:03Z")
Just about anything by the Austin Lounge Lizards is good, but I specifically recommend Paint Me On Velvet. The title song is great, and this album also features one of my favorite songs, Godforsaken Hellhole I Call Home “a stranger came to town and asked me why / instead of pulling in again I don’t just pass it by / but all my friends are buried here and some of them are dead / so home is where I’ll always hang my head.” I never liked country music before, but these guys are something special–they do a great cover of Dark Side of the Moon. Amazon has a few of their albums listed and it’s definitely worth a listen. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/8 "2003-07-16T16:21:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wakimika \* > \*\*I have a copy of **Cash** singing **U2** ’s _One_ just for the sheer oddity quotient. \*\* Oh! I bet that’s pretty cool. I’ll have to see if I can locate that. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/9 "2003-07-16T16:23:12Z")
Peter Buffet _SPIRIT_ Haunting blends of new age, choral, and Native American sounds. This live performance featured a children’s choir and members of the Oneida and Menominee nations. Even if you don’t like new age, jazz, rythyms, or Native American sounds, the mix Peter Buffet creates might just blow you away. It’s that good. -NCB- ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/10 "2003-07-16T17:01:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by paulberserker \* > \*\*Scenes from the second storey by the god machine. > i’m seriously the only person on earth that bought this album when it came out in about 91/92. > good stuff, in a janes addiction without the funky bits way. > probable chance of finding this album: next to none > \*\* I remember that album, although I never heard it. I got some promo cassette from Alternative Press with a couple of their songs on it. Didn’t one of those guys die before the album was released? Anyhoo, my recommendation for an obscure cd is … **Iris** - Awakening Excellent mix of new wave/synthpop and IDM elements. The best cd of 2003 so far, in my opinion. Check them out at [this](http://www.irismusic.com) page. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/11 "2003-07-16T21:38:46Z")
**New Pornographers** - Electric Version ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/12 "2003-07-16T21:52:24Z")
Anything from God Speed You Black Emperor. The Chronicle of the Black Sword (live) by Hawkwind ( especially if you are a Michael Moorcock fan ) The White Room by KLF ( KLF is hugely under apreciated in USA ) Shadow behind the Iron Sun by Evilyn Glennie ( Evilyn Glennie is the greatest percussionist to have ever lived. Listen to find out why I make such a preposterous claim) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/13 "2003-07-16T22:15:48Z")
How about a compilation CD? I found this in a 99¢ bin: _D.U.M.B. Rock: The Hollywood Tapes_ - CellulOid Records #CELD 6207 © 1993 offers the following: Iron Prostate - “Nice Tan” Functional Idiots - “Fagmetal” Sea Monkeys - “How to Have a Good Time” John S Hall & Jim Fourniadis - “L.A.” Fly Ashtray - “Screen” Fast Lane - “Black Limousine” Acidental Potato Chip - “San Francisco” Dogbowl - “California Is My Ex-wife” Youth Gone Mad - “Take My Car and Drive” Rats of Unusual Size - “LA Woman” The cover of “LA Woman” is actually pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/14 "2003-07-16T22:49:34Z")
“Talking Timbuktu” by Ali Farka Toure, with Ry Cooder (this won a Grammy, but didn’t get air play) “Brasileiro” by Sergio Mendes “Elegant Gypsy” by Al Dimeola, with Paco de Lucia “Crazy World of Arthur Brown” by Arthur Brown ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/15 "2003-07-16T23:21:21Z")
Payne’s Gray - Kadath Decoded I picked this one up off [lasercd.com](http://lasercd.com) based only on the review, and I wasn’t dissapointed. It’s good prog metal with two vocalists, nice use of texture and dynamics. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/16 "2003-07-17T00:15:02Z")
Its not musical, but it is very obscure. The Interview disc after Green Day released Dookie. Truly amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/17 "2003-07-17T00:28:51Z")
_Ere Mela Mela_ by Ethiopian singer **Mahmoud Ahmed** is a fantastic collection of music recorded in the late '70s. It’s rythmically complex and and exceptionally powerful. The music contains elements of traditional Ethiopian combined with American jazz and the emotion Ahmed wrings out of his voice has to be heard to be believed. Exceptional. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/18 "2003-07-17T00:41:46Z")
“Too Far To Care” by the Old 97’s. Never gets any attention, but its one of my favorites. If you like the “alt-country” stuff you’ll like this. Even the more depressing songs on it still have a pop feel to them. It sounds really good. ---
**Author:** ![greenphan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@greenphan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenphan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/19 "2003-07-17T00:51:46Z")
**Superdude** : I absolutely concur about “Mermaid Ave”. I especially enjoy the second volume. I think the quality of songs improves. I think they’re pretty obscure as I’ve never heard or seen anyone else listening to them, but I have to recommend “All is Dream” by Mercury Rev. A vastly underrated band, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/20 "2003-07-17T02:09:32Z")
[The Faith/Void Split](http://www.punkfix.net/reviews/faithvoid.html) - If you’re a fan of old school punk or hardcore, Void is a slightly obscure must own. It’s worth it just for such classic lines as _It’s time to die, you’re next_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892.md?page=2)