# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/21 "2003-07-17T03:12:03Z")
**My Way** by Akufen. It’s what would happen if you recorded snippets off the radio and then used that as the samples on your synthesizer. (Which is litereally what he did, I think.) Terribly offbeat. It’s a miracle the end result sounds good. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/22 "2003-07-17T03:30:10Z")
Halifax, Nova Scotia had a burgeoning power-pop scene for a wild period in the 90’s, and one of the best records out of that place and time was _Mock Up, Scale Down_ by The Super Friendz, released in 1995. It sounds like good power-pop should–all catchy hooks and sing-a-long harmonies. I don’t think its sales total actually reached five figures. Nonetheless, I saw the 'Friendz last month in Toronto, now that they’ve reformed and released a new album. They played almost all the songs from _Mock Up_, and **everybody** there knew all the words! Obviously that record had a real effect on the kids… ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/23 "2003-07-17T03:46:19Z")
I’m not sure how obscure it may be, but I really enjoyed the very different “Songs From My Funeral” by Snakefarm (musical resettings of folk songs in a sort of dark minimalist rock vein. I’ll check it this one is even available: “Flowers of Evil” Electronic settings set against read-aloud stark translations of the poetry of Charles Baudilaire. I used to play it every Halloween – it always gave me chills. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/24 "2003-07-17T03:59:23Z")
Try [**The Cynics**](http://www.thecynics.ws/) new album [**Living Is The Best Revenge**](http://www.gethip.com/new/lp/gh1050.html) on [Get Hip](http://www.gethip.com) records. You can keep your White Stripes and Strokes…this is the REAL deal. Jon ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/25 "2003-07-17T04:43:44Z")
This is sort of obscure, in that it got no promotion and the label pulled all touring support. It’s the two-disc limited edition version of **Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2** by Jerry Cantrell. You might remember Cantrell from his work with Alice in Chains. This is the solo album he spent over three years working on after **Boggy Depot** and is great. It’s dark, brooding and emotional, but it’s also worth hunting down. The one-disc version is also good, but it’s missing a couple of really great songs that are only on the two-discer. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/26 "2003-07-17T04:58:37Z")
> [@](#): > > **New Pornographers** - Electric Version And don’t pick up **Electric Version** without getting the NPs’ first album, **Mass Romantic**. Bowie meets Beach Boys meets Blondie, with excellent lyrics by Carl Newman or Dan Bejar and occasional, wonderful vocals by Neko Case. My contribution: **The First of a Million Kisses** , by Fairground Attraction. It’s a lovely neo-skiffle album that came out in the late '80s. Sprightly and lyrical, for the most part. Happily, the CD features two bonus tracks, one of which (“Falling Backwards”) is one of my favorite of their songs. It’s not exceptional, but it’s quite nice. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/27 "2003-07-17T04:59:39Z")
_The New World’s Fair_, **Michael Moorcock** (yes, the SF author) **and the Deep Fix**. Very Hawkwind. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/28 "2003-07-17T05:08:30Z")
_A Pleasant Shade of Grey_, **Fate’s Warning** ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/29 "2003-07-17T05:13:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by paulberserker \* > \*\*Scenes from the second storey by the god machine. > \*\* While we’re speaking of God Machines…how about _When the Kite String Pops_ by **Acid Bath**? It’s the epitome of swamp metal/sludgecore. Follow that up with _if this is hell then i’m lucky_ by **Deadboy and the Elephantmen** This is a mellow, remotely psychadelic rock group, fronted by the singer of the aforementioned **Acid Bath**. Their site is to be found here. Also, any CD by **Jandek**. You’ll have to do a net search. Jandek is a reclusive solo artist who produces copious amounts of pseudo-music, all on his own accord, in Houston, Texas. And **dalek** is a fairly decent trip-hop like artist, so you may want to investigate him, while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Foolonthehill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Foolonthehill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foolonthehill)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/30 "2003-07-17T05:32:43Z")
Dave Alvin, (of The Blasters), “King of California” This is the best album of the last 5 years. Just for “Blue Wing” and “Goodbye” ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/31 "2003-07-17T05:46:33Z")
Current 93’s **Thunder Perfect Mind** : Extraordinary music that expands the possibilities of Apocalyptic Folk to create a genre all its own. Current 93 had always been one of the most inventive and intense bands on the English Experimental Music scene. With this record, they achieved mystic perfection. TPM, is intelligent, unsettling, beautiful, frightening, tender and violent. It’s just now back in print on the Durtro label and World Serpent Distribution. ---
**Author:** ![Snake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Snake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/32 "2003-07-17T07:30:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AndrewT \* > \*\*_A Pleasant Shade of Grey_, **Fate’s Warning** \*\* Dude , great choice ! I was thinkin of Introspect by Quiet Room or Crimson Glory’s self titled cd . ---
**Author:** ![Blackhawkeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@Blackhawkeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackhawkeye)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/33 "2003-07-17T07:35:46Z")
King Geedorah - Take Me to Your Leader The metal fist does it again. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/34 "2003-07-17T08:08:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by interface2x \* > Didn’t one of those guys die before the album was released? > > page. \*\* the bass player died of a brain hemorage just before they released a 2nd album, but i havent heard that one. try **merz** by **merz**. came out a couple of years ago, and they were on later with jools holland (UK music show) just after. and then i never heard anything of them again.musically, a bit of everything, but the guys got a voice all of his own. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/35 "2003-07-17T09:39:48Z")
_Manhole_ - Grace Slick ---
**Author:** ![Rapunzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Rapunzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rapunzel)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/36 "2003-07-17T10:11:48Z")
Rosie Vela’s ‘Zazu’ (1986) fits the bill. She had a very minor hit in the UK off the album called ‘Magic Smile’ but it remains one of my favourite, most played pop songs ever. (Donald Fagen on synth). ---
**Author:** ![Wordy\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d2c977/32.png) [@Wordy\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wordy_One)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/37 "2003-07-18T06:26:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HowieReynolds \* > \*\*“Too Far To Care” by the Old 97’s. \*\* Love love love that CD. (Okay, so I love all the Old 97s stuff.) My recommendation is _Cake_ by the Trashcan Sinatras–lovely early-90’s Britpop with unusually clever lyrics. The slightly successful single “Obscurity Knocks” manages to be both angry and heart-breaking, while “Circling the Circumference” is a breathless whirlwind of a song. ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/38 "2003-07-18T11:24:44Z")
For fans of diverse, heavy music: **Waltari** - _Yeah Yeah Die Die Death Metal Symphony In Deep C_ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by paulberserker \* > \*\*Scenes from the second storey by the god machine. > [snip] > probable chance of finding this album: next to none > > even kazaa got next to nothing on them > beleive me, ive tried \*\* Kazaa is not the place for obscure music. I found it in five seconds on SoulSeek. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/39 "2003-07-18T11:44:32Z")
For an istrumental selection, I suggest this: [The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of Los Straitjackets](http://www.straitjackets.com/main3.html) Heck of a record! ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892/40 "2003-07-18T13:09:14Z")
soulseek, limewire and imesh dont work properly on our work PC (slight hijack) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recommend-an-obscure-cd-thread/188892.md?page=3)