If you like “old school” R.E.M. (my personal preference, which means you are a discerning and intelligent individual), try Guadalcanal Diary. Their CDs are just about all out of print, but they’re findable, and they have a sorta similar sound.
Elvis Costello is one of my personal favorites, but he can be a nasty bastard (not quite the same thing as being angry, but close). King of America is his nicest, happiest record.
Other stuff, other stuff… I’m at work now, so I can’t dig through my CDs.
Grace Pool (2 CDs, probably next to impossible to find, really nice soung)
Beth Orton’s pretty cool
the Sundays, but you’ve probably heard of them
I like Tanya Donelly a lot, but she’s not always happy (like most of us, I guess). She’s done one solo record and two as head of the band Belly.
And in the “Beethoven’s 9th” category, might I direct your attention to Gustav Mahler’s 2nd symphony (especially the first movement). Utterly sublime music.
…but when you get blue, and you’ve lost all your dreams, there’s nothing like a campfire and a can of beans!
Thanks for the clarification, Sake; for what it’s worth, I agree that Rockapella’s name is a bit kitschy.
From Skywise:
I’m curious about why you say this. I don’t really care, I mean, everybody’s got different taste, and I’m not going to try to make a Metallica fan out of a Madonna fan, and I’m not going to try to convince someone that they’re opinion of a group is “wrong.” I’m just curious whether it’s because you think they have no talent, or you just don’t like the style, or what.
Back to the OP:
Since I still like all of the above (except the last one, which I’ve never heard of), I renew my suggestion. (On the other hand, I also listen to a lot of big band stuff now, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, etc., so maybe our tastes have diverged.)
Veg4Life asked:
I’m curious about why you say this. I don’t really care, I mean, everybody’s got different taste, and I’m not going to try to make a Metallica fan out of a Madonna fan,
and I’m not going to try to convince someone that they’re opinion of a group is “wrong.” I’m just curious whether it’s because you think they have no talent, or you just
don’t like the style, or what.
yeah, it’s more or less the style, or lack thereof, that I don’t like. I guess it just doesn’t speak to me. :>
Even I like some of the lighter selections mentioned here - and some not:
They Might Be Giants is damn funny.
REM had some good tunes 5-10 years ago.
I saw Soul Coughing on the East Coast - very, very talented band. Don’t much care for their latest CD though.
Sting has one album that I like (but I REALLY like it): The Soul Cages (but like the name implies, it ain’t exactly happy)
Over The Rhine’s Patience is like Tori Amos, but with actually good lyrics.
Dead Can Dance: Into the Labyrinth, *Serpent’s Egg]/i] & Aeon are all superb!
Anything by Blind Melon
Bach played by Segovia is sure to lift your spirits and see God.
There’s more, but I’m at work and all.
Oh, yeah, Peter: Look closely at the instumentation of Call of Cuthulu or Dyer’s Eve or Orion, I believe you’ll find that the members of Metallica are pale husks of their former selves. If you want the best in current Metal talent, look no further than (well, besides my band) Morbid Angel, Tool and Clutch. There are very few on par with these bands.
That’s cool, I don’t like every one of their songs either. Half the attraction for me is that they’re an a cappella group, and since I’m in an a cappella group, I listen to them and am amazed at their blend. I’ve also heard that they put on a helluva live show, but I haven’t seen them, so I can’t say.
Yer right about the first 4 Metallica albums, but since then? Hetfield made the band(Burton did also), he is a talented rhythm guitarist. I dunno, I listen now to the new stuff and all I hear is the same song over and over. If you like Tool and Morbid Angel definitely check out Opeth…heavy Black Metal.
There have been references in this thread to Tori Amos and Elvis Costello. These two artists are perfect examples of when one can be angry, but still be artistic.
Can you call Insane Clown Posse or Kid Rock “artistic” or at least creative about expressing anger? I haven’t heard Tori or Elvis tell anyone it’s okay to kill other people. But they don’t seem truly fucked up. ICP and others are past the Prozac and therapy point.
Deserted again. You speak to me through the shadows. Walking in closed rooms, using cold words. Captured by the night. The yearning escapes from my embrace. Strange silhouettes whisper your thoughts, scream your sadness. And they all turned away, unable to face more of this death. Credence in my word. Written in dust, tainted by memories. I confess my hope, recognize my loneliness. Your laughter weeps the truth. Push me into corners. Confirming the epitaph of my soul and displaying the once unknown Karma.
As soon as we fix our recording equipment, I will. Problem is that the mic jack busted, so now we have to get a new soundcard and / or mic. So it may be a few weeks… but I will, don’t worry.
Music and art are a reflection of the times. The 60s & 70s brought us heavy disillusionment, drugs, anarchy and free love. The 80s took free love away from us. What are we left with?
That’s sort of silly, Sake. People have been disillusioned with “the establishment” for centuries; why do you think there’s more than one political party? Drugs have been around even longer. Last I checked, this country still has a government, so the “anarchy” bit is just plain wrong. And if by “free love” you mean “indiscriminate sex,” I fail to see how this giving way to responsible behaviour is sufficient reason for today’s current glut of Mope Rock.
