I did an iTunes run recently, and picked up Tom Waits's three-disc collection Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards, along with a couple of other albums (TV On the Radio and the Decemberists among them). As is my usual practice, I put these records into the "Party Shuffle" on iTunes, so I get a chance to hear most of the songs a few times, and I've been listening to them for the past couple of weeks while I work on the computer.
The overall reaction is pretty much "Enh." I continue to not really get the Decemberists or TV on the Radio-- they have a couple of good songs each, but I'm not blown away by either. The biggest problem, though, is that the Waits fraction is just too high. It's a thirty-song collection, and even after removing the completely unlistenable tracks from the rotation, they keep coming up too often. Particularly the "Bastards" material, which is mostly oddball little spoken-word things-- many of them are well-done and amusing, but they don't stand up to repeated listening well at all.
So, I need more music. And here's your chance to pick my playlist for me: What should I be listening to right now? I'll try almost anything once, so there's no need to limit suggestions by genre or anything-- just pimp me some new tunes.
(This would be another excellent place for lurkers to de-lurk, by the way. I already have a reasonable idea of what the regular commenters are likely to suggest, but if you don't normally comment, I have no clue. So, surprise me.)
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Well I just maxxed myself on Orphans lately also. That and Small Change my older favorite Waits album. He gets in your head in streaks. To break the habit I have been listening to Bitches Brew by Miles Davis - It just popped up on shuffle and I got into it again. I must be a philistine because I like this better that his more acclaimed stuff.
The Young Dubliners
random celtic rock group
If genre's not an issue, then I would highly recommend Patricia Barber ("Modern Cool" or "Cafe Blue" would be good places to start, or "Nightclub" if you want something a bit quieter), or Dave Holland, either the Quintet or the Big Band ("What Goes Around" is amazing).
I see the previous comment mentions Bitches Brew; the Miles Davis record that really gets me from around that time is "In a Silent Way".
Another record that I really like is Califone's "Heron King Blues". I don't know what genre to put that in; I've seen it described as "post-rock" but I don't know what that means. I see it's listed under "Alternative" at iTunes, which really gives the wrong impression.
Alabama 3 is good(they do the theme from The Sopranos), either "Outlaw" or "La Peste".
Estradasphere is good eclectic instrumental stuff.
The score from The Fountain, done by Clint Mansell(who also did Requiem for a Dream and Pi, if you're familiar with those).
Man or Astroman is great sci-fi surf rock.
The Beta Band(they only have 3 albums, take your pick) is mellow...uh...stuff.
Right now I'm listening to yet another of the (probably) hundreds of James Brown tribute podcasts that was put out this week.
The only recent acquisitions I've made, music wise, since Hoye's similar demand are the latest from The Killdares (sadly not on iTunes) and The White Ghost Shivers. The former is Celtic Rock, the latter...um, is hard to describe. Think "music my great grandad would have liked, when he was a rowdy young man," and you won't be far off.
Try Tea Leaf Green--good funky rock with excellent musicianship and high-caliber songs from San Francisco. Start with "Taught to Be Proud" (or songs therefrom), and then move on to the live stuff. You can probably find a bunch of good live shows available free (and legally) at Archive.org's Live Music Archive. They're one of the few bands I'll pay more than 20 bucks to see these days, and they're in the process of blowing up huge.
I tried to double check that these are on iTunes.
Donny Hathaway "Everything Is Everything" ATCO (original release, anyway)
One of the greatest R&B/soul singers ever, this entire album is nearly perfect. I purchased this album two years ago in Toronto and never get tired of listening to it. He also has a great cover of John Lennon's "Lonely Guy" re-released on a various artists compilation called "Soul Sides Vol. 1" which is also worth purchasing if you can find it (it's not on iTunes).
Common Market "Common Market" Massline Media
Probably one of my favorite underground hip-hop releases of 2006, this duo has a very soulful vibe and most of the tracks tend to be on a positive tip, with an occasional message buried in there. Suggested tracks (if you're not willing to spring for the whole album): Connect For, Every Last One [Cornerstone remix], Doors.
Yo La Tengo "I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass" Matador Records
This long-running group's new album is pretty good. Mr. Tough is probably the hands down favorite song here.
Kaki King "...Until We Felt Red" Velour Records
Pretty stellar album by Ms. King. Quiet, atmospheric, and intense. Her guitar technique is unusual, and the album is produced by John McEntire of Tortoise.
I've just started listening to a band called (regrettably) The Fags. Their album "Light 'em Up" is pretty good.
Well, if I could be listening to anything I want right now, it would be Guster. "Keep it Together" is my preferred album, though they're all good. Next, I'd satisfy my strange craving for Etta James.
Things I recognize:
Alabama 3 is good(they do the theme from The Sopranos), either "Outlaw" or "La Peste".
I've got a copy of Exile on Coldharbor Lane (which is the original source of the Sopranos theme), and it's really good. I'm not sure why I've never picked up La Peste.
Common Market "Common Market" Massline Media
Probably one of my favorite underground hip-hop releases of 2006, this duo has a very soulful vibe and most of the tracks tend to be on a positive tip, with an occasional message buried in there. Suggested tracks (if you're not willing to spring for the whole album): Connect For, Every Last One [Cornerstone remix], Doors.
I think "Connect For" is on the latest KEXP live compilation, and it's not bad. In that context, though, it's sort of done as a commercial for the radio station, which is a little cheesey. Are the lyrics about something else in the normal version?
The Jayhawks: go out and buy Tomorrow the Green Grass (first two songs are real standouts)... it's better but I think it's not available on iTunes... try Blue Earth instead for iTunes
Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott: Real Time (Weary Blues from Waiting, A House of Gold, Long Time Gone, and The Second Mouse)
Casey Driessen: 3D
Sammi Smith: This Room for Rent (off the Help Me Make It Through the Night collection)
Lately I've been listening to Joan Jett's "I Love Rock N' Roll" cd a lot, as well as Gary Moore's "Run For Cover" cd.
For those of you wondering if your recommendations are available on iTunes or not:
The iTunes Music Store Link Maker.
"Elevation", by Yonder Mountain String Band. I particularly like "The Bolton Stretch", which I find particularly rejuvenating when I'm stuck in an airport somewhere.
"Eye to the Telescope" by K.T.Tunstall. Most sentient beings in the galaxy will have heard "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" about a hundred times by now, but it's still a great song and a great album, for all that it has been a teensy bit overplayed.
"The Houston Kid" by Rodney Crowell. I grew up in a poor section of Newcastle, Australia, and "Telephone Road" is a marvel and an epiphany in speaking directly to me, from thousands of miles away.
My favorite music from the last 4 years or so includes: (1) Nelly Mckay ("Get Away from Me"), (2) The Shins ("Oh, Inverted World"), (3) The Flaming Lips ("Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots"), (4) Lucinda Williams ("World Without Tears").
The Thermals. Melodic political punk. The newer album. Listen to "Pillar of Salt" first.
I love the new Midlake album, "The Trials of Van Occupanther." It somehow manages sound like a melding of Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, and the Carpenters done by guys who really adore radiohead and Grandaddy. Which I realize sounds like an ironic Onion headline of a review, but seriously. It's very cool.
Here is some stuff slightly off the radar. The new Shins album (January 23) is sure to be good.
Josh Ritter-"The Animal Years" (2006) The best "sing-songwriter" disk of the past few years.
The Elected-"Me First" (2004) Bizarre mix of country-tinged rock with some electronic beats thrown in.
The National-"Alligator" (2005) Good straightforward rock. My favorite album of 2005.
Stars-"Set Yourself On Fire" (2005) Beautiful harmonies over complex music.
The Essex Green-"Cannibal Sea" (2006) Best power-pop of 2006.
Addendum: If you don't have The Shout Out Louds-"Howl Howl Gaff Gaff" (2005), you should purchase it immediately.
quite possibly this won't help at all, but it won't hurt to check out:
anton barbeau, drug free. (esp. "leave it with me I'm always gentle") also his album village of the apple sun, a little fancier sounding.
willy mason, where the humans eat (esp. "so long")
the silver jews, american water
Wow, I just do not get you at all, musically. The Decemberists are the first pop band in a long time that I've found to be anything other than background music, and I'd've guessed that they would have appealed to your tastes.
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. The best album ever about the reincarnation of Anne Frank.
British Sea Power - Open Season. Solid, although a bit pretentious (a song about the Larson B ice shelf and lyrics that include "whilst").
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin. A beautiful album, and worth listening to if you've been put off by some of their other stuff.
Turing Machine - Zwei. Strong stuff if you can take it. Total f**k-with-your-head music.
I think "Connect For" is on the latest KEXP live compilation, and it's not bad. In that context, though, it's sort of done as a commercial for the radio station, which is a little cheesey. Are the lyrics about something else in the normal version?
The lyrics in the song are generally about the local (Seattle) underground hip-hop scene, and how by doing it for the fans, and by working together, they'll get somewhere. Not terribly profound, but the head-nodding beat holds it together really well.
Kaizer's Orchestra - Ompa til du dor
It was on "Tom Wait's List of Music You Should Hear" on Amazon. You can get it through iTunes, but finding the CD itself is fairly difficult. Listen to 170, Resistancen and Bak Et Halleluja for a good sampling.
It is in Norwegian, but you can find translations at various places online.
I found this link earlier in the day through my blog browsing, oddly enough, so I'll pass it on:
http://www.bootieusa.com/bestofbootie2006/'
It's 21 tracks of DJ mashups. Some are enh, some are really good, and some are surprisingly good. And it's free, so nothing to lose but download time.
I think the Decemberists are steadily getting better and love The Crane Wife, and Red Hot Chili Peppers have also been steadily improving. And I love Enigma and Catherine Wheel. But it sounds like what you're really looking for low radio play music that tends towards art rock. So here are some picks:
Bruce Dickinson's "alternative" physics concept album, Skunkworks:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/brucedickinson
Complicated and melodic is Scott Miller's Loud Family (formerly Game Theory) :
http://www.myspace.com/theloudfamily
(Check out Aimee Mann singing "Inverness" live). When I absolutely have to get some code written, this group is what gets it cranked out.
Various comments on bands I already know:
The Jayhawks: go out and buy Tomorrow the Green Grass
A classic. I've got that one on CD, from several years ago. Rainy Day Music is diferent but good, too.
(2) The Shins ("Oh, Inverted World")
I have this, and it's another record that people raved about that didn't end up doing much for me. I've really liked a couple of more recent songs that I've heard from them, though, so I may check out their new record.
The Thermals and Midlake are both very good, and each landed at least one song on the five-star list for 2006. The Shout Out Louds record is very good as well-- I picked that up a while ago after hearing some of it on KEXP.
Wow, I just do not get you at all, musically. The Decemberists are the first pop band in a long time that I've found to be anything other than background music, and I'd've guessed that they would have appealed to your tastes.
The singer's voice is kind of annoying, and a number of the songs sort of feel like they're art under glass-- very skillfully done, but kind of bloodless and distant. They don't really connect for me. I like some of it-- "O Valencia!" and "Yankee Bayonet" are pretty good (which is the reason I bought it-- their previous raved-about album had nothing that interested me), but there's nothing there that makes me say "Wow!"
Whiskeytown, Faithless Street.
And if you don't have the Wolf Parade album, you're crazy and need to buy it right away.
Chris Thile : Deceiver
Sparks: Hello Young Lovers
Like the Oompa Loompas from Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And yes, that is a recommendation. (Try "Dick Around")
Cansei De Ser Sexy
Mad Brazilian dance pop something or other (Try "This Month, Day 10")
Thom Yorke: The Eraser
About what you'd expect, but in a good way (try title track)
Peter, Bjorn & John: Writer's Block
Indie from the Arctic Circle. (try Amsterdam)