In search of new music

OMG, we have scarily similar musical tastes. Clearly you need to buy Dvorak's New World Symphony, if you don't have it already. Steve recommends Amy Rigby. I also got Deb Talan off Pandora, and then found the Wailin' Jennys - I recommend their first album. Also, how about Catie Curtis?

soundtrack from the movie "Once"

it so richly deserved the best song oscar!!

Antje Duvekot. You'll love "dandelion" and "judas."

You may also like Regina Spektor, Lucy Kaplansky, Nerissa and Katryna Nields, and Damien Rice. In particular, if you like Dar Williams you really should have her CD "Cry Cry Cry" with Lucy Kaplansky and Richard Shindell. Then you should become obsessed with Shindell like me and buy everything he's ever made :).

For classical, check out the piano works of Edward MacDowell (if you like more contemporary classical, if that makes sense to label as a genre!)... especially his Woodland Sketches. Opus 51 #1 To a Wild Rose is the most simple, beautiful piece I own. I play it all the time (on iTunes and on my piano).

I'm not sure what's on iTunes, but if you can find anything from the Canadian trio "Finest Kind," I highly recommend them. Everything from traditional folk to country, bluegrass and pop, with exquisite harmony and beautifully worked out instrumental accompaniment on a variety of instruments.

http://www.finestkind.ca/finekind.html

Hmm, how about...Ray LaMontagne and Alexi Murdoch?

Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" is the best rock-and-roll album ever. You can definitely sing along.

These fit in with what you like or stretch them a bit. Enjoy!

New:
Nellie McKay - "Get Away from Me" or "Ordinary Villagers" - eclectic and fun showtunes/pop/hip-hop mix
Feist - "Let it Die" or "The Reminder" - a wonderful indie/folk/french/pop mix
Hem - "Rabbit Songs" - beautiful country-ish from start to end
Camera Obscura - "Let's Get out of This Country" - catchy, poppy and enchanting, you'll sing these songs for days afterward
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - "Rabbit Fur Coat" - LA pop
Neko Case - anything

Classic:
Dusty Springfield - "Dusty in Memphis" - the best

Obscure:
Christina Rosenvinge - "Frozen Pool"

Based on your favorites, I would recommend:

Tanya Donelly
Wilco

I'm surprised Gillian Welch isn't on your list.

Others: The Duhks, Noe Venable, Stan Rogers.

Suzanne Vega is a favorite of mine. She has a "greatest hits" out that's a great compilation of her work.

You could give Neko Case a try. It's more of an alt country, but she has such an amazing voice.

Aside from that, I have an emusic subscription. This is a site that specializes in indie bands of all genres. So they don't have a lot of major label stuff, but they do have a lot of the lesser known and very new bands.

Plus, whenever you do a search it generates lists of similar bands, side projects of the band members in your query. Best of all, you can peruse other people's playlists, so you can see what people whose judgment you trust are also listening to.

They have a 7 day free trial, so you could at least see if you are getting enough hits to make the subscription worthwhile.

Also, I'm going to check on something else. I'll post it if I find it.

I can't find it. It was a site where you type in a band name and it links it to other similar bands. It's an endless web of bands and artists and you can end up anywhere. It's kind of fun, but I just can't remember what it's called.

And I just noticed Joe beat me to Neko. Woops!

Also, for mellow folk-pop ballads I'd try Clem Snide and Nick Drake as well. And you might like Macy Grey, although she's a little more RnB than your list would suggest you like. Still, she's got an interesting and unique style that might appeal to you.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite current band, The Mammals, who are great a folk-rock band. There is also Old School Freight Train, Crooked Still, and Uncle Earl.

For classical music: Beethoven, Handel (I like his organ music), Mozart...

Chick Chorea and Bela Fleck's Enchantment CD is excellent. Probably my favorite from last year.

Nickel Creek or Chris Thile with the Punch Brothers (or whatever name they are going by now).

Have fun with all of this music.

I totally second the songs from the movie "Once". The songs are awesome, the movie was awesome. I think you'd like it.

My latest iTunes expenditure - Jack Johnston, KT Tunstall, Alanis Morisette (acoustic version of Jagged Little Pill), Lene Marlin, Michelle Branch, mass bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines (I appreciate that this is not everyone's taste, but war movie themes and marches work for me for some tasks), and Ronan Hardiman (who is sort of like Adiemus meets Enya).

You'll love Kathleen Edwards.

For classical music, I'll suggest Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Percy Grainger as possibilities. Grainger is particularly known for his settings of folk songs.

Some more recent stuff to look for: Kings of Convenience, Elizabeth and the Catapult. If you like Paul Simon's solo stuff, check out Peter Gabriel, although he may shade a bit too hard-rock for you. I'll also second Suzanne Vega and early Bob Dylan.

If you're looking for old school folk, try the Kingston Trio.

I have just discovered The Mountain Goats, which I am quite enjoying--perhaps less singable than you are looking for, but lyrically quite interesting.

Wilco and Nellie McKay, as suggested above, are also good--but again, not particularly sing-along.

to me it looks like you need some Missy Elliott...

I second the nominations of Antje Duvkot and Richard Shindell. Check out Pieta Brown (daughter of Greg Brown, who should also be on your list) and the Robert Plant/Alison Krause collaboration (who woulda thought?).

Although the Dolly Ranchers a little hit or miss, their song "Driving" is one of my favorites. Also Ani DiFranco, Carbon Leaf, Rusted Root...

This is wonderful! Now I'm going iTunes shopping, too!
My recommendations:

Stars - I love everything they do, but one of my recent favorite albums is called "do you trust your friends," and is a collection of Stars' songs that were remixed by "friend bands." Remix albums are also a great way to find similar artists, and this one serves as a great introduction to The Russian Futurists, Montag, Final Fantasy, and Junior Boys (and more!).

Other favorites I think you will like, roughly in order:
Andrew Bird
Nouvelle Vague (Band a part is my favorite) - it's beautiful
The Decemberists
Sufjan Stevens

Akron/Family - Some of their stuff is pretty weird, but other songs are really gentle. My favorite is "I'll be on the Water" on their self-titled album.

Okkervil River
Ladyhawk - Rock, but with a country touch
M.Ward
Steve Forbert
Ratatat - electronic, but relaxing

Wow! Thanks for all the recommendations. When I get back to my office where my iTunes lives, I'll be taking a recommendation from each of you. I'll let you know what I get and what I like.

I'd recommend Jack Johnson for excellent mellow sing-along music. Plus he's from Oahu and does everything he can to tour 'Eco-friendly'.

Looks like we have VERY similar, if not the SAME FAVORITE artists, so I feel confident in recommending Tracy Chapman and Regina Spektor :D

You could also turn on music sharing on your iTunes at your office and snoop in on what students are listening to on their iTunes! I got some ideas that way..