New Music

Anyone listening to anything good at the moment?

I got the new Coldplay a few days ago. It's not another Parachutes, but it is definitely a good listen.

Lysa found a cool Icelandic band called Sigur Ros, who do some nice tunes. They're an Ambient Type Thingâ„¢

Other than that, I'm sowing on stoney at the mo, so could use some recommendations.

 

I was listening to a cool cd earlier. Not listening to anything at the moment. The cd was "Midnight Storm" by the band Blue Highway. Kick-ass.

The first person to guess what kinda cd this is, I'll give you a cookie¹.



















¹Get your own damn cookie.

 

I don't like much of the music that has come out this year. I'd rate most of it as "Really crap". Which is why I love older music - it's always there, it's always good and it can be relied upon to give me something to listen to when everyone is a clone of everyone else (okay, not everyone is a clone, but the vast majority are).

Sheriff, my brother bought the new Coldplay album a few days ago, and he loves it. I'm not a Coldplay fan myself though, so I can't comment. I've been listening to Nimrod (Greenday) for the past few days.

 

I like a lot of older music - there's so much good stuff back there (as long as you pass the 80s without stopping).

One of the things I like about file sharers (aka Lysa's intall of KazaaLite) is that I can just go get any old stuff you want. The other night, I was watching TV and Pretty Flamingo was playing in the background. It got me humming it, so I went and downloaded it.

 

Coldplay is a death metal band, right? I didn't know you were into that stuff, Sheriff.

Like Jar, I've mostly been listening to old music. Female jazz singers, old pre-war blues stuff, field hollers and stuff like that. I listened to alot of post-war blues like Muddy Waters and Sonny Boy Williamson, Albert King, stuff like that, and slowly worked my way backwards. Reading the history of the times (1930s) and the situation and listening to the recordings really opened up my eyes to where alot of the modern music came from.

Anyway, most of the music on the radio really turns me off right now. One new artist I'm starting to get into is this singer named Norah Jones. Some of her stuff is a little poppy, some jazzy. Kinda like a poppy jazzy pop jazz with a little less pop and a touch more jazz with some smoke and liquor thrown in. All I know is that her voice and her style do things to my pants.

If any of you "copyright violaters" want to check out some of her stuff, get on kazaalite or WinMX and d/l "Don't Know Why" for one of her catchy tunes, and "Nearness of You" for one of her jazzy ones.

 

I refer you once again to the stolen image above.

 

Ok then, I give up. What's Coldplay? A rap group? Are they like that English group BBMak? You guys aren't being very descriptive... NOT EVERYONE LISTENS TO TOP 40 RADIO.

And jazz is an aquired taste, I guess. You cretin! Open your eyesss maaan. Can you dig? It's all about the groooove, CAT! Ow! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go read some Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac while I take sit on the toilet playing my bongos. Daddy-O.

 

Don't make me steal your image again, mister.

Coldplay are just a band. I don't know which genre people would normally put them. Something mainstream, though.

They sound like ... guitars, fairly acoustic and guy with a strong voice. I find it powerful, maybe some would say soulful.

Yeah, they're are popular. I don't ever look at the charts though, so I don't know how they've done in them. Pretty good, I'm sure.

As for Jazz, I have nothing against it. I think I like some of it (although it's a pretty huge genre, so I don't know whether it 'd the same stuff you like). It's Jazz people who put me off. The fans more than the musicians. Sometimes they have such a, I dunno, pretentious air about them.

 

That's true what you say about jazz, though that kind of attitude is mostly limited to the afficianados and wannabe beatniks that walk around with Howl and a busted up copy of On The Road in their back pockets. Those attitudes and the inaccessability of a lot of the weirder fusion jazz stuff is what put me off to the genre. I still haven't gotten into the heavy experimental stuff.

What I like about the jazz that I do like (mostly female singers, but some other stuff too) is the depth. There's so many things going on in the music, so much movement. So much interaction between the different instruments as the musicians all play off of one another, all in real time, all improvised. Or the expressiveness of the vocals... besides old blues, I've never heard music that's more soulful. Like when I hear Billie Holliday sing "Strange Fruit¹" with that voice of hers, it just fucks me up.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that with some jazz, it doesn't matter how many times I listen to it, there's always something new to hear every time I listen. Even music that I loved and still like alot couldn't hold up to that. I'd eventually get sick of hearing the same thing over and over again.





¹Southern trees bear a strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

 

Okay, I said I wanted new music and you're telling me about some, so I'd be a fool not to take notice. If you'd be so kind, pass me some of the artists and tracks, and I'll ask Lysa if I can fire up the old KazaaLite.

I'm not too hopeful, because I tend to prefer simplicity in the arrangements than complexity, but who knows? Maybe I'll expand my musical horizons, as the world's scariest pervert once asked us all to do.

 

Sounds like she may have more than the pants, if you know what I mean.

I guess you could call them alternative rock. They're not pop, they're not metal, but they probably do fall under some kind of rock sub-group. Maybe soft, but that probably wouldn't be apt. Alternative covers a lot of ground, so I'm going with that.

Shiver is pretty good, but that's from a year or two ago, and I don't know what their current stuff is like.

 

Yeah, Jar, she has more than the pants - she has the computer KazaaLite is installed on. Even though we're married, I still feel weird about using it without asking her. I mean, what if I broke it or accidently downloaded a virus or something? Not like I'm likely to, but still - I'd be spitting chips if someone did it to me.

The new Coldplay stuff is very good. If you liked Parachutes (Shiver, Spies, Trouble, Yellow, etc) there is a chance you'd like it. The album is called "Sudden Rush of Blood To the Head" or some such mouthfull.

What are YOU listening to right now, Jar?

 

Milo, I too am a huge classic jazz buff. Well, I'm all over the map, really. But since we're on the topic of recommendations... You said you like soulful female jazz singers, and if Strange Fruit affects you in that same way it affects me, then I must direct you to Nina Simone's "Ne Me Quitte Pas" and "Wild is the Wind." Really, any Nina Simone is incredible - she's got a deep, rich, low voice. Not Billie Holiday, but soul-wrenching in its own amazing way.

Then again, you may already know all about her.

On the more recent music scene, Milo, have you heard Tom Waits's "Alice"? It's worth a listen. His voice has got something..gravelly, deep...unique. You might like.

Also recent...and anassumingly placed in "top 40" category a few years ago..but believe me, she's got Billie Holiday roots. Is FIONA APPLE. (Shocking, eh?) just trust me. Check out Fiona Apple's "Slow Like Honey." Also Jude's "I Know" (Which is more folksy, but give it a chance)

Well, let me know if you like those. If you do, there's plenty more where that came from. For the record - I never steal music. I save my money up like a good girl and have collected a VAST CD collection (Now up to over 600).

[End Shameless Plug] ...but really...check out the suggestions one way or the other. I'm actually anxious to see if you like them. When you're ready to "move into the experimental stuff" I've got some wonderful fusion and acid jazz suggestions. read: Jaco, Jaco, Jaco! ;-)

 

I burnt a copy of the CD for my brother yesterday, so I have the whole thing on my computer. I'll listen to it at some point, I'm sure .

As for what I'm listening to, as of this moment "Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop" is playing on Winamp. I've got a few RHCP songs in my list at the moment - Give It Away, Road Trippin', Higher Ground and By The Way are in residence. Oh, and Other Side.

 

My brother (the one who deals collectible records) got me the new RHCP a while back. I listened to it and liked it more than most of their recent ones, but I was still lukewarm on it. Otherside is about the only track of theirs that got me going in the last few years.

 

I agree with Jarinor that old music is usually the best... but there are some new bands worth trying out.
The last CD I bought was Jack Johnson. Worth a try if you like acoustic rock.

 

Oh yeah, I'm a big fan of Nina Simone. Thanks for the recommendations, Windmills. I'll be sure to check out Tom Waits, too. And, against my better judgement, I'll check out Fiona Apple, too. Normally I'd skip over this recommend, but since it's coming from a Nina Simone fan... I'll make sure to listen to it with an open mind.

Onto other music, my sister recently borrowed my little portable mp3 player and left some music on it. Most of the songs were crap, but there was this one song called "Angel" by a group called Massive Attack that I liked. If anyone can recommend more music like this, I'd appreciate it.

 

Yup, Fiona Apple, like Tori Amos, has been pidgeon-holed because of her mainstream success. That used to turn me off to musicians quickly, as well - but you miss out on some gems, sometimes, that way.

I'm not suggesting all of Fiona Apple, mind you - she can get a little too poppy at times - But "Slow Like Honey" is one of those rare diamonds in the rough - IMHO.

I'm glad you've already found the haunting charm of Nina Simone. For the purely lyrical content - I love how she performs "Pirate Jenny," "Four Women," and "Mississippi Goddamn." If you're looking for historic content, in the same pained vein as Bitter Fruit - those are quite edifying.

Have you heard a newbie called Norah Jones? Worth a listen. Dig for her less popular stuff.

Also: Here's Tom Waits's "Alice" in its entirety for your enjoyment: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000066RVC/ref=j_hp_cs_1_7/002-9856289-6611239 ...and without me feeling morally compromised, too! Amazon asked permission.
Tom Waits has been around a while. Alice is off something like his 20th album. The man is also as varied as he is prolific. Not everything is in the same genre as Alice, but it is as incredibly executed. If you're more into the smooth, sultry female singers, though - he might not strike you right off the bat. He's got more of the grizzled late-night-smoky-blues-bar type of thing going for him. Give it a try nonetheless. I think the quicktime version they have available at the link may "click" a little - it did for me. You may have better luck looking for it yourself, elsewhere.

"Angel" is off of Massive Attack's 3rd album, "Mezzanine." They get a little TOO techno for me at times, but Angel is, yet again, another gem.

If you're looking for things like Angel - try "Maya's Theme," "All Pure Spirit" and "Expulsion (Sajan Begha Ghar Aiye Ho)" from the Kama Sutra soundtrack (yes, it's SUPPOSED to do that to your pants). Don't know how deeply you're into the more exotic stuff, though - but that album, albeit a movie soundtrack - has remained an absolute favorite for quite a while - so much so I might be needing to buy a new one soon - this one' getting scuffed.

A little less "world-music" is Tori Amos's "Iieee" and "Juarez"... I normally prefer her earlier albums but if you're looking for something "Angel-esque" then her newer stuff seems to be more appropos.

Even better, though. Do check out a little-known band called "Alien Fashion Show." They do things in the nebulous region between Rock and Swing that should be illegal (but luckily, isn't yet). Here's a little about them: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/002-9856289-6611239?v=glance&s=music though you may have to search a bit to find their music on napster or wherever it is you go. Specifically try to find "Crazy Moon" and "Owl Song." Very "Futuristically Dark and Smoky" as someone said. Even better - buy the album. They need the money. ;-)

Well, that's my $0.02 for now! Enjoy!

 

Ergh, Fiona Apple. Won a Grammy with the song "Criminal" or something along those lines. I don't like her, and that's based off that one song .

I don't know if you know this, but Massive Attack had a bit of a hit song a few years back - Teardrop. Slow, instrumental and lyrical. Very good song.

 

That one song does not indicate the gamut of her abilities. But I don't want to blow it out of proportion either...she's nowhere NEAR Billie Holiday/Nina Simone. Don't want to give that impression. It's just "Slow Like Honey" that really impressed me. That's all. :wink:

Since I'm here, let me reiterate: "Alien Fashion Show." Anything by them causes severe pleasure.

End transmission.