Recent music discoveries?
Doesn’t necessarily have to be recently released. What have you been listening to lately? Anything new?
I just discovered PW Long. I’m not sure what it is I love about him. His voice is kind of hoarse, his music moody/bluesy. I’ll post one of the mellower songs to the radio.blog from his 2003 release, Remembered, called “Better.”
Another discovery is Francoiz Breut, a French singer who’s done some singing with Calexico. (She’s the Frenchwoman on “The Ballad of Cable Hogue.”) I’m going to post a song from her album, Une Saison Voiee, with Joey Burns of Calexico doing back-up/harmony. She sings in English on this one, but the rest of the album is sung in French.
And one more–Chad Rex and the Victorstands. Does anyone remember the 90′s band, Paw? I loved them. The bassist is in the Victorstands. These guys are alt country, though, and pretty awesome with it. I’ll post “Tied Up to Die” to the radio.blog, from their album Songs to Fix Angels, released in 2001.
Just managed to listen to The Go! Team. I’m quite enthusiastic about their album (“Thunder, Lightning, Strike”).
Comment by Supergenius — January 13, 2006 @ 5:45 pm
I fell in love with Television recently. Marquee Moon sounds like it could have been released last week. That probably reflects badly on today’s music, huh?
I had heard one Deerhoof album a while back and found the music itself really exciting, but the vocals were brutal. Then I listened to The Runners Four which came out in 2005 and I got over the vocals thing. They’re still ugly, but they’re an integral part of the sound and I dig it.
I’m embarassed to admit that this past summer was the first time I listened to Flaming Lips. The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots are now two of my all-time favorite albums.
Other established bands/musicians that I only got into this year: Jim O’Rourke, Elliott Smith (From a Basement on the Hill is incredible), Spoon, and Low.
There were several other new bands and new albums that I’ve discovered in the past few months, but I’ve gone on long enough.
Comment by Tom — January 14, 2006 @ 7:41 am
New favorite band: Jem
Sounds like a poppy version of Dido. (I mean, more poppy.)
Old favorite band:Freezepop
Electronic, retro-80s sound, somewhat reminiscent of the Motels. Very, very fun. =)
My wife’s trying to get me to listen to Postal Service, which she thinks sounds like Lightning Seeds. (PS has one member of the band Death Cab for Cutie in it.) Seems pleasant enough.
For any of you that are looking for “Songs in the style of…”, check out Pandora It’s a streaming music station that lines up similar artists based on musical style. It’s actually pretty slick. My one complaint is that they will let you fast-forward only a few songs (some sort of copyright issue) – I’d love to just see a list of the other bands I should try.
Comment by FaithHopeLove — January 14, 2006 @ 7:54 am
It’s a few years old, but I’ve been enjoying the Langley School Music Project. I also found that Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out” lives up to the hype. Same with Woody Guthrie’s “Dust Bowl Ballads.”
Comment by Greg — January 14, 2006 @ 2:08 pm
So glad to find someone else who apprecitates the Langley Schools Music Project. I love it.
I need to check out Deerhoof. I keep hearing the name mentioned. Same with the Go! Team.
Comment by Susan M — January 14, 2006 @ 4:43 pm
I’m digging Pink Martini — they have a new album out that I haven’t heard yet, but Sympathique is great.
Comment by Justin H — January 14, 2006 @ 8:39 pm
I recently started listening to Eisley, who managed to go from Dallas-area favorite to national touring act without me noticing.
I’ve also started listening to the Nourallah Brothers, both together and separately as Salim Nourallah and Farris Nourallah. There’s a great blog post about their strange relationship that I haven’t written yet.
Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah! is still in the shrink wrap in my car, but I haven’t listened to it yet.
Comment by BTD Greg — January 15, 2006 @ 6:03 pm
I’ve also started listening to the Nourallah Brothers, both together and separately as Salim Nourallah and Farris Nourallah. There’s a great blog post about their strange relationship that I haven’t written yet.
And here’s the blog post I’ve been meaning to write for a while. Not sure if it’s great or not, but I think it’s interesting, and there are song clips.
Comment by BTD Greg — January 17, 2006 @ 1:04 am
hi susan,
my friend dale (who was at the ted leo show w/ me) recently gave me a bunch of brazilian pop from the 60′s that i absolutely love. gilberto gil, gal costa, os mutantes, caetano veloso, jorge bem, and more. everyone should check this stuff out.
Comment by mike d. — January 19, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
I’m not super knowledgeable about Brazilian music, but of what I’ve heard the stuff from the 60′s is the most creative and engaging. Os Mutantes have such great manic energy and such great songs. And Caetano Veloso’s early tropicalia music is definitely my favorite of his, although he does have some really great later stuff. I need to listen to more Gilberto Gil and Jorge Bem.
I think part of what makes 60′s Brazilian music so vital is that a lot of it was high stakes protest music. These musicians were inspired by fear and anger about what was happening in their country and as a result their music was inspired. Most of the artists that you mention had to go into exile to avoid being imprisoned for their music.
Comment by Tom — January 20, 2006 @ 8:22 am
thanks for the info on the brazilian music tom.
Comment by mike d. — January 20, 2006 @ 2:10 pm
How funny…a friend of mine who spent last summer in Brazil just sent me a bunch of Brazillian music. I haven’t checked it out yet. I think he included all the artists you mention, Mike.
Comment by Susan M — January 20, 2006 @ 3:56 pm