An Olive Grove Facing the Sea
April 8th, 2007
I haven’t showered once this weekend, and hoo boy, I should have, but at this point, laziness prevails and I’d be shocked if I get under the spray before tomorrow morning. There was essentially no point, since I spent the weekend knee-deep in such glorious elixirs as Comet, Fantastik and those friendly little scrubbing bubbles, so I could, in theory, be clean by association. Also, it’s worth noting that if you have any sort of flooring that benefits from hands & knees cleaning, as we do (cream ceramic tile all OVER the damn place), get thee some knee pads.
I think it speaks volumes about the quality of one’s weekend, when the best you can come up with is a bleak suggestion about picking up a pair of cheap knee pads at Lowe’s and going to town on a ceramic floor. Sad.
I felt a strange mixture of relief and disappointment when my 7 a.m. haircut appointment with the Squiggmeister was horribly uneventful, except for his repeated habit of smoking a cigarette while leaving my hair to sizzle under the dryer, which always leaves me panicked that my hair is actually burning off, because I can smell it! I can smell the burn! Perhaps what bothers me most about this is that each and every time, he fails to wash his hands before resuming the hair action. I find this absolutely foul – is it just me? I mean, after I have the occasional cigarette these days, I’m at the sink in four seconds, and even when I was a full-time smoker, I washed my damn hands, because really, smoker’s fingers are foul! FOUL!
Painfully boring, if clean, weekend aside, I spent the better part of my free time this weekend perusing new music and the best I could come up with was a late-night download of the entire Snow Patrol/Reindeer Section discography, of which I already owned about half, and while I’m aware that I’m not breaking any early adopter records, I have actually come to the conclusion that while I really, really want Gary Lightbody to be hot, he’s not hot, but he is a cheating bastard. Ditto to The Fray guy. Not hot, though maybe he’s not the cheaty type. I’ll never know. But neither one of them! They’re not hot!
That being said, the whole point of this is to beg for new music recommendations, because if the best I can do is rounding out my sad little Snow Patrol collection, clearly I need help. Before I’m pummeled with recommendations for Regina Spektor and Amy Winehouse, I will quickly add that I have and yes, indeedy, love both. They tried to make her go to rehab and she said no! no! NO!
Also, my favorite music in the world centers typically around something that Peter Gabriel or Bernard Sumner did, along with our friends Morrissey and Johnny Marr. Because I haven’t moved on from the things I loved when I was 21. no! No! NO!
Other than that, lay it on me. I’m open to anything – new, old, whatever, any genre, any decade – and if you think I’ve heard it before, it’s highly likely that I haven’t, because I’m just getting around to Snow Patrol, for crying out loud. Or even just a song! I’ll take a song! Your favorite song. Or band. Or whatever. So, ah, heard any good music lately?
*Snow Patrol. Thanks to my friend TwoBusy (always a source for good things like this, really. And before asking all of you, I thought about just asking him, because he’s that good, or at least he sure hit the jackpot with that one song a few months ago).
Also, with this song, you have one of my very favorite songs ever. It’s so pretty. And heavy and all twisty and weepy and stuff. So now you *have* to tell me yours, or at least something. And also, maybe run out and download that song if you don’t have it already, because you won’t be sorry! You won’t! I promise.
Entry Filed under: Nuttin'
54 Comments Add your own
1. -R- | April 8th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
I went to a Snow Patrol concert on Friday! Gary Lightbody seemed pretty sexy from far away… it was the Scottish accent. Rawr.
2. Jen | April 8th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
I don’t think I know this Snow Patrol song – what album is it on? I will definitely check it out.
Also, for a music suggestion: forget Regina “Grey’s Anatomy” Spektor and Amy “overrated” Winehouse, check out Brandi Carlile’s new album The Story. She’s local for me (Seattle), but I predict big things for her this year. I would best descibe her voice as an amalgamation of Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge and Joan Osbourne, only so much fresher than those three, if that makes sense.
3. jonniker | April 8th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Jen: I have Brandi Carlile! I have! I have! I really like her, but I haven’t fallen in love love, yet. But before you use Grey’s Anatomy as a derisive term, remember, it did wonders for little Brandi too. Off of her last album, the songs “Closer to You” and “What Can I Say?” were given a big boost from the show. And actually, Snow Patrol was too, right? Meh. That doesn’t bother me much.
As a general rule, I’m not against anything that’s overrated, overhyped or completely overplayed. As a music lover of all sorts, I don’t really care where it comes from, or how popular it is, because, as I recounted here, I’m not one to talk, being a fan of Anne Murray and the occasional Celine Dion (I KNOW). Although some little small person in me wants to dislike Amy Winehouse because she’s so popular, dude, I can’t. I can’t! She’s so fun! Like bubble gum and vodka!
Ditto Regina. I mean, she’s lovely, not frothy at all. I did not, however, realize she was on Grey’s Anatomy, which illustrates just how far out of touch I am. Admittedly the first time I’d heard anything from her was from Sundry, on this entry. I’d heard her name, but ignored it, because I am apparently too busy and also, boring.
The SP song is off of “When It’s All Over, We Still Have to Clear Up,” which I enjoy very much, though not as much as Final Straw.
Also, R, I know! I know! The truth is, I rarely have a thing for Irishmen. Scots, yes, but isn’t Gary some kind of weird hybrid of born in Ireland/lived in Scotland for a while? Damien Rice should be hot, too, but he isn’t. Well, he kind of is. No no, he isn’t. Nope.
4. Jurgen Nation | April 8th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Hi Jonniker! You may already know these, but I thought I would recommend anyway. My current favorites, in no particular order: Earlimart, The Hidden Cameras (“Awoo” is such a great song), Iain Archer, Mat Kearney and The Russian Futurists. If you haven’t heard them and want to, let me know and I can always send you music love.
5. Amy K | April 8th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Have you listened to the Magnetic Fields or Billy Bragg? And there’s always my music staple, Perry Como!
6. Tan | April 8th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
I’m just this minute about to play the Brandi Carlile album I downloaded last night, as a result of hearing her on Grey’s Anatomy. My recs are Sarah Blasko, Kate Havenevik & also I just found Toni Collette’s album `Beautiful Awkward Pictures’ which I haven’t really listened to yet but the samples I heard weren’t bad
7. Orange Peacock | April 8th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Hmmm….
Well, I just got back from a Lily Allen concert with the bird and the bee opening, and I heartily recommend both. They have dramatically different, equally cool sounds. The bird and the bee is sort of chipper and retro-sounding (going so far that the girls even wore seventies-style dresses and teased hair in headbands tonight).
Much as I hate to say it, VH1 has been onto something lately. Mat Kearney, The Feeling, Rocco DeLuca, and Paolo Nutini are just way too catchy. They’re all weirdly similar to my ears, but I like that sort of chill acousticy sound for background music, so if you’re into that, go for it. But don’t expect anything unique or exciting.
I’ve been on a Ray LaMontagne kick lately – nice and bluesy.
If you like SP, have you listened to much of The Postal Service? I’m a dork and love the fact that they have a song about my city. But the other songs are good, too.
And since I feel really bad for giving you such an obnoxiously long list (I’m afraid you’ve heard it all already!), just two more: Laura Veirs (sort of an ethereal, ambient sound) and Mike Doughty (former frontman of Soul Coughing; totally different sound solo).
8. Orange Peacock | April 8th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
(Sorrysorrysorry for commenting again!)
Shoot, it scares me how much of the music I listen to has been on Grey’s. I just wiki’d it (I don’t have a TV and have never seen the show, I just have to sit through others talking about it ALL THE FREAKING TIME) and Doughty was on it, Nellie McKay, Regina Spektor, Snow Patrol, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs – I saw these folks at weeny little smoke-filled clubs over the years! They’re not supposed to be on that stupid show everyone watches! They’re MINE!
I doubt I’m alone in feeling this way. But at least pop culture’s moving back towards music that doesn’t completely suck.
I’m going to go mourn my transition to cultural sheep…heh.
9. Schnozz | April 9th, 2007 at 12:36 am
I second the Lily Allen recommendation. She actually won my music contest with “Littlest Things,” which you can watch on YouTube. I was excited to see that she’s playing in STL on June 6 … I’m totally going to that, and for only nineteen bucks! Woo!
Her lyrics aren’t the sort of thing I’d normally be into: smokin’ weed, gettin’ revenge on the boyfriends, etc, but I still totally love her.
10. jonniker | April 9th, 2007 at 4:38 am
OP: “VH1 is onto something” Heh.
The Grey’s thing really doesn’t bother me, but that’s probably because I’ve never listened to music that was really all that current (even when I was 21, The Smiths had been broken up for a number of years). You’re definitely not alone in that, but I can’t figure out why, I guess. Not that this is exactly pertinent, but I will say that the Grey’s music people have excellent taste thus far, as I’ve heard more than one favorite there. Fleh.
I wrote about this a while back, but it doesn’t really faze me, and I’m not sure why it does other people – is that you get a thrill out of being one of the only ones who like them? Because they are still totally cool or not cool, no matter how many people like them, I figure. Then again, I still hold a soft spot in my heart for Hootie and the Blowfish, in part because one day someone, somewhere, decided that they were uncool for reasons unknown and my God, is there a band that’s less cool now? Really? Poor Hootie! I feel bad for them, man.
If it’s an intimacy thing, I kind of get that. For example, (and it’s a bad one) when I was in college, my freshman year, Dave Matthews wasn’t very big at all. He was, in fact, TINY, and “Under the Table and Dreaming” hadn’t come out. I saw him three times in the teeniest of little venues, so close you could spit on his head. By the end of that same year, he was playing in huge arenas, which was a little frustrating, because just a few months prior, they were ours! OURS!
(Bad example, given that he has, apparently, gone the way of the hopelessly uncool sellout among the hipster set, but again, this doesn’t bother me, because I still listen to them on occasion.)
(Also, thank you all so much so far, because I don’t have any of them, except for Postal Service! Whooo!)
11. Claire | April 9th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Did Dave Matthews really become ‘un-cool’? Huh, seems like that was impossible just a short time ago. i used to have a burning hatred for Dave Matthews and now, i’m really just starting to come around to seriously liking a lot of it. Ah well.
I very much second Orange Peacock’s suggestion of Rocco DeLuca. I’m not sure what it is, but wow – so catchy. And i also won’t mention my current obsession with Regina Spektor, because apparently that is like, SO last week. So i won’t. Mention it.
Also, recently came across The Fratellis (album: “Costello Music”) and they just seem like a lot of fun. Amazon says something about them sounding like early 90s britpop. Whatever. They’re fun.
12. Kristin | April 9th, 2007 at 5:22 am
Wow, I am sooo behind the times in current music. But my longtime fav is Lyle Lovett, and if you have not had a chance to hear him, give him a shot! Funny, understated, dry sense of humor, and music that ranges from jazz to blues to gospel to country. He’s great.
13. Sadie | April 9th, 2007 at 5:50 am
This post makes me feel old and uncool, because I have never even heard of most of your commenters’ suggestions. And I am acutely aware that one of the biggest things that indicates a person is no longer cool, is that they have no idea what’s going on in popular music. (Unless you count hiphop, in which case I can recommend the new Jay-Z CD!)
My old standby favorite, and you will definitely like her if you haven’t heard her – Alana Davis. Blame it on Me is a fantastic album, with the best cover of Ani DiFranco’s 32 Flavors, and her second album Fortune Cookies is also great.
14. Christine | April 9th, 2007 at 6:12 am
My current new fave song is Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John. I still haven’t gotten around to buying or listening to the rest of the album, but I’m a fan of that song. I also intend on getting around to Amy Winehouse, because aside from the fact that she’s got all sorts of issues, I keep hearing how fun and fantastic she is.
15. jonniker | April 9th, 2007 at 6:37 am
Sadie: I have Blame it on Me, but I never really got into the whole album. I bought it for 32 Flavors, and I like Murder and a few others, but I never fell for the whole sound, I don’t know why. I’ll have to listen again – I automatically hit ‘skip’ on nearly every single one of her tracks except for Murder and 32 Flavors.
16. Jamie | April 9th, 2007 at 6:44 am
Rilo Kiley. That is all. Enjoy.
17. Orange Peacock | April 9th, 2007 at 6:51 am
It’s definitely the intimacy factor – there are a lot of tiny and mid-sized clubs around here, and I have a feeling my college memories will just be scenes of me in these clubs about three feet away from some future member of the Grey’s soundtrack, them blowing smoke in my face while they perform. Or some variant thereof.
And then there’s the whole devoted-fan complex…you feel like you helped this person get to where they are in some small way (obsessively recommending their music to friends, for instance
…) and then when you can’t even get shitty nosebleed seats to their sold-out performance in a huge venue after they finally make their celebrated break, you feel just a teeny bit betrayed.
Then again, music plays far too great a role in my life, considering my only participation in it was six years of clarinet, and the poor thing is now sitting neglected and gathering dust.
18. Heather B. | April 9th, 2007 at 6:57 am
God, you probably don’t want the advice of someone who listens to ABBA and thinks Get Me Bodied (Beyonce) is like the greatest thing ever, but here goes: I’ve been into Mika lately and listen to Grace Kelly every morning. Like since before it was on MTV regularly.
19. -R- | April 9th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Re: That music was on Grey’s so now it sucks – I read the review of the Snow Patrol concert in the local paper. The guy who wrote it obviously hated Snow Patrol, and he denigrated the crowd, assuming we only liked Snow Patrol because it was on Grey’s. Even if that was the first place some people heard the music, who cares? I don’t get it. Plus, there was no mention of OK Go, which/who was fantastic.
20. jonniker | April 9th, 2007 at 8:04 am
R: I agree, and also, the people who pick the music on Grey’s? It’s their JOB to find new, fancy undiscovered talent, and if I do say so, they do it well. Grey’s music is almost always perfectly matched with the mood of the show.
Claire also pointed out that Scrubs has great music, and indeed, it does. Soundtracks, too, are almost always great sources of stuff, and who can deny that the Garden State soundtrack was so inextricably linked to the film that it was wonderful, just wonderful? It made “The Only Living Boy in New York” hip again.
I don’t know. I don’t listen to the radio much anymore, so I can’t really become a victim to stuff that’s supposedly overplayed.
21. winterwheat | April 9th, 2007 at 9:10 am
I’m pathetically behind the times music-wise because I drove a car without a CD (or even tape!) player for 11 years, until 2002, at which point I used my new car’s CD player to listen to every CD in my current collection, twice over. This means that I haven’t listened to the radio in almost 5 years, so I don’t know squat about music. I hear this new band called Outkast is really good though.
Seriously, if I *were* to look for new music, I’d go directly to The Onion’s AV Club, because their reviews always seem pretty consistent with my taste. And one of their critics (Nathan Rabin) was a student of mine at Wisconsin.
22. Danielle | April 9th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Hi Jonniker!
I’ve been listening to Jude lately. He’s very mellow, but he cuts one hell of a rug on the song “Rick James”. If you want to hear sad, I reccommed checking out the song “I Know”.
“No One is Really Beautiful” is by far his best album, in my opinion.
23. jonniker | April 9th, 2007 at 10:51 am
test
24. Claire | April 9th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Didn’t The Shins break through because of the Garden State soundtrack?
Does that mean i shouldn’t listen to them?
Ooh! Jonna – The Shins! Good stuff. : )
25. jonniker | April 9th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Le sigh, Claire. I don’t like the Shins. I have two albums, and I swear to you, the only two songs I liked were the two on Garden State. Because I am lame.
26. aly | April 9th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
ooo i’m glad someone mentioned ani difranco (although it wasn’t in an “i pink puffy heart her!” sort of way), but she is my all time favorite. her live albums are best (living in clip is my favorite. album. ever.) but “little plastic castle” is also excellent.
other than that, i too am lame b/c i have no idea who most of you are talking about since i love bb king, ray charles and old school R&B/soul.
and dave matthews.
27. H | April 9th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Have you ever tried Janis Ian? I love her album “Between the Lines” which, I’ll admit I bought in 1976 for “At Seventeen”, but ended up loving everything else on it more than “At Seventeen”. I still thoroughly enjoy her.
So now I feel ancient.
28. orooni | April 9th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Last summer a person I took an art class with randomly gave me a Joanna Newsom cd. I listened to it a couple of times, wondered how anyone who had ever walked the earth liked it enough to put it on a cd, and couldn’t get it out of my head four days later. Now I love it.
Also, friends have given me Sufjan Stevens and Andrew Bird discs, and I’ve really enjoyed them.
And there’s always Beck.
29. Welcome to Schnozzfest, p&hellip | April 9th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
[...] Y’all are awesome. (Now go help Jonniker, who’s seeking some recommendations of her own.) [...]
30. HopeB | April 9th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
J,
–then you should check out Crocs’ kneepads. You know the Crocs shoes? Largely considered fugly, but oh-so-comfy—they make kneepads & kneelers out of the same Croc material. I bought a kneeler to use for bathing my little papillions–it works well.
If you have ceramic tile everywhere–and I’ve been there, its’ so tough on knees and stuff, which I didn’t realize until I moved out of the House of Tile
(((not affiliated, etc.)))
31. no name slob | April 9th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I probably spend over 50% of my music listening time with either Moz or the Smiths, so I’m unlikely to be of much help to you. Plus, I’m so verym,m very far from ever getting in on the cool obscure things. But even so, here are some of my favorites:
*Warren Zevon — He was a damn genius. I adore him, especially the eponymous album and A Quiet Normal Life (a best-of album). Oh, and Learning To Flinch (live album) is good too.
*Dar Williams — Folky but not, like, FOLKY. Beautiful voice, smart lyrics.
*Pulp — Um, yeah, you and Snow Patrol? Well, I just started to listen to Pulp a few months ago. But THANK GOD I did, even if I am a decade and a half late. Jarvis is the coolest and most enigmatic frontman, second only to Moz.
*Solo David Byrne — Same brilliant and quirky man he was in the Talking Heads, with heartbreaking flashes of vulnerability. I love him.
*Aimee Mann — Perhaps it’s safe to assume you already listen to her? But I had to include her, just in case.
Other cool (and slightly newer) stuff:
*Nouvelle Vague — especially the first album. Fun stuff.
*The Dears — as heard on Grey’s Anatomy! Although that actually wasn’t where I first heard them–they’re frequently compared to Morrissey, so that was the hook for me. (FYI, as for the comparison, I do see/hear some connections, and Murray Lightburn has openly admitting to WEEPING when the band was asked to open for Moz, which I think is almost intolerably sweet, but to me the similarity isn’t as enormous as some seem to think. But whatever, I’m just glad to have found them, one way or another.)
Okay, this was long! Sorry!
32. river selkie | April 9th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
i posted a bunch of stuff over at schnozzfest. you might check there, but i will repeat a couple of the band suggestions here.
margot and the nuclear so & sos.
my brightest diamond.
arcade fire.
david vandervelde
cat power.
travis.
elliott smith.
of montreal.
enjoy!
33. Blythe | April 10th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Do you listen to The Jam? Ghosts is one of my all-time favorite songs. It’s short and melancholy yet has a positive messaage. And it’s from an early 80s Brit band, so what can be better than that?
34. Audrey | April 10th, 2007 at 9:53 am
My favorite new music find is Bright Eyes. Definitely worth checking out.
I typically lurk around here, but I wanted to let you know that I enjoy your blog so much that I nominated you for a thinking blogger award. Check out my blog for more details.
35. liza | April 10th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Hi, I just popped over here from Jurgen Nation. I’ve never read your blog before today but I love this topic. And I already have anxiety b/c I have no idea who any of these bands are. OMG!!!
My two cents: The Decemberists–Crane Wife. They rule. This album rules. I’ve had it for a few months now and it is still in my cd player in the truck. No kidding.
Also: Lone Pigeon-Concubine Rice. A totally weird dude. He’s a former member of the Beta Band [you know them right?? So good too, weirdness though] He locked himself in a room for a long time and made this album–he’s schizophrenic I guess? Any way, it’s sort of Beatles like, only new school and really, really good.
36. mar | April 10th, 2007 at 11:12 am
well, this is kindof a cheat, but i’m copying the list i have on myspace.
Indie rock/folk/pop (Beatles, Ari Hest, Blu Sanders, Stephen Kellogg, Marc Broussard, Michael Tolcher, Josh Kelley, Storyhill, Warren Zevon, Jesse Young, White Stripes, Ryan Adams, Ingram Hill, OKGo, Jason Mraz, Matt Nathanson, Will Hoge, Pete Schmidt, Andy Stochansky, Jack Johnson, Maroon5, Rooney, Bleu, Matthew West, Bebo Norman, Duncan Sheik, Alice Peacock, Elliott Smith, Emm Gryner, Flaming Lips, Steve Burns, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, Shorty Blackwells, U2, Gavin DeGraw, Graham Colton, Howie Day, Stephen Kellogg, Old 97s, Jude, Pete Yorn, Rubyhorse, Tenacious D, Clarks, Foo Fighters, Nicko&;Joe comedy, Switchfoot, Keane, Mason Jennings, etc) anything but country
37. mar | April 10th, 2007 at 11:13 am
i should probably remove some of those…
38. caquincy | April 10th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Lately? I’m really digging Cold War Kids’ “Take me out to dry.”
My kids really dig anything from Death Cab for Cutie. When I need some tunes at work, I put in the Kaiser Chiefs or Tears for Fears, “Everybody Loves a Happy Ending”–that album is awesome!
I haven’t been listening to anything else new lately–too lazy to download new songs onto my ipod. But NOW I’ve got some ideas! Thanks, folks!
39. elise | April 10th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
i second the motion for the Decemberists.
also, the Mountain Goats.
Camera Obscura – nerd girl music.
The Sounds – badass girl music. Sublime!
40. liza | April 10th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
This isn’t good.
On my lunch break I couldn’t stop thinking about how I didn’t tell you about ‘this’ band or ‘that’ band so I need to add some more to my list or I won’t be able to sleep tonight.
Antony and the Johnson’s–I am a Bird now [so beautiful, and sad but amazing]
Cat Power—all albums but especially Free.
Devendra Banhart: All Albums but my favorite is The Black Babies. HIs music is emotional, and sweet.
M. Ward–All albums are good. I think he’s sort of Johnny Cashish, but, you know, emo too.
I feel better. Thanks
41. Melanie | April 10th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
It’s best not to get me started on music, but you did ask for it….
The Shins, esp. the last two albums, are awesome
Andrew Bird – his new album blows me away
Cat Power – her voice is amazing
Iron & Wine – any man who sings about dripping scented oils in your bath in an un-ironic way is amazing. Plus the music is gorgeous.
M. Ward – but not the last two albums. Transfiguration of Vincent is mind-blowingly good.
A.C. Newman- FUN! Oh so fun!
Interpol – more awesomeness. They’re just so well-produced and just tight and amazing.
The Decemberists – my favorite is The Apology Song off of 5 Songs, but it’s all good (though I didn’t like Picaresque at all)
Neutral Milk Hotel – in case you’re that out of touch
Sparklehorse – beautiful, haunting, etc.
Apples in Stereo, Of Montreal – both fun poppy-ish Elephant 6 bands
Arcade Fire – huge now for good reason
Low – Mormons, but don’t hold that against them
Mountain Goats – the lyrics are like really good poetry
Jolie Holland – her voice is intense and beautiful
Oh, I have more but will stop here. I just went through my MP3 player going “Oh! Must recommend that!”
42. Melanie | April 10th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
And Sufjan Stevens? He’s so hot it doesn’t matter that he’s hard-core Christian. Sooooo hottttt.
43. EDW | April 11th, 2007 at 5:11 am
Great suggestions. There’s a Vancouver artist Jeremy Fischer, who doesn’t have a US album yet, but I love him and my Canadian friends send me their copies. But really and truly, my current favorite band is Marah. They are pure rock and roll and put on amazing shows and are so indie that they have the requisite loyal following but no radio play. The album to listen to first is Kids in Philly
44. Claire | April 11th, 2007 at 11:36 am
oh – what about the Raconteurs?
45. Spring | April 11th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I feel like I don’t know anything about music lately, since I’m 24 and have already reverted back to the music I listened to in high school. But I just keep on listening to my Launch station day in and day out, and every once in a while something comes along that really knocks my socks off. The following are a few of those:
*Sondre Lerche (singer-songwriter from Norway)
*Andrew Bird (his new album, Armchair Apocrypha, is SPECTACULAR)
*The Magic Numbers
*The Decemberists (even though everyone already recommended them, I second them, or third them, or seventh them, or whatever)
*The Fratellis (GREAT suggestion, up there)
*Fountains of Wayne (new album: Traffic and Weather, but I recommend Welcome, Interstate Managers if you don’t have it)
46. Corinne | April 11th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I love me some Andrew Bird – I suggest starting from the beginning – I was slightly disappointed in Armchair Apocrypha, but I’ve loved him since the Bowl of Fire days and always will.
Also:
Modest Mouse
Teddybears – that “Punkrocker” song with Iggy Pop KILLS me.
Death Cab for Cutie
Neko Case
I’d start in on all the New Wave CDs I bought the other week, but I have a sneaking suspicion you have all those already. I blame Fred on XM for those purchases.
47. kara marie | April 11th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I have been in love with Badly Drawn Boy for about six years now. Especially his earlier stuff. Love love love love it. I also love Crooked Fingers and The Eels. I agree with The Shins and Cat Power recommendations.
48. Suebob | April 12th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Do you mind music in other languages?
AR Rahman from India – traditional indian music combined with dance beats. Fun fun.
King Sunny Ade and the Juju Beats from Africa – happy, happy music.
If you can ever get your hands on Emma Kirkby singing Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, well! It is to bring tears to your eyes.
49. Spring | April 12th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Yes, yes, these are great suggestions. Badly Drawn Boy and Travis are excellent. The Eels’ album Electroshock Blues is one of the best albums of all time, easily.
I also recommend Rufus Wainwright, if you don’t already love him. If you like Andrew Bird, you’ll L