View Full Version : Name a couple favorites that you don't hear anyone else mention...
nobody
11-22-2004, 11:09 AM
I listed to a couple albums this weekend that I may have mentioned before, but can't really remember anyone else ever talking about. So, I thought I'd start a thread for you all to list albums you really like that you think people should pay more attention to. My two are...
<b>Dusted: When We Were Young</b><br>
<img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005LMX3.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg"><br>
<p>This is a downtempo, electronic release that I picked up on a whim a couple years back. The sticker compared the album to Massive Attack's Teardrop. I'm not sure I agree, but the quality on this release is quite high and the music is enveloping. All the songs run together and it ranges from dubby to house beats and ambient synths with acoustic and electronic instruments coming in and out of the mix. It's a tough one to fully describe since it's hard to make comparisons to other things. It's unique while still remaining very listenable. It's a two person job by Rollo (Dido's brother) of Faithless and another producer whose name escapes me at the moment.</p>
<br><br>
<b>Chris D. and the Divine Horsemen: Time Stands Still</b><br>
<img src="http://www.sa-wa-ro.com/DivineHorsemen-Pages/images-DivineHorsemen/dh-tss-f.jpg"><br>
<p>This one should really be something to hunt down for those of you with alt-country leanings who like a little rough, punk edge to things. Chris D of the Flesheaters leads an LA americana/punk supergroup featuring members of the Gun Club, X, and the Blasters as well as Texacula Jones and others on a series of dark acoustic numbers. Dark lyrics over rough hewn melodies make for a classic of it's style.</p>
<p>So...what do you all listen to that the rest of us ignore?</p>
Davey
11-22-2004, 11:32 AM
Sometimes it seems like almost everything I listen to falls in that category but I must admit that lately I've been spinnig some relatively popular stuff. One that does come to mind since I just listened to it this weekend is Sue Garner & Rick Brown Still. An old fave from 2000that I've mentioned around here many times before and comped a few songs from. Really no idea if anyone else would (or does) like it. Very diverse and eclectic mix of trip hop, indie pop/rock, avant-folk, Tortoise-like loopy electro-organica, and maybe even a couple nods to the Fall. Nice CD. Maybe too far reaching at times for their own good, but lots to like. Recorded with some of their friends including Chris Stamey of the DB's, Douglas McCombs of Tortoise, Tara Key and Doug Weiselman in the couple's home studio. A little along the lines of Yo La Tengo but with a more diverse sound. They even do a pretty cool and very minimalist cover of John Lennon's "It's So Hard" that's nearly a cappella with only a plucked bass as accompaniment. This is one that has really stood up well for me over the last few years. I don't think it garnered a lot of critical acclaim but I play it all the time and now it's like an old friend. Lots of very nice ambience on this one. Highly recommended....for the million of you just like me, who cuss like me, who just don't give a f</>uck like me, who dress like me, walk, talk and act like me, and just might be the next best thing but not quite me!
:)
BarryL
11-22-2004, 01:08 PM
<b>Dusted: When We Were Young</b><br>
<img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005LMX3.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg"><br>
<p>This is a downtempo, electronic release that I picked up on a whim a couple years back. The sticker compared the album to Massive Attack's Teardrop. I'm not sure I agree, but the quality on this release is quite high and the music is enveloping. All the songs run together and it ranges from dubby to house beats and ambient synths with acoustic and electronic instruments coming in and out of the mix. It's a tough one to fully describe since it's hard to make comparisons to other things. It's unique while still remaining very listenable. It's a two person job by Rollo (Dido's brother) of Faithless and another producer whose name escapes me at the moment.</p>
Yeah, I read a review on Dusted and picked it up, and was glad I did. It's as you described it. It was a kind-of home made job, but parts of it were excellent, and it sounded really nice. Thanks for the reminder. I need to dig this one up after about a year in hiding!
Here's a quick 3 we never talk about:
Joe Jackson- Night and Day.
What a brilliantly witty and urbane record. "Cancer" is an all time favorite, but there isn't a duff track in the bunch. Jackson gets no respect.
The Grays- Ro Sham Bo
Jellyfish offshoot project. Near perfect Beatles-esque power pop. Lush and melodic.
Rheostatics- Whale Music
Western Canada band, sort of a cross between CSNY and Zappa with a little jammy Dave Matthews thrown. Arty, silly, mostly acoustic yet tough edged.
Stone
11-22-2004, 03:13 PM
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd900/d984/d98431f1qgy.jpg
Skiploader - Anxious, Restless EP - A slice of straight ahead rock, with some grunge and (ahem) emo thrown in for flavor.
One I routinely champion in the "overlooked" threads is:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2111/smile.gif
Close Lobsters - What Is There To Smile About? - Jangly, indie pop, with well-crafted songs, and mostly cynical lyrics. Just my kind of music, and they were great live.
Also, I listened to this one today on a mini-road trip, and man is it good (but unfortunately overshadowed by its big brother, the self-titled album):
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre300/e339/e33949ekuu7.jpg
Dave_G
11-23-2004, 06:49 AM
One band I absolutely adore is an old Aussie act called Mi-Sex. They released about 4 albums during the "new wave" era.
"Computer Games" and "Space Race" are killer synth-pop stuff but at the same time it's deep complex music with killer riffs and synth fills.
The lead singer had an excellent voice, he died not too long ago.
Another one I like a lot is a Tim Finn album called "Escapade". Excellent Split-Enz kind of music. Bittersweet vocals and well played pop tunes.
Dave
Jim Clark
11-23-2004, 07:09 AM
Tough order for me. With so many people liking so much good music most that would fall into the category of "faves" somone has at least mentioned along the way.
Colin James Hay- Looking For Jack but Troy has posted about this one
Wild Swans-Bringing Home The Ashes but Unleash has posted about that one
Men Without Hats-Pop Goes The World but Stone has posted about that
Alphaville-Salvation but has been covered by Stone and Demetrio. That duo (Stone and D) cuts a pretty wide path of musical interests.
Oh, I know Smoking Popes-Born To Quit. Ramones meet the Smiths with hook laden toons, smartly paced and smoothly delivered. Where does the time go when listening to this album?
This is an odd one-The Frank And Walters-Glass. Outstanding artists and AMG says "this most criminally underrated, ignored band has finally created an album that's as subtle as it is accessible." BarryL and perhaps Stone(?) turned me on to the band based on earlier albums and yet when this came out I was all alone. Never understood why they were abandoned by those guys. This album is far better than the last New Order album and that one wasn't too shabby either.
jc
Ex Lion Tamer
11-23-2004, 08:33 AM
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre300/e339/e33949ekuu7.jpg
I've mentioned that one a few times, so you're not alone.
Others I've mentioned that don't get much run:
UB40 - Signing Off
Screaming Blue Messiahs - Gun Shy
as for something a little more contemporary...
Silver Jews - American Water, though Davey has mentioned this album a few times, and he did introduce me to it, but I don't think anyone else thinks it is as utterly brilliant as I do.
Davey
11-23-2004, 08:53 AM
Silver Jews - American Water, though Davey has mentioned this album a few times, and he did introduce me to it, but I don't think anyone else thinks it is as utterly brilliant as I do.
Yeah, I do love that one. Real classic in my mind and such a nice sound to it as well. Almost like a companion piece in my mind to another more recent album playing right now for me that I also love dearly, Califone Roomsound. Bluesy folk music with a junkyard country twist and quirky, fragmented lyrical images. My kind of stuff. But speaking of American Water, remember this old <a href="http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:CPIQgpFFXxMJ:forums.audioreview.com/html/audio/10/0EEA72A0.php+%22american+water%22+dbi+audioreview&hl=en">post</a>?
:)
Mike That Likes Music
11-23-2004, 10:20 AM
Hi folks. I'm relatively new to the recordings category, so if any of these have been discussed at length, my apologies. Here they be:
1. AESOP ROCK - Daylight
An EP from (IMO) the finest rapper on the planet today. Forget all that ostentatious mainstream crap, this guy has true talent and doesn't dress it up in anything but fantastic music. This one makes you sit down and listen intently. A verbal painter, this guy.
The first two tracks in particular are quite something. Track one is Daylight, a mostly lighthearted piece. This is followed by track 2, Nightlight. A decidedly darker work of music, in which he approaches most (if not all) of the ideas and opinions set forth in track one, but from the opposite viewpoint, and over a more sinister beat. To quote the choruses:
Daylight: "All I ever wanted was to break apart the day, put the pieces back together my way"
Nightlght:" All I ever wanted was to break apart the day, swallow up the pieces, spit 'em at your species, preach to the city of lost barnacles and leeches, nightlight got me when the daylight hit the pavement"
2. CHOCOLATE GENIUS - Black Music
One of the best songwriters of the last decade for my money. A mostly depressing album with notes of dark humor (song titles such as "Hangover Five" and "Hangover Nine") and eclectic instrumentation. Part soul, part rock, all heartbreaker. Also well worth looking into is his second album "Godmusic".
3. COMPANY FLOW - Funcrusher Plus
Not going to write too much about this album, because I could go on for pages and pages. Suffice it to say I think it is quite possibly the finest hip-hop album ever made. The group is now defunct, but El-P, who produced almost all of their incredible beats (you've never heard anything like this guys beats, unless it was someone trying to copy him) and who's rapping ability is (IMO) second only to Aesop Rock, continues on solo. He now owns and runs the very successful indie/DIY label Definitive Jux. Another one you can't just throw on at a party, but well worth seeking out.
4. DR. OCTAGON - Dr. Octagonecologyst
One of rapper Kool Keith's many "personae" albums. The disjointed tale of a cannibalistic gynecologyst in the year 3000. Beats provided by Dan The Automator, scratching by multi-world-chamionship-title-holding DJ Q-Bert. One of the most bizarre hip-hop albums you could hope for. Not one of the most easily accessible albums. Fantastic.
5. GRANT LEE BUFFALO - Mighty Joe Moon
Not much to say. Just a wonderful folk-rock-whatever album by a truly talented band and songwriter, Grant Lee Phillips. "Honey Don't Think", "Happiness" and "Rock Of Ages" are particular standouts. One of my favorite "Sunday afternoon with nowhere to go" albums.
6. KRUDER &DORFMEISTER - K&D Sessions
A double disc remix album by the fine Austrian beatmeisters. A true remix album, not one of those "I remixed this song by adding a hi hat!" deals. A very relaxed, incredibly long album. Along with Massive Attack's "Mezzanine" this one is essential "4:00 A.M. in the middle of nowhere roadtrip" music.
7. MORPHINE - Cure For Pain
R.I.P. Mark Sandman.
The Beantown band's second effort. For those of you unaware, Morphine was an unusual ensemble consisting of: a 2 string electric slide bass player/singer, a saxophonist (mostly baritone, but occasionally tenor) and a very jazz-inflected drummer. They only tried to stimulate your mind or your crotch, and generally succeeded admirably on both counts. Incredibly cool, sexy music.
8. ROOTS MANUVA - Brand New Second Hand
The first album from an unusual English rapper. His accent is so thick you can barely understand him, but he touches on a lot of themes not approached by many rappers. His self-produced beats are more than good. Of particular favorite for me is the opening track, a trip-hoppish slow groove called "Movements".
9. SPY - Music To Mauzner By
As far as I know, this is the only effort put forth by this one-man New York band consisting of the venerable Josh Ralph (if anyone knows differently, PLEASE let me know!). Starts with a dance-floor rocker "Baby" and moves through damn near everything, including an original mariachi tune (Ralph's obsession with mexican music is obvious throughout the album), and ending with a quite lovely classical tune composed entirely by Ralph himself and played by the NY Philharmonic. One of the rare albums that gives eclectisism a good name.
10. UNDERWORLD - Dubnobasswithmyheadman
Underwold has been around for about 2 decades in one form or another, and they finally hit their stride with this. The 1993 album was their first with DJ Darren Emerson and established the band's signature sound. Still sounds impressively fresh to me even now, almost 12 years after it's release. The most obvious tune on it was their first hit "Cowgirl" which is still a damn fine dance tune to this very day. My personal fave is the song just prior to it, "Dirty Epic". A few of the tunes are certainly worthy of hitting the "next track" button, but most of the album is much more chilled-out than later efforts.
11. VELEVET GOLDMINE - Soundtrack
Celebrating the era of early/mid 70's glam rock. Not only has many fine tracks of that era (T Rex's "Diamond Meadows"), but boasts original glam tunes by Shudder To Think, Grant Lee Buffalo (?!?), and two bands made just for the movie. First up is "The Venus In Furs", fronted by none other than Radiohead's Thom Yorke, which has about half a dozen tunes on the album. The other original band being "The Wyld Rattz" with legendary bassist Mike Watt, fronted quite handily by none other than actor Ewan McGregor (who has a convcing wail). A few of The Venus In Furs tunes are actually sung by the lead actor of the movie, Jonathan Rhys-Davies to good effect.
12. TOM WAITS - Bone Machine
Not exactly an unknown album, but... it's Tom Waits fer chrissake! Has more of his fabulous broken-down-carnival/junkyard-dog howl style than anything previous. Has one of his coolest tunes ever, "Going Out West". Do yourself a favor and get this one if you don't have it.
13. MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT - Avalon Blues (1928 recordings)
One of the finest blues guitarists who ever lived. 'Nuff said.
I'm going to go pretend to be productive now.
Mike
P.S. - Hey what's with y'all trading comps? I want in! I have plenty to contribute and desperately need an infusion of new tunes in my life.
Davey
11-23-2004, 10:54 AM
Hi folks. I'm relatively new to the recordings category, so if any of these have been discussed at length, my apologies.........
P.S. - Hey what's with y'all trading comps? I want in! I have plenty to contribute and desperately need an infusion of new tunes in my life.
Wow, nice post, Mike and some good stuff you talk about there. Some of them have been talked about before and some haven't, but always fun to hear from someone new. Keep it up :)
And just jump in and either offer or ask for a comp - not as much activity now as in our comp-trading-madness past, but still a few moving around mostly under the radar. I've got a bunch listed at my site (see my profile) but only have the latest one with me right now. Probably be a bunch of upcoming yearend comps focusing on our favorites from '04 so put in your requests early ;)
Stone
11-23-2004, 11:30 AM
Wild Swans-Bringing Home The Ashes but Unleash has posted about that one
Men Without Hats-Pop Goes The World but Stone has posted about that
Alphaville-Salvation but has been covered by Stone and Demetrio. That duo (Stone and D) cuts a pretty wide path of musical interests.
This is an odd one-The Frank And Walters-Glass. Outstanding artists and AMG says "this most criminally underrated, ignored band has finally created an album that's as subtle as it is accessible." BarryL and perhaps Stone(?) turned me on to the band based on earlier albums and yet when this came out I was all alone. Never understood why they were abandoned by those guys. This album is far better than the last New Order album and that one wasn't too shabby either.
jc
Bringing Home the Ashes is an excellent pop album. You're right, Men Without Hats and Alphaville seem to get dismissed easily (or not mentioned at all), but those two albums you listed are both great. Alphaville has really put out some good stuff and I think Salvation is probably their "best," although Forever Young will always be my sentimental favorite.
Regarding The Frank and Walters, I'm sure I saw you post about that album, and I don't know why I haven't picked it up. I still only have the one album by them and it's really good. I need to look into getting Glass.
I've mentioned that one a few times, so you're not alone.
Yeah, I know you've mentioned it and I should have said that in my post. The album seems to get overlooked by most, and I had just listened to it, so I added it to my post. I'm not sure I've ever posted about Sreaming Blue Messiahs, but I do love their first two albums, and I have seen, surprisingly, YECH post about Gun Shy.
Dave_G
11-23-2004, 11:58 AM
I like that Men Without Hats cd a lot, too.
By the way if anyone happens to have the Oglio Records 2 on 1 cd Men Without Hats I would like to talk trade!
Dave
Jim Clark
11-23-2004, 12:07 PM
By the way if anyone happens to have the Oglio Records 2 on 1 cd Men Without Hats I would like to talk trade!
Dave
You're pretty funny!
jc
BarryL
11-23-2004, 01:58 PM
This is an odd one-The Frank And Walters-Glass. BarryL and perhaps Stone(?) turned me on to the band based on earlier albums and yet when this came out I was all alone. Never understood why they were abandoned by those guys. This album is far better than the last New Order album and that one wasn't too shabby either.
jc
I went looking for F&W (Frank and Walters) but they aren't so easy to find in my hometown, and I never got around to internet ordering. Thanks for reminding me of these guys.
About the same time I discovered F&W, I also discovered Fountains of Wayne (FofW). Now those guys I did keep up with. I enjoyed their last album, Interstate Freeway or some such.
Another undiscovered classic was the second album by The Webb Brothers. I think it was called Marooned. It's an album about slacker consciousness and self-destruction. Not very positive, but I think it captures the psyche of a particular subsegment of our youth today (drugs, sex, despair). I think I related it to Pet Sounds, not because it sounds like the Beach Boys, but because it covers the same sort of ground for a new generation.
jack70
11-26-2004, 10:18 PM
The Grays- Ro Sham Bo
Jellyfish offshoot project. Near perfect Beatles-esque power pop. Lush and melodic.
.
Agree with the Grays... that's the top release from my top10-list of 94. And on the top of the pile from the whole decade. Have you heard Jason's latest Bliss Descending? It's a 5-cut EP (04), more good ear candy. Has that Beatles/60's sensibility with an 80's pop-sound underlayer, but with his own vocal sound. Not as great as the Grays, but Falkner fans are sure to like it. It very much echoes some tunes on his solo albums. I guess one could complain there's not more, but I'd rather have quality than quantity.
Pat D
11-27-2004, 06:36 PM
Some of these are pretty obscure, although Ang�le had an audience.
Angele Arsenault. She is a French-Canadian composer, poet, singer, comedienne, social commentator, philosopher, and a great performer, very cheerful. She has written dozens of the most astonishing songs. She deals some basic attitudes to life. After early period, many of her songs are full of life, humour and joy, but she still retains the satirical scalpel. I have 6 or 7 of her LPs. J'ai vecu bien des annees, Les grands succes, Just A Memory JAM 9124-2, is a good collection of 20 of them. Most of her songs are in French, of course, but she did have an LP in English.
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000065LAD/qid=1101600616/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_0_1/702-9725559-8656845
Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, Caucasian Sketches. There are two suites, but the first is the better. The best performance I've heard is with Siegfried Landau and The Music for Westchester Symphony Orchestra, which I have on Vox Allegretto ACD 8161. The sound is pleasant, but not great. The rest of the CD isn't great, but it's cheap. Caucasian Sketches is a somewhat guilty pleasure because Ippolitov-Ivanov is not usually regarded as a great composer, although some of his choral works are sung occasionally.
Toshiro Mayuzumi, Samsara tone poem. I have this on Marco Polo 8.220297 with Fukumura and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. My first acquaintance with the work was with the Louisville Symphony on a Lousiville LP. Most people probably wouldn't like this one.
Subotnick, The Wild Bull. Electronic music. Though the composer says it did not inspire the music, he put an ancient Sumerian poem on the record jacket concerning the loss of a woman's husband, whom she refers to as the wild bull. This is on a Nonesuch LP, H-71208. This a rather dark lamentation and many people might not like it. There is a CD version.
Deems Taylor, Through the Looking Glass. We had this when I was young. I was able to find a mono recording on Mercury, but some years ago, I came across a Delos recording with Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony, on Delos DE 3099. The best of the five scenes is the Jabberwocky, but the whole work is ingenious and delightful. Taylor was the original commentator on Disney's Fantasia, aside from being a critic, composer, and radio commentator on music.
J. M. Kraus and J. B. Vanhal, Symphonies. Naxos has done some excellent recordings of these 18th century symphonists. While not in the class of Haydn and Mozart, I like them better than the Bach sons, the Stamitzes, Beck, and some others. These two were very competent and inventive composers.
-Jar-
11-27-2004, 09:50 PM
Rain Tree Crow - RAIN TREE CROW. Sort of a Japan reunion, except that it doesn't sound all that much like Japan, at least the Japan that I've heard. It's more along the lines of David Sylvian's solo work.. very ambient, kind of sleepy new age space jazz, very very colourful recording. I know I like to mention this album every so often. I've included tracks on a few of my comps. I just love this album to death.
His Name is Alive - HOME IS IN YOUR HEAD. A Bizarre journey into the mind of a Michigan cat named Warren Defever and his friends. They wander all over the musical map, it's sort of like a distillation of everything that was 4AD up until 1992, except filtered though eyes of American indie rock. Very ambient, very beautiful, but also ugly and disturbing. Musical reflections on relationships and the insanity that can surround them.
This Mortal Coil - BLOOD. Ok, I've always kind of thought of this as the British twin to that His Name Is Alive album I mentioned. Similar in that we have another journey through the peaks and valleys that are human relationships, except in this case, along with some stellar originals and instrumentals, we have well-selected covers as well, plus oodles of guest musicians. Apparently the minds behind This Mortal Coil (also the minds behind 4ad.. Ivo Watts-Russel and John Fryer), not unlike Paul Westerberg, never travel far without a little Big Star. Well, Chris Bell anways, as they cover two of his songs, "I Am The Cosmos" and "You and Your Sister," the second one tenderly sung by Kim Deal and Tanya Donnelly. I've always liked this album more than the first two, I think the main thing is that, even though all 3 of the TMC albums have some amazingly beautiful moments, BLOOD is free from some of the uncomfortable cringe-inducing experiments that I think marred FILIGREE AND SHADOW and IT'L END IN TEARS.
Don Caballero - DON CABALLERO 2 To me, math rock begins and ends here. Buy it, hear it, love it (or walk away scratching your head wondering what the f**k Jar finds even remotely listenable about this album).
The God Machine - SCENES FROM THE SECOND STOREY. Like a fisherman, I'm just trolling here. I'd love to hear more folks get into this band, even though they haven't existed for close to 10 years now. But this is such an amazing album, even more incredible for being a debut. Rock just didn't get much more massive or epic as this in 1993. To borrow some adjectives from allmusic.com.. cinematic, hypnotic, trance-like.. "alternative metal" just doesn't do it justice. These guys didn't care if they were different than anyone else or part of some scene.. they played their souls out and you can hear it all here. Very few bands are able to make music that I can connect with so completely, but the God Machine were one of them. You always want to spread the word when you love an album so much.. I know I've tried..
-jar
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