Ravers and Indie...?

[bobsticks]

From where do you guys/gals get your first exposure to some of these groups? As a jazz and classical fan I know to search for titles, artists and sometimes even labels, most of which are fairly prolific. I am, however, pretty lost when it comes to looking for modern music that falls outside of the mainstream. Share yer wisdom...

Just curious,
M

[Mike]

Right here is the best place for me, there's a few folks in tune with my tastes and even though it's been pretty quiet recently there's still some good sounds to be turned onto.

Other good places to visit are http://www.metacritic.com/ although I don't always agree with their reviews and http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/

After that I use Amazon a lot for sound samples, and "Customers who bought this item also bought" and those nerdy personal lists like 'my faves of 2006 so far..' are pretty good too.

Cheers
Mike

[Stone]

This board (through discussions and compilations), other boards that have discussions on indie music, music store managers and employees, blogs, and various review/info websites that are dedicated to indie music:

http://www.almostcool.org/mr/
http://cokemachineglow.com/
http://www.adequacy.net/
http://www.fakejazz.com/
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/
http://www.stylusmagazine.com/index.php
http://www.tinymixtapes.com/

[bobsticks]

Thanks for the links, Mike. I was hoping for something computer-based.

My fear was that everyone was going to come back with radio station call-letters. I live in a town with three colleges and not one college radio station that is accessible. It's like one nu-metal/emo station, four 70's rock stations, and thirty-seven country music stations.

[bobsticks]

Thanks Stone

[ForeverAutumn]

This place, and the people here, is generally my first stop for new music. I also like Uncut magazine's comps. For about $10 you get a pretty good mag and a CD. I've been introduced to some pretty good bands that way.

If you live in a city with a large record store, sometimes you can find some gems at the listening stations, if the store has them. There's a shop downtown here that probably has about 12 stations around the store, with 8 or 10 CDs in each. They're in their respective departments so it's easy to find a station where there's stuff in a genre that I like. I like to go in and just randomly pick CDs and listen to them. Again, I've found a few great CDs that I've then been able to recommend to people here.

If you find a band that you want information on, check with the people here. There's usually someone who can help you out. The same for recs. I really like _______. Who else might I like?

[Hawkeye]

http://cdbaby.com/
A nice indie site that seems to be growing daily. Two purchases from cdbaby from earlier this year that are *almost always* in my rotation it seems are "Safely Through the Night" by Chris Orbach and "So Typical" by Julie Gribble. Both highly recommended.

[SlumpBuster]

There are a couple of low effort ways that I find alot of new music:

1. The old standby Rolling Stone, and the new standby Blender. I know they're not exactly cutting edge, but neither am I. Although, mainstream media is responsible for me owning crap like Kanye's Late Registration that I never listen to.

2. Local record stores. If your lucky enough to still have any independant stores in your neighborhood, these can be really good. Usually they will have well defined indie sections. I like to keep a look out for bands that take the effort to do a vinyl release. Also, I've bought records based solely on cover art, and am often pleasantly surprised. If they have the artisitic sensibility to do good cover art, then it stands to reason the same sensibility will extend to the music inside.

3. As mentioned above, compilations are really good. Some genres, especially punk and electronic, have elevated compilations to a true art form.

4. Foriegn radio. Alot of foreign stations are available on the internet and playing stuff that will just never make it here. What is mainstream in Paris may be cutting edge here.

5. But some of my best musical finds have come from just going to live shows. Opening acts should never be so quickly disregarded. I've seen plenty of support acts outshine the headliner. I saw the Dandy Warhols open for the Charletans UK 10 years ago and have like only 1 Charletans CD, but every Warhols piece I could get my hands on.

[Dusty Chalk]

1. The old standby Rolling Stone, and the new standby Blender.

Ugh. Shouldn't you be throwing out the names of some music magazines? The only musician Blender ever had on its cover was George Clinton. That's right, one, in its entire history.

[SlumpBuster]

Ugh. Shouldn't you be throwing out the names of some music magazines? The only musician Blender ever had on its cover was George Clinton. That's right, one, in its entire history.

What are you talking about? Fallout Boy is on the cover of Blender this month. But even if you were right, putting George Clinton on the cover of the Atlantic Monthly carries enough funky ju-ju stink to turn that into a music mag. But, for now Sir Nose Devoid of Funk is left with RS and Blender. Sorry.

[Dusty Chalk]

What are you talking about? Fallout Boy is on the cover of Blender this month. But even if you were right, putting George Clinton on the cover of the Atlantic Monthly carries enough funky ju-ju stink to turn that into a music mag. But, for now Sir Nose Devoid of Funk is left with RS and Blender. Sorry.

Sorry, allow me to be a bit more clear: I was making disparaging comments of your choices. I think very little of Blender as a music magazine -- now, as a magazine containing humour and eye candy, for that it may be worthwhile. I thought Pvssycat Dolls were on the cover this month? Well, it's usually some hot model/actress/whatever. The fact that they have Fallout Boy is the anemone...erm...anomaly, not the rule.

I do read music magazines: The Big Takeover, Magnet, Outburn, Under the Radar, Wire, e/i, Amplifier, Q, Uncut, Mojo...I can probably reel off a couple dozen magazines before I would even think to list Blender...and even then, I would choose to eschew.

[SlumpBuster]

I do read music magazines: The Big Takeover, Magnet, Outburn, Under the Radar, Wire, e/i, Amplifier, Q, Uncut, Mojo...I can probably reel off a couple dozen magazines before I would even think to list Blender...and even then, I would choose to eschew.

Scenesters See, now that is more useful. Rather than just bagging on my advice of (aghast!) a lifestyle mag, you actually offered an alternative to the OP.

[KEXPMF]

for me, my very reliable filter is www.kexp.org a non-commercial radio station from Seattle. Almost every new discovery for me is something I heard 1st on KEXP.

Lately I've been spending some time in an office with an XM radio and I have to say I can now understand the hype and appeal of satellite radio. I'm not sure I want to pay the monthly fee BUT I'm thinking about it and actually missing the XM radio now that I'm not there.

This forum is also a good place to discover new music. The comps some of the people have made have introduced me to some great bands I may not have been exposed to otherwise.

[bobsticks]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm sure I'll find all kinds of goodies to compliment my normal listening habits...

Cheers to one and all