Recommend music to a handsome young man

durandal4532 · June 2010

I have lame taste in music, and I acknowledge that.

I don't spend nearly enough time bothering to figure out who did what first or who did such and such best, and I end up enjoying music mostly 15 levels removed from the person who did it right.

But man, my girlfriend's MP3 player that I am borrowing is just even worse. It has embarrassed me into asking for help. If I get help, it's possible she might stop thinking Glee covers and circa 2008 pop-punk is the bee's knees.

So basically, what are good bands that I haven't heard? That means probably not played on the radio or at least not in the US. Hell, what are some musical genres that I may not have listened to? Also, what are the one-hit-wonders am I tapping along to influenced by? I am pretty sure, for instance, that "ain't no rest for the wicked" is basically wholesale ripping off someone, but I am not educated enough to know whom.

I think that is what concerns me most, that I am spending all my time getting jiggy and not even knowing that some rap music has swears.

I was just going to bang some stuff into Pandora, but it turns out you can't do that in Australia because it is a hellhole. Plus I guess people probably will be better anyways.

Chanus · June 2010

Well, your taste may suck, but what you like is what you like... so, what appeals to you? Do you like mind-blowing musicianship? Do you like a good melody? Do you like something snappy the kids can dance to?

Seanron · June 2010

Well first off, who do you like currently?

Teslan26 · June 2010

What is wrong with glee covers?

Music always has, and always will, be subjective. I have an incredibly low tolerance for Death growling over thrashy guitar - but a segment of society thinks it is the 'Bees knees' as you put it. So stop being a self righteous git and telling your girlfriend what music she should like.

There is nothing wrong with sharing music you enjoy with her (and vice versa) with the aim of sharing an interest, but asking a bunch of people on the internet to help you fix her music taste seems pretty absurd.

Robman · June 2010

You like music that feels "jiggy"? Great Big Sea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN5Pd6ABEVc

bowen · June 2010

There is no such thing as lame music. You like what you like, and that's why the entire music industry isn't pop.

I like classical. Do you? My friends who listen to rap think it's lame, but I find it soothing. I find their taste in music lame as well, but they like to rock some bitches or whatever kids these days say.

durandal4532 · June 2010

I'm honestly not certain that what I like will be relevant, because I am generally excited by novelty in the first place.

Stuff I am pretty confident I like is:

Aesop Rock
Vast Aire
C-Mon and Kypski
The Heavy
The Monkees
Sam Cooke
The Temptations
Some Black Sabbath
A bit of jazz that I can't ever remember...

Then it devolves into things I have mostly heard a thousand times and am therefore moderately inured to/nostalgic about. Like Journey and Nirvana and such.

Don't feel like you have to appeal to what I'm already into though, I wouldn't mind hearing music I hate if I also got to read a decent opinion of why I'm totally wrong.

Robman · June 2010

Anyone who doesn't like Dvorak's New World Symphony is a horrible human being, fact.

EDIT Don't be such a bitch about your musical taste. I like avante garde jazz but not swing or big band. My friends and I argue about this endlessly. Nobody is "wrong" when it comes to their musical tastes.

durandal4532 · June 2010

See, it's not that I'm afraid my taste is bad because I have different taste, It's that I feel cheated when I find out that I am watching AvP 2 and thinking how totally awesome it is and then 10 years later I finally watch Aliens and man I could have been loving that all this time!

I simply don't spend enough time to be able to discern what suits my tastes, or even what suits other people's tastes.

bowen · June 2010

Furthermore, nobody is lame or wrong when it comes to any of their likes or dislikes. There's nothing wrong with that list of music at all.

durandal4532 · June 2010

Hells bells just recommend a band you bunch of goddamn procastinators.

Robman that one was weird but kind of great. It sounds like what I imagine 15 year-olds who are planning to become fishermen listen to.

Robman · June 2010

durandal4532 wrote: »

Hells bells just recommend a band you bunch of goddamn procastinators.

Robman that one was weird but kind of great. It sounds like what I imagine 15 year-olds who are planning to become fishermen listen to.

Ouch man, they're basically the Leonard Skynyrd of the Maritimes

Chanus · June 2010

Okay then, some suggestions (some of these have stupid commercials at the start):

Paul Weller:

Wild Wood

The Kinks:

Village Green

Teenage Fanclub:

Baby Lee

Ride:

Leave Them All Behind

Sloan:

Jurassic 5:

Michael Hedges:

Velvet Underground:

Nitro:

AresProphet · June 2010

bowen wrote: »

There is no such thing as lame music. You like what you like, and that's why the entire music industry isn't pop.

This.

If you like Ain't No Rest for the Wicked, great. It's catchy. Yeah some hipster douche will tell you that Cage the Elephant is ripping off the White Stripes and maybe BRMC at the same time but fuck it. Good music is good music and if you like it don't let other people's opinions bother you. People get retarded about music. Not about what makes music good, mind you, but about what makes the music you listen to suck. It's cool to drink the haterade.

But you asked for non-lame music and so I present to you the most awesome progressive death indie band making music on this planet:

One Day All This Could Be Yours

Music for a Nurse

New Pin

Edit: also there's the band I've stolen my avatar and title/location stuff from but they're sort of weird

Six · June 2010

Currently listening to The National's new record and liking it.
The new Grace Potter & The Nocturnals album is great, a little more polished (for good or ill) in comparison to their earlier stuff.
The new Broken Bells album is good.
The Heavy's album from last year is great, as is Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
JJ Grey & Mofro - Orange Blossoms is from a couple of years ago but I just recently got into it and really dug it.
Everything The Avett Brothers have put out is pretty great.
Camera Obscura's album from last year remains a favorite of mine as well.

That seems like plenty.

durandal4532 · June 2010

Robman wrote: »

durandal4532 wrote: »

Hells bells just recommend a band you bunch of goddamn procastinators.

Robman that one was weird but kind of great. It sounds like what I imagine 15 year-olds who are planning to become fishermen listen to.

Ouch man, they're basically the Leonard Skynyrd of the Maritimes

See I honestly can't tell if that is meant to be positive or negative.

But I am right about everyone in the Maritimes being fishermen, right? My entire knowledge comes from Kate Beaton.

Six · June 2010

I neglected to read carefully and see that you mentioned you already like The Heavy. In that case definitely check out JJ Grey & Mofro's album Orange Blossoms as well as Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears.

Aldo · June 2010

C-Mon and Kypski

Teslan26 · June 2010

Melody gardot is awesome. Should see her set on Jools Holland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH-Xw8x44F8

Also see laura marling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QirL0HXnyS4

Bosshog78 · June 2010

Motorcade of Generosity (first album by CAKE) and all the songs on it have enriched my life. Here are some of my favorite cuts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTiBhRYHawA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JPULswVojE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJUI6TNFmWg&feature=related

Also, half the fun of music is backtracking and figuring out what music inspired who. Maybe Cage the Elephant was influenced/ inspired by The White Stripes who in turn were influenced by Son House and all those old blues guys.

durandal4532 · June 2010

Oh man suddenly everything is in color

Chanus · June 2010

We could suggest more if you let us know what you like/dislike.

claypoolfan · June 2010

LCD Soundsystem
The Black Keys
Daft Punk
MGMT
Jay-Z
Biggie, Pac, Etc.
Wu-Tang
The Decemberists
Deadmau5
Those are just off the top of my head

kitch · June 2010

Try Dälek if you like Aesop Rock. Also Odd Nosdam and Mahogany I'll recommend to you based on your general taste.

Wassermelone · June 2010

Ill just throw some more stuff out there to see if it sticks. You should tell us what stuff thats been posted you like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI1NgFYJCN4

(also holy shit this next song, I actually hadn't it before I went looking to post some of their other stuff... I guess its new)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHc6VmDHBnc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHrTOQ18yzU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs6JRxk1BNs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztvr09J7KK4

Aurora Borealis · June 2010

I can't stop listening to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNXwicxlsvI&playnext_from=TL&videos=WRm4d2mIMFU

KidDynamite · June 2010

8-)I'll just put some stuff up that I like.

Social Distortion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NWjehpGSO0

DJ Shadow (1st album "Endtroducing" is pretty amazing IMHO)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ld_tF1AXqs

These are from "Annie Mac Presents" which has been on some heavy rotation for me lately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZy631oC_Jc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk-AQ4O5KiI

La Roux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8eJh4i8Lo

And then that awesome remix (stick with it, it's coooool 8-))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFW4LqsTPO0

Ahh!!! I can't believe I left out the only answer.

Johnny Cash, his career spans like an eon, and it's all good and different. I heart Johnny Cash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M89c3hWx3RQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_uI1BUnzws

Chanus · June 2010

Oh man, DJ Shadow's Entroducing is possibly the best album of that entire genre, not to mention that it's a completely awesome album in its own right.

KidDynamite · June 2010

Chanus wrote: »

Oh man, DJ Shadow's Entroducing is possibly the best album of that entire genre, not to mention that it's a completely awesome album in its own right.

Agreed, Just put it on when you are cleaning the house, and you will find new things, or start liking songs you didn't before.

Too bad some of the newer stuff is so so. In Tune and on Time is pretty boss too.

LoneIgadzra · June 2010

I've always had a major soft spot for early Yes. Most other prog sounds hella lame to me in comparison (Dream Theater, for example, would be at home in a second-rate Disney movie a lot of the time but for the percussion style). You've probably heard "Roundabout" or "I've seen all good people" (or whatever that song is actually called) a dozen times or more on the radio (or maybe not in Australia?), so here's something a little different. Make sure to view these on youtube with "&fmt=18" on the end of the url.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6xNhksHyXI&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WunYz7Io-68&feature=related&fmt=18

Which Black Sabbath do you like, specifically? There are is major territory to explore in metal that isn't anything like stereotypical death metal. (Though it has been amusing to see that kind of thing become more appealing to me the longer I listen to metal.)

Lionhart617 · June 2010

The first thing that you need to do is stop saying "the bee's knees." Who the fuck says that? Just stop it.

Niceguy Myeye · June 2010

Seeing how you liked a bunch of older stuff like Temptations and Monkeys, have you checked into this frankie Valli beggin song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ykoFDTqla0

Basically a Polish DJ slightly edited it (think edit NOT remix) and now it gets thrown in some house sets now and again. It's not the boring crooning that the four seasons normally does and kind of soulful in a way and set to a breakbeat.

Also, if you want any techno (detroit, minimal, bangin, or whatnot) recommendations, let me know. Generally, people don't like that kind of stuff.

Well, I'll throw up a couple of techno sets just in case you don't hate it.

Detroit! 2 Hour set by Kevin Saunderson, who is best known for inventing techno along with 2 of his buddies
http://soundcloud.com/dexnfx/kevin-saunderson-space-ibiza-21st-july-2009

Minimal, techhouse, microhouse: 3 Hour Set by Claud VonStroke
http://soundcloud.com/djmixes/claude-von-stroke-bird-brain-album-tour-harry-klein-club-munchen-23-01-2010

Marcel Fengler of the Berghain club in Berlin does a 1 hour set for Resident Advisor. Berghain is kind of where there's a new rebirth of techno going on after so many years of stripping every down to minimal.

http://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?id=209

ransim · June 2010

EskimoDave · June 2010

LoneIgadzra wrote: »

Which Black Sabbath do you like, specifically? There are is major territory to explore in metal that isn't anything like stereotypical death metal. (Though it has been amusing to see that kind of thing become more appealing to me the longer I listen to metal.)

yeah, if you like the Dio years, then check out more of Dio. I love Dio, and I get sad whenever I think that he just died.

Pink Floyd is my favourite band, so I'm going recommend them. They have more songs than Money, and Another Brick in the Wall.

The Gold Its In The...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwDe7_bgjz4

The Nile Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok8eeJXllUE

See Emily Play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F94vHO7okZQ

Not Now John

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRnQ65J02XA

Terminal Frost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULfJyo1swhI

What Do You Want From Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmeKSU6JMHQ

FeatherBlade · June 2010

If you want to get into classical music, I would recommend The Canadian Brass. They are an excellent brass quartet? quintet?... group. "Go for Baroque" is the only album title I can remember right now.

Videos game soundtracks are great too. Some of my favorites are Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter, which has a somewhat industrial sound to it (and fantastic drumming), and Chrono Cross, which ranges in style from 18th century sea chanties to modern atmospheric music.

Desert_Eagle25 · June 2010

durandal4532 wrote: »

I have lame taste in music, and I acknowledge that.

I don't spend nearly enough time bothering to figure out who did what first or who did such and such best, and I end up enjoying music mostly 15 levels removed from the person who did it right.

But man, my girlfriend's MP3 player that I am borrowing is just even worse. It has embarrassed me into asking for help. If I get help, it's possible she might stop thinking Glee covers and circa 2008 pop-punk is the bee's knees.

So basically, what are good bands that I haven't heard? That means probably not played on the radio or at least not in the US. Hell, what are some musical genres that I may not have listened to? Also, what are the one-hit-wonders am I tapping along to influenced by? I am pretty sure, for instance, that "ain't no rest for the wicked" is basically wholesale ripping off someone, but I am not educated enough to know whom.

I think that is what concerns me most, that I am spending all my time getting jiggy and not even knowing that some rap music has swears.

I was just going to bang some stuff into Pandora, but it turns out you can't do that in Australia because it is a hellhole. Plus I guess people probably will be better anyways.

Try your hand at american jazz. There are a lot of amazing influences and a lot of different regional tastes. The new-age stuff is fantastic. Jaga Jazzist is a good place to start if you like the more new age stuff.

eternalbl · June 2010

If you go to Youtube, search for a video by an artist you like and start playing songs. Eventually you'll see 'Artist name Mix' on the right hand side. I have no idea how they come up with the connections, but they're pretty solid.

To cover hip hop, Tribe called quest, De la soul, Bone thugz n harmony, Gang Starr.

And in a similar vein to Noisia, mentioned by Ransim, Black Sun Empire is very similar and just as awesome.

Satsumomo · June 2010

My personal favorite way to find new artists is by using the radio funcion in Last.fm (Go to the artist's page, then click on "Listen "artist's radio" and it will play groups.

My second favorite and simplest way to find new music is by using Gnoosic.

Operator-C · June 2010

I figure it's possible you've never heard anything like this stuff. Hit or miss, you might like it:

Sunlounger ft. Zara - Lost (Club Mix) / Lost (Chillout Mix)

Sunlounger ft. Zara - Lost (Club Mix)
Sunlounger ft. Zara - Lost (Chillout Mix)

Sunlounger - Another Day on the Terrace (Chillout Mix)

Sunlounger - A Balearic Dinner

Sunlounger - Lumumba (Chillout Mix)

Sunlounger - Mediterranean Flower (Dance Mix) / Mediterranean Flower (Chillout Mix)

Sunlounger - Mediterranean Flower (Dance Mix)
Sunlounger - Mediterranean Flower (Chillout Mix)

Sunlounger (a.k.a. Roger Shah) is one of my all-time favorite music artists. I've been a fan of Trance for about a decade now, starting with Paul Oakenfold and moving onto ATB and Armin van Buuren and the like, but I practically fell in love when I first heard Roger Shah's work. I guess this is called Balearic Trance or Balearic Chillout. If you like this I recommend you check out his album Another Day on the Terrace, and then Sunny Tales. As you can tell, he does at least two mixes with his songs: dance and chillout. I prefer chillout most of the time, but that's just me.

Lemme tell you, if it wasn't for the Internet I never would have found this music.

And I agree with everyone above: there's no such thing as wrong music tastes...there's no such thing as wrong tastes period.

EDIT: Oh, and don't let the length of the songs turn you away from giving it a shot. In some songs it might take a while to buildup, so feel free to skip forward a little. I think a lot of dance music is like this for the sake of mixing purposes, so a DJ or another artist can use the song in compilations and such.