Hopefully this thread will lead us all to new non-commercialized things to listen to. There is a ton of talent hiding out there so here we go, lets uncover some!
Hacienda Brothers. Twang all the way with a touch of south of the boarder, some blues and some rockabilly sometimes all in the same song (it works trust me). They have , among others, Dave Gonzolas, the guitarist for the Palidans (rockabilly hardcores) a great pedal player and Chris Gafney doing vocals. First album just came out. Definately a live show band.
Dave Alvin great songwriting IMO. every song tells a story and most of them aint happy. Covers roots rock, country, blues. Museam of hearts is a good start as is king of california.
Curtis Salgodo. Another live show guy. The songs are good but the recordings don't carry his passion. not to say the recordings aren't good. Soul, R&B and Blues. has done stints with roomfull of blues and santana.
Tinsley Ellis. king of blues and Blues rock. great playing, great voice and usually great songs. Would smoke Clapton on a bad night IMO. Killer live shows and the recordings carry the ball as well.
Afro Celt Sound System Celtic music blended with electronic under tutalidge, if not leadership, of Peter Gabriel.
Sonia Dada. white chicago rock band meets black street singer group and the rest is history. Great live, great late at night loud. Kida funky, kida soulfull. Vocals as you might expect are very good.
Ray Condo and the Ricochets. Unfortunately Ray passed last year so live shows are out. Too bad because the consistantly rate as some of the most fun i've ever seen. Country Swing and honky tonk.
Danny Gatton and (i'm in a big brain fade here on the first name. Robert i think. age sucks) Gordon "The humbler." OK among guitar players he ain't unknown and being rated as a god by guitarists and winning guitar players best player selection ain't exactly underrated he fits based on being called the workds greatist unknown guitarist. Jaw dropping rockabilly here and it was only their 4th gig together. The soundman at a one night gig knew he was on to something so he grabbed a take of the night. Unfortunately Danny couldn't overcome the blues and did himself in a number of years ago.
Re-read the original post and got me thinking. Was listening to the Hacienda Brothers' debut album today, great band, straight up honkytonk/country rock. A strange mix of Mex and techno: Nortec Collective. "Tijuana Sessions Vol 3 is my favorite. Also to follow up on my recent "discovery" of Concrete Blonde, "Mexican Moon" is every bit as good as "Bloodletting", sometimes rocking harder. This band is not what I expected them to be, they have recently been fulfilling most of my hard rock cravings.
Pharaoh, a metal band out of Philadelphia. Their album "The Longest Night" rates in my top ten all time.
Historically, there were a couple of bands; Medieval out of Kalamazoo and Starfighters out of England that never seemed to make it, that regularly hit my play list.
Originally from Turkey and great for sure... on par w/ McLaughlin, Coryell or early Pat Martino. Wish his recordings were easier to find, (even youtube doesn't have anything). I loaned out Hot Cargo and never got it back. The Guitar Plus recording is probably the easiest one to find but it doesn't give you a lot of his best stuff.
Back again, miss me? I've been listening to three very different female artists lately: Brandi Carlile "The Story", "Bloodletting" by Concrete Blonde with lead singer/bass Johnette Napolitano, and Nina Hagan "NUNSEXMONKROCK". First to last could not be more different, all crazy good.
The kid: My friend Mike and I are going to the Nats game at 7 on the 29th, then straight up to the 9:30 Club for the Westerberg show, since the doors open at 10. THAT'S the way to go out in DC!
Back in college (late 1970s), friends and I listened to Reverberi an (I think) Italian, keyboards-based group that did jazzy, mostly instrumental interpretations of classical music. I do remember that one of the LPs had a female vocalist w/ one of the sexiest voices you'd ever want to hear. Unfortunately, haven't heard them in years, as I could never find them on CD and the LPs weren't mine. Anyone have any clues?
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have recreated JB-style funk in their own image. Great, horn-driven hard funk arrangements. Tight, propulsive, original bass lines. Sharon Jones is a tough-as-nails, take no prisoners front woman. Simply outrageous!
I am a huge Westerberg fan as well and am actually getting to see him the 29th at the 930 Club here in DC which is a small venue. I grew up listening to the Replacements and he is an incredible artist.
Also, check out Colin Hay's solo work. He was the front man from Men at Work. His solo efforts are sensational IMO.
I would also recommend checking out Ryan Adams, The Stereophonics, and Bill Janovitz(from Buffalo Tom). All stellar acts which IMO are putting out some incredible music.
If you have heard of them also check out The Damnwells, Mike Doughty, Pitty Sing, and Elliot Smith.
Garland Jeffries, rock/reggae/soul. Excellent music, "GhosT Writers" is probably his best.
Butts Band - Only had two albums, you can get both on one cd from Amazon. Robby Kreiger and John Densmore from the Doors were in this band after Jim died.
Captain Beyond - rock band from the early 70's. Really good psychedelic rock.
Tom Rush - folky from the hippy days. Great storytelling folk. Get the Best of LP if you can find it, it is really well recorded. Much better than the cd of his best hits.
Here's a few of my favorites I don't see mentioned often here:
Philip Catherine - Jazz Guitar I originally purchased "Nairam" while in college in the 70's. Recently picked up 3 other cd's off of Amazon.com. Nairam is a unique piece, and I can't find it on cd
I second Strawbs, and PFM as mentioned above by Blkadr. I'm a big fan of both.
One more 70's prog band I see hardly ever mentioned is "Illusion" Jane Relf's voice is angelic and sultry at the same time. The songs are great too.
And how about Gene Clark. Aside from his work with the Birds and (I think) Flying Burrito Brothers, he did some fantastic solo stuff. Alas he died before we got much solo. His solo album "No Other" is one of my most played albums. It was finally released on CD in 2003 - and includes 2 versions of each song. I have one album
Beatlebum, thanks for the recommendations. And to everyone else, as well. I use these threads as a resource for music shopping.
Others for the list: Guided by Voices--powerhouse rock band, echoes of The Who Matthew Sweet--pop master XTC--who haven't they influenced? Richard Buckner--folk with tension Throwing Muses--"Limbo" is a masterpiece, IMO.
The Duhks - self titled young band from Winnapeg, produced by Bela Fleck who guests as well as Edger Meyer, Victor Wooton and others. The first track 'Death Came a Knockin' will hook you. You will hear them, might as well get it now.
Amy Correia - 'Lakeville' Understated singer/writer, when from prison she tells her child to 'Hold On' you may be surprised how she touches you.
Mary Gauthier - 'Mercy Now' with a crawling spokenword style she paints the kind of picture...'Wheel Inside the Wheel' "Souls ain't born, souls dont die...soul ain't made of earth, ain't made of water, ain't made of sky"...
Tony Joe White - remember the classic swamp song 'Polk Salad Annie'(give this a listen with new ears)? One guest artist Shelby Lynn does this song in her shows now. Well hes still around, and his last release 'The Heroines' suggests hes still got it. Some great tunes form the swamp king.
Now something else old - the Strawbs. From Brit folk band roots to sometimes heavy electric this is one of my favorites. I just saw these guys do an acoustic show a few months ago, last time I saw them before was about 30 years ago. From 'Dragonfly' to 'Grave New World' to 'Bursting at the Seams' to 'Hero and Heroine' to 'Ghosts' some of their later albums were weak but I always loved the way they could in one line go from sweet and beautiful to dark and dread.
And now for those of us who loved early King Crimson a couple albums that I love are from the Italian band that ELPs label produced - PFM. Premiata Forneria Marconi 1973 and 74 albums both featured lyrics by Pete Sinfield. Start with 'Photos of Ghosts' and then a little harder with 'The World Became the World'. Fabulous musicians and creative writing.
Sample some of this stuff and see what you think. A lot of whats posted above I have heard, a lot I plan on checkng out. Great thread.
I also agree on the Beth Orton. All of hers is great! Beatlebum and Ozfly, you guys must be or at some time lived in good ole North Carolina? Christine Kane is excellant! Check out " The Waifs"!
"The Waifs" They're an independent,so you wont hear about them unless you have a good college NPR station. They're from the land down under and anything you can find is great the latest live album "A Brief History" is just great!
Similar age and taste Beatlebum. I turned 40 in Septemeber. Love the Tubes. I thought my musical taste would change as I got older. It has with regards to what I am open to but I am still into the same type of stuff I looked for when I was in my early 20s. I think there is a lot of really good music being made today. I find my stuff through internet radio or browsing through Borders headphones.
Other notables I have caught on to over the past few years:
Grandaddy Beachwood Sparks The Shins The Stills Tin Star My Morning Jacket AC Newman Franz Ferdinand Modest Mouse The Walkmen The Damnwells Stereophonics
It is really nice to see that there are more people, who like Paul Westerberg. From a european point of view I would like to add a few, in my opinion underrated musicians/bands.: Pavement Midway Still SONIC YOUTH Posies Nick Cave Adam Green Jeff Buckeley Josh Rouse The American Analog Set Clinic Elvis Costello Wilco
All of these artist have multiple superb albums with Ocean Colour Scene just releasing another. Have seen all but Lloyd Cole live and they are all superb.
Best bets -
The Samples - "The Samples","No Room", "Last Drag", "Auto Pilot" plus Jeep Macnichol's (former standout drummer) last solo "Cool and Easy, he shows the original Samples line up was much more than Sean Kelly. Jeep has a new one due out soon www.jeepmusic.com for some free downloads.
Ocean Colour Scene - "B Sides C Sides and Free Rides" - "Marchin' Already", "Molsey Shoals". Just a great english band with true heart and soul poured into their 70s rock/folk style.
Lloyd Cole - Just about anything he has done is very good. One of the best songwriters no one knows about. (agree on Paul W. also)
Dont gorget Guster and Travis two of the best relatively young bands out there not making it huge in the US although they have some commercial success. Each have a live DVD out (Travis has two) that is simply incredible to watch and listen to.
Dan Bern, his stuff is funny, touching, satirically biting. Sometimes all in the same song. Also Patrick Park. My daughter let me borrow "Loneliness Knows My Name,' and she's not getting it back. It's kind of a throwback sound, check it out.
Nice to know that there are some other Paul Westerberg fans out there. My only beef with Westerberg is that the sound quality on many of his recordings is lacking. The more money I sink into my 2 channel system, the more apparent become the flaws in his recordings.
As I age (currently 40), I'm opening really up to other genre's... most notably jazz and classical. But I'll aways have a place in my heart for Westerberg.
Christine Kane -- she has about four cd's. Good music, wonderful lyrics, very poetic in a folksy/earthy/next-door kind of way. Great voice! I first heard her perform for the North Carolina Dance Theatre and I've been a big fan since.
Norton Buffalo Joe Weed (especially The Vultures) Kim Wilson Quetzal Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra John Prine (still largely overlooked) Bonzo Dog Band (Neil Innes)
I *very* much second Westerberg. Commercial success...so close, but yet so far. When he threw down an f-bomb on Saturday Night Live in the late '80's, it cemented that he/The Mats would never achieve true popular acclaim, but it also ensured that his/their cult following would never go away.
Thanks for listing that album by Heather Eatman, Neubilder. Now I know specifically what to buy. If anyone wants suggestions of which albums to buy from artists listed above, feel free to ask. I should have done that when I first posted.
Heather Eatman. I'll just use an excerpt from a review that does a very good job of describing her music: "(Mascara Falls - her debut album)...has the touch of a weathered, worldly storyteller. Her songs/stories have bright and dark sides which aren't necessarily evident until one really listens past her fairly bright and happy-sounding voice. If you like songwriters who can paint pictures and create a story that leaps into being (Tom Waits, Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Christine Lavin, etc) then you shouldn't miss out on Heather Eatman." To satisfy the audiophile in you, her music is also very well recorded/produced. I recommend starting with her debut described above. I have diverse taste in music ranging from Classical to IDM/electronica and Heather E. grips me every time. Great music for road trips through the rural mid-west, or simply being transported from the comfort of your listening room.
Great bands, Beatlebum. Used to see Anodyne regularly in Seattle. Lead singer was the singer in That Petrol Emotion. What Kathleen Edwards album would you recommend?
Love Grant Lee Buffalo as well. "Copperopolis" is such a powerful album. Howard
I was going to say Waterboys, Ben, but just read your fine review of "This is the Sea", which remains in my top-10 all-time favorites to this day. Thanks for the link. Excellent site. Howard
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