Upbeat music suggestions?


I am need of a good music infusion. Most of music is mainstream and, quite frankly, I'm in need of something new.

Typically I like upbeat "catchy" stuff. I listen to Rock (U2, VH etc), Blues (SRV, Cray, Beniot etc), Alternative/Techno (Depeche, Cranberries, Lush), Jazz (Miles etc), Pop, R+B and even Folk (Natalie Merchant, Joan Osborne etc).

I need some good suggestions for a breath of fresh air so that I may enjoy my music (and system) more often. I need it to be fairly upbeat though as I typically dislike downtrodden and melancholy types of music.

Guide me wise ones!

joew
Ska. For a more modern sound try 3rd wave stuff like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, Catch 22, Reel Big Fish, or Five Iron Frenzy.
BT - Movement in Still Life
Jane Monheit - In the Sun
Shootyz Groove - Hi Definition
P.M. Dawn - Jesus Wept
Planet X - Moonbabies
Remy Shand - The Way I Feel
Robert Fripp - Pie Jesu
J.S. Bach - Six Brandenburg Concertos
If you care to take a percussion trip try a Brent Lewis disc. "Jungle Moon" would be a good one to start with.
I'm cutting and pasting this to a Word Doc so I can print this and go down to the store and see what I can see! Thanks alot and keep the good ideas flowing.

It's gonna be a good weekend.

The Vinyl Kings - A Litte Trip (Almost a beatles reunion)
Linus Of Hollywood - Your Favorite Record Album (it will be)
Corey Harris/Henry Buttler - VU DU Menz (great blues duo)
Thomas Dolby - Aliens Ate My Buick (pop/funk/jazz)
Pink - Missunderstood (it will suprise you)
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Behind the Music (great pop)
Burton Garr - Mighty Long Road (a truley great uptemp blues)
Soundtrack to Magnolia - (Amiee Mann songs)
Dr John - Creole Moon (his best to date)
Dweller,Speaking of Shake'Em on Down.The 1st Track on The Album by The "North Mississipi Allstars" -Shake hands with Shorty"is Shake'Em on Down!..Highly Recommended Slide,Blues/Rock CD,To say the very least!..I would even say an Essential Blues Album!..Not exactly sitt'in on the front porch Blues,They Rock!Duanne Allman Fans alert!JD
I wholly agree with Bundee1. The Flaming Lips "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" is great.
Crazy4blues is also right. You shouldn't miss Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party".
One addition, No Doubt's "Rock Steady" is not to be missed.
Bluegrass/poprock - New Grass Revival - "Best Of", exxcellent stuff, features Bela Fleck on banjo, Sam Bush on fiddle/mandolin and great soulful vocals. This is not typical "hillbilly" bluegrass, it it rock bluegrass! How about Del Amitri - "Change Everything" is excellet poprock. Luther Allison - "Live in Chigago", great blues, very upbeat fun stuff. Good luck!
Sugar Cubes: Life's Too Good
Spin Doctors: Pocket Full of Kryptonite
Sundays: Blind
This weekend, don't forget to "Shake 'em on down"...
Here are 6 suggestions that run the gamut ...

Jazz Instrumental
Mark O'Connor (In Full Swing)

Jazz Vocal
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (Ella and Louis Again)
Frank Sinatra (Songs for Swinging Lovers)

Bluegrass/Folk
Old and In the Gray
Nanci Griffith (Winter Marquee)

Rock
Peter Wolf (Sleepless)

Regards, Rich
Look no further than "big beat" electronic....such as

Chemical Brothers: Dig your own Hole
The Crystal Method: Vegas
Propellarheads
Fatboy Slim: you've come a long ways, baby....

all essential, upbeat, funky workouts...great stuff...
Just got a copy of "Tremulous Antenna" by Be Bop Deluxe. This is a live BBC concert. Some of their earlier stuff is reminiscent of early Bowie. I have constantly heard their music classified as "Glam", but I disagree! Bill Nelson is probably the best "unrecognized" guitarist of our age. Many players are exceptional; Bill Nelson is one of a small number that can make a guitar "sing"! I saw Be Bop Deluxe live in Miami in 1977--the "Live in the Air Age" tour. One of the LOUDEST I've ever attended. But the highlight was the 2nd. and last song of the encore. He did a cover of Hendricks' "Purple Haze". A pretty balls-y move, leaving yourself open to comparison with the master. Unbelievably, except for the difference in voice, when I listened to Bill playing guitar, I swore that it sounded as if Jimmy had risen from the grave! It wasn't just a cover version, IT WAS HENDRICKS!!! There's one for sale on ebay (new) for $15- with "buy it now." GRAB IT!
The Raveonettes-Whip it on.Their Debut EP 8-Killer upbeat Tracks.On E-Bay for 5 0r 6 Bucks.Very cool Hot New Band!They Whip it on! Ease away from Mainstream and take a deep breath,A whole lot of good stuff out there thats a little deeper and a Whole lot better.Electronic Music has the most interesting music going on in the Rock world IMHO.Flaming Lips,Radiohead,Air,Peace Orchestra.Mercury Rev-Deserter's Song Rocks[Good old Fashioned Killer Guitar on song The Funny Bird]Stunning!Listen to some of these on Amazon.com.Listen to a good College station for new stuff...JD
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
Quite catchy, well recorded, really good, critically thumbs-up, clean guitar-based pop/rock.

Polyphonic Spree - The Beginning Stages of...
Around 20 band members, including a chior, unique, overty happy, simple songs. Much better live, if you get the chance.

Ladytron - 604, and Light & Magic
80s-type synth w/ female vocals. Albums are too long, but have enough good stuff to buy. Good for DM fans.

Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
If you haven't heard of this: Heavier rock than any bands you listened, but I think you might like. Really cool, non-depressing album.
Oops almost forgot The Flaming Lips "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots". A kind of futuristic humans versus robots concept album. Great sonics, quirky lyrics. Made me feel like a kid again.
I just bought the APHEX TWIN selected ambient works '85-'92. Very upbeat almost pretty electronic music you can dance to.