New Music

[Bub, Andrew]

Since the "lack of anything good today" is being bemoaned in another thread, and since I like to sample (I do pirate music, I have no illusions about this, but I also do buy what I really like) I thought I'd ask for some of this board's readers musical selections. The more obscure the better.

I'll go first:

I've been digging The White Stripes and Interpol, what little I've heard anyway. I know that's trendy and all but....

I like Bowie's new one Heathen quite a bit. (This one I bought)

I'd never really listened to anything by Elvis Costello before. I like it.+

I've grown a small crush on Cibo Matto's Miho Hatori, this was unexpected, I even bought both discs because of it.

Maybe due to Black Hawk Down I've been on an Arabian and Middle Eastern music kick. Some traditional and even some pop. Cheb Mami is a favorite.

I've been downloading a lot of Edith Piaf for some reason.

Anyway, I'm particularly interested in interesting foreign stuff. Suggestions?

[chet]

I think white stripes always sounds too sloppy. For a really tight ugly two man band, look for flat duo jets.

Check out amon tobin. Look for the tracks slowly or sorid - all of his stuff is great but most people can latch on to those two before the check out the rest of his stuff.

I really went through a period of female singers. Ends up I like Lisa Germano, hooverphonic (those of you with adelphia cable, they used one of their songs for the video on demand commercial), emilana torrini (some of her stuff really, really sucks, other stuff is really good), i suggest "weird friendless kid".

Another foreign band (or person I have no idea) Kid Loco look for Youpi. I also like the band Air (both of these are french, i think).

And if you have never heard of them, check out chrome - almost all of their songs are available online. look for "Meet you in the subway"

Chet

[chet]

Forgot to add - if you want music that fits really hot ugly weather, get son house . Look for the Complete Library Of Congress Sessions. His later produced stuff is not nearly as good. you can tell if there is another instrument besides the guitar, it isn't the right recording.


Chet

[Brad Grenz]

I picked up both Phantom Planet and Ben Kweller's CDs recently and they're both great.

[Dirt]

"(I do pirate music, I have no illusions about this, but I also do buy what I really like)"

Hey, corporations (big and small) pirate (and profit from) your personal information everyday. Give and take. God bless America.

[Anonymous]

Anyway, I'm particularly interested in interesting foreign stuff. Suggestions?

Any of the recent 'Rough Guide' releases on World Music Network are worth buying,and aren't hard to find-I would particularly recommend the 'Rough Guide to Franco','Rough Guide to Haiti',and 'Rough Guide to Cumbia'.I'm certain the reggae release is good also,but I think I already have all of the tracks on that one,so I skipped it.

Very good samplers,and some of the stuff on them is hard to find independently,to boot.

Mike

[Brian Rucker]

Ah, I don't know nothin' from nothin' anymore. But my brother, who runs a small studio, thinks he does. He says the stuff to watch for is Icelandic and Swedish pop. I have a CD he gave me by a band called Lokomotiv which sounds like a cross between XTC and Jesus Jones. (I think I may have posted about them before). It's quite good - but it's not mindbendingly original though I did catch them live in Richmond and they've certainly got stage presence. A happy bunch of very odd Viking new wavers indeed.

[Tyjenks]

Ah, I don't know nothin' from nothin' anymore. But my brother, who runs a small studio, thinks he does. He says the stuff to watch for is Icelandic and Swedish pop.

Someone just gave me a pop rap/rock CD buy Quarashi. They are pretty catchy and the Icelandic. They had a song on the Orange County soundtrack: "Stick 'em Up".

Who knew?

[Dave Long]

All I've been listening to for the last two weeks is the new Halford CD, Crucible. Heavy Metal at its finest.

--Dave

[Sean Tudor]

I have been listening to Rammstein's Mutter for the last couple of weeks. There is something totally disgusting but totally addictive about Rammstein's music.

Some favourite tracks include : Mutter, Ich Will, Zwitter, Böse, Links 234, and Sonne.

I am definitely plugging these tracks into my GTA3 radio station.

[Anonymous]

The Flaming Lips, gentlemen (and Sparky).
An awesomely weird band, with a new CD--Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots--coming out any day, I think. You can hear it online now, already. But if you don't own THe Soft Bulletin, that's the one you want to start with. Kinda like ELO meets the Butthole Surfers.

Also, thanks to young Thierry Nguyen, I've been listening to Deltron 3000, and am now determined to pick up everything produced/masterminded by Dan the Automator, cuz ay caramba do his records rule.

[Thierry Nguyen]

I've been digging the Hives (a friend recommended Veni Vidi Vicious, and I borrowed Robert Coffey's copy), in addition to other trendy bands like White Stripes and Strokes. I also still have Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot spinning in my player.

Got introduced to the Flaming Lips via the online stream of the new album. Gonna pick up that and DJ Shadow's The Private Press.

Icelandic-wise, I picked up Sigur Ros' Agaetis Byrjun in summer of 2000, well before they became trendy in Rolling Stone write-ups, Cameron Crowe movies, and episodes of CSI. This is the sole "I been listening to these guys before they hit it big" anecdote I have, as I tend to discover bands well past their trendiness quotient (I only discovered the Pixies after freakin' Fight Club).

Other Dan The Automator albums:
Gorillaz
Deltron 3030
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Lovage
Wanna Buy A Monkey? (have not listened to)
A Much Better Tomorrow (haven't heard this one either)

[Anonymous]

Maybe I'm just old, but this new generation of garage bands is not exactly bowling me over right now. I like The White Stripes, cuz that guy seems like a genuine smartass, but The Strokes and The Hives....I dunno. Actually, I need to hear the Hives more--only heard it once, but it just didn't seem to be anything that The Ramones weren't doing 25 years ago (and get off my lawn!). I can't tell if they'd be popular at all right now if it weren't for the novelty of them being Swedish. The Strokes--I dug that CD at first, but now its derivitaveness is really annoying me.

I was off the Wilco wagon for awhile, but am back on board with Yankee Foxtrot Hotel, which is just awesome. Makes me think I gotta go get Summer Teeth now.

[Bub, Andrew]

Thanks everyone, I've liked almost everything suggested. I agree with Jeff about the Stripes being better than the Strokes n' Hives and I'll just steal his reasoning as to why.

Anyone check out Tom Wait's latest (or one of his latest) Alice? I liked what I downloaded so I'm having Amazon send me the disc. Sounds like whiskey/insomnia music to me.

[Anonymous]

If you like Alice get The Black Rider.

[Anonymous]

I love White Stripes, but The Hives and Strokes just seem really overrated to me. The Veni Vidi Vicious just sounds like a very produced New Bomb Turks--that's nice but I don't understand all the press they're getting.

[Sparky]

Maybe I'm just old, but this new generation of garage bands is not exactly bowling me over right now.

I agree wholeheartedly, though I am not quite as old and decrepit as yourself. I am, however, still old and decrepit enough to be listening to the same Van Halen album over and over again instead of listening to anything new. Wait -- I liked the new Rush album, does that count?

Yeah, didn't think so.

[Anonymous]

Hell, I've just been to see The Flaming Lips. I'm still smiling.

Who wants to touch me?

[Anonymous]

Hell, I've just been to see The Flaming Lips. I'm still smiling.

I do!
So what were they like? Never seen 'em live.

Did they do Freebird?

[Anonymous]

The same Guest as above.

Glitter; funky video projections of topless kickboxers, scenes from classic movies, and Bernstein conducting nuclear bomb explosions; big balloons filled with glitter bouncing round the crowd; monkey glove puppets; most of the band dressed in animal suits; big fuck-off glitterballs; a Kylie cover; and much, much fun...

[Chris Floyd]

The Flaming Lips live are a show I could almost recommend to anyone, even if they have never heard of the band. Well orchestrated films projected behind them, fake blood, a punching nun puppet, and GONGS. You can't go wrong. I'm set to see them at Red Rocks on their tour with Cake and Modest Mouse coming up here at the beginning of August. Previously I've seen them in small venues, so it'll be interesting to see if they can pull off the magic in a larger space.

Anyway, if you like Cake or something and have been debating going to see the Unlimited Sunshine Tour, the Flaming Lips will make it all worth while. Silly props and costumes are encouraged by the band!

[Anonymous]

If they do the same thing in the States as they did in London last night, the gong has been retired, as has the boxing nun, to be replaced by a monkey puppet and a live drummer.

[Xaroc]

Maybe I'm just old, but this new generation of garage bands is not exactly bowling me over right now.

I agree wholeheartedly, though I am not quite as old and decrepit as yourself. I am, however, still old and decrepit enough to be listening to the same Van Halen album over and over again instead of listening to anything new. Wait -- I liked the new Rush album, does that count?

Yeah, didn't think so.

Hell yeah that counts! :) I went and saw them on Tuesday night in god forsaken northern Virginia (nice 1:30 minute drive home). The concert was awesome. Nothing like 3 hours of Rush to put me in my happy place. My son the aspiring drummer had the binoculars at the ready and was blown away by the not-quite so decrepit Mr. Peart. Highlights were Natural Science, La Villa Strangiato, Vital Signs, Cygnus X-1, Neil's reworked drum solo, and the acoustic version of Resist. I get giddy just thinking about it all.

BTW, I think it would be a killer idea for bands to do DVDs of their concerts, it can just be one location of the show for a given tour with special views included. For Rush it would be the general camera and camera's locked on each of the guys in the band. Shouldn't be too hard to do and they could sell them for like $20-30 on a website. I am sure they would make decent money on them. They could wait until after the tour was over to do this just to make sure this doesn't canabalize ticket sales (not that I think it would matter that much anyway).

-- Xaroc

[Anonymous]

Anyway, if you like Cake or something and have been debating going to see the Unlimited Sunshine Tour, the Flaming Lips will make it all worth while. Silly props and costumes are encouraged by the band!

I wish the Lips were just doing their own show, though. Seeing them in the middle of a festival lineup makes me worry that they'll just have an abbreviated set, especially since they're not headlining.

I think I'm gonna hold out and hope they return for their own show....

Jeff

[Met_K]

This thread makes me want to blow my head off and put the entrails in a blender, then drop the slush down my throat. Then I'll proceed to shit out my own bodily fluids that I turned into slush, then further slushed. Then I'll start slinging my completely self-made slush-shit at all of you. Then, when I'm convinced I've shit and peed enough that all of you are incoherent because of my Super Shit, I'll proceed to go and pelt the record industry with used cassette tapes until it falls into submission.

Music today might not suck to the degree that some people say it does, but Jesus Christ. I hate to be close-minded and say all your opinions are fucked, but seriously, they are. Seriously. No, really. I'm taking the shotgun to my head now. Pulling the trigger with my to... *KABLAM.*

[wumpus]

Don't tease us.

[Sean Tudor]

Music today might not suck to the degree that some people say it does, but Jesus Christ. I hate to be close-minded and say all your opinions are fucked, but seriously, they are. Seriously. No, really. I'm taking the shotgun to my head now. Pulling the trigger with my to... *KABLAM.*

Yeah come on Met_K - tell us what your opinions/music tastes are. I know you want to baby ! Let it all out !

[Met_K]

Yeah come on Met_K - tell us what your opinions/music tastes are. I know you want to baby ! Let it all out !

I don't listen to music.


Don't tease us.

I forgot to mention that I would be blowing your head off with a howitzer first, didn't I? I'd be taking out not only the most annoying person in the gaming community, but the most up-front troll, as well. I'll give you one guess as to which of those you are, and I'll even give you a hint: Don't respond to this post, I'll be winning.

Thanks for playing, bucko.

[Chris Johnson]

I realize that Eminem declared techno "dead", but I've been listening to quite a bit of D&B music - dieselboy and DJ Dan to be specific. I'm guessing that Tom Wait fans wouldn't be interested though :D Great music to play while conducting boring web page duties.

[Tyjenks]

Is it wrong for me to still be listening to angry nu metal bands at my age of 32 and having a wife and daughter?

[Sparky]

Is it wrong for me to still be listening to angry nu metal bands at my age of 32 and having a wife and daughter?

As a matter of fact, yes. It says here that you're only allowed "...Hootie And The Blowfish, Zamfir, Paula Abdul, John Tesh, and anything from the Windham Hill catalog." Also, Disney's "Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted Mansion", if you still have the original on vinyl and it's not too scratched.

[Tyjenks]

Is it wrong for me to still be listening to angry nu metal bands at my age of 32 and having a wife and daughter?

As a matter of fact, yes. It says here that you're only allowed "...Hootie And The Blowfish, Zamfir, Paula Abdul, John Tesh, and anything from the Windham Hill catalog." Also, Disney's "Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted Mansion", if you still have the original on vinyl and it's not too scratched.

So let me make sure I am clear on this:

No more of Korn's "Wake up the Hate"?

[Bub, Andrew]

I'm guessing that Tom Wait fans wouldn't be interested though :D Great music to play while conducting boring web page duties.

I've downloaded some samples of almost every suggestion in this thread (and a lot of them have turned out to be techno), so far not too unpleasant and I appreciate the suggestions immensely.

I've recently become a Tom Waits fan and caught up on a lot of Bob Dylan, I'm dabbling with Warren Zevon as well. I've also learned that the White Stripes sound like a sick cat in heat until roughly the 3rd or 4th listen, then they become your favorite songs ever (Little Bird, a few others and ESPECIALLY China Pig - very credible blues there). I don't think they sound punk at all, they sound like they're the second coming of Ray Davies and The Kinks to me.

Btw. Thanks for the Jack Johnson suggestion. To whoever made it.

[Anonymous]

No more of Korn's "Wake up the Hate"?

TURN OFF MTV NOW! Before its too late!

[Anonymous]

"White Stripes sound like a sick cat in heat until roughly the 3rd or 4th listen, then they become your favorite songs ever"

That's the way I feel about listening to cats fuck, too... Used to hate it. Now I tape it and trade the recordings on Kazaa.

[Sean Tudor]

What is the state of mainstream American music at the moment ?

All we see over here in Australia is carbon copies of the same African American hardship and angst-type music and Britney Spears-lookalikes.

Is Kylie Minogue popular over in the USA ?

[Brian Rucker]

What is the state of mainstream American music at the moment ?

All we see over here in Australia is carbon copies of the same African American hardship and angst-type music and Britney Spears-lookalikes.

Is Kylie Minogue popular over in the USA ?

I'm first going to disqualify myself as an expert, I don't care about mainstream music anymore or pay attention, and then answer anyhow. The most excited I get is when I hear a new band, usually alternative, that sounds almost as good as the band, usually progressive (new wave's afterbirth), that inspired them. The last really original 'mainstream' sounds that got me hopeful came from Beck. Moby does some interesting stuff too. And here's the rub, they're both very desconstructionist in that they are so introspective about music and their influences that all their songs are almost naval gazing studies of those influences. Thankfully, they're creative and often fun interpretations.

[Anonymous]

I've also learned that the White Stripes sound like a sick cat in heat until roughly the 3rd or 4th listen, then they become your favorite songs ever (Little Bird, a few others and ESPECIALLY China Pig - very credible blues there).
That's about as accurate a description as I've seen. I love 'em.

If you're digging them, try to find The Mooney Suzuki on your favorite file sharing utility. Try "In a Young Man's Mind"... they're definetely doing a full-on MC5 sorta thing, minus the politics. I think most of their songs are about girls, or being in a band, or being in a band full of girls or something.

[Matthew Gallant]

The most excited I get is when I hear a new band, usually alternative, that sounds almost as good as the band, usually progressive (new wave's afterbirth), that inspired them.

I remember that a few people had some criticism of Jamiroquai back when Virtual Insanity was a hit; they complained they "sounded like a Stevie Wonder rip-off". That's why I liked them though, because Stevie Wonder isn't making any new Stevie Wonder songs nowadays. Jamiroquai weren't carbon-copies, they just had the same feel. I think the people who complained just didn't like Stevie Wonder-- which makes them stupid, of course.

[Bub, Andrew]

That's about as accurate a description as I've seen. I love 'em.

Why thank you Steve. What about comparing them to The Kinks? If you listen to some of their (The Kinks) sixties live stuff, there's a comparison - and not just in Davies voice). I really don't get the 80's punk thing I remember seeing in articles about The White Stripes because to me they sound like edgy 60's Brit pop. (Come to think of it, those articles might have been about The Strokes.)



If you're digging them, try to find The Mooney Suzuki on your favorite file sharing utility. Try "In a Young Man's Mind"... they're definetely doing a full-on MC5 sorta thing, minus the politics. I think most of their songs are about girls, or being in a band, or being in a band full of girls or something.

I'll give it a go. Plus, I think the Stripes are going in the Amazon bin soon.

[Met_K]

White Stripes are horrible. The Kinks are okay. I'd rather listen to a basement full of cats in heat than to White Stripes. Anyone who says they're good has listened to neither Local H nor Tenacious D, two bands both with only two people who are much more talented than White Stripes.

Oh, what am I talking about. White Stripes aim their music at the age of the general person who visits this group. So does Jack Johnson. It's extremely easy to spot a band who's aiming for the older market because they have a slightly more 70's sound to them while still retaining their alternative, teenage playfulness.

[Bub, Andrew]

White Stripes are horrible. The Kinks are okay. I'd rather listen to a basement full of cats in heat than to White Stripes.

Didn't you hear me? You have to listen to them four times before they stop sounding like that.

[Met_K]

White Stripes are horrible. The Kinks are okay. I'd rather listen to a basement full of cats in heat than to White Stripes.

Didn't you hear me? You have to listen to them four times before they stop sounding like that.

*twitch* I must... resist...

Argh, no matter how much I try and resist liking that one song with the catchy intro riff, I just can't help it. *runs off crying* The bad man made me like White Stripes!

But seriously, all joking aside from my last post, it is interesting how White Stripes tend to engineer their music for the older music fans. Most people who're 18, 19, 15, or the likes, won't buy the album. But I know quite a few people who're 28, 35, 32, or even 25 that have. It's quite astonishing.

And since no one took the trollbait of saying The Kinks are only ok, gah. They're good. Much better than the Beatles. But I hate the Beatles, so that's kind of an unfair comparison. Note: This refers to latter-day Kinks songs, after they got rid of their R&B flair and shit. Kinks doing R&B still is only ok.

And if you like concept albums and psychadelia, I might suggest Local H's third album 'Pack Up The Cats.' Really, really, good. :)

[Anonymous]

White Stripes are horrible. The Kinks are okay. I'd rather listen to a basement full of cats in heat than to White Stripes. Anyone who says they're good has listened to neither Local H nor Tenacious D, two bands both with only two people who are much more talented than White Stripes.
Um, I've heard Local H and Tenacious D, and I like the White Stripes a lot more than both of those bands, though the comparison to Tenacious D is weird. (How about Captain & Tenille? Seals & Croft? Hall & Oates?) Local H is a good comparison, and a good band too.

How many White Stripes records have you listened to? They have three of them, you know, not just "Fell in Love With a Girl," which is probably the least respresentative of their general sound.

[Met_K]

Um, I've heard Local H and Tenacious D, and I like the White Stripes a lot more than both of those bands, though the comparison to Tenacious D is weird. (How about Captain & Tenille? Seals & Croft? Hall & Oates?) Local H is a good comparison, and a good band too.

How many White Stripes records have you listened to? They have three of them, you know, not just "Fell in Love With a Girl," which is probably the least respresentative of their general sound.

Considering I've made my career in the record industry, I'd imagine that I'd be making informed opinions, and have heard all their albums. I still stand by what I said. Their catchy guitar riffs grow on me, but that is it. The vocals are horrible, the drums are just... Jesus Christ, can you say the girl is a gimick? White Stripes are a gimick band. Gimick sounds. Gimick music. Gimick lyrics. They're like Weezer, just not as shitty. Their guitar riffs are catchy, and that is _that_.

And I was comparing two-man bands who are new. Well, not new, but are from the 90's. I dislike White Stripes, and gave comparisons. If you want, I can launch into a complete dissertation of why I dislike their sound and what they stand for, but it's much easier for me to simply say I dislike them.

In addendum, I like psychadelia, progressive rock, and just plain hard rock. Soft rock and just regular "rock and roll," which White Stripes fall under, is not really my bag. I don't dig it. I have never digged it. And I will never dig it. To me, there is _nothing_ special about Beatles-esque rock and roll.

[Thierry Nguyen]

Michel Gondry's video for "Fell In Love With A Girl" is awesome.

[Bub, Andrew]

Why are you guys talking about Tenacious D like they're a real band? I mean, of course they're a "real band"... but they're a real band like Mad Magazine is a real magazine. They're a parody band. Comparing them to The White Stripes (or to Seals & Croft) is like saying:

"You know something, The Onion isn't nearly as newsworthy as The News York times."

The D is Spinal Tap with a much better sense of how to wickedly parody 70's Prog Rock and with liberal use of the word motherfucker. Steve gets the joke, but I'm thinking Mr. "I work in the music industry" doesn't.

[Brad Grenz]

Much better than the Beatles. But I hate the Beatles, so that's kind of an unfair comparison.

And you don't like Weezer? Why the fuck are we listening to you?

[Anonymous]

"Michel Gondry's video for "Fell In Love With A Girl" is awesome."

Is that the one that looks like it was made completely with Legos? I liked that one, too.

[Met_K]

Much better than the Beatles. But I hate the Beatles, so that's kind of an unfair comparison.

And you don't like Weezer? Why the fuck are we listening to you?

I have more experience in the music industry than this entire board combined could even hope to muster?

Don't nullify my word because of one opinion. You want to act like a kid, do it. But don't come on a board that attempts to be run by adults and then scream bloody murder the second someone disagrees with you.

Also, Tenacious D aren't a parody band. If you've ever seen them live, or even met Jack Black, you'd know he's a great guy, and an excellent musician. The man has more talent in the cum he shoots than most "rock and roll" groups do combined.

Thanks, now fuck off.

[Met_K]

The D is Spinal Tap with a much better sense of how to wickedly parody 70's Prog Rock and with liberal use of the word motherfucker. Steve gets the joke, but I'm thinking Mr. "I work in the music industry" doesn't.

I'll give you a quick hint as to just how much I do or don't get: Your taste in music is atrocious. Please kill yourself now. Liking the bands you like, thinking the way you think, and talking the way you talk, is exactly the same type of mentality that a so-called bookworm who likes Dean Koontz has. About two spots short of a New York Times Best-Seller List. About 100,000 copies short of a gold certification. To put it into English: You're a couple marbles short of a full jar.

You guys wanna play, we can play.

[Tom Chick]

Why are you guys talking about Tenacious D like they're a real band?

As much as I'm reluctant to throw my lot in with Met_K, this did strike me as an ignorant comment. Both JB and Kyle are accomplished musicians who have a clear affinity and affection for what they're doing. Whether you like them or not, writing off Tenacious D as a mere parody just shows you don't get it. And I don't think you even have to see them live (I have) to figure this out.

And, hey, Local H! I love those guys! I'm really square when it comes to music, so I didn't think anyone else would even know who they were.

-Tom

[Bub, Andrew]

1. Since when is a parody "mere"? What an odd thing to say.

2. Well, yeah, they're brilliant musicians and Jack Black has an amazing voice. You can't effectively parody anything without real talent behind it and I'd argue some of their songs are more effective than the styles they're riffing on. But you'd have to be pretty musically ignorant to miss the riffing going on. "Tribute" mocks/pays homage to "Stairway to Heaven" and "Devil Went Down to Georgia" at the same time, and that one toward the end of the album (with the refrain) "...yeah, I'm talkin' about the road" is a great riff on Skynyrd or any of the countless songs about the lonliness and groupies on up to "Stay a little longer" by Bruce Hornsby. "Dio" mimics the structure of most um... Ronnie James Dio songs. And "Wonder Boys" (with MIND BULLETS!!), well, I just really like that one. But they're also a joke, or at least they are joking. They're probably the most fully realized joke in music history. I mean, you less-ignorant guys do know that they began as a skit on Mr. Show back in the mid-nineties... right?

But hey "as long as there's a record contract we'll always be friends..."

[Brad Grenz]

Don't nullify my word because of one opinion. You want to act like a kid, do it. But don't come on a board that attempts to be run by adults and then scream bloody murder the second someone disagrees with you.

I didn't nullify all your words, just the ones about music. Frankly, the opinion of someone who thinks the Beatles suck and Weezer is a gimmic band and even admits that he thinks all rock that isn't hard enough is lame, has absolutely no value to me. No one cares about your industry experience. The guy who invented N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys has more industry experience than me too, doesn't me I care what music he thinks is good. And the only one here freaking out about people disagreeing with them is you.

[Met_K]

I didn't nullify all your words, just the ones about music. Frankly, the opinion of someone who thinks the Beatles suck and Weezer is a gimmic band and even admits that he thinks all rock that isn't hard enough is lame, has absolutely no value to me. No one cares about your industry experience. The guy who invented N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys has more industry experience than me too, doesn't me I care what music he thinks is good. And the only one here freaking out about people disagreeing with them is you.

Case in point of your ignorance, I said my favorite style was psychadelia. Since when is psychadelia hard? It's not. I don't even play hard music myself.

Thanks for playing, Brad. Don't let your mother slap you as you're crawling your piddly-ass back up into her womb, the only place you're worthy of being. Tata.

[Met_K]

2. Well, yeah, they're brilliant musicians and Jack Black has an amazing voice. You can't effectively parody anything without real talent behind it and I'd argue some of their songs are more effective than the styles they're riffing on. But you'd have to be pretty musically ignorant to miss the riffing going on. "Tribute" mocks/pays homage to "Stairway to Heaven" and "Devil Went Down to Georgia" at the same time, and that one toward the end of the album (with the refrain) "...yeah, I'm talkin' about the road" is a great riff on Skynyrd or any of the countless songs about the lonliness and groupies on up to "Stay a little longer" by Bruce Hornsby. "Dio" mimics the structure of most um... Ronnie James Dio songs. And "Wonder Boys" (with MIND BULLETS!!), well, I just really like that one. But they're also a joke, or at least they are joking. They're probably the most fully realized joke in music history. I mean, you less-ignorant guys do know that they began as a skit on Mr. Show back in the mid-nineties... right?

That's interesting. I thought Led Zeppelin ripped off most their riffs from Hooker, and that Skynyrd simply dissected other bands solos and then pushed them to ten minutes long?

Edit: Removed last sentence. A little too... insulting. Though I do think that you're playing the wrong side of a losing argument.

[Sparky]

Both JB and Kyle are accomplished musicians who have a clear affinity and affection for what they're doing.

Yup...if only I could play guitar as well as either of them. To do a good parody, you have to really *understand* what you're parodying, and they do. They're also a lot funnier if you're familiar with all the over-the-top prog/70s rock crap they're making fun of (that being said, I love prog rock).

I have to say I agree with Met K on the White Stripes and recent bands of their ilk. Don't care for the whole 70s-retro thing that's going on. Or techno. Or Moby. Maybe I'm just too old for this thread....I should have my walker painted to look like Eddie Van Halen's guitar.

[Bub, Andrew]

That's interesting. I thought Led Zeppelin ripped off most their riffs from Hooker, and that Skynyrd simply dissected other bands solos and then pushed them to ten minutes long?

That's the most intelligent thing you've said about music on this entire message board Met.

[Tom Chick]

1. Since when is a parody "mere"? What an odd thing to say.

No more odd than trying to say they're not a "real band", whatever that's supposed to mean.


I mean, you less-ignorant guys do know that they began as a skit on Mr. Show back in the mid-nineties... right?

Wrong. They were playing clubs in LA before the Mr. Show short. They began as a band, not a skit.

But thanks for explaining that they're not a "real band". You should have been around to tell that to the club owners who booked them.

-Tom

EDIT: stray [/quote] tag...

[Met_K]

That's the most intelligent thing you've said about music on this entire message board Met.

I thought the most intelligent thing I've ever said about music was when I said that I liked psychadelia and progressive rock. I can spell! I can spell! Me like big words. Chugga chugga-vee.

[Bub, Andrew]

[quote]
No more odd than trying to say they're not a "real band", whatever that's supposed to mean.

But I didn't. I said this: "Why are you guys talking about Tenacious D like they're a real band? I mean, of course they're a "real band"... but they're a real band like Mad Magazine is a real magazine. They're a parody band."

Did you stop reading 13 words in Tom?


[quote]
Wrong. They were playing clubs in LA before the Mr. Show short. They began as a band, not a skit.

Mea culpa, I was misinformed on that one. Are you going to concede that they're a parody now that Sparky has my back?

[Anonymous]

Hilarious thread-it's like watching Elmer Fudd trying to bitch-slap Bugs Bunny.

[Met_K]

So which one of us is Daffy Duck, and keeps getting his head blown off?

Wait, no. Forget I even mentioned it. *kablam* Just despicable.

[Sparky]

Mea culpa, I was misinformed on that one. Are you going to concede that they're a parody now that Sparky has my back?

But I don't think they're *just* a parody band, or just a gimmick.They do some songs that parody a certain style of music. *And* they're talented musicians. Are these things mutually exclusive? I'm not sure why anyone's arguing. I'm very fond of Tenacious D. I'm still bummed to have missed their show in San Francisco, but it was unfortunately on Halloween night, and nothing, nothing is more frightening than looking for parking in SF on Halloween.

[Bub, Andrew]

I agree Sparky. They're extremely talented, which is what makes the parody so sharp. Nothing "mere" about them and when I called them a parody I wasn't being dismissive of them so much as I was being dismissive of the direct comparison between them and The White Stripes in terms of influential modern music... which is what was happening at the time I made that post.

[Met_K]

I agree Sparky. They're extremely talented, which is what makes the parody so sharp. Nothing "mere" about them and when I called them a parody I wasn't being dismissive of them so much as I was being dismissive of the direct comparison between them and The White Stripes in terms of influential modern music... which is what was happening at the time I made that post.

So I imagine comparing Spinal Tap to White Snake is a bad comparison? Or Blink 182 to The Hives? Spinal Tap and Blink 182 could be considered parody bands, while White Snake and The Hives are very serious.

Dismissing a comparison because of something you deem outlanding is in itself completely dismissing your original argument. Unless you are willing to argue every little fact when you make a statement, you have no reason making said statement.

[Bub, Andrew]

was when I said that I liked psychadelia and progressive rock.

No joke Met. What does this mean exactly? When I hear "psychadelia" I think of latter Beatles (The White Album, Within Without You), Jimi Hendrix, and other 60's early 70's stuff ranging into the more Garcia influenced Grateful Dead stuff. When I hear about "progressive rock" I think of Yes, King Crimson, Rush, and other bands like that (and I recall you denouncing Yes as a terrible American band once, even though all but Steve Howe are Brits :))

Since I've been asking for suggestions in this thread, throw some bands out there homey.

[Met_K]

No joke Met. What does this mean exactly? When I hear "psychadelia" I think of latter Beatles (The White Album, Within Without You), Jimi Hendrix, and other 60's early 70's stuff ranging into the more Garcia influenced Grateful Dead stuff. When I hear about "progressive rock" I think of Yes, King Crimson, Rush, and other bands like that (and I recall you denouncing Yes as a terrible American band once, even though all but Steve Howe are Brits :))

Since I've been asking for suggestions in this thread, throw some bands out there homey.

Pink Floyd (my favorite band of all time), Yes (who I still dislike), Hendrix, 'Dead, King Crimson, Rush, Ulver, Porcupine Tree, Chicago, Camel, Caravan, 'Tull, a whole load of European bands, Tangerine Dream, Gabriel, Genesis, etc.

The Beatles are pure psychadelia, while bands like Yes are pure progressive rock. I like a nice comfy middle. Extended pieces, lots of improv, lyrical guitar-work, etcetera. Musicianship and lyrical writing in harmony. I couldn't play a heavy metal solo if my life depended on it, but if you give me a Strat, I'll make Santana proud. Progressive psychadelia is what I like.

More band suggestions (exclusively hard/heavy): Opeth, Flogging Molly, Drop Kick Murphies, Caroline's Spine, Meat Puppets, Nevermore, In Flames, etc.

[Sparky]

Dismissing a comparison because of something you deem outlanding

Yeah, I didn't think it was a word either, so looked it up. Lo and behold...

Outlanding 'aut-lan-di [ng], to outland: verb, to take on an unwanted task out of desperation or financial need. Colloquial. Most likely origin is Sean Connery's role in the mediocre science fiction film Outland (1981). See also Highlander II: The Quickening

I don't see as how it fits in his sentence, though.

[Bub, Andrew]

Cool Met. Very cool.
(can't believe I forgot Tull and Floyd - Careful with that axe Met K!)
and I've got a few Dropkick Murphy's tracks. I used to be into old Genesis too. I'll check out the rest.

Crimson's Starless was absolutely one of my favorite songs in College. Back that one up to Yes' Gates of Delirium and add Set the Controls to the Heart of the Sun and... well... I think it summons Satan.

[Sparky]

but if you give me a Strat, I'll make Santana proud.

I have a Strat, and I can make Johnny Ramone want to dig up Joey's grave with his bare hands, jump in on top of his dessicated corpse, and slam the lid shut.

Maybe I should practice more.

[Met_K]

Cool Met. Very cool.
(can't believe I forgot Tull and Floyd - Careful with that axe Met K!)
and I've got a few Dropkick Murphy's tracks. I used to be into old Genesis too. I'll check out the rest.

Crimson's Starless was absolutely one of my favorite songs in College. Back that one up to Yes' Gates of Delirium and add Set the Controls to the Heart of the Sun and... well... I think it summons Satan.

Come here, sonny boy, I've got some acid. But you'll have to come with me to my van to get 'em... no, not a minivan, boy, a fullsize. Your mom said it was okay. Come on, son. That's it, good boy. Why don't I put on some psychadelic music so that we can engage in our acitropic man-boy love.

Er. Yes. Right. Anyways... I guess the fact that I have to deal with stupid people who like stupid music on a daily basis that I've become a bit bitter about other peoples' opinions. I'll be the first to admit that I have a temper and tend to slam things rather than understand. When people say they like White Stripes, I hear "White Stripes is the best band ever. Even better than Black Sabbath. Whore." Which infuriates me.

But, since you didn't say they're the best band ever, I do deeply apologize for insulting just about everyone and their dog. But if you had to work in an industry that was destroying everything you hold sacred, you'd want to put a bullet between the eyes of every Linkin Park liking little shit.

But the White Stripes still sound like a bunch of cats in heat. :P

[Met_K]

I have a Strat, and I can make Johnny Ramone want to dig up Joey's grave with his bare hands, jump in on top of his dessicated corpse, and slam the lid shut.

Maybe I should practice more.

Actually, given the nature of The Ramones music, you'd have to suck a whole lot of ass to make Johnny do that. I mean, I'm not talking just normal suckage, I'm talking Andrew W.K. suckage. We're talking L.A. Guns suckage. I mean, shit, you'd make a junky whore stripper doing her best rendition of Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' sound good.

And damn, no one's sucked that bad since Metallica made Load. Zing.

[Brad Grenz]

What about your own words:


In addendum, I like psychadelia, progressive rock, and just plain hard rock. Soft rock and just regular "rock and roll," which White Stripes fall under, is not really my bag. I don't dig it. I have never digged it. And I will never dig it.

Don't you understand? Forgive me taking your words at face value when you clearly reserve the right to twist their meaning in order to gain some percieved advantage at a later date. Don't worry, I won't make that mistake again.

Oh, and way to go with that baby/mommy insult stuff. So original, never seen that used on the internet before. Please, put down your copy of Flaming for Dummies before I start crying and wet myself.

[Met_K]

What about your own words:

[snip]

Oh, and way to go with that baby/mommy insult stuff. So original, never seen that used on the internet before. Please, put down your copy of Flaming for Dummies before I start crying and wet myself.

Why don't we let the other forum goers decide? What exactly did I mean by what I said, folks? Did I completely destroy my respectability for what I said? Did I say I totally dislike regular rock and roll? I even put it in quotes. What don't YOU understand about what I'm saying?

Why don't you go away, you fucking mental midget. Christ, you make me want to resort to juvenile threats like "I'm gonna come at you from so many fucking directions and so fucking fast you'll think you're in a fucking blender." Please, go away. Better yet, die.

[Sparky]

Actually, given the nature of The Ramones music, you'd have to suck a whole lot of ass to make Johnny do that. I mean, I'm not talking just normal suckage, I'm talking Andrew W.K. suckage.

Exactly. You've been eavesdropping out in my garage, haven't you? I need to soundproof the studio better.

[Brad Grenz]

Why don't you go away, you fucking mental midget. Christ, you make me want to resort to juvenile threats like "I'm gonna come at you from so many fucking directions and so fucking fast you'll think you're in a fucking blender." Please, go away. Better yet, die.

Clearly, I can't compete with the level of maturity you've brought to this discussion.

[Matthew Gallant]

I just thought of a recommendation. When Weezer went on hiatus, the bassist Matt Sharp formed The Rentals and put out two really cool albums. Really nice mix of crunchy guitars, moogs, and male/female harmonies.

[Met_K]

Clearly, I can't compete with the level of maturity you've brought to this discussion.

You do realize that this is where most people would punch you in the face if this were real life.

[Murph]

But in real life, wouldn't Brad have already punched you? :)

Just playing..."Can't we all just get along??"

[Anonymous]

[quote=steve]Considering I've made my career in the record industry, I'd imagine that I'd be making informed opinions, and have heard all their albums. I still stand by what I said.
Ooh, so can I dismiss all of your opinions about games because you haven't made your career in the game industry? And by the way, quit talking about movies because you're not in the movie industry either. Only Tom Chick gets to have an informed opinion on those.

We're talking about issues of personal taste, which you've sort of amended your statements, but initially said "Anyone who says they're good has listened to neither Local H nor Tenacious D, two bands both with only two people who are much more talented than White Stripes. " I was merely pointing out that I'd heard both Local H and Tenacious D and like The White Stripes, hence your "anyone" comment was goofy.


Their catchy guitar riffs grow on me, but that is it. The vocals are horrible, the drums are just... Jesus Christ, can you say the girl is a gimick? White Stripes are a gimick band. Gimick sounds. Gimick music. Gimick lyrics. They're like Weezer, just not as shitty. Their guitar riffs are catchy, and that is _that_.
What do bands offer beyond catchiness? You want great meaning? And yeah, they're a gimmick. So what? Most bands are gimmicks.


In addendum, I like psychadelia, progressive rock, and just plain hard rock. Soft rock and just regular "rock and roll," which White Stripes fall under, is not really my bag. I don't dig it. I have never digged it. And I will never dig it. To me, there is _nothing_ special about Beatles-esque rock and roll.
I hate progressive rock with a passion I normally reserve for anything wumpus likes, but psychadelia rules. Is there anything new and good out there?

[Anonymous]

I have more experience in the music industry than this entire board combined could even hope to muster?
Since I have more experience in the game industry than most here can muster, you can all go home now.

[Met_K]

I hate progressive rock with a passion I normally reserve for anything wumpus likes, but psychadelia rules. Is there anything new and good out there?

I'm not sure if you've ever heard of a band called Porcupine Tree, but they're extremely, extremely good. They're a kind of progressive rock/psychadelia combo, but it's really hard to classify them as one or the other. Sometimes they have long songs, sometimes they have short ones, sometimes extended concept pieces, sometimes playful, catchy pieces. The earlier albums are alot like the 60's and 70's psychadelia you heard back then. The latter ones are a bit more complex, and are the more progressive albums.

Another band to look for is Ulver. Definitely more psychadelic than most, the man behind the band has a really interesting take on things. He uses a wide array of samples while making the best use of... wait for it, wait for it... no guitar! It's really great. Most his songs have no guitar, and are just pure psychadelic value based on the instrumentation and samples. If there ever was a band who could trip you out with a nice classical piece, it'd be Ulver.

Flying Saucer Attack are another kind of space-rock'ish outfit who fit the bill of being a truly psychadelic band. Some of their albums lean a bit more into art-rock, some albums lean into being more straight-forward rock, but it's some really good stuff. Another band, called Main, is a good experimentally sound band. They will definitely sound a bit odd with these other bands, as they formed through the ashes of an early techno group back when electronica still had potential. Their first couple of albums are fantastic, but are definitely straight-forward rock. Shoot for the middle or latter-day albums with them.

Aside from this, I hate to say that psychadelia is dying. There's no big revival movement going for it, there's no big 'remember when' nostalgia for it, there's no big last show. Porcupine Tree are the closest we've had to a psychadelic band hitting it big. Steve Wilson is amazing with how much he can do, and how good/mainstream he can make a song sound without compromising his integrity. They're one of my favorite psychadelic bands of all time, even if they do stray from the truest form of the word sometimes.

BTW: Some good points in your last past. I don't feel like replying to them, since we'd eventually come to agreement and say something along the lines of, "Cheerio good boy. Let me buy you a pint."

[chet]

Is there any surprise the music industry sucks? With the likes of Met_k making even the most minor decision, the industry is doomed to fail.

Or it could mean nothing, since after all, I am sure Chris Burke (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Burke,+Chris) considers himself part of the movie industry.

Chet

[hido]

Wow, what fun. Reminds me of when I was young and dumb and sat around trying to prove that The 'Mats were better than REM. Of course, way back then in the 80's we didn't have no stinkin' message boards, we did it by writing for the college newspaper (where I would always try to prove my hipness by saying things like "The Dream Syndicate were a lot better when they had a chick bass player"). Remember all those bands that now seem almost like they never existed? Guadalcanal Diary, Hoodoo Gurus, Primitons, Let's Active, Minutemen, Windbreakers, etc. They all got their one shot opening for REM and then they evaporated. What really sucks is that if you go back and listen to that stuff it mostly sounds horribly dated (particulalrly the drum sound).

I could care less about the current flavor of the month these days. That's why I got into jazz: I figured I own every rock and roll, blues, and rockabilly album I'm ever going to need, and jazz was just sitting there with all those cool album covers so I took the plunge and haven't looked back.

btw, somebody mentioned punk and if you are looking for the greatest punk rock album ever, go pick up Jerry Lee Lewis "Live At The Start Club Hamburg". Loud, fast rules! Trust me on this one.

[Met_K]

Is there any surprise the music industry sucks? With the likes of Met_k making even the most minor decision, the industry is doomed to fail.

Or it could mean nothing, since after all, I am sure Chris Burke (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Burke,+Chris) considers himself part of the movie industry.

Hey Chet, long time since you've addressed me directly. When're you actually going to do something with the 700 or so sites you host? Fucking 80% of them are inactive. I mean, I'm sure you consider yourself part of the gaming industry, but it's pretty laughable.

Oh, wait, sorry, I don't want to be banned. Please please please please don't ban me. Wah.

No, really.

[chet]

I don't consider my self part of the gaming industry at all. Why would I?

Guess I have to go look through my receipts for all these inactive domains, must have gotten drunk some night and gone nuts buying domains and forgotten.

Or are you going to be another nut and claim I really am someone else? Maybe that's it, are you confused who I am?

Chet

[Met_K]

I don't consider my self part of the gaming industry at all. Why would I?

Guess I have to go look through my receipts for all these inactive domains, must have gotten drunk some night and gone nuts buying domains and forgotten.

Or are you going to be another nut and claim I really am someone else? Maybe that's it, are you confused who I am?

Chet

Nope. But you yourself said you host a ton of sites. Perhaps you missed where I said sites, and not domains.

Thanks for playing.

[chet]

I don't consider my self part of the gaming industry at all. Why would I?

Guess I have to go look through my receipts for all these inactive domains, must have gotten drunk some night and gone nuts buying domains and forgotten.

Or are you going to be another nut and claim I really am someone else? Maybe that's it, are you confused who I am?

Chet

Nope. But you yourself said you host a ton of sites. Perhaps you missed where I said sites, and not domains.

Thanks for playing.

Okay. I give up. What the fuck are you talking about?!?! Just like I said about QT3, we host sites. We don't run them. We don't update them. We don't control the content. So what are you talking about? Most of them have nothing to do with the gaming industry. So how is it laughable that we host sites that don't have anything to do with the gaming industry and you claim I am part of the gaming industry!!?!?!?! I have never made that claim.

Seriously, I read your posts here so I know you are not that bright - but pull yourself together for a minute and try and tell me what the fuck you are talking about, go get your mom to help you type if you have to, I will wait. Can anyone help me out here?

I was going to guess you were talking about omm. Which is one gaming site. And a site I do work on. But I still don't think that makes me part of the gaming industry. I guess this sheds some light on how you are part of the music industry. Is this the site you are claiming makes you part of the music industry (http://www.geocities.com/hypedup_2001/tj.html)? Nice biceps by the way.

Chet

[Met_K]

Okay. I give up. What the fuck are you talking about?!?! Just like I said about QT3, we host sites. We don't run them. We don't update them. We don't control the content. So what are you talking about? Most of them have nothing to do with the gaming industry. So how is it laughable that we host sites that don't have anything to do with the gaming industry and you claim I am part of the gaming industry!!?!?!?! I have never made that claim.

[snip]

I was going to guess you were talking about omm. Which is one gaming site. And a site I do work on. But I still don't think that makes me part of the gaming industry. I guess this sheds some light on how you are part of the music industry. Is this the site you are claiming makes you part of the music industry (http://www.geocities.com/hypedup_2001/tj.html)? Nice biceps by the way.

Chet

Easier than baking pumpkin pie. God, if only the good folks in alt.bitterness were around to see the way I troll people around here. I might even be elected, um, Head Bitter, or something.

Trolled. Trolled. And trolled. Don't let life slap you on your way out. Hopefully, it won't be long.

[chet]

You showed me!!!!

Oh yay! Post your little crap, get called on it and then just scream - i was trolling, or i said that just to see your reaction. yay!!!!

So I guess everything you brought to this thread was just a troll? Or is it only after you were called out for being an idiot did it become a troll? Or you tried to say something, sobered up and realized you were making no sense so you then claimed you were just trolling?

That is the most amazingly pathetic answer you could have possibly given. You have given up the ability to even defend your own posts and have admitted everything you have ever posted is worthless and has no point. You really are corky, maybe one day you will learn to form a cohesive thought and you will be able to join us 'non-special' people in a discussion on a topic of your liking.

Until then, next time you are going to get your 15 year old ass out of bed to post, let me save you the time to think of something to post, just post.

"I know you are, but what am I?"

That will save us all the trouble of bothering with you.

Chet

[Met_K]

You showed me!!!!

Oh yay! Post your little crap, get called on it and then just scream - i was trolling, or i said that just to see your reaction. yay!!!!

So I guess everything you brought to this thread was just a troll? Or is it only after you were called out for being an idiot did it become a troll? Or you tried to say something, sobered up and realized you were making no sense so you then claimed you were just trolling?

That is the most amazingly pathetic answer you could have possibly given. You have given up the ability to even defend your own posts and have admitted everything you have ever posted is worthless and has no point. You really are corky, maybe one day you will learn to form a cohesive thought and you will be able to join us 'non-special' people in a discussion on a topic of your liking.

Until then, next time you are going to get your 15 year old ass out of bed to post, let me save you the time to think of something to post, just post.

"I know you are, but what am I?"

That will save us all the trouble of bothering with you.

Chet

I know you are, but what am I.

This can keep on going for a long, long time. Might as well ban me now, pal.

Edit: Also, when're you going to start calling me SiNNER 2.0? I'm waiting for it. In fact, I'm hoping on it. Come on, please? Please? Yes. Do it. You know you want to.

[Anonymous]

amazing how music threads here tend to become useless. I actually worked in the music business as well, though probably not as long or as well as met k. I worked for a sound reinforcement company for 15 years, and played session bass for about as long. What's missing in this discussion is a definition of terms. Music is one of those areas that without understanding of what someone is looking for it's hard to make a recommendation. Perhaps start with a gorup somewhat mainstream then break off into the tangents.