Ok, for those of you who have checked my profile, you can see that my taste in music is, let's say, boring. Some might call it sorry, out-dated, unusual, or square. I need your help. There are many of you who live in more hip locals than I do and thus have access to some decent radio stations, not to mention current pop culture. What's going on out there? What do you like?
Let's just take a stroll up the radio dial and see what's on the airwaves here in Vermont right now: 1) something like Neil Diamond but not quite, 2) "When the summer's hot... you've got women, you've got women, you've got women on your mind...", 3) a sad country song about the decline in the number of husbands and wives, 4) classical on VPR, 5) sports talk radio, 6) a twangy "Walking in Memphis"- another country station, 7) Dire Straits: "Money for Nothing", 8) Sounds like Janice Joplin- something with a little too much electric organ for me, 9) talk radio, 10) some lame heavy rock song about how "everybody wants you, everybody knows you, everybody needs you, needs you!"
Now, that may not seem like very many stations to you, and you're right. Here next to the mountain our reception isn't very good; I can get two or three more when I'm the the car. And I know what you're thinking: "The radio?! That's soooo 80's! Like, I get all the latest tunes on my i-pod directly through the RSS feed on my blackberry, dude." Gnarley, I'm sure, but I don't have time for that. I cannot mess around with TRYING new music. It must be a slam dunk for me or I don't buy it. I don't even have time to go wandering through i-tunes downloading 30-second snippets and guessing if I'm going to like the whole song.
I hope I haven't scared you off with my tirade because I need your help. Dave, Kari, you already know how pathetic my knowledge of and appreciation for current (or even recently out-dated) music is. Thank you for not mentioning it (very often) before. Here's my proposal: I will make a non-difinitive list of my favorite music and artists, in no particular order. It may seem wildly disparate to you- bear with me, though. Your challenge is to recommend something YOU like based on what's on my list. "Oh, she likes 'Music from the Chocolate Lands' by Putumayo. I bet she'd also like 'Paris Café'"- and you'd be right! See how easy it is? Those of you who like a challenge can give me some direction so I can safely venture into uncharted water without being too disappointed.
Oh, one last thing: I'm not a big fan of heavy electric guitars or explicit lyrics. I don't even like angry music at all. But you probably knew that....
The List:
I own (or know I like) all U2's music (except for POP- still hasn't grown on me)
Most REM
Cure, Smiths, and the like
Toad the Wet Sprocket- some
James Taylor in a major way
John Denver- yup
Allison Kraus & Norah Jones
Abba (but not Ace of Base), Dee Lite (some)
Eric Clapton, unplugged
Chris Isaak- Baja Sessions
Paul Simon, of course (even with Garfunkel)
Erasure (some), A-ha (yes I still own their first LP)
Shakira (in Spanish), Tarkan (in Turkish), Sissel Kyrkjebø (in Norwegian), Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and Cyril Pahinui (Hawaiian)
Sting- Nothing Like the Sun, Soul Cages, Dream of the Blue Turtles
Beautiful South
Sarah McLachlan- some
The Sundays, The Proclaimers
Turkish Pop 2006 sampler
Putumayo:
Music from the Chocolate Lands (thanks, Emma)
Paris Café
Turkish Groove
North African Groove
Arabic Groove (a little disappointing)
Celtic Crossroads
By the way, if you are one of those readers of my blog who does not usually comment, then I urge you to chime in here and at least leave your two cents! You do listen to music, don't you? What's on your list?
8 comments:
I'm not sure that we are any more hip about music than you are - we own much of the same music. But we do have a big thing for Jack Johnson and I have a big thing for Donovan Frankenwriter, but Ben thinks all his songs sound the same (which they probably do, but I like the sound). We also like some songs by Jem (or maybe Gem) which Ben's technologically advanced younger brother downloaded to our computer and which you might like. My favorite is "Just a Ride." But I'm still a big Jackson 5 fan and I see that is missing from your list.
Ooops. How did I miss that? :)
Thanks for the suggestions- I'll start looking them up soon.
Please set aside just a half an hour and go to musicovery.com
I'll get to some specific suggestions when work isn't quite so lame, but really. Go to the website. It's free. They play the whole song, not 30 second clips. If you like it you can click on the links to go to itunes or amazon; or you can do what I do and just write and down and go to the store.
Its a great site. They even have a pretty good world music section which I think you would enjoy.
Nice CD list by the way. I love it when people who say they don't know much about new music break out artists that I've never heard of. Great choices all. Ooo, except for ABBA, you are totally on your own for that one.
:-)
Hi from VA!
Just a quick contribution. For the Hawaiian in you, IZ is a great CD. Don't be swayed by the heavyset fellow on the cover; he is described as a "gentle giant" and has the sweetest voice! His "Somewhere over the rainbow" and "What a wonderful world" medley will probably be somewhat familiar, as it's been used in several films.
Along the Jack Johnson line...Ben Folds Five is also fabulous. It's rumored that Jack and Ben got their start together and remain good friends who have jam sessions. "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds is one of my favorite songs these days.
Welcome, Marie! Yes, I love IZ- he's the one named Isreal on the list. Really good stuff. Thanks for the reccomendations- I will check out JJ and BFF.
Davey- thanks- yes, I looked at musicovery briefly once, but I need to do it when I have more time, as you say. Who did I list that you had never heard of- Tarkan? I can't blame you for not being an Abba fan (you might not like Sissel either, then). Clearly you didn't have an Uncle who served his LDS mission in Norway in the 70's and then turned your parents on to the Abba phenomenon, thus making their music an integral part of your childhood and youth, especially on road trips. I understand... and pity you at the same time. : )
For my maybe maybe not choice I'm going to go with Jason Mraz.
I'm listening to a live version of I'm Yours. He does a few damns into some songs, but ultimately I think you'd like him.
As for slam dunk everyone loves him, you can't go wrong with listening to Jeff Buckley. If you don't like him I will buy a hat and eat it.
And for my off the wall most people have never heard of her but I love her choice I'd say get yourself some Susan Tedeschi. She is a fantastic guitar player and singer. Many of her most vocal fans will tell you that her first two albums (Better Days and Just Won't Burn) are the true her and the rest are garbage, but I own her most recent, Hope and Desire and find it bears listening over and over again. The earlier stuff is electric bluesier, the later stuff is more roots and gospel influenced.
NOTE TO SELF (or whoever has her for Christmas, since I don't): MAREN NEEDS NEW MUSIC!
I guess "out-dated" and "hip" are totally relative terms, since when I'm with Dave I feel like the lamest square ever (even though I continue to keep my chin up feeling I was involved with his musical start), but I admit your list makes me feel a little more with it. I don't even listen to the radio, though - I used to on my work commute, but well my commute is 10 steps now from the bedroom to the kitchen so so much for that. Plus Denver is the only place I've lived with good stations. DC has always been heavy on country/Christian/oldies and NY is heavy on techno and latin. And sometimes I play a game if I ever am in the car and turn on the radio. I scan until I find Madonna. She is ALWAYS on some station here, without fail.
But moving on. I was thinking same as davey, Jason Mraz. I also second Jack Johnson and Ben Folds. But as we all know davey is wrong about ABBA. You're not on your own there. (Love the picture).
Also Nickel Creek. I believe I made you a copy 8 years ago or so - ever listen? Did you like? Allison Krauss produced their first 2 cd's, which I have. I haven't heard their newer stuff, which is reviewed to be different, but I put it on my wishlist. Chris Thile, one of Nickel Creek, has also gone solo on the side with his mandolin (described as "newgrass," Celtic, and old-timey instrumentals).
I myself was recently feeling out of the music scene, so my single friend Portia who still goes to live concerts and stays current made me FIVE mix cd's - she's a very Indigo Girls & Allison Krauss kind of girl. One cd was almost totally full of Brett Dennen, who's nice to listen to.
Since you're getting suggestions, we all expect you to report back on your findings and opinions.
K- yeah, yeah, yeah. I knew I was putting myself out there listing my favorites like that. I probably made everyone feel pretty up-to-date. But thanks for the input. Yes, I listened to that Nickel Creek CD (still have it), but it was too... I don't know, something about it hurt my ears... his voice?... the guitars?... I can't remember, so maybe I'll get it out and listen again.
My REALLY SLOW computer (subject for another post another time) and I are SLOWLY working through these excellent ideas, and I'm brewing another list for sometime in the future when I'm more sure of what I like.
I really appreciate what everyone has said so far- I've liked almost everything I've investigated. If you haven't commented yet, please do. If you already have and get some more inspiration, add it on! Dave, can't wait for your return from vacation. I know you have nothing better to do than make up lists of music you think I'll like.
Post a Comment