life changing music sggestions needed

[xPANCAKEx]

ok - heres a simple one for you playgrounders:

i want music that will change my life. I don't want average music. I don't want music made soley for commercial gain with artistic output being an afterthought. I want music with so much of a wow factor that it melts your brain the first time you listen to it

i have a preference for music that is like to crush my face off (hence why most on the list are heavy as hell), but im open to ALL genres (ludovico einaudi for instance is brilliant due to his simplicity), so long as you really believe they will change my life then champion it. Being "the best band of the year" isn't exactly an accolade to be proud of if you're surrounded by a sea of turds, so unless you can really back a choice, dont suggest it

bands that make the cut:
converge
dillinger escape plan
Mike Patton related material
Ludovico Einaudi
Isis
Botch
Cursed
aphex twin
Portishead

so go - try and sell me a band that i will enjoy. Any Genre. Past or present.

[Innis Cabal]

I find this to be pretty awsome. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofcNYtUwHvk)

Really, anything they do will change your life for the better.

[Sneak]

Iron & Wine
The Flaming Lips
Mozart
Vivaldi
Bob Marley
Dispatch
The Grateful Dead
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Beatles
The Mountain Goats
The Decemberists
The New Pornographers
Paul Simon
Simon & Garfunkel
R.E.M.
Radiohead
The Shins
Talking Heads
The Hold Steady
Toots & The Maytals
U2
Bob Dylan
Dire Straits
Dvořák
Bach
Handel
Duke Ellington
Explosions in the Sky
Louis Armstrong
King Crimson
The Roots
A Tribe Called Quest
Cream
Eric Clapton
Pink Floyd
Diana Krall
The Allman Brothers Band
Wilco
The Ramones
Beck
Max Romeo
Nick Drake
The Beach Boys
Flight of the Conchords
The Clash
Steely Dan
Velvet Underground
Swan Lake
Tegan and Sara
Holopaw

[Delaney Gale]

To elaborate on Sneak's suggestion of Louis Armstrong: I'm a jazz trumpet player and vocalist. Jazz is an experience- it's full of tropes, but it's built on creating something unique every time you pick up your instrument and interpreting the music as you see fit. Pick up some jazz, and make sure to get something involving... my two suggestions for new listeners are Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, then go on to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Although the first two are modern, they cover a wide variety of jazz styles with finesse and the modern level of 'zip'- if you like the technical aspect of metal, you may like Gordon Goodwin's. I've played their charts, and they're RIDICULOUSLY difficult. Also, Dave Brubeck Quartet, the entire Time Out album. You'll never look at 5/4 the same way again.

If you like DEP, have you heard Meshuggah? They're harder and don't do as much with the vocals, but they carry along the "math metal" sensibility that DEP brings down to a more accessible level. Metal in 7/8 = <3.

[Egiam]

Wow. You're asking for a lot, but let me try.


Joni Mitchell and I both really appreciate You Only Get What You Give by The New Radicals.

I really, really, really love Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne.

Try out the album One X by Three Days Grace. Ones that stand out are:
-Never too late
Maybe
-Pain
-Get out alive

Civil War by Guns and Roses

John Denver

James Taylor

Maroon 5

Um... is that what you are looking for?

[xPANCAKEx]

By all means carry on down the jazz path - im meerly a jazz tourist (chet baker, miles davis and charlie parker all get regular hearing), so anything you think may expand my range would be grand

swing (especially big band) will certainly peak my interests

what am i looking for? I want music that makes you want to pay attention to it throught brilliance. I don't want music that bores me. When bill hicks ranted and emplored bands to "play with your heart" - thats what i want. I don't want to click my fingers along to the lighthouse family.

there have already been a few bands suggest that i adore (no more naming names), and a few that i loathe. Some im definately going to look more into.

[Mando Knight]

*Many Valid Suggestions*

Error. Bach (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o) is too easily missed in this list. J. S. BACH (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Johann_Sebastian_Bach). No discussion of music would be complete without Bach. Or of his Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OminousPipeOrgan). This man practically wrote the book on writing organ music. And is German, which means the works with native-tongue titles are just fun to say.

[Kneenibble]

Infected Mushroom. That techno will melt your face.
On the buttery LED ambient mellow side: Elation Station (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=OzcAGaHB2JU)
On the orgiastic thrashing dancing frenzy side: Nothing Comes Easy (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=I2cQfZkDTTo)

Boards of Canada. Gorgeous minimalist ambience with a lot of sampling, a good compliment to Aphex Twin.
Aquarius (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=rg-iKP0zI9Q&fmt=18)
Telephasic Workshop (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=he8fMUmxHOU)

Bach. I would rather lie down in the dark and pipe Bach into my skull through headphones than ****. Quite frankly, the Brandenburg Concertos and the two concertos for g and d that are often placed with them are the highest music to me.
Concerto for flute and strings in g, iii: Presto (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=7kwojunM8tI)
Concerto #5 in D Major, ii: Allegro (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yscAvQ88KYY&feature=related&fmt=18)

[KerfuffleMach2]

Can't think of any bands off hand. But, I can think of a song that might fit the bill. At least for the message in the lyrics.

Tomorrow - Sixx AM

[ghost_warlock]

*reads through thread* Yeah, I really need to explore more Apocalyptica...

As for me, Mer de Noms by A Perfect Circle literally changed my life; there was just no way I could ever be the same again once I'd listened through the album. Likewise with Lateralus by Tool. I also have to give a shout-out to Ænima by Tool, since it contains the song that most exemplifies my life; "Forty-six & 2" (taken metaphorically; I don't pretend to take seriously the pseudoscience and debunked ideologies that serve as a vehicle for the song's message).

Some sneers may accompany this would-be confession, but I'd also list Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) by Slipknot. Although I'm not such a huge fan of their earlier albums, that album (and the new album, All Hope is Gone) finally lent a voice to the existential rage burning inside me while also having a strong melodic component to tug other heartstrings. Additionally, "Pulse of the Maggots" has got to be the perfect theme song for anyone doing social work and/or working with abused/neglected youth (such as myself).

I'd also list Melissa Kaplan's work, particularly what she did with Splashdown. Although, admittedly, perhaps not life-changing, it is certainly beautiful and often thought-provoking, with some strong emotional content on select songs. Furthermore, it's free - after the break-up of the band, the artists gave express consent for anyone to download and share Splashdown music. I, personally, feel that this (http://brigandine.org/splashdown/) is the best website devoted to this. Since then, Melissa has gone on to do semi-solo work under the name Universal Hall Pass. This music isn't free, but it's beautiful and just as psychological as selected Splashdown songs.

[Athaniar]

Dschinghis Khan (http://en.wikipedia.org/Dschinghis Khan), German '79/80s pop band. Best band ever. Especially with Moskau (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQAKRw6mToA). Best song ever.

[Rawhide]

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds

[Illiterate Scribe]

I'd suggest anything live by the Kocani Orkestar, especially the version of 'Siki Siki Baba' they did with Zach Condon.

Massed, chaotic, choral Romany folk orchestra? Awesome.


Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds


The part where the Thunderchild is sailing out is particularly awesome.

[Z-dan]

I second War of the Worlds. And I'm still amazed at how few Americans have heard of Queen- especially Bohemian Rhapsody... They did a lot of meh songs, but Rhapsody is still the greatest song ever.
Also, someone that had some impact on my life is (I'm slightly ashamed to admit) Moby- unfortunately thanks to him selling out to loads of adverts he doesn't have the best reputation, but I'm still having Porcelain played at my funeral...
Other than that, can't really suggest other 'life-changing' bands simply because most life-changers need to have some sort of message that can be applied to your situation... Heart of Glass by Blondie was enough to have a huge impact on my life because I heard it at a particular time (I am in no way endorsing Blondie as a life-changing artist)... ditto for Tainted Love.

[WalkingTarget]

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds

Curse you, Rawhide!!!

Now various parts of that are going to be bouncing around my skull all day.

Uuuuuuuuulaaaaaaa!

[three08]

if you want played from the heart, try Piotr Tchaikovsky, or Antonin Dvorak. i like bach, and certainly his technical skills are formidable beyond my means to really comprehend, but i get a lot more emotion and force from tchaikovsky than any of the bach i've heard. bach just seems more intellectual to me, where tchaikovsky is more emotive.

you want contemporary? i can recommend Jonathan Coulton (http:www.jonathancoulton.com/). he's definitely not in it for the money - he uses creative commons licensing for all his music which means it's free and legal for anyone anywhere to bittorrent it. follow that link, you can find almost everything he's got on the webpage and listen to all of it right there at 192kbps. a lot of it is really excellent. i recomment I Hate California, You Could Be Her, Madelaine, the demo version of Dance Soterios Johnson Dance, and Someone Is Crazy for starters.

i know it's common knowledge that Jimi Hendrix pwnz face, but i didn't have any real appreciation or understanding of the fact until i started listening to his stuff recently. suffice to say, my mind is a little bit blown right now.

the New Pornographers are kind of hit-and-miss, but they have a couple really excellent tracks that you should hunt out. Slow Descent into Alcoholism, Letter from an Occupant, and Use It come to mind.

also David Bowie is pretty neat if you like that classic rock sound. you might start with Hallo Spaceboy if you like the harder of musics, but he has a strong catalog. Heroes is one of my favorites - though i prefer the longer album version to the shorter radio edit.

MIA is popular these days but that does not mean she is bad! in fact, she is pretty great. she comes highly recommended from me. try Pull Up the People for starters, since you almost certainly already know Paper Planes.

also i like Björk a lot but i know she is one of those love it or hate it types of acts. maybe try Bachelorette or Army of Me?

consider Muse. the singles they play on the radio, ie starlight and supermassive black hole, are similar in style but very different in content from the rest of that album and their oeuvre. for a more representative sample, try Assassins, Take a Bow, and Knights of Cydonia, which you may know from guitar hero 3. it's closer to metal than starlight is, for sure.

Leonard Cohen is sort of anti-metal, but his lyrics are genius and his compositions are sometimes very striking. Famous Blue Raincoat is a great example of this. i like Closing Time, although the synth requires a bit of an adjustment. also Tower of Song is pretty fantastic.

you may also want to look into the lady grunge groups of the 90s. Garbage is mostly famous for Special, which is a pretty peppy number, but i think i like Hole (Celebrity Skin, Malibu) better.

wow that is more suggestions than i thought i would come up with.

[Dragonrider]

Leonard Cohen also wrote the oft-covered "Hallelujah".

My personal favorite music right now?

1. Barenaked Ladies
2. Cat Stevens
3. Pirates of the Caribbean soundrack

In no particular order.

[three08]

Leonard Cohen also wrote the oft-covered "Hallelujah".

he did, and i do like his version, but i figure almost everyone anywhere in the world probably has hallelujah fatigue by now, since according to wikipedia it has been covered over 180 times.

also i somehow forgot Everybody Knows. how, i don't know. it's one of his best.

[Telonius]

I think Roland Orzabal/Tears for Fears deserves a spot on the list. I dare anybody to listen to Roland's cover of Radiohead's "Creep" and not have chills go up and down your spine.

[Egiam]

Bob Dylan

Also, learn how to play electric bass. I've played loads of instruments, but none changed the way I thought about music more than bass. You learn to truly listen, rather then just hear. It's easy to hear the vocals and everything, but to hear the bass takes a little skill. Also, it's great for timing. Whenever I hear a song now I can not help tapping my feet to the tempo. Guitar is also fun, but there are enough guitarists in the world; we need more bassists. :smallwink:

On a related note: When I first picked up an instrument (piano), My dad pulled a trick on me. He played Take Five by the Dave Brubeck Quartet from a jazz anthology. Now I was an enthusiastic kid, all excited about leaving C maj and going to G maj, playing black notes (I used to think those were for decoration :smallwink:) 3/4 time, and so on.

He asked me to try to clap out the beat and tell him the time sig. I was all "I'm on it!". 1-2-3-4...-2-3-4...-123-1-23-124-3-1-2-3-4-1-2-34-12-3-4-123-4 :smallbiggrin: HUH? *scratches head* (it was in 5/4, heh)

Also if you learn an instrument (or have you already) try playing in a band. It's a completly new experience.

[FdL]

Neil Young.

Especially "Everyboy Knows This Is Nowhere", then pretty much anything else by him.

Throwing Muses. I haven't really heard a lot of records like their first self titled album. Anything else by them or by their leader Kristin Hersh is something special.

Then, dunno, I'd have hundreds of records that are likely to be that good. I like to look for the roots, the music that inspired artists to make music; the original stuff. So as and indie and alternative fan, I listen a lot to bands that are hailed as influences for those genres. And rock in general. Classics? Dunno, "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys... I don't believe in classics though, I believe more in anti-classics, like "Marquee Moon" by Television, "Underwater Moonlight" by The Soft Boys, "The Days of Wine and Roses" by The Dream Syndicate.

Well, following that, I think it's really easy to recommend the recently reissued "Let It Be" by The Replacements. It's just one of those albums.

I think the most important thing is to be able to research for your music, to listen to it critically, to not just accept whatever MTV and the music corporations push on us as "music". What this is about is to open your mind and adopt a critical stance towards music, being an active listener instead of a passive consumer.

There's a lot of amazing music out there with the potential of changing your life. You only have to go find it.

[VeisuItaTyhjyys]

Bjork is one of the few reliable bets for a musician someone who likes Patton should like. She is like Mike Patton, in that she is an incredibly talented vocalist who doesn't waste it on being trite and boring. She also has the only music videos even close to as surreal as Patton has pulled off (I'm looking at you, Everything's Ruined).

Grime is an entire genre of fun music, of varying intellectual and musical complexity.

[Berserk Monk]

This song (http://youtube.com/watch?v=bZ6f5r64F-I) taught me a valuable lesson and opened up my eyes.

[Phaedra]

I second (third?) the Leonard Cohen recommendation. Pretty much everyone's heard Hallelujah by now (which doesn't make it any less of an amazing song - there's a reason it's been covered so much), but pretty much everything he's done is very moving. I recommend Famous Blue Raincoat, The Future, Waiting for the Miracle and Take this Waltz.

I also recommend Rufus Wainwright. He's got a very unique sound that's kinda hard to describe. Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk is a good one by him, as is The One I Love.

[FdL]

Leonard Cohen, but of course.

[littlebottom]

Queen- especially Bohemian Rhapsody...

i indeed second that! with a great passion! Queen will stay in history for a long long time.

But as thats already been said, i must suggest something different, something that not so much "emotionally" moves you, but the skill required for this will make you love it, and it is extreamly motivational! and it is...Dragonforce! you may recognise it from the end of guitar hero 3, but i liked them before they were on guitar hero, herman lee ROCKS.... ahem, if youve never heard of them, just go to youtube and listen to "through the fire and the flames" amazing stuff! the singer is melodic, and not heavy metal at all, the guitarists play with speed and precision, and the drummer... well he plays at the speed of light :smallwink:

i must also mention a composer... his "not" got a band, although he now tours with a band called "black mages" who play his music live where as the composers music was originally synthed, his name is nobuo uematsu (i hope thats right) anyway, he composed the stuff for the Final Fantasy games, and although all are good in their own way, as to how they fit so well with whatevers going on, there is a few in particular, one is areis' theme, the music to that never fails to make me stop for a second and think about life and the like...

anyway thats all from me and i hope to hear that you like any of them :smallcool:

[The Extinguisher]

Look up the genre post-rock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-rock).

Mainly bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Do Make Say Think, 65daysofstatic Mogwai and Sigur Rós, but almost all of it good.

It is beautifully made music and I think almost anyone can and will enjoy it.

On a somewhat related note, check out Circle Takes the Square. They've got more of hardcore experimental screamo feel (mainly because that's what they do) but if you don't mind some very hard and cacophonous sound then you will love it.

[skywalker]

i know it's common knowledge that Jimi Hendrix pwnz face, but i didn't have any real appreciation or understanding of the fact until i started listening to his stuff recently. suffice to say, my mind is a little bit blown right now.

Specifically, "Little Wing" and "Voodoo Child," (or whatever the hell it's called. Any version) are really good tracks.


Bob Dylan

Also, learn how to play electric bass. I've played loads of instruments, but none changed the way I thought about music more than bass. You learn to truly listen, rather then just hear. It's easy to hear the vocals and everything, but to hear the bass takes a little skill. Also, it's great for timing. Whenever I hear a song now I can not help tapping my feet to the tempo. Guitar is also fun, but there are enough guitarists in the world; we need more bassists. :smallwink:

These are true words.

My personal faves (I tend to do albums, not songs):
1. "Morning Glory" by Oasis - One of the best albums to come out of the 90s from one of the best bands to come out of the 90s.
2. "Blonde on Blonde" by Bob Dylan - "Don't tell anyone you don't own f***** 'Blonde on Blonde'... It's gonna be ok" That's a quote from High Fidelity. It's been called the greatest record ever.
3. Anything by Eric Clapton, special attention to "Layla."
4. The Doors, pick anything.
5. "Fight with Tools" by The Flobots - Rap with a political conscience that doesn't suck.
6. Nobody has mentioned the Beatles. I feel bad that I waited this long to mention them.
7. "Continuum" or "Try!" by John Mayer - I know his first two albums pretty much sucked. These last two make up for it.
8. George Thorogood - "Man... She kinda funny..." "I know! Everybody funny... Now you funny too..."
9. "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers - Personally speaking, my favorite band.

[UncleWolf]

One of the greatest songs in the world.
No vocals.
Never Entered My Mind- Miles Davis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsb-lXec76w)

[Raistlin1040]

The Beatles

Puh-leez. I totally would've been all over mentioning the Beatles if it'd taken this long. Sneak just already did, is all.

[skywalker]

Puh-leez. I totally would've been all over mentioning the Beatles if it'd taken this long. Sneak just already did, is all.

The Beatles are like Bach. I didn't think it was important to read every line of a list that started with Iron and Wine...

[Felixaar]

Leonard Cohen also wrote the oft-covered "Hallelujah".

Really? I didn't know that. I love that song.


3. Pirates of the Caribbean soundrack

This is what I was going to reccomend. And fyi, the music is written by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer (KB did the first with help from Hans and the second and third are pure Zimmer). Pretty much any of eithers music is great - Badelt did Starship Troopers, and Zimmer has also done the Simpsons Movie, The Dark Knight, and The Lion King just to name a few.

I'd also reccomend Chad Kroeger's Hero.

Some ACDC would be nice, too. But don't listen to it when driving if you want to avoid tickets/death.

[davidthespecial]

*saw Apocalyptica live* 'twas quite fantastic.

Most of what I can recommend is vaguely folky. I've been loving Qntal recently - Qntal - Falling Star (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGgRc38ZxKk)
I just came across Imagined Village (http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=tlrSztZ8k_w)
Mors Syphilitca's version of Johnny has gone for a soldier (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugCvo4zQHPI)

Sadly I can't provide examples as they're too obscure, but the choir nChant are beautiful. 'Flesh of my flesh' is one of the most haunting things I've ever heard.

[Vaynor]

the New Pornographers are kind of hit-and-miss, but they have a couple really excellent tracks that you should hunt out. Slow Descent into Alcoholism, Letter from an Occupant, and Use It come to mind.

also David Bowie is pretty neat if you like that classic rock sound. you might start with Hallo Spaceboy if you like the harder of musics, but he has a strong catalog. Heroes is one of my favorites - though i prefer the longer album version to the shorter radio edit.

Good suggestions, Bowie rocks. New Pornographers, I agree, are kind of a hit and miss. Myriad Harbour is one of my favorite songs (I love the music video :smalltongue:)

Back to the OP: You said you liked heavy music, I don't listen to much of that, but the closest and one of my favorite bands are the Mad Caddies. Try Silence.

[FdL]

Really? I didn't know that. I love that song.

Yeah, not a lot of people does. This fact annoys me a lot.

Meh, I guess it's just a problem of marketing. No one wants to listen to music written by an old man from Canada with a low, creaky voice *shrugs* And no one cares to know who wrote the songs they love.

[Castaras]

Genesis.

Specifically, the Lamb Lies Down On Broadway album.

I can't really describe it to you. You'll just have to listen to it. Progressive Rock at its greatest and weirdest.

[CutePoison]

Muse.

But not every Muse song. It's s tough one.

For true life changing Muse I'd reccomend a mixture of some of their FANTASTIC b-sides and some album tracks from Absolution/Showbiz.

Want a list? :smalltongue:

[Fredthefighter]

Muse.

But not every Muse song. It's s tough one.

For true life changing Muse I'd reccomend a mixture of some of their FANTASTIC b-sides and some album tracks from Absolution/Showbiz.

Want a list? :smalltongue:

I'm quite a fan of "Supermassive" by Muse, it's a good song.

[xPANCAKEx]

oh for the love of snuggles... theres some GOLD in this thread, but some of you playgrounders are recommending some utter GUFF

its not "bands/songs that we kinda like rather a bit" - its about music that REALLY blew your mind the first time you heard it. If a band/song wasn't so good the first time you heard it that you could listen to it 20 times on repeat then leave it out

being picky is the name of the game here

[Fredthefighter]

oh for the love of snuggles... theres some GOLD in this thread, but some of you playgrounders are recommending some utter GUFF

its not "bands/songs that we kinda like rather a bit" - its about music that REALLY blew your mind the first time you heard it. If a band/song wasn't so good the first time you heard it that you could listen to it 20 times on repeat then leave it out

being picky is the name of the game here

In that case, ACDC, every song of their that I've listened to has been completely amazing. Really is mind-blowing stuff.
*Salutes those who are about to rock*

[Sneak]

Iron & Wine
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Mozart
Vivaldi
Bob Marley
Dispatch - Bang Bang, Who Are We Living For?
The Grateful Dead - American Beauty
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
The Beatles - The White Album, Abbey Road, Magical Mystery Tour, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Revolver
The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
The Decemberists - Her Majesty The Decemberists
The New Pornographers - Challengers, Twin Cinema
Paul Simon - Graceland
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends
R.E.M.
Radiohead
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
Talking Heads
The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday
Toots & The Maytals
U2 - Achtung Baby
Bob Dylan
Dire Straits
Dvořák - New World Symphony
Bach
Handel
Duke Ellington
Explosions in the Sky
Louis Armstrong
King Crimson
The Roots
A Tribe Called Quest
Cream
Eric Clapton
Pink Floyd
Diana Krall
The Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
The Ramones
Beck
Max Romeo
Nick Drake
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Flight of the Conchords
The Clash - London Calling
Steely Dan
Velvet Underground
Swan Lake
Tegan and Sara
Holopaw - Holopaw

Oh, I did only post music that really blows my mind. The list of "bands/songs that I kinda like rather a bit" would be much, much longer. :smallamused:

In any case, I've edited into the spoiler quote some albums that should be listened to.

EDIT: I've also bolded the artists that I consider the most "mind-blowing."

[three08]

its not "bands/songs that we kinda like rather a bit" - its about music that REALLY blew your mind the first time you heard it. If a band/song wasn't so good the first time you heard it that you could listen to it 20 times on repeat then leave it out

being picky is the name of the game here

in that case, i... stand behind all my suggestions.

seriously. the first time i heard Jonathan Coulton's Skullcrusher Mountain, i went straight to his site, downloaded it (for free) and listened to it on loop till i knew the vocal part by heart.

also Use It by the New Pornographers just sets my brain on fire in such a delicious way. whenever it comes on, i have to crank it - HAVE to. i have no choice. it doesn't matter what i'm doing or to whom i'm talking. they can wait three minutes to finish what they were saying, or just not say it.

and ghost warlock had a good list of Hendrix songs, but i wanna add Hey Joe to that list. you have to at least listen to Hey Joe. once should be enough to achieve the desired effect.



also, on an unrelated note, sneak, i'm terribly sorry, but you are too young to like paul simon. hell, you are too young to know who he is. please immediately erase him from your memory and delete any songs of his that may be on your computer or mp3 player. if i am going to be a goddamned old person i should at least be allowed the consolation of having better music. :|

you kids get off my lawn....

[littlebottom]

heres something you may like... if you are as geeky as me that is. and i do warn you, if your not a geek dont bother, it wont make any sense :smallbiggrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVbiZJGW1iQ

[AmberEye]

* Richard Thompson -- I was introduced to him by an old boyfriend and saw him perform acoustically when I lived in Atlanta. Thoughtful lyrics, not the hardest stuff (but he does rock out occasionally).

* The Rough Guides to World Music series -- I've been pulling these from the library. Very mind-expanding, nice samplers if you're wanting to hear culturally different stuff like klezmer, real Gypsy/ Rroma music, bhangra or the like.

* Wolgemut -- A German group that performs medieval and Renaissance music. I saw these guys perform at Pennsic, and they blew the idea of prissy velvet-clad academians completely out of the water. High energy, heavy percussion -- this was the stuff our forebears were hearing in the streets, and wow, our forebears could rock out

Lately, when I'm looking for new music, I hit up Pandora Internet Radio (www.pandora.com) and keep it on in the background as I browse. You give the program your preferences and it will pull out music it thinks fits those preferences. You give songs thumbs-up or -down and the program adjusts. I've found several new groups I like this way.


Davidthespecial -- I'll second on "Falling Star." As an old English major, I was hugely thrilled to hear it referencing John Donne's "Song" and so beautifully.

[Castaras]

oh for the love of snuggles... theres some GOLD in this thread, but some of you playgrounders are recommending some utter GUFF

its not "bands/songs that we kinda like rather a bit" - its about music that REALLY blew your mind the first time you heard it. If a band/song wasn't so good the first time you heard it that you could listen to it 20 times on repeat then leave it out

being picky is the name of the game here

As I said, Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, by Genesis.

[Sneak]

also, on an unrelated note, sneak, i'm terribly sorry, but you are too young to like paul simon. hell, you are too young to know who he is. please immediately erase him from your memory and delete any songs of his that may be on your computer or mp3 player. if i am going to be a goddamned old person i should at least be allowed the consolation of having better music. :|

you kids get off my lawn....

Hey! I'll have you know that Graceland was my favorite album as an infant! Or so my parents tell me, anyways...

...my point is, I'll never give up my music! NEVER! :smallfurious: :smalltongue:

Seriously, there's a lot of good old music. There's also a lot of good new music. I don't like to discriminate.


Lately, when I'm looking for new music, I hit up Pandora Internet Radio (www.pandora.com) and keep it on in the background as I browse. You give the program your preferences and it will pull out music it thinks fits those preferences. You give songs thumbs-up or -down and the program adjusts. I've found several new groups I like this way.

I definitely agree with this—I've found lots of new music through Pandora, and it's actually eerily accurate at predicting your musical tastes.

Genius on iTunes is actually okay as well for finding new music.

[davidthespecial]

Davidthespecial -- I'll second on "Falling Star." As an old English major, I was hugely thrilled to hear it referencing John Donne's "Song" and so beautifully.

I'm embarrassed to say I had to look that up. My English lit. studying housemates would be disappointed :smalltongue:

[Kigganaku]

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XshjyHoiwPk) is something everyone should here. And anything else by the Killers for that matter.

EDIT: This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uey5rqzCrY4&feature=channel_page) also was a mind blower. Note this was the only video that wasn't a remix.

[FdL]

oh for the love of snuggles... theres some GOLD in this thread, but some of you playgrounders are recommending some utter GUFF


I was thinking that too... 9.9

Previous post standing as an example. The Killers. You can like them, but come on, they're just a band. A commercial, trendy band the kind there's hundreds of, and no one will remember in 10, 5 years. Those guys are not going to make any meaningful contribution to music with their stuff, nor they are going to inspire someone into making ORIGINAL music. They're just followers of trends, channelers of influences. Not the kind of artists who others imitate; they're rather imitators themselves...

[Teela-Y]

Man, I really like the positive message in the New Radical's "You Get What you Give."

They have songs with soul and message. They changed my perspective from a deep sorrow into a driving optimism when I heard that song for the first time. I really recommend it!

[Keinnicht]

In The Aeroplane Over The Sea.

[littlebottom]

i have decided to spoiler this, there are no links, but an intresting story about a song, i decided it was spoiler worthy as its not a very cheery story, so dont read if you dont want to hear about it.

theres a song that is as about as life changing as any song ever... (its so depressing its made many many people kill themselves... yikes!) its called gloomy sundays, i know this isnt exactly what you were looking for but it certainly is life changing and moving enough to cause a rather drastic effect on peoples moods, thats got to count for it somehow... i also recomend that you dont listen to it incase it has that effect on you... you never know.

and yes, the composer took his own life, after finding out his girlfriend took her life, although a while after hearing his song, but still... ouch.

[xPANCAKEx]

i have decided to spoiler this, there are no links, but an intresting story about a song, i decided it was spoiler worthy as its not a very cheery story, so dont read if you dont want to hear about it.

theres a song that is as about as life changing as any song ever... (its so depressing its made many many people kill themselves... yikes!) its called gloomy sundays, i know this isnt exactly what you were looking for but it certainly is life changing and moving enough to cause a rather drastic effect on peoples moods, thats got to count for it somehow... i also recomend that you dont listen to it incase it has that effect on you... you never know.

and yes, the composer took his own life, after finding out his girlfriend took her life, although a while after hearing his song, but still... ouch.



to you sir i will recommend Bohren Und Der Club of Gore - a german jazz act... VERY dark, slow ambient music. Its what jazz sounds like when played by depressed metal heads. Suprisingly good for train journeys.

[skywalker]

This is what I was going to reccomend. And fyi, the music is written by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer (KB did the first with help from Hans and the second and third are pure Zimmer). Pretty much any of eithers music is great - Badelt did Starship Troopers, and Zimmer has also done the Simpsons Movie, The Dark Knight, and The Lion King just to name a few.

Felix, no...

It's all so synth! Really, I play the cello, and I love music with lots of cellos but... dear God, the synth!

I don't think there's a single real cello in the entire POTC series!


oh for the love of snuggles... theres some GOLD in this thread, but some of you playgrounders are recommending some utter GUFF

its not "bands/songs that we kinda like rather a bit" - its about music that REALLY blew your mind the first time you heard it. If a band/song wasn't so good the first time you heard it that you could listen to it 20 times on repeat then leave it out

being picky is the name of the game here

I stand by my recommendations as well. I could listen to everything I mentioned 20 times on repeat with the exception of "Blonde on Blonde," and the only reason why I couldn't do that one is because I think it would encourage (the apparently trendy option of) suicide.

Now, obviously, some of them are less "earthshaking" than others. George Thorogood comes to mind. I won't say I experience a spiritual shift when I listened to George for the first time. But did I experience a life shift? Did I swagger a little bit more? A bit more self-confidence as a permanent feature? Yes. And I suppose, in that case, I'll have to apologize to Felix, because the POTC soundtrack, in context with the movie, did the same for me.

Now, I mentioned the Beatles out of respect for Paul and George and Ringo, but if your life doesn't change in a significant way when you hear "Imagine," then you need to get your pulse checked.

What else, what else... I don't think the others need too much defending.

[Raistlin1040]

>.>
<.<

I give very little respect to Paul. And George had the best solo career anyway. But yeah, Beatles, definately.

And David Bowie. Every album from Space Oddity to...let's go with Let's Dance. With a few good singles afterwords and then some interesting stuff in the late 90s and 2000s. Ranking those albums, I'd put it like this.

1. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
2. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
3. "Heroes"
4. Diamond Dogs
5. Aladdin Sane
6. The Man Who Sold the World
7. Hunky Dory
8. Lodger
9. Let's Dance
10. Low
11. Station to Stations
12. Young Americans
13. Space Oddity

Pin-Ups, his cover album, doesn't really belong on the list, being that it has no original material. I'd give it Space Oddity's spot if I DID put it in though.

[Shraik]

Quadrophenia, the entire album, by The Who. I can say so much, but I'll keep it simple. The story is timless. About depression, being a teenager, feeling unfufilled, depressed, unloved by his family and his love, and feels let down by society. The overall story of isolation and depression is something that if you listen to it intensly, could bring tears. (there is a reason it was named Greatest Concept Album and Greatest Rock Album by IGN)

[Moff Chumley]

Siberian Khatru (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXKSmz-Z2k&feature=related) and Roundabout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIVi7KY_WJ8)-Yes. You eventually get tired of these songs, but it'll take months, and you'll be a different person, I promise you this.

All Cats Are Grey (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpgNx89B8Y4&feature=related)-The Cure. Ignore the band's reputation, it's completely legitimate, thoughtful, emotional, intelligent music. Rob Smith is amazing...

Planet Claire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EPP3gkh_00)-B52's. The best dance song ever written, bar none.

Girlfriend Is Better (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgDatQjSHsc&feature=related)-Talking Heads. More than any on this list, this song is who I am musically, lyrically, and emotionally. Confused, amused, angry, content, cynical, and optimistic. And bat-**** insane.

Cross-Eyed and Painless (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KQjy02eqOk&feature=related)-Talking Heads. Adrian Belew, the guitarist, and David Byrne the singer, are two of the most inspired men on the planet.

And now, on a metal note, Red (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLY4v0Et8z0)-King Crimson. This is, in all seriousness, the most furious, fundamental, elemental rock tunes ever written. Kurt Cobain cited this album as the most beautiful thing he ever heard, and I can't get much better recommendation than that.

I'd post more, but I've been working on this post for an hour, so I'll continue only if you click on each of those links. :smallwink:

Good luck.

[celtois]

I'd like to put forward the Sam Roberts band. They are amazing. "Link (http://samrobertsband.com/news/)" Under the media section of their site are a bunch of music videos they've done.

I'd also like to 2nd the vote for Tegan and sara. They are very very good.

There are more but those are probably the top ones.

[DrakebloodIV]

I'm gonna rock the classical for you!

One really great classical bit that everyone has to listen to before judging classical is Holst's mars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NeQ1h6lzLI&feature=related) it really gets you pumped and ready for a fight I also like [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU96Yvk310s]1812 overture[/url] it starts of really peaceful but then it gets into a really cool revile (and a freakin cannon!).

Also, Viva la vida is overrated but some of the other stuff on that album is amazing. Swichfoot is a mixed bag but their song Meant to live is pretty kickass