Music you really like and want to share with the Playground

[Tor the Fallen]

This thread is about music you like, and have a desperate need to tell other people about. It can be a new band you just discovered at your local scene, or some really old, musty classical music that is as violent and depressing as any NIN track. It can be about American music (do you like it?), Brazilian music, or even whale song.

But most of all, it's about music that you really, really like. It's not to be a thread about the grindcore flavor of the month, or obscure bands no one's heard of. We can certainly disagree on what's great music, and discussion here is certainly in the spirit of the thread. Music snobbery; however, is not. We can all do music snobbery. I can be a snob, I also make bands up, call names, and don't actually know anything about music. In otherwords, I can be far more obnoxious about my opinions than you can with your genuine knowledge of all things Brazilian Ska (or whatever).

So choose some music you really like. Like really like. Music that you'll be listening to in at least four years from now. It can be a single song, piece, movement, an album, or artist, from any decade, century, culture.

Describe it; the genre, era, who might listen to it, the scene it came from, music it is similar to, etc. Describe the sort of mood you have to be in to listen to it/the mood it puts you in.

Share some emotions/memories the music evokes, who introduced it to you, when you first heard it. What do you think the artist means with the song? What does it mean to you?

Then take some time to look up the music other people put here, and give it a try. After all, sharing means listening! Or something. Chicks dig that stuff, so pretend I'm a chick, kay? Also pretend you want me to 'dig' you.

I'll go first.

Neutral Milk Hotel
Don't let the meaningless name turn you off to "yet another indie band that I've never heard of." The name almost scared me away, but after having it forced upon me by sentence of who had the biggest cool, I became a believer. I have only two of their albums; The Aeroplane Over the Sea, and On Avery Island. They have a lot of percussion and horns, and the singer has a somewhat nasal voice. Their songs tend to be on the longish side, with rather abstract and intersting lyrics that you could read a lot into.

The Aeroplane Over the Sea is a concept album, about the holocaust. Yeah, yeah, great concept, right? The lead singer says the Diary of Anne Frank inspired him, and man, what an inspiration! A truly beautiful album, with some rather haunting melodies/lyrical schemes. I once went wandering around mountains in the dead of night, in the dead of winter, under a full moon and a heavy heart, underdressed with only an iPod. I remember coming down off a peak, my sleep deprived eyes and hypothermic mind seeing wolves and bears everywhere, as Two Headed Boy Part 2 played, and everything sort of made sense.

On Avery Island is far more experimental and less, eh, 'accessible'. That is, they are long periods of insufferable electronic noises and crap. There are also some very, very beautiful tracks on their. 'Naomi' is especially poignant. It reminds me of this girl, except her name wasn't Naomi.

St. Germain
I'd like to call it jazz. Actually, I'd like to call it jazz fusion, but I don't know what that is.

It's fun, minimalist music with repetitive vocals and machines generating some of the music for them. And by fun, it's vaguely porno-music. A girlfriend gave me a copy of their self titled album.
I've found 3 uses for it.
1. Putting it on when a girl's over, and creeping them out.
2. Putting it on when a scene girl is over, and wooing her with my brilliant sense of irony.
3. Using it as a track for my, ah, 'home movies'.

I think they're French.


That's all, for now.

I promise to try out your music if you promise to try out mine.
Deal?

[Catch]

Oh, glee.

Album: The Shape of Punk to Come
Artist: Refused

This is one album that I like to trot out every once in a while that no one seems to understand or give a full listen to. This is the final album release by Refused before they were dissolved, and it's a significant step away from their previous works (Dennis Lyxzén now heads The (International) Noise Conspiracy, but more on that later.)

It's not wholly the sound of the album that gets me, it's the ideology behind it and the work that was put into the whole project. The Shape of Punk to Come was released in 1998 during the surge in pop-punk, which was the predominant sound at the time, and is intended as the antithesis of formulaic, generic, recycled music.

The song New Noise (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8MkVIe9xGc)distills the philosophy of the album into a succinct--and I use the term regretfully--anthem. Refused's belief was that hardcore and punk music could not maintain its anti-establishmentary roots while sharing the same mainstream sound as bands with lesser intentions.


"Great words won't cover ugly actions - good frames won't save bad paintings"

"And how can we expect anyone to listen if we are using the same old voice? / We need new noise - new art for the real people"


Sonically, The Shape of Punk to Come is worlds apart from albums of its time, incorporating elements of techno and drum and bass along with orchestral and jazz sounds into the hardcore sound that was Refused, and adding subtle "political interludes," heavily influenced by the styles of Born Against and The Nation of Ulysses. The sub-title of The Shape of Punk to Come is "A Chemical Bombination in 12 Burts," which is accurate of the album's style. The songs are long and peculiar, subdued melodies and sounds punctuated by revolutionary hardcore explosions.

At the core, The Shape of Punk to Come is truly punk--not in sound or image, but intention and ideology. As an affront mainstream formula and established styles of music, this album succeeds, breaking down the walls of what punk is and giving a glimpse as to what punk could be.

I particularly enjoyed Kevin Ruggeri's (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21307-the-shape-of-punk-to-come?artist_title=21307-the-shape-of-punk-to-come) review of the album, and I encourage taking a look.

[Amotis]

No no no...see when Two Headed Boy pt 2 ended, when Jeff echoed that last line (" But don’t hate her when she gets up to leave.") and placed down his guitar and you could hear that too familiar noise...then, then everything came together and crumbled apart. His world was over and you were left with yours.

I'll come up with some meaningful suggestions later.

[Tor the Fallen]

No no no...see when Two Headed Boy pt 2 ended, when Jeff echoed that last line (" But don’t hate her when she gets up to leave.") and placed down his guitar and you could hear that too familiar noise...then, then everything came together and crumbled apart. His world was over and you were left with yours.

I'll come up with some meaningful suggestions later.

For me, it was this stanza, about halfway through:
"Made for his lover who's floating and choking with her hands across her face
And in the dark we will take off our clothes
And they'll be placing fingers through the notches in your spine
And when all is breaking everything that you could keep inside
Now your eyes ain't moving now
They just lay there in their calm"

"fingers through the notches in your spine"
*shivers*

[Tor the Fallen]

In the vein of punk, the Misfits, but only Danzig Misfits. Walk Among Us is a terrific album, with surprisingly 'light' melodies- it's not the thrash metal, hardcore or screamo of later punk & metal. It's almost cheery and upbeat in that "get-up-jump-up-stomp-up-smash-up" sort of way. Old school punk, when you could still see the ska influence in the rifts between degenerative, shouted lyrics. And the lyrics are awesome- straight out of a death metal song, but without the heavy guitar or the band.

Catch, what do you think of The Distillers?

[Mattaeu]

Blue Man Group
Audio CD

I really really like instrumentals. And sitting, napping, or reading to this cd in Surround is just plain enjoyable.

...and I just went to their Vegas show on Friday. AMAZING.


Venus Hum
Big Beautiful Sky

In retrospect, the first few listenings are a little trying, but then I really got into her voice. I'm not much for techno/trep(I have no idea what 'trep' is but I show them to my friend and he's all: 'trep'), but this was a great cd that will continue to be played alongside Blue Man and Smashing Pumpkins.
Incidentally, I found Venus Hum through Blue Man.

Can you 'dig'? :smallwink:

(ps. link (http://www.nettwerk.com/player/VenusHum/) to Venus Hum newer album...good, but not their best. Just here for example reasons.)
{pps. their good song (http://www.videocure.com/music-video-code/v/92507b349b41f1b58bbbe89cc5a74534.html#) careful though, it's shifty-meaning 'maybe popups' and i just don't want you to hold that against me. :smalltongue:}

[SDF]

In the vein of punk, the Misfits, but only Danzig Misfits. Walk Among Us is a terrific album, with surprisingly 'light' melodies- it's not the thrash metal, hardcore or screamo of later punk & metal. It's almost cheery and upbeat in that "get-up-jump-up-stomp-up-smash-up" sort of way. Old school punk, when you could still see the ska influence in the rifts between degenerative, shouted lyrics. And the lyrics are awesome- straight out of a death metal song, but without the heavy guitar or the band.

Some of the best Misfits music has come post Danzig, with Only at the helm. Walk Among Us, great, groundbreaking, yadda yadda, but I think songs like Scream! and Dig Up Her Bones are better than anything on that album.

[TMTree]

I was thinking of starting a thread like this myself- it should be an interesting way to see why people like the music they do, as well as hopefully finding some great new stuff.




The Aeroplane Over the Sea is a concept album, about the holocaust. Yeah, yeah, great concept, right? The lead singer says the Diary of Anne Frank inspired him, and man, what an inspiration! A truly beautiful album, with some rather haunting melodies/lyrical schemes. I once went wandering around mountains in the dead of night, in the dead of winter, under a full moon and a heavy heart, underdressed with only an iPod. I remember coming down off a peak, my sleep deprived eyes and hypothermic mind seeing wolves and bears everywhere, as Two Headed Boy Part 2 played, and everything sort of made sense.




I've heard loads of great stuff about that album, but I keep putting off getting it for some reason. Still, with all the praise it gets, it's only a matter of time before I take the plunge.


The Chameleons- Strange Times


This is an incredible album by an 80s band who have very obviously inspiured Interpol and bands like them. Bloc party also sound a great deal like them, so if you like either of these bands you HAVE to try The Chameleons. It has a very atmospheric, chiming guitar sound combined with great drums and tunes. More importantly, it has what is, I reckon, the best opening five tracks of any album ever- lots of angry epic tracks (Caution, Soul in Isolation) as well as more delicate tunes (Tears is one of my favourite songs of all time). Swamp thing is the closest thing to a prper popsong on the CD, with a soaring chorus and a great guitar intro. The songs are quite different in style from each other fo the most part, but are held together cohesively by a very strong atmopshere, and I tend to enjoy listening to it most when I'm in a thoughtful mood.


The sound is more obviously 80s than any of their previous albums, but the songwriting definitely makes up for it, improving from album to album (this was their last before they broke up), as well as being a bit less gloomy than their previous albums. Oddly enough, the production doesn't annoy me as much as it does on some other 80s CDs, either- it all seems to work quite well.


Anyway, a sure sign of how good they are as a band, as well as the album itself, is that it's got a lurker to make a ridiculously long post about it.:smallsmile:


Here's a myspace dedicated to the band where you can hear some tunes (Second Skin is a brilliant track from another album): http://www.myspace.com/thechameleons

[Catch]

Catch, what do you think of The Distillers?

Oddly enough, the mainstream and the scene got to 'em before I did, so I never really invested a lot of time in their music, purely out of principle. *chuckle* I hate to have anything in common with the fashion-zombie scenesters.

Good stuff, though. I love Brody's style of singing in that she's got that pissed-off Joan Jett vibe, especially in contrast to the Avril Lavigne style of poppy chick-punk. A wee bit too commercial for my tastes, but the music is decent.

And since you mentioned concept albums, what's your take on Coheed and Cambria?

[Innis Cabal]

Gardenian
Album: Sindustries

An amazing metal CD, with a little bit for everyone, even if you dont like metal.

[Toastkart]

Within Temptation is my current favourite music. They're a Dutch goth band in a similar vein as Evanescence. Although better in some ways. Some especially good songs by them are Somewhere, It's the Fear, Forgiven, Heart of Everything, See Who I am, and The Truth Beneath the Rose.

It's great stuff, I'm sorta hooked on it. I listen to it mostly when I'm driving, but also when I'm writing. It draws me into zen easily and that's when I write my best.

[Shadow of the Sun]

Eventually I am going to go through every music artist I have ever heard on this thread.

[Disposablecat]

Oh, this seems like a good place to share this wonderful artist. If you have not heard of or listened to Final Fantasy well then you are missing out. The 'band' has no relation to the games of the same name. Instead it is Folk Classical setup comprised almost entirely of Owen Pallett, one of the violinist from The Arcade Fire. It's a minimalist blend of music composed of violin, piano, harpaphone, vox, etc.

His first album, "Has a Good Home", was pretty rough, but still good. Takes some listening to, but it really grows on you. If I remember reading correctly it was written and recorded in like a week. His second album is amazing(at least I think so :smalltongue: ). It is titled "He Poos Clouds", an odd name I know. When he wrote the second album he stated he had three goals.

1.)To create an album that attempts to modernize each of the eight D&D schools of magic
2.)Every song would be written for string quartet and voice
3.)And nobody who listens to the album will again entertain the thought of suicide

Some odd goals for an album, but I think he did a very good job in obtaining them.

"He Poos Clouds" is easily my favorite album of last year. He has another due out later this year from what I hear. :smallsmile:

Take a listen:
http://www.myspace.com/owenpalletmusic

He has a very fun live set in which he manages to play all parts by himself via loopback pedals. He also does some amazing covers/adaptations of other random artists via violin live.
This is the Dream of Win and Regine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8PZ8-cpWc4
Live:
Joana Newson - Peach Plumb Pear (Cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q02ompQhtY8
The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB05Lt3VbNg

I wouldn't say he falls in my normal music genres, but I still love'm.

[Icewalker]

I like heavier rock music, but some of my favorite bands/artists:

Aerosmith, Audioslave, Three Days Grace, Sum 41, Coldplay, Hans Zimmer.

[Sundog]

One you've probably all heard of, but have you heard the albums: The Alan Parsons Project.

They've made over ten albums, all of them good, and have been responsible for some of the most amazing musical explorations of the 70's and 80's.

They're rereleasing all of the APP albums on re-mastered CD over the course of this year. I Robot and Eye in the Sky are already out; I believe Tales of Mystery and Imagination is next.

[Innis Cabal]

Drist is good, and if you play Guitar Hero 2 they have a great song there, totally forgot about them until i heard that song.

[Disposablecat]

Gardenian
Album: Sindustries

An amazing metal CD, with a little bit for everyone, even if you dont like metal.

I'm liking what I've listened to so far.:smallsmile:

[Lemur]

Right now, this (http://www.spiritonin.com/sounds/La_La_Uaei.mp3) and this (http://www.spiritonin.com/sounds/Paranauei.mp3).

[Wolfgang]

The Protomen (http://www.myspace.com/theprotomen). A very musically and lyrically talented band. They have one CD so far, which is a self-titled rock opera inspired by the Mega Man games. It tells the story of a dystopian world, an Orwellian nightmare ruled by Dr. Wily and his army of ever-watchful robots. Protoman, the first son of Dr. Light, tries and fails to defeat that army. Then, years later, his newly-created brother Mega Man sets out on a quest to save the world and avenge his brother's death.

Now, I know what many of you are probably thinking. "Ew, rock operas." I thought the same thing when I heard about them. I gave them a listen, liked them, then eventually got around to buying their album. This one really works.

It is some seriously amazing stuff. The tracks vary from powerful slow-ish rock, to somber introspective tunes, to fast-paced battle music. The CD even comes with liner notes that (gasp!) actually have stuff besides the lyrics pasted in. Reading them while listening made the experience even more awesome.

Plus, they perform in full costume, with visored helmets, uniforms, and arm cannons.

Four thumbs up from random internet guy.

[Disposablecat]

The Protomen

Pretty good stuff there. Been awhile since I've given them a listen.

[Penguinsushi]

I listen to and love lots of different musical genres. Currently, I'm listening to some Infected Mushroom - but that's really only because it makes good coding music...

I figure threads like this are best suited for mentioning groups you think other people may not have heard of.

Most my listening lately has been on some generally mellower stuff.

They're pretty well-known at this point (but just in case), as I've mentioned before in other threads around here, I'm a huge Decemberists (http://www.decemberists.com) fan. Mostly because, until I stumbled upon this group a couple years ago, I'd never heard anything like it. Many of their songs seem a bit lost in time - like they ought to belong in the 19th century. The Colin Meloy (the lead singer) has a very interesting voice as well.

Another group I'd point out is a band called Margot & the Nuclear So and So's (http://www.margotandthenuclearsoandsos.com/). I'd never even heard of them until a friend of mine suggested I give them a listen. I don't know a whole lot about this band, but their album, The Dust of Retreat is excellent.

And, pretty much as mellow as it gets, I listen to Iron & Wine (http://www.ironandwine.com/) quite a bit. Particularly In The Reins - the EP made with Calexico (which is actually about the least mellow of them, but...).

I like all of these groups a lot - they are interesting melodically and have some truly unique lyrics.

~PS

[FdL]

I like the overall intention of this thread, though honestly I have a similar outlook with every music thread out there, that is, I'm open to suggestions and I like to express and share what I like and I'm into currently.


I don't really care for this next paragraph of your post:



But most of all, it's about music that you really, really like. It's not to be a thread about the grindcore flavor of the month, or obscure bands no one's heard of. We can certainly disagree on what's great music, and discussion here is certainly in the spirit of the thread. Music snobbery; however, is not. We can all do music snobbery. I can be a snob, I also make bands up, call names, and don't actually know anything about music. In otherwords, I can be far more obnoxious about my opinions than you can with your genuine knowledge of all things Brazilian Ska (or whatever).


I don't think anyone makes up band names and purposely acts with air of superiority when talking about music. No one I've read in these forums fits under that description.
I considered this a little passive-agressive and a bit discriminating; after all, you could well be considered a music snob yourself because of the bands you mention. It's all relative, and drawing "your" line here or there doesn't make it less of a line.

So if we're going to talk about the music we like and discover, fine, lets. People who like "brazilian ska" included.

[The Prince of Cats]

I have got into Apocalyptica and Godspeed You Black Emperor recently. That said, I am one of those oddballs who still considers Chopin and Hendrix to be perfectly matched for the same playlist...


I listen to and love lots of different musical genres. Currently, I'm listening to some Infected Mushroom - but that's really only because it makes good coding music...
A friend of mine played Converting Vegetarians to me last year. What add odd song...

[Disposablecat]

I have got into Apocalyptica and Godspeed You Black Emperor recently. That said, I am one of those oddballs who still considers Chopin and Hendrix to be perfectly matched for the same playlist...


A friend of mine played Converting Vegetarians to me last year. What add odd song...

If you like Godspeed may I recommend Tristeza' and 'Do Make Say Think'
Tristeza (http://www.myspace.com/tristeza)
Do Make Say Think (http://www.myspace.com/doomachesatan)

As far as what FdL was saying I agree. Why I'm sure there are people out there that do this kind of name dropping, I don't think you'll find it here. You go to forums dedicated to music snobbery for that. I find myself giving these bands a try if I haven't hear them before and maybe making a recommendation or two if I see one I know (see above). :smallsmile:

Edit: V V V I saw Mono awhile back with Pelican and at the time I had not heard any of their stuff. They blew me away. Starts out slow and slowly builds up to blow you away.

Edit 2: This is true about Do Make Say Think for the most part. Some of there songs are pretty slow though and somewhat comparable.

[Amotis]

I personally would alsao go for Silver Mt. Zion and Mono (their joint album with World's End Girlfriend is perfect). The former being where some of the ex-GY!BE members went to. Definently not GY!BE, but the creative juices are still there...with lyrics. Do Mqke Say Think is a bit too...happy I think to be compared to GY!BE. They're part of Broken Social Scene for Christ's sake!

[Tor the Fallen]

I don't really care for this next paragraph of your post:

That's nice.



I don't think anyone makes up band names and purposely acts with air of superiority when talking about music. No one I've read in these forums fits under that description.

Then you haven't met me!
Nice to meet you!


I considered this a little passive-agressive and a bit discriminating; after all, you could well be considered a music snob yourself because of the bands you mention. It's all relative, and drawing "your" line here or there doesn't make it less of a line.

So if we're going to talk about the music we like and discover, fine, lets. People who like "brazilian ska" included.

It's great that you've never experienced that sort of thing before, it really is. I felt the disclaimer was necessary, as I've been in far to many music 'discussions' where the only thing that took place was name dropping bands. You know (though I guess you don't), the sort of "Oh yeah, like," *flips hair* "Blood Brothers were totally good before Crimes. March on Electric Children was, like, awesome."
Followed by
"Dude, Blood Brothers is totally for scene kids."

Enough of that, on with the music!

I've really enjoyed the little bit of music I've had a chance to listen to.

Concept albums-
Murder by Death, a band with an (electric?) cello- absolutely fantastic. Their first album was mellow and with a lot of percussion. Their second, a real concept album, was about a man who shot the devil in the back at a bar. In retribution, the Devil returns to the town with Hell's legions and tears it up. Really great, sorrowful music. An album of death, despair and liquor. Third album, also a concept one, is more of a bunch of songs about lost souls; miners, ghost pirates, prostitutes, drug addict brothers, criminals, and outlaws. Some very, very Johnny Cash-like vocals and themes. I highly recommend all their stuff, though th elyrical schemes can be a little goofy and offputting at times, as it approached the melodramatic.

I really like The Decemeberists, as well. They've really got that 19th century, sea-faring British Empire feal working for them. All their albums are good, I think, even if Piqaresque can be a little OTT epic.

Iron & Wine- super mellow music. It's southern, acoustic and has some really spiritual stuff, I think. His latest album (it's just one dude), I think it's his latest, called... Woman King, is absolutely terrific. It may be one of the finest albums I've heard in ever. All the songs are about women from the bible, yet somehow he gives it this really powerful, uplifting spiritual message, despite it being about traditionally "fallen" women. Spiritual in a sort of pagan, roll in the mud way, but totally unobtrusive. I can't explain it, but the songs. Whoo boy, I get all misty eyed just thinking about it.

Jose Gonzalez. Swedish, of Argentine parents, released his first album on a UK label, as well as one in Illinois. Acoustic, super mellow songs. Really quiet, but powerful. A lot of heartbreak to them. If you have a chance, buy Veneer. Unbelievably good album. You can definitely woo girls with it. Hell, you could woo me with it.

[Disposablecat]

"Dude, Blood Brothers is totally for scene kids."

Heh, listen to Neon Blonde (http://www.myspace.com/neonblondebats), their old side project. I actually like them. Anyways let's just enjoy the spread of good music. Some music is not for everyone, but you won't know till you try it. Fake bands need not apply.

[FdL]

Iron & Wine is really good. Woman King is amazing, and so is their collaboration with Calexico.

[Amotis]

Can I say Ew to Jose? Please? Ew.

Okay, my first suggestion.

Six Organs Of Admittance Album: School Of The Flower

At first I was like, whoa...he's like the Neo-Bert Jansch. Fantastic guitar player (and other artists know this, I saw him with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy who has the most fantastic back up bands, Ben Chasny is a wonderful player and people know it), fantastic song writer, and just an overall folky goodness. But then I actually really listened to the music. More then the fingerpicking love that streams from the album, more then the echoing harmonies of vocal tracking, more then the catchy hooks and riffs. He isn't Bert Jansch. Six Organs of Admittance is definently a freak/neo/whatever folk musician. Definently a New Weird America artist. Definently not old, no clean woods or streams, no naive sunlight though the forest. It's not called freak folk for no reason. There is a subtle darkness that runs through this album, made clear in modern times. The drones, the tones, the lyrics. All very freak folk, all very modern. Something for the casual and the deeper listener. Which is something to be considered in every suggestion.

[Shadow of the Sun]

First: jesu. An eclectic mishmash of genres that comes out as one of the best bands I have ever heard. I'd call them metal, but they aren't really. It's hard to explain, you need to hear it. Some of the nicest stuff I have heard, and quite depressive. Also, you have to love a band with a song called Friends are Evil.

Second: Sunn O))). Incredibly slow metal with an individual twist, I have met so many people who love this band. Very drone-ish, and very nice.

Third: Earth. The band that inspired Sunn O))), a very slow band, with songs that go for 40 minutes, but closer to the "traditional" genres of metal than the previous two.

Fourth: Xasthur. A suicidal black metal/ black ambient band they play a form of ambient music with a lot in common with metal. Walker in Dissonant Worlds is probably my favourite song ever.

[The 8th Sin]

I have no idea how well known they are, but 30 Seconds to Mars. I recently got an album and they are amazing!

[Disposablecat]

First: jesu. An eclectic mishmash of genres that comes out as one of the best bands I have ever heard. I'd call them metal, but they aren't really. It's hard to explain, you need to hear it. Some of the nicest stuff I have heard, and quite depressive. Also, you have to love a band with a song called Friends are Evil.

Second: Sunn O))). Incredibly slow metal with an individual twist, I have met so many people who love this band. Very drone-ish, and very nice.

Third: Earth. The band that inspired Sunn O))), a very slow band, with songs that go for 40 minutes, but closer to the "traditional" genres of metal than the previous two.

Fourth: Xasthur. A suicidal black metal/ black ambient band they play a form of ambient music with a lot in common with metal. Walker in Dissonant Worlds is probably my favourite song ever.

Seconding these bands. Great stuff right here.

[Dragonrider]

I'm really tempted to put Nothin' to See. Because he's my dad, and I love his music (every song, big surprise huh?), and I know that I will listen to it the rest of my life. But he doesn't have any albums out, so I guess I can't. But if I could, I would. =)

Cat Stevens

Okay, I've grown up with Cat Stevens. And it may be just 70s hippie folk music, but I like it. I have at least one song from almost every album...

Matthew & Son (1967): Hardly counts as Cat Stevens. But if you can get through the busy instrumentation, some of the songs are good. I like "I Love My Dog". But not exactly what you want to start with.
New Masters (1967): In the same vein as "Matthew & Son".
Mona Bone Jakon (1970): The beginning of the style that is generally considered "Cat Stevens".
Tea for the Tillerman (1970): Considered the "best" Cat Stevens album. It's certainly my favorite. There's not a song on it that I wouldn't call a favorite.
Teaser and the Firecat (1971): Usually considered the "second-best" Cat album. I'm told that when I was a baby, I wouldn't go to sleep without it playing.
Catch Bull at Four (1972): Hum. The style changes quite a bit in this one - less guitar, more piano, and harsher vocals. It's different but I like it, too.
Foreigner (1973): Everyone ("everyone") says Cat went downhill at this point. I'm not sure, and this album is pretty weird, but one of the songs anyway is a favorite of mine.
Buddha and the Chocolate Box (1974): I've always felt like this one goes next to Catch Bull. It's certainly a return to that style after Foreigner.
Numbers (1975): The weirdest album I've ever heard. For starters, it's got "Banapple Gas" on it. Plus it tells the story of this planet that assigns numbers to the rest of the universe...I don't really understand it. Some good songs, though.
Izitso (1977): Clearly speaks of unhappiness in his life as a pop star.
Back to Earth (1978): I don't know anything about this one. All I can say is what I've heard about it - that it's his worst album - but I'm not one to trust what other people say, so one of these days I've got to hear it
An Other Cup (2006) (as Yusuf): A return to mainstream music after 28 years. A completely different sound...in some ways, returning to the style of Tillerman.

Okay, wow, I didn't really mean that to go into a review of every album. I guess I'm more of a nut than I thought. :smallbiggrin:

[Rasumichin]

In otherwords, I can be far more obnoxious about my opinions than you can with your genuine knowledge of all things Brazilian Ska (or whatever).

Hey, whats wrong with Brazilian Ska?
Nah, just kidding.:smallwink:

Here's a thing i'd really like to share, some homegrown stuff from Deine Eltern, a german indie band : http://www.myspace.com/deineeltern

I hope no one considers this to be advertising, since i'm the bass player, but since we are jet unsigned and don't make any money with this, i guess it's okay.


Given the fact that audiences tend to emphasize how much they are into our lyrics, i'm just curious wether people who are not native speakers would like it, so give it a try and tell me wether you enjoyed it.

[Jorkens]

Hey, whats wrong with Brazilian Ska?

From the little I know, Brazilian psychedelia (aka tropicalia) seems rather good. But that's got more to do with bossa nova than ska.

[RTGoodman]

Now, I may have only been born in 1987, but for as long as I've been actually buying my own CDs and things, I've been a HUGE fan of '70s and '80s rock. Hair metal, psychedelic, southern rock, and all those are awesome.

But recently (and in a lot of cases because of Guitar Hero II), I've really started to listen to branch out.

Carbon Leaf is a band from somewhere in Virginia, and I don't think they're very well known. They sort of have a '90s rock sound, but without being too, well, like '90s rock. I highly recommend their "Indian Summer" album.

Lordi is an up-and-coming metal band from Finland that won the 2006 Eurovision song contest with their hit "Hard Rock Hallelujah." I was sort of apprehensive about a band so into the "kitschy" (sp?) side of metal (their album is called "The Arockalypse," and their whole deal is dressing in monster costumes and singing songs about cannabalism, zombies, and such), but they're actually really good. To me, they sort of combine the sounds of classic metal bands and the masked and musical style of KISS with a light-hearted take on an otherwise heavy genre. Also, I get to see them at OzzFest in August!

I can't say enough about Rammstein. They're one of the heaviest bands I listen to, but known that I'm learning German, I can actually understand bits of their music!

Some '80s bands I really enjoy are Duran Duran ("Rio" is a great song); Jethro Tull (a lot of people are turned off by the use of 'rock flute,' but the music is really deep and surprisingly good); Van halen (hooray for synth!); and basically any hair metal band (Poison, Whitesnake, etc.)

From the '70s, I really enjoy the lesser known Australian group Little River Band. Many of their songs are used in commercials or are otherwise known by a lot of people, but no one really knows the group itself. Any of their greatest hits albums is a good place to start. Also, I really gotten into John Denver recently, and I think he's worth a listen. And of course, I consider Elton John to be the pinnacle of modern music - I don't think anyone is a better musician. Just my opinion though.

There are a ton more that are sort of obscure, but I've got no time (stupid German class at 10am...).

[Shadow of the Sun]

I see your Elton John and raise you a Bob Dylan.

[FdL]

From the little I know, Brazilian psychedelia (aka tropicalia) seems rather good. But that's got more to do with bossa nova than ska.

You know, I didn't want to mention this, but actually there's some good ska bands in brazil I know of. I know the OP mentioned it as a far fetched combination, but there's no place in the world where certain popular music styles aren't played. I mean, even without globalization and all. Tango is popular in japan, and there are some americana-sounding bands here in Argentina. People in brazil, as in the rest of the world actually like and listen to the same music than you, you know...

Well, as a matter of fact I know there are many punk and ska bands in brazil. I'm not into ska, otherwise I'd probably be able to mention some with some certainty that they are worth checking.

[Catch]

I see your Brazilian ska and raise you French Psychobilly (http://www.bananemetalik.com/news/?&lang=en).

Technically, it's Gore 'n Roll, which has more metal influences along with the traditional sound. Plus, they look kinda like GWAR on stage. Kinda creepy, so don't click if it's not your thing.

Beat that.

[The Prince of Cats]

I see your Elton John and raise you a Bob Dylan.
Early Dylan or 'saved' Dylan?

[Shadow of the Sun]

Well, my favourite album of his is Desire, so figure it out.

[Ceska]

Currently my favourite band is Subway to Sally (guess people in Random Banter will know this already). It's a German Medieval Rock to Folk Metal band. Practically this means they use instruments like Mandoline (most softer songs), Violine (always), Hurdy Gurdy, Lute (very few songs actually), bagbibes (only earlier), shawm and clarinet. They definatly got harder over the years, also more into usual metal from earlier more medieval sound.

I only own the last six albums, but that's more than enough to go into. I'll try to describe them a bit more extensive, I hope you don't mind.

Their third album was Foppt den Dämon (tease the demon), it still is clearly medieval with songs going at max into harder rock.
The first song Kyrie is only an opener, some wacky dissonant guitar sounds, a short drumming part leading into Der Sturm (the storm), the song is pretty much the hardest of the album, telling about the apocalypse (pretty much at least).
In Kain the biblical figure plays the main role. It's rather rockish, the electrical guitar plays more and more into the song, it starts mainly acoustic getting harder over time. There's also a clear medieval part changing with the rockish one.
The next song is sag dem Teufel (tell the devil), the title is misleading, it actually has as refrain sag dem Teufel in dir guten Tag (wish the devil in yourself a good day), telling a square nice person to be evil, while having the clearest medieval part from here it still is pretty poppy, it also was the only video clip.
After that comes Hofnarr (Jester), it tells from the perspective of the queens jester, it's rather melodic, with a nice wordplay: Ich bin bei Hofe hier allein, ein Witz aus Menschenfleisch, wenn keiner lacht, lach ich mich tot und lass mich einfach hängen (I'm alone here at court, a joke of human flesh, when nobody laughs, I laugh myself to death and let me hang), sich tot lachen usually is used as metaphor, meaning extreme laughter, sich hängen lassen means to let yourself down, however, while spoken like the metaphor it means the meaning by the word.
Die Ratten (the rats) tells like a fantasy tale first of a king, a preacher and in the end a ship metaphor. The king misused his power and was overthrown by the mob, the preacher went away after not fulfilling his promises. In the end, after a longer instrumental part it goes into the ship, which is already used in the chorus ca. the rats leave the sinking ship, and the one who is hit by the hard punishment was not fast enough to flee, very long that part, you see the rats move into safety.
Abgesang (farewell) is one of their very melancholic songs, the violine dominates it, it's very slowly played. The lyrics are from the position of a person in its grave, it has a latin part in the background (which they generally use very often) while the chorus, which says there I wait for you, I wait, wait for you, I wait, for you.
Herbstzeit (autumn time) is again a faster harder song. I really love it, but there's not much to say about it. The electrical guitar plays only between the lyrics and in the chorus, which is no real one, it differs a bit every time, only the last sentence is the same, pretty deep accords, the violine a fast higher tone over it. While the lyrics play it only uses acoustic guitar and a violine playing a sad slow tone.
Julia und die Räuber (Juliet and the bandits) is one of the few songs using bagbibes. It has a fast instrumental part and the very short lyrics sung by a little girl with the bagbipes in the background. The lyrics actually aren't for childs but rather brutal, but very short. Blut, Blut, Räuber saufen Blut, Raub und Mord und Überfall sind gut, hoch vom Galgen klingt es, hoch vom Galgen klingt es, Raub und Mord und Überfall sind gut. (Blood, blood, bandits drink blood, robbery and murder and raid are good. High from the gallows it sounds, high from the gallows it sounds, robbery and murder and raid are good). Damn catchy song, hard to get out of the head.
Auf der Reise (on the journey), if they wouldn't sing the chorus, which is childish as hell, endlessly, it would be the perfect song for One Piece, nuff said.
Traum vom Tod II (dream of the death II), very slowly. First only singing, then violine, then drums, acoustic guitar starts after first verse, electrical after second. It stays not too hard or fast, I think the album in its essential lacks exactly this.
Der Vagabund (the vagabond), misleading start. At first a very sad beginning, makes you think it stays slow, then start of electrical guitar, rather hard, but sad lyrics.
Maria (Mary, yes the virgin one), don't listen to the lyrics if you're christian, highly blasphemic, it's more or less a love song to the holy mother. Well, the chorus is Mary come here, this hour weighs a two thousand year. The melody is a bit chopped, here and there you think it would go into a riff but stops before, played either by electrical guitar or mandoline (I've heard both versions, that's all), it's actually pretty heavy-hearted by the instrumental part. Very short song.

The next album was Bannkreis (spell), it starts with Alle, psallite ***(you know, the latin word "with" one, I hope it doesn't mark this a swear word) luya, a choral from a monastery in Montpellier in the thirteenth century. It's actually not bad, but can be annoying after some times.
Mephisto is sung from the perpective of Mephisto, describing himself. First idea in the head is of course Goethe's Faust, which it seems to be following. The riff is answered by the violine going into them playing simontainosly the same melody. Again, soft part in the verse, hard in the chorus.
Unterm Galgen (under the gallows), describes the last path of somebody who will be hung. It's doesn't tell why he will hang, only describes the scene. It starts acoustic, then goes into a harder part before slowing down again into the first verse, getting faster and harder in the chorus, then slower again, then the slowest part, only drums, choir, then a guitar solo (one of so many, the following album has one on most songs) and again chorus.
Ein Baum (a tree), lyrically playing with the question how a tree may feel. Very sad and slow. The first and second verse make a transformation of man to tree, then the chorus, the third verse, winter, fourth and last spring, death by wood workers with saws.
Das Rätsel (the riddle), in three verses describes a person and asks who it is. The answer is God, Devil and in the end Human. It's one of the faster tracks, the shawm is the most noticeable instrument.
Kruzifix (cruzifix), starts with a mandoline solo, another song critical to the catholic church. Directed to one of the crosses with Jesus standing at the way (if you wonder, we have crosses with him all over the place, really on pretty much every other crossing on the landside).
Sanctus, somehow it seems to me like the compensation for Kruzifix. Sanctus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctus).
Zu Spät (too late) is one of the not so heavy (in sense of lyrically intense) songs, but that's good where it is. Sometimes you need such a song (Engelskrieger would). Times defines everything, wherever you go, the clock ticks and makes you its slave, that's pretty much the message. Also, even the strongest most beautiful will once end.
Liebeszauber (loving spell), very happy song. The lyrics are more or less a parody (at least you shouldn't take them serious, they aren't) of every cliché about loving spells. It's between funny and cheesy. But nice nevertheless.
Element des Verbrechens (element of crime), the song is an open question towards a woman who has been slain by her husband why he did it. Very violine heavy.
Schlaflied (sleeping song), from the writer's words, "it's about a young man, who tries to convince a young woman to sleep with him, however, he uses very lyrical words to do it". It's actually very sad in it's tone, somehow it feels like he knows the good old days, the light hearted time of youth finally is over, and it's time to stop playing games.
Syrah has an (older) English text sung by a woman with a very high voice and a German text by the usual male singer, it's good but not great.

The next album, Hochzeit (marriage), was a lot harder. The sound is most of the time oriental leaning, sometimes medieval, but most of the time going stronger into metal. Until then most of the time guitars and medieval instruments played together, now they mainly play different parts in a song.
Böses Erwachen (bad awakening), another song critical to the catholic church. This time it is sung from the church's postion, however, it's very exaggerated and sarcastic, getting harsher in every verse. Come just come embrace the she-wolf, you won't get eaten, as she doesn't go hungry, in the villages with the herdes. Come just come catch at the snake, long ago her venom has run dry, on the belly she has crawled and the dust has defeated her. Bad awakening. Come just come go with the sheep, who walk to the slaughterhouse alone, certainly they will spare you, comfort them on the blood of the others. Come just come go through the fire, as my word is shielding you, go to the other side for me, there you will live eternally. Bad awakening. Come just come crawl to the cross, to the cross you condemn, which you have thought to kick into the dust, just some weeks ago. (It's not that easy to translate and think of the lyrics just from the head, believe me).
Die Rose im Wasser (the rose in the water) is a ballad, very sad but hard from the second verse of the chorus on. The third verse is with electrical guitar. The lyrics deal with a woman who has gone into the water after she lost her love which is so sad even the nature surrounding her moan upon. Very poetic and picturesque.
Henkersbraut (the hangman's bride) describes a scene where the broad masses have come to celebrate the official hanging of a woman who has, as we hear only later, killed her unborn after being raped. The song is only played with modern instruments, which is until this point unknown.
Sabbat (Sabbath) uses deep slow drums, a bit faster guitar riffs and a fast high playing violine stinging even more. It simply is the song you have to bang your head with more than any other. It describes an unholy sabbath scene, somehow I always get the idea of Walpurgis Night.
Minne is put perfectly, just after the two hardest songs of the album you get one without any modern instruments. It's composed after the rules of Minnesang, but doesn't come without a bit social critique.
Tag der Rache (day of revenge) is again dealing with apocalypse. The singer takes it not kneeling, but staying. Only second song (as far as I have heard it) using a Jew's harp, after Hofnarr.
Das Opfer (the sacrifice) is a bit strange, like Henkersbraut it only uses modern instruments, the guitars distorted. I personally like it the least of the album, but then again that's my favourite album by them.
Ohne Liebe (without love) starts with a sad melodic part played by the violine and flute, then into the song with electrical guitar. The song is one of the most melodic by them, it deals with the story of a woman who loses her virginity to a young boy, the second time she already takes advance, the third and fourth she gets cold and loses any feeling, then after the fifth gets old and never feels love in her whole life. The chorus is, he has touched her, seduced her without love. Says everything. It ends like it starts.
Aufstand (Uproar), strange again. It asks a so called brother if they shouldn't take the scythe and kill the wolf. Well, it's an allegory, but I'm not all too sure for what, pretty cryptic text. Can be taken as charge towards the church which isn't able to save from the dangers of today. But then again, that's just one guess.
Müde (tired) again is pretty melancholic. The text only uses fragments of a sentence, apart from the chorus, which says, I have no faith, only my song, oh I am so tired of this world.

Herzblut (heart's blood), the next album, is a lot softer and balladesque than both the previous and the following one.
Die Schlacht (the battle), the first song, is pretty much the hardest of them, which is about as hard as the weaker ones in Hochzeit. Has a nice riff, but I always get the feeling I'm not listening to this album for what this song gives. The best part is that it uses tribal drums and thus has an a bit exotic sound in comparison to the other songs by them.
Veitstanz, it had been used to colloquially describe Chorea Huntington and Chorea Sydenham, it's pretty much a mad dance, which this song takes upon. One of the best songs to dance to and one you simply have to sing (or everyone I know who likes it has to at least).
Das Messer (the knife), psychopatic as hell, but still good text. The sound itself is a bit strange too. Deals with the story of a person who had begone a one night stand and now feels that only cowards end love with words, he has to kill the loved one. I said it is psychopatic.
Herrin des Feuers (Mistress of Fire), one of my favourite songs by them. Their longest song in one go (Lacrime '74 and Feuerkind which are usually played together are longer). It tells about burning passion for a woman, uses only a mandoline for the most part, in between also electrical guitar, but very soft ballad all in all.
Kleid aus Rosen (dress of roses), again, strange text. Only song that is twice on one album. This is the normal electrical version, sounds too electrical (the drums sound like changed with synthie) for my taste. Weakest song on the album (not by lyrics mind you).
Wenn Engel hassen (when angels hate). Extensive use of a choir, guitar is picked instead of playing accords like most time, you can't understand the chorus because the choir starts while the lead singer still sings. Another very calm song, but this time deals with an amok run.
Krötenliebe (toads love). Starts, just like Vagabund, with a very different violine part, then goes over to the typical one played faster simulating the sound made by frogs. About dirty, sweaty outdoors sex near a lake.
Accingite Vos, tries to sound like a church's choir, and doesn't do too bad. It simply is too long as the lyrics are repeated endlessly. Great song musically though.
So Rot (so red), actually the song starts when the verses are sung. At first it starts quite like Krötenliebe, then goes into a very soft part only for the background of the singing part. The electrical guitar starts right after the last verse ends, then the chorus is repeated for another minute (nearly as long as the lyrics are). Deals with first love.
Drei Engel (three angels). Again, nothing for christians. Sang by a choir, but with instruments. Three angels sang with a lovely singing. They sang, all so well, all so well, all so well, we shall praise the lord. Guitar starts. We lift our glasses, we call God, we praise him, but he remains silent, and our pain, our pain, our pain, choral part, will be eternal. We are alone in this world.
Kleid aus Rosen, akustisch. Acoustic version of the fifth song. A lot better. It deals with the story of a young girl, which runs away from home, from the marriage she has been engaged to and sees a house, within a man is seen who sticks roses into nacked flesh (I still don't really understand this part), she begs him to give her roses, which he does. Then she dies of it, standing at the waters (just there I always have Rose im Wasser in my head).

Engelskrieger (angel warrior), is again a lot harder, probably the from the themes hardest, with great lyrics, which you, however, have to listen closely to. The medieval elements are nearly gone.
Geist des Kriegers (warrior's ghost), the song is a bit weird. The warriors ghost has awakened, now beware, is a bit strange. One of the hardest, well, definatly metal, but the chorus is somehow a bit cheesy. One of the weaker songs to me.
Falscher Heiland (fake saviour), that song is just cool. Chorus: Du bist der falsche Heiland, dein ist der jüngste Tag, wir singen und wir tanzen, und pinkeln auf dein Grab. Hallelujah, falscher Heiland. (you are the fake saviour, yours is the Judgement Day, we sing and we dance, and piss on your grave. Hallelujah, fake saviour!) One of these catchy songs you could sing all the time. A tad bit softer than the previous.
Unsterblich (immortal), one of the many heavy hearted songs on this album. It says, this night I'll be immortal, through my blood. As I give it to you. That's pretty much it. Again as hard as Geist des Kriegers. I don't know, maybe because I already know the song a lot longer that I don't like it as much as the others.
Kleine Schwester (little sister). Deals with child abuse. The song is pretty hard to take lyric wise. However, it stays a harder rock song, it's actually less sad by melody than other songs by them are.
Abendlied (evening song). That's song is really evil. Again it deals with child abuse, but while Kleine Schwester is quite clear, this one is very cryptic. Don't listen closely and it sounds like a nice message, about being save. But as soon as you listen totally you see the message behind the lines, which is what makes it that hard. Musicwise it sounds pretty much like a lullaby.
Narben (scars), somehow they managed to put all touching songs together. Sang from the perspective of somebody dealing with self injury. Also, the singer does a great job there. One of my favourite songs by them right now.
2000 Meilen unterm Meer (2000 miles under the sea), pro passive euthanasia song. Very well written metaphors in it, you don't realise what it is about until the very last verse. Great song.
Knochenschiff (ship of bones), I do realise what it is a allegory for, but I still don't fully understand the text. Musically it sounds great, just, I don't really like the lyrics. One of the weaker songs.
Wolfstraum (wolf's dream), again a catchier song. One that doesn't need to be listened closely to, although the song is still a bit heavy hearted. The person here dreams to get into the nature, forget what he is, grow claws and fangs and live with the wolves.
Verloren (lost), I don't know if you could say it is a love song. If it is, it's rather negative and heavy hearted towards it. Very short text.
Abendland (word play, first, abendland is the western world, on the other hand, literally it meanst evening world) spoken towards god, it tells him to act upon the world, which lies in shambles. Perfect end for the album, everything before is very heavy hearted and negative, so why stop here? Reminds me of Müde lyrically.

Nord-Nord Ost (north-north east). While the last album was very heavy and dark, this one could be described with the word 'cold'. However, the main aspects of the album are fire and ice. It's again a bit more diverse.
Sarabande de Noir, skip this song, seriously. It's cheesy as hell and I have no clue why they put it there.
Schneeköniging (snow queen). I don't know, it has a great main riff, and musically I like it (apart from the drumming part, which is nothing special, because the former drummer left the band, and they had no really good one at this time) but lyrically it's again a bit cheesy. Not too bad though.
Feuerland (fireland), Schneekönigin was clearly cold, using only the orchester with a lot of stringed instruments, this uses the Shawm (I think) but apart from this heavy guitars.
Sieben, the one poppy song they like to put in. The lyrics sound like a childs rhyme, but are creepy at the same time. Well, it reminds of Sag dem Teufel a lot.
Lacrime '74, instrumental by the lute. A bit more than two minutes, for most the intro for Feuerkind. I also here only this song. It's a very sad melody though.
Feuerkind (child of fire/firechild), a very sad ballad. It takes on the tone of Lacrime and adds violine, for the most time it stays very slow and soft. After the first verse only a longer instrumental follows (which is overloaded by the orchestra to me) then after the second verse finally the chorus with electrical guitar follows, but again goes into a softer end after the third verse (so basically has a guitar heavy part from there to nearly the end). Ends after five and a half minutes to go into the beginning part. His voice is great on this one too.
Das Rätsel II (riddle II), fan hymn. Shouldn't be on a studio album IMHO, the riff is pretty cool though. However, it sounds great live.
S.O.S., same as Schneekönigin to me, I don't really like the lyrics, the musical part is cool though. It's also pretty hard, but stays softer than most Engelkrieger songs for example.
Eisblumen (iceflowers), you know, one fan hymn is actually enough. Okay, I don't really know how to rate this one, it's not bad, it's just not really good either. Feels a lot like S.O.S in this point, just, the lyrics are a bit cheesy too. All in all the weakest song of the album for me.
Seemanslied (Seaman's song). Great ballad, again dark and melancholic, but this one does the job well. It's a bit like the non guitar cold version of Feuerkind, but that's not necessarily bad.

Okay, I think that's it, a lot longer than I at first expected, but I hope you don't mind. It's unfortunatly not so easy to find proper songs on youtube, but here's some songs to test: Minne (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMCC0gnLAJo), Sag dem Teufel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG0vc96esOc), 2000 Meilen unterm Meer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHMxmxPb4UU), Kleid aus Rosen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdkqlnrngpM). Nevermind the videos, and I could only find one (not that bad, fortunatly) live version. You can also listen in their unoficial myspace (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=27423445), especially Müde and Feuerland I would recommend.

[Disposablecat]

Another good band I would like to recommend would be Husky Rescue. Their album Country Falls was one of my favorite albums of 2005. Very slow and atmospheric. Could easily be the score for a good movie. They have a new album out this year, but I have heard very little of it. This is probably because you still have to import it (they're from Finland). Anyways, good stuff. Give it a listen if you like slow stuff. Their Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/huskyrescue)

[knightsaline]

Powerman 5000: got onto their stuff from a Shadow the Hedgehog song called "almost dead" which I think plays when you finish the evil paths. They also did a remix of "relax" for the movie zoolander. they mostly like doing remixes of previous songs or their own songs. their myspace (http://www.myspace.com/powerman5000)

Crush 40: this band seems to be the official Sonic band ever since about Sonic Adventure. They usually wrote and/or performed the opening themes ever since SA1. The songs that the protagonist goes Super to is usually done by Crush 40. their myspace (http://www.myspace.com/crush40rock)

Agree with the person who said Lordi and Rammstein. Mutter is one of the weirdest songs I have ever listened to. you think its about the band paying tribute to their mothers and it ends up being about something more disturbing

[Innis Cabal]

Elven King, Heart, Pat Benetar, They might be giants, Flaw, Fear Factory, Fleetwood Mac

[FdL]

Speaking of Iron & Wine, I was so surprised to hear his cover of Stereolab's classic "Peng! 33" on the iTunes EP. When I saw the title I thought "nah, must be a coincidence", but its really a cover of that song. I've yet to hear it, but I know Sebadoh covered their "Crest" somewhere.

[karmuno]

I'm an album guy, so among my favorite bands and albums:

The Who:
Tommy, Who's Next, and Quadrophenia are my favorite albums by this band. But really there is only one song that I don't like by them ("In The Ether" from Endless Wire). They rock, and they are definitely passionate. I saw them in Toronto last November (minus Keith Moon and John Entwistle :smallfrown: ) and it was the greatest thing I've ever seen, even though they're in their 60's and we were as high as we could get.

Pink Floyd:
Again, I don't really dislike anything by these guys, except Ummagumma (although there was some interesting stuff on there, not enough of it). All the albums from Dark Side of the Moon to The Final Cut were masterpieces. One of these albums would catapult a band to a position of greatness, but five? No other band that has come since has been able to match Roger Waters' emotional lyrics and voice or David Gilmour's signature riffs and melodies.

Yes:
This band writes long songs. By this I mean that the majority of their albums contain at least one song that's 20 minutes long. One, Tales From Topographic Oceans (not my favorite, but it's okay) has four. The best album they released is Close To The Edge. The arrangements on this album are simply amazing, and there are few experiences that can leave one with the sense of satisfaction that this album's title track (and 20-minute epic) does. Any fan of progressive rock has to listen to this essential band (only stuff from the 70's, though, as they got much too pop-oriented with 90125 and the hit single "Owner Of A Lonely Heart")

Pearl Jam:
I am still of the firm conviction that Pearl Jam's debut album, Ten, is a concept album, despite having never seen this argument elsewhere. Catharsis is the word I'd use to describe this album. After listening to the harsh lyrics and guitar-oriented arena rockers for the whole album, one may feel tension building up inside him. After the penultimate track, "Deep," brings this to a high, that tension is released with the album closer, aptly titled "Release." This is Eddie Vedder's best vocal performance by far, and the music and lyrics send shivers down my spine, such as when Eddie sings in a near scream:

Oh, dear dad, can you see me now?
I am myself like you somehow
I'll ride the wave, where it takes me
I'll hold the pain, release me!

This is, in my mind, undoubtedly, the greatest album of the 90's.