Cool bands/artists you have discovered recently......

No Aphex Twin fans out there? That's disappointing.

 

Manny: You should really check out the Jews. I think you'd like them. You ever get Desire, by the way?

 

Not yet but I will early next month. This latest batch that I just bought are all indie-rock (like Death Cab for Cutie) and post-rock (like Tortoise and Mogwai).

 

I was immediately blown away by the first two tracks...and I never listen to electronic stuff. It took me a while to get into some of the others, but after reading someone's interpretation of Brand New Colony on another board, I went back to it and was floored. Yeah, it's electronic, but it's really organic, partly because of Gibbard's ridiculously pleasant vocals.

I've had On Avery Island for a few weeks now, but it suffers from the "fuzz" even more than Aeroplane. Which one are you listening to? I can't think of another album that so profoundly affects people the way Aeroplane does.

Good list. Thanks for the plug!


As for me, over the last few weeks I've found (warning, possible ad nauseum post):

The Wrens - Meadowlands: Ack, it's emo! Wha? It's pretty good? Very good, even. If Source Tags & Codes doesn't count, then this is the first emo record I've ever liked. I can see myself in a year: hair gel, rope necklace, wristbands, five o' clock shadow, eyeballs with no irises...
Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands: Really great folk, sometimes with a sinister vibe. Timeless stuff--quite literally, I don't know what era this music comes from.
The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone: Genius. Traditional song structures discarded. Five hooks per song. Songs about death and ghosts and an affliction known as jellybones.
Stars - Heart: Cool pop. Opened for Broken Social Scene and were good. Album is good. Derivative but has some great hooks. Synths and guitars.
Sufjan Stevens - Greetings From Michigan! The Great Lake State: Beautiful reflection on life in Michigan from multi-instrumentalist (20+) Stevens. Banjos, glockenspiels, acoustic guitars, organs, pianos, good stuff. I'm looking out for his latest, Seven Swans.

 

Actually, I looked back at my iTunes and it was a year ago.

I'm so bad with dates!

A couple of you have mentioned jam bands like Widespread Panic and Phish. In some ways, I wish I liked them. They are fun and the musicians can be pretty awesome. But, man they just bore the hell out of me. I think that is probably because I am a musician and I'd rather jam myself than listen to one.

 

I just picked up a nice album by Josh Rouse called "1972." Groovy vibe.

On the other end of the spectrum is my recent discovery of Iggy Pop's "The Idiot." Awesome stuff, including "Nightclubbing" and "China Girl."

 

hey studogg: I checked out the video from MM. Wow. Will it be on their upcoming album "Good news for People"?

Damn that song "Float on"? was amazingly good.

Best regards,
Micha

 

hey BJ: How are they, men I have tons of CD's but not even heard a song of them. Give me some help.

 

Devics.

Beautiful and very emotional.

They are very similiar to Geraldine Fibbers, Nick Cave, and Mazzy Star.

Check out their music @ devics.com.

 

i hear ya.

i think the weather has a huge part to do with my recent splurge into the jam band scene. i've mentioned it before, but when it warms up over here, everyone goes to the river and just has a great time. music like widespread, the dead, sublime, and guys like robert earl keen are induced by river weather.

God, i LOVE this time of year.

 

Hell, I'm a Silver Jew and I've never even heard of these guys!

Silver-haired, that is!

 

that it is, and hopefully it will be as good as the moon and...

 

I'm a huge Silver Jews fan. Been into Berman for about 10 years now.

A local theatre group called Infernal Bridegroom actually did a play based on David's poetry last year and he flew in for the premiere.

 

Paging Batman Jones!!!!!!!!

 

Hey Beard,

Did you see the show? I was actually the artistic director of IBP then (and for ten years prior). I partied with David and his wife that night and didn't get home until about ten in the morning. But my friend Troy, who directed the play, was the SJ fan and I hadn't heard their music -- apart from our covers -- until I left Houston. I picked up Bright Flight on my travels and have been hooked ever since. David and his wife (and his dad, who just happened to be in town) loved the show and David was so enamored of the band that he asked them to tour in his place, since the Silver Jews don't play live. (We were treated to an after hours, impromptu, solo concert at the Proletariat that night though. Very cool.) If you're interested, email me and I'll tell you crazy stories that I can't post here.

Palmray:

They're hard to describe, but think of a decadent Tennessee version of Leonard Cohen fronting (and writing all the songs for) an alt-country band, which includes Steven Malkmus. My description doesn't do them justice though. You've just got to listen to them.

 

rudager: finally another person who checked out this band and is amazed.

 

The new Wrens stuff is pretty horrible compared to Secaucus.

 

I heard, I heard, but unfortunately I never got an ear on their debut. Is it that much better?

 

It's way different. It's full of really short quirky pop songs whose hooks don't even really register with you until the song is finished.

The only similarity between the Wrens then and now is the name.

 

Don't know if I could really be called a "fan" since I only have one album. But I really enjoyed American Water...just haven't gotten around to purchasing any of their others.