[besson3c]

Hello,

I'm looking for something new to listen to, including outside of my usual realms. It doesn't have to be something new, it could be just about anything.

However, I'm extremely picky, and I have a really hard time turning off my musically analytical mind for extended periods of time, so your selection will have to match the following criteria in order for me to enjoy what you've picked out:

1) Needs to have some sort of strong melody - it could be the most simple melody in the world, but I'm generally not a big fan of "soundscapes" of ambient sounds

2) Songs by this artist need to have some rhythmic diversity

3) Songs by this artist need to express a diverse range of emotion

4) The music needs to have a coherent form and structure, not random "okay, we are playing this groove now.. now we are switching to this groove". The song has to take me from place A to place B so that the piece has a sense of direction

5) The piece cannot express emotion and passion purely in the form of the lyrics while the rest of the band sounds blasé. I generally don't pay much attention to lyrics (although I know I should)

6) The band has to actually sound like a band - this is important to me. Many pop bands to me sound like a bunch of guys accompanying a lead singer or something, but they aren't *really* playing together - just fulfilling their roles and playing their parts. In order for a band to really sound like a band, among other things they generally have been playing together for several years. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I've found this to generally be true

7) The music has to provide enough of a leash for the rhythm section and band to really be creative and play with each other in an exciting and dynamic way, as opposed to simply accompanying an individual center-of-attention.

8) Each individual in the band has to have some real depth to their playing and musicianship so that I feel like they have more to offer after the first song I hear, and accomplished enough to be sensitive to musical diversity (i.e. again, I'd prefer it if every song by the band doesn't sound the same).

9) The band needs to have great time and intonation, I have difficulty when this isn't the case.

10) I need to be surprised enough to prevent boredom from setting in

11) The compositions needs to be harmonically interesting enough

12) Each member of the band needs to demonstrate appropriate musical restraint as to play tastefully and in a very focussed manner


Any ideas?

[Chuckit]

Don't know how much of this you've listened to before or whether it's "interesting," but these are the first few bands that came to mind from your criteria:
• Dave Matthews Band
• Nickel Creek
• Pearl Jam
• The Be Good Tanyas

Those would be (respectively) rock/jazz fusion, bluegrass fusion, grunge rock and folk groups. I'm sure there are a lot more I could think of, but that would require more than glancing to my right and thinking "Which of these CDs feature strong individual parts and good variety?" I'll let you know if any more pop into my head.

[Cipher13]

Symphony X. Try their album "V: The New Mythology Suite" first.

BTW, that post is one of the biggest loads of bullshit I've ever seen. Congratulations, that's no easy feat.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Any ideas?

Stelios Kazantzidis. 'nuff said.

[MM-o4]

I think there is a full stop or at least a comma missing in this thread title

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Don't know how much of this you've listened to before or whether it's "interesting," but these are the first few bands that came to mind from your criteria:
• Dave Matthews Band
• Nickel Creek
• Pearl Jam
• The Be Good Tanyas

Those would be (respectively) rock/jazz fusion, bluegrass fusion, grunge rock and folk groups. I'm sure there are a lot more I could think of, but that would require more than glancing to my right and thinking "Which of these CDs feature strong individual parts and good variety?" I'll let you know if any more pop into my head.

Care to point me to some particular albums/songs you'd recommend? I'm most familiar with Dave Matthews. I have a live album of theirs, I was mildly impressed with it, but not blown away.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

Symphony X. Try their album "V: The New Mythology Suite" first.

BTW, that post is one of the biggest loads of bullshit I've ever seen. Congratulations, that's no easy feat.

You certainly haven't inspired me to check out your recommendation. At least elaborate on why you think my post is bullshit so that we have something to talk about.

What do you like about Symphony X?

[Laminar]

Mae

Their first CD, The Everglow, tells a story from start to finish, it's incredible. Their second CD, Destination Beautiful, is much "softer," and their latest, Singularity, has a lot more synth. They're probably three of my favorite CDs.

Check out:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...amp;i=51214010

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...&i=6529893

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...mp;i=261000898

Probably my favorites from each album.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Person Man 

Stelios Kazantzidis. 'nuff said.

Definitely new and interesting, I like it! I've been meaning to immerse myself deeper into many different kinds of World Music, this is a good start

[Cipher13]

Meh, just check 'em out.

It's a load of bullshit because you're trying to sound like some elitist musical "expert", and whether you are one or not, the fact that you decided to express yourself in the way you did above in a thread asking for recommendations of new music to listen to just reeks of attention whoring and posturing.

Symphony X are excellent because, in part, they combine incredible musical talent in all areas (by that I mean instruments), as well as excellent composition and songwriting (lyrically and musically). A song is worth a thousand words - just give them a listen; you'll either like them or you won't.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Definitely new and interesting, I like it! I've been meaning to immerse myself deeper into many different kinds of World Music, this is a good start

Here's some more information on him:

Stelios Kazantzidis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That page lists some of his best songs.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Mae

Their first CD, The Everglow, tells a story from start to finish, it's incredible. Their second CD, Destination Beautiful, is much "softer," and their latest, Singularity, has a lot more synth. They're probably three of my favorite CDs.

Check out:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...amp;i=51214010

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...&i=6529893

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...mp;i=261000898

Probably my favorites from each album.

I don't want to offend you by going into detail here as to why, but this does nothing for me... Sorry

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

Meh, just check 'em out.

It's a load of bullshit because you're trying to sound like some elitist musical "expert", and whether you are one or not, the fact that you decided to express yourself in the way you did above in a thread asking for recommendations of new music to listen to just reeks of attention whoring and posturing.

Symphony X are excellent because, in part, they combine incredible musical talent in all areas (by that I mean instruments), as well as excellent composition and songwriting (lyrically and musically). A song is worth a thousand words - just give them a listen; you'll either like them or you won't.

I'm a relative musical expert in my narrow area, and that is why I'm so picky - years of studying, transcribing, and training my ear in pursuit of a very particular thing. I'm no better than anybody else, in fact, I often find it to be a curse - I'm only now starting to really branch out into classical music.

I'm sorry if I conveyed an inflated ego, it was simply intended to be an honest sense of context as to what I'm looking for which is shaped by my musical background.

Would you like my opinion of Symphony X?

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Would you like my opinion of Symphony X?

Not really, it will have no impact on me whatsoever so you'd be wasting your energy. I do hope you like them, but if you don't, what can you do?

Before you make up your mind, though, do listen to the album fully if you can.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

Not really, it will have no impact on me whatsoever so you'd be wasting your energy. I do hope you like them, but if you don't, what can you do?

Before you make up your mind, though, do listen to the album fully if you can.

Is there any particular track that is your favorite? I don't believe in denigrating anybodies musical tastes, and I don't believe in debates over which band or artist is the "best" for a number of reasons either, but I do know what works for me and what doesn't, and so far I haven't heard anything that has fulfilled my most important criteria within the above list.

[Cipher13]

I don't really have a favourite track, and if I did I don't imagine it'd coincide with yours. At the moment I'm particularly fond of "A Fool's Paradise" (from the aforementioned album). Lyrics are also important to me, which is a big part of why I like about Symphony X - you said they didn't interest you so much, so perhaps you see less in them than I do.

It's also possible that this particular album doesn't suit your tastes as well as others might. "The Odyssey" is a little heavier than "V", and "Paradise Lost" heavier still.

If you don't like "A Fool's Paradise", check out a song called "Candlelight Fantasia" from the album "The Divine Wings of Tragedy".

Perhaps they're just not for you.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

I don't really have a favourite track, and if I did I don't imagine it'd coincide with yours. At the moment I'm particularly fond of "A Fool's Paradise" (from the aforementioned album). Lyrics are also important to me, which is a big part of why I like about Symphony X - you said they didn't interest you so much, so perhaps you see less in them than I do.

It's also possible that this particular album doesn't suit your tastes as well as others might. "The Odyssey" is a little heavier than "V", and "Paradise Lost" heavier still.

If you don't like "A Fool's Paradise", check out a song called "Candlelight Fantasia" from the album "The Divine Wings of Tragedy".

Perhaps they're just not for you.

What do you mean by "heavier"? Louder? More intense? Less subtle? If so, less of this is more for me.

[Cipher13]

Heavier; lower-tuned instruments, etc. You get the idea. An increase in lower-frequency sounds, and decrease in higher-frequency sounds, as per the composition and mastering of the albums.

If you're not so into the subtlety, which I thought you were, check out Paradise Lost. Perhaps "Set the World on Fire" or something. Regardless, it's all very much power metal/prog rock; there's no escaping that with Symphony X.

[besson3c]

No, I meant that I desire *more* subtlety.

Sorry, perhaps heavy/power metal just doesn't do it for me. I just find little melodic or harmonic content in there that is infectious for me. It sounds like unrestrained groove, and only that. The grooves are indeed excellent, but I'm looking for more than just that, and preferably something a little more subtle.

[klb5090]

Coheed and Cambria
True musicians with lots of time changes and well composed songs, each CD tells a chapter of the full story and each song has great meaning to the development of the characters in the story. My recommendation is "Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV", "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3", and "No World for Tomorrow" those are the best albums in my opinion.

...only if you would enjoy a modern ELO (electric light orchestra), Rush, and Led Zeppelin combination

[Face Ache]

I like to direct unAustralians to The Cruel Sea.

YouTube - The Cruel Sea - Black Stick
YouTube - The Cruel Sea - The Honeymoon Is Over

Best enjoyed with testosterone.

[smacintush]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Hello,

I'm looking for something new to listen to, including outside of my usual realms. It doesn't have to be something new, it could be just about anything.

However, I'm extremely picky, and I have a really hard time turning off my musically analytical mind for extended periods of time, so your selection will have to match the following criteria in order for me to enjoy what you've picked out:

1) Needs to have some sort of strong melody - it could be the most simple melody in the world, but I'm generally not a big fan of "soundscapes" of ambient sounds

2) Songs by this artist need to have some rhythmic diversity

3) Songs by this artist need to express a diverse range of emotion

4) The music needs to have a coherent form and structure, not random "okay, we are playing this groove now.. now we are switching to this groove". The song has to take me from place A to place B so that the piece has a sense of direction

5) The piece cannot express emotion and passion purely in the form of the lyrics while the rest of the band sounds blasé. I generally don't pay much attention to lyrics (although I know I should)

6) The band has to actually sound like a band - this is important to me. Many pop bands to me sound like a bunch of guys accompanying a lead singer or something, but they aren't *really* playing together - just fulfilling their roles and playing their parts. In order for a band to really sound like a band, among other things they generally have been playing together for several years. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I've found this to generally be true

7) The music has to provide enough of a leash for the rhythm section and band to really be creative and play with each other in an exciting and dynamic way, as opposed to simply accompanying an individual center-of-attention.

8) Each individual in the band has to have some real depth to their playing and musicianship so that I feel like they have more to offer after the first song I hear, and accomplished enough to be sensitive to musical diversity (i.e. again, I'd prefer it if every song by the band doesn't sound the same).

9) The band needs to have great time and intonation, I have difficulty when this isn't the case.

10) I need to be surprised enough to prevent boredom from setting in

11) The compositions needs to be harmonically interesting enough

12) Each member of the band needs to demonstrate appropriate musical restraint as to play tastefully and in a very focussed manner


Any ideas?

I got an idea…stop ANALyzing your music so deeply and just listen and enjoy.

[BRussell]

Haha, well if this thread is just about cutting down everyone's suggestions, you're not going to get many more. But based on your list, you might like some of the recent big bands like the Breckers', Dave Hollands', and Jaco Pastorius' groups.

[BadKosh]

SomaFM: Commercial-Free, Independent Internet Radio


Pick any stream and listen for a while. Try "Secret Agent" my favorite.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

I got an idea…stop ANALyzing your music so deeply and just listen and enjoy.

I wish it were that easy. Easy when I'm not thinking about the music at all I still find that the music that I enjoy shares the characteristics I've listed.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by BRussell 

Haha, well if this thread is just about cutting down everyone's suggestions, you're not going to get many more. But based on your list, you might like some of the recent big bands like the Breckers', Dave Hollands', and Jaco Pastorius' groups.

I do, very much.

Do you know that Michael Brecker died recently?


I'm not for cutting down suggestions at all, like I tried to explain above:

I don't believe in denigrating anybodies musical tastes, and I don't believe in debates over which band or artist is the "best" for a number of reasons either

My sharing my opinion of Symphony X to Cipher was just to help him help me... My opinion doesn't mean very much at all to anybody but me, I realize that.

You'll notice I've already applauded the Greek suggestion, for instance...

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

You'll notice I've already applauded the Russian suggestion, for instance...

Greek.

Tell my father Kazantzidis was Russian and he'd hit the roof.

[Dakar the Fourth]

I'll need an email address to do that

[besson3c]

Whopps... *blush*

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

I'll need an email address to do that

Do what? Tell my father?

He doesn't do e-mail. All he uses the computer for is to read his newspapers and watch a few Greek newscasts streamed via QuickTime/Windows Media Player.

[Dakar the Fourth]

You are trying to thwart me, Person Man

[iranfromthezoo]

try Bela Fleck and the Flecktones!

preferably Sex in a Pan or Hoedown

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

No, I meant that I desire *more* subtlety.

Sorry, perhaps heavy/power metal just doesn't do it for me. I just find little melodic or harmonic content in there that is infectious for me. It sounds like unrestrained groove, and only that. The grooves are indeed excellent, but I'm looking for more than just that, and preferably something a little more subtle.

I think in your efforts to find "subtlety", you've may have missed it entirely. What I consider subtlety may differ from what you consider subtlety (in my opinion, something extremely "in your face" can display many subtleties). Rarely does a day go by that I don't notice a new undertone, a new melodic co-operation, while listening to groups like Symphony X or Blind Guardian.

The compositions are so intricate, so finely tuned, and have so many layers you can never take it all in on your first listen (or your fiftieth). Those are subtleties.

If, when you say you're looking for something more subtle, you mean that synonymously with "softer", then I can't really help. I like my music heavy.

Perhaps check out an album called "Rebirth" by a Brazillian group known as "Angra". Still power/prog, but a little softer than Symphony X.

Oh, and did you listen to Candlelight Fantasia?

[imitchellg5]

+1 for Rebirth. Great album. It's a pretty unique album.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

I think in your efforts to find "subtlety", you've may have missed it entirely. What I consider subtlety may differ from what you consider subtlety (in my opinion, something extremely "in your face" can display many subtleties). Rarely does a day go by that I don't notice a new undertone, a new melodic co-operation, while listening to groups like Symphony X or Blind Guardian.

The compositions are so intricate, so finely tuned, and have so many layers you can never take it all in on your first listen (or your fiftieth). Those are subtleties.

If, when you say you're looking for something more subtle, you mean that synonymously with "softer", then I can't really help. I like my music heavy.

Perhaps check out an album called "Rebirth" by a Brazillian group known as "Angra". Still power/prog, but a little softer than Symphony X.

Oh, and did you listen to Candlelight Fantasia?

I'll have to listen to this stuff later today since I'm in a place where I can't do that, but in thinking about this some more perhaps I should just focus on the compositions and the gestalt rather than the melody, harmony, and overall sonic experience. I'm a fan of masterful composition...

Then again, if I want masterful composition there are many "real" symphonies I can plow through where I'd be able to have my cake or eat it too...

[LegendaryPinkOx]

Dear Besson, I would be surprised if you hadn't heard of The Tiger Lillies. But, in case you haddn't I think you'd find them very refreshing. All good old fashioned acoustic instruments with a dark twist. YouTube - Tiger Lillies Crack of Doom

The former Soviet Union's number 1 rock group... The Red Elvis'
YouTube - Red Elvises "Cosmonaut Petrov"
yeah it starts out pretty long but give it a few minuits, and you may be strangely satisfied in a way that western rock never satisfied you before.

Also The Legendary Pink Dots. These guys may not be your cup of tea, but if you are feeling british and insane you may want to look them up. I can't find a single youtube video that would do them justice, as their music has evolved so much over the past 27 years or so, and the sound quality on those things is atrocious. But should you stumble across some of thier tracks you may want to sample them. They have another band called Tear Garden which is more accessible, but still very different sounding.

Good Luck, I may be back to post more; I have a love of ecclectic music which many have never heard of.

[zro]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

I got an idea…stop ANALyzing your music so deeply and just listen and enjoy.

So far this is the best help you've gotten or are likely to get. Music should make you feel, make you think, or make you move (or any combination of the three). Worrying about anything else is simply jerking off.

But, in the spirit of things:

NSFW! YouTube - "Madonna's Bombing Sarajevo" by Alice Donut.

For you I'd recommend their album Pure Acid Park.

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...7&s=143441

[RAILhead]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

Symphony X. Try their album "V: The New Mythology Suite" first.

BTW, that post is one of the biggest loads of bullshit I've ever seen. Congratulations, that's no easy feat.

Heh, people still listen to that stuff? Man, that was popular back when I was 13 -- over TWO decades ago.

To each his own...

[Laminar]

Weren't you 13 like two decades ago?
Old man.

[RAILhead]

Army of Anyone
Eilen Jewell
A Fine Frenzy
Guster
Hem
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins (great storytelling, there)
Kathleen Edwards
Nathan
Rilo Kiley
Robbie Seay Band

[Tiresias]

Bach.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by RAILhead 

Robbie Seay Band

I saw them live a couple of years ago with Shane and Shane and David Crowder. Not bad, but I'm not a fan.

[RAILhead]

Yeah, they sucked a couple of years ago. Their new stuff stuff is pretty good though, and they even had their new album's release at our church.

[Faust]

Just modern bands or would old bands work, too?

Old bands/musicians would be Cab Calloway, Muddy Waters, Sidney Bechet, Count Basie, for example.

Modern bands:

Well, my favourite "Rock" band is Pearl Jam and I do believe your criteria applies to the band, so I recommend them to you.
Other modern musicians I like are Leonard Cohen, Dave Matthews, Jeff Buckley, some of R.E.M.'s works (not all), David Bowie and Elvis Costello.

[besson3c]

What happened to New Kids on the Block?

[thefshow]

check out the following

razed in black
celldweller
acumen nation
dj? acucrack
cubanate
sister soleil
within temptation

[irunat2am]

I second Chuckit's nomination for Nickel Creek. They are awesome! They are amazing live, and they are always right on pitch when playing, which is a joke to find these days. Their songs are diverse and it's honestly just fun to listen to their stuff.

"This Side" and "Nickel Creek" are both good albums. I haven't heard much from the '05 album yet.

I usually don't like the "bluegrass" genre, but they aren't as..."hick"..as bluegrass implies Try the song "This Side" or "Smoothie Song"

Good luck on your quest, young grasshoppa'.

[grayware]

I can't believe no one has mentioned pandora yet!

Type in an artist or track you like -- whether it's something you know or not -- and pandora builds a streaming station of tracks based on tonal qualities of that one entry. You can fine tune your station by thumbs up/down buttons where it will play the song again or never play it again.

Not only that, you can have many, many multiple stations, send stations to friends, and purchase from iTunes or amazon.

I've been turned on to lots of music I'd otherwise never hear.

[grayware]

Faust, you should listen to the old German krautrock band Faust, if you haven't already.

[besson3c]

Yeah, Pandora is pretty tight... I use it a lot.