Any Music Recommendations?

Do you ever go through phases where music just sounds incredible? Every harmony or every guitar chord is just right. Or do you go through phases where you want to listen to something, but every CD you have bores the hell out of you? Well, that’s where I am (more of the former than the latter). I’m ready to hear some great new music, of the 60′s pop variety.

Maybe some White Album-era Beatles (minus the rap), or the Zombies. Maybe some Apples in Stereo or Of Montreal. Or the good parts of E.L.O. and Badfinger. Nothing too singer-songwriter-y or too eclectic (I draw the line at three sudden tempo changes per song). Something that rocks a little but isn’t necessarily limited to the guitar-bass-drums lineup. Something you can dance to, but isn’t “dance music”. Lyrics that are interesting without being “poetic” and simple without being stupid.

If you’ve got any suggestions lemme know.


posted by greg on March 8, 2004 @ 11:47 am

21 comments

  1. If you really want to hear some good 60′s pop, you should tune into my show, “Surfin’ In Inner Space,” Thursdays Noon-2 on killradio.org

    I’ve found a lot of joy recently in bands such as the early Bee Gees, Love, the Beach Boys, the Stillroven, the Beau Brummels, the Sunshine Company, and hundreds of other groups that use good vocal harmonies along with solid sixties song-writing and some orchestral elements. Of course, I also play some garagy stuff, along with bubblegum, freakout psychedelia, groovy soul music a’la the Chambers Brothers, novelty records, etc. I think if you tune in, you’ll find some things you really enjoy. At the very least, I play tons of fun covers of Beatles songs that you’ll dig.

    Comment by dj gremmy — March 8, 2004 @ 12:22 pm

  2. Also, seeing as how you enjoy twenties and thirties country, folk, and blues, you may find that there are some solid folkies from the troubadour era of the 60′s that you like. It wasn’t all Peter, Paul, and Mary, nor was it all Bob Dylan. There are some great traditionalists such as Hamish Imlach, or heck, Lonnie Donegan, that you might enjoy. Plus Donovan before he plugged in actually had quite a fun Woody Guthrie vibe to his tunes, and was a prodigious guitar picker. The Incredible String band are fucking amazing and have a great sense of humor. And, though it skirts hippiedom, Fairport Convention are a great hybrid of folk and rock that you might like, too.

    Comment by dj gremmy — March 8, 2004 @ 12:27 pm

  3. The Free Design. Greg, you would love them, they’re similar to the Association, but with far more complex arrangements and hardly any sucky songs at all. You might rememebr the song “Kites are Fun”, but almost everything they did is incredible.

    I highly reccomend Montage, the band Michael Brown formed after the Left Banke broke up.

    Early 80′s Julian Cope might be up your alley too.

    Comment by The Eligible Ross Lincoln — March 8, 2004 @ 12:29 pm

  4. you just cant go wrong with jellyfish. both bellybutton and spilt milk sound like exactly what you’re looking for.

    any of the jellyfish side projects, especially the three jason falkner lps (one of which is on apples in stero’s label) are also delightful.

    i have really been grooving on all elliot smith albums lately. all very cool.

    lastly, my personal favorite band in the whole wide world is spearhead. its kinda like bob marley, marvin gaye and public enemy. more of a live vibe, though…

    Comment by josh — March 8, 2004 @ 12:35 pm

  5. Also, Listen to my show, Themeparty, as well! http://www.ostrichink.com/themeparty.HTML

    Comment by The Eligible Ross Lincoln — March 8, 2004 @ 12:37 pm

  6. and if you know all of these guys already, please please please go check out the negro problem and their singer’s solo stuff over at http://www.negroproblem.com .

    Comment by josh — March 8, 2004 @ 12:38 pm

  7. Hmmm…already a few good recommendations (as well as a shameless plug).

    Haven’t heard of the Stillroven or the Sunshine Company. I think I’ve had a Free Design CD in my Amazon wishlist for a while now. Maybe I’ll pick that one up.

    I’ve got a Jason Faulkner and a Jellyfish CD. Both are a little too complex for my tastes. (I’ve been listening to of Montreal a lot lately though, so maybe I should give them another listen.) I really loved Jon Brion’s album from a few years ago. Hopefully he’s got a new one coming out soon.

    Keep the recommendations coming.

    Comment by greg — March 8, 2004 @ 12:45 pm

  8. I enjoyed Norah Jones’s “The Soul Sessions”. It’s not amazing, but it’s a good listen.

    Comment by Earnest — March 8, 2004 @ 12:55 pm

  9. They are media darlings, but how about maybe Zero 7 or Nellie McKay?

    Comment by Earnest — March 8, 2004 @ 1:01 pm

  10. E-Rock, the Zero7 album is wonderful, and I’m a huge huge fan of them, but trust me, nothing could be further from anything greg will listen to. Balee dat, I’ve tried.

    On the other hand, Greg, hurry up and get that Kanye West Album. And Check out local Band telecast asap, you will love them.

    Comment by The Eligible Ross Lincoln — March 8, 2004 @ 1:12 pm

  11. greg- i know it’s being hyped a lot lately, but every now and then something that is actually good makes it into the mainstream pop world-

    go get the new album by the Shins “chutes too narrow” . you’ll love it… at another time they might’ve been an elephant 6 band. they’ve been compared to the zombies. it also has really great package design that i’m totally jealous of.

    http://www.subpop.com/bands/shins_release/

    Comment by tom — March 8, 2004 @ 2:08 pm

  12. also… this may not be greg’s thing, but i’ll reccomend it to everyone else who might be interested- i’ve been listening to the Be Good Tanyas a lot lately. really really good all girl, slow-country-blues with amazing harmonies playing original and traditional songs. i can’t get enough of this album “Blue Horse”. i need to get their new album.

    http://www.begoodtanyas.com/

    Comment by tom — March 8, 2004 @ 2:13 pm

  13. i really tried to like that shins album because so many people who’s opinion i deeply respect highly recommended it.

    but, after several listens i can say the best thing about it is its over in about a half hour.

    Comment by josh — March 8, 2004 @ 2:24 pm

  14. Hmmm….I just listened to some Shins clips. From what I heard, I don’t get the Zombies comparison at all. It really reminds me of the first Supergrass album’s combination of 60′s songwriting and 80′s sound. I likes the clips from their first album better than the newer one. Which one should I pick up?

    Comment by greg — March 8, 2004 @ 2:30 pm

  15. i got the first album, too. i think the new one is better. if you want, i could probably fit both albums on one c.d. for you, but you wouldn’t have the pretty artwork.

    i don’t really get the zombies comparison either. i guess there’s a little similarity in the production of “chites too narrow” to “oddysey and oracle” but the bands sound completely different. i can’t remember where i read that comparison, but i’ve been trying to figure that out every since. regardless, i think it’s a really good album that you would enjoy.

    Comment by tom — March 8, 2004 @ 2:56 pm

  16. Something that rocks a little but isn’t necessarily limited to the guitar-bass-drums lineup. Something you can dance to, but isn’t “dance music”.

    First Wave Ska (circa 1963-68) is exactly what you are looking for. Brassy, up tempo, great melodies and even better lyrics. You won’t stop tapping your toes.

    To start, go get yourself This is Ska and/or This is Ska Too

    Comment by Night Owl — March 8, 2004 @ 2:59 pm

  17. oh yeah… another recommendation that i’ve been listening to a lot this month:
    the re-release of Elvis Costello’s “Get Happy” and “Trust”. both are really great and have 50 bonus tracks between ‘em

    Comment by tom — March 8, 2004 @ 3:01 pm

  18. I’ve been listening to a bunch of English girl groups from the mid-sixties. It’s kind of like a cross between french ye-ye tunes, American girl groups, and a dash of mersey beat that comes out sounding really soulful sometimes–at least the music is soulful. The beat is strong, but the vocals are really poppy.

    Comment by dAnimal — March 8, 2004 @ 5:05 pm

  19. I know you’ve probably already picked it up, or decided whether or not you like them, but for what it’s worth, The Darkness fucking rules. “Permission To Land” = more fun than “Appetite For Destruction” with probably two-thirds as much ass-rocking, which is pretty good when you think about it.

    Comment by Brianotron — March 9, 2004 @ 1:53 pm

  20. Okay, now I’ve got a recommendation for you guys. Check out the sound clips for Of Montreal’s upcoming album Satanic Panic in the Attic. It sounds like quite a departure from their earlier work, but the eighties influence really adds a lot to their sound. My favorite track is the unfortunately-named Lysergic Bliss.

    Comment by greg — March 9, 2004 @ 1:56 pm

  21. yay! i knew brian would understand how perfect the Darkness is! they totally fucking rule and no one understands why. and, might i add, they are completely misunderstood by both their fans, and their non-fans.

    Comment by tom — March 10, 2004 @ 3:39 pm

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