I do like that quite a bit more! Maybe thereβs something to these Arctic Monkeys
― Karl Malone, Monday, 19 September 2022 04:52 (one year ago) link
No! Don't say that Karl, please stay in the Arctic Monkeys suck crew!
― The Ghost Club, Monday, 19 September 2022 05:40 (one year ago) link
Van Der Graaf (sp?) GeneratorFaustGentle Giant
so many bands I havenβt listened to and will probably never get to!
― SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee), Monday, 19 September 2022 07:23 (one year ago) link
Throbbing Gristle, been holding out on that one for years and intend to go to my grave never having heard themBright Eyes, Ryan Adams etc, pretty much any doe-eyed singer-songwriter crap with a subtext of sexual harassmentDrakeAny drill artists
― Witness describes moment man 'ran up to Queen's coffin' (Matt #2), Monday, 19 September 2022 07:51 (one year ago) link
enh, wu-tang is kind of a 'you had to be there'* kind of thing at this point. definitely some classic songs in there, but even wu-tang forever is non-essential by now.
β γππ π π € π ‘ π π π彑 (Austin), Sunday, September 18, 2022 10:24 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
ok now I feel old
but I don't know anyone who considers Wu-Tang Forever their most essential album fwiw
― Paul Ponzi, Monday, 19 September 2022 09:26 (one year ago) link
yeah, would think the first run of Wu tang and solo lps by the members were all pretty great. Forever was the first one I got hold of and i haven't listened to in a couple of decades. But still enjoy that first wave of releases.
― Stevolende, Monday, 19 September 2022 10:42 (one year ago) link
90s alt-rock was/is very much my bag and I have also managed to never hear a Melvins album. I have always had a hunch they were overrated and the comments above bolster that suspicion.
I have also never knowingly heard Bad Bunny, or most hip-hop that your average teenager would like (artists like Kendrick are probably already considered "old").
― Chris L, Monday, 19 September 2022 13:58 (one year ago) link
There's some classic/legendary hip-hop I've never heard, outside of clips in documentaries (Eric B. & Rakim come to mind)... I should rectify that.
― Obviously Five Beliebers (morrisp), Monday, 19 September 2022 14:44 (one year ago) link
All those British 90s/00s(?) bands that ilxors used to complain about like the Stereophonics, Toploader, Dodgy, Travis.
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Monday, 19 September 2022 14:53 (one year ago) link
I vaguely think of solo Paul Weller as having some connection to those and haven't heard that either. I like the Jam, though.
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Monday, 19 September 2022 14:56 (one year ago) link
bands that ilxors used to complain about
thread titles you thought were real
― γππ π π € π ‘ π π π彑 (Austin), Monday, 19 September 2022 15:10 (one year ago) link
hahaha, yeah, that does seem very much like an ilx thread
― Karl Malone, Monday, 19 September 2022 15:17 (one year ago) link
many xps, this warmed my heart, i love that record so much
Ok, that Burritos version of βDark Endβ is flat out gorgeous, thanks for the tip!β mike t-diva, Sunday, September 18, 2022 9:46 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglinkglad you liked it! :)β o shit the sheriff (NickB), Sunday, September 18, 2022 9:58 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
β mike t-diva, Sunday, September 18, 2022 9:46 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
glad you liked it! :)
β o shit the sheriff (NickB), Sunday, September 18, 2022 9:58 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― (grim) pump track (wales) (map), Monday, 19 September 2022 15:44 (one year ago) link
me too. i heard burritos version of the song first -- it's hard not to hear the others as the cover versions
― Karl Malone, Monday, 19 September 2022 15:46 (one year ago) link
I keep a spreadsheet of stuff I want to check out. These are the most famous acts in the list that I am relatively sure I have never heard; maybe there's a single I know from the radio/grocery store, but I've never intentionally listened to their music. Would appreciate snide comments on which of these is most egregious.
13th Floor ElevatorsBeat HappeningBig Brother & The Holding CompanyBuffy Sainte-MarieButthole SurfersCaptain Beefheart and His Magic BandCecil TaylorCreamDavid Allan CoeDavid AxelrodEPMDGang StarrHowlin' WolfJoan BaezMeat PuppetsMisfitsSiouxsie and the BansheesThe CarpentersThe Mothers of InventionTodd Rundgren
― Indexed, Monday, 19 September 2022 15:54 (one year ago) link
xpost Also this---turning out a bit different from any other version I've heard:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZsupVSWAjM
― dow, Monday, 19 September 2022 15:56 (one year ago) link
My dad had a Captain Beefheart LP, so have known him as long as I can remember.Don't start your Beefheart journey with Trout Mask Replica, that is the "final boss" - I would suggest Safe As Milk as the perfect entry point.
― link.exposing.politically (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Monday, 19 September 2022 15:58 (one year ago) link
xxp That's an interesting list as it has various acts that I've tried to get into but couldn't, but nothing that I love and would personally say "You're missing out!"
(among those I haven't heard βΒ EPMD is another example of a famous hip-hop act I feel I should at least get familiar with)
― Obviously Five Beliebers (morrisp), Monday, 19 September 2022 15:59 (one year ago) link
Jesus Christ. There must be some underlying reason that you've never checked out any of those artists, and maybe you shouldn't. But if you feel ready, start with these:
13th Floor ElevatorsBig Brother & The Holding CompanyCaptain Beefheart and His Magic BandCecil TaylorDavid Allan CoeHowlin' WolfMeat Puppets
If that's too many to start with, the first three at least.
― dow, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:02 (one year ago) link
I am listening to all of music* chronologically for my thing, so far have reached 1954, acts I had never heard before but now love includeCecil GantMary Lou WilliamsJerry ByrdChet Atkins
― link.exposing.politically (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:03 (one year ago) link
David Axelrod
oh friend, you have some very happy moments to look forward to!
― γππ π π € π ‘ π π π彑 (Austin), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:06 (one year ago) link
Does BB&THC / Janis Joplin get played on US radio much? Would imagine Piece of My Heart and Mercedes Benz were in some sort of circulation.
― link.exposing.politically (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:06 (one year ago) link
@dow, excellent snide! Thanks!
@Austin, suggestions on where to start?
― Indexed, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:07 (one year ago) link
Was not being snide!
― dow, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:10 (one year ago) link
songs of innocence is usually a good place. if you like the jazzier aspects, go backwards into his production work. if you like the cinematic "big picture" vibes, keep going with the capitol albums. if you don't like anything about it, he's probably not your flavor.
― γππ π π € π ‘ π π π彑 (Austin), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:12 (one year ago) link
Up on the Sun is a good place to start w/Meat Puppets (and gauge whether they'll be to your taste).
― Obviously Five Beliebers (morrisp), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:15 (one year ago) link
xxp Was truly shook that you hadn't heard ANY of those artists, not that they are in our faces all the time, but still, for someone such as yourself, a thoughtful music commentator, would assume you would have found your way to at least one of those---maybe it's true that there are no accidents, no random, no chance---(???)
― dow, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:16 (one year ago) link
Cecil Taylor's discography can be daunting, to put it mildly. Either Conquistador! or Unit Structures would be an ideal entry point (the former is my personal fave, but ymmv).
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:18 (one year ago) link
Indexed, if you've never heard The 13th Floor Elevators I assume you've never heard solo Roky Erickson. Don't sleep on that, especially his album The Evil One.
― Chris L, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:19 (one year ago) link
Was thinking xp Unit Structures---also: this track was my gateway---don't think about it jump in:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT4mDhyLqyA
― dow, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:23 (one year ago) link
BHS I'd go for the earlier stuff first. NOt as great after Hairway To Steven and possibly at their best on Rembrandt pussyhorse, Psychic, Powerless, Another Man's Sac & I think LOcust Abortion technician was what really popularised them. If Hairway didn't.
BBHC I'd seriously recommend the 2 1968 live sets which came out 10 or so years ago. Loads of lovely James Gurley guitar burn.
BUffy Sainte Marie I love the electronic lp Illuminations but think her elliptical voice is pretty great anyway.I remember her from when she was a Sesame Street regular too. & various covers of Codine.
Meat Pupets I love teh early stuff but probably should have teh rest. 1st 3 lps are something else as are live sets from then. From bluegrass hardcore to something more grounded in rock, Which might be a lot less interesting. The idea that they were playijng Up On The Sun to hardcore audiences interspersed with weird covers including things from South Pacific and the Sons of The Pioneers.
I think I was really discovering Siouxsie and teh Banshees at the time of teh cd remasters. had been semi aware of them, saw tehm in 85 too. & had early stuff 1st lp & the 1st singles set.But heavily recommend teh lps with John mcgeoch on.
I'm just discovering Liz Phair who I somehow bypassed
― Stevolende, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:26 (one year ago) link
Cecil Taylor Unit is quite good too. Found it on Dodax who've since folded
― Stevolende, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:27 (one year ago) link
As someone who is currently writing a book on Cecil Taylor, I would argue that maybe you should start with solo recordings. I recommend Air Above Mountains and Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! - the former is long but sounds like romantic classical a lot of the time; the latter is a bunch of shorter pieces.
After that, try his early stuff on albums like Looking Ahead, Love For Sale, and The World Of Cecil Taylor - you'll be able to hear the links to conventional jazz, particularly Thelonious Monk.
One album that's not super well known but great is Winged Serpent - Sliding Quadrants; it almost sounds like Ellington at times. Unit Structures and Conquistador are also excellent mid-sized ensemble records.
I really, really love the six-piece band (trumpet, sax, violin, piano, bass, drums) he had in 1978, which can be heard on the albums The Cecil Taylor Unit, 3 Phasis, Live In The Black Forest, and One Too Many Salty Swift And Not Goodbye.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:30 (one year ago) link
@dow, no worries, I was jk. There's a lot of music -- nearly everyone has blindspots. I am probably on the younger side on the board in my mid-30s and didn't start listening to music seriously until I was in college. For most of my music listening life, I over-indexed toward keeping up with new music vs. educating myself about the past. Now I am getting to that age where my music tastes are solidifying and it's harder and harder to do either vs. listening to an album I know I already love. But that's why I keep my spreadsheet, and when the time is right, I pluck a name or album from it and give it a go. A lot of my listening now is done while working, which presents a different challenge: I know I have put on Cecil Taylor and Captain Beefheart before and immediately turned them off because I knew I wouldn't be able to multi-task.
@Chris L, I'm not sure -- don't think so...I appreciate the recommendation.
― Indexed, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:30 (one year ago) link
For Elevators, try Easter Everywhere firstBB&THC: Cheap ThrillsCB&TMG: Doc At The Radar Station or Safe As Milk for a more basicDAC: The Mysterious Rhinestone CowboyHowlin' Wolf: AKA Chester Burnett or His BestMeat Puppets: Meat Puppets II or Up On The Sun
― dow, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:33 (one year ago) link
I had grown up with Cecil Taylor being a mythic figure for a couple of things. 1) a story of him being asked to work in a friend's piano in the flat the friend was living in. & playing so hard that the friend who was lying on the bed on the far side of the room was having to dodge piano keys flying across the room
2) him having earned a living from chess hustling in Tompkins Square park. Where he would bet chess players that he could beat them and live on the proceeds. Seems like a really great aptitude to have.
NOt sure what my intro was maybe the double live lp with Max Roach from the turn of the 80s. & probably him appearing in the Freedom Principle or As Serious As Your Life or both., That & appearances in the NMEs my elder brother had left behind when he went off to University. A pile from the early years of the 80s
― Stevolende, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:35 (one year ago) link
so many bands I havenβt listened to and willprobably never get to!
β SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee)
i mean this is all like prog rock shit basically, don't worry about it unless you need to hear more prog
― Kate (rushomancy), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:43 (one year ago) link
him having earned a living from chess hustling in Tompkins Square park. Where he would bet chess players that he could beat them and live on the proceeds. Seems like a really great aptitude to have.
Not true; this was Anthony Braxton.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:45 (one year ago) link
Faust IV is fun to listen to, and kind of stands on its own without worrying about their earlier stuff (cool as it is)
― Obviously Five Beliebers (morrisp), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:46 (one year ago) link
Word, but also like Kate said. Although Faust vs. Dalek omghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqcuLsdnRU8
― dow, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:48 (one year ago) link
That is still thee hat-grabber.
― dow, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:49 (one year ago) link
Faust, "So Far", is pretty accessible, by their standards.
― Narada Michael Fagan (Tom D.), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:50 (one year ago) link
The Capitaine is a Yes fan iirc? VdGG were really good!
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Monday, 19 September 2022 16:54 (one year ago) link
β but also fuck you (unperson), Monday, September 19, 2022 5:45 PM (six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
That was what I had heard at teh time. I was thinking as I wrote that that I had heard Braxton did that so wondered if they both did or if that was who that was actually true of . But it contributed to him being a mythic figure for me in my late teens.
― Stevolende, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:55 (one year ago) link
Check out "Yeti" by Amon DΓΌΓΌl II before this batch imo.
― Chris L, Monday, 19 September 2022 16:57 (one year ago) link
Maybe they've heard it.
― Narada Michael Fagan (Tom D.), Monday, 19 September 2022 17:00 (one year ago) link
xp I think all of those are pretty good in places, JUst got off a week of listening to the first disc of the BBC recordings by VDGG which might be a good overview. LOve So Far by Faust, Octopus by GG too and the earlier lps are pretty great. Faust's 70s stuff is all pretty great I think.
― Stevolende, Monday, 19 September 2022 17:02 (one year ago) link
Pavement is a band I've never heard but don't recommend anything because I'm not really interested in hearing them.
― Narada Michael Fagan (Tom D.), Monday, 19 September 2022 17:02 (one year ago) link
I guess people are no longer constrained by what lp they chance on first these days since there are going to be tracks by a lot of these artists on a lot of platforms. Weird being that far away from having to get the records or know somebody with them to hear them.
JUst that there is less of a chance element as to what you have access to hearing. BUt presumably need to be directed to hearing things by something one is doing. Doesn't help familiarise oneself to the individual bands as much though.Still going to have time constraints and some chance elements to what one does get to hear.
― Stevolende, Monday, 19 September 2022 17:05 (one year ago) link
I'm loathe to tell anyone that any artist, any record or song is "essential". If someone is already invested in an artist or genre, then I might say "you'd enjoy this" or "here's a record that will connect the dots"
Sure, but no more than David Allen Coe is "country shit" and Gang Starr is "rap shit" and Misfits is "punk shit". I know you're a fan of the genre, but we don't do progressive rock any favours by acting as if the records we like are just there to tick some formalist boxes. I mean Gentle Giant could tell a listener as much about life-in-general as anyone else mentioned so far. But at the same time I'm not going to mandate listening to Acquiring the Taste as a benchmark of musical knowledge.
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 19 September 2022 17:30 (one year ago) link