Suggested Listening

[Luke122]

I've been inspired by the "What are you listening to" thread, so here's a bit of a variation on it.

I know there's quite a few people here who are audio nuts like me. Completely eclectic tastes in music are getting more and more common, and some days I'll listen to pretty much ANYTHING if it's well recorded and keeps my interest.

So here's a thread where we can offer suggestions on music to other members to check out. Try to keep it relatively civil, no "that band sucks" or anything along those lines. Also, lets try to stay on topic, and offer reasons why others should check out any particular artist/album.

I'll start....

[Luke122]

Loreena McKennitt - An Ancient Muse

A Canadian born singer/songwriter, this album was inspired by Celtic history, and offers themes of ancient civilizations, exotic locations, and absolutely amazing quality in the recording.

The middle eastern themes of some of the songs are beautiful, and the overall Celtic theme is relaxing to listen to, and makes you want to play it over and over. There have been days at work where I've just put this CD on repeat, and never touched it.

A particular highlight on this album is "The Gates of Istanbul". If you have a good sound system (I mean good as in precise and accurate, not loud), you will truly appreciate this album.

Yes it is not exactly mainstream or radio friendly, but it's great stuff. Give it a shot!

[Luke122]

Andy McKee - The Art of Motion

If I was going to drop an F-bomb in this thread, it would be right here. Technical wizardry of the acoustic guitar (and some variations on guitars) by this young songwriter will blow you away.

Some of the songs sound like several guitars playing simultaneously, but it's all Andy playing solo. His innovative finger-style playing incorporates metal techniques such as two hand tapping, blues style open tunings, and percussive drumming on the body of the guitar and strings.

Here's a quick taste of his style:

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The album is (as per my taste) an amazing recording, with great detail and clarity, and playing it on a good system will reveal all sorts of nuance that you wouldnt even notice on normal computer speakers. But it still sounds great, even on normal speakers! :D

[Omega]

Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" Album. It's got the infamous song "Two Minutes To Midnight" as well as other really great songs by one of the most legendary bands to walk this earth.

'Nuff said.

[Crimson Sky]

DO check out Kelly Joe Phelps (http://www.kellyjoephelps.net/mp3/shineeyed02.m3u) for his awesome acuostic guitar.

River Rat Jimmy

Drums are still playing
I can see them marching close
This he walks like a shadow
And that he dances like a ghost
The one that looks like Jimmy, Lord he scares me the most
River Rat Jimmy and Jehosophat

Playing boyhood mumblypeg
A six inch bowie blade
Out the top my redwing kickers
And down a muddy slippery grade
To the fever pitch savannah where grand daddy lay
River Rat Jimmy and Jehosophat

Little Jimmy ghostie face
Ate off the kitchen floor
Cause woman-Mum threw dinner plates
At drunken Dad on the door
[River Rat Jimmy lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

He would cop us cans of beer
And close his eyes and soar
River Rat Jimmy and Jehosophat

Shouting revelation out
A boychild man of ten
Never looking up to heaven
Lord it was heaven there and then
And we wrapped our bloodied fingers like a shine-eyed mister zen
River Rat Jimmy and Jehosophat
Sho-ly, sho-ly

Neither of us knew who'd pop
And who would sink the lake
And who would run off fast enough before the bow string would break
Man we was crying for tomorrow
Through the crying and the shake
River Rat Jimmy and Jehosophat

[BerticusPryme]

I agree to the Iron maiden and Loreena McKennitt. to add to the music brought forth by luke122 try and give Enya - Boadicea a listen to very beautiful song. If some of you remember a Stephen king movie called sleep walkers, it's the really soft kinda creepy song at the beginning. very beautiful.....

[Omega]

Songs:

"Mourning Star" by Kamelot, very epic, off of the "Ghost Opera" album, apparently it's about the war in Iraq, but I'd have to say that this song is one of their best.

"Robotussin" by mc chris, Geek rap about, well, robitussin in drug culture, interesting although admittedly potentially touchy so if you're iffy just don't listen to it.

"E=MC Hawking" by MC Hawking, More geek rap, Done with Stephen Hawking's voice, pretty entertaining.

"When The Lights Are Down" by Kamelot, yes, more Kamelot, another very epic although admittedly heavier song.

[jdbnsn]

Puscifer just came out with their first album, a must have!

[xRyokenx]

Puscifer just came out with their first album, a must have!

Hahaha, yes! Now to smuggle that in without my mom having a fit... :F Hmm...

[Omega]

Albums:

"Ghost Opera" and "The Black Halo" by Kamelot. 'nuff said.

[noopypoop]

eh, too bad the bon jovi tour is over, i woulda suggested that. i went to concert #8!

Bon jovi FTW:up:

[xRyokenx]

Disturbed is pretty good too. I personally don't like their song called "Down with the Sickness." The album isn't too bad, but the song is kind of lame. I've been listening to them quite a bit these past couple weeks. It's good stuff. Check it out.

[jdbnsn]

Folk Implosion is a big one for me as well as Cowboy Junkies and Mazzie star. But these are all pretty laid back alternative, not sure they appeal to the headbangers here.

[Greco101]

Symphony X

[.Maleficus.]

Symphony X
FTW.

The bands I'm listening to most right now... (with best CDs)

Cellador - Enter Deception (only CD)
Opeth - Blackwater Park, Orchid, Ghost Reveries
Iron Maiden - Powerslave, Piece of Mind, Number of the Beast
Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane, One Hour by the Concrete Lake, The Perfect Element Pt. 1
Children Of Bodom - Follow the Reaper, Hate Ccrew Deathroll

I need my Zune to do this better.

PS. It's mostly metal. Actually, it's all metal :D.

[HackSore]

"Putrefaction In Progress" by Last Days Of Humanity

I have been listening to this album non-stop lately, i absolutely love the production on it.

Other recomendations would be:

"Retribution" by Clark Hutchinson band
"Permutation" by Amon Tobin (especially the track "sordid")
"f# a# oo" by Godspeed You Black Emperor
Anything by Watchmaker
Anything by Birdflesh

[BigJohnson]

I personally have enjoyed music by Default lately. I liked one song, 'Wasting My Time' so I looked for some more recommended music. 'Sick and Tired' has to be my favorite song by them. Mostly Alternative and Hard Rock. Along those same lines; Theory of a Deadman. I don't know how many of you have played "Indigo Prophecy" but they have a song that plays during the credits that made me search them out. Its called 'Santa Monica'. Its kinda repetitive but I enjoy the sound.

[billygoat333]

Folk Implosion is a big one for me as well as Cowboy Junkies and Mazzie star. But these are all pretty laid back alternative, not sure they appeal to the headbangers here.

I love folk implosion. very good stuff :) (dinosaur jr is pretty good too if ya like folk implosion)

Anything by Dillinger Escape Plan. The most technical metal/hardcore band i've listened to. Amazing, simply put. Check out Miss Machine or Calculating Infinity. both good albums. They also do an EP with Mike Patton (of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas fame) which is pretty rad.

Dredg. Another amazing progressive band, not metal really, more alternative progressive ? i dunno. The closest I come to comparing them to someone is Mars Volta, and they aren't really that similar. Def. worth listening to, check out El Cielo (my Fave, all their cds are great though)

I will have more suggestions later :)

[Bopher]

Wolfmother. I found them listed in a PC Gamer Mag and looked them. Godo music if you enjoy stuff like Black Sabbath. They got onto Guitar Hero 2 with Woman.

[SgtM]

Wagner, Dvorak, Chopin, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Bedrich Smetana, Gustav Holst (The Planets - Mars, The Bringer of War), Samuel Barber (Adagio For Strings). Shall I go on?

[crenn]

Assemblage 23 - Divide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSgnx8DfeWg

May not to be to everyone's tastes.

[Luke122]

DJ Krush! Here's a bit of his work.

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Killer Japanese DJ, who does downtempo, hiphop, abstract, and everything inbetween.

[xRyokenx]

Eisbrecher is pretty good for German Industrial. Rammstein is pretty good too but I'm quite sure most everyone here knows of them, heh heh.