The thread on "top 5 albums" made me think of how much great music is out there that, sadly, few get to enjoy.
I will list some current favorites that are less-well-known efforts by well known artists, and a few things that are just obscure because the artists themselves aren't well known. Thanks, by the way, to Elizabeth for clueing me in to a few of these folks.
#1) Where the Eagle Flies by Traffic. This was their last album in the 1970's before disbanding. They've recorded together since then, but this album really didn't make much of a splash here in the US and it is fantastic. Dream Gerard is an incredible piece of music that just gives me a thrill every time I hear it.
#2 Donna the Buffalo. This group plays folk festivals and records CDs for sale mostly over the internet. They are based in Upstate NY, I think, and if you've never heard them, I recommend their double CD live album. Many of the songs are available for free download if you want to try them out. Just Google. The song "Everything Seems to Hurt this Time" is what turned me on to them, and I can't get enough of that CD I bought.
#3 Ruthie Foster. She's local to College Station, TX. Was in the middle of a budding recording career when her mother became ill so she came back home to take care of her. Or so the story goes. This woman has a voice that has to be heard to be believed. She does gospel and folk and is just amazing.
#4 Rail Road Earth. Another upstate NY band. They do folk stuff too. I heard one song online (also lots of free downloads if you want them) and ordered all of their CDs. Amazing stuff.
#5 Crow Greenspun: This is the guy who played at Elizabeth's 40th birthday party. She sent me some of his music. He's a bit rougher sounding, but what a talent! His lyrics will amaze you. And he's just a cool guy too, I hear.
If just one person listens to just one of these groups/artists, I will feel like I've done the entire world a favor. That's how good this stuff is, and how sad I am that it isn't more well known.
So, what are your favorite overlooked artists/recordings?
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Darn! I almost forgot the Library of Congress field recordings of American folk music from the 1920's - whenever they stopped the project. They basically sent a guy around with a portable reel-to-reel tape recorder and some of the stuff he got is just so cool.
There's this one song "Granny Does Your Dog Bite" that has stuck with me for 20+ years after hearing it once. So much fun!
Such weird and wonderful stuff.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Thanks for the thanks, Bob!!
Edit: Railroad Earth is from New Jersey. They came together only two or three years ago. All were in other bands before. They are hot, hot, hot.
[ June 15, 2004, 10:01 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Another guy who never made it as big as he deserved is John Hiatt. His songs are sung by a number of artists, and he has had moments in the big spotlight, but overall, he has been left out of the pack.
Is that such a bad thing, though? Sometimes I wonder.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Anything by The Magnetic Fields. I will continue to be their zealot here until someone posts concurring with me.
You have been warned.
-Bok
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Oooh, I like them. They sound a little bit sixties psychedelic, a little bit Nick Drake.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Elizabeth, are you talking to me?
They sound more 80s alternapop to me (with a tendency to throw a countrified song into the mix).
-Bok
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I am talking to you, sirrah. The two songs I heard were definitely EARLY 60's psychedelic-feeling(like the Grateful Dead's Anthem of the Sun), as well as Nick Drakish. You don't want to lose a convert!
Edit: to take out a part that revealed my reading a word in your post that was not there.
[ June 16, 2004, 08:01 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
What songs did you hear, I wonder? I admit not having heard any of Nick Drake's stuff (for shame!). If you can, check out Charm of the Highway Strip. Aside from a cool title, it's the country/travel album for non-country fans. It's sort of like ironic pre-Document REM, with more synth sounds.
Seriously
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Bok, I forget the names, but they are the two options on their website, if you go there.
Nick Drake wrote "Pink Moon," which you might remember from the Volkswagen commercial a while back.(sadly)
Speaking of Nick Drake, he was another singer who was ignored until now, really. I think you would like him. I describe him as upliftingly depressing.
[ June 16, 2004, 09:40 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
My Rail Road Earth CDs came in the mail today. I haven't had time to listen to them yet. I was busy chasing people off my lawn. But tomorrow, woo hoo!!!
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
That was fast!!
Tomorrow you will get our stuff, too. Hmm. Sounds like you have about a thousand miles worth of music to me.
Posted by DSH (Member # 741) on :
I heard a really great band on NPR a few days ago: Youngblood Brass Band is a bunch of former high school band geeks who have finally come into their own. Their music is most definately NOT your fathers brass band fare.
Check out their free down loads, it's worth it.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Neat-o!!!!!!!
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Also, it is not like my father's kind of music. More like my grandfather's. ha ha
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
the library of congress field recordings are awesome!
i came upon them by accident when i was looking for old black spirituals to use in a dance piece.
and a hear hear for nick drake. nice stuff.
see, i am not against semi underground artists' music being used in commercials, simply because i've picked up a lot of good music that way. *shrug* it bothers me on an esoteric yet rootsy sort of level, but i really like finding new music no matter how exploitive and lame the circumstances
i need to see if this one band from richmondVA has gone any bigger yet - Gregor Samsa. i liked them. ah, here we are,
double edited for a better link. http://www.ownrecords.com very chillaxed dreamy sort of stuff. sort of sigur ros rVa style. still coming into their own, but they have potential, methinks.
[ June 17, 2004, 03:03 AM: Message edited by: porcelain girl ]
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
Elizabeth, those might be off their early albums (I only have the last 2 albums, one of which is a 3-CD set. They have a new album that just came out, i. I need to check it out.
-Bok
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
Please give a listen to Peter Mulvey, as well as Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly.
And about John Hiatt, he's best described as James Taylor with an evil grin. (from Rolling Stone mag.).
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs was nothing short of amazing. i particularly liked Busby Berkley Dreams and the Fido Your Leash Is Too Long song. oh, and Punk Love.
as for overlooked artists:
Cursive's The Ugly Organ is friggin great.
Bright Eyes all his stuff is good
Boy Sets Fire - The Day The Sun Went Out
Against Me! all of their stuff is amazing. it's billy bragg gone punk. come on, SOMEBODY agree with me dammit.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
I'm partial to Epitaph For My Heart, Absolutely Cuckoo, Crazy (But not That Crazy).
I saw a two-night show where they played 69 Love Songs (originally envisioned as a 100-song broadway revue show ), half one night, half the other. It was darn good.
-Bok
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
in an interview i read he said he had a hard time cutting it down. at one point he envisioned close to 300 songs.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Dances with Rabbits, by Jackalope.
I originally bought this album solely for the title, but would buy it again solely for the music. It's sort of a Jazz/Rock/Native American fusion. Which just doesn't describe it at all. You just have to hear it.
[ June 17, 2004, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: The Rabbit ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I second Peter Mulvey. I went to see him, with Richard Thompson, a few months ago. Unfortunately, I missed him in Northampton, because the Cambridge show was short.
Another underapprecitated solo musician is Nils Lofgren. He is in Bruce's E Street band, and played on a few of my favorite Neil Young albums. However, his solo acoustic stuff is amazingly excellent. His show at the iron horse in Northampton, now about twelve years ago(!) remains one of my all time favorite shows.
[ June 17, 2004, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site.
I hated this band with a passion. i don't know why, but i did. Then months ago, Lindsay told me she liked the song Reconstruction Site. i thought i'd heard it before. but then my buddy was telling me it was the new one, and i KNEW i didnt own the new record (dont ask why i owned an old one. i think it was a gift). So i picked it up today after the relentless prompting of my friend Kyle. The entire record, also entitled RECONSTRUCTION SITE, is full of catchy pop laden hooks. The record is great from start to finish. It is on Epitaph records for some unknown reason (perhaps because a dude from Propaghandi is in the band). but it's great canadian rock and or roll.
Throw away my misery. it never meant that much to me. it never sent a get well card...
[ June 17, 2004, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: Ben ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Another under-the-radar musician I think is brilliant is Alejandro Escovedo. He was just on Austin City Limits. If it is on in your area, check him out.
He is very ill right now, with no health insurance.(last I heard) Very sad.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Hey Liz! I just finished listening to my new DTB and now I'm listening to Crow Greenspun.
Wow!
Love it!
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Yay! Do you like the new backup singers? I have to send you the lyrics to the new songs, and also a few pics.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
By the way, Bob, DtB is in Kansas tonight. There's still time...
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Bok, I also concur. A friend got me onto them, and yeah... I love "Torn Green Velvet Eyes" and have a soft spot for "Busby Berkely Dreams"... I need to get ahold of some more of those songs.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)