I hate to admit, but the broad umbrella of "electronica" is pretty foreign to me. Terms like "acid house" and "IDM" don't mean anything to me. And though I wish I knew more about the genre and the specifics along those lines more, right now I'm looking for some specific examples of bands/albums like The Avalanches. That sort of hyper-maximalist, upbeat party stuff that has a lot of layers and samples to get lost in on more careful listens but could still get a party going.

I've done a bit of research but I'd like some first hand opinions before I buy anything. Bands I'm thinking of right now are Prefuse 73, Cut Copy, Four Tet, Primal Scream circa Screamadelica, Mr. Scruff, Lemon Jelly, maybe Daedelus. Ashamedly, I've never heard albums like Endtroducing... and Music Has The Right To Children so I don't know how close they are either.

What I have heard are Jason Forrest (didn't wow me), Kish Kash by Basement Jaxx (ditto) Thunder, Lightning, Strike (not bad, better than the other two but not Since I Left You by any means) and Deadringer by RJD2, which I know isn't really along the same lines technically but I guess that brings me to an interesting point. It doesn't actually have to be exactly like The Avalanches per se, in style or substance or aesthetic, it just has to be really, really fun from a distance and really, really substantive on closer inspection.

I do value the MC opinions rather highly which is why I've come to you for help! Any comments/questions/advice would be much appreciated. I'm lookin' to get out there and buy some of these albums soonish, thanks a bunch in advance.

DJ Shadow?

mmm...maybe these artists could fit in your description:

Boom Bip - Sacchrilege EP
Kid Koala (all)
Clark - Turning dragon
Felix da Housecat (all...i think)

can't think of anything similar right now...

quote:

Originally posted by eggtweedyegg:
mmm...maybe these artists could fit in your description:

Felix da Housecat (all...i think)

No.

Back on topic, while they sound nothing like The Avalanches, you may want to check out mind.in.a.box. Whether you'll like this or not I have no idea, but it's trance-y and it's fun, and all the albums have an abstract cyberpunk story running through them.

Definitely download some of their stuff before you buy though... it's not for everyone.

"Lost Alone 2" (From Lost Alone)
"Between Worlds" (From Dreamweb)
"Fear" (From Crossroads)

If you can't get into these tracks, just disregard this.

DJ Wally "The Creepy Crawlies"
Alias
Blockhead "Uncle Tony's Coloring Book"
Deltron 3030 "Selt-Titled"

You should listen to Silent Movie by the band Quiet Village. It's kind of like The Avalanches, not bad.

The only music that reminds me of the Avalanches are the following (and not completely like them, but they have some similarities):

The Tough Alliance
Jens Lekman
maybe the Go! Team

Ugh. That was a waste of a response. Oh well.

I actually listened to everything that's been mentioned thus far, either just now or I had heard it before (Deltron, Jens, Kid Koala, etc.) and so far I think the two most in range are

Quiet Village - A more chill Avalanches, but just as good
Blockhead - heard "None Shall Pass" earlier and was impressed, and Uncle Tony's Coloring Book kept in that spirit, organic hiphop like RJD2.

I'm reduced to checking things out mostly via Amazon right now, so this is based on little snippets of songs. I liked Alias a lot too, it's just a little different than what I want right now.

Has anyone heard the stuff I brought up, Four Tet, Cut Copy? Any feelings on those and rather I should put down the money for those as I'm inclined?

Thanks so far, all!

quote:

Has anyone heard the stuff I brought up, Four Tet, Cut Copy? Any feelings on those and rather I should put down the money for those as I'm inclined?

Since I Left You is my favourite party album. By far. I'm a huge Four Tet fan, but he's not close. Definitely a little more abbrasive, and unpredictable, but his Remix/Remixed album might be up your alley.

Prefuse is more hard hip-hop, but a few songs might fit.

I think Lemonjelly's debut, 3 ep's (I think it's called) is a closer relative. Definitely "crowd-worthy", but less sample-heavy.

I don't know about the band or their album, but Air France's song, Beach Party is the closest to the Avalanches sound that I've found. Actually, that song would fit perfectly on Since I Left You.

Also, did you know there are two versions of Since I Left You? One that was released before all of the samples were legally cleared, and another after they were sued. I don't think there's a huge difference though.

My favourite Four Tet album (by a mile) is Rounds. Not a crowd pleaser (at least some songs aren't), but very interesting upon close inspection, especially the first two tracks.

Hope that helps!

quote:

Originally posted by Il Mago:
My favourite Four Tet album (by a mile) is Rounds. Not a crowd pleaser (at least some songs aren't), but very interesting upon close inspection, especially the first two tracks.

Rounds is one of the best electronica albums around. golden! but it's got nothing to do with The Avalanches in my opinion

You could dip your toe into -

Fujiya And Miyagi - Transparent Things
Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story
Midfield General - Generalisation
Nightmares On Wax - Smokers Delight
Hot Chip - The Warning

Some of them might float your boat.

quote:

Originally posted by IsaacAshe:
Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story

One of my all-time faves. I just bought this on CD at Amoeba for $15 US. Not a great price, but it was well worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by Filmore Mescalito Holmes:

quote:

Originally posted by IsaacAshe:
Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story

One of my all-time faves.

same here, one of my favorites of the genre. not as fun or pop-y as The Avalanches but worth checking out

There's quite bit of interesting sample based music coming out of Japan that may interest you, particularly off the Second Royal label. Some of it you can find off of amazon/iTunes while some of their other stuff would probably have to cost you a bit.

Handsomeboy Technique - Adelie Land
Halfby - Green Hours
Halfby - Side Farmers
Plus-Tech Squeeze Box - Cartooom! (Might be a little too cutesy/frenetic for your tastes)

And this is probably a ways off and the type of stuff that would get really bizarre looks at parties:
General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners

quote:

Originally posted by brainofp:

quote:

Originally posted by Filmore Mescalito Holmes:

quote:

Originally posted by IsaacAshe:
Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story

One of my all-time faves.

same here, one of my favorites of the genre. not as fun or pop-y as The Avalanches but worth checking out

And he's yet to make anything else that comes close to it. His last album was alright, but there were a couple bombs in there. It stands up as his undisputed best work.

quote:

Originally posted by Nhazghaal:
Cut Copy?

What I've heard of Cut Copy I like. (Just In Ghost Colours so far.) It's fun, but I'd say if you're not into 80s throwback/tribute music don't bother.

If you are into 80s style music then an even better album to get would be Midnight Juggernauts' Dystopia which just got a domestic release on Astralwerks so you can get it without paying a small fortune to have it shipped from Australia! Woo.

As for some other stuff you mentioned:

quote:

... Primal Scream circa Screamadelica...

This is one of my favorite albums... ever. I feel I would be doing you a grave disservice by suggesting you do anything other than go and buy it immediately. So in other words I, uh, really like it.

by the way, any news on the Avalanches new album coming out?!? last year they'd said that they'd had 40 some tracks ready and were going to trim it down. but still nothing. what's up???

quote:

Originally posted by brainofp:
by the way, any news on the Avalanches new album coming out?!? last year they'd said that they'd had 40 some tracks ready and were going to trim it down. but still nothing. what's up???

I had planned on throwing a party when their sophomore effort came out and playing it, but it got postponed. That's actually kind of why I made this thread

Their myspace page says they're putting the finishing touches on album 2, so I guess it's still in post-production. I'd actually rather they put it off if they'd be happier with the results, hopefully they don't get all Brian Wilson and become obsessed with perfection they can never master and then it doesn't come out for 40 years

Can always go back and listen to their fantastic El-Producto EP.