In 2004, I had finally gotten in the habit of listening to good music. Interpol, Modest Mouse, Broken Social Scene. I loved it because it sounded like nothing I had ever heard before.

Now, I feel like I've heard everything out there. My taste in music has expanded much further than it was a long time ago, but nothing surprises me anymore. I guess I'm just looking for that band or artist that stands out. Music that sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. Any help would be great.

This is about the time where you may want to start visiting genres you are unfamiliar with. The scope of music is gigantic, and the chances of hearing 'everything' are rather unlikely. Maybe be more specific with what you are looking for, and I'll try and make some suggestions?

I can certainly understand why you would say that, but I'm not sure I'll ever run out of music. I'm currently trying to get into more world music (afro-funk, latin) and increase my expertise in the field of electronica.

I'm open to most anything that would fall under the category as indie(use of it as a genre upsets me, but it's the best way I could make it clear) rock, pop, experimental(GY!BE, K.C. Accidental), folk, lo-fi, shoegaze(something like the Lily's - Escame the Photon Band).

If you know which broad genre is your favorite (like maybe "Alternative"), then try looking looking in the different sub-genres and stuff. Personally I like it when bands incorporate many, many different sounds into their tunes using various instruments of all sorts. Like in one Arcade Fire song, they take a magazine and rip pages out of it in a rhythem to make a unique sound. In several live versions of "Saint John" by the Cold War Kids, they'll have quite a lot musicians on the stage (I think they do it when they're playing with a band on a tour or something...idk) and all the extra musicians get pots and pans and random things that can be used for percussion instruments and they all bang away to the awesome beat of that song. Also, you could try looking in the "song tag" thread and the "what are you now listening to" thread and if you don't recognize a tune/artist then lime wire it or something and you may like it. It's not fool proof, but I've gotten some catchy tunes by doing that before. You could also try international music.

How familiar are you with music from past decades?

Probably the two albums that sound most unlike anything else to me are David Bowie's Low and Joy Division's Closer. Now some people might protest that those two albums have been pilfered to death. OK, that's granted, but despite people trying no one has ever recaptured the sound and feel of them. They're far too unique for anyone, even the same artist (Bowie tried to do it on "Heroes", New Order tried to do it on Movement) to create that sound again. You could also go with Talk Talk's Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock.

To Danny:
Ha, yeah, I love it when bands mix it up with a thousand different instruments. Probably explains why the 16 person group Broken Social Scene is my favorite band(even if they're on a hiatus.) And I've done what you suggested in the past with good results. Sometimes it's so hit or miss that it brings me down though.

To Sans:
I've never been able to get into any of Joy Division's stuff. Don't get me wrong, I love and respect Ian Curtis, but a lot of it, Closer included, sounds the same to me. And I've been meaning to check out Low, but haven't been able to find it on Soulseek.

I have Laughing Stock on my computer, but haven't had the time to sit down and listen to it, you know?

quote:

Originally posted by modestaretaloger:
To Danny:
Ha, yeah, I love it when bands mix it up with a thousand different instruments. Probably explains why the 16 person group Broken Social Scene is my favorite band(even if they're on a hiatus.) And I've done what you suggested in the past with good results. Sometimes it's so hit or miss that it brings me down though.

I haven't heard them before. I should check em out
Take it easy!

I just downloaded "74 Shoreline" by Broken Social Scene. I really like it! The lead singer's voice (the main female voice, idk if it's the lead or not) kinda reminds me of a mix between Feist and Imogen Heap and I like them both. Do you have any other recommendations for some of their best songs?

That is Feist. The band is actually composed of most of the bands off of the Arts & Crafts record label. So, people from Stars and Apostle of Hustle are on there too.

I'd suggest you listen to You Forgot it in People first. As a whole. From begining to end. However, if you'd like me to suggest individual songs, I'd go with:
Stars and Sons
Almost Crimes
Cause=Time
Lover's Spit
Marketfresh
Fire Eye'd Boy
Major Label Debut
Love and Mathematics

To name a couple... Haha.

Really? That's cool. Yeah, I'll check those out.
Have you gotten into any of these bands?
Arctic Monkeys
Arcade Fire
The Shins
Rogue Wave
The Exit
The Decemberists
Cold War Kids
Joshua Radin
Cary Brothers
Klaxons
Bjӧrk
Beck
The Verve
Keane
Spoon
Snow Patrol
Okkervil River
The Polyphonic Spree
Toad The Wet Sprocket
The Weepies
Rӧyksopp
Gary Jules

Most of them are pretty commonly known artists so I should probably ask if there's any you haven't gotten into. lol

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Danny Archer: #4,

quote:

Originally posted by modestaretaloger:
In 2004, I had finally gotten in the habit of listening to good music. Interpol, Modest Mouse, Broken Social Scene. I loved it because it sounded like nothing I had ever heard before.

Now, I feel like I've heard everything out there. My taste in music has expanded much further than it was a long time ago, but nothing surprises me anymore. I guess I'm just looking for that band or artist that stands out. Music that sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. Any help would be great.

move towards more experimental minded artists. if you aren't being surprised by what you are hearing you probably aren't searching hard enough. math rock, noise rock, contemporary classical (and musicians inspired by this music), world music, etc. could all be genres with plenty you haven't explored yet.

quote:

Originally posted by ╒╛Danny Archer╘╕:
Arctic Monkeys - Aware of, never listened to though.
Arcade Fire - Yes.
The Shins - Yes.
Rogue Wave - Yes.
The Exit - Nope.
The Decemberists - Loved Her Majesty and Castaways and Cutouts. Not so much Picaresque and the Crane Wife.
Cold War Kids - Just started listening to them. Like what I've heard so far.
Joshua Radin - Nope.
Cary Brothers - Nope.
Klaxons - Nope.
Bjӧrk - Aware of, but never listened to.
Beck - See above. Haha.
The Verve - See above again.
Keane - Nope.
Spoon - Listened to Gimme Fiction. Liked some of it. Haven't picked up Ga Ga Ga Ga yet though, but will at some point in the near future.
Snow Patrol - I remember listening to Spitting Games a long time ago, but besides that, nope.
Okkervil River - Yes. Didn't like that much.
The Polyphonic Spree - Aware of, but haven't been able to find any of their stuff.
Toad The Wet Sprocket - Nope.
The Weepies - Listened to a couple of their songs and was turned off by it for some reason. Though I will go back and listen to it again.
Rӧyksopp - Nope.
Gary Jules - Nope.

Any I put yes beside, I have heard and liked. Any I put nope beside I will check out now that I know about them. From this post. You've been a big help on my search for new music. Thanks a lot.

quote:

Originally posted by krugulitis:

move towards more experimental minded artists. if you aren't being surprised by what you are hearing you probably aren't searching hard enough. math rock, noise rock, contemporary classical (and musicians inspired by this music), world music, etc. could all be genres with plenty you haven't explored yet.

Are there any bands you suggest?

What would you consider "indie folk" because I am sure I can expand your folk pallet. If you like more experimental sounds and lo-fi I highly recommend Blitzen Trapper and Grampall Jookabox.

quote:

Originally posted by DrAwesome:
What would you consider "indie folk" because I am sure I can expand your folk pallet. If you like more experimental sounds and lo-fi I highly recommend Blitzen Trapper and Grampall Jookabox.

Ever since Blitzen Trapper's last album got so much praise on Pitchfork, I've been meaning to take a listen to it. I listened to a little bit of Grampall Jookabox's Scientific Cricket off of iTunes, and from what I've heard, I like it a lot. But sadly, haven't been able to find the album anywhere on Soulseek.

quote:

Originally posted by modestaretaloger:

quote:

Originally posted by krugulitis:

move towards more experimental minded artists. if you aren't being surprised by what you are hearing you probably aren't searching hard enough. math rock, noise rock, contemporary classical (and musicians inspired by this music), world music, etc. could all be genres with plenty you haven't explored yet.

Are there any bands you suggest?

some of the more popular ones from these genres would be:
lightning bolt, hella, boredoms, liars, steve reich, terry riley, johnny greenwood, don caballero, philip glass, the swans, drive like jehu, slint, antibalas afrobeat orchestra, fela kuti, konomo no. 1, etc.

if you already know all of these i could make more obscure recommendations, but i think these may be a good place to start.

as far as "indie folk" goes, i think you would be best off by listening to freak folk bands. bands such as akron family, angels of light, animal collective, joanna newsom, devendra banhart all fit this billing.

quote:

Originally posted by krugulitis:

some of the more popular ones from these genres would be:
lightning bolt, hella, boredoms, liars, steve reich, terry riley, johnny greenwood, don caballero, philip glass, the swans, drive like jehu, slint, antibalas afrobeat orchestra, fela kuti, konomo no. 1, etc.

if you already know all of these i could make more obscure recommendations, but i think these may be a good place to start.

as far as "indie folk" goes, i think you would be best off by listening to freak folk bands. bands such as akron family, angels of light, animal collective, joanna newsom, devendra banhart all fit this billing.

Ha, I've only heard of maybe 2 of the bands out of your first list. Because of this, I will check out the ones I haven't heard of.

I've heard and listened to every band off of your second one though, and love them all very dearly. New weird america movement, right?

quote:

Originally posted by modestaretaloger:
Bjӧrk - Aware of, but never listened to.
Beck - See above. Haha.
The Polyphonic Spree - Aware of, but haven't been able to find any of their stuff.
Rӧyksopp - Nope.

You have heard Beck and you also are probably familiar with a Royksopp tune as well.
I like a lot on the list though, but thought a lot of that would have been mandatory for people on this board. Good stuff, though.

I'll make a list of less popular stuff I like for you, bro.

If you like some of the new weird America stuff I would check out: The Handsome Family, Hasil Adkins (he is pretty strange), Castanets, Deer Tick, Begushkin (especially if you like Bonnie "Prince" Billy), and Thanksgiving/Adrian Orange.

I love all of these artists dearly and though some of them are very unique, they are all talented musicians who are weird and American.

quote:

Originally posted by DrAwesome:
Deer Tick

Seconded, last year's album was stellar.

What about Elvis Perkins or Handsome Furs?