I know for me, the music I have been listening to and buying a lot has not been albums released this year. I always like to hear what albums and artists people have discovered this year that aren't new releases. A few of my discoveries this year:

Nina Simone
Oscar Brown Jr. (thanks American Routes and LT)
Max Roach
David Ackles
Cardinal

Great idea, keylimetrev. I've been kinda wanting some to talk about old records or artists that I've just discovered. Here are a few artists and albums I've just started liking this year:

Steve Burns
John Vanderslice
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Tyranny of Distance
Olivia Tremor Control
Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
Pink Floyd

Hmm....where to start...

Elvis Costello
Talking Heads
Clash
Joy Division
Gang of Four
Loretta Lynn
New Pornographers
Sleater-Kinney
Steve Earle
Yo La Tengo
Pernice Brothers
Natacha Atlas
Shins
Spoon
Rilo Kiley
XTC
Meat Puppets
Doves
Fountains of Wayne
Super Furry Animals
Sufjan Stevens
Replacements
Husker Du
X
Graham Parker
Outkast
Television
Pretenders
The Feelies
David Bowie
The English Beat
Fairport Convention
Sonic Youth
PJ Harvey
My Bloody Valentine
Neutral Milk Hotel
Pavement
Los Lobos
Kate Bush
Jesus & Mary Chain
The Pogues

...Big music year for me. I don't think I've spent money on anything *other* than music and food.

And that's off the top of my head.

quote:

Pavement
Spoon
New Pornographers
Doves

I've listened to those for the first time this year too, but the Doves' Last Broadcast was the only album from any of them that I really like.

Before I was thinking that I first heard Neutral Milk Hotel late last year, but now that I think of it, I think I first heard them early this year.

Okay...

Pixies
The Shins
Iron and Wine
Wu-Tang Clan
Belle and Sebastian
Modest Mouse
Weezer

It can be hard to remember when I bought things, but I think this all in order.

Just about everything, I started listening to (real) music VERY late 2004. Like, right around christmas. The only bands I really listened to a lot before it became 2005 were Muse, Modest Mouse, The Zutons, Scissor Sisters, classic rock, and a couple of others I can't remember. And except for the classic rock, I didn't start listening until November or December of '04.

quote:

Originally posted by keylimetrev:
I know for me, the music I have been listening to and buying a lot has not been albums released this year. I always like to hear what albums and artists people have discovered this year that aren't new releases. A few of my discoveries this year:

Well Trev, thanks to you:

Johnny Cash
Ray Charles
Otis Redding
John Coltrane
Mountain Goats
Spoon

I've been studying up on my old-school punk recently. From bands I knew a little about like Crass, UK Subs, Angry Samoans and The Germs that I'm getting to know better, to stuff I'd never heard of like Blanks 77, Vice Squad, US Bombs, The Lurkers, Anti-Nowhere League, Varukers, Oxymoron, The Templars, Angelic Upstarts, The Oppressed, Citizen Fish, One Way System, The Adverts, Peter & The Test Tube Babies, The Business, Abrasive Wheels, and English Dogs. Truly it's been a beautiful time of enlightenment!

Like RL, Ted Leo was a nice surprise for me this year. Aimee Mann was another that I had passed on earlier, but I have come to appreciate. Teenage Fanclub might be another that I listen to frequently that I had passed by since Bandwagonesque.

I've been getting into more hip-hop this year (Something I used to hate with a passion), especially older stuff like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.

I've also been getting into Roxy Music and Brian Eno lately.

I've also been rediscovering a lot of early 80s pop and new wave stuff that I had really forgotten about in the 90's but now realize it was pretty good stuff.

I kind of want to get into rap, but it's so hard to separate the rap that's actually good from the cheesy image based poser-rap that I can't bring myself to take a risk on anything (Other than Stankonia).

I think the only good rap song I've ever heard on the radio is 'Ms Jackson'. And the poser-rap seems to get equal critical praise to the actual quality rap.

Joni Mitchell - Blue

I listened to this CD a couple of times late last year and I thought it was all right. Just yesterday I put it on while I was playing Mario Party and it sounded great. Her voice is a bit grating at times, but you get used to it. Great pop music.

A developer here just turned me onto the Wipers, a post-punk outfit who were apparently instrumental in the Northwest grunge explosion. The 3CD boxset sounds pretty good so far.

I forgot to add another recent discovery that has quickly become a favorite.

Laurie Anderson- Big Science

This album gets better and better every time I listen to it. I found it particularly good when I was listening to it yesterday while walking around downtown Atlanta for the first time.

M. Leland- that Wipers set is one of the best buys money-wise I have ever found. Three great, great albums for something like $10 when it is new. 'Youth of America' is particularly excellent. In fact, I think I'm gonna put it on right now. Thanks for reminding me about it.

My best new to me artists so far I think are:
Iron & Wine
Cat Power
The Bravery
LCD Soundsystem
And even though the Pixies aren't new to me, I have really been getting back into their stuff.

Just got into Andrew Bird and Daedelus, especially his album Invention. And I finally got around to getting the rest of the Bloodhound Gang and love it.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:

quote:

Pavement
Spoon
New Pornographers
Doves

I've listened to those for the first time this year too, but the Doves' Last Broadcast was the only album from any of them that I really like.

Before I was thinking that I first heard Neutral Milk Hotel late last year, but now that I think of it, I think I first heard them early this year.

What did you check out by Pavement and Spoon?

Some of their work is a little more obtuse and may take a few listens to get into. I know I didn't immiediatly like Spoon's "Girl's Can Tell," but now it is one of my favorite records. Same with Pavement- I would have probably been turned off to them if I started listening to "Slanted and Enchanted" first, but I was introduced to their work with "Brighten the Corners" which is a lot more accesible and should help you identify somewhat with their unique sound.

While I'm at it:

Here are some of my new favorites for 2005...

Vitalic - Where did this guy come from? Apparently everyone has been dancing to Poney Pt.1 for ages, but who actually knew the artist who was behind the music? Vitalic sounds like the best freak-out high you've ever had, comedown and all- but it is also just as happy to leave the party early and sell dirty sex on the corner. That's Ok, Cowboy.

Bloc Party - Originally, I thought these guys sounded a little too much like Franz Ferdinand meets Rapture. But their debut, "Silent Alarm" really deserves all the attention it is getting. The album pretty much hooked me from the start. And, much to my surprise, the music still has not worn thin after many repeated listens. The one x-factor that really separates Bloc Party from the other UK artists is the drumming technique, which is a total throwback/homage to old Rush and the Who.

The Very Hush Hush - These guys have been getting the blog go-around much like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Some people even say both parties sound alike. Personally, I like TVHH a little more than CYHSY. One part XiuXiu, one part MBV, touches of Mogwai and a dash of The Cure. Selected tracks from their debut, which has been strangely held back for quite some time now, have been circulating through the Internet sporadically- making it difficult to really determine what is going to be on their upcoming LP. With songs like 'Love, Like Love' already released though, I can hardly wait to see the full package.

M83 - I thought "Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts" was a little distracted and all-over-the-place, although several moments transcended this and elevated the weaker parts. Everything didn't add up, but their strengths were certainly hinted at. M83's new record, "Before the Dawn Heals Us" is a different story though. This album has one of the most unique sounds out there right now, and it works completely as a unified piece of art. It is also a lot more brave throughout than their debut album, and that is one of the reasons it seems to succeed more as a coherent album.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David Folkman,

New (to me) in 2005 and enjoying-

Lucinda Williams
M Ward
Explosions in the Sky
Dismemberment Plan (Now have all their albums - luv'em)
Brendan Benson
Late-70's David Bowie

Listen to The Jesus and Mary Chain. I can not emphasize it enough.

If you like punk music, listen to The Stooges.