For some crazy reason sometimes people seem to be interested in what I listen to, especially things that the might not have heard before. So I thought I might start a page to briefly mention some lesser known things I like that people might be interested in. As a rule I like albums, not singles so I'll stick to those. Oh, and my taste is odd, don't whine if you don't like something (or my views on it) :P
Oh, and many thanks to those that introduced me to any of this lot. You know who you are. I love hearing 'new' music :)
Annie - Anniemal
She's 'poppy' but somehow in a way that is fun rather than irritating. Catchy and quite sugary.
DJ Shadow - Private Press
A simply stunning album, the best description I can give is 'progressive hip-hop', but that just doesn't do it the slightest bit of justice. At different points it's scary, funny, endearing, fast, slow and so on and so on, yet it still forms a cohesive whole. Also check out his debut, Entroducing.
Elbow - Leaders of the Free World
Musically interesting and emotional (in a genuine way). Leaves me feeling happy no matter what I feel like before I start. I've recently seen them live at they were simply amazing.
Ignika - Electrophile
It's perhaps cheeky to include this (my brothers 'work'), but it fulfils the criteria. A frequently raw electronic sound, imaginative, experimental. Perhaps a taste that takes a while to acquire.
Jurassic 5 - Jurassic 5
There's no doubting that this is hippity-hop, but of the best variety. Actually somewhat musical, rhythmically neat, and rap that (as a rule) isn't stupid and that you can actually hear properly. Also their sample based tracks ("Lesson 6" from this album for instance) are amazing.
Lambchop - Nixon
A very odd band. Feels close and personal, yet is texturally very varied. Concentrate or you might just miss it all, with lyrics that somehow fit even when they clearly shouldn't. Another excellent live act too.
Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love
Soft, jazzy, sultry even. Something for cold nights and coal fires.
Oceansize - Frames
These guys supported at a Biffy Clyro gig that I attended, and I bought this on the strength of just the last song of their set (the rest was sadly less inspiring). Fortunately this album resembles that fantastic last track, rather than the rest. Swoops gracefully and gradually between superb riffs and obscure time signatures. Music to drive home to.
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
Achingly tender and real. There's hardly a song in there that doesn't ring true, or mean something particular to me.
.. and I think that will do for now, I hope you discover something new from it :)
