Katzenjammer, a band from Norway. It’s one of the rare occasions when I enjoy almost every piece of music by one band and not only one or two songs, as usually.
Nice, melodic songs with interesting lyrics.
I was just going to post about liking Mumford and Sons new album, Babel, but while making sure I wasn’t double-posting a recommendation, found that it doesn’t seem like much modern folkish stuff has been posted at all, so:
Mumford and Sons- (example (from new album)- Hopeless Wanderer)- These guys are the most popular of the genre, and get a lot of radio play (but they’re good). If you listen to the radio at all, you probably have heard their song “Little Lion Man”.
The Unseen Guest- (example- Let Me In)- Unseen Guest is a mix of Western songs with Indian instruments. Not quite “folk”, but I like them enough to put them in this list anyways. They are the least known group in this list. They don’t even have a website, or wikipedia page, so you can be all hipster. But everyone who gives them a try, loves them.
Eddie Vedder- (example- Rise)- Although well-known as the front man for Pearl Jam, Vedder’s solo work has a different very down-to-earth sound. His two solo albums include the soundtrack for Into the Wild, and a collection of ukulele songs, called Ukulele Songs.
Ray LaMontagne and the Prairie Dogs (example- Empty)- Generic folk singer, but I still love it, and a folk list wouldn’t be complete without it.
The Mountain Goats have some really great music. It’s the kind of music the focus of which is the lyrics, which is something I look for. I’m not sure if these are my favorite songs by them, but they are among them: No Children, This Year (weird video), and The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out of Denton.
Based on army1987′s recommendation, and the fact that I have previously liked music by Muse, I downloaded The Second Law. Most of it was pretty decent, although none of the songs lived up to some of their other music.
I wouldn’t say “none”. Maybe half of the album seemed to be up to the Muse standard, if a little over-the-top. But the dubstep parts really didn’t impress.
By “music” I really meant some of my favorite songs of theirs. I tend to rate my favorite songs by an artist and just listen to rated music. What I was trying to convey was that none of the songs from The Second Law got rated.
Il’l see her standing by the monorail She’ll look the same except for bionic eyes She lost the real ones in the robot wars I’ll say I’m sorry, she’ll say its not your fault Or is it? And she’ll eye me suspiciously Hearing the whir of the servos inside
I’m really enjoying Coheed and Cambria’s new album (the second part is releasing in early February), though it may not be for everyone. Their music is an interesting mix of pop-oriented prog rock (with some emo and metal) and it comes with a sci-fi story along with each album. It might be better to listen to their albums chronologically, I rank the albums [1,2,4,3,6,5] in terms of how much I enjoy listening to them most to least.
The British folk band “Show of hands” has some good songs that touch on rationalist/skeptic issues. E.g. Worried Well, IED:Science or Nature and Evolution. Their other contemporary stuff is also good, but I don’t know how it would play out of a uk context.
Music Thread
Katzenjammer, a band from Norway. It’s one of the rare occasions when I enjoy almost every piece of music by one band and not only one or two songs, as usually. Nice, melodic songs with interesting lyrics.
Examples: lSoviet Trumpeter Demon Kitty Rag Virginia Clemm
Seconded; they’re very human, and explore a wide range of genre and styles.
Someone arranged some Carl Sagan sayings for small choir and piano. Not being komponisto, I’ll refrain from going in-depth, but it’s fun, so you should give it a listen.
I was just going to post about liking Mumford and Sons new album, Babel, but while making sure I wasn’t double-posting a recommendation, found that it doesn’t seem like much modern folkish stuff has been posted at all, so:
Mumford and Sons- (example (from new album)- Hopeless Wanderer)- These guys are the most popular of the genre, and get a lot of radio play (but they’re good). If you listen to the radio at all, you probably have heard their song “Little Lion Man”.
The Unseen Guest- (example- Let Me In)- Unseen Guest is a mix of Western songs with Indian instruments. Not quite “folk”, but I like them enough to put them in this list anyways. They are the least known group in this list. They don’t even have a website, or wikipedia page, so you can be all hipster. But everyone who gives them a try, loves them.
Eddie Vedder- (example- Rise)- Although well-known as the front man for Pearl Jam, Vedder’s solo work has a different very down-to-earth sound. His two solo albums include the soundtrack for Into the Wild, and a collection of ukulele songs, called Ukulele Songs.
Ray LaMontagne and the Prairie Dogs (example- Empty)- Generic folk singer, but I still love it, and a folk list wouldn’t be complete without it.
...I’ll stop now.
I am a huge fan of All The Wild Horses by Ray LaMontagne.
The Mountain Goats have some really great music. It’s the kind of music the focus of which is the lyrics, which is something I look for. I’m not sure if these are my favorite songs by them, but they are among them: No Children, This Year (weird video), and The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out of Denton.
Based on army1987′s recommendation, and the fact that I have previously liked music by Muse, I downloaded The Second Law. Most of it was pretty decent, although none of the songs lived up to some of their other music.
I wouldn’t say “none”. Maybe half of the album seemed to be up to the Muse standard, if a little over-the-top. But the dubstep parts really didn’t impress.
By “music” I really meant some of my favorite songs of theirs. I tend to rate my favorite songs by an artist and just listen to rated music. What I was trying to convey was that none of the songs from The Second Law got rated.
One of my favorite YouTube signers just covered “The Future Soon” by Jonathan Coulton. Sample lyric:
I’m really enjoying Coheed and Cambria’s new album (the second part is releasing in early February), though it may not be for everyone. Their music is an interesting mix of pop-oriented prog rock (with some emo and metal) and it comes with a sci-fi story along with each album. It might be better to listen to their albums chronologically, I rank the albums [1,2,4,3,6,5] in terms of how much I enjoy listening to them most to least.
The British folk band “Show of hands” has some good songs that touch on rationalist/skeptic issues. E.g. Worried Well, IED:Science or Nature and Evolution. Their other contemporary stuff is also good, but I don’t know how it would play out of a uk context.
(You’ve got the last link backwards.)
Fixed thanks