Any recommendations for good tunes on eMusic?

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  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    I'd like to take back my negative comments about Songs: Ohia. After giving Didn't it Rain some more time I'm starting to feel the connection.

    On a similar note, I've been giving the Bon Iver album some time to sink in as well - and it's not working. I simply don't like the guy's voice. It reminds me of someone else. I can't place the singer, but whoever he is I don't like him!
  • transplant
    transplant Posts: 1,088
    soclose wrote:
    I MUST get the She & Him album. I love the few songs I've heard so far.
    I almost pulled the trigger on this. Just couldn't do it quite yet. I will be interested to hear what you think of it. The fact M. Ward contributes should be enough but I dunno.

    So far this month...

    Korpiklaani - Korven Kuningas. Continuing my love for this Norweigan Folk Metal. Good times.

    Birchville Cat Motel - Beautiful Speck Triumph. I will never recommend this however I find it strangely enjoyable. this is classified as Jazz - Avant Garde. I will classify it as drone (as talked about in a recent Drone thread). This isn't for everybody. I am not sure how heavily I will get into this genre but I couldn't go wrong trying this with a double disc of only 6 songs. Low risk.

    Isis - Holy Tears EP. These guys rule. All I have to say about that.

    Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours. I have a feeling I may regret this purchase without a single listen. I was in the mood for breezy 80's pop so I thought I would give this a shot. I am in that mood maybe twice a year so not real sure this was thought out all that well.

    I am going to attempt to hold off a week or so before downloading others. It would be a minor miracle.
  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    transplant wrote:
    I almost pulled the trigger on this. Just couldn't do it quite yet. I will be interested to hear what you think of it. The fact M. Ward contributes should be enough but I dunno.

    I'm not really an M. Ward fan (though I'm thinking about making another attempt at him), so I'm not exactly familiar with that fabulous guitar playing he's known for. What I can tell you that he contributes very little in the vocal department (I'm thinking one or two songs, off hand, and that's not lead vocals).

    The album is a pretty tribute to the music of the past. Some of it sounds like 50/60's girl group stuff to me. There are a couple country songs on there, but mostly you get classic pop music. It's a nice little collection, but I have to say it's getting a little old for me after just a handful of listens. Then again, it SOUNDS like old music, so what what should I expect?

    I think Zooey has a great voice, but I'd check out the samples if you haven't already heard her. It's not unbearably sweet, but her delivery is a little kitschy.
  • Jeremy1012
    Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    Flares by Port-Royal. Beautiful ambient post-rock. Like Sigur Ros but less guitar based and with an even greater emphasis on beautiful soundscapes.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • transplant
    transplant Posts: 1,088
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Flares by Port-Royal. Beautiful ambient post-rock. Like Sigur Ros but less guitar based and with an even greater emphasis on beautiful soundscapes.
    sounds good, it has been added to my list.

    side note, depsite what people may think of them, eMusic landing the 19 or so ABKCO Stones releases is pretty sweet.
  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    I'm pretty sure this has been my most successful month on emusic. Let's just say everything gets a thumbs up:

    Spoon - Girls Can Tell
    She & Him - Volume One
    John Coltrane - Lush Life
    Miles Davis - Live at the 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival
    Thelonious Monk - Monk's Music
    Midlake - Milkmaid Grand Army EP
    Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
    Charles Mingus - Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus
    Eric Dolphy - Far Cry
    Jay Farrar - "Buffalo Jump" (still downloading The Slaughter Rule soundtrack one song at a time)

    I'm giving jazz a try for the first time in my life. I'd welcome any suggestions . . .
  • transplant
    transplant Posts: 1,088
    ok folks, give me something. even though I have over 90 in my Saved For Later folder, I need something out of my comfort zone. If you are up for a suggestion, please give me a brief reason why you like it.

    If any of you could come up with what you think is the best CD you have gotten from there, that would also be good. I know, kinda tough but just pick one. Mine would be B&S - If You're Feeling Sinister.

    I also wanted to mention that my favorite CD of 2007 is now out there. Alcest - Souveniers D'un Autre Monde. Gorgeous, beautiful and despite the genre, it isn't metal at all (though I understand why it is put there). If there was only one CD I wish people would consider giving a listen, it would be this one. Les Iris is the track that got me hooked. Though it probably isn't for everybody, this is not difficult listening in any way shape for form.

    That said, my recent download was
    Nadja - Bliss Torn from Emptiness. this is doom/drone Metal. love it.
    Wold - Screech Owl. Black Metal. this will take a bit of time. First listen was pretty darn challenging.
  • Jeremy1012
    Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    soclose wrote:
    I'm pretty sure this has been my most successful month on emusic. Let's just say everything gets a thumbs up:

    Spoon - Girls Can Tell
    She & Him - Volume One
    John Coltrane - Lush Life
    Miles Davis - Live at the 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival
    Thelonious Monk - Monk's Music
    Midlake - Milkmaid Grand Army EP
    Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
    Charles Mingus - Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus
    Eric Dolphy - Far Cry
    Jay Farrar - "Buffalo Jump" (still downloading The Slaughter Rule soundtrack one song at a time)

    I'm giving jazz a try for the first time in my life. I'd welcome any suggestions . . .
    Everything Eric Dolphy ever did is the best music ever. If you don't have it already, you NEED Out to Lunch. In my top 5 jazz albums, probably in my top 10 of all time. Then check out Out There, Last Date, Conversations and Iron Man.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • Jeremy1012
    Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    transplant wrote:
    Birchville Cat Motel - Beautiful Speck Triumph. I will never recommend this however I find it strangely enjoyable. this is classified as Jazz - Avant Garde. I will classify it as drone (as talked about in a recent Drone thread). This isn't for everybody. I am not sure how heavily I will get into this genre but I couldn't go wrong trying this with a double disc of only 6 songs. Low risk.
    Yeah, it's definitely drone. Sure isn't jazz. Check out Gunpowder Temple of Heaven by BCM. It's shorter, more accessible and more like the final, ambient track at the end of Beautiful Speck Triumph.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Everything Eric Dolphy ever did is the best music ever. If you don't have it already, you NEED Out to Lunch. In my top 5 jazz albums, probably in my top 10 of all time. Then check out Out There, Last Date, Conversations and Iron Man.

    Thanks for the suggestion. I really like what I've heard from him, so I definitely plan on buying more of his stuff.:)
  • Jeremy1012
    Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    soclose wrote:
    Thanks for the suggestion. I really like what I've heard from him, so I definitely plan on buying more of his stuff.:)
    Consummate musician and consummate composer, and I say composer because Out to Lunch barely feels like a jazz album at times. Musically it is but compositionally it's like a classical album, in the same way as Charles Mingus' The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady.

    His flute playing was so good. Hell, everything he played he was amazing at.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Consummate musician and consummate composer, and I say composer because Out to Lunch barely feels like a jazz album at times. Musically it is but compositionally it's like a classical album, in the same was as Charles Mingus' The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady.

    His flute playing was so good. Hell, everything he played he was amazing at.

    That sounds fantastic! I can't believe I'd never even heard of the guy until recently.

    I'm trying to cut down on my music purchases for a while, but I've put Out to Lunch on my amazon.com wishlist for future reference.
  • Jeremy1012
    Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    soclose wrote:
    That sounds fantastic! I can't believe I'd never even heard of the guy until recently.

    I'm trying to cut down on my music purchases for a while, but I've put Out to Lunch on my amazon.com wishlist for future reference.
    Awesome :)
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • transplant
    transplant Posts: 1,088
    soclose wrote:
    I'm trying to cut down on my music purchases for a while, but I've put Out to Lunch on my amazon.com wishlist for future reference.
    I went through a Jazz period where I just bought up Blue Note re-issues. Out of the couple dozen I purchased, 'Out to Lunch' left me scratching my head. I am rather disappointed I dont 'get it' however that's life. It is widely heralded as an absolute masterpiece and I hate it when I don't see why. Maybe someday or year it will click.
  • Jeremy1012
    Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    transplant wrote:
    I went through a Jazz period where I just bought up Blue Note re-issues. Out of the couple dozen I purchased, 'Out to Lunch' left me scratching my head. I am rather disappointed I dont 'get it' however that's life. It is widely heralded as an absolute masterpiece and I hate it when I don't see why. Maybe someday or year it will click.
    Out to Lunch is probably his weirdest and most difficult album to get into. If you want to try him again, you could try Last Date. It's a lot more accessible and "jazzy" I guess.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • transplant
    transplant Posts: 1,088
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Flares by Port-Royal. Beautiful ambient post-rock. Like Sigur Ros but less guitar based and with an even greater emphasis on beautiful soundscapes.
    ok, a big FUCK YEAH on this one. Nicely done.
  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    transplant wrote:
    ok folks, give me something. even though I have over 90 in my Saved For Later folder, I need something out of my comfort zone. If you are up for a suggestion, please give me a brief reason why you like it.

    If any of you could come up with what you think is the best CD you have gotten from there, that would also be good. I know, kinda tough but just pick one. Mine would be B&S - If You're Feeling Sinister.

    I've been trying to come up with suggestion for you, but I swear every time I come in here and praise an album you're right there backing me up! I'm still thinking . . .

    By the way, I was browsing the emusic message board the other day and saw that Circuit City stores are selling 65 song Booster Packs for $4.99. I haven't gone out to buy any myself, but I thought others might be interested. Unfortunately they're out of stock on the website or I'd definitely buy a few.
  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    Time for my month in review:

    Dizzy Gillespie and Machito - Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods
    My jazz downloads are mostly listened to as background music at the office. I'm satisfied.

    Clark Terry - Color Changes (see above)
    Dexter Gordon - The Panther (see above)

    My Morning Jacket - At Dawn
    I've been meaning to buy this for a couple years. Much better than It Still Moves, of which I'm not a huge fan. Very good over all, though there are one or two tracks I find myself skipping.

    Chatham County Line - IV
    Nice bluegrass with a modern edge. Lyrics can get a bit sappy, but it should be a nice summer album. The first couple songs are especially good.

    CCR - Green River
    I plan on stocking up on pretty much the entire catalog. Listening to the local oldies station at work has convinced me that I'm a CCR fan. Who knew? Solid album.

    Bowerbirds - Songs for a Dark Horse
    Quirky folk music with lots of accordion. A little cutesy, but I like it.

    Decemberists - Picaresque
    Finally invested in a full length download from this band. None of the songs stuck out to me like the tracks on the Five Songs EP, but I've enjoyed it nonetheless. May just take some time for the songs to sink in.
  • transplant
    transplant Posts: 1,088
    soclose wrote:
    CCR - Green River
    I plan on stocking up on pretty much the entire catalog. Listening to the local oldies station at work has convinced me that I'm a CCR fan. Who knew? Solid album.
    they put out an amazing amount of quality music is such a short period. I grabbed their 6 CD box set off there (back in the day when it used to be unlimited downloads).

    I finished off my month with

    The Gates of Slumber - Conqueror. This is throwback metal. Those that love Sabbath and particularly St. Vitus will flip over this. Only band I can somewhat compare them to that are recent is The Sword. Big Riffs. Lyrics are clear as day. they are from Indianapolis which is just odd but cool. Ice Worm is probably the stand out here.

    MGMT - Time to Pretend EP. Well this EP is fucking great. I have avoided them as I guessed they were just caught up in a hype machine, but it was a mistake. This EP is pure fun, beautiful pop. Love Always Remains is summer music bliss.

    Crystal Stilts - haven't given this a shot yet, not all too excited about it but what the hell, I want to support the eMusic selects. *edit* ok, this CD is pure 100% shit. The first song is listenable, the rest crap. I am now convinced that Pitchfork and eMusic are just fucking with people. I mean, this is really really really bad.
  • soclose
    soclose Posts: 629
    transplant wrote:
    they put out an amazing amount of quality music is such a short period. I grabbed their 6 CD box set off there (back in the day when it used to be unlimited downloads).

    Unlimited downloads must have been heaven!

    I stopped by Circuit City today and picked up 4 of the cards I mentioned earlier. $20.00 for 260 songs.

    So far I've completed downloading The Slaughter Rule Soundtrack I've been working on for months, and I got The Gleam by the Avett Brothers.

    This should be fun! My downloads just refreshed yesterday, so that's an additional 75 songs at the moment.

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