Non-ambient musical interests...

[rikm]

I think it's sort of a given that everybody on the board has an interest in ambient music in one form or another (and of course there's an interesting discussion about definitions), but of course there are a million other musical styles out there that are just as wonderful, just as beautiful, just as emotive and all those other things that make music so awesome as an art form.

So I pose the question to you, what "other" types of music do you like? Styles, artists, that kind of thing. Gimme a list and let me know what you're into outside of the genre.

I'll start. I've already outed myself as a Beyonce fan, I think she's fabulously talented and quite gifted, and I would argue that her first disc "Dangerously in Love" is a seamless collection of pure pop perfection.

Another artist I absolutely adore is Kristin Hersh. I think she's an absolutely brilliant songwriter that I would (and often do) compare to Dylan, Cohen and Smith. Her work is largely acoustic guitar and voice, incredibly emotive, incredibly passionate. I met her after a show she did with Branden Perry from Dead Can Dance, and she was one of the warmest, most friendly people I've ever met. Really open, both interesting and interested, and very humble about her work. Very cool.

So? What about you?

[åpne sinn]

Okay, finally got some time to respond to this.

My non-ambient tastes begin with what I refer to as the Holy Trinity. It all starts with Rush. I've been a fan of this band since the late 70's (I forget exactly when I discovered them, but it was after '76 because I bought 2112 with my allowance - great cover!!) and they've pretty much stayed with me as the primary musical influence on my life. Three members, every one of them a virtuoso with his chosen instrument, intelligent thought-provoking lyrics and complex (but not overly complicated) time signatures and chord progressions. Still a huge fan today, and saw them on the Snakes and Arrows tour earlier this year - my 23rd show.

After Rush, there are two others: Skinny Puppy and Depeche Mode. I've been into both of these bands since their inception, latching onto DM from the first note of "Just Can't Get Enough" in 1981. Admittedly, we've grown apart over the years, with some of their later albums (Ultra, Exciter) really clunking for me, but the ten year run between Some Great Reward and Songs of Faith and Devotion is some of the best dark synth pop ever. I was introduced to Skinny Puppy in 1984 at a under-21 club, where the DJ thought it would be funny to slip Smothered Hope into the rotation. Most of the dancers were unimpressed, but I bought Remission the very next day and have been a huge fan of their bombastic, meat-grinder approach to music ever since.

Some other highlights for me:

Pink Floyd: "The Final Cut" and "A Momentary Lapse of Reason"
Lyle Lovett: "Joshua Judges Ruth"
The Fixx: "Reach the Beach" and "Phantoms"
Enigma: "MCMXC"
Frontline Assembly: "Tactical Neural Implant" (though anything from the Leeb/Fulber/Peterson archives could be on this list)
Go West: "Aces and Kings"
Max Richter: "The Blue Notebooks"
Nine Inch Nails: "Pretty Hate Machine"
Nitzer Ebb: "Belief"
Seal: "Seal - 1991" and "1994"
Billy Idol: "Whiplash Smile"
Rick Springfield: "Tao" (yes, I said it!)

And so many others, I could be here all day.

[SAVO]

Kool. i'll investigate. Thanks Steve.

[Steve Brand]

Here's another of the older Shakti... (Sorry, I'm not sure yet how to embed videos.) I used to think I was a guitar player, then folks like McLaughlin made me think twice. Never the less, the percussion is so sweet too...I'd almost forgotten. Funny how when we visit our roots, we can see the sources of our present fruit. (That's nearly poetic.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHDO1HN06Fc&NR=1

[Steve Brand]

SAVO WROTE: From what u guys have mentioned so far I'd put "thumbs up" to Mahavishnu Band, Genesis, Radiohead, Queen, Pink Floyd, and Muse. Great bands.

SAVO (and anyone else), if you're interested in Mahavishnu Orchestra, you have to check out (if you haven't already) Shakti. John McLaughlin and various Indian musicians from the late 70's early 80's (??). I can remember spending hours, not really knowing or understanding what I was hearing, but feeling so connected and full of memories that didn't seem to be mine. While the attached YouTube link is more on the jazzy side, the older Shakti was more flavored with traditional Indian music with titles like..."What need have I for this, what need have I for that, I am at the feet of my lord." New or old, there is PURE JOY in the making of music here. I'd love to hear what you think... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyCH70FODJA

[Rhys]

ten songs for another world by the world of skin (M. Gira and Jarboe from the Swans) and Various failures (Swans). Take them and your ghetto blaster down to the beach (on Venus)

[AlephNull]

I've listened to a great deal of Dead Can Dance over the last 20 years.....they were and continue to be a great connection point between Andi and I.When I was out in Oregon,we watched a live video concert of them that combined produced videos,interviews, and live footage. "Host of the Seraphim" continues to raise the hair on the back of my neck and give me goosebumps everytime I listen to it. It's one song that continues to stand out for me over the years. Miss Dead Can Dance continues to convince me that the sacred art of channeling is a real and powerful process in music.Angels and Demons,light and dark...the all stand ready to engage the Elohim engineer behind their keyboards and all the various mediums of expression.

[rikm]

Klaus Nomi! Love love love him!

There's an episode of the Venture Brothers where he makes an appearance which always prompts a mini Nomi festival chez rikm when we see it.

[Andi]

I guess I am not sure what genre my default favorite bands would be classified...I listen to a wide variety of music, lately I've been listening to Eddie Vedder's soundtrack from "Into the Wild" - his first solo work. And The Postal Service (same singer as Death Cab for Cutie.)I heard Dead Can Dance already mentioned, they are probably my all time favorite, neck and neck with Zeppelin (Zeppelin is easy to classify...). I just started listening to "Rusted Root" a couple days ago and watched their DVD last night. I love their sound but have a little annoyance with their main front man, not sure why his voice bugs me so. I also listen to classical, today at work i listened to Mozart's Requeim. Sometimes get in the mood for 80's synthpop or 80's metal,a nd sometimes get in the mood for as hard as I can find metal. If really in a non-linear mood, I'll pop in Klaus Nomi or The Residents or Renaldo and the Loaf...oh and even last Saturday I was singing at the top of my lungs to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "SImple Man" Man, that's just a great song. Oh, and Jason Webley! He is the new Tom Waits!

[SAVO]

From what u guys have mentioned so far I'd put "thumbs up" to Mahavishnu Band, Genesis, Radiohead, Queen, Pink Floyd, and Muse. Great bands.

old-skool Chili Peppers anyone?

[John Koch-Northrup]

My biggest thing lately has been Muse... I've been playing various albums from them constantly - especially the new HAARP, Live at Wembley album which is utterly freaking brilliant. (yes, I've become a bit of a Muse fan-boy - I admit it...) Their music style varies greatly from rockier almost prog at times to sequencer synthy stuff... Radiohead meets Queen meets... well, Muse.

I've had their Absolution album for a few years - but it wasn't until this year that I just went nuts and picked up four more albums including Hullaballoo which is one disc of b-sides and a second disc of a live concert from their Origin of Symmetry tour.