[Sean Rizzo]

How often do you look for it? Where do you look for it? Do you find yourself exploring new genres? At what point do you get bored with your library? What have you found currently and/or in the past? Feel free to share and discuss. You're more than welcome to use this thread to pass things along and also as a dumping site for recently discovered things. If it's new to you, then great, post it, if it's not, feel free to share or discuss it anyway in the hopes that someone else discovers it. The last time someone made a thread like this I'm pretty sure it devolved into an unsubstantial chat thread, which I definitely don't want. No self-promotion either, unless you include yourself with other material. I'm hoping this thread will turn out something like the bandcamp thread I made forever ago (which I will never stop being addicted to), except more broadly defined and with real discussion.

Personally, anyone who knows me and my ridiculous listening habits knows I am insatiable. If I'm craving a particular sound, it's not enough that I have something that captures that sound. If it exists, I must have more. If I had all the time in the world, I'd learn like every instrument possible and make all the albums I wish my favorite artists had made and then some, but alas, I don't, so onward I search. I'm going to need a new hard drive in the very near future at this rate, and I have to make myself actually go into my library and play all this stuff back every so often so that I can really appreciate exactly how much music I've found that I really enjoy. The only downsides are that I have to deal with a duplication problem considering I can't decompress and import in one step, and that I find myself taking out filler every so often. I'm also on a budget, so I sniff out free music much more frequently than things I would have to pay for; most of those suggestions come from actual people instead of searching.

Rather than make this thread totally about me from the start (I'm kind of afraid the bandcamp thread has become this way, I seem to be the only regular contributor) by including things that have piqued my interest lately, I'll leave my thoughts without music to accompany and give it up to you guys to start talking and giving recs and whatnot. Any and all genres are welcome.

*** Something I forgot to mention. Please do try to include links to the music as much as possible, because we want to make the music as easy to find as possible. If people are anything like me, I'm way more apt to ignore things that don't have links because it's a pain in the neck to have to manually search for something someone already had put thought into suggesting. Anything that is streamable would be perfect. Try to avoid embedding lots of youtube videos though, as it seems to lag browsers.

[georgedcc]

Lotsa questions. Let's have a look.

I don't actively look for new music, but I'll stumble upon it, either on this site or from friends in real life. As for exploring new genres, at the age of about 16 I had the realisation that 90% of my music was very similar and from there I actively sought out soul legends, blues music, hip hop, folk, jazz etc. At this point, I'm not sure there's any genre of music I don't listen to (so long as we don't get bogged down in sub-genres). I obviously have my favourites, I don't love all genres equally, I don't listen to much metal music for example, but every now and then I'll enjoy a metal album.

As for when I get bored, it varies. Sometimes I really fancy listening to something new, but sometimes I can't be arsed with it and I just stick on something I already love. Right now, there's a few recently downloaded albums on my iTunes I want to listen to soon (Country Sleep by Night Beds and True North by Bad Religion), but I'm listening to Want One by Rufus Wainwright at the moment, which I adore and know like the back of my hand. Sometimes I just want something familiar.

Sometimes I'll get a real craving to hear a certain type of sound and I'll spend a couple of days listening to exclusively that genre or artist. This doesn't happen too often though.

The last new (as in, new to me) album I listened to was Daydreams & Nightmares by Those Dancing Days, which sounds like Tegan and Sara covering The Cure. Pretty cool stuff. The last new (as in, just released) album I listened to was And So I Watch You From Afar's latest, which is good fun.

[Sean Rizzo]

Originally Posted by georgedcc

Lotsa questions. Let's have a look.

I don't actively look for new music, but I'll stumble upon it, either on this site or from friends in real life. As for exploring new genres, at the age of about 16 I had the realisation that 90% of my music was very similar and from there I actively sought out soul legends, blues music, hip hop, folk, jazz etc. At this point, I'm not sure there's any genre of music I don't listen to (so long as we don't get bogged down in sub-genres). I obviously have my favourites, I don't love all genres equally, I don't listen to much metal music for example, but every now and then I'll enjoy a metal album.

As for when I get bored, it varies. Sometimes I really fancy listening to something new, but sometimes I can't be arsed with it and I just stick on something I already love. Right now, there's a few recently downloaded albums on my iTunes I want to listen to soon (Country Sleep by Night Beds and True North by Bad Religion), but I'm listening to Want One by Rufus Wainwright at the moment, which I adore and know like the back of my hand. Sometimes I just want something familiar.

The last new (as in, new to me) album I listened to was Daydreams & Nightmares by Those Dancing Days, which sounds like Tegan and Sara covering The Cure. Pretty cool stuff.

Something I forgot to mention. Please do try to include links to the music as much as possible, because we want to make the music as easy to find as possible. If people are anything like me, I'm way more apt to ignore things that don't have links because it's a pain in the neck to have to manually search for something someone already had put thought into suggesting. Anything that is streamable would be perfect. Try to avoid embedding lots of youtube videos though, as it seems to lag browsers.

Now, to actually respond. Haha. I never really boxed myself into a single particular genre when I was younger, although I went through phases where I deeply craved a specific sound. The only things I don't have much of a taste for are hip-hop, oldies, country, and any rock that is pre-90s (I can't wait for you silly people to come in here to try and convert me, haha, I bid you luck). I'm open to try pretty much anything, but I can be pretty picky.

When I get bored with my favorite things I just go and either find new things or put my library on shuffle because there's just so much in there I don't listen to. I feel kind of ashamed, haha.

I listened to a song from that Those Dancing Days album you suggested, and I think you might like "Captive" by Ume. It's kinda shoegaze-y but apart from that they're pretty dang similar if I do say so myself.

Something I recently discovered that is pretty crazy:

http://thegreatwall.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-wall

It's got the percussion of a metal band with pop-punk tempos and yelling and math rock riffs.

Also this:

http://talesofmurderanddust.bandcamp...tion-of-beauty

I LOVE it when bands use unconventional and exotic instruments and particularly I love it when bands use the sitar. If anyone can rec me anything including that and I end up enjoying it, I will love you forever.

[georgedcc]

Originally Posted by Sean Rizzo

I LOVE it when bands use unconventional and exotic instruments and particularly I love it when bands use the sitar. If anyone can rec me anything including that and I end up enjoying it, I will love you forever.

Not a band, but if you love the sitar and you don't listen to the music of the Shankar family, you're seriously missing out.

Ananda Shankar is probably the most accessible as he merged traditional sitar playing with Western Influences, he plays some seriously incredible stuff.

Won't embed them if it messes up your browser, so here are some youtube links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpJK6TQi-70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzyTj2MZ7k8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFpfXGifKKg

If you end up enjoying him, make sure you listen to his uncle, the legendary Ravi Shankar, who is more traditional, but no less amazing. He sadly died about a month ago actually.His daughter Anoushka Shankar also is a musician and definitely worth listening to as well. Ananda is probably my favourite of the three though, so start with him.


I checked out Ume as well, thanks! Yeah, they sound similar, it's pretty cool stuff. Can definitely see myself listening to this more.

[Jake Jenkins]

I try to listen to something I've never heard before daily. The last thing I listened to (and liked) that I hadn't heard before was Robyn's Body Talk

I find music by seeing what people around here that I'm friends with are into, specifically asking for recs, or just browsing websites like Pitchfork and Gorilla vs Bear for new stuff

[Sean Rizzo]

Originally Posted by georgedcc

Not a band, but if you love the sitar and you don't listen to the music of the Shankar family, you're seriously missing out.

Ananda Shankar is probably the most accessible as he merged traditional sitar playing with Western Influences, he plays some seriously incredible stuff.

Won't embed them if it messes up your browser, so here are some youtube links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpJK6TQi-70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzyTj2MZ7k8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFpfXGifKKg

If you end up enjoying him, make sure you listen to his uncle, the legendary Ravi Shankar, who is more traditional, but no less amazing. He sadly died about a month ago actually.His daughter Anoushka Shankar also is a musician and definitely worth listening to as well. Ananda is probably my favourite of the three though, so start with him.


I checked out Ume as well, thanks! Yeah, they sound similar, it's pretty cool stuff. Can definitely see myself listening to this more.

This is actually really cool, although the video and the synthesizer patterns are making me go "ohai there 1969". I'll definitely look into this more. Does this guy adjust his style as the current musical focus changes? If so, that would be SUPER cool to actually observe and see how he can incorporate the sitar over all kinds of generational changes. I'll definitely check out his uncle since I'm into the traditional style more so than this.

Another thing that would be really cool is if sitar shredding is actually do-able and the musical possibilities that go along with that. I really wish more musicians would think outside the western box in terms of arrangements and instrument choice.

Just to throw this out there, it's one of my favorite videogame tracks ever and it has a lot of elements of world/tribal music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bckgyhCo7Lw

[georgedcc]

Originally Posted by Sean Rizzo

This is actually really cool, although the video and the synthesizer patterns are making me go "ohai there 1969". I'll definitely look into this more. Does this guy adjust his style as the current musical focus changes? If so, that would be SUPER cool to actually observe and see how he can incorporate the sitar over all kinds of generational changes. I'll definitely check out his uncle since I'm into the traditional style more so than this.

Another thing that would be really cool is if sitar shredding is actually do-able and the musical possibilities that go along with that. I really wish more musicians would think outside the western box in terms of arrangements and instrument choice.

Just to throw this out there, it's one of my favorite videogame tracks ever and it has a lot of elements of world/tribal music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bckgyhCo7Lw

Yeah, as Ananda got older he incorporated different sounds into his sitar playing. Some of his 90s stuff has a hip-hop influence, which is kinda cool.

As far as heavier/metal music goes, I found this list which may interest you; http://rateyourmusic.com/list/titusfox/sitar_and_metal

[Sean Rizzo]

Originally Posted by Sophos

I try to listen to something I've never heard before daily. The last thing I listened to (and liked) that I hadn't heard before was Robyn's Body Talk

I find music by seeing what people around here that I'm friends with are into, specifically asking for recs, or just browsing websites like Pitchfork and Gorilla vs Bear for new stuff

I'll hold back on my usual scathing remarks here (haha) and just say that I wish pop music would start moving away from the club beats and toward something new at least rhythmically, because then I wouldn't dismiss it all nearly so much. I could be asking too much though, since unconventional directions are like the antithesis of pop music as we know it.

I'm skimming this gorilla vs bear blog you mentioned. What sort of stuff do they cover?

[Sean Rizzo]

Originally Posted by georgedcc

Yeah, as Ananda got older he incorporated different sounds into his sitar playing. Some of his 90s stuff has a hip-hop influence, which is kinda cool.

As far as heavier/metal music goes, I found this list which may interest you; http://rateyourmusic.com/list/titusfox/sitar_and_metal

Bookmarked. I'll check out some of the less incidental examples of sitar usage on here later. Just checked out Ravi Shankar and HOLY AWESOME.

[nfarreller]

I search for new music all the time, I usually go off an artist I really loves influences/scene and try to see the connection. Then it just kind of webs around. This usually covers the old/new music and genre bases.
.

[SimplyMyself]

I never get bored with my library because I'm not one of those people that downloads EVERYTHING, just whatever I find to be stand -out awesome and something I can go back and listen to on a regular basis. Should such an unfortunate event occur though, I usually end up texting friends for recs or you know just bother rizzle ;) .

Something I've been obsessed with for a while now AND I JUST CAN'T STOP LISTENING:
www.setsail.bandcamp.com
FIRST TRACK <3333

[Sean Rizzo]

Originally Posted by SimplyMyself

I never get bored with my library because I'm not one of those people that downloads EVERYTHING, just whatever I find to be stand -out awesome and something I can go back and listen to on a regular basis. Should such an unfortunate event occur though, I usually end up texting friends for recs or you know just bother rizzle ;) .

Something I've been obsessed with for a while now AND I JUST CAN'T STOP LISTENING:
www.setsail.bandcamp.com
FIRST TRACK <3333

You don't bother me, silly!

Something my good buddy White rec'd me:

http://shadowboxer.co.uk/ (nifty unconventional indie pop group)

and:

http://www.saxonshore.com/ (bright and happy piano post-rock)

[SimplyMyself]

Originally Posted by Sean Rizzo

You don't bother me, silly!

Something my good buddy White rec'd me:

http://shadowboxer.co.uk/

Ew white. Reminds me of a crappier version of this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2QdDbelmY

[Jake Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Sean Rizzo

I'll hold back on my usual scathing remarks here (haha) and just say that I wish pop music would start moving away from the club beats and toward something new at least rhythmically, because then I wouldn't dismiss it all nearly so much. I could be asking too much though, since unconventional directions are like the antithesis of pop music as we know it.

I'm skimming this gorilla vs bear blog you mentioned. What sort of stuff do they cover?

Haha, I can understand that qualm with pop music but electronic music and hip-hop are my two favorite genres, so beat oriented stuff always catches my ear.


They typically cover the kind of stuff that Pitchfork tends to cover, with a little bit more variety and lesser known stuff

[CallMeTroy]

Dear God, I look for new music almost daily. I'd say 85% of the music in my library is stuff I've discovered on either this site or Last.fm. 10% I found via YouTube or iTunes, and the remaining 5% from the radio. Favourite bands I learned about in the past year:

BOY - (RIYL: Feist, Cults, Destry)
Brave New Storm - (RIYL: Fleet Foxes, Daughter, Sophie Hunger)
Clearview - (RIYL: Balance & Composure/ Basement/ Deja Entendu)
Everything And Between - (sad mid-tempo shit)
Grimes - (electronic w/ avant-garde influences)
Now, Now - (RIYL: Tegan & Sara, An Horse, Lemuria)
Poliça - (electronic/ r & b)
Shy Technology - (RIYL: We Were Promised Jetpacks, U2)
Tiger! Tiger! (pop-punk)

I came to this site looking for new punk and post-hardcore, but since then, I definitely listen to a lot more indie rock w/ twinkling guitars and electronic music.