Help! I need a new musical obsession to propel me into tomorrow. The old ways of finding new music aren’t working anymore and the new ones are coming up short too.
I used to stay up to speed with the latest bands and artists through Rolling Stone, local newspapers, friends, and radio. But most of the time I haven’t heard of the “musicians” on the Billboard Top 20 chart. I’ve subscribed to Sirius satellite radio for a couple of years and like it, but even with all their commercial-free music channels, they have repetitive playlists. If you listen to one channel all the time, you’ll hear the same “obscure” tracks over and over again, sometimes at the same time of day every day!
The College Rock chart used to be a great source of up and coming artists, but check out the college chart on last.fm (thanks to my nephew/musician Billy for turning me on to this site that lets you listen to full tracks for free)! College students appear to be listening to the music I grew up with!! I can’t say I really blame them.
The top downloads on sites such as Rhapsody indicate musical tastes across the map. Here too, popular downloads seem to be old music other than Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga (and her latest seems absolutely ancient—good thing she has some new songs coming out on November 23). Sites like these tend to suggest, based on my preferences, classic rock bands, not new music.
I have already worn out the latest Indigo Girls CD, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug, which has great lyrics and some catchy tunes, if less of their classic harmonies.
But my obsession with their CD was nothing like my biggest obsession ever: an unknown alternative rock band called Ours from New York City who has never really made it. I listened to their debut CD Distorted Lullabies from start to finish 2-3 times a week, every week, for over a year, mostly during workouts. Besides the incredible voice of lead singer Jimmy Gnecco, something about the flow of the album, and the perfect meld of music and lyrics, got under my skin. It immediately spoke to my sensibilities and life philosophy. And because of that their music is cathartic. I’ve seem them/him perform live now six times.
It would be nice to find new music that does the same thing.
Below is a list of past and latest musical obsessions to give you a more complete idea of my preferences. In general, I gravitate towards singer/songwriters and alt-rock performers who have distinctive voices. I like songs with thoughtful lyrics and intense (some would say bombastic) delivery, whether ballads or up-tempo. I left off obvious unavoidable stalwarts like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, the Doors, Stevie Wonder.
* = will buy every CD even if I only listen to it once.
Major Obsessions
| Who | How Discovered | Why | Sample Cut |
| Ours* | Warm-up act at nightclub show. | Powerful vocals. Struggle between life & self-destruction. | Medication |
| Counting Crows* | Friend Michael saw them live | Struggle between self-deprecation and lust for life. | Angels of the Silences |
| Jeff Buckley | Capsule review in Rolling Stone | Vocal/emotional range. Sexy. | Last Goodbye |
| Sinead O’Connor* | MTV | Defiant one minute, tender the next. | Emperor’s New Clothes |
| The Kinks | 1970s comeback albums | Gay-friendly, clever sing-a-long lyrics | Celluloid Heroes |
| Kate Wolf | New Age workshop | Effortless calming vocal quality | Telluride |
| New Radicals (only one album) | Friend Michael heard about them | Multilayered snarky pop | You Get What You Give |
| Elton John | my sister Nancy had his first album | Pretty ballads, assertive vocals, fun rockers | Levon |
| Linda Ronstadt | Stone Poneys hit “Different Drum” | Emotional belting | Long Long Time |
| The Smiths | my friend Michael | Divo angst. Lyrics to make Oscar Wilde proud. | This Charming Man |
| Hedwig & the Angry Inch | Newspaper review of movie | Brilliant bitchy fun. | The Origin of Love |
Lifelong Obsessions
| Who | How Discovered | Why | Sample Cut |
| Joni Mitchell* | Local library record stacks—just tried what was an unknown to a young kid. | First to use the word “fuck” in a ballad (1972) | Woman of Heart & Mind |
| Neil Young* | From girl I lost my virginity to | Courageous/bizarre songwriting, singing | After the Gold Rush |
| Jackson Browne | Local library | Like his warm voice & singing along; wanted to look like him. | Late for the Sky |
| Bruce Springsteen* | My brother Bob | Pissed off one minute, partying the next. | Badlands |
| Indigo Girls* | KFOG radio | Great harmonies, insightful lyrics | World Falls |
| Bob Dylan | Minnesota-born like me | His songwriting greatness and artistic evolution never stops. | Not Dark Yet |
| Tad Toomay* | from his wife Mindy, my friend for many years | Warm, pure vocals. Inspiring lyrics. A minister of music. | Love is Waiting |
Moderate Obsessions
| Who | How Discovered | Why | Sample Cut |
| Coldplay* | Radio/friend/concert | Self-examination | Square One |
| U2 | Friends/amazing video | Bono’s vocal intensity | With or W/O You |
| Radiohead* | Radio | Trippy, hypnotic | Creep |
| 4 Non Blondes (only one album) | MTV/radio | Linda Perry rocks | Drifting |
| Prince | Mpls newspaper | Puts me in the mood | 1999 |
| Culture Club | friends Tom and Michael | Gay love songs | Time (Clock of the Heart) |
| Grandaddy | friend Michael | Slacker fun | I’m on Standby |
| Annie Lennox/ Eurythmics | “Sweet Dreams” on radio—came out of nowhere. | Diva angst | When Tomorrow Comes |
| The Wallflowers* | MTV | Jakob Dylan’s voice grounds me. | 6th Ave. Heartache |
| Sheryl Crow* | Radio | Unflinching cynical honesty | Anything But Down |
| Dave Matthews Band | Radio | Joyous, inclusive | Dancing Nancies |
| Led Zeppelin | High school friends | Original, distinctive, passionate | Going to California |
| R.E.M. | MTV, radio | Because they take it all so seriously. | Losing My Religion |
Like But Not Obsessively
Madonna
Lady Gaga
Amy Winehouse
Cazwell
Kelly Clarkson
Atmosphere
The Killers
Travis
Keane
Tracy Chapman
kd lang
Brandi Carlile
KT Tunsall
Death Cab for Cutie
Ray LaMontagne
Pete Yorn
Sorry if I’ve given you too much information–it’s amazing how much music I like and listen to. But clearly, hip hop, rap, R&B, and pop like Mariah Carey don’t speak to me much. On November 23 there’s a slew of new albums being released including the first CDs for Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, but I’m not holding out much hope that they’ll become obsessions.
So let me know your suggestions of artists you know, or if you (or one of your music-obsessed friends—pass it on!) can suggest an online blog or music service that can sift through my preferences and spit out the next great thing, for me anyway, I will be very grateful.
And if you are the one to turn me on to my new obsession, I’ll buy you the box set of your choice ($50 or less)!
Ours is my favorite band of all time! Every note, each word is full of such emotion, and Jimmy has the most amazing voice I’ve ever heard. I haven’t listened to the radio in years, there just doesn’t seem to be anything there for me….so I feel your struggle to find new music. For the most part I have taken to the local indie scene for finding new bands (easier done here in NYC than other parts of the world) I feel compelled to tell you all of the bands that I love but I’ll try to keep it short here. If you want to checkout some more go to my top friends on myspace page. Hope you find something you love!
My favorites:
13th Floor – http://www.myspace.com/13thfloormusic
Diablo Royale – http://www.myspace.com/diabloroyalerock
Plain Jane Automobile – http://www.myspace.com/plainjaneautomobile
Voodoo Johnson – http://www.myspace.com/voodoojohnson
Owl – http://www.myspace.com/owltheband
Juke Kartel – http://www.myspace.com/jukekartel
Elbow – http://www.myspace.com/elbowmusic
The King Left – http://www.myspace.com/thekingleft
Comment by Kimmi — November 15, 2009 @ 3:40 am |
I’m amazed and thrilled to hear so soon from another Ours fan! You’re right on about the emotion in every word and note. I thought they might get some radio play with “The Worst Things Beautiful” and build their fanbase but it didn’t seem to happen. As of today their website is being redirected to myspace. And Jimmy’s doing another solo tour–NYC on Dec 1! Thanks for your suggestions–I’ll check them out. I bought Plain Jane Automobile’s EP at the concert when they warmed up for Ours, but I liked them better live. I’ve listened to Elbow and liked them so will revisit. The others I havent’ heard of but I look forward to discovering them–thanks for the suggestions!
Comment by Oh Dave Now — November 15, 2009 @ 9:49 am |
You have excellent taste in music! Ours is incredible. It’s hard to put into words how amazing they are. Jimmy Gnecco is peerless, and once Static joined . . . well, there is no other band out there with their sound. I’d know them anywhere with just a few guitar notes.
Dave, I was going to enthusiastically recommend Elbow too, but you’ve already heard of them. From your description of your favorite type of music (distinctive voices; thoughtful lyrics; intense; bombastic), I think you’ve probably heard of Muse and Sigur Ros, correct? They aren’t on your list, so, just in case, I’ll recommend them. I think you’d enjoy them.
If you’re interested, let me know, and I’d be happy to share a mix.
Comment by Tracy — November 15, 2009 @ 7:34 pm |
Thanks, Tracy! I can’t say enough about Ours–yes, once a song starts I’m under the Ours spell. Static was amazing on the last tour–his passion on the guitar is well-matched to Jimmy. And Jimmy–I’ve seen him twice solo in teeny SF venues–holding about 50 people or less. Once he was in the zone and his voice went up into that high place, freely and completely. Even he remarked a couple of years later about the magic of that night.
I have at least one Sigur Ros CD and like them a lot. Their concert in a medieval castle broadcast on cable a few years ago was spellbinding.
I just very recently heard about Muse from a friend of mine but haven’t had a chance to search them out. If it’s easy to send me a link to a Muse mix, that would be fantastic! An upcoming concert in Oakland in which they’re one of several bands is sold out.
Comment by Oh Dave Now — November 17, 2009 @ 1:43 pm |
OK, I’m sorry to mess up your board! You can delete the previous post. Try this link: http://www.sendspace.com/file/i06iw2
Comment by Tracy — November 24, 2009 @ 7:49 am
Yes, I agree it is so hard to find bands to obsess over! I must say I have fallen into a bit of a pop radio trap, but I swear I was loving Muse before their sudden popularity and Esser is totally blowing my mind as well as Anjulie (very Regina Spector), but I love her none the less. And yes, I am totally obsessed with Cazwell, but that’s because I want to do him. He is just so damn nasty and hot! I am falling in love with songs I hear on commercials–like Landon Pigg and Ben’s Brother. How pathetic is that! My friend Zola plays in a band called Make Me–go to their website makememakeyou.com–She is very cool and so is the music! She bartends at the Easy and spins on occassion at the Uptown–support your local musicians!!!! Also, I must confess I am crazy for old school rap–everything from Eric B and Rakim to Sugarhill Gang to Doug E Fresh to Del the Homosapian to Jr. Mafia–hey Get Money!! Love that shit! But when all is said and done the one piece of music I am totally obsessing about is the soundtrack to the dismal yet somewhat creative film Were the World Mine. The vocals are incredible and the tunes are rather catchy. Maybe it’s just my mood, but I am just so incredibly in love with this soundtrack–beautiful gay boy music–it just makes me happy…
Comment by Michael Quinnine — November 16, 2009 @ 8:06 pm |
Cool–I’ll have to give a listen to Esser and Landon Pigg and the movie soundtrack–agree the movie was so-so but music is as infectious as the numbers in Glee. Let’s go see Make Me next time they play!! Thanks for all of your music recommendations over the years (as you can see by my list)!!
Comment by Oh Dave Now — November 17, 2009 @ 1:48 pm |
Dave have you heard of Pandora- a music site that matches you with bands and songs similar to your favorites? I haven’t used it myself, but got a massage the other day while listening to the therapist’s playlist “Sigur Ros”( Sigur Ros- like music, found on Pandora.) Pretty cool!
As for new interesting stuff, have you heard Antony and the Johnsons?
Comment by Julie Ray — November 17, 2009 @ 3:46 pm |
PS If you like bombastic delivery and lyrics, you should also give Scott Walker a listen. You probably know some of his songs with the Walker Brothers, but his later stuff is outrageous and fun/weird/theatrical. His song 30 Century Man was in Wes Anderson’s film “Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” to great effect!
Comment by Julie Ray — November 17, 2009 @ 3:51 pm |
I tried Pandora a few years ago but lately I don’t get a chance to listen to music online very much. I mostly listen in my car and on my MP3 player. But with all the good suggestions I’ve gotten I need to make a “play-date” with online music.
When you mentioned the Walker Bros. I was thinking you meant someone current, but then realized that they were a band in the 60s/70s. I loved their hits “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” and “The Sun Ain’t Going to Shine Anymore.” But I didn’t realize Scott Walker had that series of solo LPs–he’s fantastic, great style. The closing credits of “Pirate Radio” include flashes of classic rock album covers and I think it was Walker 2 that was one of them. So thanks for turning me on to some new old music!
Comment by Oh Dave Now — November 19, 2009 @ 7:22 am |
Hi Dave, I have a lot of the same music likings. An artist that Melanie turned me on to is Ida Maria “Fortress Round My Heart”. I encourage you to check her out. I’ll let you know the box set I’m interested in you buying me after you take a listen.
Comment by Paul Marcus — December 31, 2009 @ 9:34 pm |
Thanks for the recommendation, Paul! I haven’t been able to find a lot of full-tracks to listen to for free, but what I have I like. Ida Maria is an interesting song-writer and singer. But her occasional vocal straining negates her from becoming an obsession, so I can’t in good faith award you the box set. Better luck next time!!
Comment by Oh Dave Now — January 9, 2010 @ 12:40 pm |
[...] Obsessions Appreciation Filed under: Uncategorized — Oh Dave Now @ 2:08 pm In my You Really Got Me–Not posting on November 14, 2009, I sent out a distress call for new music recommendations and received [...]
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