Give my brain something to obsessively consume for the next few weeks.

July 18, 2012 10:04 PM

Hey! Do you like quasi folk music? Me too! Recommend me some great bands!

Now-a-days "folk" music is getting pretty popular, and this makes me ecstatic. I found just a tickling of a love for it when, about 6 years ago I discovered this band The Snake The Cross The Crown. Now, this. This is my music. I like other music, (around that same time, at the ripe old age of 16, AFI and Against Me! never stopped playing) but when I hear this sort of "folk" that I like, there's just something in my brain that goes "Oh my god, yes!"

Some bands that I like, besides The Snake The blah blah blah, that fit the style I'm going for
Mumford & Sons
Matthew & the Atlas
Of Monsters and Men
The Lumineers
Miner
Horse Feathers

Reasons I Like this music:

•Big sound: [not so much with Horse Feathers]. Roudy, and full of life. Whether it be happy life or angry, or whatever. I'm all for it.
•Chorus of lots of people. Not, like, hallelujah-choir, but other people in the band frequently sing. Or sometimes all of them. Thats the best part.
•Clapping. I love clapping. And stomping.
•"Heys" and "Hos" and "hars" and "las" as an additive to lyrics
•Repetitive choruses.
•Banjos and Mandolins, trumpets, harmonicas, fiddles, and accordions.
•Girls with voices like birds. [Of Monsters & Men; Matthew & the Atlas]
•Men with voices that have soul. [Matthew & the Atlas] But not too much twang. I can't handle too much twang.


I don't like music that's too much on the country side. The Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show aren't really my cup of tea. Though, there may be exceptions to this rule. However, If you suggest Noah & the Whale, I'll have to kill you.

posted by FirstMateKate to media & arts (56 answers total)

The Cave Singers. Their first album is one of the most under rated of the past ten years, imo.
posted by dobbs at 10:07 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

The Felice Brothers are pretty great.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. (Old and new.)
posted by cvp at 10:17 PM on July 18, 2012

And Two Gallants rarely hit a false note. Adam Stephens is a phenomenal songwriter.
posted by dobbs at 10:18 PM on July 18, 2012

Girls with voices like birds? Marissa Nadler.
posted by dobbs at 10:22 PM on July 18, 2012

Phosphorescent, Okkervil River, Bonnie Prince Billy.
posted by unknowncommand at 10:24 PM on July 18, 2012

Fleet Foxes are pretty great too (moving toward indie, but I think worth a listen regardless).

Also a big fan of Local Natives.

The Low Anthem has some great stuff too.
posted by cvp at 10:26 PM on July 18, 2012 [2 favorites]

Espers. And everything unknowncommand suggested.

Bill Callahan.
posted by dobbs at 10:26 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

The Head and The Heart. The Low Anthem. The Punch Brothers. Langhorne Slim.
posted by maryr at 10:28 PM on July 18, 2012

Also - generally check out the blog I Am Fuel You Are Friends. That's where I first heard most of the bands being mentioned in this thread.
posted by maryr at 10:29 PM on July 18, 2012

Tallest Man on Earth.
posted by dobbs at 10:31 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Joanna Newsom.
posted by dobbs at 10:36 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Banjo? Get the EP of Crooked Fingers doing covers like this one of Prince.
posted by dobbs at 10:40 PM on July 18, 2012

Anaïs Mitchell.
posted by little-egglplant at 10:41 PM on July 18, 2012

Fairport Convention.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:43 PM on July 18, 2012

The Decemberists
posted by kbar1 at 10:45 PM on July 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Seconding The Head and the Heart.
posted by MoonOrb at 10:49 PM on July 18, 2012

try a little of the late, great, glorious Ronnie Lane (with Slim Chance):
One for the Road (live version)
Ooh La La
The Poacher
Stone
posted by scody at 11:02 PM on July 18, 2012

Another vote for The Head and the Heart. Also, one of my favorite discoveries of last year, Hey Marseilles.
posted by weeyin at 11:05 PM on July 18, 2012

Frank Turner his latest album should be in the right ballpark, especially if you're coming from a past with AFI and Against Me!

Maybe Chuck Ragan and others from his Revival Tour too, but that can get a little bit too bluegrassy and country for some.
posted by dogwalker at 1:01 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

You might like Beirut.
Of, for something a bit quieter (but very good), Death Vessel.
posted by pipeski at 3:36 AM on July 19, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth.
They make me wanna stomp, scream, shout, clap, and grow facial hair.
Plus the lead singer, for a while, looked like a superanimated Philip Seymour Hoffman.
I'd go for their first eponymous album over their second.
posted by herrdoktor at 4:17 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hoots and Hellmouth are great. I saw them perform a Millennium stage concert at the Kennedy Center and it was one of the most fun and energetic performances I've seen there.
posted by jetlagaddict at 5:03 AM on July 19, 2012

Girlyman
posted by hydropsyche at 5:04 AM on July 19, 2012

Bright Eyes. Especially I'm Wide Awake It's Morning and Cassadega.
posted by The Deej at 6:00 AM on July 19, 2012

Monsters of folk, the gourds, Bonnie prince Billy, son volt
posted by natasha_k at 6:20 AM on July 19, 2012

I love love love Johnny Flynn
posted by jabes at 6:46 AM on July 19, 2012

Dawes !!!
Also Alistair Roberts!
And Dawes !!!
Dawesdawesdawes!
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:12 AM on July 19, 2012

More!

These United States
Justin Jones and the Driving Rain
Meredith Bragg
Hurray For The Riff Raff
Old Calf
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:43 AM on July 19, 2012

Seconding Beirut
Adding:

A Hawk and A Hacksaw
Snakefarm
The Unthanks

Finally, three self-links-yet-on-topic:

The Langer's Ball
Felonious Bosch
Boiled In Lead
posted by omnidrew at 8:01 AM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Finally: Nathaniel Rateliff
Belle Brigade
The Far West
Middle Brother
Felice Brothers
Joe Pug
Father John Misty
Mason Jennings
And and and DAWES
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:02 AM on July 19, 2012

Basia Bulat
posted by snorkmaiden at 8:32 AM on July 19, 2012

This isn't really folky, but for some reason the Snake Cross The The The The song you posted reminded me of The Antlers.
posted by threeants at 8:53 AM on July 19, 2012

The Belles of Bedlam are kinda folky and totally dirty. :)
posted by luckynerd at 9:26 AM on July 19, 2012

Seconding Girlyman. If you ever get a chance to see them in concert jump on that, they put on the best live folk show I've ever seen. Also seconding Hurray for the Riff Raff. And Fairport Convention. Hell, there's a lot here I can get behind.

Also gonna add:

Among the Oak and Ash and other projects involving Josh Joplin.
Spirit Family Reunion, though that might be a bit too twangy.
posted by ActionPopulated at 9:28 AM on July 19, 2012

If you're not averse to music in French (technically Quebecois), you should listen to some Mes Aieux.
posted by kitkatcathy at 9:59 AM on July 19, 2012

MV & EE
posted by porn in the woods at 10:04 AM on July 19, 2012

Old Crow Medicine Show
Joy Kills Sorrow
posted by Lutoslawski at 10:07 AM on July 19, 2012

I wanted to hear all of these, so here's youtube playlist of all youtube vids linked so far. Except the french ones, can't see those in the US :/
posted by shinyshiny at 12:19 PM on July 19, 2012 [5 favorites]

The Be Good Tanyas
The Blow
The Farewell Drifters
posted by runningwithscissors at 3:47 PM on July 19, 2012

Dan Bern, here singing Jerusalem with the Fugitives. He is funny and beautiful and profound. If you like this sound you should check out his two live albums featuring songs with Common Rotation, for the fuller band sound.

Here are a few more, including Baby Bye-Bye, a great Dan Bern song IMHO, and Osama in Obamaland.

And if you ever get the chance to see him live, please do. His shows turn into singalongs (example). Bern is truly a great artist in the folk modern style.
posted by onlyconnect at 3:54 PM on July 19, 2012

first aid kit
posted by beukeboom at 6:27 PM on July 19, 2012

Thanks, everyone! I've marked quite a bit as best answer. Most of them weren't exactly what I was looking for, but I like them anyway. And that's awesome! Also, if they were bands I already knew I liked, I went ahead and marked it, too. You were right! I do love that band! [I'm looking at you, Frank Turner].

Also, here are some sing-songwriter types that I think some of you might like:
Joe Purdy is pretty good.
So is Noah Gunderson
Alexi Murdoch
Patrick Park

Other fun bands!
Chadwick Stokes
Bison
posted by FirstMateKate at 11:31 PM on July 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Have you ever heard The Pogues? (That whole album is one of my favorites -- it's the whole range of life from inexpressible joy to sweet sadness.)

Also check out Great Lakes Myth Society who are doomed to crumble to a fine ashen dust if ever they step outside the state of Michigan.

Best Question Ever, BTW
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 12:59 AM on July 20, 2012

Iron & Wine, such as Pagan Angel & a Borrowed Car
posted by K.P. at 12:47 PM on July 20, 2012

* The Swell Season and Glen Hansard may be right up your alley.
* Arcade Fire aren't necessarily folk, but I think they fit your description almost perfectly.
* The Decemberists definitely qualify, as others have noted.
* Gogol Bordello meets many of the criteria as well.
posted by cnc at 12:59 PM on July 20, 2012

Eddie From Ohio
Salamander Crossing
Trampled By Turtles
Adrienne Young

You might expand your own definition of what you're looking for to include the word "bluegrass." just sayin'.
posted by kostia at 12:00 AM on July 22, 2012

Mermaid Avenue (volumes I and II) by Billy Bragg & Wilco sounds right up your alley.
posted by meggan at 3:35 PM on July 22, 2012

Dark Dark Dark

Carolina Chocolate Drops (maybe on the country side, but actually have a quite a range in sound, so worth trying out a few different tracks to see what you like).
posted by likeatoaster at 10:09 AM on July 25, 2012

A bit late maybe, but perhaps you might also like: Port O'Brien
posted by Vidamond at 10:21 AM on August 4, 2012

Have you heard "Sinking Ship" by Port Isla yet?

And the quasi folk band that is rocking my world these days -- the challenging, retro-weird, deeply rewarding Trembling Bells. They get more accessible with their later albums, so start with the first one, Carbeth, for maximum brain effect.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 4:36 AM on December 16, 2012

Self link. Seems bold and blowing-my-own-horn-ish, I know, but much of what I do falls into what could be called "quasi folk music".
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:44 AM on December 16, 2012

Springsteen's Seeger Sessions.
posted by backwards guitar at 3:03 PM on December 16, 2012

A fairly Australian/NZ and Scottish heavy list but I think they'll be a few here that will appeal.
Frightened Rabbit
Broken Records
Boy & Bear (this is a Crowded House cover but their original stuff is well worth checking out too)
Foreign Thoughts
Bonjah
Kim Churchill
I know you rejected Noah & the Whale but Laura Marling (who did the female vocals of their 'Five years time') is well worth checking out as a solo artist. This is a cover of a Johnny Flynn song (who was mentioned earlier in this thread) that is just gold
posted by steerpike at 4:15 PM on December 16, 2012

Oh I forgot The Oh Hellos
posted by steerpike at 5:50 PM on December 16, 2012

Gah, keep thinking of things to add after I post. Evening Hymns
posted by steerpike at 7:23 PM on December 16, 2012

The Builders And The Butchers (from Portland, where else?) - Devil Town
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 4:24 AM on January 1