Where classical and pop music collide
September 14, 2015 10:20 AM Subscribe
I've been listening to Ben Fold's new album So There pretty much non-stop for the past couple weeks. Suffice it to say, I absolutely love it, and I'd like to find more artists/albums that have similar qualities to both parts of the album, but I'm stumped as to where I should look for it.
For those who haven't heard the album yet, it's split up into two parts and therefore so is my quest.
The first 8 tracks are more along the lines of pop music with classical instrumentation (i.e., piano, strings, woodwinds, horns, etc). Wikipedia has the genre for the album listed as "Baroque Pop", which eventually got me this page, but none of the couple dozen artists I recognize seem very similar. The closest thing I have on my iPhone right now that I can think of is San Fermin (who I also love), but interestingly they aren't listed on that Wikipedia page. I'm at a loss for where to look for similar artists.
The last 3 tracks are three movements of a concerto Folds composed and performed with the Nashville Symphony. I have never really listened to classical (that is the word for it, right?) music but I've found I really like it. Unfortunately, since I have absolutely zero knowledge of classical music, or where this concerto fits in to the grand scheme of it all, I have no idea where to start looking for similar pieces. Any suggestions here as well would me much appreciated as well.
For those who haven't heard the album yet, it's split up into two parts and therefore so is my quest.
The first 8 tracks are more along the lines of pop music with classical instrumentation (i.e., piano, strings, woodwinds, horns, etc). Wikipedia has the genre for the album listed as "Baroque Pop", which eventually got me this page, but none of the couple dozen artists I recognize seem very similar. The closest thing I have on my iPhone right now that I can think of is San Fermin (who I also love), but interestingly they aren't listed on that Wikipedia page. I'm at a loss for where to look for similar artists.
The last 3 tracks are three movements of a concerto Folds composed and performed with the Nashville Symphony. I have never really listened to classical (that is the word for it, right?) music but I've found I really like it. Unfortunately, since I have absolutely zero knowledge of classical music, or where this concerto fits in to the grand scheme of it all, I have no idea where to start looking for similar pieces. Any suggestions here as well would me much appreciated as well.
Best answer: I can't really speak to the second half of your question, but I can recommend to the first part equal parts Beirut and Jukebox the Ghost.
posted by General Malaise at 10:32 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by General Malaise at 10:32 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
You might like XTC's Apple Venus 1. (A sample song.) And while not orchestral, Elvis Costello pairs interestingly with a string quartet on The Juliet Letters.
posted by greenland at 10:44 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by greenland at 10:44 AM on September 14, 2015
Best answer: You might check out Gabriel Kahane, who is both a classical composer and a singer songwriter. Try his album The Ambassador.
posted by cushie at 10:55 AM on September 14, 2015
posted by cushie at 10:55 AM on September 14, 2015
I would say The Divine Comedy is usually in that vein. Neil Hannon's toured a few times with Ben Folds. Some of the albums are more classical than others, usually depending on if he can afford strings. I think A Short Album About Love has some great arrangements.
You might also want to check out Scott Walker. His more recent stuff is pretty avant garde, but his earlier works (including the Walker Brothers) really does a great job.
posted by kendrak at 1:23 PM on September 14, 2015
You might also want to check out Scott Walker. His more recent stuff is pretty avant garde, but his earlier works (including the Walker Brothers) really does a great job.
posted by kendrak at 1:23 PM on September 14, 2015
Rufus Wainwright
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:29 PM on September 14, 2015
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:29 PM on September 14, 2015
Oops, he was mentioned above. Tori Amos' "Night of Hunters" album has each song inspired by a classical song.
Also, if you google "orchestral pop" then that should help--lots of artists fall under that genre.
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:31 PM on September 14, 2015
Also, if you google "orchestral pop" then that should help--lots of artists fall under that genre.
posted by mermaidcafe at 1:31 PM on September 14, 2015
Response by poster: > I can't really speak to the second half of your question, but I can recommend to the first part equal parts Beirut and Jukebox the Ghost.
Wow, this is spot on. I really like both of these bands and had kinda forgotten about them. Guess its time to bring them back into rotation. And it also looks like Beirut just released a new album last week too!
> You might check out Gabriel Kahane, who is both a classical composer and a singer songwriter. Try his album The Ambassador.
Not exactly what I was looking for, but this album is fantastic. I listened to it a couple times through this afternoon and evening and I really like it. I'll have to check out some of his other stuff.
posted by noneuclidean at 5:44 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wow, this is spot on. I really like both of these bands and had kinda forgotten about them. Guess its time to bring them back into rotation. And it also looks like Beirut just released a new album last week too!
> You might check out Gabriel Kahane, who is both a classical composer and a singer songwriter. Try his album The Ambassador.
Not exactly what I was looking for, but this album is fantastic. I listened to it a couple times through this afternoon and evening and I really like it. I'll have to check out some of his other stuff.
posted by noneuclidean at 5:44 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think you will love The Most Serene Republic, Typhoon, and Augie March.
posted by jbickers at 4:56 AM on September 15, 2015
posted by jbickers at 4:56 AM on September 15, 2015
Generic trivia re: rock stars dabbling in classical music:
Kieth Emerson of ELP composed a piano concerto featured on the album 'Works'.
Jon Lord of Deep Purple composed a 'Concerto for Rock Band and Orchestra'.
Procol Harum recorded a well-regarded live album with The Edmonton Symphony.
The Moody Blues made a similar project with The LSO on 'Days of Future Past'.
Regarding Scott Walker: I found his most interesting string arrangements (by Wally Stott) on the first side of the album 'Scott 3'.
posted by ovvl at 2:24 PM on September 15, 2015
Kieth Emerson of ELP composed a piano concerto featured on the album 'Works'.
Jon Lord of Deep Purple composed a 'Concerto for Rock Band and Orchestra'.
Procol Harum recorded a well-regarded live album with The Edmonton Symphony.
The Moody Blues made a similar project with The LSO on 'Days of Future Past'.
Regarding Scott Walker: I found his most interesting string arrangements (by Wally Stott) on the first side of the album 'Scott 3'.
posted by ovvl at 2:24 PM on September 15, 2015
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off the top of my head, Owen Pallett's music is very tinged with classical. Check out his latest album Conflict or earlier album He Poos Clouds.
Rufus Wainwright recently wrote an opera which I haven't heard you might want to try that, or his albums Want One and Want Two might satisfy your urge.
You might also enjoy listening to Philip Glass's Akhnaten opera.
also, if you're in Canada check out the radio program The Signal on CBC or stream it from their website.
posted by winterportage at 10:31 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]