Comments on: Classic Rock Fan

Question: Classic Rock Fan

whobynumbers — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:53:49 -0800

I'm a 40 year old male and a music nut, but only classic rock and only musicians with ultimate talent. My favorites include The Who, Rush, Kinks, Moody Blues, Peter Gabriel's Genesis, pre-Born In the USA Bruce, Ozzy, Maiden, Sabbath, etc. I haven't found a good band in the 90's and 00's until I found Wolfmother. Are there any others out there worth listening to?

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:03:58 -0800

Are you aware that there's a large segment of jazz which is strongly influenced by rock that is quite similar to the kind of stuff you seem to like?

Try "Secret Story" by Pat Metheny.

By: amyms

amyms — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:36:59 -0800

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club?

By: bunglin jones

bunglin jones — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:46:46 -0800

Recommending these guys has become a bit of a joke around here, but if you like pre-"Born in the USA" Bruce, there's a chance you'll like "The Neon Bible" by Arcade Fire. Seriously.
The Hellacopters are great.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club might also be what you're after.

(Also, many BritPop bands worshipped (i.e. tried to sound like) The Kinks and The Who. It might be worthwhile checking out some of the bands listed here, though they mostly dig around in the poppier end of both The Who and Kinks: you could try "Modern Life is Rubbish" by Blur (here's a single which I reckon's pretty Kinks-y) for a start.)

By: scody

scody — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:11:37 -0800

Everyone who knows me will roll their eyes (because I'm a total raving fanatic for the guy and inevitably wind up recommending him), but -- given that you like the Who and the Kinks -- it's entirely possible that you might like Paul Weller. His 1995 album Stanley Road is as good a place as any to start (it's probably his most critically acclaimed solo record); if you're looking for more, you could check out his 30-year career retrospective that just came out as a 4-disc set, with a single disc "condensed" version (which is too condensed for my tastes, but you might enjoy it as a newcomer to his work).

By: misteraitch

misteraitch — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:20:55 -0800

Jet?

By: zardoz

zardoz — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:28:47 -0800

Give The White Stripes a whirl.

By: ageispolis

ageispolis — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:50:22 -0800

You'd probably really like Queens of the Stone Age if you haven't heard them already.

But if Wolfmother is the best band you've heard in the past two decades than you've missed out on a ton.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 02:18:37 -0800

The Black Crowes?

By: essexjan

essexjan — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:02:16 -0800

Drive-by Truckers.

By: slimepuppy

slimepuppy — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:05:57 -0800

For metal, I can not recommend Mastodon highly enough. Just looking at the crowd in concerts should be enough proof that their music appeals to the more old school crowd as well as the younger metalheads.

By: the_epicurean

the_epicurean — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:35:15 -0800

Eagles of Death Metal, are Josh Homme of QOTSA's other band, check out Death by Sexy..

I'm a big fan of The Datsuns too, more Antipodean hard rock.

Kudos, to the BRMC fans too, they're cool.

By: peacecorn

peacecorn — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:37:21 -0800

The best of what Beck does feels both fresh and like a throwback to any number of genres all at the same time. "Odelay" in particular is recommended.

I'm also really enjoying the new Wilco album "Sky Blue Sky" too, although it doesn't (technically) come out for a couple of weeks. Good songs, talented musicians, although it might be a little too singer-songwritery for your Moody Blues palate.

By: messylissa

messylissa — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:04:11 -0800

I was just going to say Eagles of Death Metal. Played the same bill as Wolfmother at EndFest 2006...same crowd loved them both equally.

By: kimota

kimota — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:33:23 -0800

If your "etc." includes T. Rex, then I think you could appreciate some of Louis XIV's album "The Best Little Secrets Are Kept." I think "Finding Out True Love Is Blind" is far and away one of the greatest rock songs of the aughts, and "A Letter To Dominique" is a straight-up T. Rex tribute.

I haven't heard much Kings of Leon, but I can see a classic rock fan liking them, I think.

Another opportunity given your tastes is to try to go backwards to learn about the music that inspired your favorite bands, or to go deep and learn about the minor bands that thrived ever-so-briefly during the heyday of your faves. If you've never heard the Nuggets compilation (or its sequel), there's a lot there to enjoy, even if you think you don't appreciate psychedelic rock.

By: santojulieta

santojulieta — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:39:57 -0800

Raconteurs (Jack White of the White Stripes + Brendan Benson from Detroit.)

My dad loves them.

By: elendil71

elendil71 — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:43:01 -0800

If you're a big Rush fan (as it should be), you may learn to like Tool. Many would dispute me on this, but musically (not lyrically) they are clearly a beloved grandchild of Rush. It certainly isnt "classic rock" by any stretch, though.

And echoing ageipolis' last links... there's lots out there that you seem to have missed. I'll add The Replacements to the mix.

By: stefnet

stefnet — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:43:10 -0800

Sloan

By: ardgedee

ardgedee — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:49:06 -0800

For intellectual and orchestrated music that still rocks out, listen to The Verlaines. For modern prog rock (which I find a lot more interesting than the 70s variety) check Tortoise. Or look backwards and listen to Miles Davis' benchmark Bitches Brew.

And I'm tossing this in because you might like the mix of sonic thunder and lyrical thoughtfulness: Eleventh Dream Day.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 05:27:03 -0800

The Black Crowes, but only their second and third album, which are absolutely brilliant from start to end.

If you're more into the Brit sound, Blur has a few good ones to choose from.

And the White Stripes (though I can honestly only take a few of their songs and no more than one at a time).

By: Spacelegoman

Spacelegoman — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 05:53:18 -0800

Jeff Buckley!

Pick up Mystery White Boy and Grace.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:10:30 -0800

I really liked The Black Keys' Rubber Factory album. Nice, hard gritty bluesy rock.

By: cowbellemoo

cowbellemoo — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:17:11 -0800

Doves

By: jmd82

jmd82 — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:18:48 -0800

If you're into pre-USA Bruce, I would check out Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

By: Otis

Otis — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:29:02 -0800

Doves is a good recommendation. I would also highly, highly recommend Swervedriver. Primus was highly influenced by Rush (they have covered YYZ), and are worth a listen. I'd start with the early stuff. Also, early Soundgarden strikes me as very Sabbath-like.

By: The Straightener

The Straightener — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:40:21 -0800

I can help you out with the Ozzy, Maiden, Sabbath end of things. I'm going to assume that singing as opposed to screaming is where you're at.

First, you should check out the new Trouble album, Simple Mind Condition. It's very polished and metal but with a classic feel. I would recommend working back through their catalog to Manic Frustration, the S/T, and if you dig those into the 80s material (Run to the Light, Psalm 9, the Skull). Next to Sabbath, you can't get much better than Trouble.

Try out some Confessor, whose new material has that Sabbathy low end but with vocals that are almost alt-rockish. They were a very different band back in the late 80s, technical thrash metal but they've since become more downtempo, melodic and mainstream.

Funny names aside, Alabama Thunderpussy might be your bag; they're sort of southern dirt metal by way of classics like Molly Hatchet. Very classic rock feel to a lot of their stuff.

Solace is more dirt metal, this time from Jersey, with again a very alt-rockish vocal feel that makes them palatable to a broader audience than most bands of this ilk.

Have you ever heard of Wino? You should have. His Sabbath worship cred goes all the way back to the 80s and Saint Vitus. However, Spirit Caravan was his most classic rock oriented project, also sort of southern dirt metal inspired and with totally jaw dropping solo skill of the Hendrix by way of Greg Ginn variety.

I could go on and on. Stonerrock.com is a good palce to start for this sort of stuff, also hellridemusic.com.

By: ibmcginty

ibmcginty — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:42:04 -0800

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists.

Early Elvis Costello (try This Year's Model for his rockinest effort).

I find the Hives to be the modern-day Kinks or Who; it's not clear to me that there is much critical agreement with that take.

By: LordSludge

LordSludge — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:48:45 -0800

I was a huge Rush fan for 7+ years, and Dream Theater makes them sound like progressive easy listening. I recommend either their latest, Octavarium, or Awake if that's too overwhelming for ya. The latest DVD, Score, is pretty great too -- really eye-opening to watch Rudess solo in the first bit of the title track.

For more of a progressive classic rock feel, check out Spock's Beard. Start with V.

By: booth

booth — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:01:43 -0800

And if you like ibmcginty's suggestion for early Elvis Costello, you might like Apollo Up! too. I do.

By: look busy

look busy — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:20:24 -0800

Maybe too far over in the Kiss/Motorhead vein, but I would highly recommend Turbonegro, especially Apocalypse Dudes and Ass Cobra.

By: kendrak

kendrak — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:24:51 -0800

The Makes Nice is pretty new and pretty awesome.

By: ludwig_van

ludwig_van — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:42:41 -0800

Guided by Voices
Arcade Fire
The Hold Steady

By: kuujjuarapik

kuujjuarapik — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:57:21 -0800

I'll second Paul Weller, also The Hold Steady.

By: The Straightener

The Straightener — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:01:41 -0800

Forgot about Drunk Horse who are more in the AC/DC and early ZZ Top vein and then Pride Tiger, Priestess and Bad Wizard who are all pretty straight up retro 70s rock.

Last one and I'll stop: Witchcraft are about as authentically classic sounding as you can get.

By: nadawi

nadawi — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:07:41 -0800

You should really check out what Bruce is doing now with things like We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions.

By: TheOnlyCoolTim

TheOnlyCoolTim — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:09:14 -0800

There's a thing about Tool and Queens of the Stone Age. They're not that good. Those two bands a ton of people like, and they're not bad bands, but they're not great either.

Definitely Arcade Fire. (Don't miss the live EP with Bowie.)
Then ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Source Tags and Codes.
Maybe some Interpol and some Decemberists.

On the Metal side, you should see if you like the Power Metal they're coming out with these days. You might not, but give it a try since you like Maiden. Blind Guardian, (get Nightfall in Middle Earth) Sonata Arctica, maybe Iced Earth, and definitely Dragonforce. Dragonforce is about the most metal band ever, or at least the most power metal band ever (as opposed to the most death metal band ever, which is probably some guys I heard about who had someone in the band suicide by gun and put a picture of his bloody body on their album.)

By: Mmothra

Mmothra — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:28:05 -0800

Red Sparowes, Isis and Pelican are choice groups for "contemporary prog." Grails are also a sure bet.

In related news, Tarentel and Town and Country do a nice turn on prog from a minimalist acoustic perspective.

If you want a nice psychedelic freakout with grooves, definitely find something by Wooden Shjips.

That is all.

mm

By: breezeway

breezeway — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:45:37 -0800

Someone upthread recommended Sloan, and I agree. You might also like The Soundtrack of Our Lives. If you can get your hands on some Money Brother, he's worth a listen. Black Mountain/The Pink Mountaintops are good when they're at their best, definite classic rock vibe. Have you heard any 60 Ft. Dolls? They're defunct but great, a band from the UK who thought they were from NJ. You might like Buckcherry, but their production sucks and their albums are spotty. Ditto Turbonegro.

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:54:08 -0800

Velvet Crush

The Jam (Paul Weller's band in the late '70s/early '80s) had a lot of Kinks/Who influence.

By: M.C. Lo-Carb!

M.C. Lo-Carb! — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:17:07 -0800

nthing the raconteurs, plus "The Lonesome Crowded West" by Modest Mouse.

By: Andy Harwood

Andy Harwood — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:56:47 -0800

I third Sloan. They sound like The Beatles, The Who, Zed Zepellin, Cheap Trick and Big Star. Start with either One Chord to Another, Navy Blues or Between the Bridges.

By: Andy Harwood

Andy Harwood — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:00:13 -0800

Also, Built to Spill

By: Giant luck

Giant luck — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:10:32 -0800

How about the Smashing Pumpkins ?

The Foo Fighters ?

By: Andy Harwood

Andy Harwood — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:17:29 -0800

Dinosaur Jr were super-awesome and they had alot of classic rock influences for an 80s alternative band. The Volcano Suns were even better but their albums are hard to find.

By: pazazygeek

pazazygeek — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:29:50 -0800

Danava is a kind of small band in Portland that my friend turned me on to when we were visiting San Francisco. They remind me alot of a psychadelic Sabbath.

I'm also heartily seconding Mastodon. They are amazingly good.

Have you tried Pandora? I find that it's exceptionally good at recommending music that I like that surprises me. Because they make comparisons with songs that are musically similar before making comparisons with songs that are in a similar genre or from a similar time.

By: tdischino

tdischino — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:28:25 -0800

The Mars Volta. When I listen to them I hear lots of Rush and Led Zeppelin. From the Amazon editorial because it encapsulates the sound well:

"[their music is an] amorphous musical head-trip that brews psychedelia, trance, hard-rock and free-jazz into a daunting new whole".

This is the only new music I have really, really liked in the past 10 years.

By: fings

fings — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:59:44 -0800

Tenacious D. Sure, they're tounge-in-cheek, but they worship at the same altar as you (and I, to some extent. I'm 41 and classic rock accounts for about half my collection).

Of the rec's above me, I'll add a vote to BMRC, Spock's Beard, and the White Stripes.

Oh, and for fun check out the Finnish Idol winner Ari Koivunen singing Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, etc.

By: vorfeed

vorfeed — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:42:40 -0800

(as opposed to the most death metal band ever, which is probably some guys I heard about who had someone in the band suicide by gun and put a picture of his bloody body on their album.)

That's Mayhem (the album with the famous photo was a bootleg called "Dawn of the Black Hearts"). They're black metal, not death metal, though.

On topic: check out Slough Feg and Reverend Bizarre. The former has a weird sort of sci-fi-celtic-boardgame slant on traditional metal, and the latter is impeccable Sabbath-influenced doom metal. And this is from the 80s rather than modern, but chances are you'll love it anyway: Cirith Ungol. Few metal bands were ever as epic or as unjustly ignored...

By: i_am_a_Jedi

i_am_a_Jedi — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:04:02 -0800

White Stripes (and The Raconteurs) and Kings of Leon (love the new album!)

By: methylsalicylate

methylsalicylate — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 06:38:33 -0800

I can't believe no one's said Muse yet. Not that they're to my taste, but...

By: The GoBotSodomizer

The GoBotSodomizer — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:50:17 -0800

I can't recommend The Sword highly enough. They're like Sabbath with an extra testicle. Very similar styles of heavy guitar work and muted-sounding vocals. From a Spin review:

"The best band I saw [at SXSW 2005] was called The Sword, this metal band from Austin. They're sort of like Black Sabbath Vol. 4, sort of like early Prong, sort of like Iron Maiden... You know how Indians used to hunt buffalo by forcing them off a cliff, and they'd fall to the rocks? That's kind of what they sound like. Kind of like a bunch of bison being pushed over a cliff."
-Chuck Klosterman

By: queenofthegeeks

queenofthegeeks — Wed, 02 May 2007 20:19:49 -0800

k im late in on this one, but I'm partial to a band called Stratovarius - may be a bit formulaic, but they rock!

By: philad

philad — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 00:04:48 -0800

I'm about to change your life - I've just recently discovered The Wildhearts. Where the hell have I been?

By: philad

philad — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 00:07:29 -0800

Link didn't work - one more time.