I need new music and I have no taste.

November 18, 2007 9:32 PM

I need to broaden my horizons regarding the music I listen to. My last music purchase was years ago. Please suggest something new (or at least - new to me). I have no taste whatsoever.

My collection is all over the place. Things I like most include The Tea Party, The Darkness, U2, Live, KMFDM, E.S. Posthumous, Evanescence, Enigma, Santana, The Cat Empire, Icebrecher, Oasis, AC-DC, and Jet. There are others, but generally it seems like goth-lite from a rock background with occasional forays into world music and electronica.

I should probably also warn you that I'm stuck in the 80's at the moment with The Hoodoo Guru's, Queen, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper with a minor dose of Aerosmith, Bon Jovi & co. I believe there's some Heart lying around somewhere...

I am partial to strong melodies, blazing guitar solo's, strong beats and the odd rock or dance anthem (although not all at once).

I hate RnB, hip-hop etc, and most Jazz. Other than that, I'm pretty game.

Based on the sad confession above, what bands or artists should I be looking at? I've tried various sites like Pandora and LastFM for suggestions and have found a few things that way, but have had to wade through way too much to want to do it again.

posted by ninazer0 to media & arts (35 comments total)

More 70's than 80's in style, but you might give Wolfmother a listen if you aren't familiar with them.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 9:39 PM on November 18, 2007

If you like Evanescence, you might like Lacuna Coil, but they're a little more on the harder rock side. Their albums, "Comalies" and "Karmacode" are harder rock, but "Unleashed Memories" might be up your alley. Nightwish might be a shot in the dark, but you could give them a try, too.

Ugh, my collection runs more toward harder rock, so it's kinda hard to find stuff you'll like.

Maybe Finger Eleven? Not their new album so much, but their self-titled album and "Tip" are my favorites, so I'd give them a go.

You could give Muse a try as well. They've got a really odd sound that I can't really categorize, but I like 'em a good deal. It's kind of an electronic sound mixed with rock, but not really.

Good luck in your search!
posted by Verdandi at 9:43 PM on November 18, 2007

80's music: Crowded House [Time On Earth]
Dance anthems: Arcade Fire
AC/DC-like: the White Stripes
posted by KokuRyu at 9:58 PM on November 18, 2007

Queens of the Stone Age seem right up your alley.
posted by daniel striped tiger at 9:59 PM on November 18, 2007

You can't go wrong with Pavement or Steve Malkmus.
posted by juiceCake at 9:59 PM on November 18, 2007

Well, I'm just going to list all the bands that your favourite bands get accused of ripping off. Here goes:

The Tea Party: The Cult
The Darkness: Heart
Live: Phil Collins?
KMFDM: Skinny Puppy, Ministry
Evanescence: Sarah MacLachlan? Eurythmics?
posted by Reggie Digest at 10:01 PM on November 18, 2007

The Killers, Elvis Costello, Nirvana (especially Unplugged in NY), Van Morrison, The Fratellis, Arctic Monkeys, Hard-Fi... find something you like either on the iTunes Music Store or on amazon and then go see what other suggestions the "people who bought this also liked" feature gives you.
posted by hummercash at 10:05 PM on November 18, 2007

Also, if you like The Tea Party and Live, you'll probably really enjoy Our Lady Peace.
posted by Reggie Digest at 10:06 PM on November 18, 2007

Nickelback, Creed.
posted by ageispolis at 10:26 PM on November 18, 2007

Or just Creedback if you want to save yourself some time.
posted by ageispolis at 10:26 PM on November 18, 2007

Rilo Kiley.
posted by padraigin at 10:29 PM on November 18, 2007

Without going into a list of mere personal favorites (and won't you end up wading through a lot in this thread anyway?), I'd quickly recommend to anyone:

Franz Ferdinand's self-titled debut... Euro-dance-rock. Very catchy and fun.

OK Go is another band in a similar vein, but they're American. But their self-titled debut isn't as good as their breakthrough second album, "Oh No" (which happens to have been produced by the same guy as my first entry).

Jimmy Eat World's self-titled album. They're known as an "emo" band, but not really in a, well, self-pitying sense. This album's a bit more mainstream pop-rock, though. Those two facts should be enough to interest you, or scare you away.

Jack Johnson plays some mellow feel-good acoustic guitar... I like "In Between Dreams," which has most of his catchiest singles to boot. He sings throughout, so it's not just instrumental stuff that'll have your mind wandering.

Based on your hard rock leanings, I can't resist throwing in my all-time favorite album, Foo Fighters' "The Colour and the Shape." I wasn't really into music, let alone hard rock, at all until I heard this in college. Loud, heavy, cathartic rockers with some "pretty" acoustic songs mixed in.

And as long as you're at it, listen to all of the Beatles albums if you haven't in a while, or ever. At the very least you can say you've heard them all.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 10:34 PM on November 18, 2007

Nina, go to Pandora.
posted by artdrectr at 10:36 PM on November 18, 2007

Seconding Lacuna Coil.

artdrectr is right, Pandora should help. I also find browsing around on last.fm leads me to stuff I might like, though it's more helpful if you have an account and have been "scrobbling", which might be something you want to look into.
posted by primalux at 10:43 PM on November 18, 2007

ok, totally missed your last line. sorry.
posted by primalux at 10:47 PM on November 18, 2007

Why not get into Bob Dylan?

"Love and Theft"
Modern Times
Time Out of Mind
Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde on Blonde
Live 1966 Bootleg
Blood on the Tracks
Live 1975: Rolling Thunder Review
posted by KokuRyu at 10:56 PM on November 18, 2007

You sound just like me in terms of music tastes so here's some of my fave bands. You probably know quite a few of them already but here they are anyway.

Pearl Jam
The Offspring
Metallica
Tool
Spiderbait
Silverchair
The Living End
Lacuna Coil
Foo Fighters
Queens of the Stone Age
Foghat
Powderfinger

(at which point I turn to my iPod for help. I'll bold the ones I think you should particuarly listen to)

AFI
Ani DiFranco
Ash
The Ataris
Audioslave
Auf Der Mauer
Augie March
Bare Naked Ladies
Breaking Benjamin
The Casanovas
Cold ChiselCourtney Love
Creed
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Crowded House
Custard
The Dandy Warhols
Darren Hanlon
Disturbed
Dogs Die In Hot Cars
The Donnas
Drain
Eskimo Joe
Filter
Finch
Fiona Apple
Frenzal Rhomb
Fuel
Garbage
Gary Hoey
George
Grinspoon
Hinder
Hole
Iced Earth
INXS
Jebediah
Jimmy Eat World
Josh Millard (who?)
Journey
Kaiser Chefs
The Killers
Kings of Leon
KISS
Led Zepplin
Lemonheads
Losptprophets
Machine Head
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Missy Higgins
Monster Magnet
Motor Ace
Nick Cave
Nine Inch Nails
NOFX
Opeth
Pascifier (who then changed their name to Shihad, and then back again)
Pennywise
A Perfect Circle
Placebo
Puddle of Mudd
Screaming Jets
Sentenced
Sepultura
Skulker
Something for Kate
Staind
Stone Temple Pilots
The Superjesus
Thirsty merc
Velvet Revolver
The Whitlams
Wolfmother
78 SAAB
67 Special
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:14 PM on November 18, 2007

nomeansno.
posted by vrakatar at 11:29 PM on November 18, 2007

Listen to DEVO.
posted by SansPoint at 1:26 AM on November 19, 2007

BitterOldPunk's comment reminded me of this excellent diagram about music elitism from Diesel Sweeties, which is actually probably appropriate as more people begin suggesting more bands in this thread.

While I'm here, I forgot to mention a new Aussie band called 'Something with Numbers', which is also an excellent band you may like. Try their songs 'Chase the Chaser' and 'Apple of the Eye'. I think you'll like `em.
posted by Effigy2000 at 2:12 AM on November 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Be sure to keep an eye on Tokyo Police Club, Arcade Fire, and Deerhoof!!!
posted by robpongi at 2:42 AM on November 19, 2007

Creed? Breaking Benjamin? You're all fucked. Listen only to Amon Amarth.
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot at 3:48 AM on November 19, 2007

BitterOldPunk is officially hilarious and correct at the same time.

I was thinking of sending you back an extra generation as well; I might add Cream and Led Zeppelin to the list if you aren't already listening to them.
posted by hue at 4:50 AM on November 19, 2007

TOOL.
posted by fumbducker at 5:14 AM on November 19, 2007

Check out pandora.com It's an internet radio site that introduces you to new music based on music you already like. I've found some very cool new favorite bands on there.
posted by doppleradar at 6:13 AM on November 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

another site you might be interested in: www.allmusic.com...If you type in a band you like, it will give you a list of bands that influenced them, and bands that were influenced by your band. It is pretty awesome. Also, it give solo history for individuals in the band, too....
posted by snap_dragon at 7:31 AM on November 19, 2007

Your music taste is not so dissimilar to mine - you could try listening to my last.fm radio stream (salmacis2).

If you like Evanescence, try out Within Temptation - slightly more tuneful/pop oriented. I think there are some videos on YouTube.

Melodic 80s rock? Try Magnum, Y&T or early Queensryche.
posted by salmacis at 8:07 AM on November 19, 2007

Also, while I was on lastFM, I just saw a video of Marillion - Somewhere Else, which could be up your alley.
posted by salmacis at 8:17 AM on November 19, 2007

hugely strong recommendation: the thermals. really hooky, lo-fi-ish punk that's as magically delightful as the darkness. especially the latest album, "the body, the blood, the machine."

also, for a more sublime take on u2's heart-on-sleeve anthems, look at neutral milk hotel; including the best album of the 1990's, nmh's "in the aeroplane over the sea."

also:
jimmy eat world, especially "clarity"
finch, especially "what it is to burn"
foo fighters, especially "the colour and the shape"
rage against the machine, especially anything they did
queens of the stone age, especially "songs for the deaf"
posted by ncc1701d at 8:30 AM on November 19, 2007

Yes, Pandora.com (or I suppose something like last.fm, since that seems to be more popular in this crowd.) Thumbs up or thumbs down on every song it throws at you, and before long you'll have a neat customized radio station that only plays music it thinks you will like.
posted by emelenjr at 8:57 AM on November 19, 2007

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. (This terrible website will start playing some at you when you open it.)
posted by fidelity at 12:16 PM on November 19, 2007

Based on your taste, seconding Muse. Rock with increasing leanings over time towards electronica. Saw them the other night in Sydney and they are brilliant. Grab their most recent album, it's a gem.

80's Def Leppard is also awesome, the first album I bought
was Hysteria. Rocket. Yeah.
posted by theothersteve at 3:14 PM on November 19, 2007

I feel obligated to put my 2 cents in for some power metal bands that might actually be new to you.

I am partial to strong melodies, blazing guitar solo's, strong beats and the odd rock or dance anthem
Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, Elvenking all fit this description

...(although not all at once)
Ok, maybe not so much this one, but it's still good music. Sorry if I'm wayy off base here.
posted by gueneverey at 5:36 PM on November 19, 2007

Gosh, so many suggestions!

You guys can't see me, but I'm bowing and doing the whole "I am unworthy" thing at all of you.
posted by ninazer0 at 3:25 PM on November 20, 2007

Oh, minor problem - Pandora is limiting itself to US listeners only so unless I find a way around my IP address issue, it's dead to me. LastFM is suddenly looking like the better choice.
posted by ninazer0 at 3:56 PM on November 20, 2007