Comments on: I need new music and I have no taste.

Question: I need new music and I have no taste.

ninazer0 — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:32:13 -0800

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.

By: Pater Aletheias

Pater Aletheias — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:39:34 -0800

More 70's than 80's in style, but you might give Wolfmother a listen if you aren't familiar with them.

By: Verdandi

Verdandi — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:43:49 -0800

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!

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:58:31 -0800

80's music: Crowded House [Time On Earth]
Dance anthems: Arcade Fire
AC/DC-like: the White Stripes

By: daniel striped tiger

daniel striped tiger — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:59:03 -0800

Queens of the Stone Age seem right up your alley.

By: juiceCake

juiceCake — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:59:19 -0800

You can't go wrong with Pavement or Steve Malkmus.

By: Reggie Digest

Reggie Digest — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:01:49 -0800

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?

By: hummercash

hummercash — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:05:04 -0800

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.

By: Reggie Digest

Reggie Digest — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:06:30 -0800

Also, if you like The Tea Party and Live, you'll probably really enjoy Our Lady Peace.

By: ageispolis

ageispolis — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:26:06 -0800

Nickelback, Creed.

By: ageispolis

ageispolis — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:26:46 -0800

Or just Creedback if you want to save yourself some time.

By: padraigin

padraigin — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:29:45 -0800

Rilo Kiley.

By: TheSecretDecoderRing

TheSecretDecoderRing — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:34:51 -0800

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.

By: artdrectr

artdrectr — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:36:16 -0800

Nina, go to Pandora.

By: primalux

primalux — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:43:19 -0800

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.

By: primalux

primalux — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:47:17 -0800

ok, totally missed your last line. sorry.

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:56:32 -0800

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

By: Effigy2000

Effigy2000 — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:14:30 -0800

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

By: vrakatar

vrakatar — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:29:12 -0800

nomeansno.

By: SansPoint

SansPoint — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 01:26:15 -0800

Listen to DEVO.

By: Effigy2000

Effigy2000 — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:12:53 -0800

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.

By: robpongi

robpongi — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:42:23 -0800

Be sure to keep an eye on Tokyo Police Club, Arcade Fire, and Deerhoof!!!

By: nicolas léonard sadi carnot

nicolas léonard sadi carnot — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:48:16 -0800

Creed? Breaking Benjamin? You're all fucked. Listen only to Amon Amarth.

By: hue

hue — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:50:27 -0800

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.

By: fumbducker

fumbducker — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:14:52 -0800

TOOL.

By: doppleradar

doppleradar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:13:49 -0800

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.

By: snap_dragon

snap_dragon — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:31:02 -0800

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....

By: salmacis

salmacis — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:07:34 -0800

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.

By: salmacis

salmacis — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:17:10 -0800

Also, while I was on lastFM, I just saw a video of Marillion - Somewhere Else, which could be up your alley.

By: ncc1701d

ncc1701d — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:30:31 -0800

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"

By: emelenjr

emelenjr — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:57:52 -0800

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.

By: fidelity

fidelity — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:16:55 -0800

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. (This terrible website will start playing some at you when you open it.)

By: theothersteve

theothersteve — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:14:56 -0800

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.

By: gueneverey

gueneverey — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:36:26 -0800

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.

By: ninazer0

ninazer0 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:25:14 -0800

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.

By: ninazer0

ninazer0 — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:56:15 -0800

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.