Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with rock

Favorite obscure pop/rock tracks from the 1990s

iamisaid — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:31:57 -0800

Let's say you're putting together a mix of your favorite obscure 1990s pop/rock music. What are the top couple of tracks you'd be sure to include? I realize that "obscure" is a very subjective term, so as a point of reference, I would not consider Bjork or the Flaming Lips to be obscure. I would also disqualify any artist who received significant play on mainstream commercial radio, and any artist who might have been obscure during the 90s but has since gained wider appeal (see above, Sigur Ros, Of Montreal, Cat Power, etc) such that their back catalogs have probably already been explored by new fans.

I also realize that pop/rock is a very vague descriptor and intentionally so, but the point is that I'm not asking about rap, hip hop, country, r&b or techno. The overall point of my question is that I'm fairly sure I missed out on a lot of good 90s music in favor of more mainstream fare, and I hope to remedy that now. What are your favorite hidden gems?

I know how to find Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas. How do I find Wilt Chamberlain and Mick Jagger?

rileyray3000 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:42:31 -0800

Is there anything like an IMDB for rock music? or for sports figures? I'm trying to do a search for famous men over 65 who haven't kicked the bucket yet. With IMDB it's pretty easy to do so for guys in entertainment (TV, Film, radio even). But when it comes to rock or sports, not so much. Any idea if such sites exist with similar functionality to IMDB?

I like all their pretty songs and I like to sing along

Jaltcoh — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:18:36 -0800

Great '90s grunge songs EXCLUDING Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, STP, and early Radiohead? I'm working on a blog post that will be "an appreciation of '90s grunge." I've already come up with most of a top-10-or-15 list just from the above bands, but I want to make sure I'm not overlooking some less obvious gems.

My goal is to find a couple more songs that really stand out from the crowd, so that even people who think of grunge as a played-out, over-hyped fad would listen and say: "Wow, that was really something."

I'm looking for songs that are mainstream enough to have a high-quality YouTube clip I can link to -- either an MTV video or professional concert footage.

I want to focus on that specific time period and that specific genre. Distorted guitars, power chords, loud vocals, etc. Not "pop-punk," not metal, not indie folk -- just pure grunge.

I'm just looking for songs, songs, songs. Not bands, and not albums. Songs.

Devil horns at ya!

Camofrog — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:43:12 -0800

Help me find new rock music please. Ideally, someone's doing a podcast or torrent of mind-blowing new music that I'll like. Do you know of one? I like many kinds of music, but right now I'm specifically looking for heavily organic rock. The Raconteurs are exactly up my alley, for example.

What's good in and aroudn Hot Springs, Arkansas?

ManInSuit — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:16:47 -0800

We'll be around Hot Springs, Arkansas for a few days. What are fun local sights/foods/places/daytrips? Mrs ManInSuit and I are planning to spend a few days near Hot Springs, Arkansas. Can anyone recommend fun stuff to do around there, interesting things to do, nice daytrips, etc?

Name that Album!

Work to Live — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:13:57 -0800

Rock Album Cover: Mid-seventies, full facial shot of several women, wearing pillbox hats with veils. When you look closer, you see there are sores and scabs on their faces. Artist and title, please? I can't believe I'm wasting a question on this either, but my Google-fu on this one is weak. Thanks!

Little Rock and Roll

fourcheesemac — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:35 -0800

Anyone know a good music store in Little Rock, Arkansas, ideally near the airport, preferably on or near I40 N/I65 W?

I need music for my Mage game

mr_book — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:40:48 -0800

Help me find appropriate music for my Mage: The Ascension game set in 1997. Alright, so i'm running a game of Mage: The Ascension (OWOD) set in 1997. The characters are all recent high-school grads who, once friends, have reunited after their first year out of school. I want to play this game to appropriate background music for the time period and, also, for the characters (meaning late teenagers).

I was there myself, and I remember a lot of music that fits this style; however, I came into the greater portion of my music-fu after the turn of the millennium and thus only remember a fraction of what was there. What I do remember was the stuff that got blasted over the radio. I'm looking for the music that was between the cracks, the kind you would have heard while you were getting high in your friends basement or while romancing that amazingly hot girl in her bedroom while she played riffs you'd never heard of before. Non-mainstream, but awesome, that kind of thing. Early grunge bands, under-the-radar goth rock, decent techno, sweet hold-over bands from the 80's, etc.

Also, anything that has to do with that quiet, impending apocalypse that all teenagers were told to expect in the 90s works. And, of course, anything Mage-appropriate would be helpful if you know what that is.

Badass songs from the beginnings of rock?

ictow — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:04:52 -0800

I've always thought of early rock and country as being populated by men who might have done very bad things if they hadn't done music, and I want to hear some songs that prove it. Dale Hawins' Susie Q has that vibe. Charlie Feathers' That Certain Female seems like a song Mr. Blonde would bop to. I'd like to hear some other songs that feel just as... raw? Intimidating? I'm not quite sure. I think it's a "know it when I hear it" situation, and I'm hoping someone else has heard it and knows it.

Where do I get a tiny water dish

hungrysquirrels — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:33:38 -0800

I want a pet rock for my cubicle. Obtaining the rock isn't a problem, however I also want a mini water dish for it. Don't ask. Anyone know where I could obtain a 1" or so pet water dish?

Please Rock My Boat

cashman — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:57 -0800

Trying to find similar songs like these: electronic-ish with math-like beats. I love electronic or other genre songs with beats that seem almost mathematical. They often have numerous sequences and parts weaving in and out.

I put songs that exhibit this stuff like Dntel's Rock My Boat and Erin Lang's Happy to See You on this muxtape. Listen for a few seconds and see if any similar songs come to mind. I'm looking for specific songs rather than artist recommendations or instrumental stuff.

Got any songs for me?

I'm thinking of a song...

edjusted — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:59:49 -0800

Hopefully this won't be too obscure... There was a pretty popular Japanese rock band that had a song which was basically a rocked out heavy metal version of Dies Irae from Verdi's requiem. I think the CD is from the early 90's or so. What's the name of the band? (and no, it's not from the Battle Royale soundtrack. That was a purely orchestral version)

Best way to get to a store from an airport

stratastar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:27:53 -0800

[Little Rock Transportation Filter]: I have a 3+ hour layover in Little Rock, Arkansas and during that time, I need to get to a store that is near the intersections of route 630 and 430. What is my best option? I will be there this Friday during the afternoon. I have the option to

a.) take a taxi (20 miles round trip= ~$45?)
b.) rent a car (they quoted me online as $24.98, but I'm under 25 so there will be a litany of charges on top of that)
c.) taking some sort of public transportation provided near the airport?

Punctuality is a key, because I don't want to miss my flight, but is there anyone familiar with the area that could suggest an economic course of action?

How do I bridge this gap gracefully?

heavenstobetsy — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:43:21 -0800

I like indie type rock. He likes U2 and Bon Jovi. Help me make a mix cd he won't hate! I'm trying to make a mix cd composed of indie type music that isn't too...subversive? Out there? For a guy used to mainstream type rock like U2, Goo Goo Dolls, Blue Rodeo, The Fray, etc. I have made him mix cds in the past which have been mostly what I'm listening to but thought he would like. Wrong every time. Help me impress him this time. I'm looking basically for songs he's never heard of before but would be accessible to someone with his tastes. Sorry if this is vague!

For example this time I'm including:

Ryan Adams - To Be Young
Pete Yorn - Closet
Spoon - I Summon You

But also some older stuff like

Billy Joel - Vienna
Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness

which I know he also appreciates.

If any clarification is needed, will be watching this thread. Thanks!

Songs for the long haul.

repoman — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:39:15 -0800

Please help me be a superhero to my wife, who is in need of some specific music. My wife is currently training for a bike race and she is in desperate need of some consistently rythmic rock to push her through her workouts.

Unfortunately, my suggestions of Grindermans' 'No Pussy Blues', or Jeff Becks' 'Shape of Things' are not doin' it for her. Her current faves are 'Are you gonna be my girl' from Jet and Radioheads 'Bodysnatchers'.

So, I think she needs some guitar driven, not too hard (Think QOTSA), not too pop (think Franz Ferdinand), music that's gonna make her want to go!

Popular, Obscure, Indie, whatever. Any song suggestions would make my searching a whole lot easier and fulfilling. Thanks.

Looking for awesome hip-hop mashups

Afroblanco — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:18:36 -0800

Where can I find some awesome hip-hop mashups? For most of my life, I've been sorta "meh" on the whole hip-hop thing. However, all of this changed when one of my friends introduced me to The Kleptones' "A Night at the Hip-Hopera" and DJ Dangermouse's "The Grey Album." It turns out that a part of my brain responds ecstatically to high-quality hip-hop set to music that I love.

What blogs/websites/DJs should I be familiar with? Sites with downloadable material are especially appreciated.

Also - as a side note - does anybody know of a good (Windows) utility for downloading MP3s from blogs? Winamp has a feature that's supposed to do this, but it never works for me.

What should I call my indie rock travel site?

octavia — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:42:34 -0800

I need a good name! I'm putting together a travel website focusing mainly on indie rock/nightlife/offbeat stuff to do in different cities, aimed mainly at 20-something travellers or anyone looking for live music or more alternative venues while they're travelling. What should I call it? It will have reviews of different venues, interviews with local bands, recommendations for restaurants, shopping, gay /lesbian venues, etc. The type of content would be similar to Bust magazine's travel guides, created through submissions (http://www.bust.com/letsgo/index.html) but more organized/consistent and more focused on live music. Any ideas? I want it to be memorable, fairly short, perhaps descriptive but it doesn't have to be.

Help us rock out to TMBG

fijiwriter — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:04:45 -0800

Help us enjoy a They Might Be Giants concert and not stand out like dorks So Mrs. Writer and I are going to a They Might Be Giants concert in a few weeks. We've become fans after our daughter started enjoying their kid-friendly CDs and DVDs, so here we are: new fans.

We need your help to enjoy the concert - what can we expect? Is it audience-friendly, with interactions? We've been listening to their CD, Flood, for a crash course...what are we missing as must-listen songs? And this is an 18+ show, so there won't be the kids songs to enjoy I bet.

And the bigger question: we're concert n00bs. I haven't been to a live rock-type concert since college (and that was just a local '80s cover band), and she never has...So, do we dance, mill about, drink and enjoy the smoke? Will we be considered as outsiders and shunned? Or are we over-thinking a plate of beans?

SongMeaningInquirer

cashman — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:11:41 -0800

What is Soundgarden's song Room A Thousand Years Wide about? I need ask someone to tell me this. Has Kim Thayil (wrote the lyrics) ever talked about what the song is about or what the lyrics mean?

I've seen some guesses that are pretty random and bad - I'm looking for a link to where they actually discuss it themselves (Soundgarden) or some idea that matches up really well with the lyrics.

Videos like "The Pretender"?

mdbell79 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:31:06 -0800

What music videos depict the band somehow defeating an enemy with the power of their music? The Foo Fighters' recent "The Pretender" video brought the question to mind, but I know it's a frequently used idea. What other videos used this theme? The original Foo Fighters video can be see on Youtube. Songs that describe this happening are worth a point or two as well. Thanks in advance for your memories, which are apparently better than mine.

Help me find baroque-rock music!

thedaniel — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:04:51 -0800

I enjoy the old Japanese goth band Malice Mizer, mostly the stuff from later in their career. I can take or leave their fancy outfits, but I like the musical style - this is a prime example: ( youtube video ) What other bands play music that is similarly 'cathedral rock'?

Indie rock travel in the southwest...good guides?

octavia — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:44:29 -0800

Looking for good online or printed travel guides featuring local indie rock venues in the American Southwest...any recommendations? Should I write one? I have some time and money to travel around the southwest for a couple of months. I really enjoy indie rock and would like to check out local offerings in Arizona, California, Utah and New Mexico. Anyone know of good resources for finding stuff like that? I've found a few that were ok, but mostly for larger international cities. It seems like there's a million great Web 2.0 websites popping up every day for these types of things...is there something I've missed? If not, I'm considering putting something together...

All your bass are belong to us

ludwig_van — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 09:32:53 -0800

How can I find the right bass player for my band in the Philadelphia area? I'm getting frustrated trying to find a new bassist for my (indie pop) band. It has to be the right sort of person, but it shouldn't be that hard in a city like this, right? I grew up around here, but I went to college and formed my band/participated in the music scene elsewhere.

I've been posting to the Philly craigslist for weeks, and I can tell from my site's referral logs that a few people (around 70 this month) are clicking through to my web site from the postings. I've only gotten 4 or 5 responses, though, and no one has actually gotten to the point of auditioning. It makes sense that I don't hear from some people after I say "Learn these two songs for the audition, here are the chords and recordings," but I'm at a loss for why someone would read my ad, e-mail me about it, and then ignore my response.

Should I keep trying craigslist? I found my drummer quite easily six months ago from an ad on the Pittsburgh craigslist, and he's really awesome, and the Philly list seems more active. Is there something else I can do that will have a better effort/payoff ratio? A place I can post something where the right kind of people will see it? I'm not interested in wasting my time printing a bunch of tear-off flyers and hanging them in music stores where only pop-punkers and metal dudes will see them.

Here's the ad I've been posting so you can get a sense of what I'm looking for/tell me if there's something wrong with it that I'm not seeing. I don't want to waste my time on people who are not coming from the right place, but I also don't want to scare everyone away.

Evolution of the Rock Biography

Tube — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:39:58 -0800

When did the genre of "rock biography" become what it is today? The first rock biography I read was No One Here Gets Out Alive in 1980. As far as I know, that was one of the first books of its kind.

Today major retailers like Barnes and Noble have entire sections devoted to rock biography, both individual performers and bands. Sometime between 1980 and today enough books in this genre were written to justify an entire bookstore section. When exactly did this happen? How did I miss this cultural milestone?

Help me find some good blues-rock songs

BradNelson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:06:52 -0800

Can you think of any other blues-rock songs with the same rhythmic pattern as Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" and ZZ Top's "La Grange"?