ISO catchy, sonically interesting pop that isn't too harmonically weird.
December 23, 2011 12:11 PM Subscribe
ISO well-written, catchy pop music that is also interesting sonically.
This is kind of a tough question, because everyone has a different idea of what 'well written' and 'catchy' and 'interesting' means to them. But to me, if something is truly catchy then it has some hook in it somewhere, and if it's well-written then (sometimes) it makes you think that it's something that hasn't been done before, when in fact it's pretty impossible to write anything with the western European even-tempered scale that's pop that truly hasn't been done before. I'm really ok with that though : )
(Yes, I've tried things like Pandora, but I trust you guys a lot more for recommendations).
To make your job easier, here's a list of stuff I dig that I think fall into that category. None of it is likely to be considered all that alt or weird (anymore). I tend to like things that fall closer to pop/rock than 'indie', I think. Harmonically, if people get way too far from what I define as 'pop', then I also start to lose interest (for example, imho, post-Post Bjork, Post-'Bends' Radiohead, Post-'Pawn' Fiona Apple, etc). I'm not sayin' those later things are worthless, I just don't like them nearly as much. I have dug most of the NIN stuff because no matter how far Trent goes in the noise hole, he almost always pulls songs out of it at some point that are cleverly disguised.
So here you go.
All NIN until the last couple
Skeleton Key (NYC) "Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon"
Bjork - "Post"
Fiona Apple - "When the Pawn"
Ian Moore's "Got the Green Grass"
Britney Spears "Toxic"
Sleigh Bells "Treats" (ok I think harmonically this is totally bereft, but it still entertains me)
Weezer - Maladroit (the one nobody likes but me even though it's their best)
Morphine
Most pre-2000 Erasure
Silver Sun (UK) self-titled
Crowded House "Together Alone"
Soul Coughing "Ruby Vroom"
a lot of pre-1990 Billy Joel
Radiohead - "The Bends"
Matthew Sweet
Firewater (NYC) "The Golden Hour"
some Michael Penn
And (shameless plug) here's some music I've made meself if that helps.
Thanks, MeFite Music Army!
This is kind of a tough question, because everyone has a different idea of what 'well written' and 'catchy' and 'interesting' means to them. But to me, if something is truly catchy then it has some hook in it somewhere, and if it's well-written then (sometimes) it makes you think that it's something that hasn't been done before, when in fact it's pretty impossible to write anything with the western European even-tempered scale that's pop that truly hasn't been done before. I'm really ok with that though : )
(Yes, I've tried things like Pandora, but I trust you guys a lot more for recommendations).
To make your job easier, here's a list of stuff I dig that I think fall into that category. None of it is likely to be considered all that alt or weird (anymore). I tend to like things that fall closer to pop/rock than 'indie', I think. Harmonically, if people get way too far from what I define as 'pop', then I also start to lose interest (for example, imho, post-Post Bjork, Post-'Bends' Radiohead, Post-'Pawn' Fiona Apple, etc). I'm not sayin' those later things are worthless, I just don't like them nearly as much. I have dug most of the NIN stuff because no matter how far Trent goes in the noise hole, he almost always pulls songs out of it at some point that are cleverly disguised.
So here you go.
All NIN until the last couple
Skeleton Key (NYC) "Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon"
Bjork - "Post"
Fiona Apple - "When the Pawn"
Ian Moore's "Got the Green Grass"
Britney Spears "Toxic"
Sleigh Bells "Treats" (ok I think harmonically this is totally bereft, but it still entertains me)
Weezer - Maladroit (the one nobody likes but me even though it's their best)
Morphine
Most pre-2000 Erasure
Silver Sun (UK) self-titled
Crowded House "Together Alone"
Soul Coughing "Ruby Vroom"
a lot of pre-1990 Billy Joel
Radiohead - "The Bends"
Matthew Sweet
Firewater (NYC) "The Golden Hour"
some Michael Penn
And (shameless plug) here's some music I've made meself if that helps.
Thanks, MeFite Music Army!
Imperial Teen's first album, Seasick, is an unknown gem.
posted by Leon at 12:32 PM on December 23, 2011
posted by Leon at 12:32 PM on December 23, 2011
seconding eels and magnetic fields...also muse...a bit harder, but i keep coming back to it...
go to opsound.org (the open source music project) and check out a cat called _aa_ ...prob right up yr alley...i like the earlier stuff...'m' is prob my fave...
posted by sexyrobot at 12:36 PM on December 23, 2011
go to opsound.org (the open source music project) and check out a cat called _aa_ ...prob right up yr alley...i like the earlier stuff...'m' is prob my fave...
posted by sexyrobot at 12:36 PM on December 23, 2011
If you don't already know them (him, I guess, as it's mainly Matt Mahaffey now) I guarantee that you will fall in love with Self. There are a bunch of free releases at the Self fan site, and videos for the tracks on their unreleased gem Ornament & Crime have turned up on Youtube. Their record Breakfast With Girls is listen-to-it-over-and-over perfect.
posted by mintcake! at 12:40 PM on December 23, 2011
posted by mintcake! at 12:40 PM on December 23, 2011
The Grays
Prefab Sprout
Ben Folds Five
Piebald
The Promise Ring
posted by Clustercuss at 1:01 PM on December 23, 2011
Prefab Sprout
Ben Folds Five
Piebald
The Promise Ring
posted by Clustercuss at 1:01 PM on December 23, 2011
All that catchy fuzzy indie pop you love? It all came from Big Star. You owe it to yourself to own at least #1 Record and Radio City.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:14 PM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:14 PM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Catchy pop/rock? I think you'd like Mew.
- Repeater Beater
- Special
- Snow Brigade
Or maybe some TV on the Radio or Spoon.
posted by (alice) at 1:15 PM on December 23, 2011
- Repeater Beater
- Special
- Snow Brigade
Or maybe some TV on the Radio or Spoon.
posted by (alice) at 1:15 PM on December 23, 2011
I like a lot of the stuff you recommended. Most recently, I'd recommend Marina & the Diamonds' The Family Jewels. Catchy, fun, emotional, engrossing, interesting songs.
Have you checked out much of The Cardigans' catalog? They have a lot of great music that came out after "Lovefool" that sounds nothing like "Lovefool". Long Gone Before Daylight is my favorite album of theirs (and one of my favorite albums period- listen to "Communication" and "Feathers and Down") but Gran Turismo and Super Extra Gravity are also worthy offerings, but all stylistically very different from one another. Nina's got a great voice.
posted by wondermouse at 2:30 PM on December 23, 2011
Have you checked out much of The Cardigans' catalog? They have a lot of great music that came out after "Lovefool" that sounds nothing like "Lovefool". Long Gone Before Daylight is my favorite album of theirs (and one of my favorite albums period- listen to "Communication" and "Feathers and Down") but Gran Turismo and Super Extra Gravity are also worthy offerings, but all stylistically very different from one another. Nina's got a great voice.
posted by wondermouse at 2:30 PM on December 23, 2011
Maybe some of the Dirty Projectors stuff off Bitte Orca like No Intention or Cannibal Resources. They are one of those bands that people either love or hate.
tUnE-yArDs - Bizness
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth.
Manu Chao - Merry Blues
they MIGHT BE giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul, Ana Ng and a thousand other songs.
posted by chrisulonic at 4:12 PM on December 23, 2011
tUnE-yArDs - Bizness
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth.
Manu Chao - Merry Blues
they MIGHT BE giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul, Ana Ng and a thousand other songs.
posted by chrisulonic at 4:12 PM on December 23, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for suggestions, y'all!
chris - yep that would be the only Flaming Lips song that I like. I've got one or two TMBG records. They're good, but except for Factory Showroom where they decided to use all 'real band instruments' pretty much, they're kinda all the same (and all good in the same way you think TMBG is good if you like TMBG).
Cluster - got some Ben Folds. I prefer him with the 'Five' vs. solo.
Space - Royksopp is catchy? Really? Ok I'll give them another listen. I remember them as being kind of spacey & atmospheric last time I checked, but not full o hooks.
griph - I will definitely check out MF.
posted by bitterkitten at 4:23 PM on December 23, 2011
chris - yep that would be the only Flaming Lips song that I like. I've got one or two TMBG records. They're good, but except for Factory Showroom where they decided to use all 'real band instruments' pretty much, they're kinda all the same (and all good in the same way you think TMBG is good if you like TMBG).
Cluster - got some Ben Folds. I prefer him with the 'Five' vs. solo.
Space - Royksopp is catchy? Really? Ok I'll give them another listen. I remember them as being kind of spacey & atmospheric last time I checked, but not full o hooks.
griph - I will definitely check out MF.
posted by bitterkitten at 4:23 PM on December 23, 2011
Royksopp is catchy? Really?
Royksopp - Vision One
posted by wondermouse at 4:28 PM on December 23, 2011
Royksopp - Vision One
posted by wondermouse at 4:28 PM on December 23, 2011
Jellyfish
Eels
Robyn Hitchcock
Queen
fun.
Mew
Janelle Monae
Moloko
Ruby
12 Rounds
Most of all, I would recommend the band Prick. They were on Reznor's Nothing label. They were fucking awesome.
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:47 PM on December 23, 2011
Eels
Robyn Hitchcock
Queen
fun.
Mew
Janelle Monae
Moloko
Ruby
12 Rounds
Most of all, I would recommend the band Prick. They were on Reznor's Nothing label. They were fucking awesome.
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:47 PM on December 23, 2011
Response by poster: specius - st. vincent is interesting, but has no sign of earwurm that I have yet to detect.
wondermouse - Royksopp is even more interesting, but same thing. At least to me, the hook is not evident. The sounds are really nifty though, especially that track you pointed me to. Anyone who goes out of their way to do something with electronics like that, I have to tip my virtual hat to.
think - Prince is great, I can't believe I have not seen that guy live - although I wish he did not put sooooo much of what he does out there. Because while he has done bunches of great stuff, I'll have to disagree with you and say the latter half of his catalog has been mostly ick. But don't let me tell you guys what you like.
Sticher - I used to own that Ruby record.. Queen's Greatest Hits are indeed their Greatest (although I am partial to 80% of Night At The Opera as their greatest non-'all hits' record). People do seem to cite Janelle Monae these days... I think The Noisettes are more interesting and have been overshadowed by her, even though the Noisettes are technically more a band than a solo artist.
Sorry I'm full of "however"s guys. I'm picky like that. : )
posted by bitterkitten at 5:56 PM on December 23, 2011
wondermouse - Royksopp is even more interesting, but same thing. At least to me, the hook is not evident. The sounds are really nifty though, especially that track you pointed me to. Anyone who goes out of their way to do something with electronics like that, I have to tip my virtual hat to.
think - Prince is great, I can't believe I have not seen that guy live - although I wish he did not put sooooo much of what he does out there. Because while he has done bunches of great stuff, I'll have to disagree with you and say the latter half of his catalog has been mostly ick. But don't let me tell you guys what you like.
Sticher - I used to own that Ruby record.. Queen's Greatest Hits are indeed their Greatest (although I am partial to 80% of Night At The Opera as their greatest non-'all hits' record). People do seem to cite Janelle Monae these days... I think The Noisettes are more interesting and have been overshadowed by her, even though the Noisettes are technically more a band than a solo artist.
Sorry I'm full of "however"s guys. I'm picky like that. : )
posted by bitterkitten at 5:56 PM on December 23, 2011
Royksopp is even more interesting, but same thing. At least to me, the hook is not evident.
Royksopp - The Girl And The Robot????? (Admittedly, this is probably their poppiest song. So if this doesn't qualify probably none of their other stuff will)
While I'm making this post, I should link to a few specific Marina and the Diamonds songs so you don't have to try to figure out what her most delectably poppy yet sonically interesting numbers are.
Marina and the Diamonds - Mowgli's Road
Marina and the Diamonds - Are You Satisfied?
Marina and the Diamonds - Shampain
posted by wondermouse at 6:33 PM on December 23, 2011
Royksopp - The Girl And The Robot????? (Admittedly, this is probably their poppiest song. So if this doesn't qualify probably none of their other stuff will)
While I'm making this post, I should link to a few specific Marina and the Diamonds songs so you don't have to try to figure out what her most delectably poppy yet sonically interesting numbers are.
Marina and the Diamonds - Mowgli's Road
Marina and the Diamonds - Are You Satisfied?
Marina and the Diamonds - Shampain
posted by wondermouse at 6:33 PM on December 23, 2011
The Unicorns
Islands
Clues
Foetus
Sparks
Pigface (okay to just get the Greatest Hits)
Motherhead Bug
You should check out Firewater's other albums, if you haven't already, especially their first two. Cop Shoot Cop's last two albums are also pretty terrific; many of the tracks could very easily pass for Firewater songs, just with heavier sounds.
Also, I second the recommendation for Self. Totally underrated band.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:56 PM on December 23, 2011
Islands
Clues
Foetus
Sparks
Pigface (okay to just get the Greatest Hits)
Motherhead Bug
You should check out Firewater's other albums, if you haven't already, especially their first two. Cop Shoot Cop's last two albums are also pretty terrific; many of the tracks could very easily pass for Firewater songs, just with heavier sounds.
Also, I second the recommendation for Self. Totally underrated band.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:56 PM on December 23, 2011
Skeleton Key (NYC) "Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon"
Oh, rereading this (I freaking love this Skeleton Key record) I was reminded of the band VPN and especially their record Small Wire. They did the junk percussion thing a little less on record than they did live, but this album in particular has got some hooks.
I agreee that Sparks might also trip your rad-meter. I know Jellyfish/Grays have been mentioned a few times, but wow should you check out Jason Falkner's solo records on Elektra. Also: Meaningless by Jon Brion (which you might well know if you dig Fiona). Wow wow wow.
posted by mintcake! at 10:36 PM on December 23, 2011
Oh, rereading this (I freaking love this Skeleton Key record) I was reminded of the band VPN and especially their record Small Wire. They did the junk percussion thing a little less on record than they did live, but this album in particular has got some hooks.
I agreee that Sparks might also trip your rad-meter. I know Jellyfish/Grays have been mentioned a few times, but wow should you check out Jason Falkner's solo records on Elektra. Also: Meaningless by Jon Brion (which you might well know if you dig Fiona). Wow wow wow.
posted by mintcake! at 10:36 PM on December 23, 2011
Snow Patrol--poppy but literate.
Mike Doughty (of Soul Coughing)'s solo work is delightful
Regina Spektor
Florence and the Machine
Broken Bells
Decemberists -- very literate, good storytelling
Jenny Lewis
Peter Gabriel's "So"
posted by elizeh at 11:06 PM on December 23, 2011
Mike Doughty (of Soul Coughing)'s solo work is delightful
Regina Spektor
Florence and the Machine
Broken Bells
Decemberists -- very literate, good storytelling
Jenny Lewis
Peter Gabriel's "So"
posted by elizeh at 11:06 PM on December 23, 2011
I feel like the only music recommendation I ever make is Mates of State but it always seems to fit!
posted by Swisstine at 11:40 PM on December 23, 2011
posted by Swisstine at 11:40 PM on December 23, 2011
Tally Hall. "Good Day", "Turn the Lights Off", "Cannibal" and "Never Meant to Know".
posted by brainwane at 7:44 AM on December 24, 2011
posted by brainwane at 7:44 AM on December 24, 2011
There are so many great answers in here, but I'd like to add Elvis Costello.
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:16 PM on December 24, 2011
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:16 PM on December 24, 2011
If you can possibly find it, get yourself some Headless Chickens (New Zealand band). The album Body Blow is catchy as hell, especially _Donde Esta La Pollo_ and _Cruise Control_.
posted by media_itoku at 6:46 PM on December 24, 2011
posted by media_itoku at 6:46 PM on December 24, 2011
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"I Don't Want To Get Over You"
"Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side"
Epitaph For My Heart"
When My Boy Walks Down The Street"
Full disclosure: I fucking love the Magnetic Fields
posted by griphus at 12:22 PM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]