Looking for "dad-rock" recommendations
April 20, 2013 2:17 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for song and artist recommendations in a genre that I evidently love: the "nice guy" rock song.
I am NOT looking for sensitive guys with acoustic guitars. I already have my Josh Ritter and my Richard Shindell.
What I AM looking for is ROCK songs/artists with strong male voices, conveying messages of compassion, thoughtfulness, introspection, intellect, positivity and love.
Some examples I would offer would be Band of Horses, Bad Religion, The Descendents, The Script, Frightened Rabbit, 80s/90s Rush and Andrew WK.
So what are some others?
I am NOT looking for sensitive guys with acoustic guitars. I already have my Josh Ritter and my Richard Shindell.
What I AM looking for is ROCK songs/artists with strong male voices, conveying messages of compassion, thoughtfulness, introspection, intellect, positivity and love.
Some examples I would offer would be Band of Horses, Bad Religion, The Descendents, The Script, Frightened Rabbit, 80s/90s Rush and Andrew WK.
So what are some others?
The National!
posted by jeudi at 2:18 PM on April 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jeudi at 2:18 PM on April 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I think I should clarify: The unifying thread to those artists is lyrical themes. I'm specifically looking for lyrics that fit those themes, while still within a rock song. Thanks!
posted by jbickers at 2:20 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by jbickers at 2:20 PM on April 20, 2013
I freely admit, my own bias is blinding me, but does George Harrison fit?
posted by DigDoug at 2:31 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by DigDoug at 2:31 PM on April 20, 2013
If you are willing to branch out into old school hip hop, this describes Jurassic 5 pretty well. I often jokingly refer to them as dad rap.
posted by feloniousmonk at 2:32 PM on April 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by feloniousmonk at 2:32 PM on April 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
You want The National for sure. For those themes, I especially recommend High Violet. But get Boxer, too, and then the rest if their catalogue.
posted by synecdoche at 2:43 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by synecdoche at 2:43 PM on April 20, 2013
Maybe A.C. Newman (of the New Pornographers) fits the bill. Weirder dads will go for Destroyer.
posted by Beardman at 2:44 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by Beardman at 2:44 PM on April 20, 2013
Ben Folds, maybe?
posted by ancient star at 2:46 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by ancient star at 2:46 PM on April 20, 2013
Brendan Benson
posted by bleep at 2:54 PM on April 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bleep at 2:54 PM on April 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Japandroids are nice guys, and Celebration Rock is a positive album.
posted by Beardman at 2:55 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by Beardman at 2:55 PM on April 20, 2013
Uh, I think you may be looking for later Pearl Jam. Like, Yield (1998) and after. Representative ongs to YouTube: Given to Fly, I Am Mine, Love Boat Captain.
Eddie Vedder et al are super sincere (this is why cool people roll their eyes) and nobody growls like man better than Vedder. I also think they're all a lot better at playing their instruments than they were at the height of grunge.
posted by purpleclover at 2:57 PM on April 20, 2013 [4 favorites]
Eddie Vedder et al are super sincere (this is why cool people roll their eyes) and nobody growls like man better than Vedder. I also think they're all a lot better at playing their instruments than they were at the height of grunge.
posted by purpleclover at 2:57 PM on April 20, 2013 [4 favorites]
Definitely, definitely, definitely the Silos (and/or Walter Salas-Humara's solo work).
Maybe Built to Spill? Some of Mike Doughty's most recent decade or so? Steve Earle? The Frames?
posted by sesquipedalia at 3:09 PM on April 20, 2013
Maybe Built to Spill? Some of Mike Doughty's most recent decade or so? Steve Earle? The Frames?
posted by sesquipedalia at 3:09 PM on April 20, 2013
I find Adrian Belew's album Mr. Music Head to be introspective and optimistic. It jumped to mind because of the song Oh Daddy!
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:13 PM on April 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:13 PM on April 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm enjoying the challenge here! It's hard to come up with someone who rocks as hard as, say, Andrew W.K. while embracing the themes you're after. The Darkness rock hard and are positive, but probably aren't sincere enough. How about The Mutton Birds or Harvey Danger?
posted by pont at 3:37 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by pont at 3:37 PM on April 20, 2013
Mighty Mighty Bosstones, in particular The Impression That I Get.
Robert Palmer, in particular Every Kinda People and Woke Up Laughing.
posted by bricoleur at 4:05 PM on April 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Robert Palmer, in particular Every Kinda People and Woke Up Laughing.
posted by bricoleur at 4:05 PM on April 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Catherine Wheel, and the singer, Rob Dickinson's, solo stuff.
posted by backwards guitar at 4:39 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by backwards guitar at 4:39 PM on April 20, 2013
I'm thinking maybe The Shins, The Weakerthans, Spearhead, and Billy Bragg? Maybe Constantines?
posted by baseballpajamas at 5:46 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by baseballpajamas at 5:46 PM on April 20, 2013
The Shins, Built to Spill, Pinback.
posted by little mouth at 5:48 PM on April 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by little mouth at 5:48 PM on April 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
This is Bon Jovi's sctick, isn't it?
posted by Urtylug at 5:53 PM on April 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Urtylug at 5:53 PM on April 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I see Duffington has already mentioned Bruce—the very definition of stand-up-guy rock.
Also, Paul Westerberg. Granted, that Saturday Night Live performance (and subsequent banning) might seem to automatically disqualify him from the "strong male voice, conveying messages of compassion, thoughtfulness, introspection, intellect, etc." category. Put that out of your mind and check 14 Songs and Folker, for starters.
Plus, every dad should have A Few Minutes of Silence handy when the kids start playing their god damn, you-call-that-music. (I swear, kids these days...)
posted by she's not there at 5:58 PM on April 20, 2013
Also, Paul Westerberg. Granted, that Saturday Night Live performance (and subsequent banning) might seem to automatically disqualify him from the "strong male voice, conveying messages of compassion, thoughtfulness, introspection, intellect, etc." category. Put that out of your mind and check 14 Songs and Folker, for starters.
Plus, every dad should have A Few Minutes of Silence handy when the kids start playing their god damn, you-call-that-music. (I swear, kids these days...)
posted by she's not there at 5:58 PM on April 20, 2013
Frank Black's solo stuff has some of these qualities.
R.E.M?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:07 PM on April 20, 2013
R.E.M?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:07 PM on April 20, 2013
Midnight Oil?
posted by spinifex23 at 6:23 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by spinifex23 at 6:23 PM on April 20, 2013
Frank Turner is awesome, and I am a dad who plays him loud enough to know the volume limits of my '05 Camry's stock stereo.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:35 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by wenestvedt at 6:35 PM on April 20, 2013
Thirding Built to Spill. Start with Perfect From Now On or Keep it Like a Secret.
For some reason, later Sonic Youth sort of struck me as daddish. Mostly on Murray Street.
posted by LionIndex at 6:48 PM on April 20, 2013
For some reason, later Sonic Youth sort of struck me as daddish. Mostly on Murray Street.
posted by LionIndex at 6:48 PM on April 20, 2013
I was surprised you had Frightened Rabbit in that list since they do not seem like "dad rock" but then I read the rest of your description and it all makes sense. Try Lloyd Cole, bloody awesome lyrics and can rock as well as go all acoustic guitary. Augie March. Elbow. Iron & Wine is awesome but the earlier stuff may be too acoustic. Oldies but goodies, and lyrics often quite complex: The Church (most of their songs seem to have a sting somewhere, great stuff). Crowded House, pretty much anything, and also Neil & Tim Finn's solo stuff. Something for Kate and also lead singer Paul Dempsey's solo work.
posted by Athanassiel at 8:21 PM on April 20, 2013
posted by Athanassiel at 8:21 PM on April 20, 2013
It's hard to define "rock" nowadays, but you might really enjoy the album "Notwithstanding" by Chalk Farm. It's a bit 90's, but might scratch your itch. Likewise, Angry Salad's self-titled album. Crowded House's entire catalog could probably make you happy, though some of their stuff veers strongly into pop territory. Don't forget about the Foo Fighters! I think you're going to find a lot of stuff out of the late 90's will be good because lots of male-fronted rock and alt-rock bands started having kids around that time. :)
posted by juniperesque at 7:15 AM on April 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by juniperesque at 7:15 AM on April 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
The Hold Steady. FFS, one of their albums is call Stay Positive.
posted by Ragged Richard at 7:51 AM on April 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ragged Richard at 7:51 AM on April 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Sleepyhead ("I'll try to be honest/'cause I think you're a goddess"), Songs: Ohia ("VU Anxiety"), Smog, certain Red House Painters, Archer Prewitt.
posted by ifjuly at 2:13 AM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by ifjuly at 2:13 AM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Answering my own question for future readers: Chris Isaak - We Let Her Down
posted by jbickers at 7:41 AM on May 9, 2013
posted by jbickers at 7:41 AM on May 9, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 2:18 PM on April 20, 2013 [2 favorites]