MusicFilter: Looking for songs that are like Yo La Tengo's "Our Way to Fall" or Luna's "Bewitched"

October 24, 2006 9:24 PM

MusicFilter: Looking for songs that are like Yo La Tengo's "Our Way to Fall" or Luna's "Bewitched"

Don't know how best to describe them. Very, um, chilled, relaxed, soothing, dream-like, almost spoken word over a cool beat. Kinda autumnal in quality, I guess.

Maybe a more popular example would be Nick Drake's "Pink Moon."

Don't worry, I barely understand it myself.

posted by ryecatcher to Media & Arts (17 answers total)

ryecatcher, go to All Music Guide and sort by song (I think the default is artist; you can choose song, album, artist/group, or classical work) then search for "Our Way to Fall" or "Bewitched" by Luna. You'll see the albums have "moods" assigned to them, and the moods are clickable links to other similar albums.

Another option is to go to Pandora and put the song you're asking about into it and let it rip. Pandora is a Flash–based music player that creates "stations" based on your initial choices of music.
posted by cgc373 at 9:44 PM on October 24, 2006

Try the first two albums by American Analog Set. Early Low. "Ladys and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" by Spiritualized. The Trinity Sessions by the Cowboy Junkies. "Pagent Square" and "Regular Hands" by Kingbury Manx. "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot.

Oh, and there's an acoustic version of Yo La Tengo's "Cherry Chapstick" that would work.

You aren't going o find all those to your liking, but at least some of them will do.
posted by Bookhouse at 10:08 PM on October 24, 2006

Big Star's "The Third Album" is a little like that. Super bleak, but pretty. Liz Phair's "Exile in Guyville." Some older Low songs like on "I Could Live in Hope." Neko Case on "Blacklisted."

Note: these songs may bum you out.
posted by chippie at 10:10 PM on October 24, 2006

Belle and Sebastian
posted by ill3 at 10:49 PM on October 24, 2006

Specifically, "The State I Am In" and "Stars of Track and Field"
posted by ill3 at 10:51 PM on October 24, 2006

Definitely Broken Social Scene. All of their albums. There are a couple of songs like that on the album "Rabbit Fur Coat" by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. Also check out Feist's self title album, and, honestly, some Sonic Youth albums (you'll have to dig for those songs, but they exist).
posted by The Michael The at 5:02 AM on October 25, 2006

Luna's founder used to be in a band called "Galaxie 500" There is a more wintery song called "listen, the snow is falling" that might qualify. They're most often compared to Yo La Tengo as well, so much so that I suspect that you already have heard of them ...

Also two members of Galaxie 500 are now in an accurately named band "Damon and Naomi". Recently they did a very ethereal cover of George Harrison's, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".

"Badly Drawn Boy" and "Charlene" are also bands to check out.

However, my best recommendation is to find a indie radio station and start listening. You'll soon enough find a DJ who suits your tastes. In Boston, 90.3 WZBC has one particular show which will introduce to you a lot more of this type of sound -- "Flywight" is on 5-7pm Thursdays and you can listen online at zbconline.com.
posted by cotterpin at 5:19 AM on October 25, 2006

Sigur Ros, especially Sven-G-Englar
posted by mattholomew at 5:42 AM on October 25, 2006

Iron and Wine? I especially like the Iron and Wine/Calexico EP. Mazzy Star maybe? And I heartily second the American Analog Set and Broken Social Scene recommendations.

("Our Way to Fall" is one of my favorites. Just got to see them perform it a few weeks ago.)
posted by Lazlo Hollyfeld at 6:28 AM on October 25, 2006

Piano Magic has a couple of tracks in this vein.
posted by feloniousmonk at 9:47 AM on October 25, 2006

I don't know if I'd compare it to Luna or Yo La Tengo, but Jose Gonzalez seems like a dead ringer for Nick Drake.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 10:07 AM on October 25, 2006

"Olivia" from Mefi's own Chococat/BGM.

The Trashcan Sinatras: "Hayfever" and "Leave Me Alone"

I've only heard a little of Sufjan Stevens but I think "Size Too Small" fits your criteria.
posted by moonshine at 11:32 AM on October 25, 2006

My wife and I did our 1st dance to "Our Way to Fall." Magical song. I'd second American Analog Set and Galaxie 500. Also check out some of the slower songs by The Clean. Plus the Shins 1st album, Ladybug Transistor (Albemarle Sound, Argyle Heir), Essex Green, Ida, Apostle of Hustle, Parker & Lily, Delays, Mendoza Line, Trembling Blue Stars. All good stuff, enjoy.
posted by timnyc at 12:13 PM on October 25, 2006

Arto Lindsay - Over/Run
The Sea and Cake - Parasol, Bring My Car I Feel to Smash It

Surely there's something by Devendra Banhart.
posted by hydrophonic at 1:08 PM on October 25, 2006

I second American Analog Set, Galaxie 500, Damon and Naomi. I would add Bedhead and the Spinanes. But, all these bands, including Yo La Tengo, are pretty much mining the territory first laid out by the Velvet Underground, so you should look into them.
posted by pasici at 1:21 PM on October 25, 2006

Response by poster: Great stuff, everyone. Some of this I already know and love and others I'm excited to get to know and love...

thanks all and keep 'em coming!
posted by ryecatcher at 6:14 PM on October 25, 2006

I think you'd like the Clientele.
posted by mike_bling at 8:44 PM on October 25, 2006