h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So I just got an itunes voucher for my birthday and have bought 3 albums. I've got one album left to use up the dosh and I thought I might expand my musical repertoire if I was recommended something by you kind people

I'm looking for something probably (although not necessarily) from the last 10 years or so. SOmething that's as classic as possible and something I may not know so well. Obviously you do not know what I know or not but being as it was my 40th you may gather that I've somewhat lost touch with popular music of recent years so I may be considered to be fairly knowledgeless in this respect.

Also I'd like it to at least be remotely within the realms of something I might like. So no Michael Bubble or Katy Perry recommends please.

To give you a starting clue my other buys from this voucher have been.

Death Magnetic - Metallica
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape.

(It doesn't have to be hard rock with me, but it helps. I do have penchants for REM, Radiohead and the Bee Gees for example - although I largely have all them covered already)


Cheers, I look forward to the suggestions.

I rather like Flood and more recently(1990 and 2007) The Else by They Might be Giants. You can find some more information about them at A256763 and a decent bit of freebies through their facebook. I don't know that their what your looking for given that they are only quasi-classic, but in my experience they have a lot of fanbase overlap with Queen and REM, so they might be worth a try.

If you like blues, you just have to have Norah Jones - her "Come Away With Me" album. I'd say that's the most important album of the last 10 years.

May I suggest that you expand your repertoire Down Under? There are many Antipodean rock bands that are criminally neglected by the US/UK hegemonical music industry. Give Powderfinger, YouAmI, Silverchair, or maybe some Midnight Oil (a bit older) a go.

Otherwise, my perennial recommendation to all lovers of music: The Puppini Sisters. Surprise yourself!

RF

Whitestarr - Fillith Tillith

eg:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZpbnk2VD0c

Based on the preferences at Post#1, have you thought about Muse? Try Origin of Symmetry (the second album of 2001).

A couple that I've really liked in the past few years:

Dig, Lazarus Dig - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (though some of his older stuff is better)

Ys - Joanna Newsom. Definitely an acquired taste.

Slightly older: Up, by Peter Gabriel.

Daft Punk: Derezzed, the music for Tron: Legacy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svpLw7e-4ds&feature=fvst,if it's available yet.

Thanks all so far.

Pinniped, you've picked the one Muse album I _haven't_ got

That is one that's missing right enough but I think I want to move in a different direction with this buy at least. Not that you would know that of course.

Are Midnight Oils still going? Blimey. I know them already but that's a pretty good suggestion nevertheless although not tending towards the newish as I wish.

I'll have a little examine of these suggestions and look at some reviews.

Keep 'em coming

How about the Fleet Foxes? A different direction, certainly.

Midnight Oil aren't still going - they packed it in shortly after their 2002 release, Capricornia. Singer Peter Garrett is now Australia's Environment Minister.

I'm not as up to date with Australia's bands as I used to be - the ones I mentioned started off in the 1990's. Indeed, Powderfinger are currently on their last ever tour, apparently. But still worth listening to.

RF

Tool > Lateralus

The title track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS7CZIJVxFY

If you do feel like staying with metal, System of a Down are great. Toxicity is their best known album, but I've also got "Steal This Album" and their self-titled first album and they're both almost as good. I like how they manage to put political/topical songs, angsty raging songs and silly/funny songs all on one album and have it work.

http://www.last.fm/music/Mr.B+The+Gentleman+Rhymer

Is getting most of listening at the minute. Playing live in Bristol next week...

B

I'm a bit late, but I second the recommendation of the Puppini Sisters. And Midnight Oil, for that matter.

I'll second B's recommendation there. Excellent stuff.

I do like what I've heard of Mr. B.
However, if you haven't got Origin of Symmetry, ignore my recommendation and Mr B. It's my second favourite Muse album, which puts it easily in the all-time top 10 and probably top 5.

Yeah, I've been meaning to get if for years but haven't got around to it. But that'll happen anyway so I want something new here (I think you've provided the budge I needed mind).

So what's your first favourite Muse album?
I think I can guess but it'll be interesting to see if we agree without prompting.

So far out of the suggestions I'm liking System of a Down the most I have to say. A quick youtube earlier whetted my appetite big style


Puppini sisters, although clearly talented are very much not my thing I'm afraid. Not into swing in any way shape or form. Still a good suggestion as it (and t'other suggestions so far) have shown me that there is, as I suspected, more to the current music scene than the talentlessFactor.

Will have a longer look at B' and Gnomon's suggestions next I think...

Oh, my favourite album is 'Black Holes & Revelations'. This is despite the fact that I think Soldier's Poem is dead air, and I'm not too keen on Starlight or Invincible.

Ah we agree then, as I suspected. A lot of others seem to think The Resistance is the best. I beg to differ on that one.
(disagree with Starlight though, I think that's brilliant)

Is liking the sound of Tool and I quite liked the brief listed I had to Fleet Fox.

Mr B was a bit whacky for my tastes I think. I like his style but I think I'd bore with that very quickly.

Despite all the new stuff I just seem to have Brighton Rock by Queen blasting through my head all the time when I've not got the ipod on. Seems the oldies are still goldies...