Singer Songwriters (1385 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicRating: 1.3 on 50 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Donne Fan (View user info) at 2004-07-23 15:46:10 EDT
If you clicked on this post and are now saying:
"This post is about music!"
"Music is ghey"
"I relly hope this post is about lunatix and nelly they rulz!!!"
"I hate singer songwriters"
Please let me explain that the line under name called subject groups posts based on what they pertain to and this particular post is about music. But in the subject line you can further explain with particularlity what type of post this is, and this is about singer songwriters, not rap artists, or death metal bands.
If you are still reading this I can assume you hate music and are a masochist or that you enjoy listening to new bands and discovering good music to enjoy. Bands that I enjoyed much more before they became famous include Maroon 5 (they sound alot like thriller era Michael Jackson on some songs), David Grey, John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Modest Mouse. Fountains of Wayne also lost some of their indie cred with "Stacey's Mom". Lately however I have realized how stupid that attitude is. Elitist disdain for the general public somehow dictates that if something is great it will languish unappreciated and unsuccessful. That is not always the case. Sometimes talented people make it big. While the intimacy of a singer songwriter in a bar with 30 people talking about their inspiration for a song and then singing it beautifully like John Mayer singing "Comfortable" and seeming like he would cry is always going to be superior to hearing him in an arena with thousands of teenage girls screaming, it is good to see talent appreciated. That said rather than hoard good music, I will attempt to share some and if people like this I will do it again. All of the people on this list are singing in a fairly mellow manner, somewhat like Nick Drake, or Coldplay or James Taylor, or early Radiohead (like "Fake Plastic Trees") I would put them all in this genre of music.
Let me begin by doing the double favor of introducing you to Keane and to KCRW. KCRW is a radio station that often has excellent music and live performances. They are archived and are available for free. Here is the appearance by Keane http://www.kcrw.com/cgi-bin/db/kcrw.pl?show_code=mb&air_date=11/11/03&tmplt_type=show
Here are some other bands and artists I think are very talented who you may enjoy, some of them are famous, others not as much. Some famous artists I will just put tracks that are not as popular. I will put the name of the artist, then any particular tracks that need to be heard.
Keane, "Somewhere Only We Know"
Stephen Speaks, "Passenger Seat" "Out of My League"
Pedro the Lion, "Bad Diary Days"
Sondre Lerche, "You Know So Well" "All Luck Ran Out"
Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah" "Grace" "Last Goodbye"
Kings of Convenience, "Failure"
Belle and Sebastian, "The Model"
David Grey, "Say Hello and Wave Goodbye"
Jason Mraz, "You and I Both"
Tom McRae, "One More Mile" "Sao Paolo Rain"
Pete Yorn, "Life on a Chain"
Ryan Adams, "Amy" "Cry on Demand"
John Mayer, "Sucker" "Tell me what to say" "Comfortable"
Damien Rice, "Volcano" "The Blowers Daughter" (KCRW live version is great)
Soundtrack of Our Lives, "Broken Imaginary Time"
Mindy Smith, "Jolene" "Hurricane" "Come to Jesus"
Sheryl Crow, "The Difficult Kind"
Nick Drake, "Clothes of Sand"
Eliot Smith, "Pitseleh"
That should be quite enough to get a discussion started.
User Reviews
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-27 14:59:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Has anyone listened to these bands? What did you think? Keane is SOOO good.
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2004-07-25 04:38:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"Billy Joel got Christie Brinkley"
Got? Bought, maybe.
Submitted by Brianthetruthspeaker (user info) at 2004-07-24 20:36:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
thank you for giving cred to Jeff Buckley, who like his father, deid at the height of his fame. Also you are right. Fountains Of Wayne SOLD OUT.
Howevver, some bands (Death Cab For Cutie, Sublime; to name some) have made better music when they signed....however...that new Modest Mouse song is good. I have been a fan of MM for 4 years. About time more people started listening to them...
on my post thx for the positive words
i will use your suggestions to try to improve my posts
thanks
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-24 10:36:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks DMD I have heard that guy has an amazing voice I will check it out.
My dad does not get Jeff Buckley. After I told him about how amazing the range of Buckley was I played him the song "Hallelujah" and he said he was unimpressed. He said, "Son, a cricket also has an incredible range, but I do not enjoy listening to it either." Guess those upper register notes were not his thing...
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2004-07-24 03:59:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because I am a music fanatic.
I know you probably don't care much for what I'd have to offer, but I believe that Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt is an extremely talented singer and songwriter (and guitarist, for that matter).
I suggest their second concept album: Still Life. The story told throughout the lyrics is of a man exiled from his home (possibly for blasphemy or some other 'crime' against the Christian leadership) who comes back to reclaim his lost love. They meet and spend one night together before being discovered by "the council of the cross," who ruthlessly slits the woman's throat and later hangs the main character.
It's a role reversal where the blasphemer is the protagonist and the Christians are the bad guys. The imagery is very striking and vivid, and the lyrical craftwork is beautiful in conveying quite a few moods (hope when the main guy is approaching town, love when he meets his chick, crippling sadness and rage when she's killed in front of him, and lastly, death when he is hanged).
Give it a google.
Submitted by AndraSidan (user info) at 2004-07-24 00:40:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I agree, sometimes I get so pissed when a bunch of crowd following teenage losers with no personal taste at all start listening to an artist that I like a lot. (John Mayer being an excellent example.) But what is wrong with an artist "selling out" as some fans who consider themselves hardcore like to say? They are simply doing what every artist is trying to do: get their music to as many people as possible. Some of my personal faves that have yet to hit it big: Elliot Smith (RIP), Pedro the Lion, OAR, Dispatch (RIP), G. Love and Special Sauce, Ben Kweller, Dailey Planet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Sigur Ros, and Dropkick Murpheys. May all their efforts be blessed with success!
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-24 00:17:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Jets to Brazil great pick. I think I will make another, maybe Monday, different bands that are also excellent and have not been mentioned.
Ryan Adams is a miserable human being who has written some great songs.
Download "Room with a view" by Mojave 3. At the end when they sing, "Hope, it just fell apart" it is pretty awesome.
In "Tell me what to say" John Mayer has this lyric, "When you were young and playing princess in your mothers dress, into the mirror dreaming what your prince would say, I know you still remember it to this day, so would you tell me what to say?" That line is maddening because only a nancy boy would have that much insight into a woman, but mainly because like the clothes that look gay in Bannana Republic, I know that line would make women melt and it is frustrating to realize the easiest way to get women is to act like you are semi gay.
Lastly has everyone experienced that people who can sing are hotter? I would never want to hook up with Sheryl Crow, but after I saw her sing "Leaving Las Vegas" I wanted her. I have also found that after I sing at a concert, it is about a million times easier to get girls. If you think about the fact that Lyle Lovett married Julia Roberts and that Billy Joel got Christie Brinkley, I think the theory can just be accepted as proven.
Submitted by Envenom (user info) at 2004-07-23 22:53:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
+2 for Jeff Buckley
-2 for Ryan Adams
That is all
Submitted by sosjtb1999 (user info) at 2004-07-23 22:45:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I have three words for you in addition to the ones I've already typed:Jets To Brazil. They are a semi-obscure American band who are actually very good. They are not huge. They have a limited following and no MTV video as far as I know. Some of their music is quite rockish, yet it still maintains a good melodic tone and holds on to nuance which is something that is extremely rare in American rock music. The singers voice is nothing like you would hear from douche bags such as Creed or Three Doors Down. The lyrics are very intelligent well written. They also have some other very mellow song which are amazing without a doubt. These songs show a grasp on music and human emotion which is also exceedingly rare in American rock music today. That is all.
Submitted by Famous Mortimer at 2004-07-23 22:30:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That list is pretty good only you forgot every other song Ryan Adams has ever written. Especially "Dear Chicago"
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-23 22:19:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hey I did not know you would read this post. Yes touching yoooouuuuu is a good song. I believe in a thing called love. Your antics would have made you the king of the world in 1978 but you are pretty cool now also.
Submitted by Darkness at 2004-07-23 22:15:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
hey. what's up?
Submitted by sg11588 (user info) at 2004-07-23 19:22:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm giving you a +2...just because I read Paul Simons name.
Hello Darkness my old friend.
Submitted by sg11588 (user info) at 2004-07-23 19:21:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I uh don't really see the point of this post. To introduce people onto new music? I don't know. But it really doesn't deserve a 1.36. Anyway, I'm not into that soft-rock shit or whatever genre John Mayer or Jason Mraz is.
Submitted by lucid (user info) at 2004-07-23 18:39:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
"While the intimacy of a singer songwriter in a bar with 30 people talking about their inspiration for a song ..."
This is especially nice when the singer/songwriter is a 20 something female sitting on a stool with an acoustic guitar in her hands and you're sitting in a position with a great view up her dress.
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2004-07-23 18:20:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Anyone who can introduce me to new music that doesn't suck is A-OK in my book. Thanks!
Submitted by Raimee (user info) at 2004-07-23 17:56:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I love Alison Krauss to! And Emmylou Harris.
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2004-07-23 17:51:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I will check some of these out!
I highly, and I DO mean highly reccoment William Topley. He has a number of solo albums and 2 albums with the band The Blessing (plus one "Best Of" album).
I love this man's voice. Both his singing voice and his storytelling "voice". The songs are very blusey on many occasions. He writes a lot about the British Isles, Jamaica, and Louisiana. His albums are some my favorites along with:
Lost Songs/David Grey
Enchanted Collection/Stevie Nicks
Norah Jones/Norah Jones
and Counting Crows' live album. Yummy.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:57:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Patty Griffin and Alison Krauss are the two people Mindy Smith is being compared to most. You will love her CD!
Submitted by Raimee (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:44:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I must say that you have good taste in music.
Jeff Buckley is my favorite male singer.
Do you like Patty Griffin? She writes the most incredible lyrics!
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:43:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
A year and a half ago. Our school is rich. I think they got 5 grand for the night. I was surprised they had fallen back to frat parties that fast after what do I do though. Bob you are very right. Seeing Ralph Stanley this year up at B.B. Kings in NYC was a real joy. He is surrounded by some very fine musicians.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:36:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Try Neutral Milk Hotel too.
Submitted by EatMeCompletely (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:35:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Smoky, how long ago did you open for the Shack? That's pretty cool. It always seems a little cooler to me when a band gets famous and they were local to me/I knew them. I am actually putting a band together after my little hiatus from music.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:34:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Songwriter's Hall of Fame (Top 25 Songwriters of All Time)
http://www.ubersite.com/m/37456
These are not really indie...
I agree with B&S and definitely "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" by Wilco. Also check out The Shins: "Chutes too Narrow". And you cannot mention Nick Drake and not mention Leonard Cohen.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:30:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
If you are into old bluegrass at all you have to check out Old and In the Way.
Good CD, but you cannot consider yourself a bluegrass fan/musician without at least 3 Bill Monroe albums in your collection.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:28:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yay I have enough stuff to check out to keep my internet connection humming until tomorrow! I always buy the CD if its good though cause otherwise I am racked by guilt.
Whata sorry about the timing of the posting. I really have gotten bad about that. I post as soon as I finish writing, which explains the 11:30 PM posts and the 2 reviews that sometimes happen to me :)
Submitted by brodiesattva (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:27:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
holy shit. shitfuck actually posts legitimate thoughts here?
I am a n00b.
Submitted by EatMeCompletely (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:27:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Jimmie's Chicken Shack is OK, just because I know most of the band. Jimmy HaHa's step brother is a religious nut and tried to get me to join his cult. Shay and HaHa always hung out in downtown Annapolis, when I worked at a certain ice cream store about 5-6years ago. Naturally, this was before they were, somewhat famous. They were all pretty cool, then. I can't say that they'd remember my name, now.
Submitted by shitfuck (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:24:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Jeff Buckley--such a tragedy. Music needs a guy like that now.
Check out Sam Roberts, he's a Canadian staple up here. You might dig his jazzy ways.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:24:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I was not giving a general dis to metal, I was saying that metal bands would not be included in the list and I did not want people of low intelligence putting -2 Pantera rulz your bands are for queers! or something similar.
Jimmies Chicken Shack played a frat basement at Washington and Lee while I was there. We got to open for them. I do not know which was bigger, that or opening for 2 Skinee J's. None of it compared however to going to George Clinton and the P Funk and having my friend assaulted by one of their roadies. I got to see him plead to be released on his own recognizance a few days later because I had a ticket I was fighting and he still had not gotten the bail money together. The dude in P Funk in the diaper was classic.
Submitted by disAbled (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:20:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I have to take this opportunity to plug for Jimmie's Chicken Shack's first album "Pushing the Salminella Envelope." Do not judge this unless you have heard the album. It is nothing like you are thinking if you haven't heard it. This is a true artform in the Rock genre. If you listen to one Rock CD this week, try JCS's "Pushing the Salminella Envelope."
On a side note. Before you give a general diss to Metal, observe Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Pantera to name only a few.
Submitted by JohnGalt (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:19:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.spencerrush.com/spencerrush/news.html
Submitted by lixurboogers at 2004-07-23 16:19:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
There is an incredible local band in my area, The Ordinary Way.
Good luck getting music anywhere except the website though, so here is the address:
http://www.theordinaryway.com/
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:17:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by reallybored (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:07:26 (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 anytime smoky does a nonpolitical post.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:15:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah I really like Sonvolt as well, covered two of their songs with 1 band I was in. Tweedy has done some awesome work outside of Wilco. I also really like Uncle Tupelo. If you are into old bluegrass at all you have to check out Old and In the Way. Jerry Garcia was the banjo player and Vassar Clements was a part of an amazing band that released a CD called "That High Lonesome Sound"
Submitted by William_Q_Percy (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:14:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Guster - Two Points for honesty
Submitted by brodiesattva (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:13:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" is the best, IMO
But "Being There" is great as far as singer/songwriting goes.
Submitted by EatMeCompletely (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:11:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I haven't really checked out Wilco, but have heard good things about them. I used to go to a lot of shows and did the whole local/indie music scene. I just don't have time anymore. I will check them out though. Any recommendations on the album that I should buy?
Submitted by kitkat <kittkat325.at.hotmail.com> at 2004-07-23 16:08:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.xpn.org/
Submitted by brodiesattva (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:08:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
SUNVOLT? SUNVOLT?
Um, wilco anybody?
Up with Jeff Down with Jay
HEY HEY!
Seriously, if you like SUNVOLT, you will probably love Uncle Tupelo, and should love Wilco.
Submitted by reallybored (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:07:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 anytime smoky does a nonpolitical post.
Submitted by EatMeCompletely (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:06:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yes, I second that you should have done this on a Monday morning for maximum input.
Everytime I write or say input, I think of Johnny 5 on Short Circuit. Innnnnnpuuuutttt.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:04:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I will definitely look her up. I am surprised to hear people say they knew most of the people on the list. Many of them have sold less than 100k albums. I guess Kazzaa has really changed music. As for the obviously famous people, I put songs that I like that have either never been released (John Mayer "Sucker" and "Tell Me What To Say") or that are not as well known, (Sheryl Crow's "The Difficult Kind" is in my opinion her best song). People I would have guessed on this list that are famous,
Mayer, David Grey, Pete Yorn, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Buckley, Elliot Smith. Dang now I cannot even remember the list. But if you have heard of Stephen Speaks, Mindy Smith (although I think she has a single now?) King of Convenience and Pedro the Lion I will be impressed/shocked.
Rufus Wainwright is awesome.
To whoever brought up Paul Simon. I am looking at the "Old Friends" 3cd set right now which is resting on my pile of CDs in the changer. If you want good and old school, Tim Buckley was quite talented, as was Gram Parsons although he is darker and more southern rockish.
Submitted by EatMeCompletely (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:04:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You list some artists and songs that I like, so +2 for you. Lately, I have been on this G-Love and the Special Sauce kick. I highly recommend that you check out Sunvolt. I think that they put out a new album about a year ago and their old stuff is really cool.
Annapolis, MD has a radio station called WRNR that plays progressive rock/alternative/punk/blues/reggae/fucking anything thatreally doesn't have a classification. Here is a playlist of things that they have played this week:
PLAYLIST
SONGS YOU'VE HEARD THIS WEEK
Taylor Jack Johnson
She Don't Want Nobody Near The Counting Crows
Sacred Love Sting
Be My Girl Jet
Breathe Melissa Etheridge
Save The Population The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Careful Guster
Burning Photographs Ryan Adams
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself The White Stripes
Mexican Wine Fountains of Wayne
Sunrise Norah Jones
One Horse Town The Thrills
Brown Eyed Blues Ben Harper
Blue The Thorns
FelI in Love With A Boy Joss Stone
Perfect World The Indigo Girls
If You're Here When I Get Back John Eddie
I Can't Stop Al Green
She Says Howie Day
Maybe Tomorrow The Stereophonics
Silence Is Easy Starsailor
Give Me Up Again Johnny Lang
Better After All Jonatha Brooke
Flying Feeling Crash Test Dummies
Let Your Light Shine Keb Mo
Cannonball Damien Rice
Moses Coldplay
Light and Day The Polyphonic Spree
Morning Light Truman
Check out their site:
http://www.wrnr.com
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2004-07-23 16:03:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
oh no ... you can't post this at 4pm on a Friday ...
Submitted by kiketta (user info) at 2004-07-23 15:56:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I always like hearing about new music...though I did know most these names. You should give Kasey Chambers a listen. She writes most her own stuff and it's all good.
Submitted by Zeccs (user info) at 2004-07-23 15:55:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I really don't like most of those artists.
Most of them of them don't have 1/10th the songwriting tallent of paul simon. But i won't -2 this, because who am i to fucking judge. And jeff buckley rules.
Submitted by MickGinny (user info) at 2004-07-23 15:54:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
this label has a few good bands...if you like punk
http://www.fatwreck.com/
Submitted by brodiesattva (user info) at 2004-07-23 15:51:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
postsa bout music will always get a high rating from me. You mentioned some that I have never heard of and I'll have to check out. You didn't put Jeff Tweedy, who, though the frontman for wilco, has some solo song that are just phenominal.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-07-23 15:49:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I wanted to elicit advice about bands that are great I am missing out on. I did not include everyone I like right now for obvious reasons, but more obscure bands especially from Europe, Canada, or Australia would be great. I have listened to alot of bands that are obscure here in America because they suck, since I had a radio show that was mainly comprised of bands that were indie called "Lesser Known Greats" Keane has been fairly famous in the U.K. for a while but had not yet made it in America. Their CD Hopes and Fears is absolutely wonderful! Hope I can hear about some more good music from you all.