Music you may not have heard of.

[DadOf8]

I just recently discovered this group called The Polyphonic Spree. I can't really describe them. It's kind of like hippy music, but not quite as psychedelic. It has symphonic elements, choral elements, pop, rock, new age. It's actually kind of catchy. I got a Best Buy gift certificate and bought two of their albums: "The Beginning Stages of...The Polyphonic Spree" and "Together We're Heavy". The lyrics are a little corny, but the tunes are catchy.

Another artist that you may not have heard of, that I would recommend, is Poe. Her real name is Annie Danielewski. Her dad was a professor at BYU for a while, but they're not LDS, they're Jewish. I would recommend her album, "Haunted". I saw her open for Depeche Mode in 2001 and still think she stole the show.

If anyone else knows of any lesser known bands, post about them here. I'm sure Old Ska knows plenty.

[Neil]

I don't listen to Poe, but I have listened to The Polyphonic Spree and they're good, although I can't listen long because it makes me want to join their hipster cult.

I like a few bands that only a handful of people seem to listen to, but are awesome in my opinion.

1) The Faint - By far my favorite band, and they're in the CD player in my car right now. My favorite album is "Danse Macabre", but their new album "Wet From Birth" is also excellent. I've seen them live and they're just as good in person, no studio made band here. Awesome sound, you should check them out. Here's a free MP3 from Amazon - The song is called "I Disappear"

2) The Postal Service - Good relaxing music that I listen to when I want to just zone out. The band is made up of members of other bands. Like vocals from the lead singers of 'Death Cab For Cutie', and 'Rilo Kiley'. It's good stuff. Also, it's kind of cool how they got their name. Since the artists live so far apart one would write the beats, then mail them to the vocalist, who would mix in their vocals and send back. This went back and forth till they completed a song or album. You may have heard the track "Such Great Heights", it gets some play in commercials and movies. Sorry, no free ones on Amazon.

3) Bloc Party - This band is sweet. I had a chance to see them live at "The club formerly known as Bricks" a few weeks ago and they were great. Their debut album is called "Silent Alarm" and it made it to #3 on the UK charts when it was released in February. They're considered British Rock since at least some of the band, two for certain, grew up in Essex; but they're doing fine so far in the US. They were the musical guest on Conan tonight. They are currently playing through my headphones as I type this. Here's a free MP3 from Amazon - The song is called Banquet
That's what i'll throw out there for now. Let's see what others have got.

[EnglishJared]

Do any of you know the band Muse? They're quite a big band over here (the last album was in the top 10 for a few months). I've heard they're trying to get themselves known over in the States. If you haven't heard them, you should really check them out. Their last album 'Absolution' came out in 2003, and they're in the studio soon. Check out their website Here

[clarette]

iTunes has a free single of the week, which changes every Tuesday.

It's a good way to get a heads-up on some music you wouldn't hear on the radio. I've downloaded everything from Britpop to baile funk to slow jams, all for free!

[the Bardguy]

Elliott Smith
Belle & Sebastian
Jeff Buckley
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Mala Rodriguez
Nick Drake
Spiritualized

[Deuce]

sultans of ping f.c.
StarSailor
Paul Weller
Travis

[Old Ska]

I listen to a wide variety of stuff. I love that the Bardguy mentioned Ladysmith...they are one of my favorites.

Here is what is in my CD changer right now:

Seagull Ska (formed by Atilla the Stockbroker) - with the UK top 20 hit 'Tom Hark (We Want Falmer)' , a benefit record for a new Brighton stadium. I picked that up when I was in London for the second leg of the West Ham / Sheffield United FA Cup battle.

****ney Rejects, the Punk Singles Collection - You gotta love a band who had their first Album called "Greatest Hits vol. 1". The Rejects were the first true punk band, not manufactured by a media savy producer. This is music straight from the terraces of London in the late 70s early 80s. Great stuff.

Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set (3 CDs) - Music from the period in the late 60s and early 70s when ska music was turning into Rocksteady and then into Reggae. The genre of Skinhead Reggae was aimed at the only people listening to Jamaican music outside of the carribean at that time...the young white working class kids in English cities and their immigrant friends. This was back when Skinhead was mostly a fashion style adopted as a reaction to hippies, and the term did not have the racist overtones it has today. Skinhead violence in those days was mostly directed at rival football fans. Anyways, this box set has some of the best early reggae around, and a number of blatantly commercial tracks aimed at the Skinhead market.

Prince Buster and the Aggrolites - a classic ska artist from the 1960s with a modern US trad ska band backing him live. Good stuff.

Sea Shanties - the Men of the Robert Shaw Chorale. I really can't give a good explanation of why I have this in mc CD changer right now. I do like it though.

Suedehead Reggae Box Set - Much the same as the Skinhead Reggae box set, but without all the songs with Skinhead in the title and/or lyrics. Suedeheads refer to the a slightly later era of skinhead fashion when hair got a little bit longer and clothes took on a more mod appearance, not strictly boots and jeans and Ben Shermans and Fred Perrys.

On deck to be played sometime soon is the Bend it Like Beckham soundtrack, a Black-Eyed Peas cd, a number of Hmong cds, and a slew of old ska and reggae ones.

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

****ney Rejects,

You have got to be kidding me. That is a word used to describe people in the East End of London, historically within earshot of the Bow Bells. The 4 letters automatically omitted by the forum rhyme with sock but start with a 'c'.

[EnglishJared]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

:

Seagull Ska (formed by Atilla the Stockbroker) - with the UK top 20 hit 'Tom Hark (We Want Falmer)' , a benefit record for a new Brighton stadium. I picked that up when I was in London for the second leg of the West Ham / Sheffield United FA Cup battle.

Unfortunatly alot of teams play that song after scoring a goal over hear now. I can tell you when your team has conceeded a goal it's very annoying!

[MomOf8]

Check out Steadman. Sir Paul McCartney recommends them.