View Full Version : Big up your favorite artist.
Thing Fish
30-05-2011, 23:52
Thought I'd start a thread for those who are interested in bigging up their favorite artist's.
I hope this thread will not encourage others to belittle the choices of others but allow members to explore new avenues of music hitherto unknown to them.
I would hope that members will introduce their chosen band/individual and then espouse about said person/s resulting in a recording that will introduce/encourage members to dip their toe into said discography.
Let the games commence...
Or die a death!:(
Thing Fish
30-05-2011, 23:53
I will start the ball rolling with Queen.
Being of a certain age I grew up with Queens music ringing in my ears. That said I really only consider the first 4/5 albums viable.
Queen I
Queen II
Sheer heart attack
A night at the opera
(A day at the races) at a push.
In their early days they evoked a certain passion of multi layered harmony that is rarely bettered today. If you compare them to bands at the time they really stood out. Songs like ‘March of the black queen’ and ‘Ogre battle’ really made me smile (no pun intended).
After the first 4/5 albums it all started to go tits up as far as I’m concerned but their early stuff really was enjoyable to listen to.
Check out the 1975 Christmas concert on BBC’s iplayer to see what I mean.
Recommendation – Queen II
Tangerine Dream for me. Was played Phaedra in a record shop when I was 14 and was totally gobsmacked. The anticipation when a new album was due for release, or they were due to play in Manchester was unbearable. Still play their early stuff at least once a week. Not really bothered about them after Tangram, but a few recent releases have quite impressed me.
Recommendation: Phaedra or Ricochet.
Thing Fish
31-05-2011, 00:10
I saw them live in 1978 keiths. They were great.
I will check out Phaedra on your recommendation. Thanks.
Jac Hawk
31-05-2011, 00:15
there was a documentary about krautrock on bbc a few weeks ago did you catch it keith?
Also a doc on Queen on the BBC
Rush
A Candian power trio
Far to many albums to mention them all but here are a few I come back too again again
All the orlds A Stage Not the greatest sound quality but has 2112 being played live
A Fareell to the Kings Get this on vinyl just really well recorded and then listen to Zandhu
Perment Waves A more commercial approach includes the hit single Spirit of Radio
Moving Pictures My favourite Rush album
Roll the Bones A return to a more rock base approach
R30 perhaps the best live album they recorded Just a greatest hits live but done with lots of energy
I will start the ball rolling with Queen.
Being of a certain age I grew up with Queens music ringing in my ears. That said I really only consider the first 4/5 albums viable.
Queen I
Queen II
Sheer heart attack
A night at the opera
(A day at the races) at a push.
In their early days they evoked a certain passion of multi layered harmony that is rarely bettered today. If you compare them to bands at the time they really stood out. Songs like ‘March of the black queen’ and ‘Ogre battle’ really made me smile (no pun intended).
After the first 4/5 albums it all started to go tits up as far as I’m concerned but their early stuff really was enjoyable to listen to.
Check out the 1975 Christmas concert on BBC’s iplayer to see what I mean.
Recommendation – Queen II
Although not an offical album at the BBC is great too
there was a documentary about krautrock on bbc a few weeks ago did you catch it keith?
Yes Mike, I did. Very good it was too.
You've already done TeeDee above and Phaedra totally changed my life forever when I first heard it as a naive 17 year old back in 1974. A stroke of genius borne out of power failures, out of tune sequencers, slowed down to re-tune with delay added and shedloads of reverb :)
My wife is a HUGE Queen/Freddie fan and her biggest regret is not seeing them live. The docs this weekend almost had her in tears looking at Freddie, who had such incredible talent. George Michael may have the vocal range to sing the songs, but in comparison with Freddie, he pales I'm afraid.
Recent listening has thrown up the Mael Brothers - Sparks to you and me. Maybe out of the public eye in recent decades, they've always tried to do something different and original to great effect from the soundbites I've listened to.
Ulrich Schnauss - Not "HiFi" grade recordings, as the recent mixes are so dense, but his music has touched me in ways that a huge amount of "modern EM" hasn't.
Steve Hillage-Miquette Giraudy/Gong/System 7/Mirror System - Loved their music over the decades and it's all so deeply intertwined with Daevid Allen's (Gong) influences it's hard to separate it all. The Pierre Moelen's Gong albums are great too.
Finally for now - Led Zeppelin. OK, they ripped off so much blues stuff, but their hugely varied cross-genre musical output has easily stood the test of time and Robert Plant has to be the archetypal Rock God and still has a certain charisma today.
Rare Bird
31-05-2011, 10:33
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Supergroup & one of the greatest prog bands of all times, members have more than their fare share of accolades. Some of the most advanced musicians of their time.
1970-1973.
Fuzzies:
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Tarkus
Pictures At An Exhibition (Recorded live at Newcastle City Hall march '71)
Trilogy
Brain Salad Surgery
Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends (Triple live album highlighting the Brain Salad Surgery World Tour)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Supergroup & one of the greatest prog bands of all times, members have more than their fare share of accolades within their career. Some of the most advanced musicians of their time.
Absolutely agree 100% - first band I ever saw live, what a show. Saw them last year at High Voltage, that was a grin too, classic ELP with all the bells & whistles :)
(your Giger avatar Andr'e was my favourite of all ;))
I guess the other band I really love is Pain of Salvation
For me the guitarist is a very talented song writer the musicianship is outstanding and hilst not at ELP levels a very tight band indeed.
I guess the eaisest album to get into is Remedy Lane It mixes sheer heavyness ith complexity and melody really well, the music is alays conceptual in nature and all of their albums are not easy to get into, and I be suprised if anyone else would like them as quite heavy and complex
In the last few years the band has gone don a more commercial route
Here are a few tracks from different albums I love
dPA-ohVCOoQ Entropia
BVofsMf5jcs One Hour by the Concrete lake
5xreAnQ2ao8 The Perfect Element Part 1
8MpG2IV9QuY&feature=related Remedy Lane
gIxksypdAtw&feature=related Be
WS8LLLYF17k Cribcage
2J5JIGIbKqU Road Salt
Haselsh1
31-05-2011, 12:04
For me it just has to be Peter Gabriel from 1st solo to last solo
Thing Fish
31-05-2011, 12:51
I'm a big Nick Drake fan as well. If its a tragic life your after you'd have to go a long was to beat his.
Funny thing is though every time I listen to one of his albums I feel like committing suicide...:lol:
Five leaves left
Bryter later
Pink moon
Fruit tree
One of my favourite solo artist is Ben Harper. His musical breath is so wide a good vocalist song writer and guitar player. He seems to just really love music
Far to many albums to mention
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Harper
David Bowie....so many changes in style and music. So Many great LP's...Ziggy, Hunky Dory, Heroes, Low, Heathen, Reality to name just a few.
The mighty Half Man, Half Biscuit:
http://cobweb.businesscollaborator.com/hmhb/
http://www.chrisrand.com/hmhb/
Simply the best band ever in the whole history of the Universe.
...bar The Beatles ;)
Marco.
The Beatles don't need bigging-up!
There are some who don't rate them... (Deafness is indeed a terrible affliction).
Marco.
Ok lets try someone from this century, who's still recording and touring, and deserves 'bigging up'...or certainly your attention.
The Cinematic Orchestra, musically think of a funkier/jazzier modern day Soft Machine perhaps...that doesn't really cover it, but they are a bit hard to classify
Albums;
Motion
Everyday
Man with a Movie Camera (new soundrack to the '30s classic movie)
Ma Fleur
Live at the Barbican
They're out on tour again this summer after a little absence, the drummer is worth the entry price on his own
S-rZdfZfMPw
vvTF6B5XKxQ
The original singer Fontella Bass was unfortunately too I'll to sing at this performance, and died the following year...after her death they played the big chill festival, with fontella bass singing on video, which she'd managed to record the previous year...very emotional, particularly when you listen to the lyrics
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Well I'm sure you can all guess who I'll be picking... (Great thread idea, BTW Dave.)
So, I give you the Danish princess that is Tina Dico... Came to "prominence" with Zero 7, and now had 7 albums including the latest "Best of" and re-hash album.
http://open.spotify.com/artist/6AHLjrNUzvqs8jg5JntmeL
Every single one of them is brilliant IMO, and it would be impossible to pick a favourite track - this one would be close to the top of the list, though...
o6ARxzCiUZ4
Reid Malenfant
31-05-2011, 20:33
Anything by Pete Namlook (but Alex_UK already knew that :eyebrows:) or just about anyone who has recorded on his record label.
I have never been so driven to collect every single CD recording from an artist & i doubt i'll ever be so driven again :cool:
Thankfully :lol:
kininigin
31-05-2011, 21:02
I don't have a favourite artist but one of my favourites is fela kuti.
Fusing jazz,funk,west african sounds amongst others with social commentary,political and spiritual views creating what is known as afrobeat.
I like all his albums so here's a selection
Confusion
Zombie
I.T.T. (International Thief Thief)
Fela With Ginger Baker Live!
Okay - I'm going to big-up The Happy Mondays and Black Grape
The Mondays (unless you lived in a cave or were not born at the end of the 1980s) you will be familiar with - all their material is worth checking out but it really came together in 1990 with 'Pills, Thrills & Bellyaches' combining dance grooves with indie guitar and Ryders insane but highly enteratining lyrics and vocal style.
Black Grape was a collabaration between Ryder and Kermit (Paul Leveridge) from The Ruthless Rap Assasins. First album from 1995 - 'It's Great When You're Straight.,,Yeah' took the Monday's sound a little further with the insane vocals and lyrics now delivered in a rap style interchange between Ryder and Kermit. Dance grooves and top session men, plus Bez on the 'grooves' - a truly magic sounding recording full of life and energy.
Follow up Stupid, Stupid Stupid (1997) took the same format but was a little watered down. Highlight is a stupendously good cover of 'Lonely'
Highly recommended but only recommended if there is still a bit of a kid in you;)
kininigin
31-05-2011, 21:10
ohh,can i pick another cymande would be up there as well,deep and funky,i will play one of there albums at least once every couple of weeks.
First three albums
Cymande
Second Time Round
Promised Heights
My all time fave artists are the many sides of Tangerine Dream...not very many people like all eras of this project (Edgar Froese always said TD are more a project than a band) The last few albums have been fantastic IMO..and of course the early albums Like Phaedra , Rubycon & Ricochet are classics in their genre. Although Froese is the only one left after many line ups through the years..their music is special and in it's day unique. The TD of today are maybe not groundbreaking but who is nowadays. I own all albums by this enemble. Just over 200 regular albums ., Soundtracks and compilations and of them all there are only a few I don't like.
kininigin
31-05-2011, 21:31
There are some who don't rate them... (Deafness is indeed a terrible affliction).
Marco.
I must be deaf as a post then ;)
I must be deaf as a post then ;)
What? What did you say? Speak up!
:lolsign:
Rare Bird
31-05-2011, 21:48
ohh,can i pick another cymande would be up there as well,deep and funky,i will play one of there albums at least once every couple of weeks.
First three albums
Cymande
Second Time Round
Promised Heights
If you lke Cymande you bound to like Demon Fuzz
kininigin
31-05-2011, 22:13
If you lke Cymande you bound to like Demon Fuzz
Just checked them out on youtube and they are on the 'to get list'.
Cheers for the heads up,since the age of 10 when i first heard 'rave music' and more specificaly the 'amen break' (which i would of heard in the early/mid eighties first,but prefered the sped up acid sound) i've been hooked on music with a groove and great breaks.Unfortunatley i spent 15yrs listening to jungle/drum and bass and have only in the last few years or so started to check out where all the samples were nicked from and so have about 30 or so years to catch up on....this could get expensive :eyebrows:
Can I echo others comments on what a great idea for a thread.
Tough call for me as I have so many favourites, but I don't see them mentioned a lot, so they deserve a plug!
Marillion
neo-progressive rock band
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Marillion2.jpg/800px-Marillion2.jpg
Often the subject of many arguments over the Fish/Hogarth debate and wide eyed stares from people who say "Marillion, they're not going again are they?"
Well they never stopped..... since 1983 they have released 16 studio albums and countless others (runs into hundreds now if you are a collector).
A great band with a big heart and a passionately loyal following, who have become part of the 'Marillion family'. This started when the band ditched EMI and decided to go it alone. However, they didn't have enough money to keep going, so they asked the fans to help by buying the next album before it was produced/released. A brave move which in the long run has paid dividends and they constantly repay their followers with the very personal relationship they have developed.
Everything they do now is run via their website 'mariilion.com' and their own label, Racket Records.
A very unique bunch of musicians, who are still producing very fine music and part of their very unique relationship with the fans are bi-annual weekends (Marillion Conventions), 3 days and 3 concerts of pure full on Marillion.
Ranked 38th in Classic Rock's "50 Best Live Acts of All Time" in 2008 and I can attest that they really are something quite special live.
Recommended listening;
Clutching at Straws - http://open.spotify.com/album/7M6qdztBAZADkaYJ6bIEhF
Seasons End - http://open.spotify.com/album/19GvbpnHTIKB8HMWzNsF6j
Brave - http://open.spotify.com/album/1gREZOde7X9shG1p2WmsvU
Marbles - http://open.spotify.com/album/7iMOvYlDS6EeYQDCc1Ja39
Less is More (acoustic) - http://open.spotify.com/album/4CXJPV8i8tnX2FTSD0cMwi
'Neverland' Live at the Marillion Convention 2007
rWFuzjqJYpY
(and Steve Rothery IMO is one of the most under-rated rock guitarists out there, some of his solos are a prog rockers dream - sublime)
:)
HighFidelityGuy
31-05-2011, 22:57
Very tough one this as I like so many different artists but I think the band that tick the most boxes for me are Explosions In The Sky. Breathtaking atmospheric instrumental rock that sounds great on big Hi-Fi's but simply amazing live. I've seen them live 3 times now and I can't speak highly enough about just how awesome they are live.
TnTCwg7-UKg
czmgu74dbec
Thing Fish
31-05-2011, 23:03
This may seem a strange one but I would like to mention Karen Carpenter of Carpenters fame. Just a beautiful voice.
Very tough one this as I like so many different artists but I think the band that tick the most boxes for me are Explosions In The Sky. Breathtaking atmospheric instrumental rock that sounds great on big Hi-Fi's but simply amazing live. I've seen them live 3 times now and I can't speak highly enough about just how awesome they are live.
Thanks for the reminder Dave, I forgotten to get the new album, click click...sorted :cool:
Saw them last year at the big chill...excellent!!! :)
And if you're into the 'post rock' (or modern guitar prog...sorry Andre!) sound, here's a few more options...
Mogwai
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Do Make Say Think
DPPRpUKCubE
Souvaris
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HighFidelityGuy
01-06-2011, 10:30
Thanks Will, I've heard of Mogwai but to be honest I've not heard much of their work. I'll rectify that now. :) As for the other two they're new to me so I'll have to check them out. Cheers.
The other band that springs to mind in this genre is Godspeed You! Black Emperor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godspeed_You!_Black_Emperor). I've heard a bunch of their stuff on YouTube but have so far not got round to buying any albums. Oh yeah, and there's Mono (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_(Japanese_band)) of course. All worth checking out. :)
This is a great idea for a thread! I really need to find more music to buy so I'll check out everyones suggestions. :cool:
Thanks Will, I've heard of Mogwai but to be honest I've not heard much of their work. I'll rectify that now. :) As for the other two they're new to me so I'll have to check them out. Cheers.
The other band that springs to mind in this genre is Godspeed You! Black Emperor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godspeed_You!_Black_Emperor). I've heard a bunch of their stuff on YouTube but have so far not got round to buying any albums. Oh yeah, and there's Mono (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_(Japanese_band)) of course. All worth checking out. :)
This is a great idea for a thread! I really need to find more music to buy so I'll check out everyones suggestions. :cool:
For Mogwai I'd recommend 'Happy Songs for Happy People', or 'Young Team' (available on a Japanese remaster) as a starting point, or even 'Special Moves' the live album...I've just looked and I've got 17 CD's :)
I've got most of Godspeed's stuff, but not Mono, I'll check them out...
There's also the Godspeed spinoff 'The Silver Mount Zion Memorial Orchestra', who are equally eclectic.
Souvaris are a little known band from Coventry/Nottingham, I'm a bit biased as my mate is one of the guitarists, but they really are good, just rubbish at promoting themselves...they were about to be picked up by Warp, when unfortunately the label went for 'Battles' instead...who are a magnificent band, unlucky :eyebrows:
They're currently working on their 3rd album, which has been 2 years in the making so far :doh:
magiccarpetride
01-06-2011, 23:12
Thought I'd start a thread for those who are interested in bigging up their favorite artist's.
I hope this thread will not encourage others to belittle the choices of others but allow members to explore new avenues of music hitherto unknown to them.
I would hope that members will introduce their chosen band/individual and then espouse about said person/s resulting in a recording that will introduce/encourage members to dip their toe into said discography.
Let the games commence...
Or die a death!:(
Iron Butterfly. Excellent songwriting, amazing drumming, stellar intricate bass playing, spot-on electric guitar playing, massively impressive vocals. These guys knew how to rock. Sadly, their image got tainted by the somewhat goofy "In A Gadda Da Vida", but check out their other stuff, it's awesome. Their first album "Heavy" (1966) contains some of the best American hard and heavy rock. Another favorite of mine is "Metamorphosis" -- massively great rocking.
Rare Bird
01-06-2011, 23:12
Just checked them out on youtube and they are on the 'to get list'.
Great stuff Demon Fuzz are probably the nearest thing you'll get to Cymande sound imho..you'll probably like the excellent Noir 'We Had To Let You Have It' tracks such as ''In Memory of Lady X'' & ''Rain''
Thing Fish
04-06-2011, 07:23
Everyone should at least briefly check out Mr Ron Sexsmith...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X2LJ-BEBhY
Swedish prog rock band Anekdoten, mellotron, musicianship and the nearest comparison I can think of is 1970s King Crimson.
km8cRhmbIaI&feature=player_detailpage
kininigin
20-06-2011, 10:15
If you lke Cymande you bound to like Demon Fuzz
An original copy i was watching on ebay just went for £108,think i'll buy the re-issue :lol:
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