Ahh, The Decemberists, I like them too, the King is Dead, I've hammered that album. Other stuff... love the Kinks, Stone Roses, The Smiths, Some Verve (Northern soul album) Bon Ivor, Ryan Adams, Midlake, XX, Neil Young (live from massey hall is good), and not to everyones taste, but the Wild Beasts. Oh and Radiohead yes, and I've been giving the Clash a go recently, London Calling and all that.
Don't have too much to add to this. I dig the vast majority of the bands mentioned here and also have to say that Muse are an astounding live act. I only wish I'd been about to see AC/DC when Bon Scott was still the man! Yet to be mentioned are Supergrass and the Fun Lovin Criminals - equally awesome three-pieces to see live. For those that want to find some gems in the making, I am lucky enough to have very good friends in two up and coming bands and if this weren't an era where you don't get signed up unless you use samples and could also be a model, they'd already be familiar names! But don't take my word for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4Ktr5QDlmg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogRBPWzABgQ
I could easily turn my post into an entire tribute to XTC. A band who took all their influences, and there were many, and when they didn't equal them, they surpassed them. Music is a very personal thing, and when I listen to XTC, it's as if they are talking to me. It's little wonder that most of the people I know personally just find them annoying. They say dismissive things like, Oh you like that band from Andover, don't you..? Swindon, actually. Well, up there then. What did they do..? I reel off a list of XTC singles, generally my least favourite tracks of theirs, ending with Making Plans For Nigel. That's the one, they say, as if I had been muttering some sort of Chinese dialect leading up to the title. And that's the trouble with XTC. They were always slightly invisible up against brasher bands like Simple Minds [who I liked a lot], Dire Straits [who evolved to bore the pants off me], The Police [Stuart Copeland - fabulous syncopated drummer; Andy Summers - waisted guitarist; Sting - egotistical pr!ck], etc... You either get XTC or you don't. If you are a total stranger to them, one listen to any unknown random track will most likely have you scurrying back to your favourite music from any era. However, if you liked Beatles [I confess I think I'm all Beatled out], Beach Boys, Kinks, Hollies, early Pink Floyd, Yes, and a host of other bands, chances are that you'll grow to like, if not love XTC. I love them that much that they are my band. Although, if someone else shows enough enthusiasm I'm happy to share experiences of songs. But they won't have the same first name and initials as Andy Partridge and tinnitus, as I do. So there..! Beach Boys. F*** me. Brian Wilson has no peer as a song writer. Their early stuff was earth shattering at the time, but now sounds like dated pinball playing, chewing gum, seaside and surfing music [the sound of which they didn't invent] that it probably is. Then they started to rebel, the evidence of which was heard on a few B sides, but came into force with Pet Sounds, which blew everyone away. Occasionally, Pet Sounds will catch me off guard, and still blow me away. Thereafter, the list of magical BB songs seemed endless, although it was pretty much 10-15 years, before they stopped being properly creative. Harmonies never sounded so good and for a while they were so far ahead of their time they were in a parallel universe. Occasionally, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young made/make some gorgeous music. I can listen to the album CSN [without Neil Young, this time] over and over again, without a break. Others..? I'm on/off doing a spreadsheet of my Vinyl, CD, MP3 collection, and the separate bands are reaching the high hundreds [Le God knows where the albums are going], so it's difficult. Of course, Led Zep, Yes, Pink Floyd, Bowie, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Gabriel, Moody Blues, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Costello, Cream, Traffic, etc... But I also like/love [early] Dire Straits, Argent, America, Blur, Talking Heads, Donovan, Gary Numan [honest], Gong [who..?], John Martyn, Laurie Anderson [O Superman, remember..?], Michael Hedges, Stranglers, Nick Drake, Pat Metheny, Rory Gallagher, Cars, Kinks, The Art of Noise and even The Spinners. And others that I'm not going to flick through to remind me. Plus I like/love Mozart, Elgar, Verdi, you name it, I like much classical music, I don't like Bach, but I do like Burt Bacharach. To do a quick Fast Show thingy, this morning I have mostly been listening to Andy McKee. Look him up on YouTube. I recommend All Laid Back and Stuff and Tight Trite Night, for starters.
I love both of those tracks. Brilliant filming for the first one as well. I'll watch out for those guys!
Yeah. For example, Steamboat is one of my favourite tracks to sing to myself when I'm riding my motorbike, because it stops me speeding, and because it is simply beautiful. It also reminds me of when I lived in NZ, and rode on the SS Earnslaw [Look up a photo and you'll get it]. Have you listened to any of brother Carl's work..? Got to go to work. Be back later.
Some great bands mentioned already. <oK> Was in London recently and got invited to see this band in Camden Town, called Warehouse Republic or WR and they've played the 100 Club, the O2 etc. I liked them anyway, 'Classic Rock' magazines, one's to watch! In this video is Hollywood actress Rachel Hurd-Wood (Hugh Laurie's niece). [video=youtube;I08d4Wh4xQ8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I08d4Wh4xQ8&feature=BFa&list=PL67D173EA22C87D1B&lf=plcp[/video] Other stuff here: http://soundcloud.com/warehouserepublic
If you have a girl round and you want to get your willy wet, just play this... [video=youtube;E98IYokujSY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E98IYokujSY[/video] Yet to fail.
Not listened to Carl Wilson in particular, and its the solo album 'Pacific Ocean Blue' from Dennis Wilson that I've listened to on occasion, there are some lovely tracks on that, very honest stuff.
Brian Wilson's tours over here a few years ago were the best concerts I've been to. His voice had gone of course but the music was sublime. Crosby, Stills and Nash tours even without Neil Young were always musically brilliant. One of the best live bands for atmosphere were Lindisfarne who always had the audience joining in with the nostalgia. The Love with Arthur Lee gig at the Brook was very special, one of his last appearances sadly. One of the best current touring bands is the Zombies with Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent - the voice and keyboard wizardry are still there.
At the moment I can't stop listening to Spiritualized and Neil Young (including Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). I always have time for 'post rock' bands like Mogwai, Sigur Ros, Godspeed You! Black Emperor etc. - all those who mentioned they liked Muse should look up the latter, you'll be blown away
Ah you lucky beggar! Just got my hands on Spacemen 3 limited vinyl release (less than 1000 made) with alternate mixes of Transparent Radiation and Ecstacy Symphony. So good
[video=youtube;Wo17ungbCEA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo17ungbCEA[/video] May look like Phil Lynott has been resurected for an Urban Outfitters ad, but this band have a tiiight rhythm section
