Rutgers Collector
07-10-2007, 08:13 PM
I rarely have time to listen to new music, so it's usually the old standbys-the Dead, Little Feat, REM, 10,000 Maniacs, Jackson Browne.
I have pretty eclectic taste, ranging from Reggae to Country to Hard Rock (no metal), but I've always had a soft spot for female singers, so 10,000 Maniacs and Indigo Girls have always been a couple of my favorites and I like alot of the less-twangy stuff that the Dixie Chicks do.
Given my weakness for the girls, I decided to check out the two current critical darlings, Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen (I know, I'm behind the time, but I'm also 42 with a 6- and a 6-year old). Here's my take: Amy Winehouse is overrated in my book. Jazz pop has been done alot better by Nina Simone and even Erykah Badu in years past. Lily Allen, on the other hand, was a revelation. I knew nothing about her going in, and her album blew me away. Thinking it was going to be some harmless Brit pop, instead it's this hybrid ska/reggae/punk/pop with some of the harshest, foulest lyrics about breakups you will ever hear. Don't play it around the kiddies. I am listening to this album constantly.
One of my co-workers last year turned me onto a group called Ten Mile Tide that I also highly recommend. Migraine may know them, as they are an independent SF band. They recently switched lead singers and sound like your standard Dead wannabe band (think Solar Circus, for you old Deadheads who know what I'm talking about), but their first two albums are great, kind of like a folk pop.
I'd be happy to upload some songs if anyone is interested in hearing some of this stuff, and look forward to some suggestions.
I have pretty eclectic taste, ranging from Reggae to Country to Hard Rock (no metal), but I've always had a soft spot for female singers, so 10,000 Maniacs and Indigo Girls have always been a couple of my favorites and I like alot of the less-twangy stuff that the Dixie Chicks do.
Given my weakness for the girls, I decided to check out the two current critical darlings, Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen (I know, I'm behind the time, but I'm also 42 with a 6- and a 6-year old). Here's my take: Amy Winehouse is overrated in my book. Jazz pop has been done alot better by Nina Simone and even Erykah Badu in years past. Lily Allen, on the other hand, was a revelation. I knew nothing about her going in, and her album blew me away. Thinking it was going to be some harmless Brit pop, instead it's this hybrid ska/reggae/punk/pop with some of the harshest, foulest lyrics about breakups you will ever hear. Don't play it around the kiddies. I am listening to this album constantly.
One of my co-workers last year turned me onto a group called Ten Mile Tide that I also highly recommend. Migraine may know them, as they are an independent SF band. They recently switched lead singers and sound like your standard Dead wannabe band (think Solar Circus, for you old Deadheads who know what I'm talking about), but their first two albums are great, kind of like a folk pop.
I'd be happy to upload some songs if anyone is interested in hearing some of this stuff, and look forward to some suggestions.