Any modern rock recommendations?

Nightmare Air

@jtucker 

I'm generally in the same boat. I am very fickle in terms of what I like. I've listened to a lot of what has been recommended here. Most leaves me cold.

Black Keys, Gary Clark, Jr., Jack White and some others have stellar stuff. Gary Clark's later stuff is not my cup of tea.

I was a big fan of many of the 90's grunge bands back in their heyday but that did not stick except with the Smashing Pumpkins. I still give them a listen from time to time.

I think King Buffalo only got  mentioned once. I heard them for the first time last night and they hooked me right away. I've only listened to their latest album, Regenerator. Very hard progressive style rock. Maybe 'heavy metal' but not thrash or speed metal which I don't like. Definitely retro. Guitar heavy. Instrumental heavy but some lyrics/singing. Tracks are long and rambling and you can get lost in them (in a good way). Definitely progressive. I get Pink Floyd, Rush, Sabbath, Yes, even a little Sweet but it is not glam at all. One thing I really like about this album is that it does not seem to be over compressed and seems generally well recorded.

Several people have also mentioned The Struts, They are retro-glam-rock but still creative and original. Mostly pop but it is rock and roll no doubt. I'd start with the first and second album. Third album done during COVID is pretty bad. Most recent album is okay but they seem to have left the glam behind and gone a little more sophisticated and I don't think it suits them. They're biggest strength is their live performances. I seen them four times and have rarely seen an audience jump, dance and sing through a whole show like with the Struts. A little more subdued with this last album but still a great show.

I'll also throw in a somewhat retro band that I saw live a year or two called Mac Saturn from Detroit. Only one album called Hard to Sell.  Great album in my opinion. Talented musicians all the way around. Charismatic front man. Fantastic live show. Sadly they seem to have disintegrated and are not touring. Doubt there will be a second album.

Ah hell, you need to get a listen to Sturgill Simpson's classic album "A Sailor's Guide to Earth", which defies all genres and slides between Country, Rock, Soul, and R&B. All wrapped up in the funkiest Psychedelia. He's the real deal. 

Brother, you really want to rock? Listen to Sturgill Simpson's "Sound and Fury". Really fine guitar work and some of the best words put to music in years. This guy is for real. He comes from the Alt. Country scene, but man, does he blow out your speakers. What a voice, what a presence.  

I was just listening to Close To The Edge  Yes CD.

Just after Breakfast With The Beatles on the radio 

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus sounds like a very good band.  I think I will try to catch their show in Ohio coming up in early August.

The Real Tuesday Weld

Omni

English Teacher

Gustaf

Them Crooked Vultures.

LCD Sound System

Team Dresch

Modern Lovers

Miya Folick

Julie ODell

Echo and the Bunnymen. 

Pixies, Kim Deal, Frank Black and the Catholic Boys.

The 1975 sounds like another great band I need to check out.

It can be tough nowadays since so much new 'rock' is 'indie rock', or 'singer/songwriter' stuff.  But, I think even back in the 70's, etc., it varied quite a bit.  You mentioned Steely Dan and AC/DC in the same list, but boy, those are quite different!

Others have mentioned Jack White, and I think he has been a modern rock innovator.  Personally, I like his solo albums Blunderbuss and Lazaretto best. His sound has been imitated by a few (at least to a degree), which I think is a compliment to him.

I like Chris Stapleton's music as well.  He bridges between country and rock/blues, which makes him unique.  A lot of his songs are about women, love, drinking, and yes, even the occasional dog.  But, I think he is a great songwriter and guitarist.

A trio group I'll mention is The Wood Brothers.  They cover a range of styles, and again, are good songwriters with catchy lyrics.

The Killers have already been mentioned, and I'll jump on that one as well as a good modern rock band with good songwriting.

with the old bands you mentioned you may have missed a bunch of quality music in that same 1970's-1990's era. Since streaming became popular I have re-discovered several artists that I had left behind. I'm now 65 years old and have an even grater appreciation for Kansas, 38 Special, Gregg Allman, George Thorogood, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band and others. Start with Kansas' Song for America and Masque albums. Just let your streaming channel give you some samples and enjoy exploring.

Polyphia, a predominantly instrumental rock band, features some of the most talented young musicians in the music industry. Their collaboration with Steve Vai on the song “Ego Death!” is a must-listen. I have linked it below.

Ego Death: Featuring Steve Vai

Motorpsycho https://youtu.be/YPSW1GJ2Yzw?si=-aBAeZpbKK3oS2cC

https://youtu.be/NZkOoVkOy1A?si=95-txcnsUAsP0Dxu

All Them Witches

Sure, why not. Been around a while but worth watching a real live rock band.
https://youtu.be/Zinw_L-GQN8

Check out "Drop D", by Matteo Mancuso My best, MrD.

If you like 60's and 70's psychedelic rawk, I will throw these names out and you are welcome to thank me with a Gustard R26:

Messa- Italian rock band that has already toured USA twice in 1.5 years. Sara is the singer and she is awesome 

Colour Haze - these lads from Munich are powered by Stefen Koglek's monster guitar rig of Sunn and Soldano and this is some glorious music

Sacri Monti - San Diego's finest laying down groovy rock - contains organ. 

Temple Fang - Amsterdam psych rock. Tidal needs to increase their offerings 

Causa Sui - Danish psych rock and lucky for me Tidal has it all

also ... altJ , Mythic Sunshine , OM (Al Cisnero's Band), Dead Meadow, Church of the Cosmic Skull, Siena Root , King Witch from Scotland with a female singer that could level a house ala Janis Joplin, Tommy Guerrero, Motorpsycho (incredible band from Norway. Start with their earlier rock slabs) , Infected Mushroom , Besvärjelsen

If you like 60's and 70's psychedelic rawk, I will throw these names out and you are welcome to thank me with a Gustard R26:

Messa- Italian rock band that has already toured USA twice in 1.5 years. Sara is the singer and she is awesome 

Colour Haze - these lads from Munich are powered by Stefen Koglek's monster guitar rig of Sunn and Soldano and this is some glorious music

Sacri Monti - San Diego's finest laying down groovy rock - contains organ. 

Temple Fang - Amsterdam psych rock. Tidal needs to increase their offerings 

Causa Sui - Danish psych rock and lucky for me Tidal has it all

also ... altJ , Mythic Sunshine , OM (Al Cisnero's Band), Dead Meadow, Church of the Cosmic Skull, Siena Root , King Witch from Scotland with a female singer that could level a house ala Janis Joplin, Tommy Guerrero, Motorpsycho (incredible band from Norway. Start with their earlier rock slabs) , Infected Mushroom 🍄, Besvärjelsen

I am definitely going to check out Ronnie Winter and his band.

Try listening to Lake Street Dive and Ray Lamontange

Press Club – Great, powerful female-fronted rock band from Melbourne. Four albums, all really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep03FB-Fsh8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D80ZdEkLPIY

Weezer still sound real good to me.

Teaser Sweet.  Their new album is Night Stalker.  If you like heavy metal check them out.  

I’m going to try and give some under the radar recs.

autolux

black space riders

Deaf radio

Dewolff

eagles of death metal

the kills

king buffalo

Lemmo

Mos generator

the muggs

Nightstalker

sasquatch

Ty segall

not under the radar

coheed and cambria 

wolfmother

I'd like to suggest some female Rockers.  Halestorm is more pop bedroom wall poster writing but driving.  Call Me Crazy is a good tune.  

Dorothy is a great voice and songwriter.  Slash thought enough of her talent to make an album together.  I like Haunted House.

Speaking of Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators World On Fire is turn it up type music and Slash is perfect fit to Myles after GNR called it quits.

My final recommendation is The Pretty Reckless. Taylor Monsen is the first woman to front a band that earned 7 #1 singles.  Outstanding voice, superb musician and some deep songwriting.  I enjoy the band immensely! 

If you like Jethro Tull and or Yes, check out The Barock Project album Detachment.

+1 on jack white

A lot of young women in rock these days. I like Haim as a rock trio. Willow is a pretty kickass jazzy rocker, Sharon van Etten (e.g. every time the sun comes up), Fazerdaze is a psych rocker from New Zealand, Lawrence is a heavy funk rock band.

Enjoy!

Catching up on rock from the last 45 years! 

---Benjamin Booker

---Cadillac Tramps

---Craig Finn and his various bands

---Turbo ACs

---Queens of the Stone Age

There is really lots of great rock music.  As good as it ever was.  It’s just not mainstream like it used to be. IMHO much of today's rock and related music is more of an acquired taste and repeat listening is in order.  One has to learn the language, as it were. 

Some great recommendations.

My dad is a 78 y/o hippie.  Fading into Alzheimers.

He and I share a love (he bestowed) of 70s +/- classic rock.

Zeppelin, Floyd, Jimi, Beatles (late) etc etc.

I love more than anything when one of "my bands" moves his needle.

He and my uncle are now both My Morning Jacket fans.  Live and studio...lots on vinyl 

Along with the two Katatonia CD’s here are some more I recently bought:

Savatage - The Wake Of Magellan 

Nektar - Recycled Bacillus 

Porcupine Tree - Deadwing

Porcupine Tree - In Absentia

The Ocean - Anthropocentric 

John Prine - Missing Years 

Mogwai - Rock Action 

Moth - Provisions, Action and Gear

Moth - Immune To Gravity 

The Shins - Oh, Inverted World 

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psycho Candy

Royal Thunder - Wick

The Black Watch - Jiggery-Pokery

Charlie XCX - Brat It's the Same But There's Three More Songs

Dead Kennedy's - Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables 

The Killers… The Struts….

COLLECTIVE SOUL …… 

Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance and Night Is the New Day - two great prog rock albums.

i tell ya, im a big fan of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats

Greta Van Fleet

All,

I've been starting to work thru the suggestions.  I've heard some pretty good stuff, but so far nothing that is exactly what I'm after.  I suppose I need to build a spreadsheet to keep track...I'll post another update next week.  Thanks!

+1 Tool

Your should also check out LP (Laura Pergolizzi)

Whiskey Myers and Blackberry Smoke are about the only two I know of. I’m 70 so I’m of the 1964 to 1974 was the best music era.

The Pretty Reckless are fantastic especially if you're looking for some great, old school, bombastic rock and roll. I like Big Thief. Can get heavy into their lead singer's soft vocals but can produce some driving rock like 'Not' at times. Really nice, basic four piece garage rock. You have The Illuminati Hotties and their 'tenderpunk'. Sharon Van Etten. Pom Pom Squad gets points for dark humor with an album titled Death of a Cheerleader. If you like the sound of Pink Floyd who are definitely not heavy metal rock and rollers, you might like curiously enough Lana del Rey. Songs like Venice Bitch with their lengthy, spacy instrumental passages remind me of Floyd. 

Rival sons, the struts, blackberry smoke, tedeschi trucks

and no one mentioned yet:

black midi

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

brittany Howard 

Alabama Shakes 

Spoon

there are SO MANY great randr bands today. 

Try giving-- Nothing but Thieves -- a listen . 

Although I like all four of their albums . The first ( self titled )and their newest one

Dead Club City .  I feel are the best . Give them some time though .
 

I second this rec. Nothing But Thieves is one of the best bands to have emerged over the past couple decades. I find every track on every album is at least listenable. I rarely encounter that much talent in an artist anymore. I saw them live in Kansas City a couple years ago. They are every bit as good live as in the studio. 
 

I find they are somewhat a slow burn in terms of likeableness, however. They definitely have their own style, like grunge, pop, punk, yacht and ballad rock all rolled into one. My girlfriend didn’t like their music until we saw them live, now she “gets it,” and is a huge fan. 

More alternative than rock but one of my favorites is Beat Circus;

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_Circus
 

And Goose is influenced by Grateful Dead culture while being all original; 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_(American_band)

Ghost. Some songs are a bit heavy, which I like but have a kind of a classic rock sound.

No Name by Jack White

I highly recommend checking out the YouTube channel Sea of Tranquility.  Tons of great content with reviews, discussions, shows, etc. Emphasis on rock, metal, prog, and fusion.  Some jazz thrown in. They have a website too.  Great resource for music, old and new. I have found so many bands from the 70s that I’ve never heard of before!

Explore and enjoy!

Great techno Brit punk with brilliant, dark, hilarious lyrics: Sleaford Mods. Most hilarious opening lyric ever: "The smell of piss is so strong, it smells like nice bacon "