I like their first self-titled album Carolin No. Great stuff.
October Project - The Ghost of Childhood is one of my favorites.
Favorite Albums Not in the Mainstream Found on Streaming Services
What are your favorite albums you have found on streaming services in any genera that would not be considered in the mainstream? What I mean by not in the mainstream are albums form artists generally less well known, that do not get media attention or … albums from artists that chart but the particular album does not get the same level of media attention.
For example, surfing Qobuz, I recently found a live album from German artist, Loveland by Carolin No, a pop singer not popular in the US, that fuses unusual, complex and freeform improvisational structures from jazz, country and rock. I find myself getting lost in her freeform style. Her studio recordings do not go as far with the improvisational structure. The live recording is a well produced live album that retrieves the ambience of the large hall and solid bass, with slightly distant miking, producing correct dynamics for the miking … soft but I’m my opinion correct for the distance. It is far from an audiophile’s standard from an engineering perspective but more than decent. I recommend a listen.
I hope to hear some of your recent finds.
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@sfgak Great choice of an album not in the mainstream from two mainstream megastars. I do not know of it being available on streaming services, and it is out of print. If you know where I can get a digital copy, let me know. By the way, did you listen to the Cunningham Bird album, an unusual, stripped version of the Buckingham Nicks songs? Birds violin interplays with guitars and Cunningham voice is crystalline, as opposed to Nicks dense virbrato. The album has what I may describe as modern chamber music quality to a small degree. The engineering is of audiophile quality. It streams on Qobuz. For a polar opposite take on the great set of Buckingham Nicks compositions, give the Cunningham Bird interpretations a listen. |
@jsalerno277 Oops... I misread your post to be asking for favorite albums not in the mainstream and also not on streaming services... As far as I know, Buckingham Nicks was never released in any digital form. I know there are at least two rips from the vinyl available on YouTube. Thank you for the pointer to Cunningham Bird. I just finished my listening session for the night, but this is now queued up for the next session. Always great to get quality recommendations like that. |
@sls883 Agreed. I like all of Carolin No’s albums. However, her freeform improvisational style that draws me in so deeply to the soaring exchanges between the piano, guitars, and percussion instruments is not as evident on the studio albums. That’s why I love the live recording more even though the studio albums are engineered better. |
@jsalerno277 have you listened to Angus and Julia Stone? Their self titled release and Down the Way are excellent. |
@sls883 Thanks. Just finished streaming Down the Way digits on Qobuz. Excellent choice. Never heard them before. I would characterize the album as a collection of a modern adaptation of late 60s acoustic psychedelic rock, similar in some ways a genetic hybrid of let’s say rock of The Fallen Angeles and Three Dog Night with the smooth, slow folk melodies of The Carpenters and The Mamas and the Papas, leading to a new sound. Decent recording engineering as well. |
@yyzsantabarbara Thank for your recommendations. I just extensively sampled all of the albums. Lux Prima - Karen O & Danger Mouse: I never listened to the band or album. I characterize the genera as melodic progressive rock with influences and flavors of The Moody Blues and Genesis, but smoother and lighter, especially as a factor of the female vocals. Much liked. Walter Trout - Broken was my favorite. How did I miss his piercing, invigorating, and highly technical, virtuoso blues guitar and vocals. This is also a well recorded blues-rock collection that brings his raw music to the forefront. The Maceo Parker recommendation is a well recorded live album. I had not heard of him prior to your recommendation. Funk is not one of my go to genre. That said, composition and performance is excellent. The Rick James recommendation was in my collection. While some of the songs are strict funk, a number are more melodic funk/R&B fusions that IMHO rival compositions by the great Stevie Wonder. These are the numbers that draw me to this album. Thanks.
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@jsalerno277 Glad you liked the albums. Maceo Parker is famous for being in one of James Brown's bands. When you hear James's shouting "Maceo" in many of his songs, it is for Maceo Parker. |
For jazz fiends ... a relatively new German group, Moses Yoofee Trio. Discovered on Qbz: If Rush was a jazz outfit this is what they would have sounded. Or maybe Steve Wilson ... (I just miss RUSH, way too much) https://mosesyoofeetrio.bandcamp.com/album/myt The drummer, Noah Furbringer is very out of his mind .... |
@jsalerno277 Thanks for the Cunningham Bird recommendation. Some interesting takes on the originals. I appreciated their nod to Bach's Air on a G String in their cover of Crystal. And Lola (My Love) was reminiscent of Suzanne Vega's style on Solitude Standing... and, as you promised, excellent recording and musicianship. |
Ooo @wharfy, good choice! That Tony Rice album alone justifies the purchase of a record player. I pair 80 bucks for a mint condition Sugar Hill Records original about six months ago, but it recently received a reissue on LP by Craft.
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