Cool @boxer12, I love Don Dixon (and his wife Marti Jones), and haven't heard from him in quite a while. He's a very talented guy---songwriter, singer, producer, multi-instrumentalist.
What unknown musical artist would you like to share with your fellow audiophiles?
When it comes to music, about half of my friends are "collectors" and the other half are true audiophiles. It seems the collectors are so obsessed with the size of their collections, that they leave no room in their budget for quality audio equipment. I think the audiophiles, with their focus on quality over quantity, are the ones with their priorities straight. So, unless you are on an unlimited budget, I'm guessing that audiophiles are more selective in their musical purchases. That being the case, I'm curious about what "buried treasures" have you been able to find? Thanks for responding and I look forward to discovering some good music, based on your suggestions.
I'll lead off with the band Crack The Sky, most notably their first two albums: "Crack The Sky" (1975) and "Animal Notes" (1976). I would describe them as a cross between Be Bop Deluxe and Frank Zappa. Their music is unique and totally unmistakable with anyone else. Choice cuts from the debut album are: "Ice;" She's a Dancer;" "Mind Baby" & "Sleep." Choice cuts from Animal Notes are: "Animal Skins;" "Wet Teenager;" Virgin....No" & "Maybe I Can Fool Everybody."
I'll lead off with the band Crack The Sky, most notably their first two albums: "Crack The Sky" (1975) and "Animal Notes" (1976). I would describe them as a cross between Be Bop Deluxe and Frank Zappa. Their music is unique and totally unmistakable with anyone else. Choice cuts from the debut album are: "Ice;" She's a Dancer;" "Mind Baby" & "Sleep." Choice cuts from Animal Notes are: "Animal Skins;" "Wet Teenager;" Virgin....No" & "Maybe I Can Fool Everybody."
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I saw Moritz Eggert many years ago. There’s really nothing else like him. http://www.moritzeggert.de/ |
@n80 I agree that some feedback would be nice; but, in everyone's defense I'm sure that they're busy with the holidays right now. And, if they are old school and rely on vinyl or CD's, then there's going to be an additional delay waiting for their purchase to show up. I listened to the Teskey Brothers and I was impressed. What has been happening recently with the neo-soul revival is very encouraging, be it the Teskey Brothers, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Nathaniel Rateliff or Leon Bridges (there's a new kid out of Atlanta who I like even better than Leon Bridges, but his name escapes me). What is discouraging about the neo-soul revival is that we lost Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley way too early. It hurts worse when you realize how long both of them waited for some success; but, at least Bettye LaVette is finally getting her due. But, I've got to say that the musicianship has not caught up yet. Until I hear a riff or the overall playing that can rival the playing on "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," I will remain a bit skeptical. |
@fmpnd Monty Python humor. We all have our burdens to carry. ;-) I think it would nice on threads like this if folks checked out other folks' recommendations and reported back on how they liked them. There have been a wide variety of recommendations here and not everyone is going to like them all but it is fun to hear when someone hears a new act for the first time that they fall in love with. |
Listen to Qui! Post-punk art jazz nosie in the best of grooves. Having recorded albums with David Yow (Scratch Acid & Jesus Lizard) and Trevor Dunn (bass man for the Bangles) and the Melvins producing and playing too they have some of the best vinyl out there. There stuff will put any stereo to the test and drag the best out of them. Recent cover of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band's 'You Treat Me Like An Ashtry Heart' got great reviews from the Beefheart web master and all 'beefies' who have heard it. You can find them live in and around California most of the time and in Europe the rest of the time. Try SNUH or Qui with Trevor Dunn and see what she can do!!! |
PS. For female vocals check out: 1, Judith Owen 2. Jackie Allen For male vocals: 1. David Wilcox 2. Marc Cohn 3. Keller Williams ff you like jazz trumpeters, check out: Till Bronner (Love this guy - he cando it all, straight ahead jazz or bebop, blue-eyed soul, Brazilian, even movie soundtracks) check out his work with Take 6 and Al Jarreau here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=poahi8f_r_c For just plain fun,check out: Eddie From Ohio |
n80, THANK YOU!! I was beginning to feel like the Lone Ranger. If I had posted that 10 to 15 years ago I would’ve had 12 responses with hysterical MP quotes. Today, you’re my only saving grace. “Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries,,” |
Richard Thompson- easily one of the best 5 guitarists alive and a great songwriter everybody good covers him! Jerry Lawson and the Persuasions- one of the great voices of our lifetime. Iris Dement- the real deal in country, think of Tammy or Loretta earlier in their careers. I concur on Dave Edmunds. Albert Lee- guitarist extradonaire! Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown! |
Richdirector, +1 for Devandra Banhart. I love the simple song structure he exhibits in much of his music, as well as his wit. Same for Will Oldham but his style is completely different. three easy payments, You're welcome. mono is one of those bands that kind of grows on you. Didn't like them much the first time I heard them but pull them out of the collection for a listen often now. |
+ 1 on Jimmy LaFave. Great original material as well as covers. I think he curated the fine Jackson Browne tribute CD "Looking Into You," which happens to feature some Austin based artists: Bob Schneider, Eliza Gilkyson and Shawn Colvin. Another good source material for Austin based artists is the KGSR "Broadcasts" CD's. Volumes 1 (1993) thru 16 (2008) are worth seeking out. These CD's are full of fantastic acoustic performances by well known artists, as well as a good share of Austin based artists that are not as well known as they should be. |
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Wolf, I drove to Austin with my bass player partner in 2008, to see what the housing market was like. We were thinking of moving there and hiring ourselves out as a rhythm section (but ended up not doing it). We checked into a fleabag motel and went downtown to get a beer. The bar we went into had a small stage (I don't think there's a bar in Austin without one ;-), on it a drumset and a couple of amps. The band was on break, but soon returned to play another set. To my utter surprise, the guitarist was Redd Volkaert! For those who don't know, Redd was Merle Haggards' guitarist for many years, including 2008. I assume Haggard was off the road, and Redd was living in Austin, doing casuals around town. Arbert Lee (Emmylou Harris, The Everly Brothers) use to play this little bar in Ventura (on the coast between L.A. and Santa Barbara), and on those nights the place was always packed with guitar players, coming to watch, listen, and learn. He always closed the night with "Country Boy", a real showpiece for his abilities. By the way, Alberts' current drummer is a friend of hi-fi retailer Brian Berdan (that's how I met him), and his speakers are stacked Quads! |
@boxer12 clem snide was a great call ..... people less known from me: LoFi ish 1. bonnie prince billy - despite 14 odd albums also under the pseudonym of Will Oldham etc 2. Bill Callahan / smog 3. Micah P Hinson - something like 3 albums produced in as many years 4 Jeff tweedy solo stuff outside wilco 5 king creosote Scottish folkie - nice coproduction with Jon Hopkins but I like scotland with love as well. 6 devandra banhart 7 the welcome wagon 8 ryley walker 9 loney dear 10 Findlay Napier - glasgow and VIP are the better ones 11 Laura marling - May be too big to be undiscovered This is the kit, Anna Burch, gun outfit, Gwenifer Raymond dancier world - South African chap called john wizards old African funk like William Onyeabor etc ok that’s my list as I cook without much thinking |
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Thanx @ tparr for reminding me of The Sneetches. I had one of their CD's back in the day and it was very good. Your comment about liking something "a bit more complex" really hit home with me. I like that same trait in my music; but, I also think it's a potential "kiss of death" with most mainstream music fans. When I'm at the gym, I can't avoid hearing the latest pop songs by the likes of Swifty and Gaga, and I can't help but notice the common thread of "3 word choruses that get repeated 15 - 25 times in a row." A few of my obscure 80's & 90's power pop favorites include: DADA; GENE (very Smith's like); THE RAILWAY CHILDREN & THE REIVERS. Also, check out Sinead O'Connor's album "Collaborations." In addition to great versions of Ian Dury's "Wake Up and Make Love To Me" and The Colourfield's "Monkey in Winter," she does a spine tingling duet with DAMIEN DEMPSEY called "It's All Good!" |
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Love these kind of threads and thanks, Mitch, as I always enjoy discovering new music. i am a long time fan of horn bands - especially in the style of 70s funk or jazz rock bands. Anyone who knows me knows I am a HUGE Tower of Power fan (not sure if they fall into the unknown artist category) . . . but if your like such horn bands try these artists: 1. Lighthouse (Canadian 13 piece band from the 70s) 2. Mandrill 3. Puzzle 4. Funk Filharmonik 5. Doctor Funk 6. Phat Phunction 7. Prime Time Funk 8. Five Alarm Funk (Canadian) 9. Ten Wheel Drive 10. Cold Blood 11. Sage 12. Sante Fe & The Fat City Horns 13. Here Come the Mummies 14. Mingo Fishtrap 15. Jack Mack and the Heart Attack 16. The Boneshakers 17. Strokeland Superband Next, as The Monty Python Flying Circus Show used to say: “And now, for something completely different . . . “ If if you like relaxing folk music especially by a talented singer/songwriter with a silky golden voice listen to: Michael Tomlinson I’ve now probably worn out my welcome — so I leave you with these words of wisdom: “I FART in your general direction!” (Seriously hope there is at least ONE Monty Python fan out there!) |
I would add Tom “The Suit” Forst. He is a blues artist my wife had in one of her executive MBA classes. As soon as he wrote the last college tuition check for his aon, he retired and began olaying blues in the North East. He has a number of CDs out. He began performin on stage in a suit as that is all his wardrobe had, much to the xhagrin of his kids. He as grown his hair out and wears red tennis shoes now, with his aignature suit. We have his CDs, great music! |
A band that has been around since the early 90s, has turned out many fine albums, tours generally small venues often, yet still somehow manages to fly under the radar is Low. Really amazing indie rock with an emphasize on a brilliantly minimalist sound. Saw them live earlier in the year and I just immersed myself in their sound. |
Thanks to NUTTY and YYZSANTABARBARA for bringing Canadian artists into the discussion. I grew up in a state that borders Canada; so, I've always had an affinity for Canadian music. I was working in a record store when "Dinner At The Ritz" by City Boy came out. I remember their record company made a real effort to promote it; but, it just didn't sell. As for The Tragically Hip, that's a great band. It's a shame about Gord Downie's recent death; but, at least people are starting to talk about them again. My favorite Canadian band is Martha and The Muffins (aka M + M). The only band that I can compare them too is the Talking Heads. But, what really made some of their best records ("Danseparc" in 83 and "Mystery Walk" in 84) stand out was the exceptional production by Daniel Lanois. The first record he ever produced was "This Is the Ice Age" by Martha and The Muffins in 1981, because Daniel's sister Jocelyne was the band's bass player at the time. Three years later Daniel is co -producing "The Unforgettable Fire" (U2) with Brian Eno. So, Daniel made it big but M + M never did. Another good Canadian band worth checking out is Crash Vegas, who also had Jocelyn Lanois as a band member on their debut album "Red Earth." |
How about Gary Clark, Jr? He's been around a little while but you won't hear him on many radio stations. Very hard to put him in a box. Amazing Hendrix like rock guitarist and on his debut album Blak & Blu there are a couple of very hard rocking songs and a remake of Henrdrix' Third Stone from the Sun which will pin your ears back. But on the same album he has smooth R&B and even a tinge of hip hop. His second album has less hard rock sound but more blues to it. His acoustic song "Church" is stunning in its soulfullness, sadness, and simplicity. https://youtu.be/FgbUcJA6ivE |
One way I am discovering music is via ROON (or maybe Tidal). I am getting artists added to my virtual library based on the music I have played. I am now starting to appreciate this feature. I know a lot of people complain about this feature because it clutters up their library but I don't mind having to wade through unknown artists on my virtual library. |
A great Canadian group that is under the radar in the USA is The Tragically Hip. Lead singer recently died of cancer and the group is no more but check out the first 4 releases. They are the easiest to get into. The newer stuff is also very good but I do love the first few. Up to Here Road Apples Fully Completely Day for Night |
I think you can be a collector without being an audiophile or a music lover. Collecting often takes on its own reason to exist. What is collected can become secondary to the collecting or the collection. I think you can be an audiophile without being a collector or a music lover. Equipment can get to be the focus or a certain effect like sound stage or holography can become more important to the music. I think you can be a music lover without being an audiophile or a collector and just enjoy music when and where you find it. I think being a music lover and an audiophile opens a lot of avenues for enjoyment and appreciation. Add collector to those two and those avenues can become broader or even narrower depending on the impulse to collect. I’m a music lover first, audiophile second, collector is way down the line even though that impulse might be latent. I also agree about 21st century music. Especially rock. I know you can find decent stuff if you spend the time and do the legwork. But in years past there was a lot, and I mean a lot, of good stuff right there in your face. I struggle to find new bands that give me any hope for rock and roll. That’s one of the reasons I like The Struts so much. In the same way the Teskey Brother give me hope for the bluesier R&B scene which is pretty stagnant too. One of the things I like about both of these bands is that even though they are retro, it isn't kitchy or cheesy. They love the older music and are putting their hearts into it. They aren't just cover acts trying to be someone else. They are using the old flavors but making their own dish. |
Thanks @bdp24 for your stories. As for Duke Levine's session work, I'll add the early Jonatha Brooke albums to your list of where I first heard Duke's playing. I just thought of another guitar player......are you familiar with Johnny A? I like him a lot; but, his use (or over use) of reverb drives one of my friends crazy. |
Thanks @mitchagain. I know of Duke from his work with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, and Bill Morrissey, and I have his own Lava album on CD. Great player! As is Jim Campilongo, who is pretty well known in the Bay Area, where I grew up. Jim has worked with another Telecaster player (pretty much all my favorite guitarists play them) I like a lot, Al Anderson, formerly of NRBQ. I myself have worked with quite a few Tele players, including Gattons’ old friend and bandmate, wildman Evan Johns. When I recorded with him (on his Moontan album), he plugged straight into a Fender blackface Super Reverb, cranked up to 10. Damn was that thing loud! His normal rig was a Deluxe Reverb, but he didn’t have it with him in Atlanta for the albums’ recording. Evan finally died of liver failure (my God did that man drink) just last year. |
Although we have an international music scene, there are still many artists that don't seem to cross the pond. There are many US artists here that are new to me, so here are a couple of UK artists that might be new to you. John Martyn, a great Singer Songwriter, Folk Rock artist, who died too young, another victim of drink and drugs. "Solid Air" is one of my all time favourites, or "The Apprentice", or anything Kate Rusby, a great Yorkshire folk singer, Again you could buy anything, but "10", "Sleepless", "Underneath the Stars", are all wonderful. Thanks for all the suggestions |
I've worked with 2 current Telecaster geniuses, Julian Lage and Jim Campilongo, neither of whom are well known really except to anybody who has heard them play. Lage turned to Telecasters after years with hollow bodied jazz boxes and acoustic guitars being his thing, and now with his trio and the most recent Nels Cline "Currents, Constellations" album (mind blowing) he's soaring out there. His two trio albums are pure magic. Just saw his trio at Berklee and he's simply amazing for both his beautiful technique and songwriting, and really among the best. I've been a fan of Campilongo since the "Little Willys" Nora Jones thing and saw his trio the first time at the now defunct Living Room in NYC. Did a show with him later in CT and man...there's a mind blowing Tele player right there, with an astonishing command of the thing...above the nut harmonic bends galore. Brilliant. |
For the Dead Can Dance fans: You might want to check out Volume 1 of the KCRW "Rare On Air" series of CD's, as it contains Brendan Perry doing a great acoustic version of "The Captive Heart." Some other highlights from these series are: Volume 2 contains Lloyd Cole's stunning cover of Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat;" and, this is one of the only recorded versions that you'll find of this song. Volume 3 has a haunting version of "She's Gone" by The Tindersticks. Volume 4 has a very good version of "So Real" by Jeff Buckley. |
I think that when we talk about new or different or 'unknown' those terms are relative. Probably not many quality recorded acts that no one here will have never heard of. But there will be lots of those that not many of us have heard of. I mentioned The Struts. They've been on the late night shows and were sort of the anchor act for the Victoria Secret Fashion show recently. So hardly unknown and they've been touring for 4 years. Still, a lot of folks here probably haven't heard of them. One of my favorite and much lesser known acts is the Teskey Brothers. Heard of them here on Audiogon. If you like R&B in the vein of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, etc, you'll like these white kids from Australia. Good stuff. I emailed their agent a few weeks ago and they will be touring the US this summer. |
