NationStates Jolt Archive

Does anyone on here like Lo-Fi bands like Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, Rogue Wave, or Neutral Milk Hotel?

If so recommend some good music to me.

I've never heard of those bands.

But can you briefly explain to me what 'lo-fi' is?

I've never heard of those bands.

But can you briefly explain to me what 'lo-fi' is?

Most singer/songwriters go with a lo-fi style. I don't know if you know Elliott Smith, but he is also lo-fi.

It describes more the production values of music, as they are very simplistic in their recording. Lo-fi music generally avoids large amounts of effects or heavily orchestrated music. It would be very difficult to find lo-fi music on the radio, as it is all heavily produced. The closest I could imagine being on the radio would be Johnny Cash's "Hurt". Although it did have a lot of production done to it, the sparse guitar and piano is very similar to what you would expect from the genre.

You could try some Billy Bragg.

It sounds as if a lot of his stuff fits in with that description.

Also a few Levellers track could qualify (especially those from Levelling the Land, and maybe a couple from Green Blade Rising).

Wishbone Ash. Been a while since I heard them, so I might be getting them mixed up with another band (I'll correct myself if I remember a mistake).

This is all I can think of off the top of my head.

You could try some Billy Bragg.

It sounds as if a lot of his stuff fits in with that description.

Also a few Levellers track could qualify (especially those from Levelling the Land, and maybe a couple from Green Blade Rising).

Wishbone Ash. Been a while since I heard them, so I might be getting them mixed up with another band (I'll correct myself if I remember a mistake).

This is all I can think of off the top of my head.

Are those readily available on the various p2p programs?

Are those readily available on the various p2p programs?

Should be. Billy Bragg will be, Levellers to a lesser extent (alternatively, I think they have a few songs available on their website http://www.levellers.co.uk). Not sure about Wishbone Ash though.

Should be. Billy Bragg will be, Levellers to a lesser extent (alternatively, I think they have a few songs available on their website http://www.levellers.co.uk). Not sure about Wishbone Ash though.

Billy Bragg probably comes closest to lo-fi on the early Peel sessions, but even then I think you are mistaking 'simple recording' for 'lo-fi'. Bragg will have gone for the best quality recording according to conventional wisdom even within the time constraints of the sessions, whereas lo-fi is more of a redefinition of what constitutes a 'good' recording. It isn't really the case that they are aiming at a purposefully bad quality recording, but rather, to paraphrase Eno, embracing accident as initial intention - the cracks and pops and hisses and buzzes of old equipment and the low dynamic range and peculiar compression that you get from old tape equipment is an integral part of the sound of lo-fi. It isn't really an aesthetic of simplicity, but rather one which consciously aims at a particular feel through the technology that is employed... of course the irony here is that the desks and mics and FX and tape machines that work well in the context of lo-fi have become somewhat desireable pieces of kit, and so often sell second-hand for more money than a much more powerful and clean sounding modern device, nevermind the fact that most modern equipment contains digital settings to reproduce the feeling of the raw analogue lo-fi sound...

EDIT: if you want some real folk music with an unintentional lo-fi sound, check out some of the Alan Lomax recordings.

Um... I'm a big Cat Stevens fan. :p :D

The Wurzels!!

The Wurzels own all.

(I probably spelt Wurzels wrong, that would be so typical.)

BWO, have you heard Iron & Wine's first album, The Creek Drank the Cradle? It was recorded by a guy in his basement. He recorded a guitar, banjo, steel guitar, and vocals on a four track. It is very good stuff.

I will check out the Lomax stuff, also.

BWO, have you heard Iron & Wine's first album, The Creek Drank the Cradle? It was recorded by a guy in his basement. He recorded a guitar, banjo, steel guitar, and vocals on a four track. It is very good stuff.

The name is familiar, but to say that I am not particularly au fait with contemporary music is understating things somewhat - i have the attitude of a magpie and just pick up things from here and there.

I will check out the Lomax stuff, also.

If you have access to usenet then check out he ongoing flood on alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.folk for plenty of fascinating stuff that he recorded. I'm currently listening to a recording he did of a 1930s prisoner singing Staggerlee unaccompanied in what I can only guess by the long echo is a quarry. Fantastic stuff.

The name is familiar, but to say that I am not particularly au fait with contemporary music is understating things somewhat - i have the attitude of a magpie and just pick up things from here and there.



If you have access to usenet then check out he ongoing flood on alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.folk for plenty of fascinating stuff that he recorded. I'm currently listening to a recording he did of a 1930s prisoner singing Staggerlee unaccompanied in what I can only guess by the long echo is a quarry. Fantastic stuff.

I would seriously check him out. He plays an Americana style of music that is timeless. He takes the whole way, just look at him:

http://music.download.com/i/mdl/media/10/05/20/38/6/100520386.jpeg

Here are some songs you download:

Naked As We Came (http://dw.com.com/redir?&destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fmusic-files.download.com%2Fmp3%2F100362524%2F100362641%2FIron_and_Wine-Naked_As_We_Came.mp3&edId=3&siteId=32&oId=3600-8575_32-100362522&ontId=8575&lop=link&tag=link&ltype=dl_192k&astId=2&pid=100362524&mfgId=100362522&merId=100362522)

Southern Anthem (http://dw.com.com/redir?&destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fmusic-files.download.com%2Fmp3%2F100362614%2F100362798%2FIron_and_Wine-Southern_Anthem.mp3&edId=3&siteId=32&oId=3600-8575_32-100362522&ontId=8575&lop=link&tag=link&ltype=dl_192k&astId=2&pid=100362614&mfgId=100362522&merId=100362522)

Lion's Mane (http://dw.com.com/redir?&destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fmusic-files.download.com%2Fmp3%2F100362612%2F100362796%2FIron_and_Wine-Lions_Mane.mp3&edId=3&siteId=32&oId=3600-8575_32-100362522&ontId=8575&lop=link&tag=link&ltype=dl_192k&astId=2&pid=100362612&mfgId=100362522&merId=100362522)

There are more that I would like to recommend but I will have to find them.

I would seriously check him out. He plays an Americana style of music that is timeless. He takes the whole way, just look at him:

Looks uncannily like Bonny Prince Billy to me.

He has done a couple of performances on KEXP that are available on their website.

This is off of his most recent recording:

Woman King (http://www.subpop.com/scripts/main/download.php?url=/downloads/free/Woman_King291.mp3&mid=291)

It is studio recorded and ventures a bit away from the lo-fi style, but is some of his best work yet.

Looks uncannily like Bonny Prince Billy to me.

Sounds similar as well.

Resurrected

Lo-fi stuff...
I don't have any suggestions, really. I'm looking for suggestions myself, so I'll be watching this topic.

The only suggestio I really have for anything is this free track by Elliot Smith is really good:
http://www.epitonic.com/files/reg/songs/mp3/Elliott_Smith-Waltz_No_1_(Demo).mp3

It's only 2.8 megs.

Lo-fi stuff...
I don't have any suggestions, really. I'm looking for suggestions myself, so I'll be watching this topic.

The only suggestio I really have for anything is this free track by Elliot Smith is really good:
http://www.epitonic.com/files/reg/songs/mp3/Elliott_Smith-Waltz_No_1_(Demo).mp3

It's only 2.8 megs.

I will check that song out.

It doesn't look as though we are going to get many suggestions here.

It doesn't look as though we are going to get many suggestions here.
Yeah, unfortunately.
:(

Iron and Wine fan right here!

*Points*

:D

Iron and Wine fan right here!

*Points*

:D

I was beginning to think I was the only one.

That Woman King song is off a new EP he has coming out. It is a great song.

I like The Incredible String Band.

Ooh, I have a suggestion!
Elf Power.

http://www.epitonic.com/artists/elfpower.html

I'm not sure if these guys count, but Thee More Shallows are pretty good too.

http://www.epitonic.com/artists/theemoreshallows.html

Ooh, I have a suggestion!
Elf Power.

http://www.epitonic.com/artists/elfpower.html

I'm not sure if these guys count, but Thee More Shallows are pretty good too.

http://www.epitonic.com/artists/theemoreshallows.html

I've heard of Elf Power before, and have heard some of their songs. They are pretty good, but I love just about everyone out of the Elephant 6 Collective, with Neutral Milk Hotel being the best.

I've heard of Elf Power before, and have heard some of their songs. They are pretty good, but I love just about everyone out of the Elephant 6 Collective, with Neutral Milk Hotel being the best.
Yeah, Neutral Milk Hotel is good.

Weren't they on some late-night show recently, or am I getting them confused with somebody else?

EDIT: Oops, I'm getting them confused with Arcade Fire. Whatever.

And I love that Elf Power song.

I would suggest "The Rainbow" by The Apples in Stereo.

Yeah, Neutral Milk Hotel is good.

Weren't they on some late-night show recently, or am I getting them confused with somebody else?

EDIT: Oops, I'm getting them confused with Arcade Fire. Whatever.

Well, Arcade Fire is fantastic, too.

I didn't realize Beulah was a member of the Elephant 6 Collective, but since they are, they are the best. By them I would suggest:

Me and Jesus Don't Talk Anymore
Emma Blowgun's Last Stand
Popular Mechanics for Lovers
Gene Autry