NationStates Jolt Archive

I thought i'd share some relatively obscure albums and bands that i've discovered and loved in the hope that someone else might enjoy them as much as me. Suggest some of your favourites as well. :)

The Black Keys - Thickfreakness

2002, USA, Blues.

A two piece blues/rock act - but not quite like the White Stripes, a good deal more "traditional" than that. I heard this album in an underground music store...it was playing as I walked in and it hit me in the nuts. I asked who it was, and bought it immediately. I thought it was something from the 50's...they just had that "sound". Now, they may not be anything really "new" stylistically, but what they do, they do really well. I'd recommend it to fans of early Led Zeppelin in a heartbeat.

Spiderbait - Ivy And The Big Apples

1996, Australia, Punk/Grunge Rock

A three piece grungy rock group...one of my favourite live acts, and this album is probably their best. They had a minor hit recently with an updated version of Leadbelly's "Black Betty", but their later stuff is no match for their early career in my opinion. It varies between poppy-rock and more experimental electronica and yet manages to remain in my opinion a coherent album. Some people might find the mix of styles a bit offputting though, and there are a few people I know that have really mixed opinions of this album. Fans of 90's alternative rock will probably do well to check it out though. I personally love it. The album before it, The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake, is a bit less experimental and almost as good.

Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley

1994, USA, Stoner Metal

Probably my favourite album ever. The guitarist later formed Queens of the Stone Age and became very rich and stuff, but that's a different story. It's divided into just three tracks, each containing three songs (well, the third track has four.). This is just as well, because I find the best way to appreciate it is to listen to it all the way through. It is a very heavy album at times, so it's probably an acquired taste in that regard...but it intertwines that heaviness with 12-string acoustics perfectly...and, well...it's hard to describe and simply has to be heard - it feels like a trip through the desert. Any metal fan with an open mind would probably enjoy it...Tool fans might do with a look, because they've covered the song "Demon Cleaner" numerous times.

The Sonics - Boom

1966, USA, Rock

Early dirty garage rock. Not much more needs to be said. :p I don't know a whole lot about this band, I only heard this album the other day, but I really enjoyed it. Fans of the Stooges, MC5, etc. will definitely enjoy it.

Corporate Avenger - Freedom is a State of Mind

2001, USA, Hip-Hop/Electronica

A group of native americans making angry political hip-hop. Well, i'd call it hip-hop anyway, someone else might be able to label it better than I. It may not be subtle, but it does sound pretty damn cool. The songs are catchy, and they are definitely talented. Worth a look. RATM fans will probably like it.

65daysofstatic - The Fall of Math

2004, UK, Post Rock?

A perfect mix of many different styles - it's electronic music coming together with "real" music perfectly...it blew me away the first time I heard it and I had to leave it on repeat for a couple of hours. I'm not sure what to compare it to. I understand that there is a bit of an underground scene with bands like this, but i'm not really familiar with it - I've heard some bands, but i'm still exploring "post-rock". It's pretty heavy at times so metal fans might find it a bit more accessible than other people would. That isn't to say that others won't enjoy it, but you might like another band called Explosions in the Sky a little more - but I can't really comment on them much 'cause I only heard one of their albums for the first time tonight. Maybe i'll add them later.


That'll do for now, I might add more later.

Bah.

No Misfits :p

Biffy Clyro - The Vertigo of Bliss

Recorded in one day, this album is bursting with energy. From pop-rock tunes like "Questions and Answers" to the quirky "A Man of his Appalling Posture", and the simply beautiful "Diary of Always". Released in 2003 (their second album in two years), you will be amazed that it's just 3 guys from Glasgow. Jaggy guitars, a string quartet...sometimes frantic, sometimes mellow, it's everything you could ever want from an album. The singer/guitarist, Simon Neil, has a gorgeous voice with a Scottish feel to it when quieter, and an awesome scream when needs be. The drummer and bassist, Ben and James Johnston, are twins, and they compliment Neil perfectly. Anybody who sees me in music threads regularly will have seen that I go on about this band alot. There is a very good reason for it.

Just get the album. You will not regret it.

Top tracks:
Eradicate the Doubt
With Aplomb
Now the Action is on Fire
Diary of Always
Liberate the Illiterate / A Mong Among Mingers



And while you're at it, get their third album as well, "Infinity Land". Released in 2004.

Bah.

No Misfits :p

Been a while since i've heard any. What albums do you recommend? (The stuff with Glenn Danzig is the best, right?)

Been a while since i've heard any. What albums do you recommend? (The stuff with Glenn Danzig is the best, right?)

Either Collections I or Walk Amoung Us.

Though yeah, the reformed Misfits were your standard pop-punk band as far as I know.

I would hardly label myself as an authority though.

Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
if you are a fan of black metal this is the album for you.

Biffy Clyro - The Vertigo of Bliss

Recorded in one day, this album is bursting with energy. From pop-rock tunes like "Questions and Answers" to the quirky "A Man of his Appalling Posture", and the simply beautiful "Diary of Always". Released in 2003 (their second album in two years), you will be amazed that it's just 3 guys from Glasgow. Jaggy guitars, a string quartet...sometimes frantic, sometimes mellow, it's everything you could ever want from an album. The singer/guitarist, Simon Neil, has a gorgeous voice with a Scottish feel to it when quieter, and an awesome scream when needs be. The drummer and bassist, Ben and James Johnston, are twins, and they compliment Neil perfectly. Anybody who sees me in music threads regularly will have seen that I go on about this band alot. There is a very good reason for it.

Just get the album. You will not regret it.


Cool, thanks. I'll check it out.

Either Collections I or Walk Amoung Us.

Though yeah, the reformed Misfits were your standard pop-punk band as far as I know.

I would hardly label myself as an authority though.

Yeah, I heard some of the new stuff, (I think it was them) and it was shit. I'll give the early stuff a look.

Rodrigo y Gabriela's "Live in Manchester and Dublin"

These guys are the best musicians ever. Here's (http://www.myspace.com/rodrigoygabriela) them doing a cover of Orion. It's exceptional.

Cool, thanks. I'll check it out.
OH, you can listen to Eradicate the Doubt here (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=7901934)

Plus two from their newest album, and one from the first. Enjoy.

Yeah, I heard some of the new stuff, (I think it was them) and it was shit. I'll give the early stuff a look.

I would actually suggest some of Danzig's other albums with different bands.

I have to admit I quite like Samhain's November Coming Fire

OH, you can listen to Eradicate the Doubt here (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=7901934)

Plus two from their newest album, and one from the first. Enjoy.
The music itself is great, but the vocal style doesn't really do it for me...hm, reminds me a bit of Everclear though. It could definitely grow on me. I'll give more songs a listen tomorrow.


I would actually suggest some of Danzig's other albums with different bands.

I have to admit I quite like Samhain's November Coming Fire

Aye, i'll check it out. (haha - they're labelled as "horror-punk". Sounds weird, at least :p)

(haha - they're labelled as "horror-punk". Sounds weird, at least :p)

It was actually that labelling that first made me seek out their stuff :D

How about an album by a band you only think you know...

Steve Miller Band - Sailor Epitome of the San Francisco sound circa 'The Summer of Love' ('66-'68)

It was actually that labelling that first made me seek out their stuff :D

Hahaha :D

I want to check them out now, but it's dawn, so they're going to have to wait until I get back from work tomorrow. Oh well. :p

-snip-
Already like The Black Keys but never heard the album you mentioned (I have The Big Come Up) so I'm downloading it at the moment. Never really listened to Stoner Metal but I'm downloading the album you mentioned by Kyuss and Blues for the Red Sun 'cause I've heard that to be their best from other people. Obviously you disagree with it being the best, but what do you think of that album?

Can't get the rest as easily but will look out for them *nods*

-snip-
I already really quite like Biffy Clyro but haven't got this album (I have Blackened Sky and Infinity Land) so am downloading this.

Thanks both. Yay for music reccomendations from people on the internet with interesting taste!

I already really quite like Biffy Clyro but haven't got this album (I have Blackened Sky and Infinity Land) so am downloading this.

Thanks both. Yay for music reccomendations from people on the internet with interesting taste!

Infinity Land is genius , but Vertigo of Bliss is better though...:)

Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
if you are a fan of black metal this is the album for you.


Really? I dunno, I always felt that it was kind of a rehash. In my opinion Dimmu tries too hard to be both commercial and raw, trying to get a crossover audiance while still trying to keep their cred in the genre market. If you're really looking for a great little black metal album, Windir's 1184 is amazing. Good production, catchy melodies, amazing riffs, and an accordian!

Not to get off-subject, but can anyone tell me an instrument more black metal than the accordian?

While I'm on the whole wierd instruments theme, I really do need to recommend Korpilkaani's "Voice of the Wilderness." Its kinda difficult to find (amazon has it, barring that you'll need to find a store that specializes in european folk or metal, or theres always torrents) but it is worth it. I personally feel that it was the best new album I heard last year. The band's sound is nothing short of unique, a suprisingly fluid form of rural Finnish folk music played by a combination of traditional musicians (playing violins, tin flutes, mouth harps, accordians, and shaman drums) and modern heavy metal/hard rock musicians. The bands has a good mix of traditional folk standards and original material on both of their albums and the mix of influences never clashes or sounds forced.

While I'm on the whole wierd instruments theme, I really do need to recommend Korpilkaani's "Voice of the Wilderness."

I've been unable to track it down, dispite my best efforts. At the moment I'll have to pay through the nose for it since I haven't found any decent torrents that work.

Moonspell- "Wolfheart"

65daysofstatic - The Fall of Math

2004, UK, Post Rock?

A perfect mix of many different styles - it's electronic music coming together with "real" music perfectly...it blew me away the first time I heard it and I had to leave it on repeat for a couple of hours. I'm not sure what to compare it to. I understand that there is a bit of an underground scene with bands like this, but i'm not really familiar with it - I've heard some bands, but i'm still exploring "post-rock". It's pretty heavy at times so metal fans might find it a bit more accessible than other people would. That isn't to say that others won't enjoy it, but you might like another band called Explosions in the Sky a little more - but I can't really comment on them much 'cause I only heard one of their albums for the first time tonight. Maybe i'll add them later.


That'll do for now, I might add more later.

I agree that 65daysOfStatic are great, but I have to say I still prefer Explosions In The Sky. They have 3 albums, the first Those who tell the truth... is the heaviest of the three with tracks that slowely build up to great big guitar creshendos, the follow up The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is far gentler and is quite simply suberb. Their most recent album How Strange Innocence - conversely the first recorded of the three - is a mix between the two which is also brilliant despite the poor production values.

Good as these bands are they are simply trounced by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (what band isn't?) who just have to be heard to be beleived. I can't really describe their music in any way that does it justice: it comes in movements not songs, sweeps from grand pounding ensembles to quiet solos, defies easy clasification. Go for their album (ep) F#A# Infinity before buying anything else!

:eek: I adore Kyuss. I see myself getting into the whole Stoner Metal thing... I've been missing out for so long! Seriously - it's great. I know you've probably reccommended stuff like this a million times Kanabia and I've not picked up on it 'cause I didn't realise how much I'd like the genre but... do you have anything similar you can reccommend?

The Vertigo of Bliss is an amazing album Nadkor - thanks for reminding me to download it! It'll take a few more listens before I can start comparing albums (what an awful task...:P) but it's most definitly up to their usual high standard.

And hurrah for Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Explosions In The Sky. I only have Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven and The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (for the respective bands) but I'll definitly have to look out for other albums by both.

You have such a fixation on Kyuss, Kanabia.

How about The Rentals, "Seven More Minutes". That's a good album.

Hmm. Here's what I can remember, considering a largish part of my collection is back in Melbourne right now.

Tricky - Blowback
Tricky has worked with Massive Attack and Muggs from Cypress Hill among others. This one takes more from Massive Attack, a bit more uptempo and with guest appearances all over the place, members of the Chili Peppers, Alanis Morissette, Ed from Live etc etc. Good chill out music. :)

Nile- In Their Darkened Shrines and Black Seeds of Vengeance
I can't choose between the two albums, but they're both classic death metal, really skillful and eerie, especially the quieter songs. *shudder*

Asian Dub Foundation - Enemy of the Enemy
It's dub, but UK Indian, not Jamaican and with a good lefty political message. What's not to like?

ISIS- Sgnl_05
Really good stoner metal, and it's all one big mindfuck. The music, and the fact that the songs are numbered in a... non-linear fashion. It's the kind of album that you have to listen to all the way through as the songs are linked and only really work together.

Nailbomb- Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide
This is a shortlived side project by Max Cavalera. It basically sounds like Sepultura with a more industrial touch. :wubs Max:

The Herd- An Elefant Never Forgets
Aussie commie hip-hop! Woooo!

Apocalyptica- Reflections
Cello-metal. I think this album is their best, just in terms of having more strong songs, like "Heat" and "Somewhere Around Nothing." Although... Inquisition Symphony has "One" and "Fade to Black" which are both classics.

Well, that was longer than I expected.

Oh, and I love that The Black Keys album. Great stuff *nods*

Hmm. Here's what I can remember, considering a largish part of my collection is back in Melbourne right now.

Tricky - Blowback
Tricky has worked with Massive Attack and Muggs from Cypress Hill among others. This one takes more from Massive Attack, a bit more uptempo and with guest appearances all over the place, members of the Chili Peppers, Alanis Morissette, Ed from Live etc etc. Good chill out music. :)

Nile- In Their Darkened Shrines and Black Seeds of Vengeance
I can't choose between the two albums, but they're both classic death metal, really skillful and eerie, especially the quieter songs. *shudder*

Asian Dub Foundation - Enemy of the Enemy
It's dub, but UK Indian, not Jamaican and with a good lefty political message. What's not to like?

ISIS- Sgnl_05
Really good stoner metal, and it's all one big mindfuck. The music, and the fact that the songs are numbered in a... non-linear fashion. It's the kind of album that you have to listen to all the way through as the songs are linked and only really work together.

Nailbomb- Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide
This is a shortlived side project by Max Cavalera. It basically sounds like Sepultura with a more industrial touch. :wubs Max:

The Herd- An Elefant Never Forgets
Aussie commie hip-hop! Woooo!

Apocalyptica- Reflections
Cello-metal. I think this album is their best, just in terms of having more strong songs, like "Heat" and "Somewhere Around Nothing." Although... Inquisition Symphony has "One" and "Fade to Black" which are both classics.

Well, that was longer than I expected.

With all the god-awful Rolling Stone Magazine top 500's, and lists topped by the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith, this list comes out as a gem, even if only in relation to bad lists I see all the time. Also, the initial list that started this is great from what I've checked out, and I'll bookmark this page for future reference.

Asian Dub Foundation - Enemy of the Enemy
It's dub, but UK Indian, not Jamaican and with a good lefty political message. What's not to like?

Nothing, I really quite like the Asian Dub Foundation. Despite the fact is seems to run against everything else I seem to like.

Have you heard Tank?

The Vertigo of Bliss is an amazing album Nadkor - thanks for reminding me to download it!
You don't need to tell me it's amazing:p

Television - Marquee Moon

And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Source Tags and Codes

Clinic - Walking With Thee

Uncle Tupelo - March 16 - 29, 1992

Van Morrison - Tupelo Honey

I've been unable to track it down, dispite my best efforts. At the moment I'll have to pay through the nose for it since I haven't found any decent torrents that work.

Are you in the states? Amazon.com has it for $16.98
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006Z1ZNK/sr=1-1/qid=1138926736/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2457249-4530229?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Are you in the states? Amazon.com has it for $16.98
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006Z1ZNK/sr=1-1/qid=1138926736/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2457249-4530229?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Unfortunately not.

Though the UK site seems to be offering it a lot cheaper then the last time I checked :confused:

The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
Probably one of my favorite albums of all time. The entire album is one of the angsty-type stories that has a continuing theme through the whole album. Whiny material is usually not for me, but the Mountain Goats can pull it off without being emo. The modern folk chords are upbeat and catchy and the lead singers voice grows on you the more you listen to it. All in all, a very catchy, very worthwile album to purchase.

The Go! Team - Thunder! Lightning! Strike!
As I would describe it, a combination of California surf rock, jazz, blues, and hip-hop sampling. Take very upbeat, energetic synths and guitars, add in a rockin harmonica line and you've got music. The album was *under*produced on purpose to give an edgier noise to the band, the US version is a bit more refined than the UK version. This is a keeper album, good for parties, good for dancing to, good for making a trip to the grocery store feel like an adventure. When pitchforkmedia.com reviewed it, they related the cd to an action-adventure soundtrack from an 80s cartoon. Yes, it is that good.

. . .And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Source tags & Codes
Four ex-choir boys, two guitars, a drum set, and a bassist. Sounds like a standard set up, turns out to be anything but. The Trail of Dead puts out a blistering album of post-punk rock music designed to blow you away. First rate guitar riffs mix with piano, bass, drums, synthesisers, and many other instruments to produce a rock album the likes of which hasn't been seen since Nirvana fell apart and pop-punk took over the airwaves.

. . .And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Source tags & Codes
Four ex-choir boys, two guitars, a drum set, and a bassist. Sounds like a standard set up, turns out to be anything but. The Trail of Dead puts out a blistering album of post-punk rock music designed to blow you away. First rate guitar riffs mix with piano, bass, drums, synthesisers, and many other instruments to produce a rock album the likes of which hasn't been seen since Nirvana fell apart and pop-punk took over the airwaves.

I said it first. You may think that you can steal my thunder with a paragraph discription, but NSers are a discerning group.

I agree that 65daysOfStatic are great, but I have to say I still prefer Explosions In The Sky. They have 3 albums, the first Those who tell the truth... is the heaviest of the three with tracks that slowely build up to great big guitar creshendos, the follow up The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is far gentler and is quite simply suberb. Their most recent album How Strange Innocence - conversely the first recorded of the three - is a mix between the two which is also brilliant despite the poor production values.

Good as these bands are they are simply trounced by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (what band isn't?) who just have to be heard to be beleived. I can't really describe their music in any way that does it justice: it comes in movements not songs, sweeps from grand pounding ensembles to quiet solos, defies easy clasification. Go for their album (ep) F#A# Infinity before buying anything else!

I never got that far into Explosions, but Godspeed You! Black Emperor is most definatly a genius album.

I never got that far into Explosions, but Godspeed You! Black Emperor is most definatly a genius album.

and VO2, I'm just that much more a pimp than you.

For prog rock/metal fans:

Andy West - Rama (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006J3ZM/sr=1-2/qid=1138927913/ref=sr_1_2/104-1005203-1455142?%5Fencoding=UTF8)
Indukti - S.U.S.A.R (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMYJH8/ref=sr_11_1/104-1005203-1455142?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

[bump] C'mon people, share the love, share the music.

Gomez - Liquid Skin

Anybody who knows this British band probably thinks of their first release, Bring it On, before any other by them. In fact, I would say that their second, Liquid Skin, is at least as good as, if not better than, its predecessor. Excellent relaxed rock.

Gomez - Liquid Skin

Anybody who knows this British band probably thinks of their first release, Bring it On, before any other by them. In fact, I would say that their second, Liquid Skin, is at least as good as, if not better than, its predecessor. Excellent relaxed rock.

Liquid Skin is definitely the better of the two albums, great songs throughout.

I will add:

The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday

And Blarg, I think the word you are looking for is "plagiarist", not "pimp".

And Blarg, I think the word you are looking for is "plagiarist", not "pimp".

No, no, it was definatly pimp.

Unfortunately not.

Though the UK site seems to be offering it a lot cheaper then the last time I checked :confused:

Could be that they released it later in the UK than in the US or in Europe. I know that for some unknown reason Thyrfing's new album was released in the US four months after it was released in Europe, even though they pressed the CDs at the same time. *shrug* Labels are retarded and import prices suck.

Television - Marquee Moon

An excellent album indeed. Very underrated.

Others I liked a lot..... that I thought didn't get enough notice upon its' release.

Brian Eno - Here Come The Warm Jets, Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Klaatu - Hope
Nash The Slash - And You Thought You Were Normal
City Boy - Dinner At The Ritz
King Crimson - Thrak
Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Do It Yourself
Butthole Surfers - Independent Worm Saloon

ISIS- Sgnl_05
Really good stoner metal, and it's all one big mindfuck. The music, and the fact that the songs are numbered in a... non-linear fashion. It's the kind of album that you have to listen to all the way through as the songs are linked and only really work together.

excellent band that makes AMAZING music. everyone should seriously check out they're other albums Oceanic, Panopticon, and Celestial.

Some other albums i would recommend are:

Hemophiliac - 50th Birthday Celebration
Crazy ass sax from John Zorn and vocals from Mike Patton

Mr. Bungle - California
Mike Patton's original band. Undescribable sound.

Faith No More - Angel Dust or King For A Day Fool For A Life Time
another Patton project

Lovage - Music to make love to your old lady by
Mike Patton side project with Dan the Automator. Trip-hop/hip-hop

Messugah - Destroy Erase Improve
Death metal

Goat Horn - Storming The Gates
Heavy metal/doom metal

Mr. Bungle - California
Mike Patton's original band. Undescribable sound.

Damn. I forgot about them. Though I prefer their first album.

Protest the Hero - Kezia (Or, alternatively: A Calculated Use of Sound. Both are good)

An explosion of sound. Fast, crazy guitar lines which mix prog, punk, and metal. Vocals are a little weak, in my opinion, but the rest of the ensemble makes up for it. Lefty political message (not a huge suprise in a punk). Kezia, in particular, is a concept album about the execution of a young woman. Might be hard for USians to get their hands on for now, as they just signed a distribution deal for the U.S.

Anything and everything by Jump, Little Children, also known in their later albums just as Jump.

I'd especially reccomend Licorice Tea Demos, Between the Dim and the Dark, and one that even many fans may not be aware of - Between the Glow and the Light. Every album is wonderful though. Unfortunately, unless they decide to do it in the future, you'll never get to see them live if you haven't already, but the albums are certainly still out there.

Either Collections I or Walk Amoung Us.

Though yeah, the reformed Misfits were your standard pop-punk band as far as I know.

I would hardly label myself as an authority though.


I can help.

Any Misfits recorded between 1978-83 are great.
The only album you should really skip over is "Legacy of Brutality", wich has very poor production value, and the entire album sounds muffled.

However, Walk Among Us, Static Age, Earth A.D, or Either "Collection 1 or 2" are great.

The Misfits are the best thing American punk had to offer at that time.

I would also highly recommend "Live at Leeds", by The Who.
This is by far, the best Live Album I have ever heard, and quite possibly, the best live album ever recorded.
Much thanks to the nation of Metalpotamia (RL friend) for introducing it to me, this past summer.

Terraforming by The Postman Syndrome is a great unknown album. It's quite hard to describe but it's a mix of metal, jazz, hardcore and some other things. Four out of the five members do vocals for it and there are three guitarists, all who are very good.

The Aluminum Group - Happyness
Two men playing mostly with the synth and base. The lead singer has a rathe rrelaxing voice while the steady pop rythmns play through the background. The pop beats hail not from the era of the backstreet boys but more of a beat that would provide the rythmn line for a big band. Mix these with the synthesiser overplay and it produces a smooth and mellow beat. The lead vocals play along within the beat of the song producing a refined, relaxing sounds by production.

The Arcade Fire - Funeral
The debute album by the quartet mixes high-powered emotional guitar riffs with a distinctly dancy sub-beat from the synth. While the album was in the recording phase, each of the four members experienced a death within the family. The result was an album that focuses on sadness and mortaltity as well as rememberances of life when it was good. The flowing lyrics give a depth to the album that many a pop-punk/alternative album lacks. A definate check out.

Elliot Smith - From the Basement on the Hill
Arguably the now deceased singer/songwriter's best work, FBH is a master of depressive lyrics that make you feel happy. An album devoted to his ex-wife, Elliot Smith mixed and matched styles of songwriting to produce an album that surpasses his other work in quality. Classified as a powerpop/rock album, FBH mixes passion filled guitar lines with a steady backbeat that keeps the album moving. Check it out.

Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me (jazz)

A nice combination of wit, angst, and tenderness ... this teenage performer, apparently an alcoholic, but incredibly socially conscious, sings and plays about 2 dozen instruments, plus she has about 6 strings backing her up. It is amazing to think that all the songs on this double disc are by the same performer during the same time period. "W" magazine compares her to Doris Day and Eminem, but you can also hear hints of Iggy Pop, the Moody Blues, the Fugees, and Billie Holiday.

Bill Morrissey - North (folk)

The most sensitive lyricist I've ever heard.

Primal Scream - Give Out But Don't Give Up (funk)

By far the best funk album not by Sly and the Family Stone. Maybe you already know it, but if you don't, listening to it will be a mind-expanding experience. Features a collaboration with George Clinton. Socially conscious and fun-loving at the same time.

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Happy Trails (acid rock)

Makes Jefferson Airplane, the Beatles, and Pink Floyd at their best look formulaic.

I can help.

Any Misfits recorded between 1978-83 are great.
The only album you should really skip over is "Legacy of Brutality", wich has very poor production value, and the entire album sounds muffled.

However, Walk Among Us, Static Age, Earth A.D, or Either "Collection 1 or 2" are great.


Ahh thanks for clearing that up.

btw, what do you think Glenn Danzig's other bands?

Could be that they released it later in the UK than in the US or in Europe. I know that for some unknown reason Thyrfing's new album was released in the US four months after it was released in Europe, even though they pressed the CDs at the same time. *shrug* Labels are retarded and import prices suck.

Very possibly.

But I don't keep an eye on new releases, except from my favourite bands,

Already like The Black Keys but never heard the album you mentioned (I have The Big Come Up) so I'm downloading it at the moment. Never really listened to Stoner Metal but I'm downloading the album you mentioned by Kyuss and Blues for the Red Sun 'cause I've heard that to be their best from other people. Obviously you disagree with it being the best, but what do you think of that album?

Blues for the Red Sun is almost as good. I think it's more a matter of personal taste as to which is better...Welcome to Sky Valley has more of a "jam" feel about it. It feels like one big song, while Blues for the Red Sun is a little more conventional. It's really up to which you prefer, but both are brilliant albums. I love the epic feel of Sky Valley, but I can see how some people might be offput a little by that.

Can't get the rest as easily but will look out for them *nods*

Try using Soulseek if you haven't already (google it, you'll find it :)). You can find almost anything on there.

I agree that 65daysOfStatic are great, but I have to say I still prefer Explosions In The Sky. They have 3 albums, the first Those who tell the truth... is the heaviest of the three with tracks that slowely build up to great big guitar creshendos, the follow up The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is far gentler and is quite simply suberb. Their most recent album How Strange Innocence - conversely the first recorded of the three - is a mix between the two which is also brilliant despite the poor production values.

Good as these bands are they are simply trounced by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (what band isn't?) who just have to be heard to be beleived. I can't really describe their music in any way that does it justice: it comes in movements not songs, sweeps from grand pounding ensembles to quiet solos, defies easy clasification. Go for their album (ep) F#A# Infinity before buying anything else!

Yeah, GY!BE are pretty high up on my list of bands to check out - I reckon i'll do so a bit later tonight. As for Explosions in the Sky, the album I downloaded was The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place. I liked it, but I found 65daysofstatic a lot more instantly accessible to my taste in music. Given time, I might appreciate it a good bit more though. :)

You have such a fixation on Kyuss, Kanabia.

How about The Rentals, "Seven More Minutes". That's a good album.

I'll check out that album.

And it might seem that way, but I don't really have a "fixation" on them. I like a lot of bands just as much as I do Kyuss. I tend to mention them more because they're relatively obscure - I typically wouldn't recommend Led Zeppelin or Nirvana to people (unless they're totally music illiterate), as most people are already familiar with them, whereas most people haven't heard of Kyuss. I'm obviously onto something though, because...

:eek: I adore Kyuss. I see myself getting into the whole Stoner Metal thing... I've been missing out for so long! Seriously - it's great. I know you've probably reccommended stuff like this a million times Kanabia and I've not picked up on it 'cause I didn't realise how much I'd like the genre but... do you have anything similar you can reccommend?


Sure, sure.

Try Sleep - Sleep's Holy Mountain - and if you have a really open mind, Dopesmoker. (One 60something minute song...Holy Mountain is the better album though).

Monster Magnet are also part of the same scene, but whether or not it's "metal" is open to debate, particularly with their later stuff. Try the album Superjudge. (I understand their stuff before that is a lot closer to Kyuss, but it's as hard as hell to find.). Queens of the Stone Age's first album would also be good to check out (and of course, their later stuff, but it's a bit more commercial - I don't have anything against that myself though, I love QOTSA). You might also like In Search Of by Fu Manchu, and Atomic Ritual by Nebula, though the latter is definitely over into the rock spectrum of things.

You might like some Doom metal like Candlemass as well...though i'm still getting my feet wet with Doom stuff so i'm not the best person to recommend things.


Butthole Surfers - Independent Worm Saloon

Haha, hell yeah. Along with Locust Abortion Technician, that's my favourite of theirs. IWS is really underrated in my opinion.

Ahh thanks for clearing that up.

btw, what do you think Glenn Danzig's other bands?


Well, before I tell you what I think of his other stuff, IE, Samhain, Danzig, let me say I ahve a tremendous amount of respect for a very talented man.
Danzig is proficient with several instruments, besides his voice, wich, is one of my personal favorite vocalists of all time.'

However,
His first two "solo" albums, Danzig, and Lucifuge, arent too bad, considering what was popular at the time.
However, nothing since those two albums has impressed me much

He did a classical sort of peice called "Black Ariah", a while back ago, it wasnt too bad, although it would have been better, if an actual symphony had performed it, and not synthethisers.

Other than that..since about 94' and on, not a fan....although The Misfits are one of my very favorite bands.

Hey Kanabia,
You ever heard of May Blitz?
If you like stoner rock, you should check these guys out.
Theyre an old band from the early 70's, and sound like Cream, and Pink Floyd had a Love-Child.
Two albums called "May Blitz", and "The Second of May".

Somewhat obscure, but worth the trouble.

Also, I recommend "Leafhound", very cool band from roughly the same period.
Had only one album. Some friends of mine covered one of thier songs, called "Freelance Feind."
Very cool.

Others...

Blue Cheer, if you like proto-metal.

Wishbone Ash....more stoner rock.

AstroQueen ...rather obscure scandivanian stoner metal group...VERY heavy sabbathy-riffage.
Excellent vocalist as well.

Hey Kanabia,
You ever heard of May Blitz?
If you like stoner rock, you should check these guys out.
Theyre an old band from the early 70's, and sound like Cream, and Pink Floyd had a Love-Child.
Two albums called "May Blitz", and "The Second of May".

Somewhat obscure, but worth the trouble.

Also, I recommend "Leafhound", very cool band from roughly the same period.
Had only one album. Some friends of mine covered one of thier songs, called "Freelance Feind."
Very cool.

Others...

Blue Cheer, if you like proto-metal.

Wishbone Ash....more stoner rock.

AstroQueen ...rather obscure scandivanian stoner metal group...VERY heavy sabbathy-riffage.
Excellent vocalist as well.

Hey, thanks, i'll check all of those out (Except Blue Cheer, who I already know and like. :D)

goddamn it! Why has no one suggested Leningrad Cowboys!?

Hey Kanabia,
You ever heard of May Blitz?
If you like stoner rock, you should check these guys out.
Theyre an old band from the early 70's, and sound like Cream, and Pink Floyd had a Love-Child.
ooh i was about to say everyone should have an album by Cream.
Disraeli Gears or Wheels of Fire

(i don't have either but i got everything off both albums (and much more) between mooching off other people, the net and getting enough best-of's...)


i shall have to check out this May Blitz too *nods*

ooh i was about to say everyone should have an album by Cream.
Disraeli Gears or Wheels of Fire

(i don't have either but i got everything off both albums (and much more) between mooching off other people, the net and getting enough best-of's...)


i shall have to check out this May Blitz too *nods*

Have some Cream on vinyl already. :p

May Blitz seem to be really hard to find. I found a guy with it on soulseek, but the prick blocked me from downloading it. :mad: Ah well.

I found AstroQueen on www.stonerrock.com. Awesome stuff. :D

ooh i was about to say everyone should have an album by Cream.
Disraeli Gears or Wheels of Fire

(i don't have either but i got everything off both albums (and much more) between mooching off other people, the net and getting enough best-of's...)


i shall have to check out this May Blitz too *nods*


You should.

As for Cream, well....them crazy english bands.'

Most of my favorite groups...all Brits.
I wouldnt call Clapton "God" these days, but when he was in Cream...he was close.

I will also go on record, as saying that few American rock n roll bands of the 60's, and 70's, came remotely close to kicking as much ass as english ones, especially when playing the Blues.

English drummers.....Keith Moon, John Bohnam, Ginger Baker, Ringo Starr, Bill Ward, Nick Mason...all Brits.

The only acception, is of course, Jimi.
However, he gets the title of "Honorary Brit", becuase he got popular in England first.

Have some Cream on vinyl already. :p

May Blitz seem to be really hard to find. I found a guy with it on soulseek, but the prick blocked me from downloading it. :mad: Ah well.

I found AstroQueen on www.stonerrock.com. Awesome stuff. :D


You should be able to find Leafhound and May Blitz there too, from what I understand.

You should be able to find Leafhound and May Blitz there too, from what I understand.

Leaf Hound yeah (And I like :)), but May Blitz, nope...



....Hmm, they have a band called Wolfmother in their list. I saw them live the other day. I didn't think they were very stoner rock at all...I didn't think much of them at all, actually. Maybe I was just drunk/high.

You should.

As for Cream, well....them crazy english bands.'

Most of my favorite groups...all Brits.
I wouldnt call Clapton "God" these days, but when he was in Cream...he was close.

I will also go on record, as saying that few American rock n roll bands of the 60's, and 70's, came remotely close to kicking as much ass as english ones, especially when playing the Blues.

English drummers.....Keith Moon, John Bohnam, Ginger Baker, Ringo Starr, Bill Ward, Nick Mason...all Brits.

The only acception, is of course, Jimi.
However, he gets the title of "Honorary Brit", becuase he got popular in England first.
you know, i think what it is, is that at the time the blues was already established in the states but in the late 60s it was still an american import over here, so while you guys were trying to innovate we were trying to get back to that classic blues sound and bands were trying to out-do each other in bluesy-ness... staple to that a nice helping of 60s psychedelia and a lot of great and legendary musicians (as you mention), you've got a recipe for a fantastic era of british music :)

and we can share hendrix ;) :p

Have some Cream on vinyl already. :p

what kind of music fan would you be if you didn't have some cream? that was my point! :p
but ooh vinyl... sweet... me dad's got some cream and that on LP downstairs but we don't have a turntable for them (gonna buy one for myself damnit) :(

but mp3s are easier ;)

you know, i think what it is, is that at the time the blues was already established in the states but in the late 60s it was still an american import over here, so while you guys were trying to innovate we were trying to get back to that classic blues sound and bands were trying to out-do each other in bluesy-ness... staple to that a nice helping of 60s psychedelia and a lot of great and legendary musicians (as you mention), you've got a recipe for a fantastic era of british music :)

and we can share hendrix ;) :p

Sadly, I think its something else.

See, back then, you didnt get to hear much in the way of Blues on the "normal" stations....and by normal...they meant "White".

It was called "****** Music", and therefore unjustly snubbed.
But, thankfully, over there, people didnt seem to have the same hang-ups that americans did at the time.
They didnt care what color the person who wrote it was...it was still cool.
So, they emulated it, and poof!....the British Invasion of the 60's.

Sadly, I think its something else.

See, back then, you didnt get to hear much in the way of Blues on the "normal" stations....and by normal...they meant "White".

It was called "****** Music", and therefore unjustly snubbed.
But, thankfully, over there, people didnt seem to have the same hang-ups that americans did at the time.
They didnt care what color the person who wrote it was...it was still cool.
So, they emulated it, and poof!....the British Invasion of the 60's.
ah thats definatley a factor in why it took off in britain... but not necessarily why it was so good :P

what kind of music fan would you be if you didn't have some cream? that was my point! :p
but ooh vinyl... sweet... me dad's got some cream and that on LP downstairs but we don't have a turntable for them (gonna buy one for myself damnit) :(

but mp3s are easier ;)

Hehe. I have a turntable that can rip to PC. I usually burn a CD out of the vinyl rips...or just leave them on PC as MP3's. That way any vinyl I buy I can play once and then keep it in really good condition. :)

The Arcade Fire - Funeral[/b]
The debute album by the quartet mixes high-powered emotional guitar riffs with a distinctly dancy sub-beat from the synth. While the album was in the recording phase, each of the four members experienced a death within the family. The result was an album that focuses on sadness and mortaltity as well as rememberances of life when it was good. The flowing lyrics give a depth to the album that many a pop-punk/alternative album lacks. A definate check out.

it is actually their second album, but still their best, imo one of the best of 2005.


to the people who like GY!BE: it might be worth to check out a silver mount zion and do make say think or anything else from the constellation label.
another post-rock band i enjoy a lot is mogwai, they are also really good.
if you are looking for something else like 65daysofstatic, M83 might be your thing.

65daysofstatic - The Fall of Math

2004, UK, Post Rock?

A perfect mix of many different styles - it's electronic music coming together with "real" music perfectly...it blew me away the first time I heard it and I had to leave it on repeat for a couple of hours. I'm not sure what to compare it to. I understand that there is a bit of an underground scene with bands like this, but i'm not really familiar with it - I've heard some bands, but i'm still exploring "post-rock". It's pretty heavy at times so metal fans might find it a bit more accessible than other people would. That isn't to say that others won't enjoy it, but you might like another band called Explosions in the Sky a little more - but I can't really comment on them much 'cause I only heard one of their albums for the first time tonight. Maybe i'll add them later.
Yay! It's cool you like 'em so much. :D

Here's a couple more vaguely obscure albums:
Skindred - Babylon
2000, erm...
An interesting mix of reggae, punk, and metal. Hadn't heard any of their stuff before Tuesday, when I saw them supporting Soulfly. This is their only album. It's bizarre, funny, and awesome all at the same time. Certainly one to invest a lot of interest in. More for the punk and metal fans than reggae, but still worth a listen if you are a reggae fan.

Not sure how obscure this next one really is outside the UK, but it's probably not that well known here.
Secret Machines - Now Here Is Nowhere
2004, prog-rock, space-rock, kraut-rock?
Difficult to actually pin down. Some of the instrumental parts are reminiscent of Pink Floyd's Interstellar Overdrive, and the lyrics seem to have everything and nothing to do with The Who. By which I mean while they don't sound like anything The Who ever did, you wouldn't be surprised if they did. Sweeping instrumentals, often downright creepy lyrics, and possibly the perfect album to listen to while stoned and you can't find your Floyd CDs. The album is immaculately produced, no instrument overwhelms unless it benefits the song, and the vocals are perfect. Buy it, steal it, download it, whatever, but get your hands on it.

Good as these bands are they are simply trounced by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (what band isn't?) who just have to be heard to be beleived. I can't really describe their music in any way that does it justice: it comes in movements not songs, sweeps from grand pounding ensembles to quiet solos, defies easy clasification. Go for their album (ep) F#A# Infinity before buying anything else!
I did something very stupid on Wednesday. :( I saw F#A#∞ on vinyl in HMV for £15 but saved my money for a Bauhaus t-shirt instead...http://www.smileyhut.com/misc_expressions/fool.gif

I am now in the process of downloading some May Blitz, Sleep, Monster Magnet, Candlemass, Blue Cheer, Wishbone Ash, Astroqueen, Secret Machines, Skindred, Primal Scream, The Arcade Fire, Elliott Smith, Jump, Little Children, Television and Gomez. Plus some others I'd meant to download for ages.

Hurrah for this thread :fluffle: Oh, and opinions will come later.

it is actually their second album, but still their best, imo one of the best of 2005.

Yah, I know, I just didn't count the EP as 'an album' because it doesnt have the typical production or number of songs that go into a full album. Funeral was an amazing album, but I still think there were some others that trumped it. Sufjan Stevens would be one of those that I think produced a better album. His masterpiece, Greetings!, From Illinois made folk music cool again. Soft guitar, melodic vocals, a very innocent feel to the music, and a cross-generational appeal make him easy to listen to.

Some other albums to continue looking at from 2005 are:
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
Kind of an odd combination of styles. A steady drum beat greets the user with guitar riffs that seem to struggle to break the mold of the back beat. The vocals are reminiscent of a combination of Interpol and Modest Mouse, a slightly whiny, but put-down voice with no need to fill up every second of the song with lyrics.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
An album I can't begin to place anywhere besides alternative, CYHSY starts with an off-kilter drum/sythn combo that sounds almost like carnival music, bad carnival music. Whatever the initial aversion to the music is though, just keep listening. The first track becomes strangly catchy, almost "fun". The rest of the cd however, destroys any conception of what direction the music was heading. Soft guitar mixes with sythnesisers and drums to produce a steady back rythmn that anyone can listen to. The guitar builds throughout the songs and vies with the vocals for dominance. The result is a beat that you keep tappin to, even when it seems indistinct. The once soft guitars build into a crashing creshendo of noise and rythmn that assualts the ears and the vocal mix in here and there with the song. Take Elliot Smith, Modest Mouse, and a little bit of The Arcade Fire and thats about as close as I can come to an accurate description of the music.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
I should be seeing them right now in my Student's Union....but nobody wanted to go with me. :(

Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
Kind of an odd combination of styles. A steady drum beat greets the user with guitar riffs that seem to struggle to break the mold of the back beat. The vocals are reminiscent of a combination of Interpol and Modest Mouse, a slightly whiny, but put-down voice with no need to fill up every second of the song with lyrics.

Wolf Parade has two principle songwriters each performing the lead vocals on their songs. One, who plays the keyboard, has kind of a wailing David Bowie style about his songs. The other, who plays guitar, has a much straight forward rock style to his songs. That combination, and the production of Isaac Brock, does give the album a very Modest Mousey feel. Every song is good, but the songwriters nearly completely alternate songs so the album keeps you a little off kilter. The effect causes the album to lack coherency, but it also causes highlights like "Shine a Light", "Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts", and "Its a Curse" to hit like a ton of bricks.

Here are a few that are pretty darn cool (they may not all be super obscure, but at least fairly so if you don't listen to much progressive or power metal):

A Flame to the Ground Beneath (2003) by Lost Horizon. This is a (I think Finnish) power metal band. It doesn't sound quite like any other metal band I've heard before, although if I had to pick one, I'd say it sounds vaguely like Rhapsody. Lost Horizon, however, is a lot less cheesy in their music (the liner notes are a different matter, but personally I think it's funny) and just writes better songs in my opinion. I'm also kind of attracted to their completely anti-mainstream mindset. (and I mean completely)

In Search of Truth (2001) by Evergrey. I would call this somewhere between hard rock and heavy metal. It's concept album about a man who thinks he's been abducted by aliens, which may sound kinda stupid, but it's actually quite well done - it has a very cool atmosphere throughout.

Epica (2003) and The Black Halo (2005) by Kamelot, are both excellent, excellent albums. I would call them generally power metal, I guess, although there's probably a better term for it (it's definitely not Rhapsody-style power metal). They are actually the first and second parts of a story that's loosely based on J.W. Von Goethe's "Faust." Music-wise, Epica is very intense at some points and very soft at others. When I first listened to it, I didn't generally find the songs all that catchy, but it's grown on me immeasurably. The Black Halo is similar in style, except it is distinctly darker (arguably heavier too), although it ends on a lighter note, and I found I liked it almost immediately, as opposed to it being somewhat of an acquired taste. Both are heartily recommended!

V: The New Mythology Suite (2000) by Symphony X, another power metal band, although this one has more progressive tendencies. It's a loose concept album about mystical beings who created humanity in an Atlantis-type place, before death and destruction brought their downfall. The guitar work is absolutely stellar, and their singer has a very wide range, both note-wise and style-wise (I've heard him compared to Ronnie James Dio, although I've never heard his music so I can't validate that statement). The music has some very interesting melodies and rhythms, and there's also a pretty big classical element. I actually recommend any of the last four albums Symphony X has done, but this is probably my favorite (by a slight margin).

Operation: Mindcrime (1988) by Queensryche. Okay, I know this may not exactly be obscure, but it's still quite obscure compared to mainstream stuff, and besides, it's one of the greatest concept albums ever made. It's hard rock/metal (kind of similar to Iron Maiden except the music is more serious and the musicians are more skilled), and it's about a man who is persuaded into becoming a trained assassin. However, he meets and befriends a young nun named Mary, and he is ordered to kill her by his boss/master because she's a "risk." He ends up in some sort of hospital or asylum, unable to live with himself anymore. The raw emotion throughout this album is palpable, and I agree with the political statement it makes, too (If you're conservative, you may not like the lyrics too much). Basically flawless. If you get just one of these albums, get this one. (Though if you're conservative or whatever, I would recommend Epica or The Black Halo next in a heartbeat).

By the way, many of you guys' recommendations sound intriguing. Thanks for the advice!

Here are a few that are pretty darn cool (they may not all be super obscure, but at least fairly so if you don't listen to much progressive or power metal):

A Flame to the Ground Beneath sounds like somthing i would like...I'll be checking them out.

As for power metal, this Canadian band called 3 Inches Of Blood is really awsome. Battlecry Under A Winter Sun is my personal favourite. worth checking out at least

Fluffy Black Eye

US, 1996, The Enclave

Fluffy is what some people might call a "riot grrrl" band, with a sound that you might expect to hear from such a band. I'd say it's fairly apt, though I'd say their sound is a little less dirty and a little more punk than most other such bands. Their lyrics deal with women's issues, such as what a woman's role is and their interpersonal relationships with men and other women. Best tracks (though all are good): "Black Eye", "Scream", "Technicolor Yawn", "Crawl", and "Cheap".

The Gits Frenching the Bully

US, 1992, C/Z Records (Rereleased 2003 on Broken Rekids.)

Their first of two albums, it's the better of the two, though Enter the Conquering Chicken is pretty good, too. It's punk rock, but it's hard to classify. It's certainly not pop punk, but not quite fast and heavy enough to be classified as hardcore punk. The lyrics are about alienation and despair, with a lot of references to alcohol and suicide. Best tracks (though all are good): "Another Shot of Whiskey", "Kings and Queens", "It All Dies Anyway", "Cut My Skin It Makes Me Human", "Second Skin".

Jack off Jill Clear Hearts Grey Flowers

US, 2000, Risk Records

Another band who only released two albums, though this is the second of the two. It's heavy rock with an industrial touch. Singer Jessicka's voice varies from childlike to coquettish to distraught to angry at times, and the music varies in accordance with her voice. Best tracks (though all are good): "Fear of Dying", "Strawberry Gashes", "Vivica", "Star No Star", and the cover of the Cure's "Love Song".

Local H As Good As Dead

US, 1996, Island Records

This is the band's second album, and contains a minor hit with "Bound For the Floor". The band is a two piece, guitar and drums, though you'll swear they use a bassist. I've heard them compared to a blend of Nirvana and Aerosmith, though I don't really see where the Aerosmith reference comes from.
This album is probably their least experimental, it's mostly just straightforward rock. If you've ever seen them live, you'll see that the guitarist has, like 20 petals to use to change the sound of his guitar. Best tracks (again, all are good): "Highfiving MF", the aforementioned "Bound For the Floor", "Lovey Dovey", "Back in the Day", "Fritz's Corner".

The Plasmatics Coup d'Etat

Germany, 1982, Capitol Records (Rereleased 2000 on Razor and Tie Records)

The Plasmatics originally started out as a punk band (or, to use their terminology, "anti-music, anti-art", but by this, their third album, they switched to a metal sound. Singer Wendy O. Williams' voice has been called gravelly, and I find that to be an apt description. This album was called "the heaviest thing since AC/DC's last album", though personally I'd say it's heavier than anything AC/DC ever did. It may not be for everyone, but personally, I love it. Best tracks (though all are good): "Put your Love In Me", "Stop", "Lightning Breaks", the cover of Motörhead's "No Class", and "Path of Glory".

Been a while since i've heard any. What albums do you recommend? (The stuff with Glenn Danzig is the best, right?)I'd say their stuff after they reformed is better. You might argue that one of the albums is poppy, but the other is more metal. However, if you're going to listen to their earlier stuff, I'd recommend Static Age or Earth A.D.. Walk Among Us is mostly filler, get that last.

You might like some Doom metal like Candlemass as well...though i'm still getting my feet wet with Doom stuff so i'm not the best person to recommend things.My experience with doom is also fairly limited, but I can recommend of a few good bands other than those two:

Cathedral (I know you're familiar with them, but other people may not be.)
Earth
My Dying Bride (Their earlier stuff has violins, which is interesting.)
Pentagram
Saint Vitus
Trouble
Yob

The record label Southern Lord ( www.southernlord.com ) deals almost exclusively with doom/drone stuff, it might be worth checking out.

Also, for metal, I often order from www.cmdistro.com .Century Media is a metal record label, but they carry stuff from other labels, both larger and smaller, so it might be worth checking out. I also find it easy to get import stuff for no more cost than the domestic releases.

Firewater: "Get off the Cross, we need the wood for the fire."

Really cool album.

Sigur Ross
Damn good Icelandic band. Kinda like 'The Sugar Cubes'.

Wolfmother.
Damn good Aussie metal band. First Album (self-titled) out now, and they're touring the US. check them out.

Che Fu
Damn good NZ laid-back Nesian Hip Hop. His previous album 'Navigator' is great.

Wolfmother.
Damn good Aussie metal band. First Album (self-titled) out now, and they're touring the US. check them out.

I saw them live last week at a festival. Maybe It was because I was waaaaaaaay back in the crowd and could barely see the band, and maybe it was because it was extremely hot, and maybe it was because I was a little bit drunk and stoned...

...but I didn't think much of them. Some of their songs sounded like nothing more than Zeppelin ripoffs. Their recorded stuff seems okay from the two songs i've heard, but they're really being hyped up here, and it was a bit of a disappointment.

Fever to Tell by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Ears Ring by Rainer Maria

Kiss and Tell by Sahara Hotnights