What's your favorite musical era?

[Kodos]

No shocker, it's the 80's for me.

[JonInMiddleGA]

80's.

[Celeval]

80's

[corbes]

2000s. Right now.

[McSweeny]

i can't pick one of these eras... my musical tastes span many years.

so therefore this poll is asinine! and the trout for me!

[Kodos]

i can't pick one of these eras... my musical tastes span many years.

so therefore this poll is asinine! and the trout for me!

It's been so long since somebody said one of my polls was asinine. It's good to be back!

[Draft Dodger]

80s

[corbes]

Y'all are living in the past.

That's a reference for MikeVic.

[cwilloughby]

2000-present here.

[Fritz]

it is completely uncool to block both the "asinine" and "trout"

[VPI97]

Given the choices, I'll take the 80's...but my favorite period/genre of music was the "Manchester Scene" sounds that lasted from the late 80's to the early 90's. Bands like The Charlatans UK, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, etc...

[Ksyrup]

I'd say I prefer the here and now, since the traces of other decades in my CD collection are not enough to recommend any one decade as a "favorite." There's an awful lot of great stuff out there now, you just have to know where to find it, since very few record companies are willing to promote (or even sign) the good stuff.

I suspect that I'll feel the same way in 2014 about the 2000s - at least I hope so. If I can't enjoy music that is currently being made, listening to the old stuff over and over is going to ruin the fondness I have for it now.

[Schmidty]

70's

[cthomer5000]

I chose 80's... although late 80's to mid-90's is much more accuarte

[vex]

90's, woo!

[Gallifrey]

I like alot of music from the 60's, 70's and the 80's. It was in the 80's that my older brother first signed a recording deal, and then me, so I guess I have fond memories of the early to mid 80's. When MTV was new and played rock bands. We were on it then. In the 'good old days'.

[dawgfan]

All of them. I'm somewhat amused by people that like to bash certain decades by pointing out some ridiculous band or act that had big hits, when the reality is that there are always interesting musical trends and acts happening at all times, sometimes under the radar a bit (the mid-'80's, now), sometimes at the forefront (the early '90's).

I can find interesting music in virtually every decade listed...

[Groundhog]

I'd say half of my CD collection is 70s, the other half is 90s-now. 80s music sounds incredibly dated to my ears, largely due to the recording and production techniques that thankfully aren't used any more.

I also feel that there was just a big drop in creative music from about 1979ish to the late 80s. There was, obviously, good music published in these years, but most of what charted was synth pop and cock rock.

[Bubba Wheels]

Like the 60s and the 80s, good upbeat melodic rock, hate the 70s and 90s, lots of folk-based stuff and disco.

[MJ4H]

Late Romantic to early Contemporary. The Bartok, Mahler, Shostakovic, Prokofiev club :)

[Fritz]

There was, obviously, good music published in these years, but most of what charted was synth pop and cock rock.

There was plenty of music outside the charts.

[Sun Tzu]

80's.

Appetite for Destruction baby.

[Bubba Wheels]

Love being in a different city, listening to an oldies station and hearing stuff I either have never heard (because the oldie's stations around where I live play the same 20 songs over and over again) or have not heard in years. One song came on that I remember being played incessently during the 70's and then I never heard it again. Really puts you back in time when that happens.

[dawgfan]

As an aside, here in the Seattle area a couple of radio stations recently switched to a new format that can best be described as "classic alternative", i.e. lots of early '90's stuff like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins along with some older alternative "classics" like the Clash, Depeche Mode, the Cure, etc. Is this a phenomenon anyone else has noted in their areas? It makes me feel old, as it is basically an "oldies" station for my generation...

[Desnudo]

It's not oldies, it's now classic rock. The original classic rock is now oldies.

[duckman]

Gotta go with the 1990's!

[Groundhog]

As an aside, here in the Seattle area a couple of radio stations recently switched to a new format that can best be described as "classic alternative", i.e. lots of early '90's stuff like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins along with some older alternative "classics" like the Clash, Depeche Mode, the Cure, etc. Is this a phenomenon anyone else has noted in their areas? It makes me feel old, as it is basically an "oldies" station for my generation...

I wish we had a station like that down here. It is kind of sad being just 22 years old and already the music you grew up with is now classic rock. Thankfully I'm not that jaded that I hate all new music, though I must admit that most of the new music I like is being put out by bands that have been around for some time (Radiohead, The Flaming Lips etc.).

Another odd thing I'm noticing is that some music I have listened to for a long time is sounding 'dated'. Like for example I put on Tool's Undertow CD the other day and just thought to myself "Wow, this sounds sooo 1995...".

[Bubba Wheels]

Today's music is either all Hip-Hop or from still-existing Dinosaur bands (Aerosmith) my generation!

[corbes]

Today's music is either all Hip-Hop or from still-existing Dinosaur bands (Aerosmith) my generation!
Except for the thousands of bands that fit neither category.

[Draft Dodger]

Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" is on my iPod right now, in case there was any doubt to my 80's addiction.

One thing I think is funny is how songs become more tolerable as they become nostalgic - there are tons of songs from the 80's I wouldn't have been caught dead listening to, but now I love to hear them.

[Bubba Wheels]

Except for the thousands of bands that fit neither category.

Problem with most of those bands is that by losing any sense of melodic underpinnings they think they are being inventive and unique, when in fact they are just being in that particular class of thought as a group and not being particularly listenable (my opinion.) Creeds monosylabic endless droning and White Stripes incessant banging come to mind, but I'm willing to be contradicted. :p

[tucker342]

'90s rap:D

[Ksyrup]

Problem with most of those bands is that by losing any sense of melodic underpinnings they think they are being inventive and unique, when in fact they are just being in that particular class of thought as a group and not being particularly listenable (my opinion.) Creeds monosylabic endless droning and White Stripes incessant banging come to mind, but I'm willing to be contradicted. :p
I can point you to a number of pop/rock bands (not just assembled groups, but actual music-writing and playing bands) that have so much melody it would make your head spin. In fact, if you heard their music, you'd swear it's exactly the kind of stuff you'd expect to hear on the radio...but you never do. I guess Fountains of Wayne or Weezer are probably the best-known examples (although I don't love either of them), and they've started to make an impression on the general public, but aside from them, there are a bunch of bands that write terrific, melodic music. You've just never had a chance to hear them.

[Bubba Wheels]

I can point you to a number of pop/rock bands (not just assembled groups, but actual music-writing and playing bands) that have so much melody it would make your head spin. In fact, if you heard their music, you'd swear it's exactly the kind of stuff you'd expect to hear on the radio...but you never do. I guess Fountains of Wayne or Weezer are probably the best-known examples (although I don't love either of them), and they've started to make an impression on the general public, but aside from them, there are a bunch of bands that write terrific, melodic music. You've just never had a chance to hear them.

Yes! Good Call! I DO like Weezer quite alot!

[Craptacular]

80's, although the 70's is closing in. When I listen to the radio, it's usually a station that plays the likes of Clapton, Petty, Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, Beatles, old Elton John and Rod Stewart, Byrds, ELO, Yes, Allman Brothers, etc.

[Scarecrow]

Gimme my F & F, babby.

F&F: Folk and Funk. The music of the '70s before that disco crap ruined it.

Elton John
John Denver
Parliment
Fleetwood Mac
Sly and the Family Stone
Earth, Wind and Fire

[GrantDawg]

As an aside, here in the Seattle area a couple of radio stations recently switched to a new format that can best be described as "classic alternative", i.e. lots of early '90's stuff like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins along with some older alternative "classics" like the Clash, Depeche Mode, the Cure, etc. Is this a phenomenon anyone else has noted in their areas? It makes me feel old, as it is basically an "oldies" station for my generation...
99X here in the big A is doing that now. They don't play enough of the last three you listed for my taste, though. :)

It is the 80's for me, though the 90's weren't bad.

[corbes]

Problem with most of those bands is that by losing any sense of melodic underpinnings they think they are being inventive and unique, when in fact they are just being in that particular class of thought as a group and not being particularly listenable (my opinion.) Creeds monosylabic endless droning and White Stripes incessant banging come to mind, but I'm willing to be contradicted. :p
Yeah, you're just not listening in the right places. There are so many bands out there right now that write good melodic songs, with a sense of harmony, it makes my head spin trying to keep up with them.

Here's a recommended sampling:

The Jayhawks, Rainy Day Music
Michael Franti & Spearhead, Everyone Deserves Music
Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Unclassified
Ziggy Marley, Dragonfly
Lucinda Williams, World Without Tears
Sound Tribe Sector 9, Offered Schematics Suggesting Peace
Damien Rice, O!
Habib Koite, Ma Ya
Baaba Maal, Firin' in Fouta

(None of these bands sound anything like Creed, or White Stripes, or even each other.)

[JonInMiddleGA]

As an aside, here in the Seattle area a couple of radio stations recently switched to a new format that can best be described as "classic alternative", Is this a phenomenon anyone else has noted in their areas?
Yeah, that's becoming a bit of a mini-trend over the past 6 months or so. Several stations have officially become "classic alternative" as the format, while a larger number are starting to steer their playlists in that direction while avoiding (or in at least one case, flatly denying) using that particular phrase.

But I believe you'll see this become one of the more common sub-formats over the next couple of years. The Alt crowd has gotten older & more affluent with time, so it seems they'll be a popular target for stations (and advertisers) for the next 20 years or so.

[Axxon]

70's and older. The 80's made me give up on newer music. There's a lot of stuff out there to like right now and when I hear it I think 'good stuff' but my heart just isn't into it.

[cthomer5000]

Problem with most of those bands is that by losing any sense of melodic underpinnings they think they are being inventive and unique, when in fact they are just being in that particular class of thought as a group and not being particularly listenable (my opinion.) Creeds monosylabic endless droning and White Stripes incessant banging come to mind, but I'm willing to be contradicted. :p
You're so clearly speaking out of your ass here it's painful to read.

[Axxon]

You're so clearly speaking out of your ass here it's painful to read.

hxxp://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_394


Oh I don't know about that. This guy only farted and people paid money to see it. I'm sure he'd be a superstar if he actually got words out of the thing.

[cthomer5000]

There's just soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many bands not on your local commerical stations it's ridiculous. To condemn all current (or 80's) music based on what you hear on your FM stations is a big mistake.

[JAG]

There's just soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many bands not on your local commerical stations it's ridiculous. To condemn all current (or 80's) music based on what you hear on your FM stations is a big mistake.

Stupid question then, how does one go about finding these bands and/or determining before buying if they're any good? I like about less than 2% of what I hear for today's radio music and am starved to find some good artists (I may try some people's already-mentioned suggestions, thanks), but I honestly don't know the best way to go about it.

[Axxon]

There's just soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many bands not on your local commerical stations it's ridiculous. To condemn all current (or 80's) music based on what you hear on your FM stations is a big mistake.

I'm not sure if this was meant for me but my post on the 80's means it could be. Note I really didn't condemn 80's music. It just wasn't for me for the most part. There was some stuff I liked.

I just never found much reason to listen to the radio because I didn't like most of what I was hearing and in the early 80's most of the bands I listened to from the 70's were still touring and still cutting albums. Yes, they still had albums in the 80's.

I don't consider bands who were "70's" bands that released albums in the 80's as 80's music. I saw Pink Floyd in the 80's but I consider them a 70s band. When you're classifying music it's pretty subjective anyway.

I'm really saying that I wouldn't condemn anybodies musical tastes just because I don't get into it. I'm not that narrowminded. I didn't like what I was hearing on the radio in the 80's and seeing as I was just entering the workforce I was finally acquiring a collection of music that I did like and I gave up on the radio.

Once I had done that, I really saw no need to listen to current music. I'm easy to please that way. I have said that during the time I had Rhapsody I did some catching up and realize that there was a lot of stuff I missed since the 70's that I like. It just doesn't drive me to buy the music or listen to the radio. That's all.

[corbes]

Stupid question then, how does one go about finding these bands and/or determining before buying if they're any good? I like about less than 2% of what I hear for today's radio music and am starved to find some good artists (I may try some people's already-mentioned suggestions, thanks), but I honestly don't know the best way to go about it.
I've found a lot of new music listening to college or independent radio. College radio has a stigma of being awful to listen to, but that, like any stigma, is not always true.

Fortunately, in the internet age, you're no longer limited to only the stations in your listening area. You can listen to live, streaming radio from virtually anywhere in the country.

http://www.xpn.org is the website for WXPN (88.5), the University of Pennsylvania radio station. I learned about most of the stuff I listed above from listening to this station. It tends towards Damien Rice, The Jayhawks, Lucinda Williams, Warren Zevon, etc...

You could also try http://www.wxyc.org, for WXYC (89.3), the University of North Carolina radio station. They tend more towards bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor. They also have an *excellent* Sunday bluegrass show.

It takes some bravery to dive into the unknown, and listen to music you've never heard before. There's no familiarity there, at first. But, the more you listen, and start to hear the repeats, the more enjoyable it becomes.

[corbes]

dola-

Also, many bands now have *lots* of music available for sampling on their websites. Also also, Barnes & Noble's Music section has these new computers where you can listen to samples of any CD from their catalogue, which is really pretty extensive (far more than what they actually carry in stock).

*You don't have to buy it at Barnes & Noble, either. Go down to your local independent record store to buy it.

[corbes]

(interrupted) double dola-

But nothing beats finding a good radio station in your own area. I'm willing to bet that there's some good stations between 88.1 and 91.9 FM in Virginia. That's the place to look, anyhow (frequencies in that range are limited to independent or public radio).

[cthomer5000]

I've found a lot of new music listening to college or independent radio. College radio has a stigma of being awful to listen to, but that, like any stigma, is not always true.

Fortunately, in the internet age, you're no longer limited to only the stations in your listening area. You can listen to live, streaming radio from virtually anywhere in the country.

http://www.xpn.org (http://www.xpn.org/) is the website for WXPN (88.5), the University of Pennsylvania radio station. I learned about most of the stuff I listed above from listening to this station. It tends towards Damien Rice, The Jayhawks, Lucinda Williams, Warren Zevon, etc...

You could also try http://www.wxyc.org (http://www.wxyc.org/), for WXYC (89.3), the University of North Carolina radio station. They tend more towards bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor. They also have an *excellent* Sunday bluegrass show.

It takes some bravery to dive into the unknown, and listen to music you've never heard before. There's no familiarity there, at first. But, the more you listen, and start to hear the repeats, the more enjoyable it becomes.
I also heavily recommend http://www.woxy.com WOXY 97X Cincinnati (although soon to be entirely a webcast station, and not an FM one)

and

http://www.kexp.org KEXP 90.3 in Washington (state), they also have a TON of archived in-studio performances. So you can fire up an older performance and hear a band play 4-5 songs in-studio.

[cthomer5000]

*You don't have to buy it at Barnes & Noble, either. Go down to your local independent record store to buy it.
also, half.com is a great place to buy music. I buy an album a week and do about 90% of my total music purchasing through them.

[Axxon]

I'm begging you people. Please...please...PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET SOME NEW MATERIAL!!!

That trout bit is SOOOOOO played :(

Maybe I need a nap. I'm cranky now.

Dude, no offense but you joined up this month and are already telling us what we need to do with our inside jokes. Ease up.

For the record, I hate the trout thing too but since I'm a newbie I don't complain. * Show some respect for the grizzled veterans.


*anyone who registered after 10/2000 is a newbie if you didn't know. :D

[Ksyrup]

The two best ways I've found to locate new music are message boards of bands I like and mailing lists devoted to a band/genre I like or am interested in. I would say that 90% of the CDs I have bought in the last 3-4 years have been of bands I've either never heard of, or I knew of, but never took the time to track down because I wasn't sure what they sounded like.

The Jelly-L, a mailing list originally devoted to the early 90's power pop band Jellyfish, has been instrumental in opening my eyes and ears to dozens of new bands. Since the band broke up in 1993, the list has necessarily shifted away from band information to general discussions of related and semi-related types of music. I joined the list in 2000, and it dovetailed nicely with my new-found love of pop/rock and adult alternative/chamber pop music.

I've become great friends with a couple of people on the list, and we regularly mail each other discs full of new and old music each of us might have missed. I've never had so much new (either 2003/04 or "new to me") music to listen to in my life.

[Axxon]

also, half.com is a great place to buy music. I buy an album a week and do about 90% of my total music purchasing through them.

Aren't they supposed to go out of business at the end of the year?? I remember reading that ebay was going to pull the plug in 2004 but haven't heard anything since. Is that still happening?? It would suck because I love half.com. I just need some more money to spend there.

[cthomer5000]

Aren't they supposed to go out of business at the end of the year?? I remember reading that ebay was going to pull the plug in 2004 but haven't heard anything since. Is that still happening?? It would suck because I love half.com. I just need some more money to spend there.
I thought I heard something similar, based around the fact that somone had apparently sued and won claiming that they had the patent on whatever sort of technoligy is being used there. I really don't know... it seemed pretty odd to me at the time.

I haven't looked into it/heard anything about it in quite a while.

[JAG]

Thanks for the info/suggestions guys. I'll give some of that a shot.

*anyone who registered after 10/2000 is a newbie if you didn't know. :D

Damn, just missed it.

[McSweeny]

head down to your local independant record store and get a few compilation cds. They usually list them by style of music and have 20+ songs by 20+ bands or so. Most of the time alot of the songs are pretty poor or whatever, but there's usually a few gems that will lead you to check out a band. Can't really go wrong as most comps are usually 5 bucks or cheaper

[cuervo72]

Gimme my F & F, babby.

F&F: Folk and Funk. The music of the '70s before that disco crap ruined it.


Disco rules.

(somebody watch my back, before he goes Oops Upside my Head)

[Kodos]

I recently got to listen to The Darkness's "Permission To Land" CD. I don't listen to the radio, so I hadn't really heard any of their stuff, but I'd heard that they harken back to the 80's Pop Metal that I love. I can tell you that the music itself is pretty good if you like that style, but the singer's voice is painful at times. He sings in 2 registers. One is lower and sounds a bit like Robert Smith of the Cure to me. Then he breaks into an awful higher-pitched voice that just grates on me. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

Then I listened to Tesla's new "Into The Now" CD, and I couldn't help but think if we could have Jeff Keith sing for The Darkness, it'd be pretty good. The Tesla CD has some good songs, but is a bit of a downer lyrically. It's like older Tesla with an updated, but more mopey sound.

[Ksyrup]

We're having a discussion about The Darkness over at the KX board. Half of us love it, half of us (me included) don't particularly care for it. To me, it's like a half-assed attempt at Spinal Tap - it's not good enough (or too 80's cookie-cutter) to be taken seriously, and not over-the-top-funny enough to be considered a true joke band. I can respect the fact that they're trying to bring back the "fun rock 'n roll" band of the 70's and 80's, but the vocals, lyrics, and costumes scream "stereotypical cock rock!" And 15-20 years later, that says "joke" more than it does anything else.

I'd like to hear the new Tesla. I've never considered them to be one of the 80's hair bands they got lumped in with - for one, they're all BUTT UGLY, and two, they were/are excellent musicians and songwriters.

[Ksyrup]

head down to your local independant record store and get a few compilation cds. They usually list them by style of music and have 20+ songs by 20+ bands or so. Most of the time alot of the songs are pretty poor or whatever, but there's usually a few gems that will lead you to check out a band. Can't really go wrong as most comps are usually 5 bucks or cheaper
If you like power-pop, check out pretty much anything from www.notlame.com (http://www.notlame.com).

If you like indie anything, check out www.cdbaby.com (http://www.cdbaby.com).

If you like prog rock/metal, check out www.insideoutmusic.com (http://www.insideoutmusic.com).

If you prefer the really heavy stuff (as well as some prog metal), check out www.theendrecords.com (http://www.theendrecords.com).

A lot of cool stuff to be found if you browse around these and other sites.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I can tell you that the music itself is pretty good if you like that style, but the singer's voice is painful at times. He sings in 2 registers. One is lower and sounds a bit like Robert Smith of the Cure to me. Then he breaks into an awful higher-pitched voice that just grates on me. Needless to say, I was disappointed.
Sounds an awful lot like my take (originally posted elsewhere)
And after listening to their latest CD all the way through ... I'll be darned if I know exactly what to think of 'em.

The cover art has a classic 80's hairband feel to it, reminded me of a cross between a Boston cover & a Tora!Tora! cover. So I was very hopeful.

As I'm tracking through the disc, I realize pretty quickly that it definitely earned its "Parental Advisory:Explicit Content" label on the front. The first two tracks, "Black Shuck" & "Get Your Hands Off My Woman" pretty much make the advisory mandatory. The rest of the album is a mix of some 80's power ballads (okay, sometimes harder than that, but still in the neighborhood) and songs more akin to the first two tracks.

But as I'm listening start to finish, I find myself wondering the same things over & over:

1)WTF is up with the overuse (IMO) of falsetto vocals? I mean, it's pretty clear that lead vocalist Justin Hawkins has got pretty good to good range, so ... why the need to use the falsetto over & over? It isn't covering up some deficiency AFAIK so it ends up just being a distraction.

2)Musically these guys are good. Maybe even damned good. At the very least, they're much better than average. But the songwriting doesn't really come up to par with the musicianship.

3)After reading through the lyrics and after listening to the album, especially the vocals, I seriously started to wonder -- are these guys for real or are they really just parodying the 80's metal genre? Check out the lyrics on the non-profane ballads & maybe you'll see what I mean. That, combined with the aforementioned vocals, has me at least half convinced that this isn't exactly meant to be taken at face value. Problem is, I'm not sure whether it's a bit of a spoof that's meant as a sort of tribute, or if it's something a little more mean-spirited than that.

I tried to figure out a quick description for The Darkness. I finally settled on "Faster Pussycat with much more melody". I don't often say this about any album, but "Permission To Land" is one of those projects that would probably be much better as an instrumental than as a full vocal project. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad as it is, but I come away wondering "what might have been".

Also, as a final note, "Givin Up" has got to be the best heroin-themed song since "Mr. Brownstone".

[Ksyrup]

If you're looking for a true 80's metal parody that leaves no doubt, check out Metal Skool (formerly Metal Shop, and AKA Danger Kitty from that credit card commercial):

Warning - no nudity, but tons of profanity...

hxxp://www.metal-sludge.com/CDReview2003MetalShop.htm (http://www.metal-sludge.com/CDReview2003MetalShop.htm)

[Kodos]

I believe most songs on the Darkness album would be truly good with a classic 80's era singer like Jeff Keith or Joe Elliott or Sammy Hagar. Probably the higher-range songs would work well for Mark Slaughter. ;) He always liked those screechy lyrics.

Edit: I think Robyn Zander (Cheap Trick) would really do these songs justice as a singer. Or if the Darkness guy would just stay away from the falsetto crap.

[MizzouRah]

80's all the way!

Relax... don't do it...


Todd

[Ksyrup]

I believe most songs on the Darkness album would be truly good with a classic 80's era singer like Jeff Keith or Joe Elliott or Sammy Hagar. Probably the higher-range songs would work well for Mark Slaughter. ;) He always liked those screechy lyrics.

Edit: I think Robyn Zander (Cheap Trick) would really do these songs justice as a singer. Or if the Darkness guy would just stay away from the falsetto crap.
I was thinking the Slaughter guy, or maybe the guy from Steelheart (I'll Never Let You Go) who sang the Wahlberg lead vocal parts in Rock Star. That guy had/has an amazing voice.

[Groundhog]

The Jelly-L, a mailing list originally devoted to the early 90's power pop band Jellyfish

You know, I've never heard Jellyfish, and had never heard OF Jellyfish until a few weeks ago, but now that I happened to accidently stumble across a review of one of their CDs while looking for something else I keep seeing their name mentioned...

Are they worth checking out? I've heard them compared to Ben Folds Five and other similar kinds of groups, is this accurate?

[Ksyrup]

Not really. JF is a combination of 70's power pop bands like Big Star, Badfinger, The Move, The Raspberries, etc., with a strong psychedelic/Beatles and Beach Boys vibe. The second album, Spilt Milk, incorporates a clear Queen influence as well. Although they weren't really original, they combined so many elements into their own sound that they have been credited as the most influential "second generation" (if you will) power-pop band. Much like every current prog metal band is compared to Dream Theater as a matter of course, pretty much every power pop band these days is compared to JF.

They only released two albums, and the fact that they remain as influential as they have, speaks volumes about how great those two albums are. SM is my personal favorite, but they're both terrific. They broke up in 1993, and I didn't hear either album until 2000, but they singlehandedly opened my mind to a whole new type of music that I had never been willing to embrace before. Not only is nearly every song great, but the vocals and, particularly, the lyrics, are amazing.

They don't really sound anything like BF5, but if you are into well-written pop/rock, you owe it to yourself to check them out.

[Groundhog]

They don't really sound anything like BF5, but if you are into well-written pop/rock, you owe it to yourself to check them out.

Thanks for the comments. I am definately in to well-written pop/rock, especially of late. For the past 4 or so years I've been heavy in to prog rock and complex music in that vein, and I still love the stuff, but thanks largely to my recent discovery of groups like The Flaming Lips & Air et al I'm getting an appreciation for the 'simpler' side of music, quirky pop stuff mainly.

I'll add these guys to my big long list of CDs to buy (also known as My Big Long List of Future Debt) :)

[Ksyrup]

I've never heard Air, but I hope they're good, considering Jason Falkner wasted the better part of two years playing bass for them on their recent tours.

I'm probably 3-4 years ahead of you - I was heavily into prog rock/metal before 2000, and still am, but I discovered all of these pop/rock bands, and I'm getting into that scene more and more. If you like Flaming Lips, check out Starlight Mints. Not only do they sound similar, but they also happen to be from OK, as well.

[Groundhog]

Cool, another group to check out :)

Air are a nice atmospheric pop group led by two frenchmen who are heavy in to electronics. Their first album, Moon Safari, is considered their best by most, but I prefer their latest, Talkie Walkie. If you were going to sample tracks from them I'd suggest looking for 'Radian' and then probably 'Alone in Kyoto' (which is heard in the 'Lost in Translation' film).

They get compared to Massive Attack and groups like that, but I think they are much better song writers than most who dabble in electronics.

A quick allmusic.com search shows that Jason Falkner was in Jellyfish... further proof of how I just keep seeing references to these guys... He does a nice job on bass on the record. Nothing flashy, but it really suits the mood.

[dawgfan]

If you're looking for well-written pop/rock, may I also suggest the Posies, specifically the records Dear 23 and Frosting on the Beater. They also get compared a lot to Big Star and in fact have supported Alex Chilton on a number of Big Star revival tours in recent years.

[Ksyrup]

A quick allmusic.com search shows that Jason Falkner was in Jellyfish... further proof of how I just keep seeing references to these guys... He does a nice job on bass on the record. Nothing flashy, but it really suits the mood.
Post-JF, Falkner is my favorite by far. He released an album with Jon Brion under the name The Grays, and now has released a couple of solo albums which are fantastic. He's a perfect example of a pop/rock songwriter who manages to write 3-5 minute, catchy songs, but still manages to maintain a level of sophistication and complexity in his music that's way above the current White Stripes/Strokes crowd of bands.

Also, Manning and Sturmer (the Lennon/MCCartney of JF, if you will) haven't done jack squat since JF broke up, at least in front of a mic (although Manning did have Imperial Drag, which is good if you like T Rex/retro rock). Sturmer, especially, has been producing others and writing for others, most notably The Merrymakers, who put out a great CD a few years ago in the JF/Beatles vein, and Puffy AmiYumi, a Japanese girl band that I can't bring myself to listen to, although Sturmer wrote nearly all of their latest album and it's supposed to be fantastic, notwithstanding that it's performed by 2 Japanese girls (!).

Falkner was only there for the first JF album, and left because the other guys wouldn't allow him to have any creative input, so his solo stuff doesn't really sound much like JF.