Two examples that come to me immediately are Enya and Smashing Pumpkins. If music starts feeling stale, I can put on Enya and music feels new again. It’s such a pleasant departure from the standard pop/rock/RnB etc sounds that dominate (even if I like those artists).

Anybody have their own equivalents?

  • HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    5 days ago

    Well my favorite band is tull and andersons flute is generally a giveaway but also just the use of odd instruments. Not totally though as the group has experimented with some different sounds. Still there were times I heard a song and I was like. That sounds like tull and it was. There are occasions where I think that sounds like tull and it was some other folk rock band though.

      • HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
        1·
        5 days ago

        Its kinda funny because the concert I paid to see in chicago theater after having loved the band for ages was horrible but now I know its sorta a well known thing where anderson got sick and his voice never recovered. I likely heard him at his worst. Later though the flutist society had them for a free concert and I think because of the sponsors they played their most flute heavy stuff. Literally had a comrade fan at my side with tears in both our eyes we could not get over how good it was. The music has always had a lot of feeling and philosophy and such and I had someone tell me they did not like them because they were too political (we were talking about music from the 60’s and 70’s though which is like. dude it was all political at that time). Anyway anderson reformed the band and I was blown away by the first albumn that was influenced by trump1 and covid called the zealot gene. just summed up the feel of the time to me so much. They had this crazy outsized effect on music in general realtive to the popularity and recognition of the band. They had a lot of membership changes through the years and past members ended up in so many bands and they experimented a lot with stuff that you kinda see in other music genres later. Besides anderson, martin barres guitar in particular but its quite the rabbit hole. As you can tell im quite the fan. Getting away from the band, one thing that is kinda funny is at one point I thought I really liked a wide variety of music. Over time I realize I sorta tend to like a type of music that is related across time spans. progressive rock, new wave (the real stuff as it feels like in modern times they list all eighties stuff as new wave), alternative, no idea what the modern name would be.

        • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          1·
          5 days ago

          I’m glad that you drew my attention to them because I listened to so much rock in my youth that I have an instant skip reflex now. But this is great.

          And yeah, I’ve noticed my tastes collapsing in on a smaller range these days too. That’s why I started the thread, to try and find something different and great. I got enough good suggestions to last me at least a year!

  • loie@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    15 days ago

    No disrespect to the Pumpkins at all, but there are several bands of that time and place that are known to share a similar sound. Hum and Catherine off the top of my head. For any Pumpkins fan that hasn’t heard of these yet, there’s like another half dozen albums to enjoy.

        • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          2·
          10 days ago

          Thanks for the rec, I’m listening to it now. I currently on the first track and it’s already excellent - just like that “rediscovering music” feeling I’ve been looking for! Very rare to experience this so thanks again. They’ve developed quite a bit since Undertow, when I last heard them.

          • Noxy@pawb.socialEnglish
            1·
            9 days ago

            Hell yeah, I’m pumped to hear you’re giving it a listen and enjoying it!

            If you ever happen to take shrooms or acid, definitely make some time to listen to this album, or 10,000 Days, or Lateralus. they’re all incredible on psychedelics, there’s so many nuances that really come to life

            • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
              2·
              9 days ago

              I doubt myself and psychedelics would mix very well, but I’ll definitely check out 10,000 Days or Lateralus and see if they hold up when I’m on liquorice tea and Tony’s Chocolonely :)

  • ianhclark510@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    6·
    15 days ago

    Gotta slide in with my boys King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, no matter what genre they’re recording in

    Also shout out to Sleater - Kinney, I know they made a pretty major tonal shift in recent years, but that early era has a feeling all its own

      • ianhclark510@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        2·
        9 days ago

        Short Answer: I’m in your Mind Fuzz

        Long Answer: subjective pick for sure, but no matter what part of Mind Fuzz you like, there’s another album that sounds like it to keep running with

        Second place: Nonagon Infinity: like the album concept, probably my fave generic list of radio friendly rock bops, and there are a couple segments that call back to mind fuzz and forward to other pieces (interconnected themes and leitmotifs is a common theme of the band)

        if you’re a metalhead I’d recommend Infest the Rats Nest if it’s above 35 degrees and you’re driving a vehicle with no aircon (but I won’t gatekeep) or PetroDragonic Apocalypse; Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation

        Other than that, if you’re looking for something upbeat and emotional I’d recommend Butterfly 3000

        I can’t speak to their virtuosity, but if you’re a musician or interested in the technique they have a lot to be interested in, Ice Death Planets Lungs Mushrooms and Lava is an album where each track is ina different mode of the major scale, they have 2 different microtonal albums

        And if I’m reading you wrong and you’re looking for something weird and avant guard to spark interest in a dull world there’s Murder of the Universe, the Silver Cord, or Omnium Gatherum

        And I don’t want anyone to think that omission from this list is a bad mark, 12 bar bruise, Flight b741 and Phantom Island are great, just not necessarily my speed

        • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          1·
          9 days ago

          I’m enjoying I’m in Your Mind Fuzz and Nonagon Infinity, thanks. There’s a kind of an implicit psychedelic drone that draws me in. They remind me slightly (only slightly) of the group Swervedriver from the soundtrack of Road Rash 3D on the 3DO years ago.

          Infest the Rats Nest is a very enjoyable listen too. Their sound is a little different to other rock groups in my collection, but I’m very out of date with that genre (as in decades). I’ll get on to your other recommendations too. Thanks again!

    • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      3·
      10 days ago

      Yeah I’d agree with that, especially at the time they were active. I remember when You Don’t Fool Me came out and you could tell in the first few seconds that it was going to be a Queen song just from the combined harmonies and guitar riff.

    • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      10 days ago

      Thanks. I’m listening to The Hawk is Howling by Mogwai. On one hand it doesn’t sound that unique to me, but maybe it’s from all my time playing guitar in bands - I might just be immune to those sounds. But there is a certain something to it that keeps me listening.

      I haven’t heard Godspeed You Black Emperor mentioned in so many years, excellent example and thank you so much for bringing me back to them.

      Beach house have quite a few albums. Now I’m listening to Become (2023) and it’s starting off well with some unexpected turns in the progressions.

      • Marshezezz@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        2·
        10 days ago

        Yeah I can see that with Mogwai, I play guitar myself and am hearing it. I do always love to put them out and space out but I could get that with someone like ten east as well.

        Godspeed is so damn great, glad I could rejuvenate them for you :).

        Yeah beach house has some interesting stuff. Their first albums were real lofi and really based off hip hop beats with dream pop stuff going on. Always dug them for just getting stoned out and meandering through thoughts.

        Have you fucked with bitches brew and that fusion jazz before it got too generic sounding? I’ve honestly listened to that stuff and it’s so mesmerizing and hard to even process some of it, I love how out there Miles was getting in the 70s

      • 4am@lemmy.zipEnglish
        2·
        9 days ago

        Louis and Genevieve are the two permanent members of Knower, but they also do a bunch of side projects as well. About a year ago Louis put out some huge orchestral works and live performances and then had some health issues and kinda disappeared. Hope he’s doing alright!

        Lemmy put me on to Knower. Check out “Do Hot Girls Like Chords” for the song that started it all!

        • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          1·
          5 days ago

          This really suits my tastes, thank you so much. Edgy and vibrant but cosy in a way too.

          That’s Where You Are also sounds lush and has breathing room between them. It’s soft and gentle yet subtly energising.

          I realise describing music is a particular skill, but that’s my best attempt and thank you again. Funnily, I think I can remove some artists I’ve come across in the last year or two because Knower tops them all.

    • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      10 days ago

      I don’t think I’ve heard anything quite like this before at all, thank you! I’m not sure how long I could listen to it continuously but I think it’s very cool and well done.

    • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      15 days ago

      That sounds interesting! I’ve played a few instruments over the years but am an amateur (being generous here) when it comes to mixing. If rock is your area, that makes me think of Queens of the Stone Age. When a new song of theirs would come out, I’d sometimes know it was them immediately even before the vocals started. An evolution more than a revolution, but still uniquely identifiable I think.

      • diegantobass@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        14 days ago

        Oh yeah I didn’t mean we all sound the same. It is after all a quest of finding your sound, as in a sound that is uniquely yours. But in the limits of what the genre is

  • teawrecks@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    2·
    15 days ago
    • Explosions in the Sky
    • Neutral Milk Hotel
    • mewithoutYou

    And it’s not really representative of the rest of their work, but I have never found anything that sounds quite like Sigur Ros’ album Kveikur. It’s this dreary, echoy, droney sound that is such a vibe.

    • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      10 days ago

      For Explosions in the Sky I chose Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. They have quite a few albums so I don’t know how representative it is of their other work but it’s very pleasant to listen to.

      For Neutral Milk Hotel I tried In The Aeroplane over the Sea. It is unusually (and pleasantly) less “rigid” sounding than most popular music. Good recommendation. There’s a kind of spontaneous feel to it.

      For mewithouYou I tried Pale Horses. It’s excellent. Fairly straight indie rock but very well done.

      All just my opinion of course!

      • teawrecks@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        1·
        10 days ago

        Nice! Glad you enjoyed them. If I knew you were going to take a listen, I would have offered entrypoints. But I appreciate that you listened to entire albums rather than whatever the top tracks are on spotify.

        When I think Explosions, I think The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place or All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone. But TC, TC, TC is one of my favs. The Wilderness is probably their most bold departure from the typical organic sound. Very industrial feeling.

        Aeroplane is probably the one you should listen to if nothing else. As I understand it, part of their noteworthy sound comes from their use of a distortion pedal with an acoustic guitar. I recommend listening to Song Against Sex real quick too.

        Probably the mwY album I’d recommend as an entry would be Brother, Sister. Their first album was considered post-hardcore, and I can see it, but I honestly am not sure how to classify their second. After that I think they’d be more considered folk, and then maybe back towards indie and post-hardcore. But even without the notable vocals, their instrumental segments are so uniquely “them”. I have a friend who always knew I listened to them, but was never his thing until Ten Stories came out, and then told me, “I get it now.”

        The best demonstration of their evolution is probably to listen to Bullet to Binary (first track from their first album), and then Bullet to Binary Pt2 (from their 4th album). They’re clearly different genres, yet musically you can hear their unique sound is behind both.

        Take care! (tc tc)

        • FarraigePlaisteaċ (sé/é)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          2·
          9 days ago

          I’ve listened to The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place, too. I actually can’t remember it now because I’ve listened to so many things at this stage, but I’ve bookmarked it under my “shopping list” folder so it made a good impression. I’m halfway through Brother, Sister and there are definitely a few songs I’d like to favourite on it. It’s funny because it seems like a fairly standard rock sound at first, but there are these little details or events at times that stand out.

          I’ll check out the others, you TC, TC, TC too :)