For inspiration, here are four songs – some newish, some oldish and some very, very old – that I’ll never get tired of listening to.
I saw them live last year and met singer Rachel Stolte after the show. Her voice is the kind of haunting you wish for. Plus, she wore these amazing knee-high boots. p.s. If the song sounds oddly familiar, it’s being used in the NBA Playoffs “There Can Only Be One” campaign.
How much do I love the vest and tie Feist wore for Colbert? I don’t think science has developed a way to count that high.
I bought this CD 10 years ago from a remainder rack. I’ve never stopped playing it. I play this song almost every time I fly. I don’t know why, exactly. Maybe because it’s hopeful and yearning and feels like flight. p.s. Sarah Bettens dinged my gaydar so hard from the “Cocoon Crash”album art all those years ago, I remember spending a good day searching “lesbian” and “Sarah Bettens” online. But this was before she was out, so I had only my suspicions and, of course, that voice as clues. Of course now you look at her and you’re kind of like, duh.
I love Ani and will always love Ani. I have all her CDs, have seen her about half a dozen times and even got to talk with her once. She laughed a lot. It was lovely.
UPDATE I: Wow. No, really, wow. Y’all delivered like Domino’s with the suggestions. Thank you, thank you 51-times and counting thank you. I plan to check them all out.
UPDATE II: Oh, if you emailed your suggestion, thank you too. I am terribly behind on my replies, so if you’ve sent me mail in the last week, thank you and please don’t fret. I am getting to you. Just, um, slowly.
62 comments:
10,000 stones by Adrianne.
http://www.myspace.com/adriannemusic
Riot on an Empty Street by Kings of Convenience.
http://www.myspace.com/kingsofconvenience
If you like women singersongwriters you can't go past - Missy Higgins - http://www.missyhiggins.com/
Jess McAvoy - http://www.jessmcavoy.com
and Genevieve Maynard
http://www.myspace.com/genevievemaynard
For an added bonus all the above women are lesbian or bisexual.
A few Aussie sheilas you may not have heard of...
Mia Dyson - Roll Me Out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtVzVdkWYpA
(she pings my gaydar something chronic, even in this song singing "she looks a lot like my first love back in the country" and "but they don't like girls holding hands on show" but either way she has an awesomely husky voice and WICKED guitar skills. (plus she's played with Feist who I know you love - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmqa0JhjCYA ) and there are a few downloads available from www.miadyson.com
Anything by Ella Hooper coz I think she's the bees knees. This kinda looks like a bad karaoke home video but its cute, unfortunately Ella is the last to sing solo and kicks in about the 1:45 mark... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl8AngII92Y tho I'd say she's much better known from her Killing Heidi days, and an acoustic version of I Am (from the Spiderman soundtrack) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSPWnCraJkU
And one of my fave summer chill out albums is from UK group Belleruche http://www.myspace.com/belleruche
Sarah Bettens came out since; is actually even living in the US at present near Tennessee, I think. She brought out a solo cd, which was heavily promoted. Yesterday, she and her brother announced that they've taken K's Choice off the backburner, and will working on a joint project again...
Ms. Snarker! I definitely just went through that myself recently so I know how you feel. I would love to offer some of my favorite songs of the moment. They range from singer/songwriter to mainstream and rock - a little mix of everything. Hope you like them too!
Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl
(the single is out now. LOOOOVE IT. It's even my ringtone as of yesterday)
Peter Bradley Adams & Sarah Bareilles - Teresa
Amy Winehouse - Love Is A Losing Game
Augustana - Fire
Missy Higgins - All For Believing
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours (casa nova sessions)
Mackintosh Braun - Here
Bliss - Wish You Were Here
Sweatshop Union - Better Days
Colbie Caillat - Tied Down
Sixx:A.M. - Life Is Beautiful
Burn Season - Perfect
Spektrum - Horny Pony
Jason Reeves - You In A Song
Puscifer - The Undertaker (Renholder mix)
Right now, I'm into Corday, especially Kaleidoscope.
http://www.myspace.com/jennifercorday
Also, The Becky Chace Band.
http://www.beckychace.com
Elvis Costello's new CD is VERY good.
Joan As Policewoman
Nini Camps:
http://www.myspace.com/ninicamps
and The Hamiltons:
http://www.myspace.com/thehamiltonsrock
Best question to ask if want your blog flooded with endless comments! Here's a random extract of my playlist du jour:
Songwriters/folk stuff
Laura Marling; Krystle Warren; Phoebe Killdeer; Ruby Throat
Rock'n guitars stuff
Tegan and Sarah; Mgmt; The Raconteurs; Sia; Stars
Move-your-buttocks stuff
Hercules & Love affair; Duchess Says;and my friends and favorite Lesbians on extasy
For the French touch, check out Camille, really worth a listening (it's all voice except for the piano):
http://www.myspace.com/camilleofficial
For the still-wondering gaydars (if any), another pic of the ever sexy Sarah Bettens:
http://www.sarahbettens.com/images/Sarah-
Advertentie-Theater-Tour-08---BIS.jpg
Don't know if what I'm listening to is your speed but here goes:
Mariah Carey - I Stay in Love, Cruise Control, Side Effects, Thanx 4 Nothin, Bye Bye
Janet Jackson - Never Letchu Go
Rihanna - Take A Bow
Ali & Gipp Ft LeToya - Almost Made Ya
Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
Alcia Keys - Tell You Something
Jordin Sparks ft Chris Brown - No Air
Brandy - Dig This (off Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns OST)
Ray J - Sexy Can I
And when I'm not listening to that playlist I just pop Aretha Franklin's Jewel in the Crown CD in and you can never go wrong with this CD - it's a GEM and definitely my favorite album in a very long time
Well I have only know acquainted myself (where have I been all my life, you wonder?) with KD's album Invincible Summer and Uh huh her's songs Explode, Mystery lights, Run, Not a love song... Luv'em.
*Laura*
Hey Ms. Snarker...consider going old school with a little Lesley Gore:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmOrWG2FTbg
But you don't have to stick with the oldies. Her album of a couple years ago has some good stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBGDtNJeBPA
ooh, excellent! got to love new music hints. I just discovered Sia, too, finally. I always find that the "so very gay" Dykes and the City has super tips for things I never would have found myself, and her girlfriend Frau Genau mixes up a storm. (See if you can stop dancing around the kitchen to Ready for the Floor from Hot Chip, I challenge you!)
My friend Melanie Susurus has a new CD out "Stop to Stand" which I haven't bought yet, because she hasn't had the CD release party yet and I want the ACTUAL disk (it's a generational thing). But she has a great tune from it on her myspace called "Fingerprints" go here: http://www.myspace.com/msb
You can also buy her first CD "Berefoot Again" that won her a spot in the Lilith Faire when K's Choice was also playing. I absolutely love the song "She" and about half the CD is really good. I suspect most of the new CD is going to be great (I like all the tracks I've heard when she plays them live).
Mirah is great lady music. You got the gay. You got the singer-songwriter. You got the barefoot on stage performances. You got the lyrics like: "But it can be a lonely place/Desire comes, desire fades/There's a bright one caught your fancy eye/It's okay as long as you stay mine."
And I'll throw Lucinda Williams out there - the safe, real kind of country music.
And Neko Case. Gotta love that Teenage Feeling.
And I'll throw my favorite old school lady in here - Etta James. Not recent gospel Etta James, and not just "At Last" Etta James. 50s and 60s Etta James, especially The Complete Mussel Shoals Sessions that she recorded when she was seven months pregnant. Her version of "Do Right Woman" wipes the floor with Aretha's.
"Overpowered" by Roisin Murphy, "In Ghost Colours" by Cut Copy, and "Robyn" by Robyn are my favorite albums of the past few months.
And by the way, it's pretty obvious by her page and some of her songs, but Melanie is out. Her new song "Unfinished" is also really really good!
"Who should I be listening to?" is my favorite question to answer!!
She&Him - Breeders - Portishead - Ravonettes - El Perro Del Mar - Afternoon Naps
All these artists have new cds out. If ya wanna listen to some new but not "brand new":
Stereolab - Jens Lekman - Magnetic Fields - Camera Obscura - Beirut - Electrelane
OR...you can just download or listen to my indie rock and pop radio show, "stonecoldbikini". www.stonecoldbikini.com
There is a weekly archive online:
http://www.wruw.org/guide/index.php?form_submit=1&g=&d=4
Ugh..this sounds like an ad. Im sorry.
I like Duffy. She was rocking it out on Ellen Friday. Plus she's cute.
For something a little (alright, a lot) weird, check out Bat for Lashes' album "Fur and Gold."
-> key tracks: Tahiti, Prescilla, What's a Girl to Do?
I'll repeat other comments by suggesting Sia's newest album "Some People Have Real Problems."
I absolutely adore Iron and Wine's album "The Shepherd's Dog."
-> key tracks: Boy With a Coin
Kaki King never ceases to amaze, so check out "Dreaming of Revenge" if you haven't already.
-> key tracks: Air and Kilometers
I recently re-acquainted myself with KT Tunstall, via her album "Drastic Fantastic" and realized what I'd been missing.
-> key tracks: If Only, Funnyman, Little Favours
Lastly, I am stunned by the awesomeness that is Neko Case's "Fox Confessor Brings The Flood."
-> key tracks: Hold On Hold On, Star Witness, That Teenage Feeling
Other albums worth mentioning: The New Pornographers' "Challengers," The Shins' "Wincing the Night Away, Menomena's "Friend and Foe," and Pinback's "Summer in Abaddon"
sarah slean.
Check out Michelle Malone. Her music is fantastic and she's a very good looking, out lesbian. What's not to love?
http://www.michellemalone.com/
My most recently favorite artists are Regina Spektor (lovely piano and lovelier singing) and Imogen Heap. My Brightest Diamond is also quite spectacular. Regina's the best, though.
"Josephine" by Tori Amos. This song just gets me. It still makes me cry. If anything, I would have to say it is my favourite short song... way too short song.
Also, if French songs don't scare you too much, one that I never stop playing on my Ipod these days is "Quelqu'un m'a dit" by Carla Bruni (the model turned singer, who is now with Sarkozy - France's president). The song is great, but the lyrics make the difference to me... so if understanding comes in the way, then I don't know how it affects the song.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fMUedRUJ_HA
Queen Adreena, everything
Charlotte Gainsbourg, 5:55 (the entire CD)
Bjork and PJ Harvey, Satisfaction (Rolling stones cover)
Sinnead O'Connor and The Cheiftains, The foggy dew
Superbus (the 3 albums)
Joan Baez, pretty much everything
Bob Dylan (classic but I like to relisten it once in a while)
Madonna's last album Hard Candy
...
My current favorites (many have already been mentioned):
Cat Power
Beth Orton
Martha Wainwright
Regina Spektor
Mary Margaret O'hara (hard to find CDs but fabulously freaky! check her out on youtube.)
Neko Case
Good luck!
Thank you for mentioning Sarah Bettens in your post. She and the boys in the band are sweet.
I had an inkling ever since I saw her perform as "Sarah Beth" - before K's Choice was founded. So when she finally came out I could only smile...
I'm currently listening to
"That was a lie" by Sharleen Spiteri (free d/l here: http://www.u-download.co.uk/sharleensthatwasalie)
"Fascination" by Alphabeat
"Good DJ" by the Ting Tings
"L.E.S. Artistes" by Santogold
@Mara: Sharleen Spiteri has such a wonderful voice, eh. Caught her on Later with Jools Holland last Saturday. Two songs! And a new album to boot.
Hooverphonic : Everything !!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9ehaxni9bY
Sinead O’Connor : No man’s woman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCyKEKi4fP4
Skye(ex-Morcheeba) : her first solo album Mind how you go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1uGbh96y-4
Keren Ann : Not going anywhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1504cSBhWG0
Leona Naess : Ballerina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LDTbhHwcd8
Brandi Carlile! She's a great singer and she's gay and HOT to boot.
www.brandicarlile.com
All right, I've never posted befoe, but I can't resist anyne asking for music.
Sons and Daughters: fabulous Scottish rock, fantastic vocalist with a sexy Glasgow accent - http://youtube.com/watch?v=tvGxzg7-GQo
Sharon Jones: amazing old motown style - http://youtube.com/watch?v=8ouI5KcyHfE
Beirut: beautiful eastern-european style, lovely vocals (male, though) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=AD5hg0maVNw
Charlotte Gainsburg: wonderful french actress (she was in The Science of Sleep and The Cement Garden) she has a very nice voice and I quite like her CD - http://youtube.com/watch?v=SAMinYXnrS4
Cat Power: You've probably heard of her before, I love her voice and music. She seems to be very your style - http://youtube.com/watch?v=lnSjtKFcW1Y
The Like: They're cute, but not mind-boggling or anything. I like them, though - http://youtube.com/watch?v=iHEDL4-REq0
Here's some really good ones you might have heard of before:
The White Stripes (live, even if you've already heard them, you should watch this, it's amaing) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=-t1_ETuWIbE
Edith Piaf - http://youtube.com/watch?v=rbsl5_203Ms
The Shangri-Las - http://youtube.com/watch?v=gOdP_VvPKHU
PJ HARVEY (my all-time fave) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=kKLPMZ-PSBQ
Rilo Kiley - http://youtube.com/watch?v=mtyhWo8qngk
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - http://youtube.com/watch?v=-cvrYc4ccd8
Madeline Peyroux - http://youtube.com/watch?v=L1kXgaqF6lA
Metric - http://youtube.com/watch?v=tf6VxRENc1o
The Noisettes - http://youtube.com/watch?v=C91iV8gQb1U
Klaus Nomi!! - http://youtube.com/watch?v=gma5IUNMTn0
Enjoy. I love your blog.
Hm, I see there's another Amanda on here. Oh well.
But yeah, Kaki King is a must.
they've unfortunately broken up, but definitely definitely The Organ.
Goldfrapp's latest album, 'Seventh Tree' is masterful. "Felt Mountain' from 2000 is also extraordinary.
Gina Catalino. She's fabulous. Also, The Day After... - Counting All the Upsets is a great album.
there's always ben harper, death cab, decerberists, joseph arthur, xavier rudd, brett dennen
but lately i've been kinda stuck on rilo kiley and thao nguyen.
The new one by Bitter:Sweet called Drama
Brandi Carlile all the way.. Her voice is SICK.
Watch this video, you won't be dissapointed.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2mF9XAs5Dmo
Also Joanna Newsom. Some people just don't get her and find her voice annoying when actually I think it's really beautiful. She really is a musical genius and looks like an elf/pixie/fairy. Her album Ys is literally a masterpiece and she plays the harp which is hot.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hVx_kVtFI9E
If you don't mind streaming audio, check out www.pandora.com
input one of those four songs and see what comes up.
Brandi Carlile, Regina Spektor
Oh, this is fun. Here are a few of my recent favs:
Adele - 19
Sia - Some People Have all the Problems
Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling
Brandi Carlile - The Story
Rilo Kiley - Under the Backlight
And the if you are in a romantic mood:
Jimmy Scott - All the Way
Everyone loves to show off how much hip music they know.
I just wanted to say that I like your new choices and Great Northern is a magnificent band. I had a chance to see them at the Hammer museum during their summer rock series. I often go there or to other museums for new musical inspiration. I prefer to find/come upon music, rather than be told what is good.
I'm also a huge fan of ilike.com because they link me with people who have similar musical tastes and there is a large database for new artists.
just some suggestions for searching...
Katie Sawicki
Natalia Zuckerman
Sometymes Why
Be Good Tanyas
Po' Girl
Wailin' Jennys
The Builders & The Butchers; they're not queer, but they're still damn good. Start with Vampire Lake or When it Rains and you'll be mighty glad you did.
Also, "Ah Mary" by Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. She's straight but she doesn't sing like it.
Girlyman-- Young James Dean
My friend described the guitar hook in this folksy song as "delicious," and that's the best word I can think of.
And since you like Ani, I'd recommend Brenda Weiler, particularly "Sweet Lullaby" or "Tease."
Fallsway Downs (myspace.com/fallswaydowns)
Terra Naomi (http://www.myspace.com/terranaomi and terranaomi.com),
Jenny Owen Youngs (http://www.myspace.com/jennyowenyoungs and jennyowenyoungs.com), Poe (especially Beautiful Girl), Pink, Natalie Imbruglia, Meredith Brooks, Melissa Ferrick, Lo-Ball, Dido
If you like spoken word poetry, check out Andrea Gibson (andreagibson.com) and Alix Olson. They're both really good.
I too adore Feist and have so since i first heard 'lonely,lonely' on the L word...here is a list of my favourite musical heartbreakers:
Neko Case
Rufus Wainwright
Sia
Josh Pyke
and especially Clare Bowditch: awesomely talented, down-to-earth and gorgeous to boot.
And for fun:
M.I.A.
Dragonette
New Young Pony Club
http://artlifeetc.blogspot.com
- The whole Albertine album by Brooke Fraser
- songs by Italian singer Mina Mazzini (you might not understand the lyrics, but she's got the best fucking voice ever -- and she also made a cover of More than words, but it's not one of the best performances)
- L'esigenza, by Radiodervish (I'd be glad to provide you with a translation of the lyrics)
- Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
- Crazy on you by Heart (not new, i know...but sometimes it's just ood to go back and start singing like a dork using a pen as a microphone)
- Advice for young mothers to be, by the Veils
- Waves, by Mono Band
- Lonely day, by System of a down
- the whole The Mass album by Era (new age, with fake latin -- very moving althought sort of, well. weird.)
- the albums hybrid theory and meteora by linkin park (i had never noticed their music was so....emo, until i saw it written somewhere. huh.)
- Stop! in the name of love - by Diana Ross
- Chop Suey by System of a Down
- Dreame baby dream by suicide - i think i only like this song because of the slideshow i saw once of george lange's pictures, you can watch it at his website. it's so damn inspiring
- Heartbreaker by pat benatar - again with the pen as a microphone! except this song might (and i'm not admitting to anything) cause seizure-like movements that are supposed to pass as dance moves
- Hey Julie by fountains of Wayne
- Hey there Delilah by Plan White T's - but i might like this song just cause my girl's name is Delilah too
- Ordinary life, by liquido
and i'll stop now, cause i just got to the O in my music collection, skipping good songs, and if i keep going this comment will just become a post in and of itself...
Jeez Ms. Snarker! You're going have your work cut out for you checking all these suggestions :)(altho I might check some out myself)
Here's my list to add to your load!
None of them are new, but they were to me:
In a manner of speaking - Nouvelle Vague (French Group who sings in English)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPR2bK3kL5c&feature=related
The Valley, Bird on a Wire, Hallulujah - k d lang (all from her previous album Hymns of the 49th Parallel)
all on YouTube. Enjoy!
missy higgins is A.m.a.z.i.n.g.
try antigone rising...also amazing
just go to pandora.com
enter a song or artist you like and they'll play other stuff you'll like. you rate it (if you want) and they learn you better. it's the music genome project, and it's pretty amazing.
Mary Gauthier
www.marygauthier.com
and I second the Brandi Carlile motions...
Jess Harlen:
http://www.myspace.com/soundslikesoul
jessharlen.com
okay so i know i'm super late to comment BUT check out Jaymay and Basia Bulat...you will NOT be sorry!
they both have myspaces so you can sample their music before you inevitably purchase their albums in their entirety because they're so magical.
I'm late in recommendation too, but check out
- Kat Frankie
- Wallis Bird
- Aimee Mann
- Ingrid Michaelson
- José González
- Lykke Li
- Maria Taylor
- the Notwist
- Camera Obscura
- Moonbabies
- Broken Social Scene
- The Concretes
- Northern State (so much fun!)
- The Dø
- An Horse
- Junior Boys
Ooops, I didn't realize it was gonna be this many!
i just wanted to say thank you...i'm always looking for good music and pod cast...i will be checking out what is listed here also
check out heather green
or check out myspace.com/forvajayjaysonly
have a great day everyone
I like looking through old posts.
Nobody had mentioned any 'out there' music. It was all fairly well known, and all worthy of a checking out if you hadn't already.
I'm going to recommend you sites which will recommend you music. It's not as good as person-to-person recommendations, but it's the next best thing.
www.last.fm
^Simple as finding an artist's page and looking at the "similar artists" reel.
www.music-map.com
^Just type in the artist name and it shows a splurge of artists. The closer they are the more similar they are, apparently.
I recommend Frightened Rabbit.
A Scottish band that have been touring with Death Cab for Cutie. Probably the best band of 2008.
Second recommendation: Florence and the Machine.
They're going to be HUGE in 2009. I'd say they were a band version of Laura Marling (who is worth checking out if you haven't already).
I would also recommend: Ruby and her Whorses.
She's a poet on that guitar.
www.myspace.com/rubyandherwhorses
I can almost guarantee you that you wont be disappointed. If you are, I'll make it up to you- in ANY way you see fit.
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