Seeking suggestions

[gnomi]

I need more CDs to listen to at my desk at work (now that we're in a more crowded "neighborhood" in the office, I'm using my headphones and CDs much more often to block out other people's impromptu meetings). I'm looking for any and all suggestions. My music tastes can best be described as eclectic - I like folk, rock, some alternative rock (though I hate the term), Israeli music, a capella - anything, basically, that has good melody and good lyrics (though lyrics aren't necessary - I like classical and jazz as much as any other genre).

So...I'm starting a list of CDs to get. Lay 'em on me..

Comments

hmmm...

[farwing.livejournal.com]

ever heard of The Magnetic Fields? "69 Love Songs" is a truly wonderful box set. very wierd, but amazing & funny & twisted. oh, and i am a lyrics snob, so almost everything i listen to that is in a language i understand has good lyrics.

for more normal stuff...well, Belle & Sebastian aren't normal exactly but wow, i love em. they are Scottish & wonderful in concert. Try "Tigermilk" or "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant" i have everything they have ever done and 99.9 % of it is absolutely fabulous.

i imagine you already have Richard Thompson...

how about Garmarna? Lovely, dark, electrified Swedish music. They have an electric hurdy-gurdy. i kid you not. "Vengeance" is the CD i have.

[clauclauclaudia]

I second the Magnetic Fields, though if you don't want to spring for the 69 Love Songs box set, you might try the 2 LP / 1 CD The Wayward Bus & Distant Plastic Trees... it's clever and accessible and has wonderful croony vocals. If you find you like them you can investigate Stephin Merritt's other projects, The Sixths and The Gothic Archies.

Davinci's Notebook for geeky a cappella-style vocals.

Great Big Sea for Newfoundland Celtic rock.

The cast album for Bombay Dreams for a fun Bollywood take on musical theater.

Dar Williams for singer/songwriter goodness.

[eal.livejournal.com]

Okay, knowing up front that we don't tend to listen to the same sorts of music:

Rebecca Lynn Howard -- Forgive
Providence Soundtrack
Nickel Creek
Dave Matthews Band -- Busted Stuff and Everyday
Sara Evans -- Born to Fly
Ben Harper -- just about anything
Alanis Morrissette -- Under Rug Swept
You might also want to try: Train; The Corrs; um, can't think of the others right now -- I have a Musicmatch Radio DMX account onto which I've set up a personal station that plays "my kind" of music, which is a weird mix of country, rock, and alternative stuff.

Now, I like P.O.D., but I don't know what you'll make of that one. Um, left off the serious country stuff. That's a start :)

Beth (who could be persuaded to burn some stuff for you if you wanted it)

Music Update

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Yesterday I went for some retail therapy on my way home from work and picked up 4 CDs: the "Buffy" musical soundtrack, two Rockapella CDs ("In Concert" and "Smilin'") and the Magnetic Fields CD recommended by both claudia_ and farwing. So far, I'm liking it.

And, eal, if you're willing to burn me a CD of random selections from your collection that you think I'd like, I won't say no. :-)

Re: Music Update

[eal.livejournal.com]

Oh looky -- something to do during my incarceration :) I somehow don't think it was the idea that I come up with things to do to fill my time. Ah well, live and something :)

I'll put together something and burn it for you.

Beth