Find and Enjoy More Music

Music Recommendations from Outside the Pop Box

This lens is a collection of monthly music recommendations and articles about music. The articles cover everything from naming your band to discovering new artists and genres to love. The sections named after months highlight a band or music resource that deserves more attention.

Please explore to your heart's content. You'll find my guestbook at the very bottom of the lens and I'd love to hear from you. If you've got a recommendation for a "Music of the Month", please let me know that, too. Thank you and welcome!

I'm fiddling with my LastFM playlist halfway through this lens. I've added tracks from all of the artists featured as music of the month (except WookieFoot, as they have no full tracks available there) but it won't play here, as it is intended. I think Squidoo simply strips the script. You can still open it into a pop-up window and give folks a listen!

What Will You Find Here?

Explore the monthly recommendations below. You'll find links to specific, related albums, and can listen to my selections from Pandora Radio and LastFM, between the recommendations. That's my little incentive for you to check out all of them!

Coming soon, my new music blog, with daily song recommendations! Please, check back; I'll put the feed here as soon as I've got one. In the meantime, if you know of a source for full-length, searchable listens, please share it with me. Between Rhapsody and LastFM, I can usually find a song in full, but some of the more obscure (and older) songs aren't there, either. I'd love a source for those, as well!

August, 2008: Pink Martini

From Portland, Oregon, Would You Believe It?

My introduction to this amazing, 12-piece ensemble was the relatively straightforward "Hey Eugene", the title track of their third album. It's an enjoyable story tune, until the chorus. Suddenly, fantastic harmonies explode out of this cute but unremarkable song. I had to hear more.

What I found was a band that did pop music, sambas, big-band retro, and even Japanese-film-inspired tracks, sung in Japanese. They tour the world and no two of their songs are alike. You can enjoy the mellow swing of "Hang on Little Tomato", tap your toes to the Gypsy beat of "Dosvedanya Mio Bombino", picture the Parisian café around you with "Sympathetique", practice your Japanese with "Taya Tan", and salsa dance to "Tempo Perdido".

Pink Martini may not be from any of these places, but they will give you a clean introduction to half a dozen varieties of world music. China Forbes powers her voice over all of these sounds, smoothing any rough edges and harmonizing with everything. Her powerful pipes tie the varied experiments into a recognizable whole. And with strings, horns, and a healthy sense of fun these folks deserve to be around for a long time adding to it.

You can listen to a few Pink Martini songs on their MySpace profile and more through the Hype Machine. Unfortunately, they don't have any full tracks available on LastFM, so I couldn't add one to my playlist, below. You can also visit their official web site for a blog, press clippings, and to read about the band members.

Pink Martini's Hey Eugene!

Hey Eugene!

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 08/07/2008)

July, 2008: The Two Man Gentlemen Band

Old-Fashoined Love Songs, Sort Of

I'm not a fan of the banjo in general. I thought I'd get that out in front, as a warning that the Two Man Gentlemen Band plies the banjo in every tune. I do, however, love clever and witty lyrics, which these guys have, in spades. I'm also a sucker for a good kazoo solo.

This bouncy band combines Dixieland jazz and ragtime razz with a Vaudevillian sense of the naughty. The song names alone give you a good idea from the Gentlemen are coming. Such titles as "William Howard Taft" and "Stonewall Jackson's Arm" display their irreverent take on historical events. Indeed, Their second album was entitled "Great Calamities".

Their newest album, "Heavy Petting", was released in February, 2008. These tracks include "When Your Lips Are Playing My Kazoo" and "Dippin' Sauce", as well as the title track and "They Can't Prohibit Love!"

For the geekier of us, they Two Man Gentlemen Band has also included such numerical hits as Prime Numbers and "The Square Root of Two".

You can listen to a few songs from each of their three albums on their official web site. You can hear more on their MySpace profile and even more at LastFM.

June, 2008: Robert Randolph and the Family Band

Blues, Funk, and a Lot of Soul

If Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn had Tower of Power's children, then bred them with James Brown, they'd have created Robert Randolph and the Family Band. I'm pretty sure that's not what happened, but somehow these folks have found an incredible sound that blends all of these folks with their own creativity and spirit.

They've hit the studio to record a couple of albums' worth of it, and I have high hopes that more is coming. Their first album was a live recording released in 2002. Later, they released "Colorblind", featuring tracks with Eric Clapton and Dave Matthews.

I was so excited to discover these folks on the World Café (David Dye, you are my hero!) that I was sad to find that they'd already been introduced to the world through Gray's Anatomy on television and the movie Stomp the Yard. I missed them on Austin City Limits. Apparently, they played at the Grammy Award show and on The Tonight Show in 2004, as well. I don't watch enough TV, I guess.

Robert Randolph has been all over the place, but he and the Family Band haven't gotten the sort of attention that their talent and energy deserve. Check out their MySpace profile and give them a listen on LastFM. Then head over to their web site or your favorite music retailer and buy their albums.

May, 2008: The Pierces

Pop that's all over the place, and the better for it.

If Marilyn Monroe had sung with the Mamas & the Papas, it would have sounded like The Pierces' "Boy in a Rock-N-Roll Band", off of their 2007 album Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge. Imagine "Dream a Little Dream of Me" with a bump-and-grind feel to it.

The Pierce sisters, Amanda and Catherine, have a beautiful sound, in some songs breathy and sexy (like the creepy "Secret"), while on other tracks their voices are powerful and clear. They harmonize on darker, more wistful songs like "Three Wishes" and on the country-bluesy, macabre "Kill! Kill! Kill!" and blend their ethereal voices on "Go to Heaven" for a especially misleading sound.

It's a rare pair that can pull off a combination of folk, disco, and what has been oft-referred to as a "twee" pop sound, then follow it up with a tribute to Billie Holiday. The eerie "Boring" sounds like a song Paris Hilton and Britney Spears could have written, if they were honest about their lives.

Check out their LastFM profile and their MySpace page for some free listens and head over to their website for more information on what these naughty girls have up their sleeves.

Lyrics Lenses: My Newest Project

For when you just have to know the words.

A large group of folks are working on making Squidoo the destination for lyrics, where you can read them, watch the video, buy the track or album, and rate the song, all in one place. Below are my first efforts, with many more to follow. I've got ele...

Southern Culure on the Skids: Liquored Up and Lacquered Down Lyrics

She's liquored up and lacquered down She's got the biggest hair in town She's liquored up and lacquered down Me and my baby gonna make the rounds Pop the top at six o'clock Spray the sides, the back, and the top A cigarette hangs from her red lip Te...

Oingo Boingo: No Spill Blood Lyrics

Note: No Spill Blood uses call-and-answer sections for the chorus. The portions in parentheses are spoken either by the band members or by Danny Elfman. (What is the law?) (What is the law?) Animals came from miles around So tired of walking so clo...

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones: Royal Oil Lyrics

Royal oil, come on bubble and boil. Stabs like a dagger, makes you stagger on the hot tin foil. Mind your mind or it will surely spoil And then you sleep down in the soil. Nothing come from nothing, come on Royal oil. When you smoke or poke the pois...

Southern Culture on the Skids: Camel Walk Lyrics

Baby, Would you eat that there snack cracker In your special outfit for me? Please? Ow-wee! Yo, ye pharaohs, let us walk Through this barren desert In search of truth And some pointy boots And maybe a few snack crackers. Ow-wee! Baby, you make me wa...

Oingo Boingo: We Close Our Eyes Lyrics

We close our eyes We close our eyes and dream And the world has turned around again When everybody is running in the big race And having a good time Who am I to cast a shadow? Who am I? I looked death in the face last night I saw him in a mirror And...

April, 2008: The Cook Trio

Spicy acoustic guitars for your toe-tapping pleasure.

While they label themselves "gypsy jazz", The Cook Trio offers a wider perspective than the mental image that description creates. The Cook brothers, Ian and Jason, ply their wiles on acoustic guitars while Kyle Jones backs them up on the upright bass.

Don't let their referring to French "Jazz Manouche" and Django Reinhardt's unique take on jazz in 1930s and '40s Paris mislead you. These boys combine fast fingers with jazz standards and their own creativity to build a terrific sound. Their bouncy beats, catchy riffs, and percussive style offer far more range than a pre-Nazi Parisian bistro.

Listen to them on their LastFM profile, explore their own website, or communicate on their MySpace profile. You can buy their self-titled album through Amazon.com, as well.

March, 2008: Vampire Weekend

100% Not Goth, Guaranteed

It's impossible to be a new band without someone listing the bands you've combined into your own sound. Reviewers do that, however, to give listeners an idea of what to expect. When I tell you that Vampire Weekend is a cross between Paul Simon, The Connells, and Sting it should give you an idea of whether you're interested in hearing more.

Vampire Weekend's music isn't really a cross of those at all. It's more that each song has a somewhat different style. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa calls Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mombazo to mind, while A-Punk sounds a lot like The Police. I can hear some David Byrne in their lyrics, as well.

If you've heard the crazy buzz around these four Ivy-League geeks, you may have been as resistant as I was when I saw their name and the typical "These guys are great!" raves that don't give specifics. In then end, I was drawn to them because their debut album (and the pre-released EP) includes a track entitled Oxford Comma. I, as a grammar blogger, felt that it was my duty to listen.

Their style refreshes you by being cleanly produced and crisp. The band displays a sense of humor and a complete lack of the goth obsessions that their name implies. While they've denigrated a critical piece of punctuation, that one song led me to listen to more. The bouncy, irreverent style made me a fan. You can hear four of the tracks at their MySpace profile and another on their Last.fm profile.

Update 5/10/08 - You don't have to take my word for it, either. Check out this detailed write-up of Vampire Weekend's first album at Evolving Music. See? They're good.

Great Songs Are One Click Away!

Click on the album covers to listen to snippets of songs from some of my favorite artists and albums.

Mercury Poise: 1988-1995

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Michelle Shocked is a little bit country, a lot of rock-n-roll.

Amazon Price: (as of 08/07/2008)

Vampire Weekend

What, you didn't read their recommendation on this lens? Fun, copy-cat pop with smart lyrics.

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 08/07/2008)

Zoot Suit Riot

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are PG, if not R, rated but they're so fun!

Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 08/07/2008)

Betcha Bottom Dollar

Keep your eye on these ladies. They are changing the way people think about re-makes.

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 08/07/2008)

Friday Night in San Francisco

Blazing guitar playing from some of the masters of the art. Truly awesome.

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 08/07/2008)

February, 2008: Ferraby Lionheart

If you like his name, just wait until your hear his sound.

If you like albums that tell a story, rather than simply being a collection of unrelated songs, I've got a treat for you this month. A latter-day Beatle on the rise, Ferraby Lionheart creates fairy-tale folk-pop that will catch your fancy. He self-released a six-song EP in 2006 and a second album came out in September of 2007 through Nettwerk Music Group.

His lyrics swerve between fantasy and serious commentary. The music ranges from smooth piano ballads through bouncy horns to acoustic guitar. Ferraby Lionheart's voice carries you through the whole, reminding you of other indie musicians in his folkier moments and very strongly of The Beatles when he's at his most whimsical.

Visit Mr. Lionheart on-line at his web site, where you'll find links to his MySpace page, a little photo gallery, and places to buy his albums. You can listen to his music and buy individual tracks directly from his MySpace profile.

If you listen to nothing else of his, make sure you catch "Before We're Dead" from Catch the Brass Ring. It'll leave you wanting more. Failing that, find his cover of REM's "Man on the Moon". With apologies to Smuckers, with a name like Ferraby, he'sgot to be good.

My Pandora Radio Stations

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January, 2008: Goldfinger

Ska-Punk to Boost Your Post-Holiday Letdown

My first exposure to the Los Angeles quartet Goldfinger (give them a listen on their MySpace page) was on the soundtrack of a video game. I had to find that song that kept getting stuck in my head. If you love horns and a driving beat but haven't listened to the new breed of ska, these guys are a good introduction to the energy that you've been missing. Newer ska and ska-punk crossover bands like The Toasters, Mehpiskapheles, and No Doubt offer a sound reminiscent of the original, 1960s Jamaican ska but with more musical bite.

Goldfinger was formed in 1994 and issued their six-track demo EP, Richter, in 1995. This led to a contract with Universal Records and Hang-Ups, containing the elusive "Superman" and "I Need to Know". Their version of the song "More Today Than Yesterday" appeared on the soundtrack of the hit Adam Sandler movie The Waterboy. The eight-track, all-covers EP, Darrin's Coconut Ass: Live, came out in 1998 followed by Stomping Ground and the live Foot in Mouth in 2000, Open Your Eyes in 2002, and Disconnection Notice in 2005. They're previewing their new album, due out this spring at their Goldfinger MySpace page.

They may not be the most consistent ska band out there, but they showcase the blending of classic Jamaican ska and hard-core punk that has spread since the late 1990s. Try The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Scofflaws, and Big D and the Kids Table for more modern ska, and a taste of Boston's contribution to the scene.

Nothing gives better quality music than a GOOD LP more...0 points

Why Look for Different Music?

Widen your horizons without flattening your wallet.

As a music fan, you'll spend and ton of time and likely a pile of money trying to perfect your collection. There is always a new group or a new genre for you to explore. And then there's all of those hundreds of years' worth of musical backlog!

These articles are meant to help you find the best music with the smallest investment of time and money. If you have somthing to add, please let me know in the guestbook below.

December, 2007: Mashuptown

When your taste is eclectic, mix up your music.

I spent far too much time at Mashuptown.com this past week, too entertained to leave. Whether you like classic rock, doo-wop, rap, R&B, '80s New Wave, or anything in between, you can find a mashup in which a song you love has been combined with another to make something new.

Mashup artists take the vocal track from one song and the musical track from another. They edit them so that the beats match up and fiddle with samples, often throwing in bits of their own scratching and musical tidbits. Then they lay them over each other. The results? Anywhere from ambient to booty-shakin'.

I'm linking to Mashuptown because they link to everyone else, give recommendations, and let you listen to music right on their site. If you are unfamiliar with mashups, this is the perfect introduction. If you already love the, Mashuptown is a terrific resource.

My LastFM Playlist

This doesn't work properly. It should show my playlist here, instead of forcing you to use a pop-up window. At least you can still listen to the songs, if something should catch your eye.

I only add fully-streamable tracks to my list, so you can hear the whole song to see if you like it. You don't even have to join LastFM to listen to them. If you've got a recommendation or anything else to say about the songs here, please drop it in my guestbook at the bottom of the lens.

November, 2007: Mark Cohn

After "Walking in Memphis", Cohn Dances

After hearing one verse of 1991 Grammy-Award-winner Mark Cohn singing "Dance Back from the Grave" from his newest album, I knew I'd found my Music of the Month for November. His raspy voice made me feel right at home and the message inspired me.

If you aren't familiar with his story, read this article at USA Today or this review at the NY Daily News. Knowing his difficulties over the past few years makes Cohn's new album even more impressive. You can listen to "Listening to Levon", the lead single on his new album, at Cohn's website. His country-crossover blues-folk style may remind you of half a dozen other bands, but the voice is all Cohn. You can buy all of his albums and other merchandise through the store there, as well.

Music-Wear to Express Your Inner Artist

Get some gear to share your love of sound.

Music Fairies Women's Dark T-Shirt

from Scorpios Attic Tee Shirt Shop

Price: 24.99

House Music Nutrition Facts Black T-Shirt

from Kuba's Bodega

Price: 23.00

Vinyl Rulez Women's Dark T-Shirt

from In Reverie Online Store

Price: 26.99

Gothic Bunny Ringer T

from Gothic Bunnies Bruno

Price: 18.69

Oi! Bib

from Oi!

Price: 8.99

October, 2007: Forro in the Dark

Sassy, Smooth, and Slinky

I came to find Forro in the Dark through David Byrne, who sits in for a few songs on their most recent album, Bonfires of Sao Joao. In fact, "I Wish (Bundle of Contradictions)" bounces along like the Talking Heads covering Hank Williams.

The other songs are more Latin and less country and western. The album features Bebel Gilberto and Miho Hatori as well. Some of the pieces come off as nearly retro '60s instrumentals and other are packed with up-to-the-minute energy.

They have two EPs out as well, one focusing on "Asa Branca", one of the songs on "Bonfires" featuring David Byrne. The other is titled "Sour de Pele Fina" and features Seu Jorge.

These folks know how to put song together and make you want to dance. They give the World Fusion genre a good name. Check out their MySpace page for info and to give them a well-deserved listen.

What Have I Been Listening to Lately?

Check my "Recent Tunes" feed. It will update every hour, so if I'm listening you'll know. Some of the songs are on my playlist above. All of them are mini-recommendations.

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September, 2007: The Guggenheim Grotto

Smooth and Sweet

If you love old Simon & Garfunkel records, The Guggenheim Grotto out of Dublin, Ireland will steal your heart. Their sorrowful lyrics and lyrical sound make lost love beautiful.

You can listen to their folky, mellow tracks and download mp3s and ring tones at their web site. Their first full-length album, "...Waltzing Alone", has been very well received. The first track was chosen as an I-Tunes song of the week. They released an EP in 2004 as well.

More Great Music to Buy

Don't be shy. Give it a try!

Again, you can sample the songs from these albums by clicking on them.

Domesticated

I'm so sad that there is no album art for this one. Let's just say that WookieFoot are globally aware and are terrific musicians.

Amazon Price: (as of 08/07/2008)
Used Price:

Join the Parade

You had to scroll past the review to get here. Go back and read it!

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 08/07/2008)
Used Price: $9.49

The Ultimate Collection

The first name in Zydeco for decades. Try it, you'll like it.

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 08/07/2008)
Used Price: $7.00

Tropical Brainstorm

Sweet, sassy, and sexy, Ms. MacColl's death was a loss for the world of music.

Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 08/07/2008)
Used Price: $3.99

Rump Shaker

Ska with a nasty sense of humor, try "Blingity Bling" or the title track for starters.

Amazon Price: (as of 08/07/2008)
Used Price: $19.94

August, 2007: FMTune

Upload Your Songs, Listen to Other People's Favorites

The FMTune site is just getting started, so it's the perfect time to get your musical foot in the door. You can influence the sound of the site and get your favorite songs out on the feed and podcast.

Never mind. FM Tune has disappeared from the radar as of 11/1/07. If you still want a pile of free music, check out Pandora Radio where you can make your own stations but can't upload your favorite songs if they aren't there. The site seems to have a much wider library and simpler interface than LastFM but you can't play anything on demand at Pandora.

Never never mind. FMTune has reappeared but the focus has shifted to music videos, rather than mp3s. They are just getting re-started in February of 2008, so I can't recommend them whole-heartedly just yet. Still, it's worth a look.

July, 2007: WookieFoot

Bring out the Joy, Bring out the Funk

What can you say about a band whose web page mostly focuses on their charity work besides how amazing they are? If that was the only thing they had going for them they'd still be fantastic. For much more information, check out my lens dedicated to WookieFoot.

As it happens, they are wild and wooly musicians who play in half a dozen different styles. Picture a reggae band that does Irish drinking song. Their lyrics are edgy and their joys and frustrations fuel their music.

Their fourth album, Activate, was recently released. It takes a while to find their product page because it isn't well-linked on the home page. I'll save you the frustration - buy their stuff here. I also ran across this great review that gives you a glimpse of their live shows.

Check, Check, Is This Thing On? Let Me Hear from You.

Leave me your opinion, your favorite band, or your recommendations.

boutiqueshops

coolness! great job on this lens! ^5!

Posted May 09, 2008

Renagade

Cool lens! I give it a big 5 stars!....Posted mine to your list...check them out! Later! Renagade

Posted May 01, 2008

rms

Thanks for introducing me to sme new sounds! Another great addition to the Our Favorite Squidoo Lenses group!

Posted April 28, 2008

fefe

I have a little Indie music lens but really like yours!

Posted April 20, 2008

legbamel

Thanks for your encouragement. Rockycha, I'll be implementing some of your tips and keep my fingers crossed that the search engines stop being angry with me. I like to share!

Posted March 08, 2008

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My Other Music Lenses

Musicians and Songs that I Love

In addition to the lyrics lenses above, I have a few lenses on musicians.

WookieFoot: Maximize Your Bliss with Beats

WookieFoot loves music and plays across half a dozen styles to create meaningful, dance-able tunes. Your mind will expand while your toes tap. Learn more about the music, the philosophy, and the charity work that this band lives every day. WookieFoo...

Danny Elfman

For those who don't remember Dead Man's Party or Weird Science, Danny Elfman will be a surprise and a treat. Not only did he head an iconic 80's New Wave group, Oingo Boingo, but he composes music for some of the best - and the strangest - that...

Southern Culture On The Skids

If you've ever laughed at one of those lists of redneck, hillbilly, or trailer trash traits, Southern Culture on the Skids is right up your alley. Explore their raucous style and humor, from their 50s-inspired surf instrumentals to their biting redne...

Kirsty MacColl: Humor, Tragedy, and Song

From her witty satires to her songs of longing, Kirsty MacColl was a consummate singer and songwriter. Her voice, creativity, and sense of fun allowed her to cross genre lines and build a strong following. Unfortunately, the careless pilo...

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