Yeah, I shamelessly stole CtR's idea and am making my own thread about it now. Thing is, there are some areas and genres that I'm very inexperienced in. CtR has mentioned a couple of them (hip hop and country), but that's not where it ends (yeah, I know, a Music section mod who doesn't know anything about music, it is a disgrace). So would you guys mind helping me out here? My point of interest (and lack of knowledge) that I want to work on first is electronic music. I don't know if there are many fans here but I'll give it a try regardless. I'm mainly interested in these: Dance House Techno Ambient But suggestions from other genres of electronic music are welcome too. There's a second main genre that I'd like to delve deeper in, and that would be folk. I'm especially interested if you happen to know bands that mix folk music with rock (yes, I know Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys, but thanks anyway) but pure folk or mixtures with other genres are welcome too. Much obliged, people. :)
Sometimes I listen to Darren Styles, who is a dance/rave/hardcore/techno artist. I just love the lyrics to most of the songs and the beats are pretty catchy xD
Folk: Bright Eyes Iron & Wine Fleet Foxes Nick Drake Grizzly Bear (they're experimental folk, but still) Ra Ra Riot House: Deadmau5 Basement Jaxx Techno: Scooter The Prodigy Orbital The Checmical Brothers Ambient: Boards of Canada (their work is amazing, seriously great to chill out to) Air Röyksopp Hope this helps.
The Prodigy and mix it up with a little Daft Punk. Most of what Trigger said are good choices. Sandstorm by Darude is a good song.
I only know one folk rock band: Blackmore's Night. They're real awesome. Errrmm.... techno: Scooter, The Prodigy.... and some others who's names have escaped me. House: I only know DHT ehehehe.... Sry, I'm not much help, huh? XD
Along the lines of techno, I'd go with: Daft Punk Darude Basshunter (OMGWIN!) For Basshunter, listen to his earlier stuff. His recents are in English and lack much of a creative beat. His olders are in Swedish and are like orgasm. This is my ABSOLUTE favorite song by him.
Basshunter is good if you don't mind that he makes "new" songs by changing an old song's title and lyrics and calls it new. And he does it with practically every one of his major songs. In other words, he has talent and makes some catchy pop, but is extremely ****ing lazy and people like him despite and possibly because of that crap.
"Lack of creative beat" doesn't mean he takes old songs and calls them new. It could (and usually does) mean that his newer work isn't as good as his older work.
I guess I could have phrased it better. I still like his English songs a little, even though it's the same beat as the Swedish ones with sappy love song lyrics. I liked him more before he changed to singing in English. He was known as the guy that plays DotA in his basement and was on IRC chatting with people and made songs about that. As soon as he got popular, he let it all get to his head.
Same beat? They're the exact same songs. The only difference between his English work and his Swedish work is lyrics!
I already knew most of your suggestions, but I've heard some very good ones too. Thanks guys, and feel free to keep 'em coming!
I'm not sure if they're really what you're looking for but their myspace says "Other/Hardcore/Trance," and they're definitely got an experimental/electronic sound to them, so High Places might be good. Jerome's folk recommendations are great too, especially Bright Eyes (who have an electronic album too, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn) and Grizzly Bear.
Oh goodness, another Electronica fan on the internet. Or one that tries to be one at the very least. So alright, let's get started. *cracks knuckles* I'm going to suggest some House/Electro/Trance songs, since that's what I most specialize in. (It's the same genre basically, just different notes) First off, I'd go with DJ Tiesto as a starter, as Silly Billy mentioned. He has a huge range of songs that are just wonderful. Elements of Life, In the Dark, Adagio for Strings, Love Comes Again, Lethal Industry, Traffic...And the list goes on. Now go to Armin Van Buren. That guy is just amazing. Try listening to In and Our of love, Sound of Goodbye and Going Wrong. Those are one of his best. But all his songs are great on the ears. David Guetta has some superb songs. The World is Mine, Love is Gone, When Love takes Over, Baby When The Light, Love don't let me go. Now for some other, less know Artists, but worth being mentioned. Laurent Wolf. Wash my World and No Stress are very known songs. Yves Larock. You might have heard one of his songs before. He made the well known "Rise up. Try listening to Children of the Sun and By your side. R.I.O has "Shine On" which I really recommend. It's a great song. After the Love is pretty good too. Ian Carrey. A certain "Keep On Rising" comes to mind. Outwork feat Mr.gee has some very catchy songs. Thank God for Music and Elektro. Now I'll recommend some One hit wonders by random Artists. Guru Josh Project - Infinity 2008. You should definitely listen to this. Honestly, I don't know one person in RL that doesn't know that song. Lexter - Freedom to Love Steve Angello & Laidback Luke - Show me love vs Be Stefen Gruenwald vs Jerry Ropero - Let me be your fantasy. Syke 'n' Sugarstarr - No Love Lost. And finally for my recommendations: Edward Maya ft. Alacia - Stereo love. Now I can do this all day long. The list can go on and on. I really do hope you try out these songs that I listed. If you do need more, I'll be here~ ...And there.
I know this isn't really on your list of music you want to broaden, but I recommend listening to Steve Vai and some Satch wouldn't hurt you. I find instrumental only to be pretty soothing. Maybe you do, maybe you don't, but they are worth a listen.