New Music: Your Help Is Needed!

I need to enlist the help of regular readers (yes, all three of you). I really want to get into some new music - everything I've bought lately has been old stuff and I'm ready to discover someone new and fall hopelessly in (L.O.V.E.) love.

I'm after some alt-country (non-depressive stuff) or bluegrass or jangly pop or intelligent-and-witty-but-not-too-worthy singer-songwriter or something I can dance to. Long-term musical loves include Laura Cantrell, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Teenage Fanclub, The Divine Comedy (the first four albums - BEFORE they went all Radiohead on us), Crowded House/Neil Finn, Kirsty MacColl, Orange Juice, Kenickie, Terry Hall, Motown and Kylie.

There are a few albums I'm considering - mainly cos I've heard one song from each that I like - not always a guarantee the rest of the record will hit the spot. There's the new Teddy Thompson album, Separate Ways. I liked Everybody Move It - very dry.

Then possibly the Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins album, Rabbit Fur Coat - Mark Radcliffe's been playing You Are What You Love, plus I hear there's a cover of The Travelling Wilburys' Handle With Care, which I've always had a soft spot for.

On the pop side of things, I LOVE Chewing Gum by Annie so I'm wondering if I'd like the rest of the Anniemal album. Other than Chewing Gum I've only heard Heartbeat, which is OK but doesn't work for me as much - which may mean it's the Richard X touch which gets me and I should buy Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol.1. Ooh, and I love the Feist cover of the Bee Gees' Inside And Out - anyone got an opinion on Let It Die?

And for some funny, clever daftness, there's always Power Words For Better Living by the ever entertaining David Devant & His Spirit Wife. I can only afford one or two and I don't want to buy a dud - advice and recommendations please!

Comments

[Jamie S. Rich]

How funny that you were wondering about the Jenny Lewis album here and then saw it at my place. I absolutely adore it. If you like the song you've heard, I think you'll like the whole thing. It's a very complete sounding record.

And, um, I think Terry Hall is the bee's knees. The Colourfield is my fave era for him.

[n69n]

do you already have nellie mckay's albums?

also, dont know if you know this, but theres an official site for WigWam now!

http://www.checkingoutmywigwam.com

[birdie]

http://www.raylamontagne.com/

His album 'Trouble' is just.perfect. Honestly.

b.

[steve mitchelmore]

"Non-depressive" alt-country? Is that the same as, say, a "non-depressive" religion that doesn't rely on torturing someone to death on a cross?

[Kristen (Thoughts from the Bus Stop)]

Thanks for these suggestions y'all - will look into them!

Jamie - 'Thinking of You' is one of my favourite songs! Thanks for the reassurance about the Jenny Lewis album, think I'll go for it.

n69n - thanks for the Wigwam link!

[Kristen (Thoughts from the Bus Stop)]

Hi Steve - good to hear from you. Wow, I think that's the most tenuous way in to having a pop at my faith that anyone's ever found.

I'm sorry if you're offended by my use of the phrase "non-depressive" in relation to music - I merely meant that I have lots of country which is quite melancholy and am in the market for something a bit more upbeat.

So - any musical recommendations for me, given the artists I'm already fond of?

[steve mitchelmore]

Hi Kristen. It wasn't meant as a pop at your faith but an oblique way of saying that the worst things one can imagine are often portals to the deepest pleasures of life, if not also redemption.

Yes there is melancholy/depressive element to some alt-country but it's the way this is treated is everything. Would you say Laura's 'Bees' is depressing?

[Dan]

try 'Escondida' by Jolie Holland and 'Chinatown' by the Be Good Tanyas. If you're on a limited budget, have a listen to them at MySpace first!

[Binky]

Have you tried any Wilco yet? They too have 'gone a bit Radiohead' with their last couple of albums, but Summerteeth is a fantastic great big summery blob of a record.