Who is an artist that you love, but whom you've never been able to get anybody else to like quite as much as you?
That's the new question we're posing for you to answer online this week. For the CD discussion, we dip into the show's recent archives for reviews of Metric's "Fantasies," the new release from Bat For Lashes, "Two Suns," and "Welcome to Mali," the latest from Amadou & Mariam featuring a handful of tracks produced by Damon Albarn.
Mac Wilson and the Current's Music Director Melanie Walker are my guests.
Musicheads airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m. CT on 89.3 The Current
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Comments: 72
Lobo, Dan Hill
I don't know if she has an aversion to touring, but I wish she'd do more of it. Â Brenda Weiler is too quiet for her own good. Â She's a singer/songwriter from North Dakota, one of my favorites. Â
good answer Susan...she is a little quiet, but very talented! I've alway liked her songs and she sings 'em with conviction!
I use to see her often when I lived in Fargo. Didn't she move west?
50 Foot Wave - Kristin Hersh, Rob Ahlers and Throwing Muses bassist Bernard Georges.
Echoes de luxe, G8
King's X. Seriously underrated hard rock band. One of the best live acts as well. Go see them in St. Paul in June and you'll understand.
Ive heard of kings x enough times now to check them out. that name has come up a few times lately and word of mouth is always the best.
he, he, he. I had to read these. I don't know any and I've never heard of the ones listed in the comments. Anybody ever hear Gene Autry sing and play the guitar? Of course he's dead now, but I'll bet you still hear him sing "Rudolph the Red Noise Reindeer" every Christmas.....I've heard him in person, I've heard him on the old 78's, 45's, 8 tract, etc. etc. he'll live forever. Does he qualify as a musichead?
What a voice, that Gene Autry!
Mali
Hanson. And its unlikely I will ever get anyone to enjoy them as much as I do.
omg. yes it is! my sister like them in middleschool and it drove me nuts.
The Detroit "supersonic soul band," The Dirtbombs fronted by Mick Collins. Their last several albums have been killer. It's sad to me that if they come to the Twin Cities again they would probably again be playing the Entry. TV on the Radio know how GREAT they are...they had them open on their last tour!
For whatever reason they have never been trendy with Musichead's.
1) with this thought bubble, you MAY have sparked a trend... I LOVE TVOTR.... saw them when they were here in KC in 07'..... so i'll definitely check them out....
2) I wish folks would love Tapes N' Tapes as much as I do... very creative guys making kick ass and dear music....
JASON I hear ya on KING'S X. I've been a fan since 'Ear Candy, and caught them 10 times live in town here. Every show was memorable. I will be there on June 23rd @ Station 4, for sure.
there's literally dozens of names I'd mention. But, I'll drop a few.
KEVIN GILBERT - my favorite songwriter/musician of all-time. Simply put, he was a musical genius that never got his due. And yet, he still could as his music is still available to be discovered and appreciated.
APES AND ANDROIDS - these guys are one of the most addictive and original bands to come around in ages. Their live shows by all accounts are even more unique w/ cheerleaders and strobelights..face-paint. The whole 9 yards. Brian Jacobs and David Tobias are 2 of the best young songwriters making music right now.
THE DEAR HUNTER - This band is too ambitious and talented to not be discovered. The mastermind behind TDH is Casey Crescenzo, who I look at much as I look at Kevin Gilbert. He's a multi-skilled singer/songwriter/composer/musician. And this whole project 1st and foremost is his vision. And TDH have made 2 exceptional records, with a 3rd only a few short weeks away from being released. It's really unlikely to be if, but more when more people catch-on to these guys. It would be criminal if the world never got to know their brilliance.
Kevin Gilbert is the best undiscovered talent ever!
Great call Bill, I love The Dirtbombs. Detroit has a long history of cool underground music, dating back to MC5, The Stooges and Sonic's Rendezous Band. I always thought the Current should have a Garage/R&B show. Where older bands like The Sonics, Billy Childish, and The Mummies could be played with other generations of garage like the 'cobras' and 'bombs'. Basically I am dying to hear some one sing "louie louie"
Have you ever heard Black Flag's version of "Louie Louie"?
carrie newcomer
hanneke cassel
I like Dustin Kensrue and Bret Dennen - both good guitarists and songwriters.
I'm totally in love with Ryuichi Sakamoto who has recently expanded into the pop genre, but it's his soundtracks that really got me hooked. (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence; The Last Emporer; etc.)
I second the Dustin Kensrue and Bret Dennen. Amazing artists.
Great! They deserve a lot of recognition. I actually had a chance to see Bret at a very small club in Hamburg a few weeks ago, but just couldn't fit it into my plans. That would have been the perfect venue to hear him play!
Rustic Overtones. One of the best bands you'll ever hear live.
In addition to Rustic, listen to Paranoid Social Club, Dave Gutter's other project.
And As Fast As.
Thievery Corporation
Totally!
Hmmm... I'm gonna go out on a limb here.
Barenaked Ladies. Or more specifically, Steven Page's BNL.
It's very easy to just blow these guys off as washed up Top 40 bubblegum. If your only exposure to BNL has been hit songs like "One Week," "Another Postcard," or that god-forsaken "If I Had a Million Dollars" song, you wouldn't be wrong to do so!
But you gotta know that BNL has (until recently) two co-frontmen, Ed Robertson and Steven Page (Page has the rounder, more 'fat guy' voice). They are the two driving creative forces behind BNL. Robertson is responsible for pretty much everything that's made someone hate them.
Steven Page, on the other hand, has written some very dark, depressing music that most people haven't heard, and he does it with lyrical creativity and eloquence not unlike Colin Meloy. Page was married young, and has written much about his marital problems in a manor that, comparatively, is rather adult. He's also written about his ongoing struggle with alcoholism. Sometimes he's done it with that token BNL sense of humor, and sometimes he hasn't. Whatever the case, Steven Page has written some very beautiful music, with all the wit and honesty that would take most people by surprise, given the band's long string of musical fluff in the last several years. See, you gotta look past the singles and dig deeper into the albums to find it, especially the earlier stuff.
Like a lot of you, I'm sure, there's a lot of music I listened to back in high school that I just can't take seriously anymore. Barenaked Ladies is one band that continues to buck this trend. Everything up to 2000's "Maroon" album (most stuff beyond that lies on the verge of "dad-rock") continues to both impress me, and makes me a little sad that a talent this great has earned such little respect in today's music culture.
Now that Steven Page has been kicked out of the band (due to his arrest for possession of narcotics), it will be interesting to see what music he puts out next.
It's good radio to throw in music that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about an artist. Songs I recommend by BNL are "In the Car", "Stomach vs. Heart," "Box Set" (if you like Tito Puente), "I'll Be That Girl," "Conventioneers," and the haunting live version of "Break Your Heart" from their 1996 live album Rock Spectacle (which continues to be among the best live albums I've heard).
Hey Dan, sure your not pullin our leg??
dan! thank you - way to tell it like it is. early bnl is amazing and I have always liked them but there new stuff blows. but the older stuff is very underrated. "Ill be that girl" and "in the car" are the best songs from the stunt album. and I agree with mark that dave mathews blows.
Thee Ultra Bimboos! Four women from Finland playing Hi Energy rock'n'roll that were (yes they are sadly no more) everything that the Donnas promised and couldn't deliver.
You've peaked my curiosity Eric as I am 75% Finnish!
Another band that doesn't get their proper Musicheads due are the Sadies. This is a great band! They have a totally original sound blending brotherly harmonies, surf, alt-country, & spaghetti western.
Wish I could have seen their show earlier tonight at 1st Avenue. Maybe they now a few more new fans!
My Brother likes to rave about how much he likes BNL, so they must be good. Then again he's he's crazy about Dave Mathews and John Mellancamp. And a zillion other people can't be wrong. But if your a fan of The Current and Musicheads, you probably like things a little less mainstream.
What I can't understand is how "Firewater " (the band) can be so virtually ignored in the rock press. Their latest album "The Golden Hour" wasn't even a blip on the radar. Todd A. Firewaters Mastermind, started off in the noise rock band "Cop shoot cop" I don't think their name helped them sell any records. Their first few albums were not easy listens. But their swan song album in 1994, titled "Release", was a masterpiece. The band had no guitar player. but two bass players and two percussionists. Firewater has put out five albums. Some of them are out of print now and people are trying to get 100 bucks for them on Amazon. Long story short Firewater is good for what ails you.
Lady Blacksmith Mambaso
Thunderclap Newman
Bad Boys Blue
The Illusion
Meat Loaf.
Enough said.
Enough heard.
haha
Garbage!!!!!!
Phantom Planet!!!!!
Snow Patrol!!! they have so many amazing songs that are way better than "Crashing Cars"
Pete Yorn
Bloc Party
Epic Hero(old local band)
Juanes (Columbian rocker)
LCD Soundsystem
Garbage, Phantom Planet, Snow Patrol, Pete Yorn, Bloc Part, abd LCD Soundsystem are all wickedly popular and MANY people like them?
People like the singles, but not many people dig deeper into the albums. At least not my friends! If you don't like that answer than how about;
The Melismatics, ReadyGoes, The Invincible Kids, The Debut. All amazing Minneapolis bands that don't get enough recognition!!!
Johannes Brahms
John Cale is one that friends I know just can't get into. Also, so many get way hung up on vocals. They dismiss artists like Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristopherson because of their voices.
Isn't that like dismissing Johnny Depp or Eva Longoria for their looks? :-P
I could listen to Willie for hours and hours.
The long time British sensations, The Beautiful South, have been my faves since their debut album in 1989 (Welcome to the Beautiful South); but I've only come across a few people who have actually heard of them stateside. The Current plays the odd B.S. song every now, but in an odd way, I think I'd prefer it if they didn't. They're kinda like my little secret.
Yeah! They've been one of my faves also...and not many people I know have ever heard of them either. I would venture a guess that you also like The Housemartins (Paul Heaton and co.)? Not many are aware that Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) was a member of that band. Quite the flipside of what he's been doin for the past 10(or so )years.
Robert, I adore The Beautiful South. #personally speaking
I second the vote for Kevin Gilbert. He was an amazing talent.
My vote goes to Marillion. The best band in the world nobody's heard. Yes, theydid Kayleigh and everybody still names their baby girls from that song. But since 1989 they have had a new lead singer and they are not a prog band anymore. They have much more in common with British indie rock bands than with prog rock bands.
Find a better way of life at marillion.com
Bill- If you manage to fins any of the bimboos stuff let us know what you thought of it. There are a lot of great bands in Finland at the moment and we never really hear about them in the states. Branded Women are another group that people should check out they have a more indie rock feel.
You want Finnish singers/musicians? Â How about Diane Jarvi?Â
and if you'd care to step over to Norway, Fribo. Scottish/Norwegian, really good creative stuff.
wow! cool page! I wish I knew about this earlier. I was going to say neil young because of his voice but I see thats already ben covered. my friends just dont get it. so Ill say two bands: franz ferdinand and better than ezra. I am sure theres many people here who like franz but my girlfriend hates it. no matter what I do she thinks there awful. and friction baby was a truely great album! its amazing but somehow got lost in the 90s. :(
Los Campesinos!, Los Campesinos! and more Los Campesinos!
who else likes them?
oh yeah, and a little punk band called The Death Set.
I've been a fan since "We throw parties you throw knives" hit the blogosphere, but when they had two albums released last year i understood why artists don't do it. Hold On Now, Youngster was pretty good, but i still haven't gotten into We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed. Sticking Fingers Into Sockets will likely always be they're best for me.
What a lovely diverse range of musical talent.
I suggest The Trashcan Sinatras who seem to make great records [their last Weightlifting is soooo good and they have a new one due soon] but have the worst luck. We'd all be luckier if you playd them more.
Judee Sill. Her 2nd/last Heart Food is a rare jem front to back.
I agree and my "prog" side loves Kevin Gilbert. Sadly he and Judee aren't on the "coil" any more to add to their brilliance. I could suggest more, but 2 artists from me is a start. I love Meat Loaf's 1st LP, though not sure how it relates to The Current. Same for King's X, good metal/rock but out of place? Thanks for the soap box.
Golden Boots! These guys are from Arizona, and they really blow my mind.
click this if ya wanna listen...
http://www.parkthevan.com/goldenboots/Beginnings_of_Modern_Astronomy.mp3
DO IT!!! xoxo teri
*well, actually... copy/paste to a browser, ya dig?!?
Ace Enders -- Awesome musician.
Stereolab, Sergio Mendes, The Cat Empire, and The Daredevil Christopher Wright!
Gene Autry was a pretty good Jimmie Rodgers imitator.
I think more people should be listening to Tommy McClennan, a blues singer who recorded in the late 30s and early 40s. Another one is Big Maybelle, who mad her best records in the 50s. She did the original version of "Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On."
Then there's Memphis Minnie, who was one of the biggest names in blues between 1930 and 1950. Truly amazing talent.
Webb Pierce, hugely popular in country music in the 50s, is almost forgotten now. He didn't write songs but could make anything sound good. He had an inborn knack for extracting whatever emotional truth there was in a song and presenting it in a way that made it seem real.
Uh, probably Lighspeed Champion. My friends would write it off as emo garbage right away. It's usually quite depressing but Dev plays a mean guitar and it's all so very earnest. I can't wait for another album.
good call Frojo....Met Dev at SXSW in 2008....nice fellow and very talented. I suspect he WILL get his due!
Another artist I LOVE who doesn't get enough credit is Slim Dunlap. Played in the Replacements for several years as well as with Curtiss A and others. Made 2 really great albums in the mid-90's that never got their due.
Blind Pilot. I can't believe they are not as huge as they should be. Their album 3 Rounds and a Sound is , by far, THE best album of 2009. Of course I would also have to include Death Cab...although I want them to be unknown, so they dont get too big and start losing their magic.
Death Cab for Cuties? Oh yes, I agree.
Hawksley Workman - brilliant songwriter, great musician, puts on a FAB live show. He's known (not well-known, but known) here in Canada (Canadians, you'll need to dig a little deeper than the singles that have had radio play to find his best work), and in Australia, France, other parts of Europe. I can't understand why he's not bigger everywhere.
The Watermelon Men
Johnny Astro (from Seattle) - you can listen to their songs in MySpace
JEWEL - while she broke into the music scene early in her life with a huge presence, she now is producing songs equally as great if not better
Cyndi Lauper - completely under-rated artist. Her work beyond "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is extremely outstanding.
Tonya Watts (she claims home as Hollywood Bama, California) - her singing and songwriting is spectacular.
The Screaming Blue Messiahs (from the 90's) - created a masterpiece called "Bikini Red". If you're lucky you may be able to find on eBay. While I love their other CD, "Gun Shy", "Bikini Red" is filled from start to finish with true gems. They became slightly popular with their song, "I Wanna Be a Flintstone" and I'd love to see The Current play this song and others from "Bikini Red".