I enjoy discovering new bands. I read somewhere recently that since the digital revolution, it has become easier to find bands to like and harder to find bands to love. I found this assessment to be spot on. There are a lot of really good, talented bands out there, but a great band is still a rare find to be treasured. While searching for the next band to fall in love with, I have found that you don't always need to look to the future. Sometimes there exist bands that you knew about but never gave them a proper listening to. With that in mind, I give you three bands/artists to discover if you haven't yet.
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Okay, so maybe this one is a bit obvious. I might as well have listed the Beatles, right. Yes, they were certainly not obscure and continue to by massively inflential, but it is for good reason. I had heard their hits on the radio and on multiple movies, but until recently I haven't delved very deep into their catalog. John Fogerty possesses one of the best voices in rock and roll history. There is rawness and passion coupled with vulerability and soul. Steeped in American roots music, they put together some of the greatest songs of their generation. Some of my favorite tracks include: Lodi, Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Hey Tonight, Long as I Can See the Light, The Midnight Special, Cotton Fields, Fortunate Son.
2. Van Morrison - This guy, like John Fogerty, possesses a supremely expressive and soulful voice. He also knows how to write a great song, one that creates a mood and can take you to a specific time and place. We've all heard the great Brown Eyed Girl, but if that one song marks the limits of your Morrison catalog, you've got to dig deeper. I first heard Into The Mystic on the 80's classic film, Dream A Little Dream, and ever since it has been one of my favorite songs of all time. Most of my Morrison favorites come from the earlier portions of his career. Some other Van Morrison gems include: Wild Night, And It Stoned Me, Gloria, Jackie Wilson Said.
3. Generation X - I listened to the music of the punk revival constantly in my middle school and high school days. Bands like Strung Out, Bad Religion, Lagwagon, AFI, Face To Face, The Vandals, NOFX, 30 Foot Fall, No Use For A Name, etc. filled my brainwaves through those years. It wasn't until college that I really started to listen to original "old school punk." The Misfits were my mainstay in this category but there was also The Clash and The Ramones. The Descendents were and remain one of my favorites and I consider them to be a band that bridges the gap between the old school and the revival. Unfortunately one of the last old school bands I started listening to is Generation X. This of course was Billy Idol's band before he went solo and sprang onto MTV. Like The Clash, Generation X did not limit their sound to what people around them thought punk should be. This resulted in some really great rock and roll where the song quality is just as important as the attitude. Need proof? Try these tracks on for size: English Dream, Ready Steady Go, King Rocker, Your Generation, Wild Youth, One Hundred Punks, Kiss Me Deadly, and the original Dancing With Myself.
What are your favorite old bands/artists?
8 comments:
You know that makes this life worth living?
1. The Gospel
2. Family
3. Music. (and Diet Pepsi)
Love this post man!
*I NEED to delve more into CCR, I love all their radio stuff, but have never made the effort to go any deeper.
*Dream a Little Dream was also my first exposure to Van Morrison and I share the same sentiments as you do for Van.
*Generation X oh boy. Do you remember in high school when I ordered a Gen X cd because there weren't any CD stores that had it in stock? It was one of the best musical investments I've ever made. You should have seen Billy Idol perform Ready, Steady, Go! a few years ago at Warped Tour. Unreal, I almost cried.
I think you could also add Cat Stevens to what you have on your post. Throughout the last year, I've revisited much of his work and never cease to be amazed at how talented he and his work is.
nice post jesse.
I've gotta say, you've touched on 2 Billy's in the past but there's another one that's a diamond in the rough. Billy Bragg.
This guy was political enough to be punk, poetic enough to be Elliott Smith, and soul enough to be James Brown. Add Robert Johnson-esque blues guitar licks and you've got some sweet tracks. The difference is he does it all with just a dirty old sounding electric guitar and a THICK british accent.
Some of my favorites:
A New England (covered by the Groovie Ghoulies), To Have and to Have Not (covered by Lars and the Bastards), Strange Things Happen, The Saturday Boy, Like Soldiers Do.
All of those tracks can be found on the compilation album "Back To Basics".
FYI: the stuff he did with Wilco is completely different and way more toned down.
You should give a look at Donovan(such hits as Mellow Yellow, Catch the Wind, Happiness Runs, and Jennifer Juniper). Another great band is Supertramp. I bet you recognize more songs than you think.
Thanks for the great ideas. I will look further into all these suggestions.
So since you asked for "New Old Loves" I'll give you two that I grew up on and still love and have introduced Jeremy too.
1)Joni Mitchell she's a singer/songwriter/painter who's been around since the late 60's and is just sweet! My favorite song is "Case of You".
2)Mr. Neil Young
not too old, but pretty old...older than people think usually....violent femmes. pink floyd is a MUST for me. talking heads is worth it for sure. bruce springstein sometimes...just sometimes, guys. oh YES, the velvet underground. rock it.
i also have just recently started getting into CCR. i figured it's just about time i do.
and Depeche Mode will always occupy a small dark slightly depressing corner of my heart.
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