Lighter Music

[radamanthys]

Share some ideas for lighter music? I'm really not into the modern rock/punk etc. scenes. They're just way too hard and such. My idea of hard is Holst's Mars, bringer of War. :-p

I usually prefer something a little more musically challanging- classical, jazz, etc.

And when I'm looking for something lyrical to "capture the moment" etc. I turn to folkish stuff.

I happen to like things such as Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Pentangle, Gustav Holst, lots of old timey americana (I'm a banjo player),

I have all my classic rock, old jazz, etc. kinda covered. Always looking for some of the more obscure stuff that I may not have heard of. So, anyone have any recommendations?

[Leetahkin]

UK group Morgan Le Fay?
:shrug:

[peam]

Check out Devendra Banhart, Cat Power, and Joanna Newsom too!

[radamanthys]

interesting groups- real eclectic sounding. I really like Devendra Banhart and Cat power from what I've heard of them so far (i.e. clips on amazon, etc)

[Alfster]

Roger Waters

[Sean of the Thread]

Kenny G

[Warriorbird]

Clannad.

[Latrinsorm]

Middle to late U2: One, Bad, Ultraviolet, In A Little While, stuff like that (not, for instance, The Fly, Sunday Bloody Sunday, or Kite). On average you'll be pretty well off with any U2 song though.
The Brokeback Mountain soundtrack has at least 3 good easy-going songs on it.
Norah Jones.
Madeleine Peyroux is alright for a little while. She gets grating eventually though.
Suzanne Vega.

The Decemberists are awesome.
Devendra Barnhardt is *incredibly* annoying.

[radamanthys]

Suzanne Vega wrote a song called "The queen and the soldier" that is covered by kate rusby and katheryn roberts. I enjoy the cover, but have never heard the original. the lyrics are pretty good, tho.

[Gan]

When I'm in an alternative mood I throw in one of my Vangelis CD's. He's considered New Age though, so it might not be the 'lighter' version you're looking for.

I also like Bond as alternative listening. They've added an interesting twist to classic that involves a lot of electric. Not to mention that all 4 of the chics that make up the group are HAWT. Looks and talent make a nice combination. (There's a few tracks on their website you can listen to)

And of course you could always just throw in some Floyd. Their range varies so much from the early years with Sid, through the Waters years, and then into the Gilmore era. You can never go wrong with Floyd.

I also prefer Kenny G and David Sanborn because I'm partial to Sax music (my instrument through HS/College band/music programs).

[Valthissa]

Banjo player? so I assume the starting point is Django...hmmm

Jazz: Art Tatum - piano from another world ( I recommend Piano Starts Here)

Al Dimeola and Steve Windwood performed Stomu Yamashta's Go live in Paris it's a fusion piece worth tracking down

Hank Williams Sr. makes for easy listening if your'e in the right mood

Eliot Fisk transcribed Paginini for the guitar - it's really something to hear

my current favorite from the early 70's is Nilsson Schmilsson

slide guitar can be fun, someone like Sonny Landreth

which leads to some Zydeco maybe?

anyway, lots of good ideas for you in the thread, have fun

C/Valth

[Warriorbird]

:agrees with Ganalon for once:

I dig some Vangelis.

[Gan]

Woot! I probably would not have mentioned that in public WB.

I actually sat through all of "The Bounty" (early mel gibson flick) just to listen to the Vangelis soundtrack. (I also recently read the book, so following the movie was interested as well for matching it up with the book)

This is what I have in my Vangelis library thus far. There are a few I still have not added to my collection. :( (My mom got me hooked on this music back when I was a teenager)

Mythodea
Oceanic
Portraits
Themes
Voices
Spiral
Albedo 0.39
Opera Sauvage
Direct
To the Unknown Man
Odyssey

Makes excellent driving music.

[Drew]

Check out Sufjan Stevens. I'd recommend Illinois or Seven Swans. Illinois is my personal favorite though.


Haha, Peam and I always listen to the same music, I was gonna recommend Sufjan Stevens too. My favorite song by him is "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti"

I'll try to get Myspace links for what I can so you can listen to them right away:

Autumn People - Taste
http://myspace.com/autumnpeople

Human Television - I Laughed
http://myspace.com/humantelevision

Sia - Breathe Me
http://myspace.com/sia82

Electric President - Grand Machine No. 12