[ALUmnus]

We haven't had this talk in quite a while. This board is a somewhat diverse group when it comes to taste, so I like to come here to get some good ideas. I've gotten good recommendations in the past, and I've come for more. I need new music. So let's hear it, who have you guys been listening to of late?

Here's some of what I've been into:

Delta Spirit, especially their first album. Incredible stuff, and Matt Vasquez can sing like Willie Nelson.
Middle Brother, an offshoot of the above. Three songwriters doing their thing. Have only heard some of the live stuff, but it's good.
Young the Giant. My Body is the best radio single I've heard in a very long time.
Blackbird Blackbird, it's electronic, but awesome. Check out Pure and their remix of Float On (modest mouse) on Youtube.
Fleet Foxes. I'm just in love with these guys.
A Band of Horses new album is real good.
I'm not too keen on Eisley's new album, but can't stop listening to their first two.
Also recently started listening to The Black Keys and Dan Auerbach's solo stuff.
I'm really hoping that Glasvegas' new one will be as good as their debut.

I'd really like to get some new heavier stuff, but it's gotta be quality. Muse really let me down with their last album, and I can't keep depending on Chevelle for everything.

[jbock13]

Depends what you like. I mean I listen to everything from Texas Country Music all the way to Ukrainian Folk Death Metal. soo...

[SuperJon]

It's not necessarily "heavier," but if you want a great rocked out hymns album get Take The World But Give Me Jesus by Ascend The Hill.

[RubberMallet]

i can help on the heavier stuff...maybe even some softer stuff. but when i have time to compile it i'll post it.

[Kolzilla41]

The Civil Wars are really good, especially their cover of "Disarm" by Smashing Pumpkins
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Also an artist I have really enjoyed for the last 2 1/2 years, Levi Weaver

http://leviweaver.bandcamp.com/album/th ... kurt-g-del

[phoenix]

I just downloaded Blood and Water's "In Character" CD (http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2011/03 ... aracter-2/) -- LEGAL download, I might add. They remind me a little of Weezer at times.
(BTW -- Indie Vision is a good site to bookmark if you want free downloads on some decent music. They do their own compilations every so often and leave them up forever. Check out this page if you want to cruise their downloads. They've got a decent variety of music, though some of it is of a higher quality than others.)

If you like heavier stuff, Solid State has a compilation out -- http://blabberdownload.com/2011/01/30/i-am-solid-state/
If you like hip-hop, check out Humble Beast Records --> http://www.humblebeast.com/downloads/ or an interesting comilation/theme album from Syntax Records --> http://www.syntaxrecords.com/justified/

[phoenix]

Two new hardcore compilations hit the internet today --> http://www.one21music.com/2011/03/free- ... 21Music%29

[adam42381]

The new album, Angles, from the Strokes is solid as is Radiohead's King of Limbs. I'm looking forward to the new album from the Foo Fighters and the new solo album from Eddie Vedder.

[LUconn]

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Here's a couple to get started. I haven't really watched the videos so sorry if they're inappropriate or something.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I Can't get many of you guys to talk about CCM, but we sure have the suggestions for other stuff here. HMM

Yea, I'm prepared to be beaten.

[RubberMallet]

The Joy Formidable is a good one.

[jbock13]

Not to start a war with anyone here, but CCM music is... just terrible. Having said that, it doesn't make it okay to listen to people like little wayne.

That's only my 9/10th of a cent.

[RubberMallet]

its not as terrible as it once was. when i was in hs, christian music was totally embarassing. the only thing that kept it alive was starflyer 59 and mxpx for me. any other alternative bands and contemporary music was just terrible. my dad was a youth pastor at the time and would get tons of samplers and they kept failing miserably. newsboys? i mean come on.

its gotten a gazillion times better but still falls way behind in creativity when it comes to contemporary music.

my wife listens to air1 and klov and while air1 is better both don't play anything all that amazing.

[Rooster Cogburn]

christianrock.net

I guess I trade some of the quality or creativity for clean stuff I can listen to with my kids.

[NG33]

I guess I trade some of the quality or creativity for clean stuff I can listen to with my kids.

That's usually the line I see most people draw. Growing up in a house where both of my parents were relatively new Christians, they tried to get into CCM because it seemed like that's what normal Christians did . It kind of failed and my parents just stuck with the rule that if it has a good message it can be played in the house whether Christian or not.

[Rooster Cogburn]

and I would go with that too, but it's just so hard to find. It's just easier for me to get my kids involved in music that I am pretty sure is going to match my values. Don't get me wrong, we listen to some pretty hard stuff, but it's clean.

[Sly Fox]

I'm with you, Rooster. I don't spend a ton of time listening to music these days in the car but when I do it is stuff I feel cool having my kids hear.

From a Christian perspective, I am most looking forward to the new NEEDTOBREATHE release coming out next month ... even though the idea of them opening for Taylor Swift on tour does squelch my enthusiasm.

[RubberMallet]

yeah beyond a handful of good christian rock bands, there isn't really all that much worth getting excited about. while there is probably the same ratio of good:crap in the secular end, there is just so much more secular music out there that there are so many great rock (i use rock to go across all genres from Norwegian black metal to soft folk rock) outfits out there that its not hard to pick apart the clean ones from the bad ones.

take bands like Lamb of God. technically they are almost the Rush of heavy metal (i even put the in the category of math metal because of the precise timing). however, the dude's lyrics are just blasphemy laden aingst. so i've made it a point to avoid them as good as the music is.

[Rooster Cogburn]

.....From a Christian perspective, I am most looking forward to the new NEEDTOBREATHE release coming out next month ... even though the idea of them opening for Taylor Swift on tour does squelch my enthusiasm.

Can't wait for that myself.

[jack_sparrow81]

There is some really good christian alternative rock and rap out there right now. The only christian music i listened to in high school was POD, project 86, mxpx, and some punk band (I cant remember if there name was hangnail or it was one on their songs) and that carried on into my days while at LU. Make a long story short I threw away alot of the crapI had a couple of years ago and really started getting into christian music. Dont get me wrong, I still listen to some secular music as long as theres not a bad message or language (which is hard to find these days), which is just mostly country and 80/90s. I try to internet feed 90.9 at night when i'm at work sin ce they play most of the rock and rap I like. I still listen to contemporary christian, but its really the only stations they have down here. But yeah the quality now is on par with the secular music, theres just more secular music out there now. speaking of needtobreathe, I cant wait for this tour to end with her. Im glad there getting big, but tickets are rediculous

[jbock13]

Only that they changed 90.9 and it sounds terrible now

I used to listen to it all the time.

[BJWilliams]

You gotta know when to listen. Its not all Spirit FM sounding music like youd think. Yeah they arent playing MXPX, POD and a lot of the harder stuff but they do play good music (and Im not just saying that as someone who used to work there). I know when postie and his brother were doing the music it trended more toward a lot of rock (and especially independent rock), but it wasnt all they played because the listenership was more than that. Anyway if you like harder sounding stuff listen on Saturday nights from 10 PM-1 AM (I think)

[Schfourteenteen]

I really hope I'm never at the point where I schedule my Saturday night around good Christian music on the radio.

[jbock13]

You gotta know when to listen. Its not all Spirit FM sounding music like youd think. Yeah they arent playing MXPX, POD and a lot of the harder stuff but they do play good music (and Im not just saying that as someone who used to work there). I know when postie and his brother were doing the music it trended more toward a lot of rock (and especially independent rock), but it wasnt all they played because the listenership was more than that. Anyway if you like harder sounding stuff listen on Saturday nights from 10 PM-1 AM (I think)

ZJAM? hahaha that was cool when I was like 14

[BJWilliams]

just give it a try dork