Fleet Foxes and more..

amolbhatia100

I usually dont get involved in musical discussions on the cafe and this one isnt per say. I just got into the Fleet Foxes via the thread on this forum titled 'new music', and i absolutely love them. I didnt know music like this existed right now, especially from young and upcoming bands.

So being a fan of rock music and preferring melodies and riffs to rap and hip hop, are there more bands like this around that one may not have heard yet?

MikeUpNorth

Fleet Foxes were amazing live when I saw them at the Roundhouse earlier this year. Try and get to see them this summer. One of the best voices I have ever heard.

Some other modern bands to check out (not necessarily all in a similar style to Foxes, but good music none the less):

• The National - Some great songs and a very unique sound. Maybe not for everyone, but have a listen to the album 'Boxer'.
• The Black Keys - A blues band from the States. Their early stuff is really raw and they have some great tunes and riffs. Check out the album 'Modern Times'.
• Cherry Ghost - Old school songwriting, sometimes veering towards the contrived, but still good nonetheless. His self titled debut is worth a listen.
• Ray LaMontagne - An unashamedly classic songwriter, his album 'Till the Sun Turns Back' is fantastic. His latest album is not so good.
• Sufjan Stevens - Experimental indie-folk. Sound interesting? It is. His album 'Illinois' is one of my favourite ever records.
• Bat for Lashes - A bjorkesk singer with some really interesting stuff. Her new album 'Two Suns' is fantastic.

amolbhatia100

Inspired by a new found positivity regarding new music, i looked at the top 50 albums of 2008 on rollingstones.com and found an album 'tv on the radio' on number one i think, and they were terrible. Ill definitely check these out. Who would you say are the 3 most promising new bands out there?

cina

Huh? Tv on the Radio are a brilliant band, Dear Science is awesome.

If you like Fleet Foxes, listen to Neutral Milk Hotel, they're brilliant.

amolbhatia100

Ill admit i heard very little of the former but sounded very bland. Too much talking and too little proper singing.

Ivor Ballokov

I got the TV on the radio album yesterday, wasn't overly impressed I must say.

As I said to Melbourne in the other thread I'm from Barcelona are a great band and I might pm him or hopefully he sees this thread but you both may like the Dodos.

Easy V

Some great choices there. Sufjan Stevens is a remarkably talented musician; he's taken a sound that artists like Nick Drake made their name with, but given it a twist with the self-indulgancy in the multi-instrumentals, the intervals etc. Illinois is a fantastic album, and Michigan and Seven Swans have some great tracks on them too.

The National are one of my favourite bands, and one that never gets the recognition they deserve. Both Alligator and Boxer are a joy to listen to, as neither seems to have a weak point, they're just consistently brilliant from start to finish.


Another band is obviously Radiohead. Not all of their stuff is going to be to everybody's taste, but I can't imagine how anybody could not instantly like The Bends. Every single moment of that album is amazing and easily accessible. Any other band having Planet Telex, The bends, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees and Bones as their opening 5 tracks would have been drained of ideas for the next decade of their career, yet these guys finished the album off with an absolute masterpiece in Street Spirit.

That album is almost perfect. Then they bettered it with OK Computer.......

Tumbling-Dice

I have a feeling you might like Devendra Banhart too.

Melbourne Red

There's loads of good suggestions in the other thread. Camera Obscura is the one I'd recommend most highly if you want lush melodies like the Fleet Foxes. 'My Maudlin Career' is the album you want.

Vampire Weekend also have some of the simpliest, catchiest guitar riffs you'll ever hear.

And yes, take up Ivor's suggestion and youtube I'm From Barcelona. Cracking little band.

Like you I wasn't too impressed with TV on the Radio the first time but with experimental bands such as them, who make highly ambient, textural music, it's best to listen to them a few times because the melodies don't immediately stand out. Listen to ' Dancing Choose' and ' Shout Me Out' from that album and you might have a more positive opinion.

Out of the artists suggested by MikeUpNorth in this thread, I'd second his recommendation of Sufjan Stevens. Great musician. Bat for Lashes also has some interesting stuff, and it certainly helps that she's fit.

Finally, it's best to generally avoid Rolling Stone if you're trying to find new music.

pitchfork.com represents the worst of indie rock snobbery, and their reviews are so dense and pretencious that it's often difficult to tell whether they're actually talking about music, but they're also a great resource for identifying great bands. I'd suggest you go there and check out their best albums of 2008 list.

Ivor: Haven't got time now, but I'll be back later to listen to the Dodos. Cheers again mate.

amolbhatia100

Been going through these guys. Didnt like Camera Obsuca at all while Stevens seems interesting. But im absolutely love Fleet Foxes. 'He doesnt know why', 'Mykonos' and 'white winter hymn' are lovely songs. Why arent they sweeping awards accross the board?

Melbourne Red

Because awards go to bands on major labels...

amolbhatia100

On a totally unrelated topic (well related because its about music) im a huge fan of everything u2 and understand when the awards go to them, but do these bands get signed up by bigger labels once their albums become critically acclaimed?

MikeUpNorth

Just when I thought we were on the same musical page you go and say that about U2

Bands get signed by a major if the label think there's a market for them, which basically means they look to sign acts with a genuine following. Although hardly anyone is getting signed at the moment; there's very little money in the budgets for new bands.

amolbhatia100

haha

Just ignore the fact that they are my musical blueprint when i write and compose. For me theres nothing like them in terms of the perfect balance whether between commercial and creative or traditional rock and something a little more stripped down. And to boot they're brilliant live and have evolved with time beautifully. Also, unlike most of the rock bands i like, theres very few songs that i dislike. I have severely u2-tinted glasses

But moving on back to the topic, i really hope the foxes get recognition for what they've created already. Having just heard a few songs i've already decided they are musics new big hope

moses

great band

amolbhatia100

I hated that song..

sammymc

ok its not exactly modern...but if you like melody and laid back harmonies

JCurr

Not a decent recommendation yet from yous. Anyway, MGMT. Check them out. That is all(for now).

amolbhatia100

Ah the self proclaimed musical knowledge box

You dont like Fleet Foxes? I quite like someof Sufjan Steven's work too. The 'windows..' song is very nice indeed. Bats for Lashes had a good sound but a little too 'light' for my liking, so far.

Give us your best five new new bands please. Preferably tilting towards rock, or drowsed with some tinge of edgyness.

Stobzilla

Bon Ivor - can't reccomend him highly enough.

olesmyhero

Yes, Bon Iver is brilliant.

nemanja nemagic

Thirded.

cina

Captain fucking Obvious

Melbourne Red

Yeah MGMT are good.

Bon Iver had some good stuff on that first album but I thought it was a bit overrated. Amol may like him if he's still on the lookout for nice melodies.

Youtube the tracks 'For Emma' and 'Skinny Love' for a taste.

Stobzilla

Also check out City And Colour. The acoustic side project of Alexisonfire's Dallas Green.

I don't imagine you will enjoy Alexisonfire but the CAC project is a million miles away from it. Fantastic stuff.

JCurr

I quite like Fleet Foxes. And Bon Iver, Banhart and the lot of folksy acts mentioned are quality as well. But they're obviously not in your wheelhouse. Honestly, the state of indie rock(or whatever the hell it's called these days) at the moment is a bit dire. The Black Keys was probably your best lead aside from MGMT so far. But I always seem to overlook them as they were signed to a label over in my neck of the woods which was complete shite at the time. Decent band though. My top five at the moment for you to sink your teeth into...

1. Dr. Dog - any of it, doesn't matter where you start. this band is the tits
2. MGMT - fantastic debut album
3. Grizzly Bear - you'd probably enjoy their newer stuff more
4. The Raconteurs - Jack White's bluesy side project, right up your alley
5. Chris Bell - album is I am the Cosmos. not exactly current, but if ever an album were in your wheelhouse this is it.

There are other current bands I like. But most of them are in step with the trendy washed out sound of the moment.

Aporkalypse

I noticed a Black Keys recommendation in here, if you like them then check out Radio Moscow (Spotify Link).

Solius

Blue Ridge Mountains by Fleet foxes is an excellent song, the whole album is very good.

AdZzUtd

Nice to see City and Colour get a mention, Dallas Green is a superb vocalist. Alexisonfire tear it up too, if you like abit of post-hardcore.

relx

Oceansize

Eyepopper

Stobzilla

You should listen to "black lungs" wade macneils side project, really good debut release.

New AOF album soon, gonna be a good year for post hardcore, especially with Thursday's new album in the bag and that is a fucking belter.