What are you listening to and why?

[cali]

I've been discussing this with a friend via email. Here's something I recently sent him:

Only smell is more evocative.

here's what I've been listening to lately. Remember I told you I like anti-flag? this group is the opposite of anti-flag in just about every conceivable way. Avowedly anti-political, formulaic, manipulative power pop anthems, and yet.... I've been obsessively listening to The Killers. As a vocalist, Brandon Flowers grates on me but I can't stop listening to him. Their music is mechanical and yet somehow soulful.

Listening to The Killers led me back to listening to a guy named Daniel Lanois who's this celebrated producer who I used to listen to when he was a little known indie Quebec musician and that led me back to listening to a guy named Chris Whitley who I listened to obsessively around 30 years ago. Amazing vocalist and legendary guitarist, I didn't even know he died 8 years ago.

Musical obsessions. Maybe even smell isn't more evocative.

&list=AL94UKMTqg-9BzpJRp6QaMCooDGi6AP

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. More stuff than I could list - music is a huge part of our lives. Currently - new Arcade Fire

Reflektor - very dense, long album, on my third listen, and it is a grower.

Also...Stars of the Lid....Mahler's symphonies...The National...Tomasz Stanko (jazz).....so much music, so little time!

How do I choose - the "why" part? Hard to answer, because the I think the music that speaks to each of us hits something very personal....one person's garbage is another's addiction.

I use music to rest to, sleep to, write to, drive to, imagine to, dance to, cook to.....and it varies depending upon the activity, the day, who I'm with.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. I can so relate to that...

I use music to rest to, sleep to, write to, drive to, imagine to, dance to, cook to.....and it varies depending upon the activity, the day, who I'm with.

That's what I'm like too. For the first time in my life I joined a gym recently, and struggled with the crap workout music they insist on playing, so now I listen to my own stuff and get into my own little world. It has to be the right sort of music for whatever it is I'm doing...

I haven't listened to the new Arcade Fire yet. I might head off and give it a listen

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. This is an hour of live music from Reflektor (new Arcade Fire CD)

http://www.npr.org/event/music/239134780/arcade-fire-live-in-concert

give it a try - being live, it has warts...but gives you a good idea of their new approach (quite dance-y!)

[BeyondGeography]

15. Same here

Wooden Shjips...These Shadows, very trippy. Good in the car and the kitchen.

Bach and Beethoven for stopping me in my tracks with beauty (Goldberg Variations right now) and pain (cello sonata no. 1...Ludwig, my man).

Charles Lloyd (The Water is Wide) for his gorgeous takes on Debussy.

The Clash (Magnificent Seven...a fun song and it gets truer every day) because for a guy my age they they were the last rock group that really mattered and they have stayed relevant. (Plus they were so creative...If Music Could Talk, e.g.).

Just a sampling. I'm going to spend most of the rest of my time on earth listening. It's the best.

[elleng]

2. This, all day/every day:

http://www.weta.org/fm/listenlive

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Lots and lots of Spoon and The Charlatans...

I went through a Killers stage a few years back and can't listen to them anymore...

Here's what's been getting a heavy play on my ipod lately...

and as usual, I listen to lots of Folk Implosion....

And I really love this one from Josh Ritter too. It's not really my normal sort of thing, but I taught myself how to play it and love listening to it a lot now...

On edit: Oops. Forgot to say why I'm listening to them. It's because I've got pretty cool taste in music and wouldn't be caught dead listening to some crap like the Arctic Monkeys....

[Tikki]

6. Sometimes, even I will listen to mellow sounds…Tame Impala...

or less so..

to reminisce..

Tikki

[Violet_Crumble]

7. I'm listening to something different now. The The...

'Infected' Why? Because it popped up when I was committing selective genocide on my 300gb music library and I listened to it again for the first time in ages, it's stood the test of time, and the album was one that was my constant companion back in the 80's..

The video's got some stupid ad you have to sit through to get to it, and unlike the song, the video hasn't fared well with the test of time, so I found one with no video and no ad...

[bench scientist]

11. wow that takes me back, haven't listen to THE THE in awhile

[Iggo]

8. Old Scorps.

Busted 'em out last week when I realized that all one of my friends knew about Scorpions was the Americanized pop metal version from the 80s. Of course, once I let 'em out, I couldn't put 'em back. Been listening all week.


In Trance Full Album

Virgin Killer Full Album

[beerandjesus]

9. Hahaha, YEAH!

Was just proselytizing about their 70s records the other day!


I'm listening to Xhol - Hau-RUK online (alas, I don't have this one on record).

Why? Because I'm on a mini-Nektar kick, but don't want to burn myself out on them too fast. Especially since they only made 2-3 records that I really like.

[beerandjesus]

10. Quick shout-out for Rocksteady...

As stated in a different reply, I'm actually listening to German prog right now, but over the last few months, I've really come to appreciate--and spend a lot of time listening to--rocksteady.

I've been a reggae fan for years, but it's been eye-opening to hear how much all the great 70s acts owe to the likes of Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis, the Heptones, the Techniques, Delroy Wilson.............

[bench scientist]

12. Alabama Shakes

cause they are just so damn good. glad to see they are get some recognition nowadays

[carlwheathersiam]

13. Miguelito - Party Non Stop

Cool Indie Rap Music