eMusic recommendations

[JeremyEritrea]

Last month, I bought the 90 downloads per month subscription level at eMusic (http://www.emusic.com). My "download day" is the 23rd of every month. I already downloaded 18 songs, so I have 72 left until September 23rd. Can someone give me some recommendations of stuff I should download?

Thanks in advance!

[Atouk]

You might like Roots Manuva. He has three albums, plus remix/alternate versions of his last two albums. If you'd like some individual track recommendations, let me know.

[Atouk]

Amazon's take on the three albums:

Brand New Second Hand (1999)
For a long time, it seemed like any sort of hip-hop that came from Great Britain was immediately labeled "trip-hop." But it's impossible to pigeonhole crews like Black Twang and London rapper Roots Manuva into that category--and sometimes it's tough to slot Roots Manuva into any category. Unfortunately, the production on this album is spotty, veering uncomfortably from the hopelessly fractured reggae of "Dem Phonies" to the live funk of "Fever." Roots Manuva's skills, though, are undeniable, and he maneuvers through tracks like "Big Things" and "Baptism" with a keen intellect and an impressive moral authority. His Brit-accented flow differs greatly from that of his American peers, though, and may prove to be an acquired taste for some. Flawed as it may be, Brand New Second Hand shows that international hip-hop need not mimic that of the States in order to compete--but it could take some lessons in the studio. --Justin Hampton

Run Come Save Me (2001)
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
While the debate rages about why a country as large and multicultural as England has yet to produce a noteworthy MC, Roots Manuva makes a strong case that a contender has arrived. On "Witness 1 Hope" (hands down, the best cut on the album) and "Article," Manuva drops some clever Jamaica-meets-Brixton, patois-inflected rhymes over producer Lord Gosh's otherworldly beats and sci-fi sound effects. Innovative, this album is. Jurassic 5's Chali 2na's thick baritone adds some Left Coast flavor to "Join the Dots" as Manuva waxes about South London life. This release captures a unique snapshot of black British musical tastes with equal parts funk, dub, roots reggae, electronica, and hip-hop. Check out "Highest Grade," a dub pro-weed anthem, and "Sinny Sin Sins," which focuses on Manuva's run-ins with religious types ("Do I need a middleman to link with the Creator?"). This album is for freethinking hip-hoppers who appreciate Outkast and crave exposure to authentically futuristic beats and Afrocentric, avant-garde ghetto rhymes. --Dalton Higgins

Awfully Deep (2005)
If you've read any of the speculation surrounding Awfully Deep, you'll be aware that this is the down album from beleaguered Brit-Jamaican rapper Roots Manuva, a troubled work where he battles with the twin demons of depression and mental illness. Luckily, hard times can't entirely keep a good man like Rodney Smith down: barely two minutes into the bashed-up dub-hop of "Mind 2 Motion," he's already exhorting his audience to "Swing your pants!/ Swing your skirt!/ Shake away the hurt!" in an effort to keep the black dog from his door.
And truly, this is a long dark night of the soul: on the excellent "Colossal Insight," Smith turns to God to save his sanity; on pitch-black soul number "The Falling," he's lost in an apocalyptic reverie, fantasizing about smuggling hand-grenades onto an airplane. But luckily, Smith is agreeably incapable of presenting his predicament without moments of dark levity: see the title track, which recalls a stint at a mental hospital populated by "crooked doctors and kinky nurses." A man who dispatches the Reaper with a nudge and a wink, Roots Manuva remains one of British hip-hop's most potent forces. --Louis Pattison

[MeridianFC]

Man I wish I knew you were gonna take the plunge I would've gotten you to be one of my recommendations (you get 50 songs per rec who subscribes).

I'm not sure of your tastes so I'll have to go off of things I like, which is heavy on the folk (all stripes), world, indie pop/rock, country, reggae, and undefineable.

In any case my recommendations:

Cliff Carlisle - "A Country Legacy 1930-1939" (4 Volumes)
classic old, old school country w/ the Hawaiian guitar flavor

Mark Erelli - "the Memorial Hall Recordings" & "Hope & Other Casualties"
singer songwriter somewhere in the alt country - folk cannon. Great writing and performance. Criminally under recognized.

Kenny Rogers & the First Edition - "Anthology"
Crazy country tinged psyche pop from the man who would later become the Gambler. In answer to your unasked question, yes it is worth it

Chris Mills - "Wall to Wall Sessions"
Another in the vaguely alt country genre, though I'm not sure why. Check out "Living the Dream" and "Dancing on the Head of Pin".

Giovanni Gabrieli - "Gabreili: Music for Brass" (3 Volumes)
Stirring music from the sacred tradtion. Very nice brass interpretation.

Duck Baker - "The Kid on the Mountain" and "The Music of O'Carolan"
Two of the best (and earliest) of the guitar versions of traditional Irish music. The playing is stunning but it always serves the songs. Mandatory.

The Clientele - everything
Just nab any of the recordings there. Sublime tremolo drenched dream pop.

Blood & Fire - everything
One of the best reggae labels going. I don't think they've released a bad record. Check out the Congos "Heart of the Congos", Yabby You "Jesus Dread", or Sylford Walker "Lamb's Bread International"."

Pressure Sounds - pick and choose
Another excellent reggae label but you must be more cautious here. Lots of odds and ends. Check out Various Artists "Red Bumb Ball: Rare and Unreleased Rocksteady 166-1968", Peter Tosh's "Talking Revolution" which is odds and ends but most importantly concert tracks from the One Love Peace Concert including a menacing "Igziabeher". Also Lee "Scratch" Perry "Produced and Directed by the Upsetter" check out the mighty "Bingo Kid".

Camera Obscura - "Let's Get Out of This Country"
Brilliant, bright pop from Scotland. "Lloyd I'm Ready to Be Hearbroken" has had me taping my feet for days.

Amalia Rodrigues - "Songs in an Ancient Tongue"
Great recording from the queen of Fado. If this doesn't shiver your bones you've got no heart.

Maddy Prior & Tim Hart - "Summer Solstice"
The album that is the foundation for what would become Steeleye Span. Far more folk oriented with no rock to it. It's an absolutely wonderful record. While on the subject most of the Steeleye catalog is on eMusic, it's one of the things that made me take the plunge. If you're down it's all there save two of albums.

Televisions Greatest Hits - various volumes
The classic series that came out in the early 90s. Missing many, many tracks over the various volumes but there's still enough here that you want to lay your hands on. Sure it's a nostalgia trip, but so what.

The Streets - "Original Pirate Material"
UK hip hop vaguely in the grime tradition. If I'm vary honest with myself it's the Englishness, specifically geezer cockney element that's the interesting bit. Still "Sharp Darts", "Geezers Need Excitement", and "Too Much Brandy" are worth a spin. Check out the "When You Wasn't Famous" ep that's available for a giggle.

Stax/Volt - "Complete Singles Vol. 2" (9 volumes)
They don't have Volume one for some strange reason and Volume 3 is not quite as good, but this in all #9 volumes is stunning. There are some many unheralded gems here it is well worth the months of downloads you'll have to use to get it. William Bell, Booker T & the MGs, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, etc. You'd better be wearing steel britches because this will kick your ass. Two times.

Solas & Karan Casey - various
One of the most powerful of the new Irish traditionalists (search for each separately btw). The earlier Solas is better, the first three records being outstanding. All of Karan's solo work is great, get them all.

I could go on for a long while, but this might get you started. I could fill up several pages with the Irish and Scottish recommendations, if you want more there let me know.

[gocaps]

I just want to second the recommendation for Camera Obscura's new record.

[bmurphyfl]

That's a big chunk of music to digest every month.

You may already have a bunch of these but here's a few suggestions:

Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll (http://www.emusic.com/album/10912/10912757.html)
Asobi Seksu - Citrus (http://www.emusic.com/album/10920/10920222.html)
Darondo - Let My People Go (http://www.emusic.com/album/10894/10894856.html)
Gilles Peterson - Digs America: Brownswood USA (http://www.emusic.com/album/10877/10877650.html)
Dirty On Purpose - Hallelujah Sirens (http://www.emusic.com/album/10913/10913923.html)
Lewis Black - Rules of Enragement (http://www.emusic.com/album/10844/10844568.html)
Helene - Routines (http://www.emusic.com/album/10929/10929367.html)
Jens Lekman - Oh, You're So Silent Jens (http://www.emusic.com/album/10879/10879851.html)
The Little Ones - Sing Song EP (http://www.emusic.com/album/10935/10935255.html)

There's more. emusic is great.

[JeremyEritrea]

Thanks folks!

Keep those suggestions rolling in!

[odg78]

Murs - 3:16 the 9th Edition (http://www.emusic.com/album/10880/10880947.html)

[JeremyEritrea]

Which Belle & Sebastian album should I download first?

[bmurphyfl]

Which Belle & Sebastian album should I download first?

If you are starting from scratch, here's what I'd do...download If You're Feeling Sinister and the EP Dog on Wheels. If you like them, then get Tigermilk (except don't buy "Electronic Renaissance"; it sucks) and the EPs 3..6..9..Seconds of Light and Lazy Line Painter Jane. If you are loving B&S and want more, then try The Boy With the Arab Strap and their new album The Life Pursuit. I'm not crazy about the other albums but I know there are some strong advocates for Dear Catastophe Waitress out there.

[eplkewell]

Two of my favorite bands that nobody's heard of are Juanes and Kings of Leon. Check out some of their stuff maybe.

[dark knight]

Two of my favorite bands that nobody's heard of are Juanes and Kings of Leon. Check out some of their stuff maybe.

I couldn't find either on emusic - are they there?

Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
Eames Era - Double Dutch
Bebel Gilberto - Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto - Bebel Gilberto Remixed
Various Artists - Indestructible Beat of Soweto
Thomas Mapfumo - Spirits to bite our ears - (if you don't have his stuff)
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens - (for some reason you can't find their best albums anymore - maybe The Lion Roars)

Songs:

Firefly by American Music Club (just getting the song list started)


They briefly had Refugee All Stars, but no longer there.

[doppelganger]

the entire Blonde Redhead catalog is worth a listen...start with "Mi Vita Violenta"..."Misery is a Butterfly" is also a very good record

also, the 2006 Pitchfork Music Sampler is quite a collection...

check out:
Spoon "Gimme Fiction"
Richard Cheese "Apertif for Destruction"
any of the Hayseed Dixies...
any of the Black Keys...
Elf Power "Back to the Web"
Devil Makes Three
The Kinks "Muswell Hillbilles"
The Mosquitos
My Morning Jacket "At Dawn" & Tennessee Fire"

[JeremyEritrea]

also, the 2006 Pitchfork Music Sampler is quite a collection...

Yeah, it is. I download all of eMusic's free stuff.

Ditto for iTunes Music Store.

[bmurphyfl]

the entire Blonde Redhead catalog is worth a listen...start with "Mi Vita Violenta"

I second this suggestion.
.

[eplkewell]

I couldn't find either on emusic - are they there?


I have no idea if they are there. I just bought their CDs at Best Buy.

[JeremyEritrea]

I have no idea if they are there. I just bought their CDs at Best Buy.

I'm sure it's good stuff, but I was looking for stuff I could buy on the eMusic site.

[JeremyEritrea]

Well, I've exhausted all my downloads except for 2.

Can anyone recommend a couple of good singles to download to hold me over until September 23rd?

:)

[MeridianFC]

http://www.emusic.com/img/album/108/924/10892486_155_155.jpeg

Tenpole Tudor - "Wunderbar"

http://www.emusic.com/album/10892/10892486.html

A must have novelty one hit wonder. You know you want it.

Environments/Relax with nature - any one really

They have most of the series of the "Environments" and "Relax with Nature" records that came out. They're all about an hour long of the sound of rain, waves, monks chanting and all that kind of shit, but it's nifty stuff to have around for the hell of it. Only counts as one download too!

http://www.emusic.com/album/10825/10825932.html

[dark knight]

Man those sound horrible. (From your description (without actually sampling them.)) Along those lines, I recently filled out my month with Bolero and on the Steppes of Central Asia.