<p>Have you pretty much ignored new music as it moved to domination by rap, hip-hop, and pre-fab pop?? </p>
<p>I heard an album the other day while in Barnes & Noble and had to buy it. It is by Adele, a young blues r&b influenced singer out of England. Think Janis, Bonnie Raitt and Amy Winehouse with great sometimes angry songs about love and loss. The album title is “21” which is her second major album–first was 19 and 19 and won a Grammy but I missed that. You can figure how the titles came about. First couple cuts are faster beat based while seveal later songs are just her and a piano. Good stuff. </p>
<p>My 21 year old D also likes Adele. Her belief is that Adele is incredibly talented but will not be marketed properly because she is not “hot.” D will be pleased to know that some older folks besides me like Adele.</p>
<p>Janis was not hot either–zaftig like Adele but Adele has a prettier face. Apparently rejection in love fuels her song-writing. Some scorching lyrics. Lots of angry stalker potential.</p>
<p>We have a really strong, music-oriented public radio station here that pretty much specializes in new music that sounds exactly like old music: [WXPN</a> 88.5 FM :: Public Radio from the University of Pennsylvania home](<a href=“http://www.wxpn.org%5DWXPN”>http://www.wxpn.org) It can get tiring sometimes – and frankly sometimes I like rap, hip-hop, and pre-fab pop – but it certainly reminds you that you don’t have to listen to the songs that played at your high school prom over and over and over.</p>
<p>Among the relatively recent stuff that oldsters like us can appreciate:</p>
<p>Raphael Saadiq – The Way I See It (and a new album coming out in May). Saadiq is a fabulous producer/musician/writer. The Way I See It was written and mixed to sound just like classic late-60s Motown played on an AM radio. It would be almost embarrassing if the songs (all new) didn’t absolutely stand up to their inspirations.</p>
<p>Dawes – There are a whole bunch of country-rock, singer-songwriterish groups around now, but this one really connects with me. Everyone is really young – one of them isn’t 20 yet. The harmonies are great (and two of them are brothers, so they have that gene-pool-overlap thing going in in their voices). They write and perform like they have no idea that irony exists – everything is sweet, and sincere, hopeful and moving. I think they are much better live than on record – they have replaced their keyboard player with someone much better since recording their only album, and they are tougher, less chilled-out live. Go to Daytrotter.com and listen to some of their sets there.</p>
<p>Free Energy – These guys know irony exists. They had pretty standard post-punk band in Minneapolis called Hockey Night, and then they moved to the East Coast, renamed themselves, and seriously dumbed down their songs. (On their whole first album, there is one word in a song title with more than one syllable – “Energy”, in the song the band is named for.) Anyway, they sound exactly like Tin Lizzy would have sounded if Tin Lizzy had been capable of writing more than a couple good songs. “Bang Pop” is their calling card – 2010’s song of the year, as far as I was concerned (at least until I heard Kanye’s “Monster”).</p>
<p>We’ve always listened to current rock/alternative rock music. So much so that our kids have complained that they don’t have the basic “classic rock” background that many of their friends grew up with. I never understood listening to the same bands for decades when there is so much great music out there.</p>
<p>I’m also a big 'XPN fan. When my son and I visited Drexel we had lunch at the studio’s Cafe and I thought it was neat to be eating in a place that I had been listening to for so long. hmm, that sentence doesn’t sound right but hopefully it’s somewhat understandable. </p>
<p>We have satellite radio at home and in one of our cars. I like listening to The Pulse [2000s</a> and Today ? Pop ? Music ? The Pulse ? SiriusXM Satellite Radio - SiriusXM Radio](<a href=“http://www.siriusxm.com/thepulse]2000s”>The Pulse | SiriusXM) because it has a nice mix of old and new stuff.</p>
<p>My older son has been listening to Blackmore’s Night. Sort of souped up Renaissance music. Though they also do covers of familiar fare. The one of Diamonds and Rust is lovely. The one of The Time’s they are a’changing is just wrong! [The</a> Official Ritchie Blackmore and Blackmores Night Website](<a href=“http://www.blackmoresnight.com/]The”>http://www.blackmoresnight.com/)</p>
<p>Our local university/public radio station plays great current rock/indie/alternative and that’s about all I listen to. I like The Black Keys, Fitz and the Tantrums, Brett Dennen, Florence and the Machine. My daughter introduces me to all kinds of music - one of the most recent that I like is
“the XX.”</p>
<p>Listening a lot to the XX and to Broken Bells. Recently also been listening to a lot of old Dylan, which holds up well. Eisley, Metric, The National</p>
<p>Some of these have been around for a while, but I like some or all of their music. Heard a lot of them for the first time live at Bonnaroo last year and the first two are fantastic in concert, and good listening anytime. Mumford & Sons (favorite newish band), Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Temper Trap, Arcade Fire, Avett Brothers, Angus & Julia Stone, XX, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, City & Color, Xavier Rudd, Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, Kings of Convenience, Sun Kil Moon, Death Cab for Cutie, Dave Matthews Band, Noah and the Whale, Foster the People, Neon Trees, and The Decemberists.
You can go to grooveshark and listen to this music.
Also Southern Ghosts (not on grooveshark but their music is on lastfm.</p>
<p>Check out Tired Pony. It was the brainchild of Gary Lightbody, the main guy from Snow Patrol. He put an amazing album that is kind of like an Irish Wilco album. He has Peter Buck from REM, M Ward, and Zooey Deschanel also appear on the album named “The Place We Ran From”. There is not a bad song on the album. I saw them in concert when they were in LA. </p>
<p>Another great album from last year was Broken Bells “The High Road”. This brought James Mercer of “The Shins” with Brian Burton from “Gnarls Barkley”. Again not a bad song on the album.</p>
<p>over30, you have my kind of musical taste! (Although I do also admit to a fondness for some more wild stuff, like Cage the Elephant, Billy Talent, Rusted Root, and the like - also enjoy a good Rise Against tune).</p>
<p>D is working on her school’s big spring music festival & Edward Sharpe is one of the acts. She has been lucky enough to see Mumford & Sons this year (even attended the sound check & met them), as well as Sufjan Stevens and Arcade Fire. Wish I had her life! :)</p>
<p>Oh I don’t know- I kinda like some new music-
( My D likes this band STRFKR out of PDX that is indie/electronica- I don’t see how it can be " indie" + electronic- isn’t that an oxymoron?)</p>
<p>I like Iron & Wine & Fleet Foxes- saw him at Marymoor Park & Fleet Foxes- I think at Sasquatch.
I also love DMB but my H doesn’t & I have never seen them live even though- hello I live in Seattle!
( Well I saw Dave at a kids bookstore- but he didn’t sing)
I don’t think they count as new music though.</p>
<p>I have mentioned other newish local music before- Star Anna et.al, but also Kasey Anderson & the Honkies are cut from the altrockcountry bolt of material
I went to this Monday night- but I could only stay for three songs.
[Townes</a> Van Zandt Tribute - March 7th at the Tractor - Americana and roots music - No Depression](<a href=“http://www.nodepression.com/photo/townes-van-zandt-tribute?xg_source=activity]Townes”>http://www.nodepression.com/photo/townes-van-zandt-tribute?xg_source=activity) It actually started @ 8 ( usually that is just when doors open) and there wasn’t anyplace to sit ( which my knees required)- I guess I didn’t look old enough to warrant a chair! :(</p>
<p>I am also looking forward to R.E.M’s new release.</p>
<p>and still waiting to hear when & where the middle of the country Pearl Jam 20 festival is gonna be- my whole summer/* who am I kidding- my life!* is planned around that :D</p>
I can’t wait to get my bobblehead)