Never. Music is always there waiting to be discovered when you're ready for it. Like a treasure chest, it doesn't matter when you discover it because it's been there, waiting for you the whole time.
EVER FEEL LIKE A TOTAL NITWIT DISCOVERING AN ARTIST LATE IN THE GAME?
Examples:
1.) Chris Whitley. I was driving home after a long work day driving all over the place, my radio tuned to WFUV FM in New York. Ever hear a song for the first time and it feels like it lasted for an hour even though it was only minutes?The song was "Narcotic Prayer" and I was literally blown away. When I got home I searched iTunes and downloaded the album immediately. It was then I discovered he had died over a year earlier. &*^$%&$# I have everything he's ever recorded.
2.) Sublime. Same kind of episode. The song was "What I Got." Bought the album and started digging. Took a while before I finally found out that Bradley Nowell died. WTF? It's remained in my rotation ever since. Damn good album all the way through. I have the complete collection.
3.) Imani Coppola. I have absolutely no idea how I stumbled upon her while absentmindedly foraging amongst the depths of iTunes in January of this year, but somehow I clicked on a 1:30 sample of "I Am A Tree" from the album Chupacabra. Wowzers. To say the least. I was thinking, "wow, this is fresh stuff!" I saw all of her other records and. based on the strength of Chupacabra's tunes, purchased them as well. As I was listening to Chupacabra I started reading and... Well, Chupacabra was released in 1997! Here I am, a 63 year old white guy thinking I'm hipper than hell...Since then her music has become somewhat more edgy, incorporating more and more hip-hop and rap but, man, she's a fascinating personality, singer, lyricist and artist. An amazing talent.
I've got a few more but let's have some fun with this. Have at it!
1.) Chris Whitley. I was driving home after a long work day driving all over the place, my radio tuned to WFUV FM in New York. Ever hear a song for the first time and it feels like it lasted for an hour even though it was only minutes?The song was "Narcotic Prayer" and I was literally blown away. When I got home I searched iTunes and downloaded the album immediately. It was then I discovered he had died over a year earlier. &*^$%&$# I have everything he's ever recorded.
2.) Sublime. Same kind of episode. The song was "What I Got." Bought the album and started digging. Took a while before I finally found out that Bradley Nowell died. WTF? It's remained in my rotation ever since. Damn good album all the way through. I have the complete collection.
3.) Imani Coppola. I have absolutely no idea how I stumbled upon her while absentmindedly foraging amongst the depths of iTunes in January of this year, but somehow I clicked on a 1:30 sample of "I Am A Tree" from the album Chupacabra. Wowzers. To say the least. I was thinking, "wow, this is fresh stuff!" I saw all of her other records and. based on the strength of Chupacabra's tunes, purchased them as well. As I was listening to Chupacabra I started reading and... Well, Chupacabra was released in 1997! Here I am, a 63 year old white guy thinking I'm hipper than hell...Since then her music has become somewhat more edgy, incorporating more and more hip-hop and rap but, man, she's a fascinating personality, singer, lyricist and artist. An amazing talent.
I've got a few more but let's have some fun with this. Have at it!
26 responses Add your response
dweller... Yup - I know Chris had a daughter and I've been following her since discovery. Good stuff. Her live recordings are the better of the lot, methinks. IMHO. I also discovered a jazz artist, Stephan Crumb, who has some excellent releases. He's an excellent bass player. (Also a good way to test your loudspeakers low end definition.). |
If streaming check out Arstidir, their Nivalis album is wonderful also their Hvel album. They are an Icelandic group If into collecting nice vinyl where only 100 copies or 250 copies are pressed ( get them while you can ) go to shop.season-of mist.com I recently picked up their 4 albums. No affiliation, just great music I recommend. |
BTW, Chris Whitley had a daughter, Trixie Whitley. She also plays and sings...She played in a group Black Dub. I saw them in concert, good stuff. Black Dub consists of Daryl Johnson (bass), Trixie Whitley (vocals), Brian Blade (drums), and Daniel Lanois (piano, guitar). https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=86N4lNuVz_8 |
I worked in a huge record store (remember those) In the 1980’s, young guy around 15 comes up to me holding a Janis Joplin album and says “ I have all the albums you carry already. Don’t you any newer albums by her?” I said “that’s the last one she made.” I could see in his face he didn’t know she was dead. When I told him I think it broke his heart. I also once overheard some kid ask another kid who the Beatles were and his friend said “They were Paul McCarthy's backup band.” But that’s a story for another time. Oh and yeah, I missed the Whole 2000-2010 era due to kids and work, so I’m catching up on the whole era. |
Discovering new artists is one of the attractions of Audiogon. That's why I go to HiFi shows, for the same reason. The whole music scene seems to have morphed into something new. Back in the 50's, 60's, an artist got a contract with a label, were promoted and became stars, or disappeared. Now there are 1000's of great bands, singers, Jazz groups out there, touring, recording in a garage, selling on line, whatever. How can anyone know about all of them, we all need a guiding hand. |
Eva Cassidy was/is great. Discovered her just after she passed. Her voice is amazing. What a voice. What a singer. Renee Olstead is another one. She has an outstanding voice. I don't think she is don't Jazz anymore. But take a listen. Her version of Midnight at the Oasis is wonderful. especially the very end. I would go the the Jazz Bakery in Culver City, CA when it was there and listen to new up and coming Jazz artist. I saw Hiromi and Arron Parks play there when they just started. It is fun seeing new Jazz artist. Tickets are much less expensive and they are very good. Katie Melua, Rachel Price, Rhiannon Giddons, Angun (what a voice!!!), many more. enjoy |
The streaming thing has definitely exposed me to a lot of new artists but I have to respect those I really enjoy and purchase their stuff because the royalties on streamed are pathetic. I'm something of a lifelong half-assed artist me-self and I respect copyrighted material. Intellectual properties such as music simply cannot be enjoyed on the cheap. New artist? Jen Chapin - Harry Chapin's daughter. Quite good. Just bought her stuff on Qobuz. |
artikdeth... Good post! I have another, The Tragically Hip. Lead singer died shortly after I “discovered” them. i seem to be something akin to a Flying Dutchman with some of my finds. Thanks to the HBO series “The Deuce”, I found myself really digging the music played during the closing credits. I googled the hell out of it, finally getting the search worded correctly and got my answer. Lafayette Gilchrist. The track that got me was “Assume The Position” - a funked up number with great horns. Better yet, on the album it clocks just over ten minutes. Check him out if you can. |
Just discovered chilliwack (Canadian)? good stuff! also late in the game for me was Kim Mitchell solo and his old band max Webster, great stuff! Many of the Canadian bands did not make it here in the states, it’s a shame there’s a ton of great rock bands from Canada and the USA whom did not gain proper notoriety for whatever reason. Like Anvil, always loved them, maybe it was Lipps running on stage with a massive rubber phalus. :) love max webster now, burned cdr’s for my vehicle to jam too. there are others whom I discover about 1-2 X a month just out of luck. love finding new music, don’t matter to me if I’m late to learn about them, it just makes the discovery that much better! happy listening. |