Any suggestions for good obscure music?

Greg Brown is a current favorite of mine as well. What a great voice.

Hmmm, obscure...guess I'd have to know your tastes to know which direction to go other than recommending others who might sound like Greg Brown. In that vein try Jeffrey Focault (I'd recommend his first album, Miles from the Lightening). Also, try his group effort with fellow musicians Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey, Redbird which begins with Greg Brown cover (Ships) and is a great collection of tunes. In a darker, more cynical take on that same alt-country direction with some compelling male vocals try Richard Buckner. I like his early albums, "Devotion & Doubt", and "Bloomed". You also may enjoy Ray La Montagne, though I wouldn't necessarily catogorize him among the obscure. Both his albums are great.

Taking off from that to female vocals, try the Canadian group, [url=http://www.begoodtanyas.com/]The Be Good Tanyas[url]. Just saw them live and they are definitely worth catching if they come near you on their current tour. I love their album, "Blue Horse". Another really unique favorite on the female vocals is the harpist, Joanna Newsome. Her only album is "The Milk-Eyed Mender", but she has a new one coming out soon. That one's an acquired taste and may take a few listens to warm up to her.

I'll stop there and let someone else pick up...

Marco

http://www.mississippistudios.com/

Diversify with 2004 and 2005 mississippi studios live CD compilations. They are listed under Studio Projects. The studio owner took his favorite live recordings for the year and made CD's out of them. Proceeds benefit the low income after school music program. Hey, can't beat that. Both collections are excellent. I can't wait for 2006!

edit:

Hey Marco, I saw Kris Delmhorst at Mississippi studios too. I have most of her CD's as well. Songs for a Hurricane is excellent. If you're a book nut you might like Strange Conversation, her latest.

Want obscure? Try ''Has Been'' by Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner. This cd is no joke, and is critically acclaimed, if not a commercial success. The music is smooth and impeccable. It's different, intelligent, and very nice to listen to.

Here are some wide and varied recommends:

The Delays "Faded Seaside Glamour"
A gorgeous album with unbelievable vocals

Hem "Eveningland"
Beautiful acoustic music, outstanding songs and performances, top 10 album of the year for me 2004

Eastmountainsouth "Eastmountansouth"
Excellent acoustic music, many duets and great songwriting

Imogen Heap "Speak for Yourself"
Wonderfully dense mix of pop and elecronica, stands up to repeated listens

Story of M "These Little Crimes"
Fantastic album from this hard to categorize female led group. Available only via CD Baby, where you can find lots of unknowns making great music.

Enjoy!

Dengue Fever, Escape from Dragon House. It's one of the oddest discs I have. It is a Cambodian woman singing with an american pop band. The band sounds very retro-60s, kind of like what you might have heard in a 60s spy movie. The singer sounds a bit like Debbie Harry of Blondie, but sings in Khmer, a language I was never familiar with, but which is interesting becasue they have alot of consonant combinations that are not in any other language I've heard (like p and n together), which gives the music an unusual rhythmic quality. The first couple tracks aren't great, but there are some real gems later on, with the final track, Hummingbird, quite appealing. It took a few listens before I liked the disc, but it grew on me. Recording quality is good, no obvious irritants, but not great by audiophile standards. I think I'll listen to it tonight!