My brother dips a toe back into rock music


He gave up rock in the early '70's and eventually became an opera fanatic. About a month ago (now age 58)he asked me -out of the blue (pun intended) - about Joni Mitchell and Buffalo Springfield. Yesterday he asked an interesting question:

Recommend 5 albums by people he hasn't heard of.

Bearing in mind that

A)Anyone who isn't either a household name from the sixties or famous at the Michael Jackson/Madonna level qualifies as "not heard of"

B)The Joni/Buffalo Springield starting point and "art song" inclination likely to appeal to an opera guy

and

C)The desire to sprinkle a little bit of the rock reductionist esthetic

Who would you point him to?

I gave him 4 on the spot, but I'll share those later if the interest in this thread warrants.

Marty
martykl
Radiohead, Government Mule, Dire Straits, Wide Spread Panic and...and.....and I cant think of only one more!
Your brother is just a few years older than I am and we have followed a similar path leading to opera (Mozart & Verdi). Here are some he may enjoy:

1. The Thorns - First Album (2003) - reminiscent of CSN&Y
2. Peter Wolf "Sleepless" (2002) (J. Geils lead singer)
3. Traveling Wilburys - "Vol.1" (1988) - just in case he missed this one ... George Harrison, Bob Dylan, & Tom Petty
4. Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter - "Oh My Girl" - (2004)
5. Alejandro Escovedo - "Real Animal" (2007)

Honorable Mention ...

6. The Shins - "Chutes" (2003) - reminiscent of the Zombies "Time of Season" phase.

Regards,

Rich
1. Radiohead - "The Bends"
2. Sufjan Stevens - "Come On Feel The Illinoise"
3. Arcade Fire - "Funeral"
4. Jane Siberry - "When I Was A Boy"
5. Regina Specktor "Begin To Hope"
6. Rosanne Cash - "Interiors"

That should keep him busy. I enjoy these threads as I always find something new along with the originator.
GREAT post,

I EMPHATICALLY suggest the following three artists for new music:

1. Chris Jones "Roadhouses and Automobiles" (FABULOUS and fits the bill for what your brother is looking for)

2. Alexi Murdoch "Time Without Consequence"

3. Judith Owen "Lost & Found"

Then, I cannot help myself, from the old school side I am a HUGE Tower of Power fan but it IS old school funk/jazz/horn band music and may not appeal to your brother - but it has INCREDIBLY well written, tight horn playing and a fantastic rythym section!!!

If decides to audition Tower of Power's stuff, he could start with "Back To Oakland" (circa 1973) and even their newer offering "Oakland Zone" (2004)