The "Where do I start?" thread

[LemonMelon]

jeez.. thanks guys

Buy them all.

 

[onebloodonelife]

It was mentioned on the iTunes Originals set a while back.

Yep, that's what I was thinking of.

 

[LemonMelon]

Cocteau Twins, guys. Somebody help me out here.

 

[U2DMfan]

Cocteau Twins, guys. Somebody help me out here.

'Heaven or Las Vegas', probably.

Iceblink Luck video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZGzsNzGUOU

Heaven or Las Vegas video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzJJ_32140I

they are hard to pin down but that's a start

 

[cobl04]

Just got given Velvet Underground and Nico... four tracks in... and it's a million miles from what I expected.

 

[cobl04]

These last two songs are putrid!

 

[liamcool]

You have no music taste. The Black Angel's Death Song is beautiful.

Admittedly, the album is a grower.

 

[The Sad Punk]

Definitely a grower - I had listened to some Velvets and Reed when I was a kid, so I knew what to expect when I started listening to them more often when I was about 14. I can imagine it'd be difficult if you're just expecting some classic rock though - but that would be boring!

It might take a long time for you to respect VU if it's "not what you were expecting". I hope later you'll appreciate the album's huge influence and it's awesome cerebral mindfucking abilities that arguably have never been surpassed.

Gold luck, COBL!

 

[u2popmofo]

Cocteau Twins, guys. Somebody help me out here.

I personally would recommend Treasure over Heaven and Las Vegas as a first album.

As U2DMFan alluded to, both of these albums are different enough from each other that it ends up coming down to personal preference.

 

[LemonMelon]

Just got given Velvet Underground and Nico... four tracks in... and it's a million miles from what I expected.

It's a grower, but VU & Nico is my least favorite VU album to be honest (Heroin, I'm Waiting For The Man, and Sunday Morning notwithstanding). The self-titled and Loaded are both much more fun, and I get a sick joy out of cranking up White Light/White Heat from time to time.

 

[lazarus]

Who told you to start with the first one, anyway? I'd go with Loaded or the self-titled and try to ease into their stuff.

 

[LMP]

It took me a while to get into Velvet & Nico, but I really love it now.

I'll be your mirror, L-Mel.

 

[cobl04]

Who told you to start with the first one, anyway? I'd go with Loaded or the self-titled and try to ease into their stuff.

I got it as a Christmas present

 

[The Sad Punk]

Hey, I started with the first one.

 

[LemonMelon]

I'll be your mirror, L-Mel.

Forgot about that one. Venus In Furs isn't bad at all either.

 

[corianderstem]

Venus in Furs and All Tomorrow's Parties are my favorites on the first album. But I think Loaded is probably the "easiest" VU record to start with. It's pretty straight-forward and chock full o' accessible songs.

Accessible GOOD songs, lest anyone think "accessible" means "candy-ass."

 

[dsmith2904]

No that's the thing, I don't know any of his work, apart from the song he sung with Burt Bacharach in the Austin Powers movie, which I liked.

"Painted from Memory" is the album Elvis did with Burt Bacharach and it's excellent. "North" is in a similar tone and completely beautiful, I highly recommend it.

Elvis has so many styles that a compilation would be a good idea. I have this one and have been buying up his reissues as they're released.

 

[GibsonGirl]

Where else should I go with The Decemberists? I only have The Crane Wife. I really love The Island...indie prog! Do they have anything else along those lines?

 

[LemonMelon]

Where else should I go with The Decemberists? I only have The Crane Wife. I really love The Island...indie prog! Do they have anything else along those lines?

I'm curious about this as well.




...Sorry to get your hopes up there, GG. I have a similar taste for the Crane Wife. Good record, that.

 

[LMP]

Venus in Furs and All Tomorrow's Parties are my favorites on the first album. But I think Loaded is probably the "easiest" VU record to start with. It's pretty straight-forward and chock full o' accessible songs.

Accessible GOOD songs, lest anyone think "accessible" means "candy-ass."

Rock & Roll and Sweet Jane are 2 of my fave Velvet tracks, definitely the most accessible of their albums.

 

[lazarus]

Oh Sweet Nuthin! That guitar solo...out of this world.

 

[GibsonGirl]

I'm curious about this as well.




...Sorry to get your hopes up there, GG. I have a similar taste for the Crane Wife. Good record, that.

But yeah, I really love that album. Shankill Butchers.

 

[cobl04]

Well I liked Sunday Morning, Waiting for the Man, Femme Fatale, Venus in Furs and Heroin, and that was pretty much it.

 

[corianderstem]

Rock & Roll and Sweet Jane are 2 of my fave Velvet tracks, definitely the most accessible of their albums.

Ayup. Someone told me once it was called "Loaded" because one of the band members had said "It's loaded with hits," but I don't know if it's true or not.

Rock and Roll is one of my all-time favorite songs. (At least for the moment. )

 

[u2popmofo]

In regards to The Decemberists for GG and LM:

Honestly, you can't really go wrong with any of their other albums (to some extent, I think they're all better than Crane Wife...and I love Crane Wife as well). I've gone through phases where I've thought each of their other albums was my favorite of theirs. I'd probably say try out 'Her Majesty' or 'Picaresque' if you like a mix of fun with pretty. 'Castaways and Cutouts' is probably their most serious album, but it is extremely solid for a debut (some argue it's still their best). They're seriously all good, including the 5 Songs EP.

If you dug their crazy long, almost proggy, tracks, look into The Tain EP (an 18 and 1/2 minute single track).

 

[FitzChivalry]

Ok, it's really late, but I got the 1st Placebo album. Listened to the first 2 songs and loved them. The rest will have to wait for tomorrow, but hopefully it's as good as those first 2 songs.

Thanks for the recommendations all. You guys rock!

 

[The Sad Punk]

I remember it being solid throughout.

I think I may even go searching for my copy tomorrow... good times.

Check out Without You I'm Nothing next, then Sleeping With Ghosts. I think that covers their best stuff more or less.

I can't recall much of Black Market Music. Give it a shot, I think the reactions were mixed though.

 

[GibsonGirl]

In regards to The Decemberists for GG and LM:

Honestly, you can't really go wrong with any of their other albums (to some extent, I think they're all better than Crane Wife...and I love Crane Wife as well). I've gone through phases where I've thought each of their other albums was my favorite of theirs. I'd probably say try out 'Her Majesty' or 'Picaresque' if you like a mix of fun with pretty. 'Castaways and Cutouts' is probably their most serious album, but it is extremely solid for a debut (some argue it's still their best). They're seriously all good, including the 5 Songs EP.

If you dug their crazy long, almost proggy, tracks, look into The Tain EP (an 18 and 1/2 minute single track).

Thanks. I'll have a look next time I go out to browse the CD shops.

 

[cobl04]

You know what's a good Placebo song? Every Me Every You Great sing a long.

(Okay, I haven't heard any other Placebo songs...)

 

[LemonMelon]

This is a bit random, but Daniel, if you haven't yet, check out Paul McCartney's Ram album. It's among the very best Beatles solo albums, certainly my favorite from Paul. It was recorded during that glorious period before Wings and just after the Beatles when Paul was brimming with ideas.