Recommend one artist

[SirWhy]

I don't really have a favorite band or artist, I just don't like favoritism.
However one the bands I like to listen to that I'm sure no ones heard of is "iswimwithsharks"
Sadly I cant post a link because I don't have any posts. When I can I will.

[DoruDoruFlute]

1# Is probably Tool... I listen to a lot of random, yet enjoyable stuff though. For instance.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxCPCteWZqw (The Cartoonist that directed that video is also a favorite of mine...) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in7HMW-Folk

[Perspective]

Rage Against the Machine- Nuff said...

[Pandorly]

James Vincent McMorrow. He doesn't have a whole pile of material but every single song on Early in the Morning (his only album) is an absolute gem.

[Mighty Jalapeno]

Steve "Blues Clues" Burns.



Mighty Little Man
My Eyes Are Full
Henry Krinkle's Lament
Superstrings
The Lords Of Cobble Hill (also a music video I made for my wife's anniversary)

[Chuff]

You really like Steve Burns, apparently.

But he is good.

[Amie]

Caspian.

You'll like them if you like God is an Astronaut and Sigur Ros' stuff.

Also, Breakout. My favourite Blues band. They're from Poland and they're pretty amazing. Here's another song by them.

[Giant Speck]

Steve "Blues Clues" Burns.



Mighty Little Man
My Eyes Are Full
Henry Krinkle's Lament
Superstrings
The Lords Of Cobble Hill (also a music video I made for my wife's anniversary)

Oh my God...

[merelydicta]

One artist: The Real Group

Sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ88Osy2qfk

[jgbradner]

FRED with their new album "Leaving My Empire". Irish band from Cork, can be a little upbeat but the lyrics are almost freaking metaphysical.

[I Am Raven]

Andy M. Stewart. Scottish guy singing Irish songs. Love it.
Gold Claddagh Ring.

[hifi]

Yuksek. French electronic producer that is vastly under-appreciated. I'm not being all hipster and saying 'no-one else likes him so he's cool', he's legitimately brilliant and yet, pretty much no-one's heard of him.

Songs to check out are Supermenz, Extraball (both the original and the Breakbot remix are awesome) and Tonight. The rest of So Far Away From The Sea is pretty much just filler, but his newest album, Living On The Edge Of Time, is just sublime. He's finally taken on singing duties and it's a much more personal approach - it's an album inspired by the numbness of life on the road while promoting his first album, the feeling of being alone in a crowd (due to the fact he toured alone as he was just a single musician, not a band) and constant need for creative exploration. Literally any song from it is awesome, but for me, the highlight is On A Train with that new-wave synth bass.. The video's not too bad, either.

[djkjr]

The Head and The Heart!! <---- do it
Simple folk-ish alt-rock (I guess, I don't know. What the hell is up with most genre's anyway?)
But they're pretty awesome, not gonna lie.
Listen to "Rivers and Roads" to get an idea

[ArchaicHipster]

Jim White. He's probably the least well-known musician I listen to, and he is absolutely wonderful. Alt country/folk, but so much more than that. His lyrics are wonderfully Southern Gothic and his music is intriguing and beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc6vlBpbk5g&feature=BFa&list=AVGxdCwVVULXfPe2V9d9eiCD-0DQlhGw92&lf=list_related Christmas Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghE_ZiimU6I&feature=BFa&list=AVGxdCwVVULXfPe2V9d9eiCD-0DQlhGw92&lf=list_related Corvair.

Both beautiful.

[Amie]

Poobah. Psych rock. From 1971. I can't get enough of them.

[Sweeney_Todd]

Death Cab for Cutie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPLlCcE-Dq8

[shadowself]

Kevin Gilbert. A master musician, he played every instrument on most of his recordings. This one is from a concept album about the rise and fall of fictitious rock star Johnny Virgil. Kevin killed himself (possibly accidentally) when he was 29... but he left behind a lot of incredible music.

City of the Sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48UcIuUtWw8&fmt=18

(Copypaste... sorry, can't seem to do a url BBcode)

[Parrothead]

Jimmy Buffett. I'm dead serious. Dude is nerdy, talented, emotional, funny, and can be surprisingly moving. For a long time his hits were my guilty pleasure. When I eventually took the plunge into his extensive discography and authorial career, I stopped feeling guilty and started feeling indignant that so many people dismiss him as a has-been novelty act without knowing what he's all about. Now I'm a full-fledged parrothead (pun intended), and if I'm the first one to grace the xkcd forum, let me assure you that the degrees of separation between Buffett and "romance, sarcasm, math, and language" are fewer than you might expect.

I prefer his more recent albums, and would recommend "Far Side of the World" for starters. Here's the title track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIEcBcuBraM

[darocker077]

A R Rahman one of my favorite artist who's from India. He's a composer, singer & also a song-writer. Also an oscar award winner 2010 for the movie name called "Slumdog millionair".. You can find more details about him on wikipedia.. try listening to the below song;

Pray for Me Brother - by A R Rahman (released 2007) << (this song is the best of the best which inspired me alot..

[PerryDigital]

I'm going to root through the bands I've not heard of in here now but recommend just one? Young Rebel Set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcACBJ1ALf4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsXsHMDNNtQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un1ClCxmSuU

Go. Now.

[blackened45]

hello guys. so i see many have posted Metal bands along the thread, as a metal fan, i would like to extend you guys one of the most revolutionary bands that i listened to, and still do.

i give you...

Cynic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynic_%28band%29

If you want a progressive band, started out as a Thrash act, moving towards Death metal fused with Jazz elements. then there's prog rock/metal type spin off, Portal, with a female lead vocals. This band is just great, and you have to listen to them to appreciate.

tip: start off with Focus album, that is where the fun begins. then listen to Portal. then listen to Traced In Air, an album 14 years in the making. then you get the new releases too, you won't regret it.

cheers!

[nysalor]

The legendary bluesman Howlin' Wolf.

He was the powerful growly voice who inspired Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart. His guitarist Hubert Sumlin's slashing guitar riffs were namechecked by legends like Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jimi Hendrix. He teamed with the equally legendary blues songwriter Willie Dixon to create a bunch of blues classics that you may have heard of, including "Killing Floor" (Hendrix), "Little Red Rooster" (Grateful Dead), "Spoonful" (Cream), and "Back Door Man" (Doors).

The Wolf's storming live shows were extraordinarily intense, and at times he would climb the curtains that hung around the stage while singing into the microphone at full strength! When the Rolling Stones were asked to play the British TV show "Shindig" in 1965, they did it on the condition that Howlin' Wolf would perform as well. During the Wolf's TV debut, the Stones sat at his feet while he ripped through "How Many More Years."

To quote AllMusic: "A Robert Johnson may have possessed more lyrical insight, a Muddy Waters more dignity, and a B.B. King certainly more technical expertise, but no one could match [Howlin' Wolf] for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits."

Don't Laugh at Me (Live in concert): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiZ-sW38cT0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Down at the Bottom (Live at a juke): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UCOBajM9o&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Smokestack Lightning (Live in concert): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1FK620bS7A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Iferius]

I would like to reccomend Van Canto to you all.

They're a German metal band, consisting of five singers and a (singing)drummer.

Black Wings of Hate - cheesy title, awesome song. It's in 3/4ths.
Lost Forever - a video clip says more than ~three audio files.
Last Night of the Kings - A ballad, without percussion.

[El Queso del Diablo]

Just to be different, I'm a really big classical music, uhm... obsessor, and so I will recommend Aleksandr Glazunov as a composer everyone should look into. He was a friend of many of the members of the Russian five because he was recoginized for his extraordinary composing talent when he was just a teenager, and become one of the greatest Russian composers and orchestrators. He happened to teach Shostakovich everything he knew, and he was also a great guy if you make allowances for his horrible alchoholism.

http://youtu.be/LrjTbsiv5Ks

This is a link to a recording of his first concert waltz, which is not only melodically lovely but which positively bubbles with joie de vivre.

[jon41987]

Hi

I have no idea if someone has already suggest this artist so I thought I would just encase.

Artist: Kasabian
Track: Fast Fuse

I think they are quite an appropriate band for xkcd as their most recent album is called 'Velociraptor!' It is a good album, I think the album before is better 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum' and that is the album which Fast Fuse is from. Having said that there are some great tracks on 'Velociraptor!' Anyway I hope people like my suggestion.

All the best

Jon

[moiraemachy]

Due my guitar teacher's advice, I'm listening to Kazuhito Yamashita's transcription of Pictures at an Exhibition for the guitar, and... I thought I was over this. I mean, now I know some stuff about playing the guitar, I know what people are doing when they display impressive technique. I'm not supposed to go crazy fanboy flabbergastment anymore. But this guy... arg, it's insane. I'm pretty damn sure he's a robot.

So, if you play classical guitar and want to feel awful about your technique, you should check this guy. If you like to see human hands move unnaturally fast, you'll like it too, I guess. The recording is even more impressive.

[Amie]

Orange Goblin.Stoner rock/metal. Fucking good.
Also, Anouk. Sings blues, rock, grunge, soul and other stuff. She's got some serious talent.
Also, yay #totallycheating mentioning more than one artist!

[I Am Raven]

Orange Goblin.

I approve of this. A lot.

[hetas]

It's hard to choose just one but I'll throw in Melt-Banana this time.

[ihackedthis1]

Martin Solveig. He has been my soundtrack for the past few weeks. He's been featured in quite a few commercials now (which slightly frustrates my inner hipster). Just very fun danceable music. Not meant to be taken as the epitome of musical greatness, but it is pretty hard to find better music to dance in the car to.

[dunstergirl]

Corin Raymond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTxZ10tPXPo

[thelonesun]

Slagsmålsklubben. They have very great dance-type music, but also some very calm tracks. Their music is made almost entirely on synths though, so if that's not your thing, you won't like them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrOGdSe_yRo There's my favorite song by them.

[Queen Arasene]

Probably The Arrogant Worms.
You can find one of their best songs Here ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29g57XTYgLE

[flintlockpistols]

I don't know if any of these have already been mentioned, but I don't care because they're all awesome.

Fun. - They're very pop, but the lyrics are awesome and they really remind me of Queen.
The Fratellis - I'm pretty sure every song is about sex, hookers, or sex with hookers. They're amazing.

[JCPenney]

My favorite all-time is Billy Joel. Seriously.

Give this one a listen....it's a live version of "Captain Jack" from Songs in the Attic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qwhbNrkDXM

[Amie]

Suidakra. Metal. Melo-death, folk. Love the use of the Mandolin in this song.

[flarpfreak]

I say nothing beats the smooth semi-electronic jazz bonobo has managed to produce, pure magic

[thefiddler]

Waldeck.

Seriously, check out Waldeck. An Austrian electronica band that combines electronica with jazz / swing, it is amazing. Seriously.

Check. It. Out.

[moufette]

I'd like to recommend frank deresti and the lake effect. Have a listen here: http://frankderesti.bandcamp.com/album/this-time
They also have a music video here: http://youtu.be/mSEmMrwA3r0

They just finished a tour of ontario and have lots of fantastic plans for the summer ahead.

I guess to try to categorize them, they would be considered a bit folk, roots with elements of jazz.
The lyrics are intricately woven, and get better and better with each listen, and the fiddle and sax complement each other nicely for a very interesting mix.

Let me know what you think!!

[rogue8bit]

I'm gonna recommend Reptar! Because they're my friends, their LP came out yesterday, they were #47 on iTunes Top 100 Albums yesterday (and the featured Indie single of the day too)!

If you like space rock, music to jump on your bed/dance to, or spontaneous lyrics (some of which will make you smile), check them out.

Full LP listen stream here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMr8d8fvzAw