Help Me Be Hip
50
Posted on 20 January 2010 by Lindsey
I have always LOVED music. And I have always felt like I was “in the know” on the new, cutting-edge bands. Until recently. Twice in the last two weeks friends have mentioned popular bands that I had never even heard of.
So I have come to realize, I am in serious need of some new music in my i tunes library.
What songs/artists are you listening to right now that I need to go check-out? (Oh, and please tell us all a little bit about song/artist so we can see if they peak our interest.)
So you can see how random my musical preferences are, here are two playlists I made over the holidays. Maybe (I doubt it) you’ll discover something new?
“Completely Random Mix“
I and Love and You – The Avett Brothers
(I listen to this one about 10 times before I move on to the rest of the mix. This song is ridiculously beautiful.)
Don’t Wanna Cry – Pete Yorn
You Really Got a Hold on Me – She and Him
When I Dream of Michaelangelo – Counting Crows
Landed – Ben Folds
Brooklyn – Wakey! Wakey!
Gotta Have You – The Weepies
Lost? – Coldplay
Blessed – Brett Dennen
Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
City of Black and White – Mat Kearney
“The Christian Mix”
There Will Be a Light – Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama
Whenever God Shines His Light – Van Morrison
It is Well – Todd Fields
Hold My Heart – Tenth Avenue North
Reign in Us – Starfield
The Revelation Song – Kari Jobe
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Chris Rice
Arms Open Wide – Hillsong
Kingdom Coming – Shaun Groves
How Great is Our God – Chris Tomlin
So come on…help a girl out. SAVE ME from becoming one of those un-hip folks who has no idea who what new music is out there.
Tags | Music
Been working with local band here in Columbus, OH on a new site, and new Mixtape Project they are launching (writing new song each week). Extremely talented. Bright future for these guys – http://www.jaredmahone.com
The band and the project looks cool. Thanks for the link.
Imogen Heap, especially her new CD, Ellipse
Yes
Minus the Bear is the next Radiohead! You can get their new single Through the Mirror for free online!
De-lurking for this one!
I love Amos Lee…just about everything on all 3 of his albums (are they still called that?).
My recent post 3 Reasons I Haven't Blogged Much Lately
I had to look up de-lurking in the Urban Dictionary. Thank you for teaching me a new term.
Rosi Golan, Owl City, Need to Breathe… These are some of the artist I have been told about lately. Like you I think I am needing some new music!
My recent post My word for the year…
First of all, loving the progression that you've made on your blog. It looks fresh and good. Nice going. For what it's worth, here are my top 5 bands based on iTunes playback:
1. Over the Rhine
2. Naturally 7
3. The Fray
4. Adele
5. Buble
Apparently, I don't venture out much. Haha!
I have lost some respect for you Kyle
Which ones made you lose respect? I know you already think I'm old. Don't want to add injury to insult
Gotta second Over the Rhine and Adele. Good stuff!
Matt Nathanson–his "Some Mad Hope" CD is a fav
David Gray
Ryan Adams
Joe Purdy
Josh Hoge
Kathleen Edwards
Melissa Ferrick
Obadiah Parker
Pat McGee Band ("Shine")
Starrfadu
The Weepies
3 Doors Down
Jonathan Clay
Virginia Coalition
Augustana
Oh the Weepies. How I love The Weepies!
Wow. This is so subjective. First, I must say that no one has EVER accused me of being hip. That being said, here is a list of artists/bands that I like. Some are slightly more obscure, inherently making them "hip".
In no particular order, other than running down my iPod list of artists:
The brokenmusicbox
Chris Isaak
The Choir
Fountains of Wayne
Giant
Ingram Hill
JET
Lisa Loeb
LSU/Lu/Life Savers Underground (also, anything by lead singer Michael Knott)
The Shins
Steve Burns (yes, the "Blue's Clues" guy)
The Violet Burning
The White Stripes
Wilco
The 77's
Do with it what you will. I'll let go and discover them on your own rather than me trying to put them into a genre.
My recent post Go Tell It On the Mountain
Wow. This is so subjective. First, I must say that no one has EVER accused me of being hip. That being said, here is a list of artists/bands that I like. Some are slightly more obscure, inherently making them "hip".
In no particular order, other than running down my iPod list of artists:
The brokenmusicbox
Chris Isaak
The Choir
Fountains of Wayne
Giant
Ingram Hill
JET
Lisa Loeb
LSU/Lu/Life Savers Underground (also, anything by lead singer Michael Knott)
The Shins
Steve Burns (yes, the "Blue's Clues" guy)
The Violet Burning
The White Stripes
Wilco
The 77's
Do with it what you will. I'll let go and discover them on your own rather than me trying to put them into a genre.
My recent post Go Tell It On the Mountain
Oh man. I could write a never-ending post on this. I live vicariously through my CD player. Some of my favorites (I'll try to keep it short, maybe):
Anything Kings of Leon. All of their CDs are great. Favorite song: Fans.
Brad Kilman: Mouths Like Trumpets (CD) – one of the worship pastors from my old church. it's like he's letting you in on personal quiet times. beautiful.
The Neighborhood. Our Mouths Choked with Fireworks (CD)
Sherree Chamberlain – any cd. she is great
Jason Mraz: We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things (CD)
David Gray: Sail Away
Coldplay: Lovers in Japan
The Hero Factor: Battling Chimaera (CD) – not sure if they are still together, but amazing
Jay Z: Blueprint 3 (CD)
Swell Season: Strict Joy (CD)
General Larry Platt: Pants on the Ground
Kinsey Charles: The Keeper (CD) she's a good friend, and wife's college roommate (produced by Dustin Ragland, drummer for Charlie Hall)
Whew, deep breath. That should be enough.
Huge Kings of Leon fan. I like Jason Mraz too. Some of my friends make fun of me though…
Go and listen to my son at Fienix.com he goes back on tour this week. You will love it!
My recent post fienix: In honor of the MLK holiday, I'm going to retire from the Internets for the evening and work on some music. #Y2K12
Go and listen to my son at Fienix.com he goes back on tour this week. You will love it!
My recent post fienix: In honor of the MLK holiday, I'm going to retire from the Internets for the evening and work on some music. #Y2K12
Why does it matter if you're hip?
Just be you.
The last 10 played on my BlackBerry were:
The Civil Wars – Poison & Wine
Eagles of Death Metal – I Want You So Hard
Presidents of the United States of America – Mixed Up SOB
Slade – Little Shiela
'Til Tuesday – (Believed You Were) Lucky
James Blunt – Same Mistake
Storyline – Give Chase
Lincoln Brewster – Shout To The Lord
Donna Lewis – I Could Be The One
The Hooters – Twenty Five Hours A Day
I've found being un-hip can be hip. And if someone thinks that's un-hip, then so be it.
My recent post Teen girls in Nashville just $110!
Here is my top albums of 2009 post: http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/top-10-albums-of-...
Stuff I have been listening to right now:
-Civil Wars-free download of live album here: https://www.noisetrade.com/derekwebb#/browse
-Phil Wickhams new CD is a must
-Jesus Cultures new CD consumed, pretty good.
-Deas Vail new CD Birds and Cages. You might like them, husband wife band but they are awesome.
-Fiction Family is always good as well. Sounds a lot like Sufjan Stevens (which if you have not heard of sufjan, check him out as well)
-The Swell Season Strict Joy (the characters from the movie "once")
BTW
Do not go buy all this stuff. Just go and check it out on grooveshark.com first.
You can listen to all these CD's for free on this site
I like Sufjan. I will check this stuff out. And Grooveshark. You are smart. And hip
I am what you would like to call a hipster.
I do what I do.
With that statement I think I just lost some cool points, whatever.
My recent post Leaders Under 30-John Saddington
Like Chownage, I'm also a fan of Over the Rhine [first heard them at Q last year]
My recent post The [real] Power of Social Media
the best kept secret in music right now is OH, HUSH! the world's first band without a face, without a picture, without band members and with a very YELLOW logo. the only band in the last 20 years to be ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC!!! take the retro of the 60s, the disco of the 70s, the new wave and anthems of the 80s, the grunge of the 90s, the rock of the 00s and bring it into the 10s and you've got Oh, Hush! just recently had songs featured in Ghost Whisperer and 90210. check it out!
If you are looking for something new in the Christmas genre, I suggest checking out "Snow" from Go Fish. They're a great a cappella group.
Here are some of my favorites:
Needtobreathe – alternative rock, calms me down
The Daylights – alternative rock, makes me smile
The New Pornagraphers – indie rock/power pop, interesting harmonies & sounds (love the group, hate the name)
Andrew Peterson – Christian, mellow, amazing words
I've heard if you like The Weepies, to try Melanie Penn__
Based on some of your listed music, I recommend checking out the following somewhat obscure albums:
The Rocketboys – 20,000 Ghosts
Telegraph Canyon – The Tide & The Current < (esp. if you like The Avett Bros.)
Doug Burr – On Promenade
Doug Burr – The Shawl < (Burr's musical interpretation of some Psalms)
Interestingly, all of these are Texas artists. That was not intentional.
I have also been digging Rain City Hymnal from the Mars Hill, Seattle worship teams. The album contains new interpretations of old hymns.
We all know…everything from Texas is better…
I like to tell people that mixes are my love language. I make them for my friends all the time!
First of all, for exploring new music, I recommend using grooveshark.com. It gives you more freedom than Pandora…and my husband says he thinks it's legal.
Some of my current favorites:
- Regina Spektor (because she's a poet with a piano)
- Ray LaMongagne (because he sings about love like nobody else)
- Adele (because she's like Amy Whinehouse, but better)
- Gillian Welch (because I'm from East Tennessee)
- Sufjan Stevens (because you pick up on something new every time you listen to him)
- Fiona Apple/ Alanis Morissette (because they turn anger into art)
- Jaymay/Jem (because they help you relax after Fiona and Alanis)
- Jeff Buckly (because he sang the best version of "Allelujah" ever)
I am loving Kings of Leon and NeedtoBreathe right now. There is something about the lead singers voices!
I totally agree about Over the Rhine! Love.
Adele is also another favorite. She is probably my most favorite.
I’m loving this post, because I’m in the same boat.
There was a time, I had my finger on the pulse of popular music, and had a feel for the good indie and non-mainstream artists out there.
Right now, I have no idea what I’ve missed, since my life became too busy to keep up with the music scene.
The worst part, is I’m a musician (on the side), and I love music.
Hopefully I’ll get a chance to check out some of these great suggestions.
I have a slight iTunes addiction!! Some of my favorites right now:
Kim Walker- my favorite worship leader at the moment
Jesus Culture- Consumed is their newest
Misty Edwards- Fling Wide album "arms wide open" is my fave song
Bethel Church- Here is Love album….Jenn Johnson sings "your presence" and includes some of the lyrics from David Gray's Babylon. TOTALLY love that.
Yellow Cavalier- Love them! Christian rock/pop
Can I be brave and say Hanson? No really. They have some great stuff.
Ryan Edgar- this is Kari Jobe's man- he has a great sound!
Deluge Band
David Gray
Can't wait to see all the new suggestions you get! Love finding new music!
I totally judged Hanson until I saw them live and I was pleasantly surprised…
I'm so happy you asked the question that I (the woman who has worked in the MUSIC INDUSTRY for more than a dozen years of all things) was too embarrassed to ask!
I like hearing what people like — and after listening on iTunes to some samples of the suggestions… I've got some serious downloading to do! Thanks, Lindsey!
Although she hasn't released anyting new in several years, Jennifer Knapp remains one of my favorites. She's still at the top of my list.
Great mixes! My suggestion is to hit up Pandora. Find an artist you like, and it'll play other artists that are similar. That's how I found out about a lot of the bands I love.
He thinks its legal? Hilarious.
A couple of recent discoveries for me include (not sure about the degree of hipness)
Abigail Washburn & Sparrow Quartet – interesting blend of bluegrass and Chinese folk music.
Peter Bradley Adams – Traces
Blind Boys of Alabama – Down in New Orleans
Buddy & Julie Miller – Written in Chalk
Ingrid Michaelson is blaring in my ear currently! Loving Priscilal Ahn as well!
PHIL WICKHAM! AMAZING new(ish) christian guy and his songs are write out of the scriptures. His most recent cd (heaven and earth) continues to blow my mind away
oh and if you like Coldplay- check out Vera. They are new, but there EP comes out in March and their myspace has their songs on it.
My recent post Capture
Here's some of the new artists I've been listening to:
30 Seconds to Mars
Closer to the Edge
This is War
Kings and Queens
Kings of Leon
Use Somebody
Israel Houghton
Just Wanna Say
Straight No Chaser
Owl City
David Crowder's entire new CD (Church Music) is awesome
Phoenix
Zac Brown Band
My recent post I Am Second – Sam and Colt
I'll delurk too. I recommend Vampire Weekend's Contra–chamber pop they call it. Of course for the too-hip-for-the-room crowd I think Flight of the Conchords is a must even though I haven't really gotten into their music or their show. Also it's sometimes painful, but the easiest way I stay caught up on pop music is listening to the Top 40 on the way to church. My husband does not consider it very reverent considering the massive amount of rap and its themes.
You have an interesting point of view
Owl City
Joy Williams (her new EP) and her new band, The Civil Wars.
I signed up to your blog RSS. Will you post more on this topic?
I really enjoyed reading this post, keep posting much more like it.