Contemporize Man!

[Rik E Boy]

I looked at my CD collection the other day and noted the advanced age of most of the titles. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Stones, Kiss, Dire Straits, Boston, Midnight Oil, Queen, Cold Chisel, Judas Priest, Police, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath. Cripes REB you old fart. I used to love listening to music but I find what I hear these days to be downright depressing. All you see is absolutely hot chicks (nothing wrong with that but if I want porn I'll look elsewhere) lip synching their latest cookie cutout 'tune' with the doof doof beat and surely Rock hasn't just come to this.

So my problem is this. It's time to stop Shining on you crazy diamond and update my music collection. After all, I have young sons to educate! If I don't put on some decent music from their time I'll be flooded by ******* rap or worse, R&B!

So what is outside of the mainstream that either Rocks hard or is a genuine trend in modern music? And please don't waste my time with the desperately dull Powderfinger. No sale. I listened to a Muse song the other day and it seemed to have all sorts of different styles in the one song until it pounded into a Queen like crescendo and Brian May like riffing solo. Can't remember the song.

So Contemporize me man!

Any suggestions for some albums I could be listening too?

regards,

REB

[Q.]

I reckon that song you heard by Muse was Knights of Cydonia.

[Booney]

Some of the newer Powderfinger is a little more 'rock' mate, Internationalist is a bit mellow so Odessey # 5 and Vulture St might be more your style. They are Brisvegans so give the newer stuff a go.

I listen to a bit of Grinspoon,Greenday, new Metallica album is good mate ( Death Magnetic ) goes back to some more old school Metallica, I also run some Living End ( last 2 albums ).Now I know some will jump on here a cry 'mainstream' but hey,its what I like and what I choose to listen too.

You will be proud to know Junior Boon's Ipod is full of Iron Maiden,Kiss,AC/DC,Metallica,Sabbath and some Cheap Trick! No R&B, no hip hop diddy wop doo wop. Warms the cockles when I borrow it and get Detroit rock City in the shuffle and no "Ho's and biathces" .....

[Leaping Lindner]

A couple of Australian bands worth checking out are The Drones and The Devastations.
The Drones' "Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By" (2004) is IMHO the australian album of the decade so far, and their new one "Havilah" (2008) is a ripper.

The Devastations debut album "The Devastations" is great as well and a good starting point before checking out their follow ups "Coal" and "Yes U"

Mind you neither of these bands seem to do any good at the ARIAS, so I don't think they are as good as I think they are.

[Q.]

ARIA's, SchmARIA's. 'Wait Long By The River...' took out The Amp 2005 and scored $25K with it too. They beat The Devastations (among others) funnily enough.

REB, I'll second The Drones nomination. Will be heading out tomorrow to buy 'Havilah'.


A couple of international bands bucking the trends, but with some solid sounds behind them are TV On The Radio and Arcade Fire. Not the traditional rock sound you might be after though. You could always pick up a Queens of the Stone Age album.

[Booney]

QOTSA,good suggestion.

No RATM in there either Reb.

[RustyCage]

I reckon that song you heard by Muse was Knights of Cydonia.

I love Muse and HATE that song, so it may not be a good example of Muse REB. If you want Muse, listen to Plug In Baby, New Born, Bliss or Stockholme Syndrome. Great band.

[Leaping Lindner]

QOTSA,good suggestion.

No RATM in there either Reb.

RATM are a great band Booney, but their debut album was 18 years ago I don't think they are considered "new" anymore. Except to old farts like us

[Drop Bear]

Track down "Guns of Gold" by The Fumes. They're a good Aussie 2 piece bluesy rock band.

Also, The Black Keys have some funky tunes. That's just a couple of bands. The list is endless REB.

Just remember there's nothing wrong with educating your young fellas with the old classics. It's still better than half the crap being released these days.

[Dogwatcher]

I was gonna mention Queens of the Stone Age - I love 'em. Had them on the other day.

Their new stuff's a bit meh but I'm a big fan of old Shihad gear. The General Electric is one of my fave albums.

Everyone's going gaga for Bloc Party at the moment, I ain't so sure.

There's a Brisbane punk band that I like called Liability of My Own.

You may not like rap but I've been listening to a bit of Muph and Plutonic lately. Good beats.

The Butterfly Effect and COG are some good, old school type rock. I'm not totally sold on them but I know others that like them.

The Fratelli's are good rock/pop from Britain. They take me back to Britpop of the 90s.

Vampire Weekend are a cute little pop act.

[Pat Malone]

In keeping with the thought that you liked Muse:

Good Aussie Acts - Birds of Tokyo/Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, Butterfly Effect, Gotye,

International - Anberlin, The Academy Is..., Coheed and Cambria, Kings of Leon, The Matches

Most may be a little more rock than electro rock but all good bands with recent cd releases.

[Rik E Boy]

Thanks boys. I walked down the Ipswich Mall and asked one of the local Goths were the 'record shop' was and he fell down in the street laughing at me.......



Oh dear! Might have to order online. I can't stand the terrible barbs LOL

regards,

REB

[Pidge]

Good Aussie Acts - Birds of Tokyo/Karnivool

Karnivool's Album Themata is one of the best I have. Hope they release a new album soon.
Birds of Tokyo are pretty good too. Off Kilter is one of their best songs

[MatteeG]

Hey REB- love the thread...

A band called 'Chevelle' may be up your alley....highly underrated hard rock IMO.

I'm not gonna go suggesting my eclectic range of music tastes- I own everything from Fine Young Cannibals to Unit 11:74

[Punk Rooster]

yep, Queens of the Stone Age.
Also, try Cradle of Filth, & Rancid.

[MatteeG]

Hey REB- have you had a crack at any of the contemporary suggestions?

[Mr66]

Check out Muse,Tool,King's X,Dream Theater,Chevelle.
I've got most of what you have REB but it's still a lot better than the moronic rubbish that's going around at the moment

[MatteeG]

Well REB?..

[Rik E Boy]

Well REB?..

Not yet Matteeeeeeeeeeeeee.

regards,

REB

[silicone skyline]

Fratellis - Tell me a lie http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=HZxneQl9Qyk&feature=related

Butterfly Effect - Slow Descent http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=lLUdEYORZB4

Grinspoon - Lost Control http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=YSkd6HJThlo

Three modern rock bands with differing styles that are both popular and not so left field.

Muse is an acquired taste, as is Kings of Leon, whereas the above keep it pretty simple.