Topic: Good modern (preferably international) pop music (Read 12828 times)

Be My Head · « **on:** 22 Oct 2009, 22:45 »

Please recommend me some?

Use this as a reference point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooUP5Hbh6rI&fmt=18

I like this. Asian musicians tend to have a very good sense of pitch, apparently this has to do with the way their language works? Anyway, just recommend me some good pop. Nothing too hipster-ish, but not boring or simplistic either. Something with style is what I'm saying.

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 00:54 »

Excruciatingly Happy People

Be My Head · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 00:59 »

Not bad at all. This is pretty much the production type I'm looking for, not too glossy and overproduced.

JD · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 01:08 »

How's this?

Be My Head · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 01:20 »

It's all right, but not really what I'm looking for. The sound is too "fat" (don't know how else to describe it). I want something with a less produced sound. Also, I don't really like the vocalist.

Here's another example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFwK68BqoMQ

That's from the 70s though. I guess you can recommend older stuff if you think it's what I'm going for here.

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 05:09 »

For that slow, smooth sound both those videos you posted have you probably are better off with older pop. Something like this or perhaps this classic? Although this Swedish lady, a beardy Frenchman or a creepy gem from a famous American chap might work for you. Or then again you could just get dancing.

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 06:31 »

Kate Bush: what a weirdo.

in the same vein as that Wiley song

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 07:24 »

Well shit, if we're going there then we obviously need to go here too and this shit is absolutely mandatory. And in a kind of a way on the other side of that Wiley track you could just go all bassline. He's local to me too, which is nice! Leeds usually sucks at pop.

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 09:16 »

Ok, fuckers, let's get on this.

Following on from Tommy's scandinavian influence is this tune or maybe this gem.

Over to the central continent we have Spain, Spain again, Portugal, France, Germany, more Germany.

Already had some good stuff from the UK so over to Asia. Japan, Japan again, South Korea, India.

Now down to Oceania (Australasia, whatever): Australia, New Zealand.

America has a hell of a lot of good pop music if you just brush away the charts from the top, for example; or maybe leave some in like this, or this. Mexico is also good, as is Argentina, likewise Brazil.

And there our whirlwind world pop tour is at an end. Hopefully something will catch your eye.

Be My Head · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 09:43 »

Toto - great sound, great production, not too big on the guy's singing though (I'll admit I prefer ladies)
Kate Bush - I've obviously heard of her before, never *heard* her before this...yeah, kind of crazy. It's not bad though!
Sebastien Tellier - Pretty good, doesn't jump out at me a lot but there's nothing here I can dislike.
Just Timberlake - lulz, yeah, no; the beginning is okay, but his singing voice is just TOO douchey : P
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - I have to admit I kind of like this...
Mina Viva - meh, interesting bassline, but otherwise not my cup of tea
Wiley - Naaah
Bodyrox - maybe if it didn't "Feat." Luciana, because Luciana has a really idiotic sounding voice
Dizzee Rascal - Actually...not. too. bad.
T2 - decent

I forgot about another awesome pop group I like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlztPtOByMY&fmt=18

Feel free to recommend more space pop from the 80s.

@ the_pied_piper, I'm going to listen to all of those and get back to you!

Edit:

Röyksopp - meh
The whitest boy alive- good sound, a little repetitive but that comes with the territory
Russian Red - Great! Reminds me of Kaki King a little bit
Tony Carreira - No..not really my style.
MYLENE FARMER - I would listen again...
Sportfreunde Stiller - pretty good! nice orange amp..
Cassandra Steen - nah
Perfume - It's pretty good
parachute - not really my thing

As far as Japanese pop music goes, I'm already pretty well covered here.

fun. - decent
Sara Bareilles- not my thing
Joshua Radin- don't like this..
Steel Train - meh
Juana Molina - interesting voice, might decide to check it out further
Jota Quest - decent sans the male vocals

KharBevNor · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 10:52 »

I don't know if this exactly counts as 80's space pop. I've never been able to quite work out what makes pop pop, or why I don't like any of it produced after 1987.

KickThatBathProf · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 13:10 »

Quote from: Be My Head on 23 Oct 2009, 09:43

Röyksopp - meh

Maybe try the new Röyksopp.

JD · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 14:03 »

VV Brown?

Inlander · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 21:27 »

Quote from: Be My Head on 23 Oct 2009, 09:43

Kate Bush - I've obviously heard of her before, never *heard* her before this

Oh my god. Oh my god! Go out and get a copy of Hounds of Love right now.

Now.

Now.

NOW!!

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 22:25 »

This man is right.

Quote from: KharBevNor on 23 Oct 2009, 10:52

I don't know if this exactly counts as 80's space pop. I've never been able to quite work out what makes pop pop, or why I don't like any of it produced after 1987.

This man is also being all kinds of correct (also, Khar, they are called Sigue Sigue Sputnik. I am not sure it's possible to get more space pop than that).

Quote from: Zombiedude on 23 Oct 2009, 14:03

VV Brown?

This man less so, VV Brown is just not rocking it.

Speaking of the unassailable Ms Bush, British pop has had a serious obsession with her of late. Florence And The Machine are alright in places, but this is the good shit.

Inlander · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 22:59 »

While we're in the 80s, also check out two more terrific bands: the Housemartins, of England, and the Go-Betweens, of Australia.

The Housemartins are probably better known these days for the two acts they spawned: their singer and chief songwriter Paul Heaton went on to form the Beautiful South, while their bassist, Norman Cook, would in the 90s become much better known as Fatboy Slim. But when they were the Housemartins they wrote a bunch of terrifically catchy yet surprisingly caustic pop songs such as Happy Hour and Sheep.

The Go-Betweens were a band from Brisbaned formed by two friends, Robert Forster and (the late, lamented) Grant McLennan, who were also the group's principle songwriters. The Go-Betweens sound is split pretty evenly between songs that could tick any number of critical buzz-words ("arty", "angular", etc.) and unabashedly gorgeous guitar-pop classics. YouTube has a wealth of Go-Betweens videos; here for your listening pleasure are a few of their most loved songs:

"Bachelor Kisses".

"Bye Bye Pride".

"Cattle and Cane".

The 80s really did produce some fantastic pop in among all the dross. Later I'll see if I can dig up some videos from two more personal favourites, the Sundays and the Waterboys, for you.

JD · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 23:06 »

Quote from: a pack of wolves on 23 Oct 2009, 22:25

Quote from: Zombiedude on 23 Oct 2009, 14:03
VV Brown?

This man less so, VV Brown is just not rocking it.

Speaking of the unassailable Ms Bush, British pop has had a serious obsession with her of late. Florence And The Machine are alright in places, but this is the good shit.

Odd video

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 23:17 »

Yeah, she's a peculiar one. I find this one even odder.

Since I'm currently lying in her old bed I feel I should give some time to a nice song about the curative powers of movement.

JD · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 23:28 »

Ok Bats for Lashes totally reminded me of this

Johnny C · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Oct 2009, 10:14 »

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 23 Oct 2009, 09:16

America has a hell of a lot of good pop music if you just brush away the charts from the top

you people are going to drive me insane

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #20 on:** 24 Oct 2009, 11:46 »

Quote from: the_pied_piper on 23 Oct 2009, 09:16

America has a hell of a lot of good pop music if you just brush away the charts from the top, for example; or maybe leave some in like this, or this.

Hey, thats not the full quote. I said leave some in and gave some examples (the middle 2).

Yayniall · « **Reply #21 on:** 24 Oct 2009, 16:13 »

Hell yeah!
Daaang!
Woo!

Johnny C · « **Reply #22 on:** 24 Oct 2009, 18:28 »

"The Promise" is alright but it's nowhere near "The Show" or "Can't Speak French."

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #23 on:** 25 Oct 2009, 08:11 »

I still reckon Something Kinda Ooh is their finest hour. Can't Speak French is great though, but I think I'd just about take Biology over The Show.

The Saturdays are godawful though, absolutely no character to that group.

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #24 on:** 25 Oct 2009, 15:56 »

Girl Talk?

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Good modern (preferably international) pop music (Read 12828 times)