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Fun Stuff => BAND => Topic started by: *Sights* on 19 Nov 2007, 16:21

Title: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: *Sights* on 19 Nov 2007, 16:21
I don't know if the term is stupid or not. I don't care. Call it minimalist folk or just acoustic or what have you. The thing is I've been listening almost non-stop to James Blackshaw (http://www.myspace.com/jamesblackshaw) and Sean Smith (http://www.myspace.com/seansmithlives) and i'm craving for similar artists at the moment. Any suggestions?

And if you haven't listened to either of them, please do. Now.

Also, discuss.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: tommydski on 19 Nov 2007, 16:55
I haven't listened to those artists you posted but anyone with half an ear should be able to find something to love in Will Oldham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Oldham). I would start with his Palace albums and work forward to the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy material. If there's been a better artist within the genre of folk music in my lifetime then I'm yet to hear them.

Likewise, Jason Molina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs:_Ohia) isn't particularly folky, he's more blues and country but my word, what an incredible talent. His earlier albums under the name Songs:Ohia especially are some of the most empassioned lo-fi music I have ever heard. Similarly to Oldham, he has a discography that keeps giving the deeper you go.

Finally, Jandek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jandek) influenced both of the above artists and has somehow recorded even more albums than either. The Representative of Corwood Industries remains an enigma to this day, releasing as many as three new albums a year of his trademark stark, esoteric folk music. You can buy a whole ton of his records in bulk at his website (http://tisue.net/jandek/). Recommended to say the least. He's one of a kind.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: *Sights* on 19 Nov 2007, 17:45
Oh....haha thanks Tommy, but I should have said that I'm looking for strictly instrumental stuff. What little I've heard by Oldham is indeed very good, but includes vocals. I will check out both Jason Molina and Jandek though.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: tommydski on 19 Nov 2007, 18:08
Instrumental folk music eh?

Now I'm intrigued.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: *Sights* on 19 Nov 2007, 18:31
........It does exist, doesn't it? Or did i misuse the term?

...

Anyway, this thread is failing, so let's shut up and wait for a post that is neither yours nor mine.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: Kai on 19 Nov 2007, 19:16
this thread should actually be about Jandek and Leonard Cohen.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: Inlander on 19 Nov 2007, 19:49
Screw that, right now I'm listening to Jackie Leven for the first time in years.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: carrotosaurus on 19 Nov 2007, 19:50
I'm on a huge Blackshaw kick right now.

Some similar artists:
Jack Rose
Sir Richard Bishop
Robbie Basho
Clogs
Sun City Girls
and of course John Fahey

If you feel like branching out to vocal territory, you might want to also check out Brightblack Morning Light, Flowers from the Man Who Shot Your Cousin, Alec K. Redfearn and the Eyesores, and Songs of Green Pheasant.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: jimbunny on 19 Nov 2007, 20:32
I wouldn't call them minimalist (heck, I'm not entirely sure what that means, anyhow), but King Tut (http://www.myspace.com/kingtutband) are really something to listen to.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: TheFuriousWombat on 19 Nov 2007, 20:46

Clogs


That's honestly the only word you need to know in this context.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: SensoryOssuary on 19 Nov 2007, 21:00
Paul Metzger
Nick Schillace
Glenn Jones
Peter Walker (if you Google this, you'll get some mediocre indie rocker of the same name, so search for either of his two albums, Rainy Day Raga & Second Poem to Karmela)
Mike Tamburo
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: tommydski on 19 Nov 2007, 21:35
Sun City Girls

Great, great, great band. I keep trying to collect my thoughts on this band for a written retrospective but I keep stalling.

I have so many unfinished bits of writing right now. It's infuriating.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: KharBevNor on 19 Nov 2007, 23:16
New folk? What the fuck? People need to stop stealing other peoples genre names. It is bad enough that a not inconsiderable people think that 'neo-folk' means Devandra Banhart. Call it something else! Why must everything with acoustic guitars be a new genre of folk? FOLK IS NOT JUST A WORD FOR HAVING ACOUSTIC GUITARS AND FIDDLES RAAAARGH.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: Tom on 20 Nov 2007, 01:07
Ha! Imagine if folk artists were ripping of metal, nu-folk.
Title: Re: This "New Folk" i keep hearing about...
Post by: Felix_ on 20 Nov 2007, 03:35
I suppose the mention of Nick Castro and his assorted projects would be sufficient for this particular thread.

Check him out.