Help an ignorant soul discover good music at Coachella

[phonedead]

Let me say it flat out: I know almost nothing about any non-classical music. I can analyze leitmotifs in Wagnerian opera, compose a fugue using 18th century counterpoint, and sing the hell out of the alto line in the Carmina Burana, but I thought Led Zeppelin was another name for the Hindenburg until last November.

I also thought Janis Joplin was a black guy.

I realized soon after these (and other) mortifying misconceptions were corrected that I had been musically deprived for far too long. Luckily, I married an excellent guitar player last year, and we're trying to make up for lost time. When the Coachella lineup came out I had only heard of three or four acts (by this point I had figured out that John Paul Jones was not, in fact, a historical figure from the Revolutionary War). I'm making good headway, but I'm going to have a hard time getting anything resembling a full grasp of these artists before April, especially the not-so-famous ones. Maybe some of you kind folks can help me.

I already have a few acts that I'm really interested in: Them Crooked Vultures, The Dead Weather, Sly Stone, Jonsi, Fever Ray, Faith No More, Phoenix, Gorillaz, and probably Les Claypool and Muse. Virtuosic instrumentalists are always good, but I get bored when things get too masturbatory. I tend to prefer live music over DJs and/or overly electronic music (but I'm trying to be open to anything) and I have a soft spot for captivating female singers. I'll probably see She & Him because M. Ward is a genius and Zooey Deschanel can stay (mostly) on pitch ever since she hooked up with him. Charlotte Gainsbourg is a little wispy for my taste but I might end up checking her out.

I know the best thing to do is listen to as much as I can. I'd be immensely grateful to anyone who can give me some suggestions so I don't waste my time listening to crap (Jay-Z, Tiesto, Vampire Weekend, and Gossip for example).

Look forward to any insight!

[juloxx]

[JustSteve]

there is a thread here that will suit you just fine, let me see if i can find it...

[juloxx]

[JustSteve]

click here and you should be good:

http://coachella.com/forum/showthrea...hlight=educate

[djandrews25]

Julox, i believe he used the term "good music" in the thread title.

[phonedead]

click here and you should be good:

http://coachella.com/forum/showthrea...hlight=educate

Excellent, thank you so much. Just bumped that thread for other noobs too.

[phonedead]

Julox, i believe he used the term "good music" in the thread title.

Don't know what you're talking about, Westside Connection is my new favorite thing.

[lizng]

I'm too lazy to go through that other thread, but check out Sia. I had never heard of her before '08 and decided to check out her set, only to find out that she has an amazing voice and I think she is better live than recorded. The Avett Brothers are also fantastic live.

You've come to the right place for discovering new (to you) music and I promise you won't be disappointed.

[phonedead]

Sia was one of my maybes because I read good things but thought the recording was lacking. I'll put her on my definitely list.

Listening to "I And Love And You" right now...

[juloxx]

Julox, i believe he used the term "good music" in the thread title.

Shut the fuck up you pussy. If you dont get down with Westside Connection you have no credibility in the music world what so-ever. Get off these forums you ****** and go bump your N'sync

[djandrews25]

Shut the fuck up you pussy. If you dont get down with Westside Connection you have no credibility in the music world what so-ever. Get off these forums you ****** and go bump your N'sync

Rofl. Sorry G, didnt mean to dis yo shiz.

[juloxx]

I dunno if I accept. Next time I advise you Check yo'self forced you rigity wreck yo'self

[djandrews25]

FACT: Sarcasm doesnt travel well via message board.

[juloxx]

Fact: your probably a shit DJ

[djandrews25]

For a classical music guy, you might appreciate this:

[djandrews25]

Fact: your probably a shit DJ

Its a fact but just probably? Are you retarded or what?

[Coachella Bound]

You want a real answer to this question.....

find the time and listen to as many artists on the bill as you can, make notes of what your hearing. Dont spend all day on stuff you like, youll come back. I know its dorky, but i actually use a points system.

Then just go day by day, or mix it up, whatever... but eventually ull wean out the good the bad and the ugly. Know that 3 or 4 days before the actual fest theyll anounce set times, and that were conflicts come in. Your spending the money, taking the time to come out and enjoy the weekend, know what your doing. Theres a ginormous amount of assholes on this board, good luck. But people do know there shit.

Yeasayer - fri
Edward Sharpe and the Magenetic Zeros - sat
Gorillaz - sun

[phonedead]

FACT: Sarcasm doesnt travel well via message board.

Agreed, my mistake: Juloxx your music is, to say the least, not my style. I was hoping you'd get my sarcasm, because if I say that I think Jay-Z is crap (and he's actually one of the better rappers) why would you think I would like any of that stuff you posted?

[rskapcat]

Phonedead, another female worth checking out is Ceu. She's a Brazilian artist...great smoky voice.

[juloxx]

Its a fact but just probably? Are you retarded or what?

Just get the fuck out you twat.

Agreed, my mistake: Juloxx your music is, to say the least, not my style. I was hoping you'd get my sarcasm, because if I say that I think Jay-Z is crap (and he's actually one of the better rappers) why would you think I would like any of that stuff you posted?

If you think Jay-Z is one of the better rappers then i excuse your post, you just dont know shit about rap. When you start smoking blunts you will realize that shit bumps.

[phonedead]

For a classical music guy, you might appreciate this:

Very tight stuff, thanks for the recommendation. I did briefly study American jazz a few years ago so I'm a beginner in that arena instead of a complete novice. :-)

[djandrews25]

thanks for the sig G.

[MissingPerson]

The other thread is worth wading through, Rage Patton put together a list of the page and post numbers of each artist guide.

I'd recommend Owen Pallett. Because I always recommend Owen Pallett. But in this particular instance because I think he might scratch that virtuoso itch.

http://coachella.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35490

So I was really bored and I did this. I hope it helps some people. Randy, if you could, please post this in your first post in the thread. I will continue to update every page if people want me to.

Page 1:
Thom Yorke ???? - #6 (Monklish)
Echo and the Bunnymen - #13 (Monklish)
Yann Tiersen - #18 (higgybaby23)
The Almighty Defenders - #19 (stinkbutt)
King Kahn and The Shrines - #19 (stinkbutt)
Coheed and Cambria - #21 (Monklish)
Dillenger Escape Plan – 28 (suprefan)

Page 2:
Portugal. The Man - #34 (zenidogx)
The Soft Pack - #36 (bleep)
Band of Skulls - #37 (bakersfield)
Yann Tiersen - #40 (psycobetabucketdown)
Orbital - #41 (Monklish)
Talvin Singh - #44 (higgybaby23)
Florence and the Machine - #48 (cr****)
Old Crow Medicine Show - #54 (disgustipated)
Thom Yorke ???? - #56 (BlackSwan)
Camera Obscura - #58 (bleep)
Yo La Tengo - #59 (JebusLives)
Little Dragon - #60 (BlackSwan)

Page 3:
Girls - #64 (Mr.Nipples)
Faith No More - #65 (rage patton)
Devo - #66 (TomAz)
Club 75 - #68 (stinkbutt)
Charlotte Gainsbourg - #70 (higgybaby23)
Sly and the Family Stone - #71 (Geno_guerro)
Beach House - #72 (Egull)
Owen Pallett - #78 (MissingPerson)
Baroness - #81 (hawkingvsreeve)
The Middle East - #87 (cr****)

Page 4:
Steel Train - #91 (Gonshman)
Jay-Z - #93 (Monklish)
Little Boots - #103 (cr****)
The Ravonettes - #105 (Monklish)
The Whitest Boy Alive - #111 (Dale Gribble)
Club 75 - #114 (caco)

Page 5:
Fever Ray - #125 (TommyboyUNM)
Them Crooked Vultures - #128 (rage patton)
Dirty Projectors - #131 (rag and bone)
Delphic - #132 (GeezrRckr)
LCD Soundsystem - #133 (bobert)
Spoon - #136 (buddy)
Mew - #150 (hawkingvsreeve)

Page 6:
Tokyo Police Club - #152, #162 (GeezrRckr, Monklish)
LCD Soundsystem - #156 (MissingPerson)
Grizzly Bear - #163 (TommyboyUNM)
Mew - #164, #169 (hawkingvsreeve, luckyface)
Local Natives - #170 (shyguy75)
DJ Lance Rock - #172 (dorkfish)

Page 7:
Flying Lotus - #187 (betao)
Devo - #197 (weeklymix)

Page 8:
MGMT - #212 (Monklish)
Plastikman - #215 (SoulDischarge)
Major Lazer - #219 (hawkingvsreeve)
Rusko - #223 (hawkingvsreeve)

Page 9:
The Dead Weather - #251 (thatfinkleygirl)
Hot Chip - #252 (BlackSwan)
Aterciopelados - #253 (hawkingvsreeve)
Porcupine Tree - #265 (psycobetabucketdown)
Public Image Ltd. - #268 (Pixiessp)

Page 10:
Delphic - #284 (hawkinvsreeve)
Jonsi - #286, #298 (dorkfish, paulthomasanderson)

Page 11:
Gossip - #309 (GeezrRckr)
Ra Ra Riot - #313 (ZackQ)
Ceu - #319 (Dale Gribble)
The Dead Weather – #324 (Mr. Fuzz)
Matt and Kim - #327 (bleep)

Page 12:
Dead Weather vs. Dirty Projectors argument
Sunny Day Real Estate - #354 (rskapcat)
Julian Casablancas -#358 (thatfinkleygirl)
Page 13:
Deer Trick - #363 (mountmccabe)

Page 14:
The Avett Brothers - #395, #401 (gmoneyak, rage patton)
Jay-Z - #400 (Mr. Fuzz)
The Specials - #416 (Mr. Fuzz)

Page 15:
Miike Snow - #443 (bonovan)
Grace Jones - #445 (higgybaby23)
Deadmau5 - #446 (caco)
Wolfgang Gartner - #450 (hawkingvsreeve)

Page 16:
Florence and the Machine - #458 (Dale Gribble)
Sleigh Bells - #463 (dorkfish)
Iglu and Hartly (shitty… don’t bother) - #474 (BlackSwan)

Page 17:
One EskimO - #485 (hawkingvsreeve)
Gil-Scott Heron - #490 (stinkbutt)

Page 18:
The Whitest Boy Alive - #513, #517 (aguila26, dorkfish)
Little Dragon - #526 (Egull)
Babasónicos - #530 (bleep)
Calle 13 - #531 (dorkfish)

Page 19:
Girls - #547 (schoolofruckus)
The Specials - #558 (BlackSwan)

Page 20:
Bitching about Orbital

Page 21:
Deerhunter - #606 (thestripe)
Craze and Klever - #615 (Dale Gribble)
She & Him - #616 (faxman75)
Phoenix - #621 (luckyface)
The Cribs - #621 (luckyface)
White Rabbits - #623 (guedita)
Yeasayer - #626 (TomAz)
Gorillaz - #629 (rage patton)

Page 22:
Yeasayer - #631, #634, #642, #644 (ZackQ, TommyboyUNM, thestripe, rage patton)
Gorillaz - #632 (BlackSwan)
Frightened Rabbit - #635 (mountmccabe)
John Waters - #639 (dorkfish)
2ManyDJs - #650, #658 (dorkfish, TomAz)

Page 23:
Pavement - #661 (mountmccabe)
White Rabbits - #664 (bleep)
Kate Miller-Heidke - #670 (hawkingvsreeve)
The xx - #671 (Monklish)
Major Lazer - #677 (guedita)
Shooter Jennings - #679 (hawkingvsreeve)
Corinne Bailey Rae - #683 (hawkingvsreeve)
Frank Turner - #689 (hawkingvsreeve)

Page 24:
Florence and the Machine - #693 (BlackSwan)
Zoe - #710 (Omar1)
Babasonicos - #702 (Omar1)
The Middle East - #713 (heart cooks brain)
Mayer Hawthorne - # 713 (heart cooks brain)
2ManyDJs - #719 (BKsaysaction!)
La Roux - #720 (amyzzz)

Page #25
Jets Overhead - #721 (magmazing)
The Temper Trap - #743 (hawkingvsreeve)

[phonedead]

You want a real answer to this question.....

find the time and listen to as many artists on the bill as you can, make notes of what your hearing. Dont spend all day on stuff you like, youll come back. I know its dorky, but i actually use a points system.

Then just go day by day, or mix it up, whatever... but eventually ull wean out the good the bad and the ugly. Know that 3 or 4 days before the actual fest theyll anounce set times, and that were conflicts come in. Your spending the money, taking the time to come out and enjoy the weekend, know what your doing. Theres a ginormous amount of assholes on this board, good luck. But people do know there shit.

Yeasayer - fri
Edward Sharpe and the Magenetic Zeros - sat
Gorillaz - sun

I've got an Excel spreadsheet going. Some artists I'll listen to and know after the first few songs (with some stuff the first few minutes) that it's not for me. If something piques my interest, I'll jot a few notes down.

I'm trying to follow the set times prediction thread as well to get an idea of what the conflicts might be. When I actually get to Coachella I'm throwing all this shit to the wind and just having fun, no matter what happens.

[Coachella Bound]

I've got an Excel spreadsheet going. Some artists I'll listen to and know after the first few songs (with some stuff the first few minutes) that it's not for me. If something piques my interest, I'll jot a few notes down.

I'm trying to follow the set times prediction thread as well to get an idea of what the conflicts might be. When I actually get to Coachella I'm throwing all this shit to the wind and just having fun, no matter what happens.

basically yes... haha

but youll have fun and at least know a little bit. This board can be your best friend.... just use it wisely

[phonedead]

thanks for the sig G.

LOL because I thought this guy was posting those videos as a joke and I thought that post in your sig was a parody. Fuck your blunts Juloxx I have a mega-hitter named Big Betty.

[phonedead]

The other thread is worth wading through, Rage Patton put together a list of the page and post numbers of each artist guide.

I'd recommend Owen Pallett. Because I always recommend Owen Pallett. But in this particular instance because I think he might scratch that virtuoso itch.

http://coachella.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35490

His instrumentation is odd in a good way, thanks for the rec.

[phonedead]

basically yes... haha

but youll have fun and at least know a little bit.

That's what I'm hoping for, if I can research and prepare now then I will feel more free to go with the flow when I get there...at least I'll have a vague idea of my options. I've spent a lot of time lurking looking at maps/pictures of 2009 and before, reading past accounts, just learning anything I can so that I can spend less time being confused and trying to figure out what's going on and more time enjoying myself.

This board can be your best friend.... just use it wisely

It's a minefield for sure. But it's been incredibly helpful already.

[level]

I know you are timid to try electronic music, but if you see one act, see plastikman. From what I have researched it is gonna be a full on audio/visual bomb to your synapses. Plus, he is a legend who has not performed in over a decade. History in the making my friend. Give it a chance.
Oh and check out Bassnectar. One of my favorites. As far as non-electronic, my list is The Specials, Muse, Them Crooked Vultures,LCD Soundsystem, Faith No More, Julian Casablancas, Phoenix,... god there is a lot to hear. This is my 10th year and I don't think I have seen a more diverse fulfilling lineup as this one. Just roam around and allow your ears to dictate what you feel like listening to. I have been turned on to so many new acts just by allowing myself to freely allow it to come to me. Coachella is like your favorite radio station, but live. If you are not feeling it, there is 4 other stages to explore.