Assuming standard procedure, I shall now do a big post on this kind of thing, and the thread will promptly die. You have been warned.
If you're awesome, you'll listen to ALL these songs attached and tell me what the heck is up with my music tastes, because I genuinely don't know.
<spoiler=10. Robyn Miller>It's Myst. The Myst soundtracks were really cool and had unique sound. The music they spawned was significantly better than a hobby project has any right to be.
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It's all marginally disturbing, heavy on a small group of unorthodox instruments, and perfectly suited to each situation.
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It's good, y'know?
Try: Myst I and II OST.
<spoiler=9. Nicki Minaj>I think Nicki Minaj is the Pop Queen.
Deal with it.
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Seriously, all the pop efforts she touches are gold. Even when it's loud and noisy and "bad pop", I still find it awesome.
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I'd go so far as to call her the "Best Thing To Happen In Pop This Decade".
So why isn't she higher? Because I hate her rapping. A video will NOT be posted, because this is supposed to be good music.
Have excellent pop instead.
<youtube=3U72hzeBLOw>
(I anticipate your haaaaaaaaaaaate, but keep reading, an even more offensive entry is coming!)
Try: None of her albums. Grab her pop singles instead.
<spoiler=8. The Carpenters>Ooh, I'm gonna take flack for this one, aren't I?
Well what can I say? Karen Carpenter remains my favorite vocalist of... ever.
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Listen to that tender voice. Listen to the steadiness, the light vibrato, the withdrawn power. That, right there, is a true singers voice.
So what if it's soft-rock seventies-cheese? It's DELICIOUS cheese. Plus, she drums! How awesome is that?
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I also find it interesting that most of their happy songs/moments are in minor keys, while the sad songs/moments are in major key. It's a weird juxtaposition that really rings with me.
That said, they still have a sense of humor.
<youtube=_BrSVOOK610>
Heh. Heh heh. Baby.
As a side note, Japan LOOOOOOOOVES the Carpenters. Could a Japanophile explain this to me?
Try: "40/40", "Carpenters", "Close To You"
<spoiler=7. Jack Wall>Yes, he's mostly on here because of the Myst Soundtracks.
YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S A DAMN GOOD REASON.
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Listen to that all the way to the end. If you listen to nothing else on this list, do that. It's worth every second.
This one is also great.
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He's also done Mass Effect, so there's that if you don't care for Myst (you awful person).
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Try: Myst III and IV OST, Mass Effect I and II OST
<spoiler=6. Akira Yamaoka>Silent Hill is pretty, you guys know that, right?
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Just... Ahhhhhhh...
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And just to show that he's not just a pretty face, he can produce some really chilling stuff too.
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Ahhhhh... Glorious. It's hardly music, but it's glorious.
Try: Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4 OSTs
<spoiler=5. David Crowder>"Hark! Who's this?" you ask. "I've never heard of this man! I must look him up- WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S CHRISTIAN ROCK?!"
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SUCK IT, HATERS. DAVID CROWDER IS AWESOME.
Forgoing the usual array of "worship music standbys" (for the most part), David Crowder and his band put out some of the more unique music in general, let alone in the "Christian Rock" subsection.
<youtube=sx1ucXpwkpo>
I'm busy collecting all your tears in a jar for my consumption. Yes, this technically makes me a troll, but a CHRISTIAN troll with GOOD INTENTIONS.
Because seriously, I love this stuff, and I think you should too.
<youtube=QNer5FeR_tk>
Try: "A Collision", "Give Us Rest or (A Requiem Mass in C [The Happiest of All Keys])"
(Unless you're anti-theist, in which case you can go suck it.
)
<spoiler=4. Portishead><youtube=3XmuKtEh2so>
Beth Gibbons sings sad songs. When she ventures outside the sad songs, she's still gold, but her best work is in the world of melancholy. And as everyone knows, melancholy trip-hop is best trip-hop.
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They alienated many fans with their third album, but quite frankly, I think it's their best work. Change is sometimes a great thing.
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Try: "Dummy", "Portishead", "Third"
<spoiler=3. Florence + The Machine>Ah, Florence. You brilliant, power-voice woman.
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Dat voice, man. She's fairly new to the music scene, but she's already making waves (her first album won Brit awards).
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She's a talented songwriter (the one above she wrote when she was sixteen) and is fairly varied in her content and style. Plus, some of her songs are real earworms.
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Try: "Lungs", "Ceremonials" (basically, all her albums.
)
<spoiler=2. Boards of Canada>Hoo boy, am I glad Kathleen de Vere shared about these guys.
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Basically, they do ambient, mellow electronica. They have their sound, and they stick to it. It's a great sound, earthy and surreal, and any given Boards of Canada song is easily recognizable as a Boards of Canada song.
<youtube=AExw3WLtXng>
It's just... so... mellow... and the stuff they do that's "heavier" is genuinely spine-chilling and cool.
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Try: "Music Has The Rights to Children", "The Campfire Headphase" (No, seriously. Get "The Campfire Headphase". NAO.)
<spoiler=1. Aphex Twin>I'm not even sure why I hold this twat in such high regard, but I do. Everything he touches is gold. His music ranges from acid electronic mixes that scratch my itch for face-melting dance crossed with classical flourish to simple, repetitive ambient pleasantness.
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He lies to reporters, he trolls his fans, he makes spectacularly horrific (yet hilarious) music videos.
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The next minute, he's playing tender piano, making artsy pleasant videos, and chatting up fans because why not.
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Shine on, you crazy diamond. Shine on.
Try: "Selected Ambient Works: 85-92", "Selected Ambient Works: Vol. II", "Drukqs"
