Wanted: Music recs!

[wordinista]

So, I think I'm interested in widening my music library a little.  I'm having one of those days where iTunes looks like a big candy store, and I seriously have no idea where to start.  So far I've downloaded a little Alison Krauss, Matthew Perryman, and Jack Savoretti, so that might be indicative of what my ear seems to be craving right now:  clear vocals, a nice melody, and fairly mellow-sounding.  (I'd forgotten how much I LOVE Alison Krauss' voice. Gawd.)

Would y'all mind giving me a few artists to check out?  I'm really feeling like trying something new (or new to me, at least), so I'm curious to hear what my f-list is listening to or might recommend.  (Hit me up with your instrumental recs too.  Soundtracks, scores, the works!)

Comments

[kriskabelle.livejournal.com]

I've been addicted to Vertical Horizon lately. They're pretty mellow, and they've got a great beat. Octavia Sperati and Celtic Woman are both worth looking into, though the former might be a bit too heavy if you're looking for something light.

[sagacious-rage.livejournal.com]

Lady Lamb the Beekeeper.

Trust me.

[tarysande.livejournal.com]

Um, top played things for me:
Agnes Obel, Philharmonics
Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden (same title for the album)
The Fountain soundtrack - Clint Mansell (I CANNOT REC THIS ENOUGH; I wrote the entirety of Fantasy Sequel listening to this.)
David J Roch - Skin and Bones
Lenka - Lenka (this is kind of upbeat and chipperer)
I think I already rec'd The Other Boleyn Girl (Paul Cantelon) soundtrack...
Um. Florence and the Machine, Mumford & Sons, The National (High Violet), the Romanovs (...and the Moon was Still)

And that about rounds out everything I've been listening to for the last four or five months!

[ambrosyasylva]

Did you watch that fanvid I put on my journal earlier this week, with the song by Globus? I downloaded their album after hearing it, and it turns out most of their music is orchestral mood music stuff, and is very good.

In the comments to that same post, a friend introduced me to Snow Patrol. I've been listening to them ever since and loving them.

[smartycat.livejournal.com]

Bat for Lashes, Beth Boucher, Holly Brook, Alana Davis, Elizabeth & the Catapult, Ellery, Kyler England, Far Beyond Frail, A Fine Frenzy, Melody Gardot, Missy Higgins, Amy Kuney, Lijie, Aimee Mann, Keri Noble, Over the Rhine, Nerina Pallot, Shaye, Snow Patrol, Nina Storey, Vienna Teng, Kristina Train, Janice Vidal, Joanna Wang, Beth Waters, Alexa Wilkinson, Rachael Yamagata.

Also, the Tropical Tribute to the Beatles album. It's a complete mental vacation.

[smartycat.livejournal.com]

For instrumental, Two Steps from Hell and Immediate have got you covered for epic scores. They do movie trailer music. Best soundtracks for life ever.

[megido]

Nickel Creek - "When in Rome"
Moya Brennan - "Black Night"
Cherryholmes - "Broken"
Basia Bulat - "Heart of my Own"
The Waifs - "London Still"
Crooked Still - "Low Down and Dirty"
Anything by Matthew Good Band
Dar Williams - "Mercy of the Fallen"
Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein - "Shady Grove"

I have mmmmost of these songs in my music library if you want any uploaded.

[pagerunner-j.livejournal.com]

Lately I've been listening to a lot of Ellie Goulding, plus The Birthday Massacre, BoA (Hurricane Venus in particular), BT, Pendulum, Imogen Heap, the Big Blue Ball album (VA), etc....

I never claimed not to be slightly schizophrenic about my musical tastes. Ahem.

For more along the lines of what you've been listening to lately, I'd recommend Jonatha Brooke. You've probably already heard her a time or two -- I know one of her tracks got used on Buffy once, and then she did the Dollhouse theme song, so if you don't want to take MY word for it, trust in Joss. ;) 10 Cent Wings is probably still my favorite album of hers, fwiw. (She was also half of The Story, which was a wonderful duo between her and Jennifer Kimball, who's also put out some very good solo material. "So Much Mine" was the song that got me started on that group way back when....)

[akari-hoshi.livejournal.com]

I second the Nikel Creek rec up there. "Why Should The Fire Die" is one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. "Doubting Thomas" is absolutely beautiful.

I've been obsessing over Florence + The Machine lately, but who in our fandom hasn't really.

Lady Antebellum is pretty fantastic.

Bree Sharp is pretty cheesey, but I love her to death.

Adiemus is phenomenal. They're kinda new agey, but I do most of my writing to their music.

Enigma rocks my world.

[rui]

Josh Ritter, Elizabeth and the Catapult, Jose Gonzalez, Iron and Wine, Alexi Murdoch, Deb Talan/the Weepies, and Jump Little Children are all kind of in that sort of realm of music.

[tatertott.livejournal.com]

PANDORA FTW (pandora.com). I never, ever thought I'd be a country fan, but decided to give the "alternative country" station a try (make stations based off type of music or musician, it's awesome). Let me tell you, it's awesome. If there's one musician I know I like, I'll make a station based off them and find more musicians. It's also nice for work because I can put in a type of music that I work well to, but it's just in the background.

Honestly, I've never had much luck with iTunes - turning on Genius just hogs memory and I only ever run iTunes to update my phone.

So... artists that I like: Feist, Florence + The Machine, Sarah Jarosz, The Xx, The Killers, Brandi Carlile, Sia, Deb Talan, The Wailin' Jennys...