I've exhausted my small cd collection, and have an unfortunately narrow taste in music that I have a hard time widening. But I want to try. I need some suggestions.

The only bands/musicians I can really stand anymore are:

Anathallo
The Books
Terry Riley (No Man's Land album)

I'm also getting a kick out of Madvillainny.

I'd like to get out of the genres involving a standard drum/bass/guitar lineup. But I'd also like to avoid standard quartets/orchestras/electronic music. Some astounding melody (no noise bands) and complexity with passion, I guess. I'm not sure. I don't have any specific genre I am looking for. Instrumental or vocal, doesn't matter. I also really dig black gospel sort of hymns.

So that leaves a huge variety of suggestions, which is fine. The more the better. Links for song clips/downloads would be awesome, too.

Sorry this is so vague but I'd really appreciate any suggestions you guys have.

A good way to get weekly suggestions to what you listen to is by starting up with a last.fm account. I do find that I enjoy most of what it suggests.

allmusic is a great reference.

The only music I have heard off your list are Madvilliany and The Books.

Madvilliany is great, its the combo of producer Madlib and rapper MF Doom, both are very active and have lots of other material out there. I'll list worthy stuff to check out for each.

Madlib:

His two mixes, "Blunted in the Bomb Shelter" and "Shades of Blue". "Blunted" is The Trojan record label giving them access to their catalog and letting him make a mix, Shades of Blue is the same thing but with the Blue Note label. Each of these labels are awesome and these serve as alright introductions if you're interested in getting to know them a little bit.

Jaylib - Champion Sound. This is the combo of Madlib and the late Jay Dilla (an excellent producer). Its a solid album and the two of them coming together is great to hear.

Madlib & Talib Kweli - Liberation, released as a free download at the start of this year, is a great example of more recent Madlib work. Talib is a good MC too so you would enjoy this.

Lootpack is how Madlib got his start, their album "Soundpieces: The Antidote" is really good.

Honestly I could go on and on about Madlib since I think he is great. I haven't explored all his work but most of what he gets his hands on turns out to be pretty interesting.


MF Doom is a rapper that, like Madlib, has touched on lots of stuff.

Danger Doom, a collaboration between MF Doom and Danger Mouse. An enjoyable album, if you like Aqua Teen Hunger Force at all then its worth it just for the first track.

If I had to suggest one album for you to check out it would probably be Viktor Vaughan - Vaudeville Villan. This is MF Doom under his Viktor Vaughan alias and the rapping technique is similar to what you heard on Madvilliany. Production is top notch too.

There is a lot of music coming from these two, but keep your eye on the label "Stones Throw", they've got an awesome line up.



The Books are the only other band I have heard on your list and I never really enjoyed them. Its been a while since I gave them a listen.

Animal Collective or Panda Bear,

I just heard the Animal Collective album Sung Tong this week and I am hooked. Panda Bear is just half of Animal Collective doing his own thing and trying to sound a lot like Brian Wilson on the album Person Pitch; some like it some don't, I happen to enjoy it.


Broken Social Scene, quality band from Canada. I think their newest self titled album would be the best place to start since its pretty accessible. They have a lot of side projects too which I've found to be pretty good.

Now that I think of it The Books reminded me of The Postal Service, if you haven't heard them you would probably enjoy them.

All I can think of right now, I can add more if you want.

Thanks for the rapper suggestions, i'll check that stuff out.

I've heard of the other bands you listed. I've always appreciated animal collective's creativity but could never get into them. Pandar Bear is pretty cool. I really dig that guy's vocals. Broken Social Scene is pretty sweet, I was in love with them until I exhausted their older albums and was disappointed with their new one. Postal Service is cool. Do they have a new cd yet?

Godspeed You Black Emperor!
A Silver Mt. Zion
Mogwai
Sufjan Stevens



Is there a time period this would be limited too and how adventurous are you?






A list that covers several Rock related subgenres..


http://www.radiomute.com/398804-post2.html

I've heard those bands you've listed, and not a big fan, except for Stevens. Although, as is the case with Broken Social Scene, I exhausted listening to his music. And I'm really not looking for "rock" related genres, or anything with standard bass/drum/guitar, as listed in my first post. But I appreciate your suggestions. If anything else comes to mind, let me know.

If you check that link I posted, you will also find R&B, Soul, and Funk suggestions which would cover your Gospel related request.

I will try it, but it still seemed within the realm of standard band setups. I didn't explain the Gospel thing very well... I was thinking more along the lines of really old style hymns, lots of accpella stuff, those smooth group vocals. Anything that would more specifically fit that definition? James Brown/Sly Stones/Mayfield aren't the sort of acts I was really looking for.

That's a nice list Satchmo, I enjoy almost everything you post there.

Gospel

The Soul Stirrers w/ either R.H. Harris or Sam Cooke as the leads, but especially Cooke.
Prof. Alex Bradford
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Willie Mae Ford Smith
Mahalia Jackson
The Caravans
Rev. James Cleveland
Shirley Caesar
The Dixie Hummingbirds
The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi
Sallie Martin



There're others, but that should keep you busy.

If you really want to get out of Rock.....



There is Jazz!


http://www.radiomute.com/114665-post3.html



and DA Blues



http://www.radiomute.com/22030-best-...es-albums.html