Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

The world has changed, and neither one recognizes it.

Keep the Immigrants and deport the fascists!

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

So fucking stupid, and still doing a tremendous amount of damage.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Usually wrong but never in doubt

“In this country American means white. everybody else has to hyphenate.”

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it is a trap.

He really is that stupid.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

No one could have predicted…

“But what about the lurkers?”

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

America is going up in flames. The NYTimes fawns over MAGA celebrities. No longer a real newspaper.

You are here: Home / Medium Cool / Medium Cool – Where’s Your Happy Place When It Comes To Music?

Medium Cool – Where’s Your Happy Place When It Comes To Music?

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Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in.  We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered.  We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

As I added a Jimmy Buffett song in the comments of a post this morning I realized how good it was for my soul to hear some happy music.   After the week we’ve had, that was just what I needed.

So tonight let’s talk about where your happy place is when it comes to music.  Whether it’s reggae, hard rock or opera, to name a few, share some of the music that gives you energy, restores your balance,  feeds your soul, just makes you happy.

Include links if you can, but I know that’s harder on phones.  (At least it is for me!)

*If you like Jimmy Buffett, here’s a lovely introduction to the Jimmy Buffett video above, by grown-up Jimmy Buffett talking about the song, about making the video, and about what his life was like back then.  Actually, the intro is there whether you like Jimmy Buffett or not!

Reader Interactions

221Comments

  2. 2.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    In 2020 my late husband had to start dialysis.  Somehow he discovered the rock guitar music of the Tuareg people in Africa.  Listening to the “Sultans of Shred,” Bombino, Tinariwen, Mdou Moctar (who learned to play watching Eddie Vedder videos on YouTube), helped him though those grueling sessions.  I listen to them now; I saw Bombino live – everyone was up and grooving – anchor.hope.edu/arts/the-freshest-rock-music-is-coming-from-the-sahara-desert-three-essential-artist….

    Many of these artists came from refugee camps; I see their music as a sign of hope.

  3. 3.

    narya

    Bruce.
    I listen to plenty of other stuff (Dead and its many manifestations, Talking Heads, Krishna Das) but Bruce is my main person.

  5. 5.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Beatles, Boston, Queen, Journey, Kinks, Simon and Garfunkle, The Boss, Heart (especially Crazy on You, just for Nancy’s incredible acoustic solo intros), Beethoven, Strauss. I could go on and on.

  6. 6.

    RaflW

    I made an iTunes mix list for our Pride party this past Friday, pulling mostly from 80s & 90s music, with some vintage ABBA, Bee Gees, earlier Dolly thrown in. Definitely some 2000s, too.

    Too long a list to annoy you all with, but it was very eclectic, from Chemical Brothers to (Dixie) Chicks to U2. A little deep house & techno, but also a few guitar singer-songwriter types (Indigo Girls, Susan Werner).

    But that’s me all the time musically. All over the map.

    House cleaning, though, is definitely Madonna, Cher, Everything But The Girl remixes, poppy upbeat sing-along dance music :)

  8. 8.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Not providing links, because I’d break the blog, but for me it’s string quartets — especially Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Dvořák, Debussy, and Ravel. I expect I’m missing a few, but these are my go-to guys. There’s something about the sonority of two violins, a viola, and a cello, that envelops and transports me to a place beyond this world.

    Okay, one link. Here’s Dvořák’s “American” Quartet. Seems appropriate for Independence Day week.

  9. 9.

    David_C

    Music? It depends. Old shows of “Millennium of Music” (pre-Bach – chant, polyphony and similar tunes) on some mornings, the weekly WAMU show “Hot Jazz Saturday Night” later in the week, downtempo music at work, garage rock while driving, classical music any time. Throw in some reggae, R&B, alternative, grunge, punk & new wave. Then there’s music I sing – choir stuff.

     

    I heard this live (local group) last Christmas. Benjamin Britten wrote it at age 16.

    youtu.be/0ehnmnHCRXc?si=cSOFEFEomIbKR3_m

  10. 10.

    Harrison Wesley

    @WaterGirl: I had a lot of relatively unknown jazz artists in my vinyl collection.  Had over 1200 albums.  I was living in the ground floor apartment in a place on 13th Street in Philadelphia, just north of where PennDOT was in the process of constructing 676.  Kept the albums in the basement.  PennDOT broke a sewer line.  You can finish the story without me….

  13. 13.

    2liberal

    tangerine dream and similar on heavy rotation.  Sooths the soul when seeing the Red Sox infield defense protecting a late inning one run lead.

  14. 14.

    RSA

    My comfort music is alternative rock (maybe–I don’t know how these genre distinction work) during the early 1990s, when I saw the future as being bright. Today I still listen to Counting Crows, Green Day, R.E.M., Depeche Mode, The Cure… Example:

    Counting Crows, Daylight Fading

  17. 17.

    Jeffro

    We’re about to go see Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit here on a HOT Cville night…staying through “Alabama Pines”, everything after that is optional due to 120% humidity!

    (I saw The Hold Steady about a week ago up in DC – that was a ton of fun)

    Not much else on the concert front this summer except to see some DE bar bands at the beach  =)

  18. 18.

    JML

    @RSA: I’m very fond of 1990’s music as well; incredibly diverse and interesting time in music. Grunge, college rock/alternative, another British “invasion”, hip-hop, a big band revival, a singer-songwriter explosion, acid jazz…so much excellent music from so many different sources and often played on the same stations.

    It’s a good place to go back to.

  20. 20.

    CliosFanBoy

    I start every Spring by listening to “Little Neutrino” by Klatu. It reminds me of sunny spring days as an undergrad, relaxing and reading in my room at school.

  22. 22.

    eclare

    “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers puts a smile on my face every time I hear it.

    youtu.be/yfcTgnpo3vI?si=pHDiFU7-YYufP4NX

    It was the first song played at my wedding reception, and although the marriage didn’t last, I still love the song.

    There is also a very good documentary about Bill Withers called Still Bill.

  28. 28.

    zhena gogolia

    I have to plug my friend Chris White (“Isto”), a great singer-songwriter who does the best covers.
    That’s Life
    I thought I hated this song until I heard his version.

  29. 29.

    Josie

    Blues singers like Otis Redding and Percy Sledge. And for something different, Paul Simon’s Graceland album.

    Hair bands from the 80’s

  30. 30.

    Splitting Image

    1970s prog rock: Pink Floyd and Mike Oldfield particularly. I wouldn’t call Kraftwerk progressive rock exactly, but I do tend to lump them with the others in my playlists.

    I seem to listen to the Byrds more than the Beatles these days, but either will send me to a happy place.

    My favourite somewhat obscure band is probably the ’80s band Felt. They are an important influence on jangle pop. The Stagnant Pool.

    Going a little further back, I tend to prefer the Baroque era to the classical period. Handel’s Water Music and Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos are favourites, as is Telemann’s Tafelmusik. Quartet in D minor.

    Also a big fan of Loreena McKennitt. The Lady of Shalott is a tour de force.

  31. 31.

    Juju

    @RSA: One of my favorite songs is “Just Like Heaven” , and I always have and REM song mixed in somewhere.

  34. 34.

    Chris

    Well, my two go-to music channels are the classic rock channel and the current pop hits channel.

    Other than that, always been fond of film music.

  35. 35.

    zhena gogolia

    @narya: I dreamed about him last night. I think because I saw a picture in People of him getting the Ivor Novello award from Paul McCartney. Three of my favorite songwriters in one picture.

  37. 37.

    Craig

    Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland

    Charles Mingus: The Clown

    Radiohead is great for lots of stuff.

    Mahler #6

    Melvins: Ozma

    Fantomas: The Directors Cut

    Public Enemy: A Nation of Millions

  41. 41.

    eclare

    @Juju:

    That song instantly takes me back to a beach vacation I took one summer in college.  Great memories.

  45. 45.

    Juju

    @Craig: There are sounds he makes with his guitar that are so interesting to listen to, that I have no idea how he does it.

  51. 51.

    Josie

    @SiubhanDuinne: Have you seen any of the Candlelight Concerts by Fever? Many of them are string quartets that play both classical and modern music. The other grandmother and I attend their concerts here in Houston and they are lovely. I understand that they are in other cities and even in Europe now.

  54. 54.

    Harrison Wesley

    @TBone: Gotta take that frown and turn it upside down.  Lots more money for alcohol and cocaine (of course, eventually I decided to grow up.  Eventually).

  55. 55.

    Matt McIrvin

    They Might Be Giants always make me happy… even though their lyrics are more often than not surprisingly dark (unless they’re doing children’s music, and occasionally even then).

    Hip hip horrific are the words they sing, hip hip horrific is their thing…

    youtube.com/watch?v=4_hbACtC38I

  57. 57.

    Suzanne

    Funny we discuss this today. SuzMom and I took a mini-roadtrip to Cleveland yesterday to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I was kind of musing on this.

    For happy bouncy moods, including when I cook: lots of Motown, Big Gay Dance Party music. EDM, Madonna, etc.

    For happy horny moods: the Stones, of course. Also the Afghan Whigs.

    For happy chill moods: lots of Sad Dad Rock (despite being sad, I find it elevating). R.E.M.

    The weirdest mood is the happy/angry mood. Which merits The Ramones, Rage, Outkast.

  58. 58.

    hells littlest angel

    Nothing lifts my spirits like the joyous, trashy music of Stereo Total, the French-German duo who mashed up punk, ye ye, electronica and disco into something new and marvelous. Sadly, Francoise Cactus, one half of the duo, died in 2021 after 25+ years of music-making.

  63. 63.

    JCJ

    Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine, NIN are always good.  U2 ranks high.  Once in a while I will join the string quartet club.

  64. 64.

    Juju

    One group I’ve always wanted to see in person was the Talking Heads, but I never got the chance.  I never had enough money when they were in a place I could travel and see them. I don’t do streaming because my wifi sucks, and my mother  can manage the Direct TV remote and I’m not messing with that. I was having trouble sleeping last week and  I turned on the tv and checked out HBO and they had just started “Stop Making Sense”. I watch it and it made me both happy and sad at the same time. It made me regret that I never had a chance to see them in person, but happy that I could see them this way, at least.

    A song that cheers me is Toe Jam.

  65. 65.

    TBone

    @Harrison Wesley: man, I like your style!!!  Good thing we didn’t meet when I was young and dangerous!

    I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted.

    W.C. Fields

  66. 66.

    Chet Murthy

    There’s a guy, Paul Schwartz, who takes opera arias and sets them to modern accompaniment.  Very soothing.  I like swimming to it.  Used to bike to it.  Like this one (Habanera): youtube.com/watch?v=ViSEYyKu7Qc

    I also like listening to Cafe de Mar (a series of compilations).  And St. Germain des Pres (same).

  67. 67.

    BenInNM

    @Craig: Your mention of Charles Mingus reminded me of Better Git It In Your Soul – a song that can really pull me back to the beauty of life when things get dark and frustrating. In fact, the entire Mingus Ah Um album is amazing. That and Miles Davis Kind of Blue are probably my favorite jazz albums

  70. 70.

    Kayla Rudbek

    For me, it’s the Saw Doctors, the Pogues, Belinda Carlisle, Madonna, ABBA, Cyndi Lauper for starters. I also like the Hearts of Space radio show/app (which I discovered as a kid in Minneapolis back when it was solely on the radio and only once a week)

    And Caro Emerald, Pink Martini, Matt Dusk.

  76. 76.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @NotMax:

    I adore the Caucasian Sketches, especially the “Procession of the Sardar.”  You remind me, it’s been a long time since I cranked up any Ippolitov-Ivanov. Off to remedy that….

  78. 78.

    A Ghost to Most

    For me, it’s the crack between rock and country music. Think Golden Age Rolling Stones. These days, it’s called Americana.

  81. 81.

    Craig

    @Juju: he’s always been a favorite of mine. The early super spare stuff is great, and as they got more lush he kept doing different things. It’s pretty weird/cool that Reeves Gabrels is in the band now, he used to play in Tin Machine with Bowie.

  84. 84.

    David_C

    @SiubhanDuinne: Big orchestral pieces are great, but sometimes it’s nice to have the introspection of chamber music. For piano, Schubert Moments Musicaux (sp?) or Satie or Debussy hit the spot.

  85. 85.

    Adam

    I defy anyone to listen to Dancing Queen and not immediately have a smile on their face. I would say the same for Party In The USA, but some people have a problem with Miley Cyrus for whatever reason.

  89. 89.

    Jacqueline Squid Onassis

    I love so much music from so many genres but nothing touches my soul like the Butthole Surfers.  Their live shows were like nothing else.  This isn’t live footage –  video just can’t do it justice – but it’s just one of my favorites.

    youtube.com/watch?v=qfEZOHCWuQQ

  91. 91.

    NotMax

    @Juju

    Reminded of a story about the Peter Gunn TV movie in 1989.

    Seems for the theme music they brought in one guitarist after another, none of whom satisfied the powers behind the camera in mimicking the twangy sound of the Duane Eddy chart-placing hit back in 1959.

    Somebody with his/her head screwed on straight realized that Eddy was still alive and performing and hired him to come in to record the theme.

    (Incidentally, Duane Eddy died at the end of April this year, age 86.)

  93. 93.

    Nix Besser (fmr. steppy)

    That’s a strangely difficult question. On one day, it may be Elvis Costello. On another, it may be Beck. On the past several days, it was bluegrass (my wife and I were at a festival in central PA). Another, it may be Gershwin. Or Mingus, or Los Lobos, etc., etc., etc. Round and round the wheel goes, where she stops, nobody knows.

    One thing I do know, I absolutely love watching musicians playing live. The interactions and musical conversations soloists have are the lifeblood of my musical experience.

  96. 96.

    lowtechcyclist

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I nearly singled out the Trout Quintet for just that reason.

    The washing machine we bought a few years ago plays the theme from the Trout Quintet at the end of its cycle.

    Just for fun: Beethoven’s Wig, “Schubert’s Trout”

    The great composer Schubert once went fishing for a trout…

  97. 97.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Juju: Never seeing Talking Heads live when they were together is a major regret of mine.

    I saw Tom Tom Club then, and they closed with “Psycho Killer” (Tina singing lead)! I saw David Byrne several years ago, and he played a lot of Talking Heads songs! That was pretty cool

    We caught “Stop Making Sense” on the most recent theatrical re-release. It was a great experience.

  98. 98.

    Nix Besser (fmr. steppy)

    @NotMax: Reminds me of when Art of Noise did “Peter Gunn” with Duane Eddy in 1986. Great recording with “the noise of twang.”

  99. 99.

    Martin

    Generally for me it’s music that challenges my ear. The kind of stuff that your brainwaves don’t want to sync to and after the 30th hearing they do so well and you start hearing new things. Radiohead sits most firmly in that spot for me. Their songs tend to be structured less as instruments supporting a vocal performance and more the vocals as an instrument of its own.

    Tool is another good example of this.

    Thom also carries a lot of emotion in their songs, which resonates with me – a lot of songs about depression, anxiety, isolation, not belonging, and so on, not just lyrically but emotionally was well. But his singing doesn’t hit quite my tonal happy spot.

    Maynard James Keenan of Tool does sometimes, where his vocals resonate in my chest and it’s kind of sublime. Kawehi is another artist that does this that someone here turned me onto for her cover of ‘Creep’ which is hands down the best cover of that song I’ve ever heard. Her voice resonates in a similar way. Her cover of High and Dry works like a lullaby for me if I ever have trouble sleeping. Those two are for me like the opposite of that lady who would have a seizure every time she heard Mary Harts voice. I don’t know why those two particular voices, but there’s a nerve in my brain that they are perfectly attuned to.

    There’s a lot of music that I like. I never got bogged down with what I grew up with. My grandfather was a jazz musician before WWII and would always have the local Long Island jazz station on at his house so midcentury American jazz is very comforting for those memories. I tend to associate activities to what I’m listening to, so when I paint a room I always hear the song that was playing when I painted. It’s very specific too – like this corner was this Foo Fighters song and that bit of trim was ‘Grown so Ugly’ by Black Keys (I’m looking at that trim now). Happens when I’m reading as well, but not other things. Has something to do with the manner in which I’m concentrating on something. And it works in reverse, which was very helpful in college because I could associate something I was studying with a song, hum the song, and recall what I was studying.

  101. 101.

    SpaceUnit

    Two days ago The Warning dropped their fourth studio album, and it is fire.  Every song.  Here’s a taste:

    Satisfied

     

    I’m beginning to believe the prophecy.  They are The Ones.

  102. 102.

    No One of Consequence

    @EmanG: I don’t think I have heard that version. Thank you for posting. My Ska creds (knowledge, not ability) are limited, but I love good music. I would imagine many of who I know to be second-generation ska, appropriated by the youth of UK and America. Thinking The Specials, The (English) Beat, Madness, Fishbone, etc.

    Much appreciated, and Peace,

    -NOoC

  103. 103.

    kalakal

    The list would be too long

    but a few.. Hendrix, Cream, Allman Bros, Fairport Convention, Derek & the Dominoes, Traffic, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, Steely Dan, Janice Joplin, Muddy Waters, the 3 kings – Albert, Freddy, and B. B.

    Bach & Beethoven

    For sheer relax and feel good my favourite tracks are probably

    Al Stewart Year of the Cat

    Otis Redding Dock of the Bay

    Jimmy Cliff I can see clearly now

    Joe Cocker Feelin’ Alright

    Traffic Dear Mr Fantasy

    Deep Purple Lazy

  105. 105.

    Citizen Dave

    Music is my jam, many many types.  I even try to check out artists and once in awhile someone sticks.  Laufey is 25, and great.  Jazzy ( there is a youtube asking if she is really jazz–I’d say No)/fun tunes from the young woman perspective ( which is not me at all).  For a recent rock/pop gem, check out Wet Leg.  Fun and funny.

    In Indiana, I think our laws mandate our comfort music is Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, and John Mellencamp.

    Since I haven’t noticed him mentioned, Willie Nelson has moved into my top 10 in recent years.  Comfort for sure.

  107. 107.

    No One of Consequence

    Anyone else use these threads as their music discovery inputs for an evening or more? I do so, myself.

    Thank you, all who are contributing and posting. I will endeavor to listen to it all.

    -NOoC

    p.s. If anyone cares here, I recently discovered the album Swiss Movement (Montreux Live 1969) Less McCann, Eddie Harris … wow, this really cooks … here’s a youtube link, but I was listening to the remastered 30th anniversary version (this is not that, I don’t think) –

    youtube.com/watch?v=Fm2t3F8Xoqo

  110. 110.

    DrDaveChemist

    So many possibilities:

    Kind of Blue (Miles Davis, maybe the best jazz album of all time)

    Requiem by Duruflé (if you like Fauré but don’t know this one…)

    Something Constructive (New Age-y piano)

    Chicago Transit Authority side 1 (their first album-amazing horns)

    Like Minds (Chick Corea, Gary Burton, and Pat Metheny playing off each other)

    For Sentimental Reasons (my favorite album from the collaboration of Linda Ronstadt and Nelson Riddle)

    The eponymous debut from Rickie Lee Jones (especially once you get past Chuck E’s in Love)

    Ten Summoner’s Tales by Sting (a rare pop album that you can listen from beginning to end)

    Cast recordings of Hamilton and Les Misérables 

    I could go on for a long time depending on the mood I want to create

    apropos of nothing, my son just texted to ask if I was familiar with Joan Jett, who apparently is touring with Alannis Morissette  I feel old…

    I could go on, depending on my mood

  112. 112.

    bluefoot

    Happy place for music for me depends on where my head is at. But The Beatles, especially early Beatles always do it for me. Many good memories associated with their music.
    Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 which might qualify as a cliche, but I do love it and again have happy memories associated with it.
    Lately early Crystal Method because it gets me moving. Heck, anything that gets me wanting to dance will do it so that’s a LOT of music across a lot of different genres.
    Nekfeu, a French hip hop artist, gets me in my brain as well as my ears – the cadence of French and the rhymes are so different from English that it tickles my brain trying to anticipate where the song is going. Plus his stuff is great.

    Lenny by SRV always uplifts me, no matter where my head is at or what’s going on.  it makes me take a breath and listen.

  113. 113.

    p.a.

    Not a big Jackson Browne fan, but every spring I find myself listening to his first 3 albums, especially For Everyman.

    The (New Orleans) Radiators for fun.  Fish Head Music!
    Zydeco.  Cajun.  My most go-to styles along w punk/new wave.  Celtic.  Quebeçois.  PEI fiddl…

    ah fuckit: most anything except Opera & showtunes.  I don’t mind musicals live, but to listen to recordings, nah.

  114. 114.

    pajaro

    I’m a classical music lover.  My place of serenity is the Dvorak Cello Concerto.   The melodies are incredibly beautiful, and, though I’ve listened to the piece hundreds upon hundreds of times, it’s never gotten old for me.

  116. 116.

    SpaceUnit

    Apparently I am the last person on earth to know that Will and Jayda Smith have a daughter named Willow and that she is a singer.  Celebrity nepo-babies usually give me the pip, but this is actually very good:

    Symptom of Life

  118. 118.

    lowtechcyclist

    Here’s a couple from the current century:

    Houndmouth, “Sedona”

    Camila Cabello, “Havana” (the song doesn’t start until about 2:30 in the video, but the intro is fun)

  122. 122.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @lowtechcyclist:

    Hahaha

    i first learned the song in English. It was a good translation, very singable, but apparently not standard — at least, I’ve not been able to find it in any of the usual places (not that I’ve looked really hard).

  123. 123.

    Nix Besser (fmr. steppy)

    @WaterGirl: You know, Butthole Surfers reminds me of Dead Milkmen (Anderson, Walkman, Buttholes and How!, on the Milkmen’s Metaphysical Graffiti), another happy place.

    Personal trivia: I was a fellow IT contractor in the late 90s with Rodney Linderman aka Rodney Anonymous.

  124. 124.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @p.a.:

    Do you know Le Vent du Nord? Great Quebec group. I’ve seen them live a few times. They’re a lot of fun.

  129. 129.

    NotMax

    @p.a.

    How about klezmer?

    Also, any feelings one way or the other about “One Night in Bangkok?” That’s a show tune.

  130. 130.

    Omnes Omnibus

    Like most things, it really depends on the situation.  Do I need a pick me up?  Am I already happy and looking to keep the mood going?  Am I alone or with a group.  It’s a toolbox.  I used to listen to REM’s Superman before job interviews.  OTOH stuff from Country Joe and the Fish or the Moody Blues take me to a good place from my early childhood.  The Specials will almost always pick me up when I am down.  But sometimes Leonard Cohen or Francoise Hardy hit the spot.  And so on.​

  135. 135.

    brendancalling

    Late to the party.
    Too many “happy places” to list. A few months ago, one of my 8th graders introduced me to Mägo de Oz, a Spanish folk-metal band that sounds like a cross between Judas Priest and Dropkick Murphys, in Spanish.  I love it as much as I love Lionel Hampton’s “Exactly Like You,” which I love as much as I love Waylon Jennings or the Ramones or DEVO or Jerry Jeff Walker or Sonny Rollins or Mötorhead or George Michael.

    Music IS my happy place.

  136. 136.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @raven: I didn’t know that until right now.  I saw Al live in Wiesbaden 42 years ago.  Did all of my faves, to include Roads to Moscow.

  141. 141.

    Nix Besser (fmr. steppy)

    @Martin: I will be sure to check that out. This is the beauty of this post. I can rake up a dozen tips that will lead me in a load of different directions.

  142. 142.

    SteveinPHX

    I just stumbled across Floyd Lee & His Mean Blues Band a few months ago. Band is defunct these days. Floyd passed away some years ago. They recorded on an obscure label. Several albums which are HARD to find. The label is long gone. Band was led by a Canadian guitar player. If you like ackshul blues, this is good stuff. You can find some on YouTube.

  144. 144.

    RaflW

    Not an upbeat song, but if I’m in the mood to sing along (alone at home!), one of my all time favorites is The Art Teacher by Rufus Wainwright.

    I’ve seen him live twice, both times with one of my besties and we both just enjoyed swooning (harmlessly) for him.

    I haven’t really followed him after Want II (fourth album), but earlier in his career, Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk from his album Poses is more poppy & upbeat.

  145. 145.

    Miki

    It always depends for me because all music that I love is my go to when I hear it. That’s the magical thing about music.

    My heart is regularly recycling Joni Mitchell’s version of Elton John’s I’m Still Standing that she gave us at the Gershwin awards show.

    Another one that resurfaces quite often lately is Asher HaVon’s rendition of Titanium that he performed on The Voice this year (he won, deservedly).

    I binged Station Eleven (thank you , Betty C), and loved all the music, starting with Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice

    And then there was link Betty C shared of La Campanella (can’t find it but it is superb).

    My music go to is always oriented by where I am now and where I’m okay with going at the time. The possibilities are, literally, endless.

  147. 147.

    Jeffro

    @Josie:

    Blues singers like Otis Redding and Percy Sledge. And for something different, Paul Simon’s Graceland album.

    Hair bands from the 80’s

    OMG – were we separated at birth?   =)

  150. 150.

    UncleEbeneezer

    ELO and the Xanadu soundtrack are big for me.

    I don’t really have “happy music” in that it has a happy vibe or even brings me to a happy place.  I tend to like dark and dreary music regardless of how I’m feeling.

    My biggest go-to is 90’s rock: Deftones, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, AIC, Tool, Oasis, Primus, The Black Crowes, Lenny Kravitz etc.

    Also early 2000’s rock: Wilco, The Killers, The Codetalkers, Raq, Elliott Smith, Arcade Fire, Fiona Apple etc.

    80’s pop/rock: George Michael, Billy Joel, Van Halen, Duran Duran, Hall & Oates etc.

    70’s rock: Classic Rock, Yacht Rock, Funk

    Early 2000’s jazz: Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, The Bad Plus, Aaron Parks, Joshua Redman

    Modern stuff: Andra Day, Beyonce, Gregory Porter, Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion,

  156. 156.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @UncleEbeneezer: I remember getting baked and listening to “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” in the dorm, and being able to pick out the instruments due to the time dilation effect.  A fond memory.

  166. 166.

    StringOnAStick

    @NotMax: I like klezmer,; mostly though gypsy jazz and all the various permutations such with an Ottoman influence, flamenco, eastern European, modern.  It’s a genre that borrows from everywhere.  I love a Colombian band named Monsieur Perine, acoustic, gypsy jazz influences but also Cuban, Colombian, and more.  Very eclectic and super tight musicianship.  Hot horns where needed too.

  171. 171.

    raven

    @Omnes Omnibus: Very good I’d say

     

    Melton maintained a private criminal defense practice in San Francisco for twelve years before becoming a deputy public defender in Mendocino County, California, in 1994. Following a brief tenure as a California deputy state public defender from 1998 to 1999, he took a position with Yolo County, California, eventually retiring in 2009 as the county’s chief public defender. Since then, he has resumed private practice and worked as a subcontractor for Lake Defense, the contract provider of indigent defense services in Lake County, California. He is certified as a specialist in criminal law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

  175. 175.

    old times

    If anyone likes bluegrass, please check out Mountain Grass Unit!

    Also Billy Strings, if you haven’t yet.

  177. 177.

    p.a.

    @SiubhanDuinne: I’ve heard of them & pretty sure they’ve played locally (RI) but I missed them.

    Les Poules à Colin is a fun Que group, and 10 Strings and a Goatskin out of Vermont play Quebeçois music.

    Saw Genticorum in May.

     

    The interesting thing about a lot of these assorted “folk” groups of whatever genre is that they seem to be “incestuous/promiscuous” with interchanging lineups- especially the younger musicians- name changes etc.  6 months later there’s 3 new bands made from one that no longer exists.  Bit frustrating to follow.

  179. 179.

    Craig

    @WaterGirl: nope. One of the greatest, most terrifying shows I’ve ever seen. Saw them 5 times. Beautiful avant garde weirdos from Texas.

  204. 204.

    Josie (also)

    @Chet Murthy: The Pink Martinis played with our local orchestra precovid.  I got tickets for a group of friends.  We were next to a French Man whose girl friend had gone up to the front to participate in the crowd dancing.  He said “Big Fun”.  I had to agree.

  209. 209.

    Anyway

    @Cheryl from Maryland: Somehow he discovered the rock guitar music of the Tuareg people in Africa.  Listening to the “Sultans of Shred,” Bombino, Tinariwen, Mdou Moctar

    Yep, I’ve watched Bombino and Tinariwen Live and enjoyed them both. Also enjoy Noura Mint Seymali singer from Mauritania ..

  211. 211.

    Trivia Man

    @TBone: I never get tired of The End from Absolutely Live. Audience participation and all. Do you wanna hear that for the next half hour? All right then, Shhhh!

  214. 214.

    Trivia Man

    When I have a meaty Excel file to build, I like full albmus I have heard many times. Block out the word and I can create rows and clean data for hours without noticing.

    Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath or Volume IV

    Chicago – Chicago II or CTA

    Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense

    Yusef Lateef – Gentle Giant (Old school flute jazz)

    Doors – Absolutely Live or Soft Parade

    Pink Floyd – Umma Gumma

    Tangerine Dream – any Show, any era

    Jerry Garcia Band – any live show if I like the setlist.

    Dead – any show, any era

    Bluegrass cover band – Pickin’ on the Dead (They have hundreds of albums covering any artist I can think of. No vocals but check em out for your favorite artist.

    Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue. Lot very long but exquisite.

    Broadway show – The Band’s Visit

  215. 215.

    Trivia Man

    @old times: If you like bluegrass, the “Pickin’ on …” is a fabulus series. Pickin on the Dead, on Dylan, on Metallica, on Michael Jackson… you name it, they covered it.

  218. 218.

    Mike E

    I’ve fortunately seen a lot of great live performances though not that recently (covid and finances are mostly to blame)… I regret not seeing Ray Charles, Dr John, Dizzy Gillespie, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Prince back when I seemingly had the opportunity but it came and went.

    If I could go to a show it would be Madison Cunningham who’s terrific.

  219. 219.

    Gloria DryGarden

    String quartets, violin concerti, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven. But also, Thomas Tallis. Anything on a lute.  palestrina, Hildegard , Simon and garfunkel. once in a while,  10 minutes of punk rock, queen, boy band stuff that comes up on pandora when I ask for august moon (a band created for a recent movie, but catchy music). David parsons, and other textural space music. Then I default back to Tallis  and palestrina. Soothing, calming, smooth, and doesn’t interrupt my thoughts

    the Rolling Stones just played Denver, it wasn’t in my budget. It’s been hot, or I might have gathered myself up to drive down to the stadium parking lots to listen from outside, like I did in my 20s, when they played in northern Colorado. But it’s a mess, the stadium parking in Denver. Too bad… some friends went. Maybe YouTube…

  220. 220.

    David_C

    @KSinMA: Thank you! Hearing the piece in a small, old church with a quartet singing from the balcony was magical.

     

    My church choir performs larger vocal pieces twice a year. One of my faves is the Faure Requiem, as long as I can keep it together for the “In Paradisum.”* The “Agnus Dei “ has some of the tenor writing out there. One year we joined other choirs and a local symphony orchestra and just sang the heck out of it.

     

    * The first year we sang this the youth choir took the soprano part. I did lose it. The purity of the voices!

  221. 221.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @David_C: speaking of youth sopranos, have you heard this boy named malakai sing solos? Beauty.

    I just noted you like polyphony. There’s nothing like a double choir singing palestrina from 2 ends of a stone church…

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