Rec Lina western music!

[arkster]

So! After picking up a breathtaking album of Miyazaki music put to koto and shakuhachi, I still have $15 left on this iTunes Music Store gift card. I have all the FF albums I want, though I might grab some single tracks. Their Japanese selection is nonexistent, at least for American buyers.

So what could I find in iTunes that's worth dropping money for, in your opinion? Especial preference for Celtic-type or otherwise spiritually fulfilling songs; I'm looking for music I can dance to, music that's meant to grip the soul. Rock, not so much. Laconic apathetic stuff, definitely not so much. Could use some comedy, too, and maybe some late-night get-this-paper-out-on-time music. Rec me!

Comments

[catsprite.livejournal.com]

Don't know about buying on iTunes, but have you heard the Suikoden celtic mix CDs? Superawesome stuff.

[jibb.livejournal.com]

Have you heard anything by Afro Celt Sound System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro_Celt_Sound_System)? They're an interesting mix of dance music and African and Celtic influences.

[catsprite.livejournal.com]

So, I went and downloaded some of them and they are absolutely awesome.

[jibb.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I first head them when practicing for my fire-poi PE class, for which they had great rhythms.

[arks.livejournal.com]

That really rocks. I listened to a bunch of samples, and now I just need to pick and choose. Thanks!

(incidentally I picked up Avenue Q too 8D)

[jibb.livejournal.com]

Yay! Glad to help. I favor their first album, personally.

[evilsheepy.livejournal.com]

I think you might really dig They Might Be Giants. They have a milder pop-rock sound that's very quirky and intelligent, often labelled, ahem, "nerd rock". Check out the album Flood, for the songs "Birdhouse In Your Soul", "Particle Man", "Your Racist Friend" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" if nothing else.

[catsprite.livejournal.com]

I second this recommendation wholeheartedly. (Especially "Istanbul (Not Constantinople"), as well as "Particle Man," and adding on "Why Does The Sun Shine.")

[arks.livejournal.com]

They're pretty okay, but not what I'm looking for this time around. Thanks though! (Also please don't be meen in my journal or I will be sad.)

[evilsheepy.livejournal.com]

Sorry (to sharkswlasers as well as yourself). I didn't mean to spark anything, I was just being snarky but I guess I crossed a line. Won't happen again.

P.S. - for music recommendations beyond LJ friends, Pandora (http://pandora.com/) is really great at finding stuff. And there's Last.fm (http://www.last.fm/) too, which is also just a nifty tool for tracking trends in your personal listening habits.

P.P.S. - if you like Tom Lehrer, check out Stan Freeberg. His America album (that's not the exact title but it's something similar) is just absolutely brilliant.

[arks.livejournal.com]

S'cool. I do last.fm, actually, I just never check it. >.> And I will check out Freeberg. Thanks!

[nagashi.livejournal.com]

wow, that's a really neat sounding album. Maybe post otakon I'll be able to pick it up :)

I dunno about what's on itunes, but if I have anything online, I'll IM it to ya.

[arks.livejournal.com]

It's gorgeous. The Nausicaa opening theme in three-part breathy flute left me gasping for air.

[(Anonymous)]

If you like Celtic stuff get Flogging Molly,
If you like to dance get Franz Fredinand, Scisor Scisters, or Keiser Chiefs. My I love disco rivival and alot of people don't.
They Might Be Giants were a good band. One of their compilations would be a good call.

[jibb.livejournal.com]

I'd second the Flogging Molly love.

[pimpstergust.livejournal.com]

Flogging Molly is awesome, but it's more on the drunken irish side rather than spiritual celtic tunes.

Essentially it's what I listen to when I imbibe vast amounts of alcohol.

[arks.livejournal.com]

Oho. Duly noted. (I thought you listened to Swedish Communist music)

[pimpstergust.livejournal.com]

That too. And the Benny Hill theme on repeat, occasionally.

[evilsheepy.livejournal.com]

If you like to spell correctly, get Dictionary.

[sharkswlazers.livejournal.com]

you're right. I have no buisness posting anything with my poor spelling. Excuse me.

[mongoosehuman.livejournal.com]

If you like unconstructive smartasses, get evilsheepy.

[arks.livejournal.com]

Y helo thar. Haven't seen you 'round these parts. That is however a nifty interest list you have there (plus you're a Gemini, wut.) Mind if I friend?

[mongoosehuman.livejournal.com]

Not at all -- thanks for asking. But I'm warning you, I update on a geologic timescale.

[arks.livejournal.com]

All the better. Cool!

[arks.livejournal.com]

Disco revival. HM. I shall check these out.

[nistelle.livejournal.com]

I <3 Sinead Lohan long time; she is my favorite. Some of her stuff can become a little rock-y, but not very much so.

I think you'd liiiiiike her

[nistelle.livejournal.com]

Oh, and your comedian is Eddie Izzard.

[arks.livejournal.com]

My comedian is Tom Lehrer but they don't have him. D=

[jibb.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, Tom Lehrer is great. Then again, so is Eddie Izzard.

[notsteven.livejournal.com]

I completely second the They Might Be Giants recommendations. Only cds I've ever bought.

Speaking of amusing songs, does iTunes have arrogant worms? They've got funny songs like Carrot Juice is Murder and History is Made by Stupid People, as well as the Last Saskatchewan Pirate.

[perotine.livejournal.com]

Here are my two cents:

DANCE:
Quimbara by Celia Cruz
Coffee Song by Frank Sinatra
Moanin' by Charles Mingus
Tango Flamenco by Armik
Waltz from Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

SPIRITUALLY FULFILLING:
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph vaughn Williams
Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns
Spem in alium by Thomas Tallis
In principio erat verbum by Josquin Desprez
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin by Debussy

GET THIS PAPER OUT ON TIME (boy have I been there):
There She Is !!! by Witches
Zapateado (op. 23) by Jean-Pablo de Sarasate
Piano Trio in F minor, op.65 (Allegretto grazioso - Meno mosso) by Antonin Dvorak
Capriccio Espagnol by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff
The Appeaser's Dance by Dmitri Shostakovich

...of course, I'd be more than willing to upload any/all of this if you can't find it. Those are some of my favorites.

[perotine.livejournal.com]

....aaaaaaaaand on second thought it was probably quite rude to waltz in on someone I don't really know and start spouting a whole bunch of stuff. My apologies. Time to slink away and pretend that NONE OF THIS EVER HAPPENED.

[arks.livejournal.com]

I disagree! I think it's actually rather awesome that someone I didn't know took the time to drop me a horde of rockin' recs. I didn't reply earlier because it took me a bit to get through the list, but these are wonderful! I picked up Tango Flamenco right away. Spem in Alium arrested me immediately. Cappricio Espagnol is fantastic. iTunes won't let me at Fantasia on a Theme though, and doesn't have There She Is!!!

Thanks a ton.

[perotine.livejournal.com]

Problem (http://www.zshare.net/download/05-fantasia-on-a-theme-by-thomas-tallis-m4a.html) solved (http://www.zshare.net/audio/04-there-she-is-mp3.html)! I feel obliged to offer a warning about the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, though. The first time you listen to it it's not unlike getting shot in the chest.

Spem in alium is one of my favorites. It's a 40-part motet for 40 singers, so not only are you completely on your own while singing it, it's really easy to get caught up in how utterly overwhelming it becomes.

If you ever want anything more, let me know. I've got a lot from 1300-1620 and then a ton from 1830-1960 (from 1620 to 1830 is the Boring Period, with a few exceptions like Mozart, who was ahead of his time anyway). I love sharing music; there's just so much good stuff out there.

[arks.livejournal.com]

Holyshit, you weren't kidding. Thank you so much.