There is probably a shitload of great musicians that don't come up anywhere because they are not from U.S./U.K and not listed by big labels.
I'm not talking about some deeply underground crazy indie groups doing something wacky. They can be great, but I'd like to focus to some established and more normal musicians that people don't know of because of their country of origin. Something like Buena Vista Social Club that didn't brake the ice of international crowd. But we like taste don't we? So we are not interested national list number ones either. So I trust you Hubski people to be my filter to your national music.
I'll start with Finnish music:
Electronic(sh) stuff: 22-Pistepirkko: Birdy Helsinki 78-82 - Cruisin
Hip hop: Super Janne - Kaikki muuttuu Stig Dogg - Vadelmasuklaa Karri Koira - Amerikankotka Liitää feat.Ruudolf
Progressive rock: CMX - Jatkuu Niinkuin Sade Von Hertzen Brothers - Freedom Fighter
Jazz: The Five Corners Quintet - Shake It Jukka Eskola - Chip 'n' Charge
Classical: Jean Sibelius - Finlandia op. 26
Folk: Scandinavian Music Group - Näin Minä Vihellän Matkallani Eppu Normaali - Olin vain tuuli This last one is suffering somewhat for being more lyric heavy than melodically interesting. So here's a translation:
Olin vain tuuli - I was just the wind.
"I hope sun gives you comfort. Your eyes would lighten up like stars again. You could love again. I hope your heart will fill again, when I'm gone. When natute wakes up. (spring is coming)
Would you promise me? That you try again to light a fire to your heart. That was blown away. I was just a wind. All summer I just turned. I blew against(you). Only freedom I loved. Love from you I blew. I blew.
Maybe you wanted to own all of me. Make me prove my love for you always. I memorized the smell of your hair. When I blew in your hair.
- chorus couple of times "
I'd be happy to translate some more lyrics if you want.
Minnesota has a pretty good hip hop scene... I probably need to stop mentioning these same groups everytime these threads come up... but they are so worth a listen. :) Atmosphere - Nationally and world known to any real fan of hip-hop, but refuse to ever sign a record deal so you'll never hear them on clear channel stations. Have their own record shop, their own label with other fantastic music, and put out tons of great albums. Made up of two guys from Minneapolis, Slug, the vocalist, and "Ant", the beatmaker/producer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMNNwa46Plg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84nqfhmo3tA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekivast3QX0 Brother Ali - On the label Atmosphere started, Brother Alis production and beats are also done by "Ant" from atmosphere. So if you like them, you'll probably like Brother Ali. He's white, was born an albino, and is also a Muslim. Makes from some really interesting hip hop and a different style of lyrics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JojHV4pAWDg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ScPoBEFl1Y Doom Tree - Another great local hip hop group, but refer to themselves as a "collective" as there is like 8+ members of the group. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQhRQ8BI0gA For non hip-hop... Trampled by Turtles - bluegrass/folk band. Lots of guys with fiddles, mandolins, guitars, and of course beards and plaid. Great band to see live, has some pretty good stuff out. A little "jammy", a lot folk, and a lot of fun. Gaining more and more attention nationwide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjdkc14-zwQ The Replacements - One of my all time favorite groups. Takes a little "aquired taste", but I love them, and the song I linked is one of my all time favorite songs out of anyone ever. The piano, his voice, it's all just perfect. They disbanded in 1991. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8J9WssSj7Q The Artist Formely Known as Prince - LOL. Also Bob Dylan is from here, but I think everyone knows who he is...
I was never a fan of Eyedea's music personally, but I hung out with him on a couple ocassions before he died. I grew up in Saint Paul, and while I didn't go to school with him, he went to Highland High School where many of my friends went. Spent a few nights out with him and his friends before he got really famous, mostly back when he was still doing his blaze battle stuff. I remember the first time I met him, and he told me his real name, I had no idea who he was, then his friends were calling him Eyedea. And I was like "Eyedea... like the rapper that I've seen on HBO blaze battles?" and he was a very modest and down to Earth dude about it all, albeit a bit "emo". But there are plenty of other local artists I could mention, but just kept to the more mainstream ones. I could have thrown POS in there too, but he doesn't have as mass appeal of atmosphere and brother ali, same thing with eyedea. Not everyone liked his music as much as the others on RhymeSayers label. But he is definitely worth noting.
I didn't "know" him, but had friends that did. I met him maybe 3 times, but we certainly didn't know each other. Just out drinking with mutual friends and what not. I also saw Slug in my Best Buy when I worked there a long time ago, asked him if I could help him find anything and he just said "probably not" and kept walking. Perks of living in the Twin Cities. But just wanted to be clear I didn't KNOW him, just met him through mutual friends a few times, and talked with him a few times. That's it.
You another fellow Minnesotan? I haven't run across any others on Hubski yet, but I figure there's a few out there.
That Trampled by Turtles song was amazing! Thanks for introducing me to them
Yeah, they are quite popular around here, and that the song that made them famous throughout the midwest. It's a very catchy tune... and you can't beat the name of their band. I also like the top youtube comment on that video "I imagine you would have to wait "so long" to be trampled by turtles". Glad I could share them with someone!
I'm from Cambridge, UK. Syd Barrett, David Gilmour and Roger Waters are from there, in fact the song Another Brick In The Wall, Pt 2 was inspired by a local grammar school that Roger Waters and Syd Barrett went to, which then became a sixth form that I ended up attending. As far as school songs go, I think it's a pretty good one ;)
From the Netherlands: Simeon ten Holt - Canto Ostinato http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDCsOL2vBJc The Ex - State of Shock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfskVxCn_qo De Kift - Orenmens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMznfn65VDw Kong - Lumberhouse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mumvygHElms Ilse de Lange - The Great Escape http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK4DZht3YFM Dutch music isn't very "cool". Luckily I live 20 km north of Belgium and they are really the top of coolness: Vive la Fête - Maquillage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49NUl29wNlc dEUS - The Architect http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2CFDsG_oxg Nid & Sancy - No Fuck All http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH_x-KHbZfo Front 242 - Welcome to Paradise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osQMG9f0HC0 The Klinik - Sick in your Mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw_uSfyAo4A Enjoy!
Kasper Rosa are a band from Belfast Northern Ireland, check them out here --- http://kasperrosa.bandcamp.com/
Flemenco Guitar by Mito I'm not sure he has downloadable music, but you can see his stuff on his videos.
JJ Cale and Leon Russel hail from my home state, Oklahoma. Best music from my current home is Fat Freddy's Drop (IMHO).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCJg63SziL4
JJ Cale is great. When I first met my soon to be father-in-law, we bonded around JJ Cale and Led Zeppelin.
Waylon and Willie are from Texas, and that should be enough for any state. But I'm also damn proud to be from the Live Music Capital of the World, so here's some Spoon, some Black Joe, and some Bright Light Social Hour.
There's a Finnish artist by the name of Aki Latvamäki that I'm quite fond of. I interviewed him for a (piece on LittleWhiteEarbuds)[http://www.littlewhiteearbuds.com/podcast/lwe-podcast-23-aki...]. Linked from that interview is a (video of his work with a group called Transistori)[http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=6DDF9AAB1DC665F2]. Great stuff. Chicago's brought forth many greats. Chief among these has to be Curtis Mayfield. He represents the bridge between 60's soul (with the Impressions) and 70's funk and disco (as a solo artist). He was a rare talent and I don't think he gets his due because to most people he's a footnote to the blaxploitation film movement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Mayfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z66wVo7uNw - "Move On Up" (likely one of the most memorable / recognizable samples ever?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peChXys7FcY - "So In Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grO5H0qC16k - Superfly LP in full - hard for me to respect anyone's opinion on anything if they haven't heard this. And it would be dumb not to mention Phil Upchurch. A brilliant guitarist, he went through similar stages of seamless reinvention as Curtis Mayfield (and also enjoyed some time as Mayfield's guitarist).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJQxBtgDr6Q - "Black Gold" from Upchurch LP. God mode. More on this later.
I grew up in Michigan and for some time I played in a band there and got to know a number of great musicians/bands. Michigan/Detroit has a very vibrant music scene. One of my favorites: Timothy Monger -check out "the Classics". Tim has been a good friend since childhood. His band The Great Lakes Myth Society is fantastic too. -that second link is to a live version of their song "Across The Bridge". -All very "Michigan". On my phone or I'd provide more links. I look forward to revisiting this post and listening to what everyone comes up with. Great idea.
More Great Lakes Myth Society Michigan Bands/Artists: White Stripes Motown DMF Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels MC5 Of course the usual suspects when people think of Detroit are Kid-Rock or Eminem. Also, Bob Segar, Alice Cooper and even Madonna -was born in Michigan but tries to forget it. Oh... and Iggy Pop