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Modern Freakish Folk recommendations

JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
edited October 2018 in Music Talk
I've recently been really getting into these modern folk singers and their slightly off kilter releases. Almost all of them are depressing in one form or another but they seem to be building up to be my commuting music for the summer.I've adored Joanna Newsom since first hearing her and a friend who has since moved to Iceland (which seems kind of appropriate for this style of music) put me onto:

  • Bon Iver
  • Superwolf
  • Samamidon
  • Grizzly Bear

All of which I've enjoyed to various degrees and I was also introduced to Neutral Milk Hotel (thanks G*****) which, although orbiting in a different sphere, I'm feeling as well.Having spent most of the last 15 years avoiding anything with even the slightest suggestion of acoustic style rock and facial hair I'm kind of lost where to go next so was hoping that people on this board may be able to recommend some other artists in a similar vein to check out? I'm aware it's a wide net but happy to try anything once.Please feel free to tell me to take this to pitchfork.com but be aware that it's never pretty to watch a grown man cry.Thanks.

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  Comments

  • OkemOkem 4,617 Posts
    Espers are amazing IMO. Although most of their stuff is now expensive to turn up on vinyl.

    I also like Fern Knight who share a member or two with Espers.

    Voice Of The Seven Woods and his various pseudonyms are/is cool if you like guitar folk.


    Honest Jons (the shop mainly but the label also) are really good for this kind of stuff.
  • JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
    Cheers MOke. God, haven't been to Honest Jon's in a long time so this is probably the motivation I need to get up to portobello again.

    Have never heard of any of those bands so that's a good start to my quest. Will let you know how I get on....
  • OkemOkem 4,617 Posts
    Their website is good also, if you want to waste some time at work. Although it's a little thin on sound samples.

    Most of the bands I mentioned can be found on Myspace along with other similar/related acts/labels in their friends.
    Which I find, can be a good way to dip your toe into new musical genres.
  • jimeyjimey 279 Posts
    dirty projectors - bitte orca

    and try pitchfork.com for more info
  • mickalphabetmickalphabet deep inna majestic segue 374 Posts
    this guy just got a new album coming out on warp
    pretty good

    http://www.myspace.com/mrbibio
  • hungovermulattohungovermulatto 168 Posts
    marissa nadler's voice is sounding sweeter everyday, and some of the stuff on the ecstatic piece label is aiight.
  • hungovermulattohungovermulatto 168 Posts
    oh, and check for sir richard bishop and also take a look at the locust page for more things of that ilk: http://www.locustmusic.com
  • gravelheadwrapgravelheadwrap corn 948 Posts
    Cosign on Bibio, Voice of the Seven Woods, Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear..

    Dungen
    Woods
    Nobody & The Mystic Chords of Memory
    Jane Weaver
  • bennyboybennyboy 538 Posts
    Also check for Tunng, their eralier stuff is s'nice.

    And check out Come On Feel The Illinoise by Sufjan Stevens, much good stuff on there.

  • ketanketan Warmly booming riffs 3,179 Posts
    I second the Espers recommendation. If you're looking for a starting point, I always come back to The Weed Tree.
  • AKallDayAKallDay 830 Posts
    Cosine on espers,yay philly. I also like devendra banhart, I think if you like joanna newsom you'll definitely like marissa nadler. And my favorite sound that is blowing minds everywhere is edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros, which my brother in law Nico Aglietti produced. I will post some of their stuff later- no bias here, its honestly wonderful.
    Oh and I like Bonnie prince billy too, and his collaboration with matt sweeney.
  • kitchenknightkitchenknight 4,922 Posts
    My wife just picked up Jose Gonzalez, and I threw it on in the car this morning, as I hated all my music.

    Very good; more produced than most of the names I see on here, but fits in well.

    Cosine on Bon Iver, devendra banhart, and Bonnie Prince etc.
  • ketanketan Warmly booming riffs 3,179 Posts
    You may even want to check out the first Brightblack Morning Light album. They've got a different take on the genre...more jam band-esque...more modern blues-y (???). I don't listen to it much anymore, but it's quality stuff.

    I haven't heard the new album at all. Anyone have a review to share?
  • DuderonomyDuderonomy Haut de la Garenne 7,794 Posts
    Various Productions have done a few slightly folk-ish things that could be worth checking out.
  • vitasoyvitasoy 31 Posts
    I'm not too knowledgeable about this stuff either but what about: The Dutchess and the Duke?
  • JuniorJunior 4,853 Posts
    Thanks everybody, loads of excellent suggestions up in here. I'd forgotten about Sufjan, did pick up that album at the time and liked a lot of it - thought he was meant to be doing one for each state?

    Heard quite a bit about Devandra but foolishly google imaged him before listening and the amount of facial hair on show prevented me from actually checking out his music. I have learnt from this mistake.

    Think I need to get on myspace and start checking these out.
  • AKallDayAKallDay 830 Posts
    ok like i said, i would post some edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros. it comes out officially in july. initially they were on a small imprint owned by the late heath ledger but now i forget who they are with.
    here is an excerpt of them shot in the desert by my brother, like i said no bias, they are just awesome. this one has a more merry pranksters vibe.

  • DrWuDrWu 4,021 Posts
  • twoplytwoply Only Built 4 Manzanita Links 2,917 Posts
    The Bowerbirds might be your thing.
  • On_the_Red_ClayOn_the_Red_Clay 1,728 Posts
    I'd forgotten about Sufjan, did pick up that album at the time and liked a lot of it - thought he was meant to be doing one for each state?

    He was, but then reality happened. See almost each "first part" it seems, EG the second installment of Badu's Amerykah was gonna be released before the end of 2008...

    b/w

    Sufjan Stevens is not freakish folk in my book, more like orchestral pop!
  • kitchenknightkitchenknight 4,922 Posts
    Sufjan is kinda ... ehh... too may. I feel like his output got ahead of his talent, and all his shit started sounding the same. Plus, each of his albums is like 70 minutes.

    Dude... Edit.
  • ennuiennui 111 Posts
    cosign:
    Dutchess & the Duke
    Bon Iver
    try:
    Fire on Fire
    The Mumlers
    Akron/Family
  • clint_torezclint_torez 87 Posts
    You should check out Thee Ohsees. Their new record "help" is a beautiful piece of garage rock but their other records are very folky time based fx, lovely stuff.
  • kitchenknightkitchenknight 4,922 Posts
    Thee Ohsees

    Some of their earlier work as OCS is great... and, for those who dig Thee Breakz, they do a great cover of "Get Thy Bearings".
  • zlatorogzlatorog 66 Posts
    also from Philly, Kurt Vile :
    "Slow Talkers"

    "Freeway"


    http://www.myspace.com/kurtvileofphilly
  • dwyhajlodwyhajlo 420 Posts
    Feathers are pretty good, Larkin Grimm and Chris Bozzone might hit the spot as well, but they're not for everyone.
  • CosmophonicCosmophonic 1,172 Posts
  • onetetonetet 1,754 Posts
    Dan Higgs' solo records on Holy Mountain should fit the bill nicely.

    http://www.holymountain.com/artists/daniel-higgs/
  • MadtownFunkHoundMadtownFunkHound 10 Posts
    My wife really digs this sort of stuff and lately she's been all about Brown Bird and M.Ward.
  • parsecparsec 5,087 Posts
    All of M. Ward's records are top notch imo. Dutchess and the Duke are amazing.

    Vetiver
    Jack Rose
    MV/EE Medicine Show
    Meg Baird
    Josephine Foster
    Six Organs of Admittance
    Nick Castro
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