Anyone interested in just a general expansion of music, try last.fm.
You install a plugin to your media player of choice and it relays the track info back to the last.fm server, and finds similar bands and the like. It's really good.
I love last.fm for counting purposes, but I find it's reccomendation system weak. Instead of reccomending similar artists to the ones you listen to, it reccomends music that people who listen to the music you listen to also listen to, which basically ends up with a listing of the most popular bands on last.fm (meaning, no matter what, you're likely to end up with Radiohead, The Beatles and Death Cab on your list).
Still, it's a pretty good site.
Best album I've listened to since my last post? Definitly
TV on The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain. I know it's been hyped a lot lately, but it really is very good.
Since I don't feel like thinking of a discription at the moment, I'll just reccomend my favourite tracks: "I Was a Lover", "Dirtywhirl", "Blues from Down Here" and (from the expanded edition with bonus tracks) "Snakes & Martyrs".
And, everyone seems to like "Wolf Like Me", so that too.
Other music I've been listening to (with quick descriptions):
764-HERO - Get Here and Stay
Grunge. Some very complex guitar playing, but that's all that really stands out about this band. Sounds a bit like Built to Spill.
Best Tracks: "Ottawa Dropout", "Stained Glass"
Cornelius - FANTASMA
Eletronic/Psychidelic (more so Psych on the two more recent albums Point and Sensuous) Japanese Rock/Pop. A little too over the top sometimes, but very unique. The best J-pop/rock I've ever listened to.
Best Tracks: "Clash", Typewriter Lesson (Demo)"
Hot Chip - Coming on Strong
Very, very mellow eletronic Indie-pop. Doesn't take itself very seriously.
Best Tracks: "Baby Said", "The Beach Party"
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Pop music at it's best. Catchy, entertaining and overall just fun to listen to.
I like to describe her as Natasha Bedingfields slightly evil, more talented twin. Atleast, that's what popped into my mind the first time I heard "Smile".
Best Tracks: "Smile", "Alfie"
Mercury Rev - The Secret Migration
Rather mellow and melodic. Lot's of non-rock instruments (i.e; violins, piano, ect.) Reminds me of The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin.
Best Tracks: "Black Forest (Lorelei)", "Vermillion"
My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything
MBV is a Shoegaze band (in fact, often considered to be
the shoegaze band), so understanding the sound of Shoegaze is rather important. It's rock from the late 80s, so obviously it takes a lot of influence from the Pixies and the early Grunge movement. Effect pedals are used excessively, and guitars often overlap and meld with the other instruments, creating a strong melody, but drowning out vocals and bass almost entirely. Now, that's a more fitting discription of MBVs second (and more acclaimed) album, Loveless, as this one is a more straight-forward rock record. But, it definitly has the elements in place.
Best Tracks: "Lose My Breath", "Feed Me With Your Kiss"
And, from Loveless: "Soon"
Spoon - Telephono/Soft Effects EP
Grungy and lo-fi, with a focus on steady rythms, guitar trickery and the vocalists, well, vocals, which are terrific. The two releases come packaged together.
Best Tracks:
Telephono: "Not Turning Off", "Dismember"
Soft Effects EP: "Mountain of Sound"
And, just for the hell of it:
NP: Wilco - Pot Kettle Black