When was the last time you found piece that didn’t match your usual listening habits, but ended up liking it? How did you come accross it?
My taste has been mostly rock, metal and certain kinds of electroic music, but
Fallout introduced me to Billie Holiday
Youtube channel Inside the Score got me started on classical music, like actually listening and enjoying Beethoven, Sibelius and Dvorak and going even to a concert instead of just knowing the bits you can not avoid.
The jazz covers of Phoenix Wright music, especially The Dark Fragrance of Coffee, got me seeking for more of similar style.
There’s a site that gives you an album a day to listen to and review from the book ‘1000 albums to listen to before you die’. One day I got an Abba album and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a surprisingly dense, dream-like production to it. I expected simplistic pop but was surprised by how well structured and layered it was.
People shit on Dancing Queen because of its ubiquity, but that track is an absolute masterclass in how to write a beloved three minute pop song. Benny & Bjorn know their shit.
If you’d told me this time last year that my new favourite genre of 2023 was going to be Finnish rap, I’d have said “no I hate rap”.
Well, actually I’d have said “this is some kind of Eurovision related nonsense isn’t it?” and the answer is yes. The people’s champ Käärijä hooked me in with his party metal, got me checking out his rap back-catalogue and now Spotify has decided all my playlists should be Finnish and here we are.
For me also. Eurovision has been very meh for me, but this year I actually liked many of the songs and Germany really didn’t deserve the last place in finals.
I don’t like the style Käärijä’s albums are produced, but live he is awesome. Cha cha is even better when he can do his own thing instead of worrying the choreography.
Love that live show! The week after such a crushing disappointment, too.
It was a ridiculously strong year, and agreed 100% about Germany. I’ve actually been listening to a fair bit of Lord of the Lost as well since the final. I am a Eurovision superfan so may be biased, but it’s kinda crazy how many new types of music it can introduce you to.
Also had Ylivoimainen by KUUMAA on repeat, the Finnish national selection was absolutely stacked (as per).
So, I like metal. Death, thrash, heavy, doom, prog, it’s all great.
However, something like 8 years ago, I found myself really enjoying Lana Del Rey and I still can’t explain why. Then a year or two ago the same happened with Dua Lipa. They are the only artists I can’t explain and when I get suggestions similar to them I don’t like them.
Similar situation for me. Love Lana, Check out Beach House
The new Lil Yachty album this year surprised me for sure. Really big departure from what he usually does, and he did it (in my opinion) really well. Never been a fan of his in the past
Though it is more in line with what I usually listen to, experimental hip hop, psychedelic rock, indie. Just didn’t expect it from him.
Something separate from what I usually enjoy would be That’s The Spirit by Bring Me the Horizon. Never been into that genre really (metal? I’m honestly not sure how they’re classified) but I really enjoy this album and I’m sure it’s gonna be right near the top of my Spotify Wrapped this year.
I guess when I ran into Aesop Rock, and got absolutely infatuated? I don’t do a lot of rap, so his stuff hitting so damn hard was a surprise.
I remember a few of the other times. Mostly it has taken the right moment, the right mindset and the right artist. A dark autumn evening and a walk in a park for Dark Sanctuary, falling asleep to SunnO))) and waking up to it was a mindblowing experience.
Carpenter Bruts album Trilogy opened up electronic music for me, and Crypt of the Necrodancers soundtrack cemented it.
I grew up not liking rap and hip hop, except exclusively liking Eminem. But lately I’ve been trying to branch out. Thought I’d give Kanye a try, so I listed to the College Dropout album and wow, I was not expecting to like it the way I did. Almost the whole thing is solid beats and decent rhymes. Same with Graduation. Color me impressed Kanye, I don’t like you as a person but your early music is great.
2 years ago when I think I listened to River of Darkness by The Midnight, I always liked 80s/retrowave/whatnot aesthetics so having music to match it all is especially great
I love The Midnight. Jason is probably my favorite song of theirs. That sax absolutely shreds.
An old podcast introduced me to ‘All Day’ by Girl Talk. I thought it was the weirdest shit at first but I kept coming back to it, now I listen to it basically any time I’m doing menial/tedious work.
I liked the last album by The Interrupters, and I don’t even like punk music, but their songs were all wonderful
Buena Vista Social Club. It came up on the 1001AlbumsGenerator. It’s probably the album I’ve revisited the most.
Didn’t expect to see this, and now I have Chan Chan in my head (and I love it).
Nice. It’s a bit different from my usual listening. Plus my Spanish is very very basic.
Another that came up on the generator with a sort of similar vibe was Getz/Gilberto, more light jazz but you might like it (if you don’t already know it).
We got the moves - Electric callboy. Popped into my recommended when it released, with me having 0 knowledge about the band or what they’re all about. Just saw this dude in a weird costume and apparently it’s techno? Not the kind of music I like, gave it a try anyway. Then it got fucking wild. Not a day goes by without at least one EC song since then.
Celldweller - the last firstborn is awesome mix of electronic music and hard rock (or how would you call it)
Normally I used to listen to pretty heavy rock music and metal. Ever since seeing Hamilton all I can listen to is Broadway musicals. They get shit done!
Miley Cyrus did a tribute to Tom Petty and it was incredible. I never thought I would say that about anything she did.
“Study” playlists on Spotify.
Not all of them mind you, mostly ones where the lyrics don’t really matter. Really chill and great.
I use video game playlist when I need to get into the zone at work. Video game soundtracks are often designed to suck you in and keep you engaged without being intrusive.
