Folk Music anyone?

[wheelchairman]

Personally I'm trying to get more and more folk music. I started out being really into the Irish stuff (dubliners you know) but now I'm trying to broaden that a bit. I would consider Johnny Cash folk (as I consider country in general to be folk) and I'm thinking of finding some Blue Grass stuff. Kinda scary, since I used to despise that sort of music, but it's really quite interesting. Also I've gotten into Bulgarian and Macedonian folk as well, and I would like eventually to hear some middle eastern folk music.

So what are all your thoughts on Folk?

[Chris]

Not straight up folk, but I couldn't say enough good words about Ye Wiles (http://www.householdnamerecords.co.uk/releases/haus064.php) and I quote, sometimes described as a post punk, indie, ska-core, violin/folk driven experimental left field low fi punk rock band. You should check them out if you've got an open mind for one unorthodox but convincing blend of genres.

[wheelchairman]

Sounds a little bit like the Pogues, which are a fantastic band as well.

[Little_Miss_1565]

Good country could definately be considered folk. If you like Johnny Cash, you might be interested in checking out some of June Carter (Cash) 's stuff. If you like angry girl folk, there's Ani DiFranco, but I recommend her only in small doses, preferably if you're premenstrual (I know this happens to boys, too). There's modern American folk classics like James Taylor.

I'd love to hear some middle eastern folk, too. I heard some Bulgarian or Macedonian folk on NPR one night and it was lovely.

[wheelchairman]

hmm indeed, I'll have to check those out.

I know countries like Iran supposedly have some world famous music, I've yet to here it though.

Eastern European folk is very interesting, but it's also not so common.

I'd also like to hear some Hispanic and Latin American folk, that would be interesting.

[Vera]

I have a Planxty cd.


...No? Okay.

[SuperKnux]

I'm a huge fan of Suzanne Vega. I think there should be a religion about her.

Her music is so great and I think she's a fantastic artist.

[Betty]

I am certainly not opposed to it.

Canadian Gordon Lightfoot is pretty folksy and has some songs I really enjoy.

I really enjoy listening to what I like to call "French jig music"... with the fiddles/violins and tambourines and dancing and whatever else is going on. I'd assume that's pretty "folk" as well. Oh YEAH, and the spoons!

Umm... most Irish-type folk music is great, especially the dancey stuff.

And then a band that I am continually recommending... not sure if anybody has listened yet... THE WEAKERTHANS. A blend of lots of genres (punk, rock, country, folk, etc)... beautiful poetic lyrics... with a lot of influence coming from the Canadian prairies... very melodic songs... just amazing overall. The only thing people could probably not enjoy would be the vocals, but I like them. "Left and Leaving" is probably the most mellow and folksy album, wheareas the new "Reconstruction Site" is more upbeat, but still really good.

The "girl singing and playing her guitar" type of folk music can be okay as well, depending.

[wheelchairman]

I have a Planxty cd.


...No? Okay.
I wondered where I had heard of Planxty, and then I realized I have their version of Three Drunken Maidens. It's pretty good and definitely folk.

Betty, sounds like good stuff, I'll try to find it (I burn all my music from the Copenhagen central Library, and I wouldn't be surprised in the least to find that, they have the weirdest random crap there.)

[Tijs]

The only folk band I like is Rowwen Hèze. But most of you don't know the band.

[Vera]

I've been meaning to buy a cd by the Weakerthans, Betty.

Planxty are one of the best Irish bands, ever.

[wheelchairman]

ah yes they are good. Was at the library today, I wasn't able to find the music mentioned in this topic. But I did find some random folk music from sort of random countries.

From the Iranian section I chose a cd by Shâhram Nâzeri, I chose it because it was written in French, and figured it was meant for the foreign market, so it probably wouldn't scare me or anything. This is the only one I've listened to so far. It's pretty good, rather toned down. Like a cool-down cd really. You don't get that 'rhythmic I want to dance'feel that you get from Irish music. So I am wondering that this might be more spiritual than folk.

Also got Hussein El Masry with Belly Dance in Luxor. Tis Egyptian got it cause it had Belly-Dancing, and that's always good. Gonna listen to it next, I'll give y'all an update.

Also picked up "The Rough Guide To The Music of Russia" I'm looking forward to this. I had also picked up some Russian Soldier songs when I was in Belarus, this should compliment that.

Then I got some Chieftains, figure I should expand my Irish collection.

[wheelchairman]

all folk music sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!
I said the same thing about Punk yesterday. Do you really think you've shocked anyone?

[Izie]

Eastern European folk is very interesting, but it's also not so common.

Samples of north-Serbian (Vojvodinian) folk music, when you click the tiny pictures on the site. http://t.o.cilimi.4t.com/photo2.html

Also interesting http://www.bilja.co.yu/bistrike.htm but I'm not sure if you can download anything there. And that's more Serbian than the prevous.

I like Irish music, I believe the Hungarians have interesting folk too (if I haven't mixed it up with something), and pure serbian folk is... Interesting. Oh, Russian songs are generally great too, but I haven't hear that many (a couple on Russian lessons in school).

Let me know what you think.

[wheelchairman]

Serbian should be very interesting indeed. I'll take a listen to it, not now a little busy. But soon definitely.

[Izie]

Serbian should be very interesting indeed. I'll take a listen to it, not now a little busy. But soon definitely.

That's allright ;) I'll try to dig up some more links, but the idea of Serbian folk music is extremely complicated these days...

[wheelchairman]

That was actually very good stuff Izie. I especially liked the last two songs, Ruzo and Listaj Lipo Stara. I heard a lot of Irish in them as well which was kinda cool, but very distinctly Eastern European as well.

The Egyptian cd was very very good as well, the fact that they used female singers on a cd about Belly-Dancing music made it very exotic as well. It was a very nice sound for the whole thing, especially the way they used stringed instruments (violins, violas, cellos, double bass). However that was also a thing I didn't like as well, for example the Iranian cd only used Iranian instruments which gave it an incredible sound.

The Russian music is very very good as well. There are elements of swing and jazz in it, it was very exciting to listen to. Also elements of country as well and some definitely very Russian musical blends in there. I definitely enjoyed it.

The Cheiftains was a collection of their collaborations with female artists, and I'm a sucker for any version of Raglan Road, especially if it has Joan Osborne singing. And then Natalie Merchant I'm also a big fan of, so it was good to hear.

And that's all for now on my humble opinion.

[Izie]

I'm mostly into that sort of folk, the north-Serbia kind. Probably has something to do with my norhtern roots, heh.

And the other link has downloads in the section "gallery".

Any links for russian music? Because I'd like that. Or just names so I can search to download... somewhere.

[saska de o...]

some people like folk music some not... i dont like but i didnt hear a lot of this kind of music... so i shouldnt say anything...

moja prosta dusza polska

[wheelchairman]

I'm mostly into that sort of folk, the north-Serbia kind. Probably has something to do with my norhtern roots, heh.

And the other link has downloads in the section "gallery".

Any links for russian music? Because I'd like that. Or just names so I can search to download... somewhere.
I don't got any links. I'm not that well prepared, here are some names though, they are from the CD so I can say they are pretty good:
Nol
Zhanna Bichevskaya
Loyko
Alla Pughacheva
Sergei Nikitin & Tatiana Nikitina
Alexander Dolsky
Natalia Dudkina
Pesni Nashego Veka
Mark Bernes
Clavdia Shulzhenko
Gipsy Talisman
Michael Alpert
Mashina Veremeni
Kukuruza
Terem Quartet

Obviously these have been translated into the latin alphabet, so the spelling almost certainly varies. If you think you can do it in cyrillics then good luck with that.

[Mr. Noodles]

I said the same thing about Punk yesterday. Do you really think you've shocked anyone?

My cousin did that.
He always posts things that aren't really needed.

Like the message he posted at "Linkin Park Sucks Agree or Disagree".

He didn't need to say "Floyd, are you crazy?! Link Park rocks! You suck!"
Well, altough I do like Linkin Park, there wasn't any fucking use for that message, so I, of course, deleted it!

Just like I'm about to do to "FOLK MUSIC SUCKS!!!!!!!", even though I don't like folk music.

[Mr. Noodles]

And I just deleted the

ALL FOLK MUSIC SUCKS!!!!!!!

message.