nude highway driving

I recently got back in touch with my friend Robert (Bob if you’re nasty), a good friend starting from high school with whom I always shared a massive-ass love of music. All our friends loved music, but we were the kind of geeks who got excited over finding a rare New Order 12″ with bonus tracks, the kind of geeks who could rock out to the Woodentops and were in love with the drummer of Christmas. We spent all our cash on vinyl. We easily could have been staff members at the record store in “High Fidelity.”

Unfortunately, as I grew older and “alternative” radio became a big, annoying thing I started changing into a closed-minded music fan. Except for a year when Robert had given me a subscription to CMJ, I really haven’t been exposed to a lot of new music in the past few years. I still will find “new” bands and get into them, but for the most part I keep to what I know. This year every concert I went to (with the dance-party exception of Fischerspooner) was someone I’ve been listening to for at least 10 years. Some of it is stubbornness (I refuse to listen to the Strokes because I got sick of people saying they were the “next Velvet Underground” — and “Last Night” is one of the most annoying songs ever) and some of it is lack of exposure (I don’t have cable and have given up on music magazines). Hearing bands such as Creed, Nickelback and Incubus only expedite the closing of my mind.

But I know there’s buttloads (note: about three shitloads to a buttload) of music out there that I probably would like. Fortunately, hip-ass friend Robert sent me a list of what he’s listening to lately, and it seems like a good launch pad for my reintegration into the world. (Unless I designate otherwise, I’ve never heard of them.)

Elliott Smith — “Pretty Ugly (Before)” 7″

I honestly never heard of this guy until he died. Now he’s “that guy who stabbed himself in the chest” to me. I’d prefer to think of him as “that guy with the kick-ass music.”

Death Cab For Cutie — “We Have The Facts and We’re Voting Yes”

The Shins — “Oh, Inverted World”

Broken Social Scene — “You Forgot it in People”

The Wrens — “Meadowlands”

Idaho — “Three Sheets to the Wind”

The Chameleons — “Strip”

Acoustic remakes of their old stuff! I fucking love The Chameleons — a staple on my stereo since about 1987. Was ecstatic when they reunited and toured this year, and caught the Black Cat show. Hugged the lead singer and thanked him for all these years of beauty. I can’t emphasize how wonderful this band is.

Heatmiser — “Mic City Sans”

Had heard of them, and thoroughly love the name, but never listened to them before.

Outkast — “Speakerbox”

Another band I know of but never really heard. Yes, yes I know the big hit about Andre 3000 nailing (or, I guess, ceasing to nail) Erykah Badu, and I’ve heard the new Andre 3000 song “Hey Ya,” and I dig it.

Radiohead — “Hail to the Thief”

This may sound unimaginable in these times, but I’ve never heard a Radiohead song apart from what’s been played lots on the radio. I can’t stand “Creep,” but like some of the others I’ve heard. I know they have rabid followings, and they seem like groovy little dudes.

Iron & Wine — “Sea & The Rhythm”

I have to hear them if only because Robert says they are Simon and Garfunkel meets 16 Horsepower.

Such is my starting point.

What cool, new things are you listening to? I’d love more suggestions — I want to get back into discovery mode with music, and recommendations from funky people is the best path to take.