Graduating to rock...

[Homyrrh]

I love classical, and W.A. Mozart is my favorite musician. I am a conosseiur of rap, and love nothing better. Eclectic? Eh, I listen to most stuff inbetween like seemingly everyone.

But I listen to music all the time, especially in the car, and also since I'm going to college shortly (3 months), I really want to enlighten myself about, and expose myself to, some good ol' rock music. Been a Stones fan for awhile, fan of The Who, a little Queen, but on a more contemporary note (no pun intended, sorry), my exposure goes to the White Stripes and that's it (who are pretty badass).

In short, please throw me in the right direction. The Strokes? The Killers? KT Tunstall? I've sampled some of them, and I guess they're legit, but who should I be listening too? Albums? Tracks? Subgenres?

[salo]

The good thing about going to college is that your roommates and dormmates will do most of that for you. They'll be playing music mid-day with their doors open exposing you to all kinds of stuff, whether you like or not! ;) What you've listed so far is a pretty solid foundation. Throw in some Pink Floyd and you're all good.

Look into classic Metallica (i.e. before Load) too. They were quit symphonic back in the day. Smashing Pumpkins pre-Machina is phenominal too.

[blacvaginafinda]

I think the best possible starting point any newcomer to rock would be The Ramones. Then here are a few acts to familiarize yourself with:

The early nineties rock scene produced some truly amazing bands/albums. I would definitely give Nirvana and Soundgarden comprehensive listens, and if you like them, there is no reason not to check out Pearl Jam's early stuff, or Alice in Chains.

Any true rock fan knows that The Stooges 'Funhouse' album is probably the greatest record ever released, but that might be too intense for someone like you who hasn 't really heard much noisy rock over the years. But if you wanted something more recent, then forget The Killers or shit like that. Here are a couple newer albums that are great:

Black Keys-Attack and Release
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club-Baby 81
Grinderman-Self Titled
Interpol-Turn on the Bright Lights

I think you're a long way from being able to comprehend some of the more difficult listens, ie a Brian Jonestown Massacre or My Bloody Valentine but baby steps man, baby steps.

And Led Zeppelin man! Come on, buy Led Zeppelin IV and play it as loud as fucking possible.

[Tree0404]

Bruce Springsteen

- Born to Run
- Darkness on the Edge of Town
- Born in the USA (There are better albums by springsteen, but USA is probably necessary before others)

Bob Dylan

- Blonde on Blonde
- Highway 61 Revisited
- Blood On the Tracks

[salo]

And Led Zeppelin man! Come on, buy Led Zeppelin IV and play it as loud as fucking possible.
Yeah, double-down on Led Zeppelin. They've defined and re-defined rock 'n' roll many times over.

Oh, and Guns 'n' Roses Appetite for Destruction; another game-changing record. Good thing is that they went out on top so all their albums are solid, but still, none can touch Appetite.

[Homyrrh]

I think the best possible starting point any newcomer to rock would be The Ramones. Then here are a few acts to familiarize yourself with:

The early nineties rock scene produced some truly amazing bands/albums. I would definitely give Nirvana and Soundgarden comprehensive listens, and if you like them, there is no reason not to check out Pearl Jam's early stuff, or Alice in Chains.

Any true rock fan knows that The Stooges 'Funhouse' album is probably the greatest record ever released, but that might be too intense for someone like you who hasn 't really heard much noisy rock over the years. But if you wanted something more recent, then forget The Killers or shit like that. Here are a couple newer albums that are great:

Black Keys-Attack and Release
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club-Baby 81
Grinderman-Self Titled
Interpol-Turn on the Bright Lights

I think you're a long way from being able to comprehend some of the more difficult listens, ie a Brian Jonestown Massacre or My Bloody Valentine but baby steps man, baby steps.

And Led Zeppelin man! Come on, buy Led Zeppelin IV and play it as loud as fucking possible.
Definitely understand the 'baby steps'. When I talk idie rap with people, they're completely baffled that politics, depth, religion, chorusless tracks, rhymes with more than one syllable, etc., have any place in the genre.
Bruce Springsteen

- Born to Run
- Darkness on the Edge of Town
- Born in the USA (There are better albums by springsteen, but USA is probably necessary before others)

Bob Dylan

- Blonde on Blonde
- Highway 61 Revisited
- Blood On the Tracks
Springsteen: See where I'm from? Do ya? Kidding, but Springsteen's definitel proven his legitimacy on the few tracks of his that I've heard. As for Dylan, I don't consider him rock as much as folk/singer-songwriter (and the best there was); remember that whole fiasco when he showed onstage with a 'lectric? Regardless, I've been a lifelong fan.
Yeah, double-down on Led Zeppelin. They've defined and re-defined rock 'n' roll many times over.

Oh, and Guns 'n' Roses Appetite for Destruction; another game-changing record. Good thing is that they went out on top so all their albums are solid, but still, none can touch Appetite.

Thanks for seconding LZ. Seems no one's ever said a bad thing.

Anymore recs on contemporary artists?

[Superplasmatron]

I love classical, and W.A. Mozart is my favorite musician. I am a conosseiur of rap, and love nothing better. Eclectic? Eh, I listen to most stuff inbetween like seemingly everyone.

But I listen to music all the time, especially in the car, and also since I'm going to college shortly (3 months), I really want to enlighten myself about, and expose myself to, some good ol' rock music. Been a Stones fan for awhile, fan of The Who, a little Queen, but on a more contemporary note (no pun intended, sorry), my exposure goes to the White Stripes and that's it (who are pretty badass).

In short, please throw me in the right direction. The Strokes? The Killers? KT Tunstall? I've sampled some of them, and I guess they're legit, but who should I be listening too? Albums? Tracks? Subgenres?

none of the above

I'd say muse, stereolab, trans am, joe satriani, fugazi, battles, boredoms and labradford.

[Le_Big_Mac]

The Beatles
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
Jimi Hendrix
The Ramones
The Clash
The Sex Pistols
Nirvana
Radiohead
Nine Inch Nails
Guns 'N Roses
Metallica
Aerosmith
Beastie Boys
Black Sabbath
Creedence Clearwater Revival
R.E.M.

That's all you'll need for starters and to survive college social life.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Start out with...
The Beatles
Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Doors
Led Zeppelin
The Rolling Stones

Then when you move on to slightly more alternative artists like...
David Bowie
R.E.M.
T. Rex
The Smiths
The Velvet Underground

When you decide you're sick and tired of rock, I'd suggest you move on to...
Blur
Fugazi
My Bloody Valentine
Pavement
Pixies

Or, there are a lot of good bands that practically wear their influences on their shoulder like The Strokes, Oasis, The Killers, etc. These bands might help you want to dig deeper.

[LordSimen]

Deep Purple
Blue Oyster Cult
Black Sabbath
Danzig
Van Halen
Bon Jovi
The Eagles
Pink Floyd
Guns N' Roses
Alice in Chains
David Bowie
Aerosmith
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Doors
Alice Cooper
AC/DC
Primus
Priestess
ZZ Top
Queen
Rage Against The Machine
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Weezer
Rush
Skid Row
Temple of the Dog
Living Colour
Tool
The White Stripes
Twisted Sister
3
Rob Zombie
White Zombie
Gorillaz

This list is pretty much all you'll need to start your trek into rock music. If you ever decide that you want to venture into more metal inclined music I could always make you another list, it'd just be longer. :D

[BadCoverVersion]

tunstall is about as rock as st.winifreds school choir and twice as irksome!

try some nick cave/grinderman for size, he's pretty rock!

[Psychocandy]

tunstall is about as rock as st.winifreds school choir and twice as irksome!

try some nick cave/grinderman for size, he's pretty rock!

Much as I hate this particular phrase and feel certain that I deserve to be garrotted with piano wire (or cheese wire if you're a cheap motherfucker)...I gotta say on both accounts. Quoted for truth!!!

I would happily feed Tunstall cunt first into a woodchipper.

Nick Cave on the other hand. I would crown him king of the world and let him lay waste to all who dared oppose him.

[athf1980]

stick with rock Bands from 1960's & 1970's. There is some good bands from 1990's & 1980's

Stay away from most bands from this decade. For the most part rock music this decade as sucked from my POV.

[countchocula]

Grunge (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains) is a GREAT place to start if you're "getting into" rock. Even post-grunge (Veruca Salt, Bush, Silverchair) would work.

[X-Nightcrawler]

Nirvana, Guns N' Roses, Pearl Jam all kick ass.

Just stay away from fucking The Hives and The White Stripes.

Sorry, I can't stand the shitty vocals for more than two phrases.

[Ayestrain]

Old school:

Pink Floyd
Jimi Hendrix
Soft Machine
King Crimson
The Byrds
Jethro Tull
13th Floor Elevators
Traffic
Neil Young
Roxy Music / Brian Eno
Black Sabbath
Miles Davis' electric era
The Clash

Exceptional New Rock:

Dead Meadow
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Autolux
Catherine Wheel
Darker My Love
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Enon
Joe Henry
PJ Harvey
Failure / Ken Andrews
Liars
Low
Nine Inch Nails
Mark Lanegan Band
Pinback
Queens Of The Stone Age
Ride
Spiritualized
Tool
Super Furry Animals
Radiohead

[Zeems McSnatch]

For Old School Rock might I suggest picking up Pink Floyds "Delicate Sound of Thunder", utterly amazing live album.

For some contemporary rock check out "The color and the shape" & "In your honor" by the Foo Fighters, as well as "Ten" by Pearl Jam

[Homyrrh]

Not sure if anyone grabbed the pun in the thread title...

...but how does RAdiohead compare to some other bands? NEver really had much exposure to them.

[countchocula]

Radiohead can be very inaccessible, although The Bends and Ok Computer are amazing albums. Everything after that would be hard to get into for a rock novice.

[starcat]

Guns n Fuckin Roses!!!

[john_rambo]

Back In Black By AC/DC

Get Both Volumes of CCR's greatest hits

and my favorite album of all time

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles

[Le_Big_Mac]

Not sure if anyone grabbed the pun in the thread title...

...but how does RAdiohead compare to some other bands? NEver really had much exposure to them.

I probably wouldn't start with them. They're so progressive, it might turn you off. But once you've had some experience, you can handle the weirder stuff. The Bends and OK Computer are probably their two most accessible albums.

[damien22]

That's all you'll need for starters and to survive college social life.

Aren't you fifteen?

[Le_Big_Mac]

Aren't you fifteen?

Well, I'm making some assumptions based on the type of music that's referred to as "college rock" and on what kids I know like. It usually doesn't seem to change.

[Ex-Hendrix]

DAVID BOWIE. Start with Ziggy Stardust or the 2-disc Greatest Hits and go from there.

THE ARCADE FIRE. Start with Funeral and go from there, though Neon Bible might be a little more accessible as far as production goes.

PIXIES. Holy shit, get all of their albums now. This is important. But if you have to start with one, go with Trompe Le Monde (most accessible and my personal favorite) or Doolittle (most eclectic with a lot of their best songs on it, also masturbation material for most music critics).

U2. Some people love them, some people hate them, but they're at least worth trying out. Start with Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby, both critically lauded and totally awesome.

In addition to Beatles, Stones, etc. Try to get into some Velvet Underground while you're at it. Good shit.

[Rated R]

While they were mentioned in passing, I will go in depth about Queens of the Stone Age.

Their entire catalogue is a wonder to behold. Their most accessible is probably Songs for the Deaf. It features a wide array of styles, from screaming rock, to long moody melodies to poppy up beat tunes. It is a concept album - a simple one, but a concept nevertheless - of driving through the desert switching radio stations as you go. Basically the perfect road trip album.

As much as I love it, it's probably my least favourite of theirs. After you plow through it, I'd suggest moving on to their Self Titled or Rated R. Both are spectacular and fairly straightforward, self-titled moreso. Rated R followed two years after self-titled and showed a ton of progression. More voices, more complex songs while maintaining a smooth flow. In the Fade is one of my favourite all time songs (sung by Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees - another suggestion of mine).

Era Vulgaris is their newest album, and took the longest for me to appreciate. At first I though only half the album was any good at all with the other tracks (namely Battery Acid, Run Pig Run, Misfit Love and River in the Road) being a mangled mess of noise and lacking the character and appeal of their previous records. After several months (the other albums were instant love) I have come to the conclusion that it is a solid record, better now a year later after I saw them perform in Halifax last week. I still feel it tapers off at the end a bit, but Battery Acid is a frenetic wonder of a tune. My favourite tracks: Suture up Your Future, Make it Wit Chu (despite being overplayed is a beautiful song) and Into The Hollow.

Finally, and I know many will disagree, Lullabies to Paralyze is my favourite album of the decade. It's dark, dreary and plays like a book by the Brothers Grimm. It is a work of art that you might not expect from a group labelled as "stoner rock". Some thought that losing bassist Nick Oliveri and going back to a world without Dave Grohl as drummer would result in a sub-par record. Not so. It builds and builds for the first half until exploding into a series of great rock tunes starting with Something's In the Wolf. This is a complex album that will not appeal to everyone, but nothing touches it for me. Favourite tracks: Everybody Knows That You're Insane, Broken Box, You've Got a Killer Scene There Man, Burn The Witch and the amazing I Never Came.

After Queens, check out Kyuss. Queens frontman played with them in the early 90's and while they are different, they can provide a great companion listen. I could list a bunch of others, but I don't have time to go into detail about them at the moment. If you do check them out, and don't dig them at first, put it down and wait a week and try it again. Let me know what you think.

[RicochetShaw]

where are you going to college?