Good Starter CDs

[Deleted]

Goggle, you will not be disappointed; Dar is really gifted and lots of fun live.
I recommend Mortal City, which has a nice blend of "deep" songs and "fun" songs (See: The Christians and the Pagans).

[sleepy]

This might be an odd request, but I figured if anyone would know it would be the people here. Can you recommend any good Middle Eastern music for someone who doesn't know a lot about it? Specifically, I'm interested in classical Persian or traditional Turkish music, but I'm open to other suggestions (except I'm really not interested in contemporary Middle Eastern pop music).

[carrier76]

RE: The Queen greatest hits. Back in 1992, Hollywood Records released the Classic Queen/Queen Greatest Hits CDs, and I think those are a good place to start. The trick about the maroon GH album is that it doesn't have "Bohemian Rhapsody." That's on "Classic Queen." CQ has more of their '80s hits. They go well together. Apparently their old 1982 Greatest Hits album has been re-released with some new tracks, so you could look after that too.

Or, if we knew each other, I could make you a CD. I love Queen.

[heyalice]

carrier, you are too adorable. Thank you very much. Loves me some Queen.

[starskin]

I have a friend who is virtually unacquainted with U2. And by 'virtually unacquainted' I mean that she has only heard "With or Without You" and "Where the Streets Have No Names" this year.

(Deep breaths, deep breaths. Trying to beat down the rabid fangirl within me. Ahem.)

I am making it my personal mission to remedy this. So what do you think? Should I start her out with early U2, which is what got me so into them in the first place, or with The Joshua Tree, since she's already familiar with it, and, oh yeah, it's an absolute classic? Or do you recommend something that I'm not thinking of? I think that something like Zooropa, while great, is perhaps a little too adventurous for this instance, but you never know.

[sleepy]

Definitely Joshua Tree, because that's such a classic. And while I love the stuff before that, I wouldn't start her with those because they do sound dated. What about Achtung Baby? That's pretty accessible.

[Daisy Pusher]

starskin said:

I have a friend who is virtually unacquainted with U2. And by 'virtually unacquainted' I mean that she has only heard "With or Without You" and "Where the Streets Have No Names" this year.

(Deep breaths, deep breaths. Trying to beat down the rabid fangirl within me. Ahem.)

I am making it my personal mission to remedy this. So what do you think? Should I start her out with early U2, which is what got me so into them in the first place, or with The Joshua Tree, since she's already familiar with it, and, oh yeah, it's an absolute classic? Or do you recommend something that I'm not thinking of? I think that something like Zooropa, while great, is perhaps a little too adventurous for this instance, but you never know.

The Joshua Tree is a good one. Zooropa, I agree is probably the equivalent of asking her to run before she can walk. I have been a U2 fan since the beginning, and I have to say All That You Can't Leave Behind and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb are fantastic works, and I think a great way to start her. Let he work her way back to October slowly.....

[starskin]

Thanks, guys. Yeah, I think I'm going to go with my original plan and give her a copy of The Joshua Tree, because really, it is era-defining. While War and October are my sentimental favorites, I don't think she'd be very into the post-punk vibe of those albums.

And is HTDAAB good? I've been hesitating to buy it because damn, "Vertigo" annoys the piss out of me. Although I do like "City of Blinding Lights". Should I put aside my qualms and give it a try?

[Daisy Pusher]

starskin said:

Should I put aside my qualms and give it a try?

Yes, do. I'm not a huge fan of "Vertigo" either, but the rest of the CD is terrific.

[mariposalabrown]

I have a agenda, in that I can't stand U2, except for that video when he would stand up in the football game.

Does anyone have a good place to start with Lou Reed?