Good Starter CDs

[heyalice]

Unforgettable Fire is a good place to start as well.
Where does one start with Led Zepplin? I'm in a 70s rock phase.

[starskin]

That would be the Stuck in a Moment video, mariposa. I love that video and song. Actually, as much as I love U2, I have a very tempestuous love-hate relationship with Bono. Half the time I think he's brilliant, and half the time I want to punch him in the strenum.

A good place to start with Lou Reed? Well, first do a few lines of coke...Kidding. Kidding! Hmm. Do you mean the Velvet Underground or Lou Reed solo? For VU, I like their self titled third album. It's got a mellower vibe than a lot of their other stuff, and features "Candy Says", which is possibly my favorite song of theirs. Although The Velvet Undergound and Nico (with the famous banana cover) is really excellent, too, and features John Cale on viola.

Afraid I can't help you much with Lou Reed's solo stuff, but Transformer features some of his more famous songs, like "Walk on the Wild Side" and "Satelite of Love".

Hope that helps!

[carrier76]

Where does one start with Led Zepplin? I'm in a 70s rock phase

The obvious answer is Led Zeppelin IV (ZOSO), as I'm thinking that every song on that album has gotten some airplay....you've got your "Rock and Roll, "Black Dog," "Going to California," and of course, "Stairway to Heaven," which, whatever. I would also recommend "Houses of the Holy" as you get the awesomeness that is "Over the Hills and Far Away," but also Led Zeppelin II and III..."That's the Way" and "Tangerine" are not be discounted.

[sleepy]

Also, Led Zeppelin Remasters is a double CD that has all the big hits, and they're digitally... uh... remastered, so the sound quality is improved.

[gimmeshelter]

I love the new dance music inspired by 80s (Dannii Minogue's "Neon Nights", Kylie Minogue's "Body Language", Madonna "Confessions on a Dancefloor"). I also really love Rachel Stevens, too.

I've heard comparisons to Goldfrapp (for some) and I was wondering what album I should start with.

[mares]

so, I don't know how I managed to do this, but I somehow made it through the 90's without really listening to any Radiohead, and now after recently becoming obsessed with Muse and hearing all of the comparisons, I am trying to make up for lost time... I've got OK Computer, The Bends, and Kid A... would you say those are good starting points? or does anyone else have any recommendations? I really like what I've heard so far, and I'm honestly a little dumbfounded as to how I haven't been listening to them already in the last ten years.

[spider]

Pretty much the only other Radiohead I'd recommend is Pablo Honey. They don't have a ton of albums.

For Lou Reed: Velvet underground with Nico is the traditional starting place.

How about John Hiatt? I have Walk On and some other songs on a mix tape but that's it.

[tinyshoes]

spider said:

How about John Hiatt? I have Walk On and some other songs on a mix tape but that's it.

Slow Turning is a good place to start, and so is Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan?, his live album.

[venusdiva429]

pathtaken said:

What would be some good starter cds for a preteen getting into music?
In my day it was get your older siblings left over albums [Beatles, Kinks, Led Zepplin]
What would you recommend for a 12 yr old that's over Hillary Duff?

You can get the 2nd Seal CD. It's wonderful, musically rich, and he's so very talented. Human Beings, his third one, is great, too, but it's right after his breakup with Tyra Banks. It's definitely his most bitter CD. I recommend him because his stuff is very uplifting and honest.

[kayti2212]

goggle said:

There's a music festival in my town this July and one of the headliners is Dar Williams. Since it's a short walk from my house and cheap, I'll go, even though I haven't heard her music before. Any recommendations on what albums/songs of hers to hear?

I only know one Dar Williams song, which is 'Closer To Me' (thank you, Laguna Beach!), and just lovely. I listened to it non-stop for a short period of time. I believe she's classified as a country/folk singer, but this song isn't particularly country or folk, although you do hear the influence.