Looking to discover new songs to listen to. Anything you like that is not exactly mainstream but gets you all excited?

How about some South African township pop/jive? I recommend Johnny Clegg and Juluka (http://www.johnnyclegg.com/) and Ladysmith Black Mambazo (http://www.mambazo.com/).

Into world music? Check out the Afrocelts (http://realworldrecords.com/afrocelts/) (formerly the Afro Celts Sound System). Then there are the old reliable Gypsy Kings (http://www.nonesuch.com/Hi_Band/gipsy_frame.html).

One of the greatest singer/songwriters of the 20th century, Warren Zevon (http://www.warrenzevon.com/music/index.htm), never really achieved mainstream success. A shame, because he wrote some of the smartest, most literate, most brutally honest rock songs I've ever heard. He makes Springsteen look like an amateur. Sadly, he died of cancer in in September 2003.

That'll do for now. :)

I would like to add Oliver Mtukudzi to the list of cool african music - via Nigeria.

Wolfsheim
The Pin-up girls

[Edited on 6-16-2004 by wpalomine]

Try Bhangra (http://www.bhangra.com/) :)

Kinda catchy, here is a new styled
sample (http://www.rdbdjs.com/_discography/danger3/02.%20Aaja%20Sajna.mp3)

EDIT

Another modern style sample (http://www.bhangraomega.com/new_releases/promos/jetti%20-%20off%20the%20hook/sonadil.mp3)

[Edited on 6-16-2004 by Mxzylplyk]

You can also try some brazilian music like the Tribalistas.

[Edited on 6-16-2004 by ruger]

Have you ever heard of turntablism? They're actually music made by scratch DJs. Heavily sampled music that will surely amuse you.

I highly recommend these: The Avalanches, X-ecutioners, Invisible Skratch Piklz, DJ Shadow

If you want to go old school, try Bomb The Bass.

There are tons of magnificent work in past recordings from the ECM label. Look for Jan Garbarek's music with Gregorian Chants entitled "Officium"-- wind instruments partnered with haunting voices, (not the asinine, beatbox-type we were bombarded with before).

Anything by Michael Hedges, acoustic genius waaay before all the wooden sound madness in the early 90's.

does any of the albums/artists mentioned above have something like rhythmic chorale renditions or something like indian solo wailings?