"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." - Beethoven |
I listen to a variety of music. I can't say I really prefer one type over the other, since my tastes seem to change according to my mood. Here I have gathered some brief explanations of the different types I enjoy, a listing of my current CD collection, and some links for you to explore if you find yourself curious. Also, if you are feeling up to it please take a moment to browse my recommendations in my online store. |
Blues | Celtic | Classical |
Country | Jazz | Industrial |
Lounge | New Age | New Wave |
Punk | Reggae | Rock |
Rockabilly | Ska | Soundtracks |
Blues music is basically what its name implies. It derived from the work songs and spirituals of the early African Americans when they were enslaved in America. It became a principal basis of the jazz idiom. Blues music is usually with guitar, harmonica or piano accompaniment. Some of my favorite Blues artists include; Billie Holiday, Jon Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, and Bessie Smith. A few online sources for you: The
Blue Cafe |
Music from the Celtic society, primarily Irish, Scottish, and Welsh. Jigs, reels, horn pipes, laments, gavottes, flings, marches, and waltzes are typical of the tunes played in Celtic music. Some of the instruments used in this music are; guitar, pipes, bouzouki, bodhran, flute, fiddle, and more modern versions use the synthesizer. Some of my favorite Celtic artists include; Bill Whelan, Clannad, Anna Mhoireach, Declan Masterson, and Tabache. A few online sources for you: Ceolas |
Clearly a genre that will see no end. Classical music can range greatly depending on the period, the region and the composer. Often looked upon as the "aristocrat's music" classical music remains timeless and inspiring despite the individual's background. Most of classical music is played on the typical orchestral instruments such as; piano, violin, flute, clarinet, etc. as well as the vocal aspects of opera. Some of my favorite pieces include; Mozart's Flute Concerto No. 2, Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and Bach's Violin Partita No. 1. A few online sources for you: Opera Web Italy |
Good old country and western. Perhaps the best known genre of music for America. It too can range by period, region and composer. Though I am not crazy over traditional western music, I have been known to listen to some Hank Williams at times. Traditionally, country music involves the guitar and a good southern accent, but nowadays country can take on just about any instrument. Some of my favorite country artists include; Garth Brooks, Dwight Yoakam, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Patsy Cline, and Reba McEntire. A few online sources for you: CountrySong.com |
Jazz may well be the first "American" style music. Rhythmically complex, with a strong emphasis on syncopation, it is often highly improvisatory. It was born in the work songs, laments and spirituals of the African American slaves and derived ultimately from African music. It grew greatly in the early 20th century to give way to various styles such as Ragtime, Blues, Big Band, Swing, "Cool", Free Form and even the basis for what we call New Age today among others. Some of my favorite jazz artists include; Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Benny Goodman. A few online sources for you: Dixieland
Jazz |
Not a simple genre to define. Basically all Industrial music has one thing in common, the majority of the work is produced by electronic means. Using sound clips from movies, newscasts, radio talk shows, as well as other types of audio clips - called sampling - is a common theme in Industrial music. Often considered dark and gothic, Industrial music is not what one would call "easy listening". The names of the bands should be enough to warn you if you are unsure of the content. Some of my favorite Industrial artists include; Ministry, KMFDM, 10,000 Homo DJs, Joy Division, and the Revolting Cocks. A few online sources for you: Ed Klein's Database |
Cool, suave and sophisticated. Deriving from jazz, lounge music is sometimes referred to as "The White Man's Jazz". Lounge music usually includes a piano, drums and of course a great smooth voice. Grab your lounge jacket, a cool black pipe, and a strong martini... Some of my favorite lounge artists include; Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Sammy Davis, Jr. and of course Wayne Newton. A few online sources for you: New Jack
Web: Lounge Nation |
The roots of this music comes from jazz, but the philosophy behind it is quite different than the beginnings of jazz. An intellectual state of mind drawing upon Eastern mysticism and Western occultism. Nowadays, the New Age music is more open to interpretation. To define simply, New Age is mostly electronic music with an enlightening edge to it. It reminds me of a dream in musical form. New Age music can often be found on movie soundtracks. Some of my favorite New Age artists include; Enya, Vangelis, Mannheim Steamroller, Tangerine Dream, and Ray Lynch. A few online sources for you: Enya MIDI
Archive |
New Wave is a bit like a softer version of Punk Rock. Finding its beginnings in the 1970's, New Wave was mostly an underground musical genre. It grew in popularity in Europe and Japan, but found some fans in America as well. The common instruments used are guitar, drums, bass, and keyboard. Some of my favorite New Wave bands include; Blondie, The Cure, Flock of Seagulls, Haircut One Hundred, and The Waitresses. A few online sources for you: New
Wave Complex |
Punk Rock came forth from the boredom of young rebels. In the 1970's there were those who did not conform to the disco fad and rebelled creating a new genre. America experienced a second British Invasion so to speak in the mid 1970's making way for a new era of music. Punk also saw its movement expand to such sub-genres as Ska, Oi, New Wave and believe it or not it had a big influence on Heavy Metal. One could also say that Punk opened the doors to what we call Alternative today. Punk is often in your face, bitter angst with a dark portrait of life's trials behind the lyrics. Some of my favorite Punk artists include; The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys, The Toy Dolls, X, and Throwing Muses. Some online sources for you: Women of 1970s
Punk |
Often considered a branch of jazz music Reggae has its roots in Jamaica. It combines American rock and soul with calypso and other Latin - American rhythms. Usually Reggae is an upbeat dance style music, but some also has deep meaningful lyrics and profound political statements. Some of my favorite Reggae artists include; Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Yello and UB40. A few online sources for you: Jammin Reggae Archives |
Well, if you don't know what rock 'n' roll is, you shouldn't even bother looking at my music pages. Still, let me enlighten you a little on the subject. The father of modern music, Rock is the dominant pop-music style since the late 1950's. In its beginnings it was known as "rock 'n' roll," a white rendition of the black musical mode called rhythm and blues. Rock's first superstar, Elvis Presley, hit on a combination of hard-driving rhythm and blues with country and western music. Rock was transformed when the British Invasion came in the 1960's, thanks to the legendary Beatles. Bands such as the Rolling Stones remixed the original ingredients, adding wit, sensuality and new musical textures, forms and rhythms giving rise to new branches of the music. Rock also produced musical styles such as soul music, folk rock, acid rock, glitter rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk rock, and disco to name a few not to mention Alternative. Nowadays rock is not simply defined because of its diversity, nonetheless it remains the most popular form of modern music. I have too many favorite artists in this category to name all of them, but you can take a look at my cd collection to get an idea on what I like. |
Rockabilly is what its name implies - Rock music mixed in with some hillbilly style. Best defined as Rock meets Kentucky Blue Grass meets Swing. Rockabilly is very similar to Ska music too. It has grown greatly since its beginning in the early 1980's. The band the Stray Cats are most likely the most popular rockabilly band. The most common instruments used in this genre are guitar, stand up bass, drums, brass instruments, and banjos. A few online sources for you: Radio Zoot
Suit |
Ska music is like jazz, reggae, swing, punk, and rock all rolled into one. One of my favorite genres to listen to when I really want to have some fun. Quite an experience to see live too! Ska bands have many types of instruments, specializing in the brass section. Some of my favorite Ska artists include; The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Dance Hall Crashers, The Toasters, Madness, and The Specials. A few online sources for you: Rudenet |
OK, so this isn't really a genre, nonetheless soundtracks are my absolute favorite. The reason being is that one can find all sorts of goodies on a soundtrack. From scores, to sound clips to individual artists. Some of my favorite soundtracks include; Twin Peaks, Braveheart, Xena, Glory, Red, Blade Runner, Labyrinth, Grosse Pointe Blank, Pulp Fiction, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. Some of my favorite soundtrack composers include; James Horner, Zbigniew Preisner, Angelo Badalamenti, Joseph LoDuca, Vangelis and Michael Nyman. The best sources for you to explore soundtracks is by visiting an individual movie's or TV show's homepage. But I did manage to find some fun TV tunes sites: The 80s TV
Theme SuperSite |