Songs You Probably Haven't Heard Before

avatar
(Edited)

I have an eclectic taste in music. Here's an assortment I doubt you have heard before, but might introduce you to something new. If many of you have even heard of these bands before, I'd be a bit surprised. Hopefully you will find something interesting to explore from this sampler of videos!

John Hartford, Dusty Miller Hornpipe and Fugue in A Major for Strings, Brass, and 5-String Banjo

I'll start this post with a performance from John Hartford, banjo and fiddle player extraordinaire. He may be best known for his ballad Gentle On My Mind, but he was also a living library of folk music.

Stavesacre, ...The Band Played On

In the beginning, I was only sure of
Of my insignificance
And the world outside my window
Where would I begin?
I heard you say the words and I believed them
I was out of step but not alone
It seemed so right when little else did
And I believed that there was hope

Stavesacre was a 90s Christian rock band with more musicianship than most, and a peculiarly introspective lyrical style.

Joy Electric, Disco For A Ride

Worthy to be recieved
By who? You think you're king
Clarity come draped
Ignore your gravest mistakes
The mountains of books still read
Of bronze and barren deeds
You have paved the way
For what you have in store

Joy Electric was a solo experimental electronic project by Ronnie Martin, brother of Starflyer 59's Jason Martin. Both preferred to record their own music instead of chasing popularity or imitating secular acts to be the "Christian version" of something else. It's weird, but I like it.

The Last Bison, Dark Am I

Staring through every window
Staring till the glass does break
Hiding on the mountainside
Descend the cliffs and let me see your face

Do I get hipster credit for remember when when "The Last Bison" was just called "Bison?" This indie-folk-pop-rock band is worth a look if you like acoustic instruments with an extra dose of artistic pretense that is not unwarranted.

Dime Store Prophets, Yeah Sure OK Monet

Well you reach down deep, and find nothing unique
Truth is getting so hard to paint
Just chasing the wind, no place to begin
Mister, you're not the first
Try working with dirt
Yeah sure ok Monet

Back to some 90's CCM alternative rock. This tune references Ecclesiastes and Job while describing the futile pursuit of wholeness without Christ using a barrage of art metaphors under a driving guitar rock-and-roll sound.

Clear, Follow the Narrow

With great intrigue he stares ahead at the divide
An old picket gate spans across both trails
One more narrow, the other more wide
Unsure of his route, he digs deep, down into his pockets
Dirty hands unfold a worn, wrinkled map for guidance

Now for a weird blend of styles from celtic folk to pop. Clear is a band from central Minnesota, not far from where I grew up, but they didn't make it big until about the time we moved west, and I never knew the members or saw them perform live or anything.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

  • Matthew 7:13-14 ESV

Mainstream Christianity seems to have missed that narrow gate as it follows the cultural norms and tries to take the lead in a broken society through politics and commercialism. If you're following the crowd, pause a moment and rethink your course. [/sermon]

Project 86, The Forces of Radio Have Dropped a Viper Into The Rhythm Section

I'm
Analog
Two-inch tape
Vintage, warm with a potent
Hiss
Venomous
Memories
Always ready to strike like this

P86 is a wild band, and their albums shift in style as they experiment musically. The lyrics are often filled with obscure metaphors and symbolism in odd meters, but it's always at least adjacent to hard rock and metal. If you like to play loud music at loud volumes, take a listen!

Hive Divider Bar Centered.png

I don't really have a conclusion for this potpourri of video links. I know some may not work internationally, so I apologize if intellectual property laws break any of them. Please share your own obscure nostalgia-triggering music or folk-tinged favorites in the comments!

dizzy d20 128.png

HIVE | PeakD | Ecency

If you're not on Hive yet, I invite you to join through PeakD. If you use my referral link, I'll even delegate some Hive Power to help you get started.



0
0
0.000
8 comments
avatar

You are right. I have never heard of a single one!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Did any of it pique your curiosity?

!BEER

0
0
0.000
avatar

The bison chaps and the dime store prophets yeah. In fact more that I think on it I might just have heard something about the dime store prophets, or at least heard the name!

0
0
0.000
avatar

John Hartford: pretty sure I'd hear of him before, probably thanks to you. I really enjoyed this particular recording. The others were all new to me.
Stavesacre: no, thank you.
Joy Electric: different, but I kinda like it.
The Last Bison: good musicianship!
Dime Store Prophets: not my style.
Clear: also different, but I kinda like it.
Project 86: instant headache.

0
0
0.000
avatar

I myself have not heard any of these songs before but the first one I heard is very good

0
0
0.000
avatar

I found the reference to the Song of Solomon refreshing from Bison, as very few theologues dare treat of the subject matter. Sadly so, I think, as did more shepherds guide their flocks to satisfying the desires of the living without abandoning sound principles much and great suffering might have been, and may yet be, avoided (perhaps by none more than the Preachers). Still, jungle fever remains an eccentric topic and fraught with hazardous outrage, particularly for churches most in need of your sermonizing.

I liked Clear a lot. Very refreshing and suffused with sincerity. They had authenticity I wish was able to overcome John Hartford's very polished production quality. Folk music tugs the deeper at my soul less perfected than the symphonically exquisite strings accompanying banjos therein. He's obviously a great musician, but I prefer Hootenanies to Concertos.

All selections I was heretofore unfamiliar with, of better quality than most pop, and which I appreciate you bringing to my attention.

Thanks!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Most of Hartford's recordings are less... over-produced? And definitely less orchestral. I love how he can take a minstrel song and sings it as a serious ballad while still having fun dancing his own rhythm accompaniment.

He's collaborated with almost everyone, and recordings of live performances abound. Every interview and interaction seems like he exudes warmth. Have some fun exploring his work on YouTube and beyond.

0
0
0.000