You could argue that this might not be pop perse but if you are appearing on one of Holland's major festivals (Lowlands) you sure are popular. The Kyteman Orchestra is something of a total fusion outfit mixing classical music, hiphop, rock, pop and jazz into one heady concoction. BTW, the guy frantically conducting is Kyteman (Colin Benders) and the leader / main composer of the pack:
Snowmine
Beautiful, clever, excellent vocals, tasteful arrangements - and a great live band.
Dynamo Bliss is my current favorite that falls into the "pop" category.
"So it goes."
-Kurt Vonnegut
Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?
I like the few clips from Mew i've heard in the last few hours.I'll be picking up something from them.
"please do not understand me too quickly"-andre gide
Not exactly new, but for my money Ben Folds / Ben Folds Five have put out some of the best pop in the last decade or so. Great intelligent lyrics and good music.
Someone else here mentioned Jellyfish. Long gone, but they were one of the all time greats even though they only lasted 2 albums.
To be honest I think we fit this description to a tee. Musicians from White Willow, Änglagård, Wobbler and No-Man having a whack at artsy pop.
J.
So many:
The Boxer Rebellion
The Walkmen
The War On Drugs
The Standard
The Dears
The Frames (or Glen Hansard)
The Decemberists
The Innocence Mission
The Miserable Rich
The Mommyheads
The Shins
Radar Bros.
Grizzly Bear
Shearwater
Villagers
Field Music (or The Week That Was, School of Language, the latter has a new album out)
Editors
Interpol (or Paul Banks/Julian Plenty)
White Lies
Jeremy Enigk (or Sunny Day Real Estate, The Fire Theft)
Jonathan Wilson
Spoon
Midlake
Kashmir
Arcade Fire
Dredg
Keane
Snow Patrol (or Tired Poney)
Travis
Local Natives
Death Cab For Cutie
Espers (or Greg Weeks, Meg Baird)
Tame Impala
Fiona Apple
PJ Harvey
Julia Holter
Angus & Julia Stone (or Angus Stone, Julia Stone)
Azure Ray
St. Vincent
Joanna Newsom
Joan As Police Woman
Ray Lamontagne
Pulp
Blur
Suede
Supergrass
Nits
The Tragically Hip
Cocteau Twins
Dead Can Dance
That's about my list of favorite indie/singer-songwriter-bands or artists, of whom many should appeal to progrockfans.
One of the things that has drawn me to Elbow and The National (as per the OP) is not just that there is an element of cleverness or sophistication in their music but also that there is a tangible warmth to these bands (some 'clever' bands never manage to achieve this). Elbow and The National come across as very human all while being, interestingly, massive sellers.
Perhaps Blaudzun?
And look for the Persian rugs in the beginning. (They must be prog )
I'll add a few
Foals
The Antlers
The War of Drugs
Joseph Arthur
Temples
Crippled Black Phoenix
Bon Iver
Volcano Choir
The Sea And Cake still put out good stuff.
Zeus have put out just two albums so far and both are brilliant.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Intelligent clearly means different things in different countries.
A band that sings about drinking and parties and girls can hardly be said to have intelligent lyrics.
I'll chime in on this...elbow I saw only once in 2002... Very good show...I like their first album I have more of their music but it's shelved until I'm ready for it.
Currently listening a lot of grey eye glances...great lyrical band..
Yo la tengo is my fav. Non Prog band...different texture...I saw the national open for yo la tengo in Hoboken great show..
I'll also recommend a band called lambchop...good band but just different texture...
AP
I love Guy Garvey as a person and would love his sales but must admit I found the last Elbow album and particularly that huge hit single--a bit dull. Maybe it was just overplayed. The thing that did annoy me is the critics loved it but if a middle aged "Prog" band came out with similar they would slate it. Havent heard the new one though.
I always thought the same about Cold Play and Snow Patrol as well.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Bookmarks