First 3 A-Ha albums are as good as each other. They really fell off a cliff after that though, to the extent that they needn't have bothered with any of the rest of it

Radiohead - Hail To The Thief.

Picked this up lately on a whim and fuck it's great. Loads of variety and great ideas. Had a read about it and it seems it was a little maligned at the time but I can't honestly see why. Fair enough it isn't as obviously out there as Kid A or Amnesiac but what does that matter when it's a great album in itself?

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kPII4LpY7zRLIeNQkBNKpbQE4NV2mkHSc

Mellow Candle - Swaddling songs.
An Irish folk-rock band I just found out about recently. This is from 1972 and is their only album, with one single beforehand.
Really melodically rich and goes nicely with some time spent relaxing with your favourite intoxicants.
If you enjoy Pentangle, early Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span, you may find plenty to like on here.

Pretenders new album is excellent.

I'd like to do a bit of a tribute recommended non metal album for one that I brought up as an example in a discussion recently, one of those many, let's say, era defining discussions we had of late... Some sample lyrics first, taken from various songs on it, and then a link to the whole thing to enjoy with your morning mugs of coffee  ;)

QuoteJust on the border of your waking mind
There lies another time
Where darkness and light are one
And as you tread the halls of sanity
You feel so glad to be, unable to go beyond
I have a message from another time...

It's either real or it's a dream
There's nothing that is in between
(Twilight) I only meant to stay awhile
(Twilight) I'll give you time
To steal my mind...

I sent a message to another time
But as the days unwind, this I just can't believe
I sent a note across another plane
Maybe it's all a game, but this I just can't conceive...

Remember the good old 1980s?
When things were so uncomplicated?
I wish I could go back there again
And everything could be the same...

...here I stand in the strangest land
Not knowing what to say or do
As I gaze around at these strangers in town
I guess the only stranger is me
And I wonder (Yes, I wonder)
Yes, I wonder (Oh, I wonder)
Is this the way life's meant to be?

Here is the news
Here is the news
Here is the news...

Things ain't how you thought they were
Nothing have you planned
So pick up your penny and your suitcase
You're not a 21st century man.


Electric Light Orchestra - Time
Released 2 July 1981
FFO - Nostalgia


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJRmR4yc0zw

They've probably been mentioned here but the most recent Lankum album "The Livelong Day" is my favourite non metal album in a long time. Very nice droney Irish folk. I saw a photo of one of their members with a Meshuggah t-shirt on too. 

Peter Finger - Niemandsland



Incredible fingerstyle acoustic guitar. Saw him live a few years back and have been spinning him regularly since. Brilliant stuff.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB71d86vK4c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO1obIL_Yv0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o58KkExep4

Just had a look at yer man Peter Finger there. Total control of the guitar, I've never seen such flawless technique. Young lad even stopped playing the PlayStation to have a gawp at the video. Good call lad.

This is some performance by A-WA on Tiny Desk.
Both beautiful and mesmerising....


https://youtu.be/nbt-fm5DcQ0

Quote from: Caomhaoin on July 22, 2020, 11:02:37 AM
Just had a look at yer man Peter Finger there. Total control of the guitar, I've never seen such flawless technique. Young lad even stopped playing the PlayStation to have a gawp at the video. Good call lad.

Glad you liked it. Not on the linked album but this is the track that prompted me to go see him live. fantastic.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZntrQyHftiY

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on July 22, 2020, 09:02:33 AM
I'd like to do a bit of a tribute recommended non metal album for one that I brought up as an example in a discussion recently, one of those many, let's say, era defining discussions we had of late... Some sample lyrics first, taken from various songs on it, and then a link to the whole thing to enjoy with your morning mugs of coffee  ;)

QuoteJust on the border of your waking mind
There lies another time
Where darkness and light are one
And as you tread the halls of sanity
You feel so glad to be, unable to go beyond
I have a message from another time...

It's either real or it's a dream
There's nothing that is in between
(Twilight) I only meant to stay awhile
(Twilight) I'll give you time
To steal my mind...

I sent a message to another time
But as the days unwind, this I just can't believe
I sent a note across another plane
Maybe it's all a game, but this I just can't conceive...

Remember the good old 1980s?
When things were so uncomplicated?
I wish I could go back there again
And everything could be the same...

...here I stand in the strangest land
Not knowing what to say or do
As I gaze around at these strangers in town
I guess the only stranger is me
And I wonder (Yes, I wonder)
Yes, I wonder (Oh, I wonder)
Is this the way life's meant to be?

Here is the news
Here is the news
Here is the news...

Things ain't how you thought they were
Nothing have you planned
So pick up your penny and your suitcase
You're not a 21st century man.


Electric Light Orchestra - Time
Released 2 July 1981
FFO - Nostalgia


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJRmR4yc0zw

Great, great band and a fantastic album

I was obsessed with Marc Bolan and T.Rex a good few years ago. Only recently coming back to him again. He used to be featured a lot on TV back in the late 90'/2000's and what can you say really, songwriting perfection. One of the greats, I can't imagine what he might have achieved if he hadn't died so soon. 2 of his best albums below. Massive influence on god knows what came after including metal.


https://youtu.be/s2o_e55IPQ4


https://youtu.be/sfA6ucQE92k

Quote from: 101_North on July 22, 2020, 10:19:59 AM
Peter Finger - Niemandsland



Incredible fingerstyle acoustic guitar. Saw him live a few years back and have been spinning him regularly since. Brilliant stuff.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB71d86vK4c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO1obIL_Yv0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o58KkExep4

Very nice!

And here's some Al diMeola if you liked the above



https://youtu.be/hhccIfevjCU

Fair chance this will be familiar to a lot of ye already, but if not, this is sublime


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kArAUMqmYBA

American folk singer with a really unique blend of influences and unmistakable vocals. Fucking genius guitar and piano work. I don't really even know how to describe this adequately at all, the music will have to speak for itself.

Quote from: Yung Led Zeppelin on July 24, 2020, 10:55:16 AM
Fair chance this will be familiar to a lot of ye already, but if not, this is sublime


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kArAUMqmYBA

American folk singer with a really unique blend of influences and unmistakable vocals. Fucking genius guitar and piano work. I don't really even know how to describe this adequately at all, the music will have to speak for itself.

That's really something. Listening to it here.