So, here's the deal. Everyone puts up this list on their home page of music they like, and sometimes music they hate. Usually it's a bunch of stuff you've already heard of, like Ministry, Bauhaus, Chopin, Celine Dion, or Billy Ray Cyrus, and now you've got a convenient pigeonhole in which to stash the author. Other than that, it's not (to me, anyway) particularly educational. Further, it's of no help whatsoever when the list looks like mine would: Thomas Dolby, CSN, Pink Floyd, Primus, Waylon Jennings, Skinny Puppy, Dead Can Dance, Ani DiFranco, Billie Holiday... see what I mean?

Instead, I figure you might enjoy being introduced to some artists and bands that I really like who are far enough from mainstream that most folks won't have heard of them. At some point I'll add some audio clips in various formats so this can be (much) more useful... maybe it will induce some folks to actually buy an album or two, and GEMM (global electronic music marketplace) won't be the only place to find these folks anymore. (It'll still be a darn fine place to do your CD shopping, though).

First, in the folk and/or "world music" categories:

Kavisha Mazella - quite good female vocalist from Fremantle (West Australia).

Zakir Hussain - perhaps the best tabla player in the world, and definitely one of the top percussionists alive today.

Cabaret Diosa - Latin swing, maybe? Imagine Squirrel Nut Zippers playing tango music and you'll not be far off. Good music, but you should really see them live because the performance is half the fun.

Capercaillie - Gaelic folk.

Indy sorta stuff

Looper - Stuart David (bassist for Belle & Sebastian) and friends; listen to a RealAudio clip of Burning Flies as it's easier than describing them. (Sorry about the RealAudio; that's their choice, not mine...)

2NU - Seattle band that came out around the same time that grunge was supposed to be "alternative". 2NU is certainly alternative (in the sense of "not mainstream"... but definitely not grunge. Check out their website for some RealAudio clips, info on their NEW ALBUM (!), etc.

Rock/pop

Dweezil Zappa - yup, Frank Zappa's son. Most folks who are seriously into Frank Zappa are seriously *not* into Dweezil. I must not be seriously into Frank, because I really enjoy Dweezil's music. It's 80's guitar-rock, Steve Vai & Eddie Van Halen stuff, but somehow very unpretentious and you get the idea Dweezil's having a lot of fun making his music. As a result it makes me happy. (Frank's good too, he just doesn't belong in this list).

Techno-ish

Grid - ambient techno, backed by interesting guest musicians playing banjo, snakeskin guitar, operatic vocals, etc.