My family members often laugh at the “obscure” bands I listen to, or at least know about. They’ll throw out a group name like Jars of Clay thinking it’s freakishly obscure and laugh when I say “Yeah, they’re a Christian rock band.”
But my secret is that I’m far from hip by the standards of true hipsters. Real music geeks (and I know a few of them) are familiar with bands that have never put out a CD, bands that have played only two gigs in the back room of a pizza joint.
I’m what I think of as “New York Times” hip. Meaning I know about bands that have been written up in the Arts & Leisure section of The New York Times. Now, my parents (who are decidedly unhip when it comes to new music) read The New York Times every day, but they don’t read those articles.
My theory on local music is that most of it probably sucks. I take it on faith that if the next R.E.M. or Ben Folds Five is playing in some gin joint this weekend, their talent will help them rise to the top and I’ll read about them in The New York Times a year from now. I realize that’s pretty naive, and there are probably dozens of amazing bands who’ll never get that big break. But I’m fine with that. To me, it’s not worth wading through the garbage to get to the treasure.
Santogold is a great example of a New York Times artist. I bought this album only after reading about it in several magazines and Web sites. Her debut album is very good — a smart mix of hip-hop, pop and world music. This song, ‘I’m a Lady,’ is a favorite of mine but the whole thing is worth checking out.
You heard it here firs — um, make that tenth.
Meet Me In Montauk 
I think you were very clever to wait to unleash that comment about your parents being unhip about new music until they were on a cruise ship half way around the globe. Surely they won’t be able to comment on it and maybe they won’t even see it. 🙂
I appreciate the truly eclectic nature of your music collection. Thanks for sharing these “obscure” artists. Those of us who don’t read the NY Times Arts and Leisure section are grateful for what you do. 🙂
I first read about her in New York magazine in a profile about the cover art of her album. This is the first time I’ve actually heard her voice. I like this song (the video is a bit much), but I don’t know that I like it any more than the many female artists that occupy my music collection that I don’t listen to nearly enough. Once again, I get overwhelmed by all the new music that’s out there, so I think I intentionally avoid seeking it out, leaving it to Clay to force the best of these new artists upon me 🙂
Just to clarify, this isn’t the official video for the song… it’s some weirdness perpetrated on YouTube by a random person. But it’s the only version of the song I could find.
Good, but nothing that blows my mind. A bit of Ammie Mann infleunce, perhaps?
I’d say her main influences are 80s New Wave and 00s hip-hop. So Aimee Mann in ‘Til Tuesday mode could fit into the former.