For My Sanity--DH Needs New Music!!

[ramama]

So, DH is quite a bit older than I am, an original hippie. He listens mostly to 60's folk music, which is all fine and good, but there is no "new" 60's music, so I've listened to the same stuff for 9 years. I'm going insane!

Okay, I'll admit, that I'm in a bit of a rut too. I love my opera, but it's not so good for a house-cleaning groove.

Does anyone have recommendations for artists who have an environmental and social awareness message? From different countries and cultures would be very welcome as well. Neither of us enjoy country music, but everything else is cool with us. Oh, and although I enjoy rap music, DH does not because he is hard of hearing and can't understand it.

Thanks!

[fireant]

Neil Young is still coming up with new songs and he's big into social stuffs.

I love the Magnetic Fields, Of Montreal, and the Sea and Cake....but I don't think there are much environmental or social awareness messages in these performers.

[plantmama]

Haha, at least your dh's high school and college music isn't marilyn manson and black sabbath.

We listen to "folkalley.com" a lot and they have lots of new folk singers. It's definitely a different sound than the old stuff. Have you listened to Townes Van Zandt and Dave Van Ronk much? They are old but not as popular so not as ubiquitous.
I love Dar Williams but that might be a woman thing, dh isn't a fan
Richard Shindell is another fave of mine and I can think of quite a few songs about social justice issues that he's done. Joan Baez does several of his songs in her newer stuff. Dh prefers celtic I guess and traditional country/ bluegrass. He's enjoyed Lunasa, Solas..Martin Hayes, The Bothy Band.
I love Victor Jara. He's Chilean. Very beautiful social justice musician, such a sad story. He's from the 70s.
If you can do music through the computer I recommend the folk alley and "WUMB" sites. We get it through iTunes radio feature. They do interviews and stuff and generally play great music.
hth

[Thalia the Muse]

Here are some bands that may appeal to the hippiesh and folky:

Kula Shaker (I just LOVE them! If he wants "new '60s music," this is the band to check out)
Richard Thompson
Los Lobos (strong social justice sensibility, and musically they're outstanding)
Kinky (bilingual Mexican American rock/alternative)

[terrordactyl]

michael franti is awesome so is brett dennen, ben harper, yonder mountain string band, the allman brother band, dispatch, jack johnson, donovan frankenreiter, johnbutler trio

[merpk]

I know he's old, but the new Bob Dylan album (do they call them albums anymore? ) is outrageous.

[Leilamus]

Levon Helm's last album won the grammy for folk album of the year. he was the drummer for The Band and his talent is incredible. i saw him this summer and couldn't get over how great his new stuff is. it does fall under bluegrass a little but i wouldn't call it country.

michael franti, ray lamontagne, putamayo has a contemporary folk cd that's great, and the newport folk fest puts out compilations too.