The Folk Music Thread

One of my favourite genres. I love the relaxing but sometimes melancholy feel of much of the genre and often emphasis on lyrics (unlike much of my metal )

So here's my short guide to folk:

Nick Drake... released 3 perfect albums, and I honestly can't think of a bad song from him.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

River Man


At the Chime of a City Clock


Pink Moon

Leonard Cohen. Genius lyrics (easily rivals Dylan in my opinion), but very depressing. His singing can be an acquired taste for some, but I quite like it myself. Plus he made some hilariously cheesy albums in the 80's

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Suzanne


Famous Blue Raincoat


Something more upbeat
Diamonds in the Mine

Neil Young

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Heart of Gold


Southern Man

I especially like the acid/psychedelic folk subgenre

Comus... this is the most bizarre music you'll ever hear, it sounds like the soundtrack to a weird cult performing a human sacrifice in a forest (listen and you'll see what I mean.)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Diana


Song to Comus

Roger Rodier... much more sane than Comus, but it's still pretty 'out there'. The most underrated musician in this list... thanks to Noble Savage for discovering him

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

While My Castle's Burning


Am I Supposed to Let It By Again?

Neo-folk... different from most folk, and much more of a cult subgenre. Lyrics often concern nature, paganism etc and the music is dark and not that easy to get into, but often is atmospheric. In my opinion most of it is garbage but some bands are very good.

Agalloch... mainly a metal band with folk influences, their latest E.P. is completely neo-folk and has some really beautiful atmospheric songs.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sowilo Rune


Birch Black

Ulver also released a neo-folk album (before they played black metal and now weird experimental electronic music)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Ulvsblakk

I like folk much but my favorites depends on which folk you have on mind...

Beltaine:

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=43up5LX-YUk

Jacek Kaczmarski - Ballada Wrześniowa ( about polish september campaign in WWII )



http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Oc4_8t2VQ

Jacek Kaczmarski - Czerwcowy wicher przy kominku



http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=DWO81j4y_y8

Żywiołak ( Folk Metal Band )



http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=jysnWoD1xDk

Korpiklaani ( Also folk metal )



http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=mkZufiW8ddg

Jaromir Nohavica



http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=81NWZV0lGWE

Vladimir Vysockij (? don't know the correct spelling)



http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ2E4cf46nw

SDM



http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Z-vLieMTI

The Cracow Klezmer Band



http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=IIxLxsPBsds

Norwegian stuff:

Lumsk




Storm

Folk music internationally and folk music in the United States have different meanings and that's how this got "derailed" I think.

Folk music in the US - Roots music sound (acoustic typically, singer/songwriter, topics about life/politics/love, modern)

Folk music most places - Historical music as posted here about historical events, old love songs, etc. Same topics as US ones, but generally from an older generation or time.

Here's a few of my folk picks:

Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
Okay TOTP is POP not folk, but this is a crossover hit for Ray...


Iron & Wine - Naked As We Came


Amos Lee - Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight


Colin Hay - Beautiful World
You may know him as the former lead singer/writer for Men At Work (Down Under fame). His new stuff is definitely more folk sounding that pop.


Tracy Chapman - The Promise
Pretty classic American Folk sound. Tracy's 1988 Fast Car & 1996's Gimme One Reason are her mainstream hits. Her depth is incredibly beyond that though.