Amsterhammer said:
edit - although I'm not too crazy about iphones and people flying through the air....
I'm not too crazy about Strauss (Johann, that is, and his relatives). I like Richard though. Both were included in the film 2001: A space odyssey. Richard Strauss - Thus spoke Zarathustra (the dramatic music that plays when the "plinth" visits the caveman, also accompanies the take off of real space rockets). Johann Strauss - The Blue Danube (the docking scene).
To Mortand - Zooropa is a definitely a "grower". I like a few things on Pop, "Dead Man" in particular. Since then they seem to have concentrated on being the biggest rock band in the world rather than the music. DM and The Cure
Anyway, here's my penultimate installment of my 33.
Someone a while back asked where is the love for Kylie? So here is an album with Kylie on
28. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads
I love Nick's lyrics, which are full of irony and oozing with dark, biblical imagery. PJ Harvey and Nick Cave are just a perfect musical match.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (featuring PJ Harvey) - Henry Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzmMB8dTwGs&ob=av3n
29. Simon and Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
The remaining artists on my have all been at least heavily influenced by folk music. When I was growing up, we didn't have a large amount of recorded music (at least by my present standards, some early Beatles, folk and Abba). On long car journeys when “The Boxer” came on, we'd start singing in raucous harmony. In my teenage years, Simon and Garfunkel became about the only thing that my parents listened to that I could bear. Under the lilting melodies and harmonies, there often lay the political radicalism of the 60s (e.g. their version of Silent Night from this album which I posted recently). “For Emily ...” is just a straightforward beautiful ballad full of longing.
Simon and Garfunkel - For Emily, whenever I may find her
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhRwNqybWog
30. Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left
Another artist who left this earth too early, after only recording 3 studio albums. Fruit Tree was the first Nick Drake song I heard. His fine guitar work moulded perfectly with a string section to produce something of melancholic beauty.
Nick Drake - Fruit Tree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugbqtDCnv5s
31. John Martyn - One World
John was a friend of Nick Drake (the song “Solid Air” was about Nick). His career started in folk clubs, but he was influenced by jazz and “world music” in developing his laid back style. Small hours was originally recorded outside in the “small hours” of the morning (at one point you can hear a flock of geese). The link is to a live performance.
John Martyn - Small Hours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYLVM560Fok
32. Rachel Unthank and the Winterset - The Bairns
Now called the Unthanks, the band is fronted by two sisters who come from the North-East of England. I first saw them after hearing them on a folk programme on the radio. The gig was attended by about 15 people. A few months later, they were nominated for the prestigious Mercury prize for this album and haven't looked back, though the Bairns remains my favourite album. Most of their songs are traditional folk songs from the Northumberland area, very often dark and brooding, but with a sense of humour. The Unthank sisters clearly love traditional music, but do not treat it with reverence and make it their own. They've also got fine taste in music (at least according to me) as they've covered Robert Wyatt, Nick Drake, King Crimson

and the guy who's next (and last) on my list. They are also very down to earth and run many folk singing workshops (of which more in a couple of weeks).
Rachel Unthank and the Winterset - Felton Lonnin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMKPfy93cGw