Playlist #3: Contemporary Folk Music

1. Regina Spektor: "Better"

Regina Spektor is a self-acclaimed anti-folk genre. Anti-folk came about in response to the folk revival, which some artists complained had to many boundaries. In "Better", you can hear influences from over the globe, from the piano use to vocal contrasts, while still having the overall folk theme of being free from society.

2. Feist: "Mushaboom"

Feist mixes indie and baroque pop music with folk tradition. In "Mushaboom", you can feel the pop beat along with the alternative vocal style of making the vocals part of instrumental music. The folk element can most strongly be heard during the guitar solo with a traditional folk beat.

3. She & Him: "Black Hole"

She & Him are actively trying to be an "other" from popular mainstream music. In this way they have the same ideal as folk music did before the revival. Their alternative folk sound creates a beat for the audience to want to partake in.

4. Wilco: "Forget The Flowers"

Wilco mixes alternative music and folk music without having complete elements of either, but soundbites where both can be heard, strongly interacting with each other. The guitar solo is an instance where the alternative style takes over, then adding vocals of folk origin, pulling the listener in each direction.

5. Frightened Rabbit: "The Twist"

Frightened Rabbit is a Scottish band. This is vitally important to realize to understand their folk sound stance in their music. The stretching of vocals and pounding of guitar are relevant in the European folk movement. The bringing of this influence to America allows comparison of American folk elements heard.

6. Frontier Ruckus: "Animals Need Animals"

Frontier Ruckus is based out of Michigan. This band was included in the list to analyze how Michigan citizens created folk music from their culture. "Animals Need Animals" strongly develop traditional folk vocals, for a modern folk band that sounds similar to the folk roots sound.

7. Sufjan Stevens: "John Wayne Gacy Jr."

Sufjan Stevens discusses difficult social situations in "John Wayne Gacy Jr.", as was common of the traditional folk songs heard. Sonically the song also can compare with old time folk songs. The guitar element pulls the listeners into a hopelessness to correlate with the words sung.

8. Bright Eyes: "Bowl of Oranges"

Bright Eyes relate more to an Indie genre. Allow there are stronger element of a different genre it is still possible to hear relevance of folk history in this song. For instance, the repetitive swish-swish of the background relates to the slapping of the guitar heard in folk songs.

9. Andrew Bird: "Imitosis"

Andrew Bird has made strides for the significance of folk-rock. Through his cunning lyrics and vocals it is clear to hear the folk influence. However, the instruments and high-tech sonic elements create distance from traditional folk music.

10. Chris Bathgate: "Serpentine"

Chris Bathgate is a UM alumni and is prominent in the Ann Arbor folk scene. He sings in such a beautiful strong voice it is striking. Although his voice is more acoustic, the way he uses his instruments relates to the electric-folk songs heard at the Newport festival.

11. Elliot Smith: "Waltz #2 (XO)"

Elliott Smith had more rock elements in his song than any other. However, the main mood of his songs were sad and thoughtful. He used his lyrics to make fun of society, but not specifically for social change as folk artists of the 1960's did.

12. The Moldy Peaches: "Nothing Came Out"

Song from the Moldy Peaches were featured in the movie "Juno", causing the band to become noticed overnight. The band sing in an style indicative of Woody Guthrie after 50 years of alterations. The vocals are slow and steady taking listeners out of reality.

13. Lach: "Antenna"

Lach is the fore-man of anti-folk music. In order to get correct representation of that genre, his song must be heard. His style is simple, just his voice and his guitar, but his vocal style is distinctly "other" than the folk genre.

14. Billy Bragg: "Days Like These"

Billy Bragg uses elements referred to as folk-rock. These can be distinctly defined in his songs, his guitar playing takes influence from rock music, while his lyrics and vocals clearly have the traditional folk elements, with lyrics about the sinking of government.

15. Ingrid Michealson: "You and I"

Ingrid Michaelson's vocals are very similar to woman singers in the 1960's. She stretches her voice in and out of falsetto. The instruments portray basic elements for indie/pop genres.

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