William Basinski - The Disintegration Loops

Genre: Ambient
About: Some of the most beautiful music that has ever graced my ears, all composed using cassettes so old that the tape itself has disintegrated off the roll, turning whatever it was before into an elegant and gorgeous ambient drone. There are four albums based off this concept, and all are equally as good and beautiful. If you have any interest in ambient music, these four albums will quench your emotional thirst.
Sounds Like: Stars of the Lid, Tim Hecker, Fennesz, Windy & Carl
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The Disintegration Loops (2001)

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The Disintegration Loops II (2003)

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The Disintegration Loops III (2003)

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The Disintegration Loops IV (2003)

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Stars of the Lid Discography

Genre: Ambient, Drone
About: "Stars of the Lid is a duo specializing in drone-based ambient music. They list among their influences minimalist and electronic composers such as Arvo Pärt, Zbigniew Preisner, Gavin Bryars, and Henryk Gorecki, as well as Talk Talk (both bands have tracks named "Taphead"), post-rock artists Labradford, and ambient innovator Brian Eno. Their songs are largely beatless soundscapes, composed of droning, effects-treated guitars along with piano, strings, and horns; volume swells and feedback fill the gap of rhythmic instruments, providing dynamic movement within the songs. Their sound has been described as "divine, classical drone without the tedious intrusion of drums or vocals"."
Sounds Like: The Dead Texan, Brian McBride, Keith Fullerton Whitman, Oren Ambarchi, Aix Em Klemm
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Music for Nitrous Oxide (1995)

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Gravitational Pull vs. The Desire for an Aquatic Life (1996)

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The Ballasted Orchestra (1997)

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Per Aspera Ad Astra (1998)

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Avec Laudenum (1999)

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The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid (2001)

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Experience (Disc 2)

And Their Refinement of the Decline (2007)

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Carte-de-Visite (2007)

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Death Cab for Cutie Discography

Genre: Indie
About: Originally the sole project of Ben Gibbard, the group's name was taken from a song performed by the Bonzo Dog Band in the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film. Gibbard expanded the band after the success of the first demo into a four piece outfit. Gibbard's poetic lyrics and straightforward songwriting paint vast images in your mind's eye. Simple but beautiful lyrics include "Drinking champagne from a paper cup is never quite the same" from Champagne from a Paper Cup. The songs are played with a passion and you can feel it. The songs often tell a story, albeit melancholy and heartbreaking at times, that's easily related to by the average human being.
Sounds Like: The Postal Service, The Shins, The Decemberists, Bright Eyes
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You Can Play These Songs with Chords Demo (1997)

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Something About Airplanes (1998)

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We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (2000)

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The Forbidden Love EP (2000)

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The Photo Album (2001)

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The Stability EP (2002)

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Transatlanticism (2003)

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Studio X Sessions EP (2004)

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The John Byrd EP (2005)

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Plans (2005)

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Narrow Stairs (2008)

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The Open Door EP (2009)

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Set Fire to Flames - Sings Reign Rebuilder

Genre: Post-Rock
Year: 2001
About: The debut album from a band considered to be the side-project of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, this album is anything but insignificant. Its known that it was recorded "in states of little or no sleep, in varying levels of intoxication, and in physical confinement." This is readily obvious in the sound of the broodingly ominous and eerie tracks showcased here. These 13 musicians spent the span of five days locked away in a decrepit house in Montreal, where they created this haunting music. Ambient noise, such as shuffling feet and paper, police sirens, and creaking dusty floors, fill the atmosphere of this album. The manic rants and world commentary of the man dubbed "Lying Dying Wonder Body" string the record together and offer insight into the artists' motives.
Sounds Like: Fly Pan Am, A Silver Mt. Zion, Esmerine, Godspeed You! Black Emperor
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