Some suggestions I'd have to second:

Rufus Wainright - "Poses" (horrors, they'll take away my rainbow membership card for that one - sad, sullen, rainy day piano tunes that somehow, someway still make you smirk - I should warn you that some folks who've listened to my disc complain about the monotone quality to his voice. I think he works wonders within his vocal limitations, however.)

Jimmy Eat World - "Bleed American" (a quantum leap forward in song-writing - slightly hard-edged pop music - "Sweetness" was my theme song for a time this summer)

Air - "Moon Safari" (BUT DEFINITELY NOT the follow-up "10,000 Hz Legend" - which drops the day-glo pop collage style of "Moon Safari" in favor of ambient, found-sound concoctions - a huge disappointment - reminded me (unfavorably) of the "Chill Out" album from the KLF)

Death Cab for Cutie - "We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes" (again, pop music with an edge (are you sensing a theme here?) - I haven't gotten around to getting the new disc, but I'm sure it's fab . . .)

Basement Jaxx - "Rooty" (more butt-shakin' dance musak - toss this disc and the latest Daft Punk in the disc player, hit shuffle and you got yourself an instant mllefoo-rave)

Stephen Malkmus - "Stephen Malkmus" (as the lead singer of Pavement, his solo work (for me) is kind of a no-brainer - sorry, I spaced in my earlier recommendations - more intelligent whimsy from an indie-rock stalwart)

Oh and try Sugar - "Copper Blue" (more edgy pop tunes with the fuzz turned up to "11" - trust me - Bob Mould and a solo acoustic guitar, anywhere, anytime - THAT is the best show in town that night, bar none . . .)

more later . . . tootles

I agree with what Yancey said, but I can only suggest stuff for you that I know (and like). You can take it or leave it, though, as my tastes may not be suitable for you. I've never liked Madonna, for example, so our tastes might just be diametrical. Here goes:

Wilco (my absolute favorite band)- if you aren't into country, though, I wouldn't suggest their earlier albums, such as A.M. and Being There. Those are both pretty country, but their last one, Summerteeth, was drastically different, as is their upcoming album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. If you're big on neat and interesting lyrics as well as experimental/Americana sounds(Beatlesesque/ Bob Dylanish), you might like them.

The Eels- the best band in the world for smartasses and sourpusses. Theirs is sortof a pop sound, but they are really unlike any band I've heard before. They are neat to me because of the contradictions of their music/lyrics. For example, their song "My Decent into Madness" is about the lead singer being altogether nuts and hearing voices in his head, straightjackets, etc., but the music is totally happy. The same is the case with "Last Stop this Town." The music is probably the most upbeat of the entire album, but the lyrics start off "You're dead, but the world keeps spinning; take a trip through the world you live. It's getting dark a little too early, are you missing the dearly bereft?" Out of all their cds, I will suggest Electro-shock blues. Very neat cd.

Ryan Adams- You may have heard a song off his newest cd, Gold, called "New York, New York." I'm glad he put it out when he did, because he's been relatively unknown until recently. When he was with the band Whiskeytown, the band had an alt-country sound, but he's really more rock n' roll/Americana now.

Air- I've seen a few people suggest them. If you want to know if you'd like them, go rent The Virgin Suicides before you buy a cd. Listen to the score of the movie (not the 70s stuff), and see if you like it before you buy any of their stuff. I personally like that cd quite a bit; their music has a dreamy, funereal sound. Almost meditative, but too ephemeral to completely satisfy.

I guess I neglected to mention that I really like synthpop, though I'm trying to move away from stuff like depeche mode, cause and effect, and red flag. When I said I have eclectic taste in music, it means my tastes includes some bands you wouldn't think a fan of other bands I list would like.

I like rock. I like synthpop. I like celtic. Reggae, old school punk, classical, and the like.

Some of the suggestions are cool. So keep 'em coming.

I hate FM rock radio... 98% of it is garbage. With that in mind here's a few "recent" selections.

Fantomas - The Director's Cut - http://www.ipecac.com/fantomas.php

Tomahawk - Tomahawk - http://www.ipecac.com/tomahawk.php

Secret Chiefs 3 - Book M - http://www.secretchiefs3.com/

Estradasphere - It's Understood - http://www.webofmimicry.com/Estradas...Understood.htm

Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order - http://www.oysterhead.com/

Moe. - Live Warts and All - http://www.moe.org

On a more mainstream note, the recent Radiohead material is very, very good.

Album of the year for me... God Hates Us All - Slayer.

Oh yes, of course Radiohead! They are getting more and more popular and "Kid A" has to be one of the weirdest albums to hit #1 on the pop album charts. Not that I find their music that weird actually, but I think Radiohead has some pretty amazing songs from their last 3 studio albums.

I think you would like Hooverphonic, too. The album "Blue Wonder Power Milk" is very nice. My tastes alway run towards sort of a rock-synth combo. This is a very cool and listenable CD.

If you want to go a little darker, try Massive Attack's "Mezzanine".
Another interesting recording. One of these songs was in "The Matrix", not that that really matters! The music is brooding and dark, but very good. "Teardrop" features the ex-Cocteau Twins lead singer.

Another CD I really like is by the Doves. They are from Manchester and sort of have a Radiohead vibe going. Not exactly. Their CD "Lost Souls" is great. If you can download the song "The Cedar Room" check it out. One of the best songs I've heard in years. "Catch the Sun" is also a standout track.

Another band that rocks my boat is Starflyer 59. They are more indie sounding than the other bands I mentioned, but they are worth looking into.

Man, I just thought of ONE more band. I tried to list bands previously that fit what you were looking for. But I HAVE to mention what I consider to be the best band in the U.S. at the moment.

16 Horsepower From Denver. They mine sort of a territory where Nick Cave is in. But the difference is that Nick Cave is more goth and 16 Horsepower is more Appalachian. But don't let that fool you... they are simply stunning. Here's a customer review I got off of Amazon. Read the last two sentences. This is for their latest CD "Secret South" which is my fave.

"I'd been a fan of 16 Horsepower for a couple of years and had seen them a few times. Their CD release show in Denver did not prepare me for the power and depth of the album. I saw them play in a record store, a three song acoustic set, the night the CD was released. That little gig held some of the power and intensity of the CD, but again, I was not prepared for the depth. This disk has been in my changer for months now. Every time it comes up, I think "I really should switch that out," but every time I leave it in, and every time, I enjoy it. It is a rare treat to find music this durable. Incidentally, country-phobia is not an excuse. My tastes lean very much to the trance/trip hop and I really dig this."

Damn, this is a cool thread! You've already got me turned on to the White Stripes, and if I can find '69 Songs' cheap on eBay I think I'll pick that up as I've heard good things about Magnetic Fields.

Not much new to add, but I'll second the calls for Old '97s, Guided By Voices (grunter - "Hot Freaks" does it for me as well as "Kicker Of Elves"), Pavement, The Beta Band and Ben Folds Five. Looks like I need to get some new music myself!

Sierra: when I'm in my sullen, sad goth boy mood (which occurs more frequently than I'd like to admit) - I kick off my listening with GBV's "Tractor Rape Chain" seque into Arab Strap's "Cherubs" or maybe B-Movie's "Nowhere Girl" and always end up somewhere nostalgic and lonely - somewhere like Tom Waits' "Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen)."

Of course there are other evenings where I'll end up with half a bottle of scotch in my glass, ice melting, woozy and tearing up while watching old classic Star Trek episodes . . . something about all those primary colors and the Shatner's reassuring swagger just, um, gets me (points to heart) right 'dere.

*sigh*

Again with the too much information, huh?

grunter, would you still feel that way after listening to William Shatner's Transformed Man CD? I bought it for a buck in Texas seven years ago. It's great for scaring little kids.

I'm just hoping the Tower GC my mom is giving me for christmas will cover a few of these bands AND a copy of buckaroo banzai when it finally arrives on DVD. I like what I've heard from some of the bands suggested. Didn't like others. I appreciate all the suggestions.

Listen to the Murder City Devils.

Please forgive me if I copy...I skipped the other posts..(NO disrespect intended....)

Depeche Mode-Exciter is great.
Brian Wilson-Live At The Roxy-Fun
Megadeth-Anything you haven't gotten.
GVSB-Cruise Yourself

I just buy anything I can.....

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead has a new ep out and it rocks. Their 1999 release 'Madonna' is also a must have. Their live show is a must see as well. A balance between fury and elegance.