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(Updated 22nd May 2001)
If you are an EFL student, you're probably sick and tired of your British / US / Canadian / Irish / Australian / New Zealand (if I've missed any out, please tell me!) teacher dismissing your favourite bands as rubbish, and telling you that you really have to listen to some band you've never heard of. Well I can't help you with the first part (EFL teachers are always going to be like that!) but I can help you get one jump ahead of your teacher. It also allows me to indulge myself a little, and for you to enjoy yourself doing a little free-range surfing. I've chosen the sites below using the following criteria:
They relate to GOOD BANDS
They contain interesting material and links to other interesting sites
Dropping the names of these bands (mentioning them casually in conversation) will impress your teacher (if it doesn't, don't worry, it means your teacher is behind the times!)
NB - all these links will open in new windows
www.tommyboy.com Record label for De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest et al
http://www.beck.com/ A site dedicated to the Guru of electro-folk-funk-hop (well, what would you call Beck's music?)
http://www.jurassic5.com/ a very new page about HipHop's latest - Jurassic 5
http://www.theprodigy.org/ Go on! Ask them (the Prodigy)when the new album is coming out!
http://www.cypressonline.com/ Hiphop veterans Cypress Hill - how are their brains?
www.dirty.org Yes, if you don't yet know, it's time to find out what the fuss is all about: if you already know then you'll need no further convincing. With the release of their live CD 'Everything, Everything', Underworld really have shown the world the way to go.
http://www.public-enemy.com/ Nothing new now, but Public Enemy are still at the forefront of web technology and politically-savvy Hip Hop.
http://www.loopz.co.uk/ More modern beats from some of the Granddaddies of house music, (a.k.a. electronic music) - Orbital, that is.
http://www.primalscream.org/ With the same aggressive political stance as ADF (see below), coupled with a seriously hedonistic agenda, Primal Scream are one of the great pioneering bands who first tread the 'rock/rave' crossover path.
http://www.astralwerks.com/fbs/ The 'new' album is no longer news, but Fat Boy Slim is still on the up and up.
Next off, http://www.morcheeba.net For some more relaxed, soulful sounds with a hefty dose of style, from Morcheeba
Now for a record label that's yet to put a foot wrong: http://www.skint.net (Midfield General, Fatboy Slim, Cut la Roc, need I say more?)
http://www.moby.org OK so maybe he's getting to be pretty well known, but still producing great tunes. Being a cyber-type, this site has some nice downloads, including a Moby desktop theme
http://www.bentleyrhythmace.com A very jazzy site (needs flash) with the Bentley Rhythm Ace game and a chance to listen to their new album.
http://www.beta-band.com/ For a very different sound and style, here's one of the stalwarts of the 'new psychedelic' - The Beta Band
http://hollywoodandvine.com/spearhead/ and also http://www.spearheadvibrations.com/ For what became of Michael Franti after the demise of 'The Disposable Heroes of HipHoprisy', look no further. Once more, great tunes, thought-provoking lyrics and impeccable politics, this time with a shorter name - Spearhead. Very unfortunate that there seems to be no Disposable Heroes site on the web - let me know if you find one.
That's enough for now, but come back soon for some more tips.
If you have a band / site you think should be on this page email me at webmaster@efllinks.freeservers.com