*brushes off rap listener*

He said no techno, I believe.

Arcade Fire, Iron & Wine, Daft Punk, TV On The Radio, Radiohead (duh), Apollo Sunshine, the New Pornographers, Animal Collective, Pete & the Pirates, Bridge and Tunnel, Clinic, Explosions in the Sky, Circulatory System, Harvey Danger, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, C/O/R/D, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Young Knives, the White Stripes, Fever Ray, that band that the chick in Fever Ray was in before she was in Fever Ray, the Gaslight Anthem, LCD Soundsystem, Kasabian, Margot & the Nuclear So-and-So's, Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives, Mogwai, Modest Mouse, Muse, Dinosaur Jr, The Flaming Lips , and of course the greatest artist of all time, Bob Dylan.

Pasting in a giant list of 50 bands without describing them at all isn't very helpful.

Here are a few bands I like in alphabetical order with descriptions and songs so that you can know if you'd like them too!

Arcade Fire - indie rock, but don't let that turn you off. Beautiful grand sound. One of my all-time favorite bands. Recommended song: Rebellion (Lies)
Audioslave - a band formed from the guitarist/bassist/drummer of Rage Against the Machine and the singer from Soundgarden. Fun stuff. Song: Cochise
Bloc Party - British indie-ish band, heavy beat, loud, wailing sound. Some of their stuff is a little electronic-ish but a good amount of it isn't. Song: Banquet
Coldplay - you're probably living under a rock if you haven't heard of them by now, very serene feel and tend to be string/piano-heavy. Song: Viva La Vida
Explosions in the Sky - beautiful post-rock instrumental band, but definitely not for everyone. Song: First Breath After Coma
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - another post-rock instrumental band but with a much grander feel. Song: Storm
The Killers - yeah, okay, don't judge me. They're kind of alternative rock with a hint of a pop sound. Song: Mr. Brightside
Live - alternative rock band from the 90s. Spiritual, but not preachy. Song: Lightning Crashes
Matchbox Twenty - once again, don't judge me. Song: Real World
Muse - modern progressive rock, basically. Song: Knights of Cydonia
Nirvana - grunge, durrrrrr. Song: Smells Like Teen Spirit
The Offspring - punk rock. Song: Come Out and Play
Pearl Jam - grunge, but not as hard as Nirvana. Song: Even Flow
R.E.M. - classic alternative rock, if there is such a thing. They're awesome. Song: Losing My Religion

there's more but I'm tired of looking up songs now so also check out Rush (prog rock), Shinedown (modern rock), Foo Fighters (modern rock), Sufjan Stevens (post-rock? alternative? he is difficult to quantify with a genre), and U2 (alternative)...

I know you said no techno, but The Prodigy, in my humble opinion, are too good to be pigeonholed into that category. They just put out a new album called Invaders Must Die, and it is a liquid cocktail mix of win, awesome, and pwnage dispersed into the atmosphere through sound waves to readily enter your bloodstream and pump you the up. Forget the fact that it's electronic-based; there's enough punk guitar carnage, military-grade beats, and anthemic sloganeering to place it as high above techno as techno is above opera.

...Don't think too hard about that analogy, I certainly didn't.

Lar De Dar @ Shamarah. I can't be bothered writing a summary for EVERY ONE of the bands I listed, so I'll just, you know, do it for some?

Arcade Fire - the Slipknot of indie music in that they have about... nine? band members, so their songs are a densely layered cacophony. Excellent singing. Best band I've ever seen live. See: Power Out
Iron & Wine - one dude with a guitar playing and singing far more beautiful music than he has any right to, looking so Jesus-esque. See: Lion's Mane
Daft Punk - the kings of danceable techno! Around the world, around the world... See: Around the World
Radiohead - Nurrrr. See: No Surprises
Clinic - sound a bit like Arcade Fire had a baby with Radiohead. Beautiful indie music with some electronica elements. See: Distortions
The Gaslight Anthem - what the Killers wish they could sound like. Note: the Killers will never sound this good. Note2: the Killers suck. See: The '59 Sound
Kasabian - swaggering masculine electro-rock. Their first album is way better than their first. See: Processed Beats
Muse - excellent falsetto singing and some nifty guitar solos. Oddly, pretty much all of their albums are good, though often very different. Earlier stuff's better, though. See: Uno
Dinosaur Jr - Nirvana with better guitar playing. See: Almost Ready
The Flaming Lips - the ultimate in feel good music. Wayne Coyne could sing about genocide and make it cheerful. See: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1

Now see, I was actually going to investigate your list solely by virtue of it having the Arcade Fire on it, but those links are helpful.

I'll probably do the rest of them - and more! - later. I have this weird compulsion to share my music with everyone. It's probably because I have impeccable taste. Peppering my metalhead best friend with inscrutable indie-rock sparks many arguments between us.

Mrna frna... fine, Shamarah. No summary, but I'll do the next best thing. That way, you can look at the genres and decide, "Gee, I don't like that genre, so no thanks."


Name: Abney Park
Genres: Steampunk, Industrial, Folk
Song: All the Myths are True

Name: Adiemus
Genres: New Age
Song: Adiemus

Name: Agua Clara
Genres: Andes Music
Song: Not sure which song this is...

Name: Ali Project
Genres: Neoclassical, Progressive Rock, Dark Wave
Song: Boukoku Kakusei Catharsis

Name: Anggun
Genres: Pop, French Pop, Rock, Adult Contemporary, Dance, World Music, R&B
Song: Breathing

Name: AUN
Genres: Electronic, Japanese Folk
Song: Crow

Name: Autumn's Grey Solace
Genres: Ethereal Wave, Shoegaze
Song: The Moon Nocturnal

Name: Ayumi Hamasaki
Genres: Pop, Electronic Dance, Rock, Classical, R&B
Song: Evolution

Name: Bjork
Genres: Electronica, Alternative, IDM, Trip Hop
Song: Oceania

Name: Blood Ruby
Genres: Dream Pop
Song: Remains of the Day

Name: Chemistry
Genres: J-Pop, R&B
Song: Point of no Return

Name: Chumbawamba
Genres: Anarcho-Punk, Folk, Hardcore Punk, World, Post-Punk, Dance, Alternative Rock
Song: Amnesia

Name: Coldplay
Genres: Alternative Rock
Song: Viva La Vida

Name: Covenant
Genres: Futurepop, Synthpop, Electronic Body Music
Song: Ritual Noise

Name: Cristina Dona
Genres: Rock
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEDc6VVWALk

Name: Crystal Kay
Genres: R&B, Hip Hop, J-Pop
Song: Motherland

Name: D'Mite
Genres: Hip-Hop
Song: Read A Book

Name: Dead Can Dance
Genres: Ethereal Wave, Dream Pop, World Music, Dark Wave, Gothic Rock
Song: Nierika

Name: Elvenking
Genres: Folk Metal, Power Metal
Song: The Scythe

Name: Enigma
Genres: World Beat, Electronic, New Age, Downtempo
Song: Sadeness

Name: Enrique Iglesias
Genres: Pop, Latin Pop, R&B
Song: Hero

Name: Enya
Genres: New Age, Celtic, World
Song: Amarantine

Name: Eurythmics
Genres: New Wave, Synthpop, Rock, Pop
Song: Sweet Dreams

Name: Evanescence
Genres: Symphonic Metal
Song: Imaginary

Name: Front Line Assembly
Genres: Post-Industrial, Electronic Body Music, Electronica, Industrial, Electro-Industrial, Alternative Dance
Song: Epitaph

Name: Garmarna
Genres: World Music, Folk, Folk Rock, Nordic Roots Revival
Song: Viridissima Virga

Name: Greenday
Genres: Punk Rock, Pop Punk, Alternative Rock
Song: Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Name: Hayley Westenra
Genres: Classical, Pop, Celtic, Operatic Pop
Song: Dark Waltz

Name: Hedningarna
Genres: Folk, Folk Rock, Nordic Roots Revival, World Music
Song: Metsän Tyttö

Name: HENLEY
Genres: Pop
Song: Perfect World

Name: Hinterland
Genres: Dream Pop, Shoegaze, New Wave
Song: The Only Words

Name: Inkubus Sukkubus
Genres: Pagan Rock, Hard Rock, Gothic Rock
Song: Burning Times

Name: I've Kotoko
Genres: J-Pop, Trance
Song: Dream To New World

Name: Jimmy Eat World
Genres: Alternative Rock, Power Pop, Emo
Song: Sweetness

Name: Josh Turner
Genres: Country
Song: In My Dreams

Name: Keiko Matsui
Genres: New Age, Smooth Jazz
Song: Forever Forever

Name: Kokia
Genres: J-Pop
Song: Arigatou

Name: Kyoko Fukada
Genres: J-Pop
Song: Swimming

Name: Laura Powers
Genres: New Age
Song: Sisters of the Wind

Name: Linkin Park
Genres: Nu Metal, Rapcore, Alternative Rock
Song: Numb

Name: Loituma
Genres: Folk
Song: Ievan Polka

Name: Loreena McKennitt
Genres: World, Celtic, New Age
Song: Bonny Swans

Name: Los Umbrellos
Genres: Latin Music, Pop
Song: No Tengo Dinero

Name: Medwyn (Goodall)
Genres: New Age
Song: Celestial Peace

Name: M.O.P.
Genres: Hip Hop
Song: Wolves

Name: Natasha Bedingfield
Genres: Pop, Blue-Eyed Soul, R&B
Song: Unwritten

Name: Nightwish
Genres: Power Metal, Symphonic Metal
Song: Nemo

Name: Pink
Genres: Pop, Rock, Pop Rock, R&B
Song: Family Portrait

Name: Ryan Farish
Genres: Electronica
Song: Pacific Wind

Name: Sarah Brightman
Genres: Classical Crossover, Operatic Pop, Symphonic Rock
Song: Naturaleza Muerta

Name: Seal
Genres: Soul, R&B, Pop
Song: Kiss from a Rose

Name: Shaaman
Genres: Power Metal, Heavy Metal, Symphonic Metal
Song: Ritual

Name: Siam Shade
Genres: Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal
Song: Tears I Cried

Name: Sigur Ros
Genres: Post-Rock, Dream Pop, Ambient
Song: Hoppipolla

Name: Snow Patrol
Genres: Alternative Rock, Power Pop, Indie Rock
Song: Chasing Cars

Name: Steve Conte
Genres: Rock
Song: Could You Bite the Hand?

Name: Syren
Genres: New Age, Celtic
Song: Do You Love an Apple

Name: t.A.t.U.
Genres: Pop, Dance, Electronica, Rock
Song: Not Gonna Get Us

Name: Utada Hikaru
Genres: J-Pop, Pop, R&B, Ethereal Wave, Experimental
Song: Beautiful World

Name: Varttina
Genres: Folk
Song: Seelinnikoi

Name: White Willow
Genres: Progressive Rock
Song: Chemical Sunset

Name: W-inds
Genres: J-Pop
Song: Paradox

Name: Yoko Kanno
Genres: Jazz, Classical, Orchestral, Electronic, New Age, Blues, Folk rock, Electro Rock, J-Pop, Art Rock
Song: Piano Bar

Name: Yuki Kimura
Genres: J-Pop
Song: Love and Joy

Although the link provided should be enough to persuade any and all, I'm just going to agree. Because when I agree, people listen.

To throw my two cents around:

Kings of Leon, "Your Sex Is On Fire". Progressive Indie.

Sonata Arctica, "Paid In Full". Modern Metal, and the first band to make me respect the keytar as an actual instrument.

CSS, "Let's Make Love and Listen To Death From Above". Prog indie, maybe? Can't really define them.

I Killed the Prom Queen, Say Goodbye. Heavy scream metal.

The Fall of Troy, F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X., more on the prog side of heavy scream metal.

Arctic Monkeys, "Mardy Bum", a live performance. British pop-ish indie rock. More on the laid back, intelligent and observational side of modern rock n' roll.

Black Tide, "Shockwave". A four man rock band who has gained recent fame in the metal industry, not only because of their obvious talent, but ridiculously young age. No one in the band is over the age of 22 and the youngest member is Gabriel Garcia, who is 16.

Name: Apollo Sunshine
Genre: Indie, Powerpop
Summary:: Rival the Flaming Lips for cheerful, upbeat indie pop. Excellent vocals, and some nifty guitarwork.
Song: Sheets with Stars. Unfortunately I couldn't find a good YooToob of it, so here's I Was On The Moon instead.

Name: Carpathian
Genre: Hardcore, Punk
Summary: THE ULTIMATE WORKOUT MUSIC BAND. Guaranteed to get you pumped. Surprisingly intelligent lyrics, too... if you can understand them.
Song: Isolation

Name: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Genre: Indie-rock
Summary: The fairly good instrumentation is elevated by energetic, infectious singing and a punch-drunk, intoxicating sense of rhythm. Supremely danceable!
Song: Is This Love?

Name: Jeff Buckley
Genre: Rock, Acoustic
Summary: Buckley only released a single album, Grace, before dying tragically young. It's a damn good album, though.
Song: Obviously his cover of Hallelujah, but also Lover, You Should've Come Over.

Name: The Kills
Genre: Electronica, Rock
Summary: One woman, one man, and one drum machine. She sings, he plays guitar, it... drums. Pretty good live.
Song: Cheap and Cheerful

Name: Fever Ray
Genre: ...something
Summary: Seriously, I'm not sure how to describe it. "Win"?
Song: When I Grow Up

Name: Snow Patrol
Genre: Pop
Summary: Guilty pleasure. In my defense, they're good when they're being dirgey, not when they're being "dancey". At their best, they approach the Velvet Underground, shockingly.
Song: You Could Be Happy

Name: The Dresden Dolls
Genre: Alternative
Summary: A two-piece band: she sings and plays piano, he drums. Gothic aesthetic and some very catchy singing and lyricism.
Song: Forgive the crappy video, but couldn't find a good live performance: Dirty Business

Name: The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
Genre: Psychobilly
Summary: This is the music that runs through my brain constantly. This is all you really need to know.
Song: Chicken

Name: LCD Soundsystem
Genre: Electronica
Summary: Brainchild of producer and DJ James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem combines both dance music and punk. Sardonic lyrics and some demonically catchy beats.
Song: Losing My Edge

Name: Margot & the Nuclear So-and-So's
Genre: Indie-pop, Orchestral
Summary: Nothing groundbreaking: just an eight piece band cribbing from Arcade Fire. Some good songs, though.
Song: Mariel's Brazen Overture

Name: Nick Drake
Genre: Acoustic
Summary: Pathologically introverted and unappreciated in his own lifetime, Drakes music is as beautiful as it is bleak. And it's pretty damn bleak.
Song: Place To Be

(I'm totally posting here once or twice a day until I've gone through my entire iTunes)

How come I've never heard of this? Come on, we've only five million people!

EDIT: I retract that, my fiance has some of that. You could be listening to so much better Finnish folk, though, according to him!

Hee. Like what? I love Nordic Folk music, and Finnish Folk has a rather nice flow to it.

there is no flow in music that isn't rap. Because it doesn't, y'know, flow...

Y-you're joking, yes?

...Yes?

-Pat Vhaas- Don't worry, boyo, I'll find some real music for you!

I listen to NPR when I'm on the MUD, does that count?

Amorphis: Well-known people. Do musical stuff. Some form of metal, but it gets increasingly difficult to remember every single genre of metal. Early stuff vs. new stuff.

Gregorian: I'm a big fan of covers as evidenced (partially) by my love of Apocalyptica. And hearing a Gregorian version of a metal song just makes me smile. Maybe even grin. Cover of R.E.M.

Also, as in all my replies to similar threads, Wintersun, woo. Wintersun are so Finnish and awesome. Mainly I just post for Saagalicious' benefit. Wintersun 50% faster?