Columnist Spencer Patterson: You have to dig for today’s best music

Spencer Patterson

Friday, July 15, 2005 | 8:19 a.m.

People love to say that music today isn't what it once was.

A more accurate statement would be: Popular music isn't what it once was.

In 2005 you're not going to happen upon a series of great tunes the way you could in the 1960s, when the Beatles and Bob Dylan were on the radio, or in the 1990s, when Nirvana and Radiohead dominated MTV.

But now, more than ever, acts once relegated to strictly underground status are easily accessible online, making it possible for anyone to seek out any number of songs, albums, bands and individual musicians to their liking.

Even in Southern Nevada, where FM radio is far from adventurous, music devotees can stream cutting edge stations, sample under-the-radar material or peruse umpteen critic and fan reviews of acts they are considering investigating and investing in.

I spend much of my time doing just that, since I know there are thousands of quality artists out there I have never even heard of.

As the year moves past its halfway point, I've run across many great, out-of-the-mainstream albums released in 2005. A few of my favorites, most of which you can easily check out on the Internet:

Akron/Family -- "Akron/Family": Experimental folk-rock quartet's sprawling, crawling debut album reveals worlds more with each spin.

Architecture in Helsinki -- "In Case We Die": Indie-pop goodies abound on these Aussies' euphoric sophomore disc.

Bloc Party -- "Silent Alarm": Believe the hype. London "it" band deserves high praise for this dance-punk manifesto. Seek out the import version, which includes remixes from Mogwai, Four Tet and M83.

Bonnie Prince Billy & Matt Sweeney -- "Superwolf": Bonnie, aka Will Oldham, one of my all-time favorites, comes through with another sparse indie-folk jewel, this time teamed up with ex-Chavez frontman Sweeney.

Boom Bip -- "Blue Eyed in the Red Room": Electronic-style music with actual instrumentation, warm and grooving one minute, distant and murky the next. Eight of 10 tracks feature no vocals.

Caribou -- "The Milk of Human Kindness": Canadian Dan Snaith changes his stage name from Manitoba to Caribou, but carries over his ability to conjure chaotic, blissful bursts of electronic energy.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah -- "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah": This record label-less band lives up to its good-time moniker, self-releasing the year's answer to the Arcade Fire's 2004 godsend, "Funeral." So what if vocalist Alec Ounsworth cops a lot of David Byrne? I defy you to listen to standout cut "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth" and not boogie down.

Dead Meadow -- "Feathers": Heavy, droning psychedelia with a beat? Black Sabbath crossed with Pink Floyd? Believe it.

The Evens -- "The Evens": Former Minor Threat and Fugazi leader Ian MacKaye launches a new project with this mellow (by comparison) batch of tunes with attitude.

LCD Soundsystem -- "LCD Soundsystem": DFA producer James Murphy steps out with this ultra-hip, house-meets-electro-pop solo debut. In an ideal world, leadoff track "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" this would be the Vegas club anthem of the year.

Magnolia Electric Co. -- "What Comes After the Blues": Neil Young-worshipping, country-rock outfit Songs: Ohia becomes Magnolia Electric Co. on this disc, but little else has changed for Jason Molina's consistently stellar quartet.

Mountain Goats -- "The Sunset Tree": More compelling, cathartic songs from John Darnielle's prolific outfit, this time with lusher arrangements.

The Mars Volta -- "Frances the Mute": Funk, punk, prog, psychedelia and Latin rock clash on an album that takes no breaks, and no prisoners. (This one reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200, but still seems largely unknown to the masses).

Oneida -- "The Wedding": More startling, fractured rock from the strange minds of this New York trio.

Out Hud -- "Let Us Never Speak of it Again": Fans of bright dance-pop ought to take notice of this New York collective, and sister group !!! (pronounced Chk Chk Chk).

Sufjan Stevens -- "Illinois" (aka "Come on Feel the Illinoise"): Don't be turned off by Stevens' gimmicky attempt to catalog all 50 states with an album apiece (he's up to No. 2) or the silliness of his song titles ("To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Region, I Have an Idea Concerning Your Predicament" !?!?). "Illinois" offers serious proof of the folky singer-songwriter's vast talents, from his ability to turn a clever lyrical phrase to his astounding sense of arrangement. My pick for album of the year at the midway point.

I'm still on the lookout for a hip-hop album to love this year. Sage Francis' latest left me a little cold, and I haven't yet sunk my teeth into new releases from Common and Quasimoto.

I could go on forever, singing the virtues of Eels, Sleater-Kinney and M. Ward, among a host of others, but I'll leave the rest of the exploring to you.

Remember, there's plenty to love about today's music, provided you're willing to seek out the hidden gems.

Music notes

Best bets: A busy concert week kicks off 8 tonight at the Henderson Pavilion, where lawn tickets to see Bruce Hornsby can be had for just $10.

Hornsby's freewheeling, jazzy live performances are something to behold, with the vocalist/pianist famous for mixing unexpected cover tunes into his sets.

Seats are also available, from $20-$30 ...

Shout, shout, let it all out. Recently reunited pop-rock duo Tears For Fears hits the Beach at Mandalay Bay at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

The pair, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, made hay during the 1980s with such hits as "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Shout" and "Sowing the Seeds of Love." Tickets are $44 ...

Ex-Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler brings signature his Fender Stratocaster and Les Paul guitars to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel for a gig at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Knopfler, responsible for such enduring classic rock staples as "Sultans of Swing," "Money For Nothing" and "Walk of Life," is touring behind his latest solo release, September's "Shangri-La."

Tickets to the show are $40, $75, $100.

Take us out: Scottish indie-pop sensations Franz Ferdinand have announced a Las Vegas date on their upcoming North American tour.

The band is slated to stop at The Joint on Oct. 11, exactly one week after the scheduled release date for its second, self-titled album. At press time, ticket information had not been released.

On sale

Stevie Nicks, who held court at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for four nights in May, returns to the venue on Aug. 6. Tickets cost $68 to $159 and are on sale now at the Caesars Palace box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Sigur Ros makes its second appearance at The Joint on Oct. 6. Tickets are $31 to $46 and go on sale at noon Saturday through the Hard Rock box office and Ticketmaster.

Louisiana singer-songwriter Marc Broussard plays the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater on Aug. 27, as part of this summer's "Moonlight Concert Series." Tickets are $8 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through Ticketmaster.

R&B vocalist Faith Evans hits the House of Blues with opening act Buddafly on Sept. 1. Tickets are $25 to $35 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster.

Emo band Finch rocks the House of Blues on Sept. 2. Tickets cost $15 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Rapper Common performs a late-night set the House of Blues on Aug. 18. Tickets are $27 to $35 and are on sale now.

Metallic rockers Seether and Crossfade co-headline a House of Blues show on Sept. 9, with support from Dark New Day. Tickets are $18 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Punk-meets-folk outfit Against Me! teams with Smoke or Fire and the Soviettes on a Halloween bill at Jillian's. Tickets are $12 ang go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through Ticketmaster.