Hello, okay so I am wanting to get into more "world music" and listen to great albums from all over the world. I was wondering if anyone on the org is into World Music, and if so could you recommend me some artists and albums. What are the Sgt Peppers, Thriller, Purple Rains, of World Music albums? and who are some great artists in the genre. I know this is probably a broad question but I didn't really know exactly how to word it.

Thanks!

I've never really liked the term "world music". But maybe you can try the compilations by Putumayo or the Rough Guide series. I like Oumou Sangare. Here's a 2 CD compilation.

Here's a recent performance in Japan of her 2003 hit Yala

I think this might be the kind of thing you're looking for, and it's a great album and a good place to start with Kuti imo. Although it isn't really "world" music (that seems to be what white people call it when they put out work in a genre from another culture but don't want to actually give credit to that culture. I don't think people in China would call rock & roll "world music" so I think people should at least make the effort to find a little bit more about the music. Although it's fine as a catch-all term so I'm not directing this at you OP).

[Edited 9/17/14 15:51pm]

Johnny Ventura

"World Music" is not a genre, it is what Americans call music native to non-English speaking countries.

Maybe occasionally a hippie has the idea to start a "World Music" band, It probably sounds like the Grateful Dead with some syncopated percussion and reggae/ ska guitar licks. Lots of drumming!

Anyway I suggest you dip into Os Mutantes from Brazil, one of the best rock bands of all time. Their first three albums are all excellent and the comp Everything Is Possible is a great place to start.

Some non-American and/or non-Anglophone musicians I dig...

Etienne Daho

Francoise Hardy

Femi and Fela Kuti

Native (sisters Laura and Chris Mayne)

Oren Lavie

Yasmin Levy

The late Ephraim Lewis

Amelie-Les-Crayon

Kris Drever

Christy Moore

Julie Crochetiere

Amadou and Marium

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (not a band, but rather a Scottish military regiment with its own pipe and drum division)

Dead Can Dance (as well as Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard's solo stuff)

Eldar Djangirov

Cold Specks

Get Delerium's Karma.. one of the best albums of the 90's of any genre. It's technically not "world" per se but they incorporate lots of exotic sounds in their music and their songs are just beautifully crafted. Most of their album's are good, but this is their masterpiece.

this is another album that is a must have. I've never played this to anyone ever who wasn't blown away by it.. there's about 4-5 albums that they did that I'd say are highly recommended.. The Serpent's Egg, Into the Labarynth, Spiritchaser and Aion, but Towards the Within is my personal favorite by them.