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I realize that the topic title is covering quite a wide range of genres, but essentially, I'm looking to get some more quiet music with a smooth and organic sound. If you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them, because I'm quite lacking in this area of music.

How about The Books or American Analog Set?

i was listening to Lucky Cat by ISAN a while ago... it's pretty downbeat and relaxing

Well, this is extremely not my area of expertise, but if you're looking for folk try Stan Rogers. Bruce Cockburn's got some decent stuff, though it's preachy as hell.

I'm assuming I don't need to suggest Leonard Cohen?

Maybe some of Tom Waits' early stuff (74-80) might do it for you.

Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara
Sample: Backstage with the Modern Dancers

Destroyer - Trouble In Dreams
Sample: Foam Hands

Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton - Knives Don't Have Your Back
Sample: Doctor Blind

Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up
Sample: Me and My Friend

The Hidden Cameras - AWOO
Sample: AWOO

I'm currently liking The Postal Service.
http://www.postalservicemusic.net/

TribulatioN wrote:I'm currently liking The Postal Service.
http://www.postalservicemusic.net/

Quoted for Hilarious Emphasis.


Also, Iron & Wine.

Hmm, ambient. Sigur Rós is quite good for general ambience, I think, and also the Svidd Neger soundtrack (by Ulver) is generally ambient.

Folk, no clue.

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast fits quite well into these categories. Armchair Apocrypha is a little less acoustic, but it's just as good.

Aha, recommending *Skyline* Sigur Rós.

To give you a taste of stuff somewhat different (that is, things that I enjoy), I feel like you wouldn't mind a selection of Porcupine Tree songs. I suggest checking out the likes of Mellotron Scratch, Glass Arm Shattering, Sleep Together, and Sentimental. They have a lot of other good songs but these are the ones I have that seem to fit your specifications.

I cannot find -any- links for these. Check out the last.fm previews, I guess, or hit me up on the IRC and I'll help you out.

Tim Fite's CHANGE OF HEART is a great listen. It's mainly acoustic, but there's a smattering of piano, horns, synths and what not. Plus, it's free!

rennaT wrote:Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara
Sample: Backstage with the Modern Dancers

Destroyer - Trouble In Dreams
Sample: Foam Hands

Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton - Knives Don't Have Your Back
Sample: Doctor Blind

Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up
Sample: Me and My Friend

The Hidden Cameras - AWOO
Sample: AWOO

Oooh yes. I'd like to put an emphasis on Destroyer.

Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats

Guggenheim Grotto - Philosophia

Harry Gregson-Williams - Opening

Grouper - http://www.myspace.com/grouperrepuorg
The Middle East - http://www.myspace.com/visitthemiddleeast

Brightblack Morning Light are, at their core, a combination of each of those genres.

Sufjan Stevens, particularly Illinoise.

A random collection in no particular; mostly covering acoustic, ambient and lo-fi, possibly going into some more electronic types.
City and Colour
Lemon Jelly (Big favourite of mine)
Broadcast 2000
Boards of Canada
Damien Rice
The John Butler Trio (Amazing acoustic guitar)
Ben Harper
José Gonzáles
Fink
The Magic Numbers (Possibly)
Nizlopi
The postal service and sigur ros (to repeat)

I would list a load more but I would be going more into the electronic/downtempo/ almost trip-hop genres. Even though some of these ones are in said classes. Sometimes it's hard to fit something into one specific category.

This Mortal Coil - particularly the Filigree & Shadow album

Hanne Hukkelberg

Calexico

Some Jazzanova, like The Sirens Call song.

Really, really Nouvelle Vague.

Donovan

Air

Tim Buckley

Pink Martini (?)

Kings of Convenience

and Sigur Rós ( () is awesome for ambient - be sure to have a nice sound system or great headphones)


Sincerely, José Gonzalez... after some hearing, you get tired too fast - I bought his "In Our Nature" and I nearly never take it. And if I take it, it's only for some minutes.


Oh, and the portuguese group Deolinda.

I officially love this thread. And while I'm here:

Zero 7 - In The Waiting Line

FC Kahuna - Hayling

La Rocca - Roadway Hymn

And various Morcheeba, but that gets more into electronic.

Donfuy wrote:Donovan

I thought about recommending Donovan but it felt too weird. Especially now that Baraba doesn't hang out here anymore.

capt_weasle wrote:Zero 7 - In The Waiting Line

I've only heard Another Late Night but that's not really acoustic. It's more trip-hop/downtempo acid jazz. But then, most of the recommendations in this thread aren't acoustic so it's not a big deal?

That Zero 7 album isn't -so- lofi, it's pretty much like the other one.

Jeff Buckley and Elliot Smith!

Donovan indeed, and on that note, Van Morrison. Listening to him always gets me really laid back.

Whoever suggested the Postal Service gets a big rejection from me, as I already deeply loathe them, and I already have Sigur Ros. But besides that, I'll be sure to check out all these suggestions! Thank you.

I like pretty much all of Zero 7's albums, especially simple things.
Also, morcheeba are pretty cool too.

One of the only groups I think actually covers all of these bases is Tenhi. You should try and find their album Maaäet first-off.