Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me About This?!

[RJ 17]

Sitting here at work and a coworker is listening to some music. It certainly helps to pass the day, but today he's introduced me to a little thing called Pirate Metal.

...

How is this the first I've heard of this?! It's amazing! Makes me wanna run outside and kick the first person I see right in the face!

So I ask you, my fellow Escapists, what are some of the things that you "discovered" that you were surprised you didn't already know about?

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Ahhh Alestorm, sweet memories of being fifteen and throwing up from drinking too much Jagermeister. Keeping things in the same vein, there's a band with an African Grey Parrot as the lead singer.

Spoiler: Parrots- more metal than spiders, snakes, wolves or dragons.

 

[Queen Michael]

Really good classic writers that are obscure here in Sweden. Cao Xueqin, Wu Cheng'en, Julio Cortázar, Per Gulbrandsen...

 

[deleted+75193]

DELETED

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Russian novel called "We", written by Yevgeny Zamyatin in 1921. Apparently it's one of the first dystopian novels, at least of the modern variety. After spending what, 10 years "in the know" about dystopian fiction... how did I only find out about this just now?

 

[Armadox]

Sitting here at work and a coworker is listening to some music. It certainly helps to pass the day, but today he's introduced me to a little thing called Pirate Metal.

...

How is this the first I've heard of this?! It's amazing! Makes me wanna run outside and kick the first person I see right in the face!

So I ask you, my fellow Escapists, what are some of the things that you "discovered" that you were surprised you didn't already know about?

There's a pirate version of all sorts of musical genres. "Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew" for instance is pirate rap. Pirate and Steampunk both have large followings. Speaking of that, chap hop is fantastic, and I recommend Professor Elemental.

Myself? Humm, I suppose it was digital line art. I'd have always done my work by hand for years until I started to get involved with art communities online that showed off how to go from pencils to ink, or straight to coloring using a blue tone beneath. It's saved me a lot of time..

 

[sageoftruth]

You mentioned Pirate Metal, so I'll add Folk Metal. The first time someone mentioned it, I raised my eyebrow up to the ceiling (as did everyone I mentioned it to afterwards). It sounded like some paradox. Then I learned how awesome accordions and guitars sound together.

 

[Evonisia]

A few months back the mods decided to wake up, so our taco based lord PsychicTaco115 decided to make a thread encouraging us to post dank memes. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.866647-Mods-are-awake-post-dank-memes

I can't believe I hadn't encountered them before, especially because I'm the perfect audience for insulting the MLG style vapid competitive attitude many CoD players seem to employ. These memes were just what I needed to cheer me up in the waning months of 2014, I thank the Taco lord, and The Wykydtron for providing me with joy.

Spoiler

Currently I'm in the process of thinking up ideas for Five Nights at Sanic's.

 

[MatsVS]

Alestorm reached for the rum but grabbed the valium. Listen to Running Wild.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foEh4OoCYMU

 

[RJ 17]

You mentioned Pirate Metal, so I'll add Folk Metal. The first time someone mentioned it, I raised my eyebrow up to the ceiling (as did everyone I mentioned it to afterwards). It sounded like some paradox. Then I learned how awesome accordions and guitars sound together.

Yeah, we're listening to Pandora and my coworker originally search Alestorm so we started with the Pirate Metal; however there's been a very hefty dosage of Folk Metal in here too. Gotta say I'm absolutely loving all this stuff!

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Hmm does airship pirate steampunk float your battleship? Then Abney Park is the benchmark i idley guard from the pillagers of the clouds!!

 

[Armadox]

Hmm does airship pirate steampunk float your battleship? Then Abney Park is the benchmark i idley guard from the pillagers of the clouds!!

Abney Park is good, yes.. But that's scratching the surface... The Clockwork Dolls are also fantastic, then you have The Cog is Dead which tries a little bit of everything. Then.. oh, OH.. How about a Steampunk opera? Paul Shapera has the New Albion trilogy, a steampunk, diesel punk, and atompunk opera.. I have a fondness for them.

https://mochalab.bandcamp.com/

Yah, there's some seriously amazing steampunk music if you really hunt for it.

 

[viscomica]

Russian novel called "We", written by Yevgeny Zamyatin in 1921. Apparently it's one of the first dystopian novels, at least of the modern variety. After spending what, 10 years "in the know" about dystopian fiction... how did I only find out about this just now?

I told you about it!
Hmm, maybe it's not as well-known as others. Also, harder to get a hold of.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Hmm does airship pirate steampunk float your battleship? Then Abney Park is the benchmark i idley guard from the pillagers of the clouds!!

Abney Park is good, yes.. But that's scratching the surface... The Clockwork Dolls are also fantastic, then you have The Cog is Dead which tries a little bit of everything. Then.. oh, OH.. How about a Steampunk opera? Paul Shapera has the New Albion trilogy, a steampunk, diesel punk, and atompunk opera.. I have a fondness for them.

https://mochalab.bandcamp.com/

Yah, there's some seriously amazing steampunk music if you really hunt for it.

Ooh that Paul Shapera i have not heard before! Shall have to listen in my next free afternoon. No idea what atompunk is but it most certainly intrigues my curiosities...thankyou for the sharing of art, audio-vagabond!

 

[Guffe]

Only know about Alestorm, maybe some songs by bands like Dropkick Murphies and the like can also count? Mainly due to how they sound, not so much the lyrical part? But yeah, ALestorm is a bunch of fun

Spoiler: Another awesome, very random powermetal band :P

 

[Armadox]

Microwave rice. How much easier does it make life?! (Lots.)

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-RC3303-3-Cup-Cooker/dp/B002CVTT52/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1422726196&sr=8-5&keywords=rice+cooker

One of the best tools in my kitchen. Very cheap to get, and makes rice dishes in minutes without having to rely on one rice type or the metallic microwave taste. If you get the chance, I recommend a rice cooker.