Live blog your first listen of a *classic album
This is a thread for you to post your track-by-track thoughts while you give a first listen to a classic album. I always find it interesting to see/hear initial (knee-jerk) reactions, like what would a DiS'er with little hip-hop knowledge who has never heard 36 Chambers think about it on first listen? Well, here's your stage.
1. Has to be your first listen to said album.
2. State the name of the artist and album in your first post, then reply to yourself (not the thread) from there so it all looks nice.
3. You can go as often as you want and anyone can start anytime.
*classic, as in 'well-known' (this is not a thread to argue if an album is classic or not)
- Relevant artist taggings:
- None
Just to clarify
Is it allowed to have heard say one ssingle from an album and never listened to the rest? Or does it have to be completely new?
Yeah thats fine I think,
I'm gonna do Revolver soon and I think I've heard a couple tunes off of it.
Would probably be better if it was ALL NEW, but sometimes its unavoidable.
I can't do this because I've heard everything ever released
but http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/3096406
Haha something like that, but more organized.
Also, state the tracks name at the top of your posts. Then go from there.
And if you really want you can start the title and give a time for when you will be doing it, then maybe someone else can join in, or at least be there to argue.
Aw I've just reached my Spotify streaming limit.
I'll do it soon.
Are you allowed to have heard another album by the same artist?
Yeah, that's fine.
I mean, I dont think it'd be very cool if I'd heard like every Beatles album except Revolver and then I did that one, but whatever.
Haha yeah
I've only heard Goo by Sonic Youth before (though I only really remember about 3 tracks, which I like) and thought I might try Daydream Nation for this. Unless I can think of something better.
I might join you if you decide to do DN.
They're on my list.
you two are in for it
Ah, now there's something I've never got around to hearing that I've often wanted to.
And I'll be home alone tomorrow night, waiting for the Scotland game to start at 2am. This sounds like it could be a plan.
I dunno how you could do a commentary on that though tbh
over half of it is just different shades of the same thing really. It's ace though.
This is just a trap to make you admit the classic albums you haven't listened to yet
and lose valuable DiS points.
DiS points sound more lame than indie points.
I want nothing to do w either.
can I have yours then?
I'll be rich with DiS points! RICH!
you only said that because you knew it would earn you even more
DiS points.
I like to think this is a challenge
for someone to name The Most Classic album they have never heard. or the most Most Classic Albums.
Someone should link to a Q magazine top 50 albums ever.
I like this idea
I'll have a think
I've never heard '69 Love Songs' by The Magnetic Fields.
People were talking about it the other day so I guess I might do this.
Or on the hip-hop front, I haven't actually heard Public Enemy's 'It'll Take A Nation Of Millions...', so that's pretty tempting. Ill do one of them / both when I have some spare time!
i always thought magnetic fields was a venue. in manchester.
huh.
same here
for magnetic fields. Kinda terrified by it.
Turns out the Magnetic Fields album is about 50 songs long.
Maaaaaybe not going to live blog that one...
the clue is in the title
genius
actual genius
^ Post of the Day
we can all go home now.
Oh man I feel very stupid now
And my ^this is to confirm that you should feel stupid.
Enjoyed the post though.
Don't be scared by it
It's incredibly easy to fall in love with.
You might need to take a CD at a time though, unless you have 3 hours or so to listen all at once.
Someone (either restlessboy or lordluciusbanter) did this for a pavement album a few years back.
It was great. So yeah - this is a good idea!
I might give one of them radiohead albums a go...
I'm gonna do the Tommy Lee album, TommyLand: The Ride
yea I'll do this with The Replacements' 'Let It Be' in a mo
I did this recently
didn't blog it, but in a sentence (fragment); I still don't get it.
you will love it.
I like this idea
give me some suggestions and I'll pick one I've never heard
Im gonna do Deserters Songs by Mercury Rev later on
OH I KNOW ONE I CAN DO
Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs. Wanted to listen to this album for ages. Will need to buy it though, internet is shit so can't stream.
Dunno if it really counts as classic
but yeah
it counts
I'm a big Pink Floyd fan,
but I have never listened to Animals. Would you consider that an classic album? If so, I'm gonna do that album later.
I'd say so
Animals is one of my favourites of theirs. I'd definitely be interested to see what a Pink Floyd fan makes of their first listen through that!
Might do this with In An Aeroplane Over The Sea. Will think about it then decide...
Make sure you do. You've still got the best tracks to come.
Where's the rest?
You've still got side 4 to go, Train in Vain coming up!
Death or Glory is my favourite Clash song, good work.
it's a cover
i kinda feel that a criticism on lyrics is a little redundant in that context. but i see what ya mean.
Anyone remember when I did this for LCD's 'This Is Happening'?
http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4254008
I'm going to do this with something
Just have to think of what. Anyone want to try and rec me something?
This please
I for the life of me can't think of anything!
Wrong by nomeansno
#1 Record by Big Star
Will do that later!
Live at the Apollo by James Brown
OPM - Menace To Sobriety
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Let's Face It
someone do Astral Weeks
I'll do that later today also
I might do Astral Weeks
I'll probably hate it though
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
1. Astral Weeks -> Very nice little acoustic ditty with some nice gentle flute action going on as well, and some strings in there. It's a long song and one that would definitely benefit from repeat listens but it all sounds very nice. The really long fade out is a bit disappointing as I was looking forward to something quite big and impactful in the end, that said it was a very nice and well mixed song which is mostly very well constructed.
2. Beside You
Once again the mixing/recording on this song really shines... the instruments are given lots of room to breath and it creates a really nice gentle and spacious and dreamy feeling as a result. Quite Jazzy as well, is it a remarkable song? It's hard to say, I certainly enjoy it but again a song that'll probably benefit from repeat listenings. It's all good background music at the very least and probably something more, again it does sometimes feel a bit directionless and by the end I did feel like it started to drag.
3. Sweet Thing
This song is a nice change of pace, whilst it isn't drastically different in either mood or pace this does make a welcome break from the long and incredibly jazz influenced pieces before where it just sort of maintained a similar composer all the way threw with very subtle changes. This seems more linear and has a clearer direction, but I don't love it... I think it's the sound of flute, it's really starting to grate on me. Overall, really underwhelmed by the end of it
is it or is it not a change of pace?
It is a change of pace but not DRASTICALLY so
Im writing this as I listen and posting as soon as it's finnished
ingrate
that's one of the best songs ever
I did this for Babylon Zoo's 'The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes' a while back..
..it was an experience I'd describe as 'harrowing'.
http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/social/4277128
4. Cyprus Avenue
Enter a Harpsichord, it's nice to hear a new instrument into the mix, hope he lays off the strings and that flute a little bit as I'm getting bored of it. The is a very nice bass sound on this song but once again we hear the strings and flute though so far seem to be more buried in the mix which is a good thing, maybe I wouldn't be so tired of the strings and flute if it was a nice sunny day? As the song goes on I remain really enchanted by the bass, it's a really nice sound. I'm not a big fan of Jazz for the reason that it all sounds a bit improvised and directionless and again that motive is starting to show especially with the harpsichord and it is beginning to drag once again. The Harpsichord is really sticking out far too much at around the 3min 50 point and it sounds detached from the rest of the recording. Despite all these quibbles I do get a feeling that this may improve on repeat listens but I'm going my first gut instinct here, this is continuing a very clear trend on this album it's lots of waffling which you always get with what appears to be an improvised backing & I'm starting to get the urge to switch the album off.... sure it's all pleasant enough but nothing is standing out to me other then how much I'm tired of the strings and flute and how fucking awful the harpsichord sounds at time.
5. The Way Young Lovers Do
This song has way more swagger to it then the others, get the feeling this one maybe the approachable one on the album. I like it's groove and it was urgently needed as I was getting very bored. It's changed up the instruments and focuses more on horns and groove then the others. If one song was going to stand out to you on this album it's this one, is that to say it's the best?Based one listen, it is, for me so far at least.
6. Madame George
In contrast open with a lone acoustic guitar, I assume we're going back to the slower pace then... again with just the guitar and bass I'm already won over by this one. The string and flute is back but it sounds more full and seems to gel better with the accompanying instruments, well at least the violin does, I get the distinct feeling that the flute is an necessary addition to everysong to put me off them... it just doesn't sound needed at all, like you had someone in the corner of the room trying to join in. So what do I think of his voice, I'm not warming to it, not say it's bad... it isn't I just can't warm or connect to it at all. Now about5 or 6 minutes in everything seems to have geled and connected in a way it should of done much earlier, you see here the instruments have all connected and it's turned into a very pretty song, and incredibly pretty one at that. It's a song of 2 halves, I really couldn't give a shit about the opening 4 minutes but after that it really comes into it's own and becomes a beautiful song.
7. Ballerina
Nice variation of instruments once again, the 2nd half is certainly doing a better job of capturing my attention then the 1st half. Once again the bass sounds really nice, this is one for people who like the bass in songs to cut threw and have a full bodied sound and tone. The build to this song is quite strong, it doesn't seem to get stuck in a 'rut' as much as the others... once again I'm find it incredibly hard to connect to his voice, I have never really connected with this very 60s style of singing though & you can tell by the way this album is mixed that it's the main focus... and it's probably the main contributor to me not liking the album so much. The song reveals it's self a bit more at the 5minute mark helping prevent it from dragging (this is a long song at over 7 minutes and the 4th one to break the 7 minute mark on the album). Again though I don't find myself warming to the entire piece, the are little bits I enjoy but as a piece I'm not convinced.
8. Slim Slow Slider
The flute (or whatever it is I've been ribbing on the whole time) returns for it's encore, I just hate the way it's been mixed in this album. It's always far too prominent, apart from the moments when it's less whimsical and more full, then it makes sense! This is all pleasant enough but once again, I cannot connect to the vocals, which seems to be this albums focus... boooo. The song ends abruptly
First impressions of Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
I didn't connect to it, the were moments where I really dug it but for the most part I was bored and aggravated by elements of the song. The mixing at the start seemed incredible and the recording quality is just that, incredible, it all sounds very natural but the mix has a lot to be desired... far too often one instrument (often the flute and the harpsichord during 'Cyrpus Avenue') will jump out and take the focus away from the actual song.. it all becomes too detached. The main focus on the album is clearly on his voice which I just can't get behind, but thats personal preference. I really enjoyed 'The Way Young Lovers Do' and was positively enchanted by the final 4 or 5 minutes of 'Madame George' but I don't see enough here to warrant me coming back. 5.5/10
but after a while I felt the mix had a lot to be desired*
Now do his contractual obligation recordings
http://open.spotify.com/album/77O2VObzG1toPed5vNzwN9
I listened to this for the first time the other day
Was pretty blown away.I'd never listened to anything by Van Morrison before, and was surprised to connect with it so quickly.
Madam George is about a drag queen, I think.
Love that song so much. The flute man, all about the flute.
LOVE - FOREVER CHANGES
1. Alone again or.
This sounds like chase music from scooby doo.
And also like 'DOWNTOWN!!, things will be brighter there, DOWTOWN!!'
I feel a bit confused.
2. A house is not a motel.
Odd lyrics, ' you can call my name/i hear you call my name' - whoever he has granted persmission too cpaitlises on it almost immediately.
' water is blood? don't believe me? check your tub'
Drums are good though.
AHHHH, that guitar is horrible. AHHH.
3.andmoreagain.
Apparently 'andmoregain' is a proper noun. A person.
Hippy parents probably.
Think her parents might be in the band actually, this is some wet hippy bullshit. Abort.
4. The daily planet
Is that where Clark Kent works?
Oh god, I hate this.
can't have this.
I picked a bad album. I dislike this too much to carry on.
END.
:)
While I can't agree with your opinion of Forever Changes
I know this is probably exactly what would happen if I attempted this. Good work.
gee, maybe next time you should pick a smiths album
no emoticon
does this make any sense?
I've looked at in from a number of angles, seeking humour, irony, factual information and so forth...
hmmm..
This is easily my favourite attempt so far
Okay, Mercury Rev - Deserters Songs
1. Holes
Wow, a great opener. Lush string arrangements and the bit where the drums kick in and it all comes together was incredible. I'm a big fan of this wibbly noise too, is it a theramin? Reminds me of Grandaddy a bit. A good start.
2. Tonite it Shows
A bit disappointing after the first track. The intro sounds like the soundtrack to a cheesy pet food advert starring a mischievous cat and the vocals remind me of My Way. It's alright, but not brilliant.
3. Endlessly
The wibbly noise is back! And to great effect. Enjoyed most of the song but why the fuck does it intermittently turn into Silent Night?!
4. I Collect Coins
As pleasant as can be for a short, fuzzy piano interlude type thing. I like the title.
5. Opus 40
A welcome change of pace, the album was beginning to plod a bit. I love the organ and the staccato (is that the word?) strings. The vocals have picked up a bit too, could lose the whistling at the end. I hate whistling in songs. Generally very good though, if a bit depressing.
6. Hudson Line
This feels a bit out of place. The saxophone and noodly guitar playing are all well and good but it doesnt fit with the melancholy feel and lavish arrangements of the other songs so far. Not a fan.
I shall continue this later.
Definetly out of place.
written by the guitarist and it shows.
Brilliant album though.
7. The Happy End (The Drunk Room)
Another short interlude thing. Nice clangy piano. I hope this puts the album back on track.
8. Goddess On A Hiway
I really like this. It's got a really nice bass line driving it and the vocals have gotten a lot more prominent since the gentle wimpering at the start of the album. It's even got a nice big soaring chorus. And the organ is back! Lovely.
9. The Funny Bird
Another good track. I like the sad trumpet and "you're a funny bird that never laughs" is a good lyric. Theres lots more noodly guitar work but it works a lot better mixed with the strings and big crashing drum sections than it did in track 6.
10. Pick Up If You're There
Oh this is great. Just a slow, echoey organ, a violin, and a little bit of theremin but very sad and powerful.
11. Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp
The most upbeat song so far, as the title suggests. It's not bad, and doesn't feel out of place like Hudson Line but it doesn't do much for me. It sounds a lot more like an average pop song than the rest of the album. Oh it seems to have come to a sudden halt halfway through. Some silence. Some strings. A mans voice. What is going on here. That was all a bit messy and unnecessary.
12. Underture
4 seconds of silence. Sounds as you'd expect.
OVERALL:
I enjoyed it, but it was a bit patchy. The first track was absolutely stunning, and there were some other really good tracks but it never quite reached those heights again. A peculiar ending too.
The wibbly noise is a musical saw, I think
best song on it by a mile
oh I was gonna do this! should have read a bit above
right, I'm going to go for up to four today
cos I have little else to do. The Replacements, Nick Drake, The Jesus & Mary Chain and maybe also Nick Drake. t-15 for Replacements
*maybe also Mercury Rev
but its being covered
THE REPLACEMENTS - LET IT BE, here we go
1. I Will Be - head nodding, foot tapping from the off. Vocals could be a bit further to the front in the mix. Ooh, is this a chorus or a bridge? Whatever that was, it was good. Did he just say Birthday? There was definitely a Wednesday in there. Come on girl indeed. Lovely little fill, basic but effective drumwork. This is cracking. Some widdly guitarwork, it fits in very well. Well hello there, shit just pared down then came back in. That was neat-o. Vocals a bit more prominent now. I'm positively bouncing on my chair now. Love it
2. Favorite Thing
Thrown headfirst into this. Ooosh! This is quality too. I'm already making up drum fills on my knees. DUH-DUHDUH-DUH-DUHDUH-caarrrreeeeeeeeee! Trying to figure out who this has influenced, doesn't really matter. Powering through. Bass n drums only now, aww you're his favourite thing. SOLO TIME! Should I send this to my ex who I'm trying to hook again, I wonder? Doesn't matter, fuck her, this rocks. Punk ahoy!
3. We're Coming Out
No pause for breadth. WE'RE COMING OUT. Homos. Reminds me of New Day Rising-era Hüsker Dü a lot. Wicked cool solo, ripping through it still. Sweeeeeetttttttttttttt. Is it over already? Oh, no. Finger clicks? One more chance to get along...pace has changed a bit now, speeding up though, ahhhhhhhhhh this is like a rollercoaster ride! Descended into a choas blitz firestorm over.
4. Tommy Get His Tonsils Out
Nice reminder of the title and WHOA, again, these songs really hit you from the off. Serrated guitars, sounds like it could be soundtracking a rodeo. Now a bar fight, everyone's smashing chairs over each other. I wonder what it was like to live in the 80s, must have been cool. The tempo is all over the shop, but I'm enjoying it. Can't make out what singer's saying but now we have some badass guitarwork again. This is probably the weakest so far but still good. They all end really neat.
5. Androgynous
Piano?! Heartfelt lyrics? Am I listening to November Rain? Wish I could make out what he's saying but I'm a bit over-giddy from the other tracks so maybe I need time to take stock before (I assume) another whirlwind. Aww, he's talking about love. 'Androgynous!' Here are some strings, I think. Not my favourite, this, but I'm sure if I read the lyrics / gave it a bit more time I'd enjoy it more. Oh, it's over
6. Black Diamond
Sad guitar. Sad vocals. Sadface. Drumsticks click, OH MY GAWD. This is awesome. A.w.e.s.o.m.e. Very 80s though. Ooooohhhhhhhhhh, black diamond RIFF x 2. I can confirm I am air guitaring. Very very 80s. Squealing solo time. And we're away, everything racing ahead. Very short strip-back and now we're back to full band kicking ass mode. Awh, it's over?
7. Unsatisfied
I used to love that Nine Black Alps song of the same name. Wonder what they're up to. Lighters in the air here. That was a sharp lick of guitar and now we're moving. The pace of the record has slowed up from the beginning, settled into more 'of it's time' music I feel. I don't listen to much proper rock though so this is really doing it for me. SOARING VOCALS! Pained vocals, but uplifting. Is this drivetime rock radio embraced by the alternative world? Arms in the air! Feels like I've known this track all my life, properly belting out the chorus now.
that's annoying, I replied in the wrong place. fuxsake, I'll start 'Side 2' from here then.
8. Seen Your Video
pace is back up. Nice intro as well. 15seconds in and I'm air guitaring again. These boys have got their rock shit locked up. Is this gonna be instrumental the whole way through? Don't mind, they've got a great thing going. Stuttering guitar works its way across the mix. Fucking wicked guitarwork at the halfway mark. My heart is swelling. Might be the best track on the record. BASS TIME. Piano keys twinkle! Vocals, hello! SEEN YOUR VIDEO. something about ROCK AND ROLL. I love life.
9. Gary's Got A Boner
Hep! yaaaayyyy, come on! Again, more kick ass rock. Thought I'd be more articulate than this. Solid work from the backline. Sweet team effort. My knuckle is bleeding cos I hit the desk too hard when the solo dropped in. Short, powerful. I can barely keep up with this. They've bestrode so many styles in, what, 20 minutes? Calm down Replacements, I can't touch type! No, don't. This shit is alright by me. Ooh I got blood on my keyboard. HURRRGGHHHHH, are we done? We're done.
10. Sixteen Blue
Calmer again. Lovely bass sound, warm and inviting. Reminds me of something, of everything, I don't even know anymore. Live blogging albums make them really fun. Fuck Balam Acab. Fuck Destroyer. Shit, it sounded for a bit there (1:30) like Christopher Owens was about to pop out and go "I'm on a ghost train, in a ghost house". I suppose the melodies in here aren't exactly novel but they sure are pleasing. I'm swaying along, this record really has captivated me. And here is a superb, show-stealing solo to close proceedings. Lovely.
11. Answering Machine
Positively sparkling. The vocals have bite but I'm not sure what he's saying. Aha, an answering machine. The song sounds painful, but also kinda hopeful. This really suits my mood at the moment. I like the distinction between the clean(ish) guitars and the jagged vocals. Are the guitars clean? Not really. Sounds halfway between overdrive and wah-wah. A bit of a confusing end but I'm sure repeated listens will reward and I'll make more sense of this one. I like the repeated, melting answering phone. Fade to nothing. We're done.
Havent heard this album, or anything by the Replacements.
But I want to listen to this song now.
Yes
You make this album sound AMAZING
so, then, The Replacements' 'Let It Be'
A real rollercoaster. It cycles through so many emotions, themes and styles often in a single track: at times trashy, at times sparkling; heart-wrenching but soaring; frantic and then mellow; melodic but...no it's melodic a lot of the time. I don't know much about the context, but I wonder if Paul Westerberg (is that his name? I recall something from wiki) is an alcoholic. Perhaps. Whatever he is, and however the record sounds at one point or another, at no time did it lose my attention properly. Tracks 5-7 sagged a bit in places but only cos it was such a kick-ass start. Fuck, I don't know. First impressions are difficult and can come back to bite you in the ass but....that was brilliant. 9/10
oh also: every single band member plays a part, and they play it fucking well
won't come back to bite you
Gary's Got A Boner aside, this LP is a stone cold classic.
this is incredible
I felt literally nothing
Very good work.
I like what you said about Unsatisfied, I felt like I was really familiar with it the first time I heard it too. It has the feeling of a classic song.
But yeh great album, It's like emo punk but before there was such a thing. Ground-breaking.
It is truly an incredible album
Fleetwood Mac - Rumors.
The search for yuppie El Dorado continues with a listen to 'their' album. From what I understand this was the album where everyone was fucking each other/not fucking each other and eventually even the drummer got some pussy. Also, cocaine.
Second Hand News.
Bawp Bawmp Bamp Ba BawmpBawp Bawmp Bamp Ba BawmpBawp Bawmp Bamp Ba BawmpBawp Bawmp Bamp Ba Bawmp Baw Baw Baw Baw Doot Doodly Doo...
???
No. Don't do that.
Dreams
A major improvement over Second Hand News, the refrain of which I found very distressing. Ok, so they do know their way around a chorus. This is a relief. The rhythm section sounds kind of inert, they don't really swing anything, and they don't go for an overtly mechanical sound either. They just kind of sound like nervous ten year olds. It doesn't bother me like the doot doodly doos did though. Yeah, this one is great. Full marks.
Never Going Back Again.
What the fuck? Is dude playing a lute? Lindsey Buckingham. Fuck you buddy.
Also, I'm almost 100% sure he was wearing pantaloons while recording this.
Sentenced to death.
Love his dangling balls on the cover
http://tinyurl.com/3n87atr
Don't Stop
An irritating shuffly groove. It seems like their should be a montage of smiling white people doing jazz hands to this song while skipping fancifully down the street eating gumdrops and shit.
YES,
corny as hell. Im doing this with you now by the way.
That explains everything.
That little guitar break was alright I guess.
Def the best part of the song.
Go Your Own Way
Drums feel like we're building up to something epic. AW YEEEEAH. This here is a jam. Along with Dreams, this lives up to the hype. Mainly because it actually sounds like the awesomely bitter spitefest that this album is cracked up to be, as opposed to a bunch of happy rich people skipping through a meadow and jumping over a babbling brook. That guitar. Damn.
This is huge.
Really wanting to sing the hook now.
I do wish this was a Tom Petty song though.
Songbird
Slowing it down. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to remember anything about this one as soon as it's done, but that still makes it an improvement over several of these songs.
This is gorgeous, great ballad to give a little pacing
to the album.
The Chain
This is pretty cool. Vocal harmonies are really cool, especially with the counterpoint in the chorus. Again, it feels like we're back in territory that justifies this album's reputation. It seems to me that for all the now passe talk about the mp3 age killing the "album experience" there are still plenty of old school albums that have reputations as classics on the basis of only a few great tracks. The guitar at the end really pushes this over the age. I'm sorry about what I said before. Lindsey Buckingham, you're my best friend baby!
My fav so far, easily.
Great guitar, great simple bass-line, great harmonies. Love how this song rolls out and just keep building.
WHAT AN ENDING! I feel this one.
You Make Loving Fun
I'm pretty sure this sort hippy boogie was played out even before this album came out. But wait a minute, this is turning pretty awesome. And the title made me sure I was going to hate this one. And that hook just totally washes away that corny organ riff, and the goodwill lingers when it returns. And the guitar returns and the perfect moment once again. They pull this one off. Oh yes.
The interplay between Stevie & Lindsey saves this one.
I Don't Want To Know.
If this was in the first half I don't think I would've liked it as much, but the fact that the last two tracks were so good means we've got some momentum now. Even though these guys make some seriously questionable aesthetic choices, they really know something about arrangement, dynamics and a hook. This has me thinking Tom Petty, which can only be a good thing.
HANDCLAPPPPS
Oh Daddy
Slowing it down once again. Not necessarily a bad thing. I'm actually feeling this one, especially the harmonics on guitar. A clever touch.
WHO'S YOUR DADDY
idk man, hook is pretty weak. Harmonics are cool though, always.
I feel like I was willing to forgive this album the occasional weak hook in the face of the actually irritating ones.
Especially the first track. Oh that Fleetwood Mac. They're crafty.
Gold Dust Woman
Here we are at the end, and it had better be good. And it is good. It wouldn't really make sense to bring out another steamrolling jam at the end, but the chorus is pretty damn good. This album is a pretty bumpy ride, with some major dips in the road and some choices which remind me that cocaine is a hell of a drug. But some major highlights and overall I'm definitely glad I gave this a listen.
I want to hear that now.
Ya pretty good ending.
Album was pretty great in the middle.
Maybe with all the mystique around the situation at the time it raised the albums profile?
Probably
And it does justify its reputation at times. However, there is no hole deep enough in which to bury Second Hand News and Don't Stop and then never speak of them again.
It just seems like maybe other bands tried some of these
ideas, and did them better. Like, Dont Stop sounds like a cheap knock of a Steely Dan cut or something.
I might do that Jeff Buckley album
but I might end up upsetting a load of people
Thats the fun of it.
Lets not turn this into a recommendation thread.
But here's 500 for anyone to choose from.
http://dj-funktual.hubpages.com/hub/Rolling-Stones-The-500-Greatest-Albums-of-All-Time
I was almost going to do that one when I looked at that list
but then I thought it might be a bit plodding.
Using that
and http://www.random.org/, I got 171.
Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story.
LET'S DO THIS!
Ok, I don't know how "classic" this is, but it's #269 on The List so... Nightbirds by Labelle it is.
1. Lady Marmalade
Don't know if I've heard the original before or not. I might have done - it really is identical to the one with Missy & Kelis & that lot. Not a bad way to start an album, but a bit meh because I've heard it all before.
2. Somebody Somewhere
Yeah, this is more like it. Dunno what it's about, haven't really been listening to the lyrics. But nice horns. And there's a cool sort of keyboard bit or something that's just started up. Bit more gospel-y than I think I expected. But good.
3. Are You Lonely?
Think I've heard this before. Good rhythm. I'm swaying a bit. Less horns than the last one, but still adequate hornage. And plenty of bits where the instrumentation drops and the vocals go it alone. I like that. This is good.
Another spotify ad. Great.
4. It Took A Long Time
Woah, rapid change of tempo/mood. Soul ballad-y. Pleasant enough, pretty good even, but could end after about 2:40 and not lose anything. No need to be topping the 4min mark with this kind of thing.
Also, I've just remembered it was Lil Kim, not Kelis. Whatever. Nobody's reading this anyway. Nobody cares about this album.
5. Don't Bring Me Down
Ironic title, given that it's just those four words repeated over a frankly generic backing track. All the energy of the first three tracks has gone. At least this one has the decency to bugger off sharpish. It won't be missed.
6. What Can I Do For You?
Might be back on track with this one. Not up to the opening trio, but it's got a bit of movement to it. Someone needs to tell the bassist to cut loose though. It's all too restrained, and not in a controlled/understated/simmering-below-the-surface way.
7. Nightbird
Another slower one, but this one's done well. Could fit nicely onto most 70s soul compilations, though it would never be the standout.
8. Space Children
Everything I said about #6 applies here, too. I think this (and a couple of other previous songs) might have been sampled, although whosampled.com says not. Hmmm.
9. All Girl Band
Well, I think I've found where the Talking Heads swiped the keyboard for Life During Wartime. Or perhaps Abba, for one of theirs (Waterloo? I dunno. It might even be a Queen song I'm thinking of. I mix those two bands up). But it's not as good as that sounds. In fact, it's just like the last 5 tracks. Uninspiring.
4th spotify ad. Can I really be arsed to push through this one for one more mediocre track? I'll give it a shot...
Have you met Laura? She's REALLY enjoying her course at the University of Southampton,
and kinda ruining Rod Stewart for me.
I honestly couldn't tell you what any of the ads I heard were for.
Sorry.
10. You Turn Me On
Ladies, this is gonna turn nobody on. Yet another rhythmless, energy-draining lullaby. I'm 2mins in and I just want it to be over. Wait, no, it's perking up a bit now. Not a lot, but enough to indicate this album might not just end by fading into insipid oblivion. Come on. Come on..? No, it's died again. Moar horns plz. Big finish? Yeah, I think it's going for it. But... What? A fade out? Rubbish. Awful. Cowardly way to end a song, let alone an album. Just sod off if that's all you're going to do. And next time finish writing your song before you bother recording it. Cheers.
OVERALL RATING
Started well, with a track everyone knows and then a couple more that almost indicated this could be a lost classic. But they couldn't keep it up, the energy evaporated and we were left with a handful of ok-ish songs and a couple of real snoozers. A more generous man than I may say that at least a couple of the last 7 tracks would grow on one given repeated listens; which may be true, but I think it's probably more likely they'd just start to grate. Not inspired enough to find out either way really, at least not now. But if this is the 269th best album ever made then I'm a Dutchman. Called Gerulf. Who likes Edam and gabber and words that require industrial levels of phlegm. And has an inferiority complex about the vastly superior beers brewed by my neighbours to the south.
And very few of those are true.
Dr David Thorpe reviews the Mars Volta live
http://www.somethingawful.com/d/your-band-sucks/the-mars-volta.php
Rod Stewart (and The Faces) - Every Picture Tells A Story
Track one - title track:
acoustic guitar intro, and then LOTS of drums. Pretty much sounds like just those and Rod Stewart's voice... The lyrics sound okay. Random bits of guitar solo here and there. "Peking Ferry I was Feeling Merry ... I fell in love with a slit-eyed lady". HMMM.
Oh wow, most of the songs on this album are over five minutes.
The drums went, and it was Stewart and some woman singing.
He actually has a pretty awesome voice. I always kinda liked Rod Stewart's voice, but he's certainly owning this one. More Stay With Me than If Ya Think I'm Sexy. Still, my gran used to say slitty-eyed a lot.
Still, good first track's now. Track 2: Seems Like A Long Time.
Lovely piano intro, and it's a bit more maudlin. Again, the drums are probably the best thing on here. Rod Stewart's not-half a fan of choruses, is he? GUITAR. Properly this time, no fucking about. Let It Be-style. In fact, this is pretty much just Let It Be, come to think of it. SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME, SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME, WHISPER WORDS OF WISDOM LONG LONG TIME. etc.
NEXT
LAURA IS ENJOYING STUDYING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WHEREVER GO AWAY PLEASE
Was that a cover of an Elvis song? It was. Pretty so-so.
Was that a cover of an Elvis song? It was. Pretty so-so.
ANYWAY, DiS ate my post but probably didn't. That's Alright ends with a twangy Amazing Grace performance, with our football-playing hero not quite able to reach the notes. Not such a fan of this. Kinda nice, slidey-bluesy guitar though.
4. TOMORROW IS SUCH A LONG TIME:
A pretty good Dylan cover, this. Still, BRING ON THE WALL. I mean BRING ON MAGGIE MAY. Actually, on second thoughts, this Dylan is pretty good - it sortof reminds me of Roddy Woomble's last album. Or if The Tallest Man On Earth was Rod Stewart. I wish TTMOE would use a bit more instrumentation, the odd bit of country-guitar would make songs like Burden On Tomorrow unsurpassable.
ANYWAY.
This reminds me of a really good Tallest Man On Earth, but then it IS a Dylan song, so that's fairly logical.
BRING ON MAGGIE!
5: Maggie May
WAKE UP MAGGIE I THINK I GOT SOMETHING TO SAYYYYYY TO YOU.
Apart from Sounds of the Suburbs being covered by The Samurai Seven, this is probably the one song that makes me think of John Peel. Sod Teenage Kicks. Seriously, I think I hate that song now just because of Feargal Sharkey ruining everything with his generally lunkness.
LUNK. Anyway, it's Maggie May, I know what's going on.
6: Mandolin Wind
Quite country-ish. Pretty much just straight-up country. I like the way it comes to a full stop, then brings in a solo (couldn't tell you what the instrument is - OH WAIT IT'S A MANDOLIN). The twangy guitar doesn't seem to really know what to do, though. And then it stops again!
And now it sounds a bit like something off Pacific Ocean Blue, or Drift Away (the song, just to clarify).
No drums on this one. All in all, quite lovely.
Oh wait, drums! Looks like we will have some drums after all, the drums are a bit like a dog coming up and shoving it's head onto your lap when you're sitting on a porch in the early evening, you're not quite sure what it wants or why it's there, but you don't mind, and you pat it on the head absent-mindedly. Who's the best drummer?? Yes you aaaaaareee, yesss youuu arrrre.
BACK TO LAURA, SHE'S REALLY ENJOYING HER BUSINESS COURSE.
7: (I know) I'm Losing You
Man, this started off okay but it's getting pretty weak. I can't tell if I really like the breakdown. DRUMS. MANY, MANY DRUMS. Man, this is so not a solo album. So so not a solo album.
Anyway, it sortof builds back up like a roots-rock Dance To The Music. A little bit *too* loose, but I reckon I could learn to love it.
I'm not a Rod Stewart fan at all
but I really like that song.
oh yeah, I wasn't quite giving it all my attention but it sounds pretty good.
FOR GOD'S SAKE, LAURA.
I once heard about there being a Blacks on the edge of Manchester that was called "Blacks out of town". I struggle to believe that the person that told me this wasn't taking the piss.
ANYWAY.
8: (Find A) Reason To Believe
The bass is pretty great thus far. Lyrics are pretty great, all sounding a bit like what Bobby Gillespie REAALLY REALLY wishes Primal Scream could sound like when they did that whole "country girl" schtick. The organ sound is perfect. Pretty much perfect misery-misery-me/BUTI'LLGETTHROUGHIT maudlin song. just love the organ sound, though.
Ha, nail hits head on Bobby wanting to be in the Faces
IN SUMMARY
Obviously a pretty damned good album, and he's a pretty awesome singer, but this isn't SO FAR from what I'd like to listen to anyway - he's someone whose music I've been meaning to get into.
Listening back to "...Losing You", and it's actually pretty awesome. Piano/bass Riff is pretty amazeballs. Has it been sampled? It sounds like something that should be sampled by P Diddy.
Can sort of see the Temptations in it, especially the hurt - down-hearted bit.
Man, it must be fun being Rod Stewart. "I'm bored. I know, I'll go and knock up a supermodel and play football on my football pitch, then hang out with my other rich mates until the next royalty check rolls in. Then I'll release a covers album."
REAL LIFE IS NO FUN.
It's a Motown cover
Temptations or Four Tops, the build back up after the bridge is so strong.
Yeah, it's solo in as much as a big name and voice and face gets a load of his mates and contacts to record with him and make the best noise possible. He's mainly re-interpreting older stuff but going - 'Ain't my voice great enough to carry this stuff off and improve on it' Yes Rod, it is.
I'd pretty much entirely agree with your take on this...
This was the second Prince album I got after getting a super cheap copy of the Gold Experience in WHSmith back in the day. I'd always loved the idea of getting into Prince, but just didn't know where to start. Even now, Sign of the Times strikes me as an album that would've worked so much better without all the filler. If I were you, I'd go right back to the start and get his first, For You. This seems to get written off by a lot of people and the general consensus is that he didn't really 'become' Prince until the second one. For me though, all those smooth disco-y sounds were just immediately appealing. And that was it... still not sure what my favorite of his is...
someone do Van Halen
first album bud
it's a classic
Anyone want to do one of these on outloud?
Could decide on an album, download it, then put it up on there..
I love this thread! It's been a great read
Big shout out to everyone who's done it so far - enjoyed every one of them - major thanks!
What would be interesting is two people doing it at the same time to see the contrast in opinions.
I wanna go but I've made it a mission over the years to listen to all the 'classic' albums in the magazine lists so I don't know what's left for me.
But..I've been hip-hop listening non-stop for the last 9 months loving all the major stuff but my seminal album knowledge is crap. Anyone want to do a joint blog of an LL Cool J, Tribe Called Quest, Tupac, Rakim, whatever listen through? Or can suggest one from pre-1990 for me to do?
A few thoughts:
1. WTF happened (rhetorical), I went away for lunch and came back and like four albums got did. Awesome.
2. I like the way Carruthers stacked his responses, he replied to his first post instead of each subsequent post, this makes it easier for others to reply to, otherwise a response to a certain track would sink to the bottom of the stack and makes the conversation harder to take part in. So yeah, state the name of the album in your first post, then reply from THAT spot for each track.
3. I like the idea of a communal listen on Outloud.fm. The best time for me would be like Sundays at 2pm, for you UK lot, that's 10pm. We've had some good size groups in there at that time before. That should get a new thread though so we can nominate and vote on what album to do and give people enough time to plan for it.
agreed on 2, it does look a lot neater.
It's 10pm now, I'm putting "Van Lear Rose" on http://outloud.fm/DiSound
Anyone fancy a listen?
I think I might do
Watertown by Frank Sinatra. My laptop is dead though. Hope this thread keeps going. It's on my Must listen list, so this is a good reason to get on it.
honestly, it's boring
it's one of those, on paper it sounds incredible, but the reality is a real snoozefest.
I really hate swing and lounge crooners
but I was told this was a pretty heavy way in. I thought if some others: Cocteau Twins I have never heard any full albums. I think I'd rather do one of theirs.
'Watertown' is an amazing record.
I've never seen anyone deem it as a classic though. But they should.
'Heaven Or Las Vegas' is a good Cocteau Twins one to do.
Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
http://outloud.fm/DiSound if you want to listen
Actually, I cba right now.
gonna have something to eat instead.
first ever listen of Talking Heads - Remain In Light
not sure at all why i haven't before. this probably won't be very fun to read because i'll probably enjoy it. probably.
1. born under punches
this is pretty RADICAL. funky but sort of chaotic and collected at the same time.
2. seen and not seen
this one's a little more toned down. almost feels a bit like too much of a lull after the opener, but i'm sure it'll make more sense in the context of the whole album.
3. crosseyed and painless
hmm. good? i can't lie, funk is a genre i've always struggled with a bit. there's nothing wrong with this exactly, i can appreciate how the groove builds and i love the sonic textures that segue very nicely...but i'm finding it a bit detached.
4. listening wind
i'm feeling a bit more heart in this one. but the title and the lyrical content kind of feels like an indie version of a sting song from the 90s. i've got to say, the guitar wail really does sound like an animal dying, michael jackson should have had one in earth song. it even feels like there's chimes in this but there's not. i keep listening for chimes and it feels like they're present, but...no.
shabs and bants, this was actually decent.
5. the great curve
here's the thing, as a band they sound tight as fuck. the way the instruments and the vocals build together is genuinely exhilarating, but when i hear them being this groovy i don't want to hear an 80s guitar solo, i want to hear james brown cumming deep inside my ear with his massive voice. am i missing the point?
ok so the end of the song was basically irresistible
probably the best song so far.
6. the overload
a nice change of pace. but ultimately, boring.
maybe try listening to it in the right order
:(
i just got it from mediafire. oh well, what's done is done.
lol
7. once in a lifetime
obviously, i know this. i can't say anything that's already been said, but that swishy synth is cool as fuck, really sounds like digital water...somehow. i'm sure it's probably very unpopular to say this is the best song on the album, but it's tied with the great curve for me.
i'm going to give up on this
my tracklisting is ALL messed up. and it definitely feels like the tracklisting really matters with this one.
CRISPIN ALEXANDER
DON'T GIVE UP, THAT TRACKLIST HAS SENT YOU TO ALL THE WRONG PLACES. HERE'S THE REAL ONE.
Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Crosseyed and Painless
The Great Curve
Once in a Lifetime
Houses in Motion
Seen and not Seen
Listening Wind
The Overload
SERIOUSLY, LISTEN TO IT THIS WAY, AS INTENDED, YOU WILL NOT GO WRONG.
hahaha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C9vPqpxyP0
The Meters - Rejuvenation
1. People Say
Great intro; syncopated rhythm guitars and interlocking/counterlocking drums. Minimal bass and piano doubling
in short, great funk
the horns are a bit too nice for my tastes but the vocals are well produced though the lyrics are unremarkable
the groove is awesome
the little guitar break - stunning
I think I might enjoy this
2. Love is for me
Slower, more soul standard
a bit derivative, nice response backing vocals though - gospel tinged
Could be a Van Morrisson song or an Otis song - in fact probably needs a stand-out lead vocal
competent but not awesome
3. Just Kissed my Baby
mean wah wah intro - this has been sampled by Public Enemy
breakbeat
bass and hammond
Yeah
Horns still a little polite but this rhythm is boss
funky as hell
doesn't really go anywhere though
fade out - disappointing
4. What 'cha say
Moody slow hammond intro
then suddenly
cop show theme
into Bee Gees territory
dropping to funk
r'n'b soul middle eight
this track reeks of cocaine and is all over the place
I love it
'gonna keep on getting high/on your love'
yep
nice little clavinet solo - fades too early, want more of this one
5. Jungle Man
breakbeat intro - must have been sampled
this is wicked
slow tempo strutting - love the bass and guitar following each other and the 3 bars of cheese busting into a loose joint
stripped
the horns even sound better on this
again fades too soon - want more
6. Hey Pocky a-way
boogie woogie piano and old time soul feel
not much on the drums on this one, just a kick - the piano and guitar rhythm driving things
not so keen
oh wait
drum break
nice but doesn't let loose
the next track is 11 and a half minutes long
hmmm
7. It ain't no use
12 minutes long nearly
let's see
this sounds a little different
I'm in a disco in Saigon
'ain't no use cutting you loose/I wouldn't last a day'
awesome female backing vocals
guitar solo could be a little more raw and ragged but the lead vocal sounds much better on this one
hmm, still 8 + minutes to go - wonder what's going to happen...
a lot of jamming so far
give me a tempo change guys
after about 4 minutes of funky jamming they're taking it down a little but not much
drum solo
phased guitars
amazing breakbeats but a bit noodly elsewhere
not sure why they chose this song to be the long freak out
there were more ideas in 3 and a half minutes of What 'cha say than in the 12 minutes of this
builds towards the end though
maybe in the right setting it could be orgasmic but I wanted MOAR
8. Loving You is on my mind
Intro sounds a bit like Dancing In The Streets then goes a bit cocktail jazz instrumental
Just a vocal refrain - no verses
sounds like the closing credits
this one is the turkey for sure
...though still not exactly hideous
9. Africa
last track
not very African sounding
'woah take me back/to the mother land'
Great rhythm section again but a bit half-hearted all round
and a fade out
a weak ending
In sum
well this is supposed to be the 138th best LP of all time according to Rolling Stone
released in 1974 it certainly shits on the Bay City Rollers from an enormous height
but track 8 really spoils it and Africa should probably come before the long funk work out
What 'cha say is a stone cold jam though and ought to be longer
the album as a whole is pretty strong overall; the playing is first class but it's missing the soul and direction of a lead singer in the same class and the playing, someone to give it some edge and social conscience - the lyrics aren't really strong enough
7.2/10 would recommend
PINKERTON.
Only know Buddy Holly, let's see how this goes.
2. Getchoo.
The lyrics are nothing mindblowing but y'know, nice and loud, the chorus is catchy as hell. ANOTHER GUITAR SOLO. "Getchoo aha" is gonna be stuck in my head all night now. Not quite as good as Tired of Sex, 7.8/10
3. No Other One.
Like their feedback don't they? Hey wait, I think I might have actually heard this one. It's veryyyyyyyyy veryyyyyyyyy average. Even as a new listener I can tell this one is very "Weezer by numbers," 6.3/10
4. Why Bother.
Ooh, cool drums to start. Power chords. Average lyrics. Bouncy chorus. 7.0/10
It's generally universally acknowledged that this is the best Weezer album BY MILES right? It's kind of not very exciting or particularly interesting.
"It's generally universally acknowledged that this is the best Weezer album BY MILES right?"
Wrong. The Blue/Pinkerton debate has raged on since the '90s and will continue to rage among DiSers in their 30s for a long time to come.
Soz, guess I don't have a particularly extensive Weezer knowledge.
5. Across The Sea
Okay, this is creepy. FIRST INTERESTING LYRICS ON THE ALBUM. Oh Rivers you massive perv. Yeah, disturbed pervert narrator > boring MY LIFE SUCKS narrator, 8.9/10
6. The Good Life
:( I'm jealous of the start of this song because I can't click my fingers properly. The songs all sound really similar but some of them are good and some of there are a bit boring, it's kind of difficult to explain why each one is what it is. This is rather enjoyable, 7.8/10
7. El Scorcho.
AY CARUMBA :D This is ace, sounds like lots and lots of weed. THE CHORUS IS TOTALLY AWESOME. Also just realised it's in an Allo' Darlin' song. Loving the totally random backing vocals. Aaah, the bit when it speeds up is so cool too. Best song so far by SO MUCH, 9.4/10
took me ages to see how good this was
glad you've got it right away. It's really kinda silly and shouldn't be possible but gosh darn is it catchy
8. Pink Triangle.
Doesn't sound hugely exciting after that last track but it's at least different to the rest of the album. It's about his girlfriend dumping him to get with another girl right? Yeah, it's pretty good, 7.7/10
9. Falling For You.
Aww, a slowie. Oh wait, never mind, we're back in with the power chords. The lyrics to this one are pretty nice, same with the music, yeah, again, dunno WHY it's good, but it is, 8.2/10
10. Butterfly.
It hasn't started yet, but it's got to be a ballad right? Last track on an otherwise upbeat album HAS to be slow. Oh yeah, here's an acoustic guitar. Oh a butterfly, deep. Nah, this is shite, not a good end to the album at all, 4.3/10
what happened to
Tired of Sex!!
are you kidding me??
this song slays
Amazing how EVH switches from rhythm guitaring
to soloing and and riffing back and forth and back and forth over and over again like it aint no thang. Dude is a supreme talent.
Love the middle section on this.
Man I love this album.
so conclusion: best album of all time?
how about Aquemini?
BEST SONG ALL TIME.
also
i don't know if you know what it sounds like but it's not really the kind of album you can comment on every track, it's a long meandering noise.
Right, after the embarassing discovery that '69 Love Songs' is a very literal album title
I'm going to do 'The Doors', by, erm, The Doors. I've heard 'The End' before, as I love Apocalypse Now, and 'Realight My Fire' obviously, as that was on Pop Idol once, but don't think I've heard any of the others and I've definitely never listened to a Doors album before, so probably should start now.
1- Break On Through (To The Other Side)
Right yeah I've definitely heard this song too. I'm probably cheating a bit no aren't I? This is some funky shit already though. All the instruments are following different rhythms and stuff but it all manages to fit together really well. I've no idea how anyone would go about writing a song like this. It seems to be getting faster and faster. Good shit!
2- Soul Kitchen
Another organ (keyboard?) led song, nice guitar riff at the start too. This reminds me of 'Green Onions' a lot. The lyrics are pretty mental, as I expected. Building up now, this song is brilliant. 'Light another cigareeette... learn to forgeeet' I like that, wish I could smoke in my house. Great guitar solo at the end here, yeeeeah. Don't want this to end :(
3. The Crystal Ship
Slower one here. Seems to be the first really psychadelic one. Yep it's really rippy actually. The organ is prettty prominent again, it's a bit annoying on this track though, not sure it sounds too great with Morrison's vocals. Ahhh the instrumental refrain after the first verse is nice though. This is getting better as it goes along. No idea what the hell he's going on about but it's probably very important. Aaand it's over, that was quick!
4. Twentieth Century Fox
I hope this is good as that flute version of the 20th century fox theme. Organ very prominent again, running theme I guess. I like the lyrics here though, reminds me off a Kinks song quite a lot. Broken down into just pure jamming again in the middle, they seem to do that instead of choruses, pretty cool. The organ is annoying me a little bit now though. This is very catchy actually, and over again! These songs are too short...
5. Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)
Ah great, I like songs about whiskey. This sounds a bit comical though. Not sure I like the start. Im pretty sure this is the sort of song that would NEVER be played in a whiskey bar. It's a bit annoying to be honest, he was obviously on some happy trippy shit when he wrote this one. Someone needs to give him some mind-fucking scary drugs again. He appears to be attempting to kidnap a little girl here, not sure I can get behind that sentiment. No I don't like this song, it sounds like it should be at the end of a shit musical.
You know it's from a musical?
Well, an opera really: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Song
'Realight My Fire' LOL
*LIGHT MY FIRE
Dammit
6. Relight My Fire
Yeeeeeah everyone's heard this one I guess. I wish someone would smash that organ up though its starting to drive me insane. As I type this its going off into some MENTAL HIGH PITCHED ORGAN SOLO. Heads hurting, no wonder they took loads of fucking drugs. How can this keep getting higher????? This definitely didnt happen in the Will Young version! Ah, the guitar is here now, I like guitars. This is much better now the organs in the background. Great ending aswell, saves the song a bit as it was plodding along in the middle.
Wasn't Relight My Fire by Take That?
Well I'm having a fucking shocker in this thread.
*LIGHT MY FIRE
LIGHT MY FIRE
LIGHT MY FIRE
Dammit, I'm not even drunk.
7. Back Door Man
Hmmm, interesting title... This is sounding good, more traditionally bluesy. Jim Morrison eats more chicken than any man ever seen. I reckon I eat more. Really good vocal performance here though, I like it, one of the best songs yet for sure.
8. I Looked At You
Nice drum intro. Not really connecting with this song much so far though. And now that organ is back to be annoying. Jim's vocals are good again. Nothing else really grabbing me from this track mind, bit of a dull one.
9. End Of The Night
Ok, so the organ has been slowed right down here, and it sounds much better. Trippy stuff, I'm enjoying this one a lot. Epic lyrics building up!... and its over. Hmmm, well that one ended too quickly. Probably my favourite track so far though. Best use of the organ anyhow.
10. Take It As It Comes
This one is sounding good so far, the organ is tailed back again. Catchy hook on the chorus too. Take it easy baby! Hmmmmmm over too quickly again though, a lot of these songs are too short for my liking, probably a good thing that 'The End' is next.
11. The End
I love this song. Quite possibly one of the greatest things ever written. I'm not sure the album would be all that great without it to be honest. 'Riiiiiide the snake, tooo the lake, the ancient lake...' Yeaaaah. Im sure this made sense to him at the time. 7 minutes in now, things are starting to build to a massive crescendo. 'Come on baby take a chance with us!' This is my favourite bit of the song I think, as it starts to speed up and the solo comes in. Fantastic song.
IN CONCLUSION
- 'The End' is by far the best song
- Too much organ, gets a bit samey after a while.
- Some of the best songs are over too quickly (End of the Night in particular)and I'm not sure about the track order. Some of the slower numbers towards the end would have been better placed in the middle to break up the faster, bluesy organ tracks.
- I'm sure I would have enjoyed this a lot more if stoned.
- LIGHT MY FIRE is by The Doors, RELIGHT MY FIRE is by Take That. This is a very foolish mistake to make.
Doors albums all have problems
a few good songs, but mainly full of rubbish
Yeah, I was pretty dissapointed in it.
Only a couple of songs that I'd revisit. And that Alabama Whiskey Bar song is truly atrocious.
1. Tired of Sex.
FEEDBACK. Some weird not nice sounding synth and a drumbeat. The bit before the chorus and the screams are quite good actually. Oh yeah this is ace now, PAIN and ANGUISH are definitely things I'm in the mood for. GUITAR SOLO. All slowing down now in a nice crashy way. And ending loudly. Cool song, 8.1/10
Well this shouldn't be here.
i wish i could hear el scorcho for the first time...
I'm not enjoying it all that much.
What am I doing wrong?
to be fair
if you haven't heard pinkerton before now, it's probably because you're generally not into the kind of thing weezer do. am i right?
But I don't really know any bands that sound much like Weezer.
So I guess you're right. I'm not exactly against what they do either though.
You're expecting it to be some great amazing life-changing 10/10 unsurpassable record
rather than the meh/10 ok-if-you-hear-it-somewhere-but-not-worth-paying-for couple-of-good-tunes-if-you're-in-the-right-mood record it really is. That's what you're doing wrong. Stop it.
Yeah, it's definitely enjoyable enough throughout.
I'd just sort of heard it described as this CAREER DEFINING ALBUM that was meant to be this huge important 90s record.
I think maybe it was, if you were a teenager when it came out
and ONLY if you were a teenager when it came out.
At least, that's the explanation I've always assumed, and I'm sticking by it.
Yeah, it's finished now.
Probably a 7.5/10 overall, enjoyable, wouldn't exactly be in a rush to put it back on apart from a couple of tracks, and that fucking last track is awful. There we are.
maybe
you might enjoy the blue album more. pinkerton definitely can be a bit intense/obnoxious/whatever you want to call it, but the blue album is easier on the ears. not to mention the fact that it has only in dreams which has the greatest climax to a song ever ever.
i disliked pink
on first listen, put it to the side for a good year, but upon listening a second time absolutely loved it, as much as blue.
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (most excellent thread too)
As much as people go on about Bowie, my mother included, I've never listened to an actual album of his - only singles here and there. This is a good excuse to make a start, and this is one of his most acclaimed albums, so ... here we go
Five Years
Pretty slow for an opening number, that always makes me unsure. I'm getting drawn in though, he's building up a good story here. "I never thought I'd need so many people", cracking line. Singing's really not as melodic as I'm used to from him though. The drama of it is winning me over though, the strings are actually adding to it instead of just being all cloying and mushy.
Interesting opener
Soul Love
Real depth of sound to this album so far, so many layers but you can still hear everything pin-sharp. Great sax, smooth and understated. Feel like I'm missing out by not knowing the lyrics though, interesting lines keep on jumping out. Doesn't grab me as much as Five Years though, bit too mellow. MOAR EDGE PLEASE
Yeah, that's my conclusion too now
Moonage Daydream
Woo finally the guitars get loud. This sounds like the Bowie I know. I can see why him and Iggy got on so well on this song, got lots of bite to it even with all the lush backing vocals. Not liking this brass breakdown though, rather too Madness for me. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just way out of place in a song that sounds so ... expansive. Very cinematic this one, but not in a blockbuster way. More of 2001: A Space Odyssey vibe. Man, that was far more pretentious than I intended :(
Starman
Definitely heard this before, but don't know it well or anything. Amazing how just two chords can create such an unsettling intro, very melodic but a bit off somehow. He really likes his shifting chord patterns doesn't he? Aww yeah STAAARMAN WAITING IN THE SKKKYYYY. Totally blowing my mind. Heh, boogie. More songs need to say boogie. There are those strings again, didn't expect to hear so much of them. Not sure they were needed here, should have just add MORE GUITARS. Mick Ronson, front and centre please. Loved that, loved it
It Ain't Easy
Pop song + harpsichord = joy. Didn't expect a vocal that high, it works though, sounds a bit like a skewed hymn? I dunno, maybe him going Ohhh Lawwd had thrown me. Nah, not liking this chorus, too BIG SERIOUS ROCK for Bowie. Finished with a nice little twiddly riff, but didn't really do anywhere/do anything overall
Lady Stardust
Piano ballad done right. Epic but you still believe/care in what he's saying. More choral backing vocals, am I overplaying the religious/worship aspects of this? Reminds me of Easy like Sunday Morning, which is a good thing honest gov no really. Still more laidback than I was expecting, very sweet though
Star
Good, drummer's finally getting something to do. Yeah, this is neat, driving along nicely. Really autobiographical some of these lyrics. Well, more myth-building, he's really creating Ziggy Stardust within the songs themselves, not just imposing this character onto them. Much better that way. Ooh, that's a Zepplin-y twist there. What's with this album and throwing away totally solid riffs in the last seconds of songs? Could have built a classic off that last one.
Hang On To Yourself
Garage-y little stomper here, I like where the second half of this album's going. Doesn't really sound like part of a "classic" album though, too lighthearted. I should just shut up, this is catchy as fuck JUST LISTEN TO THE MUSIC MAN. I assume it's an accepted fact that Spoon built their entire career off this song, right? Love it
Ziggy Stardust
Oh man, another cribbed riff. I love that Darkness one where they're wailing away on top of a mountain, bit weird to hear it here after that. Real heavy chorus, best bit of the album so far? Bowie's sounding pretty apocalyptic here, I likes it. Yeah, this is better than that Darkness one. Had to work at it though
Suffragette City
Oh this sounds so like someone, this is gonna annoy me. Head bopping stuff, sounds like the piano is racing to keep up with everything else that's going on. Good brass DOODLEDOO. That one bar of half-time after the chorus keeps throwing me, keep waiting for a slow/heavy breakdown but it never comes. Been listening to too much Kyuss methinks. Not really much melody in this one, but it doesn't need it, gets by on attitude alone. Yeah this brass is the best brass
Rock 'N' Roll Suicide
Best chord progression of the album, sounds all wistful and reflective before he even starts singing. How is he singing so well on this one after some of the shit he was pulling on Five Years? Whatever, this is excellent, getting drawn in again. It's like he's creating his own little world here. Yes yes this bridge is the bollocks, best I've heard since Buddy Holly. The "wonderful"s are a bit pompous though. A proper closer, everything just building and building and building
SUMMARY
Album of two halves for sure, both quality and style-wise. First half is very much more mellow than I was expecting, which is a bit of an impediment to someone who's known for being as odd as Bowie is. After that though it's all golden. The melodies are really strong but he never wears any of them out, almost all the songs shift and morph, keeps you hooked. Oh, and Starman is now like my favourite Bowie song easily, just sounds so grand, like it beamed to him straight from space. Hmm, I think being pretentious is a prerequisite for reviewing Bowie.
Anyway, don't love it since I've not grown up with it or absorbed it properly and most of the lyrics passed me by, but it's definitely made me want to go and check out his whole catalogue. Which is pretty good work all in all. So yeah, one of those albums that deserve their Classic status, cos even if i don't quite feel it I can see why other people do
I think with you seeming to expect a more 'rocking' sort of Bowie on this album
you may find 'Aladdin Sane' to be more that kind of Bowie. Check it out!
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
ok so i fucked up the talking heads one, i've got this and i crosschecked wikipedia, EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER. LET'S DO THIS.
1. title track
i enjoyed it, i've heard it before, though. i've heard there's a version that incorporates i can't help falling in love, which actually sounds like it would be really good. sampling/referencing/stealing canon in D is really seriously overdone in music, but there's something about this one that gets away with it.
2. come together
BIG SONG. BIG RIFFS. CHOIR. it almost feels a little too much too soon, but i'm already understanding that this isn't an album about subtlety
3. i think i'm in love
i'm getting more of a psychedelic feeling from this one, the horns and the vocals in the second half bring it back to soul, quite smoothly. not bad, but i struggle to keep interested in it after about 6 minutes.
4. all of my thoughts
OK HARMONICA SOLO. i am liking that. apart from that...yeah this is basically more of the same.
5. stay with me
aw, he's got a lovely voice on this one. it's soft and comforting, and it's also managing to achieve grandness without breaking out every single instrument in the practice room at once.
oh no wait i spoke too soon, here's about 3 more guitars. still, best song yet.
6. electricity
ok this is more like it. got a bit of pace going here, it's got the same wall of sound thing happening, but at twice the speed it's much more exhilarating. i bet this would be awesome as all hell live.
7. home of the brave
to be honest, meh. lullaby melody repeated several times until the vocals gets drowned out by solos, the formula is wearing thin.
8. the individual
i guess this is what spiritualized consider a "breather track" but it still sounds like some kind of moon elephant being tortured to death.
9. broken heart
ok this is actually beautiful. the strings alone are gut wrenching.
10. no god only religion
i really don't have anymore time for these extended guitar solos layered on top of each other. it's just not my thing.
11. cool waves
alright, i suppose. i can imagine this one growing on me, but at the same time i can't because i really can't believe i'll ever listen to this from start to finish again.
12. cop shoot cop
is this really 17 minutes long or is it one of those long bit of silence before the hidden track deals? judging on how this album has been so far, there's no way any silence would be used here.
---
10 minutes in. i really think i'm done with this. yeah.
summary: a couple of strong songs in a sea of formulaic bleh. i've heard it's supposed to be transcendental, but the end result feels more like somebody TRYING to sound transcendental, rather than achieving it through virtue of just being really awesome. on the other hand, i generally don't actively listen to sprawling solo-based type things with songs over 8 minutes long. 6/10
Was just thinking it was strange how many albums I LOVE are up on here,
but then it sorta makes sense what with it being a "CLASSICS" thread.
This would probably be a desert island disc for me, but fair does for not making it all the way through Cop Shoot Cop. Some of the tracks on pretty much EVERY Spiritualized album are beautiful in the Broken Heart/Ladies and gentlemen way, and once you get accustomed to it, it stops feeling forced.
I think I'm getting the same thing with Burial, of being exposed to some supposed MASTERWORK without approaching it in the kind of way that people would've heard this stuff originally. When you force yourself to eat something, it inevitably tastes less good.
T
L
D
R
cop shoot cop is the only song on the album that is actually brilliant
maybe the first one as well
Does that mean you've quit?
You can't quit before Cool Waves!
Oh
Those posts weren't there when I posted that.
Consider yrself lucky!
on Pure Phase, there's a track that's almost seven minutes of one note on a synthesiser phasing in and out.
don't like Come together
it's really irritating
See, I don't LOVE this album.
But ohgod that song kills me every time.
Never been able to get into Spiritualized
but like you said, something about this one breaks through all that and just works. Kinda heartbreaking really
oooh...
I was gonna do this. Back to the drawing board.
BURIAL - UNTRUE
I'm only listening on crappy laptop speakers, so I'm absolutely certain that I'm missing out on all sorts.
1. [untitled] - doesn't count.
2. Archangel
sounds like rain. I know this fairrly well, but have never "listened" to the album. Like the way it plays with the vocals.
3. near dark
sounds like rain. Again.
"I can't take my eyes off you". Sweet. And then it stops.
4. Ghost Hardware
sounds like rain. Feel like I might as well say this in every one, though this one comes indoors and feels like someone's photocopied a 2-step track, before it all just cuts out. Left with the wordless vocals, and then it's back to the... ethereal, inchoate, etc. God, I can see why Burial is such a magnet for pretentious reviews. Some guy was talking, what happened to him?
So, looking at reviews, is this really supposed to be more upbeat than the other album? Can't imagine dancing to anything played so far. Got bored of that after three minutes.
5. Endorphin
I don't think I'm cut out for dubstep. COULD SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME? I don't live in London/any other grim, strip-lamp city with, idunno, echoes of unremembered pasts reflecting off a tower block, so maybe I don't GET this.
To me it just seems a bit listless.
6. etched headplate
I liked the spoken word bit at the start, it's starting to feel a bit like some kind of Boards Of Canada approach.
The whole pitch-shifting/messed-up skittering beats/scratchy backdrop is actually starting to seem less like listlessness, and more like a deliberate sound being created.
Starting to get into it a bit now. Could still do with some variation. It still seems a bit one note, but it's obviously something that's pretty well thought-out.
6. In McDonalds
I went to McDonalds the other night, actually. I really don't know why, and wish I hadn't. It felt a little bit degrading, as I fucking hate it and more or less everything about it.
Weirdly, though, I quite like this. The same instruments as usual, but nice little synth washes.
8. Untrue
That was actually pretty good. Starting to understand what's going on with this album, as the past few tracks have felt progressively more comprehensible. Still not quite engaging with it, but this is a bit like the Field in that way. If I like it NEARLY as much as I liked From Here We Go Sublime, then I'll be looking forward to the next few tracks...
9. Shell of Light
Someone picking up bits of masonry being used as a cymbal-ish beat? CHECK
the ever-present rain? CHECK
vocals disappearing down alleyways and Dopplering away? CHECK
Synths that sound treated in the same way Boards of Canada do? CHECK
The coda to this is pretty nice, actually. NICE LIKE A HALF-EATEN SANDWICH. or something.
zoned out for a bit.
This still feels a bit like hard work to get through, though it does pass fairly quickly I guess...
Dog Shelter/Homeless. Similar, I guess. It's a bit samey.
Do people really LOVE this album? Is it meant to be listened to as such? Maybe I'll get it at some point.
UK I kinda missed, felt a bit incidental.
Raver is anything but a.
It just sounds a bit melancholic. And sad. And I imagine it would sound SO MUCH better with some/any bass.
OVER ALL.
It didn't quite click. Thought it would, and I feel like with headphones on, on a bus, at 1 in the morning, in Croydon, it'd be a different matter. But, as it is, only one of those things is true.
It started to feel like it was coming together, and I like that it has it's own clicking beats that don't sound like much else that I'd heard before then, but other people have done the IDM, the echoey synths, the weirded up vocals. Improved towards the middle, but giving that last track the name raver was a joke, right? I mean, how are you meant to dance to that, except miserably?
It didn't quite click. Thought it would, and I feel like with headphones on, on a bus, at 1 in the morning, in Croydon, it'd be a different matter. But, as it is, only one of those things is true.
You totally hit the nail on the head, in the evening with headphone on public transport it really clicks
Yeah, it doesn't really work on laptop speakers
The first album is more upbeat as well, Untrue is more sort of ambient. Not ambient, but sort of with that rain effect all the way through.
Fugees - The Score is considered a classic, right?
I'm not sure. If not, I'll pick another
ohh i'd like to do this one. i'll do it with you if you want?
go for it dude
it's number 469 on rolling stone's top 100
I'll take that as a yes then
FUGEES - THE SCORE
Alright here we go! I won't count the intro
I STILL HAVE A 17 MINUTE SPIRITUALIZED SONG TO FINISH
paused at the end of track 2, I can wait up if you want?
yeah i'm ready to go now
I'll wait for you to write up track 2
2. how many mics
ohhhhhh snap, dope beat here.
i'm generally very sceptical of female MCs....but she doesn't sound corny.
quite a long track, beat gets a little ploddy. still kept interesting by some clever lyrical phrases.
cool atmosphere.
3. ready or not
yeah this track speaks for itself. we've all heard this.
shit's dope yo. don't really know what else to say so I'll just say as a side note the miseducation of lauryn hill is a good album.
4. zealots
keeping up that good atmosphere, really like the beat.
the sung parts are a bit questionable to be honest.
hmmm gets quite ploddy near the end, similar to how many mics.
5. the beast
I wouldn't put this on deliberately...probably quite cool background music or whatever
the skit at the end is hilarious
Why couldn't you guys be doing the score
when I'm not out at dinner w the wife?! Had to sneak off to the bathroom just to write this. Interested to see what you guys say. Just remember that family business is one of my all time favorite deep album cuts, clef kills it. Manifest is also one to lookout for. Love this album!
6. FU-GEE-LA
cool production. sung vocals work although I'd rather hill sang all the time and didn't rap to be honest, not that she's bad. still loving that atmosphere.
Hook is all time!
Alright back to dinner :/
hahaha
enjoy chief
7. family business
ohhhhh. this is more my pace. the sample really rolls the whole thing together, giving it movement. head bobber.
8. killing me softly with his song
I like hill's singing but it's like where's the music? bass doesn't come in until halfway through the whole song. second half of the track is cool.
9. the score
here we go, taking the pace back up to family business. the start with the scratched samples wouldn't sound out of place with a overused prodigy line or something. nice.
for a higher paced track, it's quite gentle. would've liked something harder.
10. the mask
this is cool. this is really cool. i'll put this up there with ready or not and family business.
11. cowboys
nice and grimy. maybe it's just the its position on the album but it feels like it outlives its welcome a bit.
12. no woman no cry
don't know what to think about this. would've worked better as an outro
13. manifest/outro
finding this hard to pay attention to. no woman no cry really should've been the outro.
OVERALL
tracks I will be listening to independently of the album: ready or not, family business, the mask
loved the atmosphere. hill's singing is good. some interesting lyrical content, some forgettable. this really seems like it's supposed to be taken as a grower. I know if I listened to the entire album over a few times, I'd probably end up loving it. On first listen though, I'll just say 'pretty good'.
side note:
just went back to how many mics. yep, definitely a grower.
2. how many mics
it ALMOOOST sounds like a cut from liquid swords, which is a pretty big compliment. it's funny though, i was thinking "can't wait to hear wyclef on this, when he was maybe credible?" but no, he opens with some awful rhyme about being constipated and then references seal.
3. ready or not
ok shit son i loved this when i was 8 or 9 or whatever. that underwater beat which was subtly referenced in the video by them actually being in a submarine. but yeah this is a classic.
4. zealots
i recognise the sample but can't quite put my finger on it. lauren is by far the best rapper here, she gets by on a fantastic swagger. slightly disappointed by the lack of hilariously bad wyclef couplets on this track.
5. the beast
ah here we go wyclef, doing what jay-z later perfected on 99 problems. the bit at the end is a generic zany hip hop skit, could probably do without this track to be honest.
6. fu-gee-la
yeah this is pretty cool, if i was the type of person to carry a ghetto blaster around on my shoulder, this would probably sound pretty badass.
7. family business
after an overly long wycliff verse which ends in a silly voice, lauren steps in and gives the track some much needed momentum. another not bad/10 track, getting a few too many of those..
8. killing me softly
i've heard this so many times it's easy to forget that it's a cover. when it came out my mum told me "the original is better, here listen" and i said "no mum, this is pretty lame ONE TIME ONE TIME" except i didn't say ONE TIME ONE TIME obviously. dunno if i still think that, it's definitely alright. although interestingly this is easily the most boring beat on the album so far.
9. the score
lauryn brings it again with her sharp flow, and i like how this one grooves. except pras does absolutely nothing in the middle there.
10. the mask
i still think his content is weak, but i quite enjoyed the little narrative from wyclef at the beginning. this is also the weakest lauryn contribution yet, the panned effect feels less natural than when she just spits it naturally.
11. cowboys
OLEEHEE! :) the beat is cool (as they pretty much all are) and i find myself imagining how other rappers could be filling this space to much more thrilling effect.
12. no woman no cry
ok seriously, the beat and the guitar working the rhythm together is actually really pretty good. it's undeniably cheesy but my foot is tapping and old wyclef is giving a straight but not overly emoted performance of this classic. when i saw it in the tracklist i feared the worse, but i'm happy how this turned out.
13. outro
cool enough. can't say i felt anything more than "suitable end to the album"
now there are more tracks but they're remixes...except one, so i might skip to that
mista mista
not feeling this...at all. i mean this is bad, genuinely bad. it's sort of a joke, yeah?
actually it is kinda funny
in summary
about what i expected based on what i remembered from the singles, the production is really quite fantastic across the board. but the lyrical content often leaves me feeling cold and not drawn in, i'm not blaming wyclef for that exclusively, but he is the worst offender. 7/10
I'm just listening to Neu! by Neu!
was thinking of LIVEBLOGGING it, but too far into it now.
IN SUMMARY:
Could someone else take this one?
what should i do?
give me an indie sacred cow
heard it
heard all the Radioheads
Slanted Enchanted
i'm gonna do in the aeroplane over the sea
Oh
I was gonna suggest that, and then I thought you'd already have heard it.
this is my favourite album of all time
i look forward to it...
um..yes?
why the surprise?
The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
In the aeroplane over the sea
here we go
1
mimsy. Nicely done, but mimsy. What is that noise?
I hope you're listening on high-end audio equipment
It's got a really polished, detailed production sound that really needs bringing out on expensive speakers.
2
lyrics: no
christ, the production on this is poor. A flat mushy mess
i think this is supposed to be energetic but there's no dynamism there. Pass
3
yeah, this is really not where i'm coming from. That trumpet solo says it all, a few meek little indie parps indicating sad resignation
some weird noises in the back of this one. Bravo
4
passionately strummed acoustic guitar, not exactly.. interesting. This is quite tasteful stuff i must say. I thought this album was supposed to be a bit difficult.. Still sounds like it was recorded through a towel. No mention of Anne Frank yet
5
ooh, quite like the klezmerish sound at the start of this one. The horn tones are quite painful though. Is this supposed to sound so bad?
6
wow, they're really going for this one. Can see the appeal here, but that indie horn section is appalling. Whimsical horn sections, fuck off. Again the production is.. i don't know what. With some properly crushing tones i could maybe get behind it
7
semen stains the mountain tops? Eurgh. That horn again, christ
He uses that lyric on a couple of songs
Obviously proud of it.
8
this one is quite good, nice vocal melody. Would be useful in a Dawson's Creek "reflection scene"
the acoustic guitar is pretty tedious. What is it, C-A-G? Try some new chords pal
another 3 minutes, really? It's gonna need an epic breakdown to justify it
No, acoustic guitar again
Indie horn section is the breakdown. Bleurgh
final vocal melody section is v. nice though, got a trad folk edge to it
9
this is the worst drum sound i've ever heard. That fucking horn section again. Really don't know what the idea is with that
did i mention that this album is unbelievably flat sounding? No dynamics whatsoever. I'm guessing this is supposed to sound cacophonous, but it just seems completely hollow
10
what is that, a zither trying to sound like bagpipes? Fuck off
11
Dawson's Creek romantic scene at best. Tedious at most points. Tasteful
conclusions
i'm guessing the appeal with this album is the lyrics, which i didn't really listen to much. I'm guessing it's supposed to take you on an abstract, sometimes nightmarish trip through a world of two headed boys and Anne Frank and that. I'm more about the music, and let's be honest here, there ain't much to write home about on this one. Not sure how it stands out from a million other strumming indie bands, apart from being quite tasteful. There's that word again, tasteful. The melodies are really lowest common denom stuff as well, hardly Elton John this fella
did i mention that horrific horn section? How about the insulting production job?
ah well, at least this album has segued straight into 1999 by Prince. That's what i'm all about
oh good lord that was all hard to read
it kinda feels like you had no intention on really listening to the lyrics, "still waiting for a mention of anne frank" and your general attitude was coming from a place of "i really can't be bothered listening to this shit" but that's the point of this thread i guess, and if it's not yr thing, it's not yr thing.
BUT in defense of ITAOTS (like it really needs defending at this point) i think it can be simultaneously inviting and distant. inviting if you are predisposed to indie folksters with guitars, but if that's not what you're into i can definitely understand how it'd sound like just another devendra newsom prince billy. but it goes way beyond those things. i liked it from the moment i first heard it but there was definitely a point in time where i would be listening to two headed boy or oh comely and it felt very apparent that this was unlike anything, ever.
as for the production being horrible: lol, no. you're just wrong on that one. soz m8.
i'm sure if you stuck with it it would eventually click, but i don't blame you for not wanting to persevere with something you didn't like.
to be fair
it's quite difficult to listen to the lyrics when you're trying to formulate your reactions into sentences at the same time. There seemed to be something going on there, but i could only grasp around the edges on my first listen
and the production is wank. I'm all for low-fi stuff but that was flat as a pancake, no dynamics, no nice naturalistic hum, and i'm pretty sure with loads of digital clipping all over it. Don't think i'll ever listen to it again on headphones
might give it a few more plays on the stereo, cos it wasn't overtly offensive (except for the horn section.. did i mention them) but it seemed unremarkable to me. And to be honest, this is resolutely not my sort of thing. But i was expecting maybe a) exceptional melodies b) exceptional songwriting or c) exceptional emotional power and got d) possibly interesting lyrical content. Which isn't enough
keep with it
if you don't like the tunes on that record you should probably give up on rock/pop music. if you judge a tune by the rudimentary guitar chords you might as well go get fucked and listen to some classical wankery or something.
sorry if this sounds harsh
It doesn't sound harsh
it just makes you sounds like you have the IQ of a cocker spaniel. I doubt douchey will be offended.
classical wankery
quite
Douchebag here's an example of the lyrics
All in your ovaries/All of them milking with green fleshy flowers/While powerful pistons were sugary sweet machines/Smelling of semen all under the garden
honestly
I hated this record for a long, long time, I can't even really tell you what suddenly did it for me, I literally just "got it" one day
this track is an absolute classic
as is Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
proper subversive stuff this album when it came out
Genius thread
wouldn't mind any suggestions, last.fm on my profile if you want to give something that i'd probably like
i was considering skylarking for later, actually
but in a few i'm going to do thriller
my hopes are high for this one, some mega hits on it
try going through pitchfork's lists
there's probably more indie scared cows there than on rolling stone's list
or you could try a DiS favourite you haven't heard (ATDI, idlewild, jimmy eat world)
Your mom's a scared cow.
but not on pitchfork
You need to do some rap.
Thats my fourth favorite De La lp.
might do Tusk
have started listening to it before, but it's never lived up to my idea of it being MENTAL so always turned off by track three.
or No Jacket Required
was talking a lot about Phil Collins today but I've never listened to one of his records - outrageous.
Queen-A Night At The Opera
MIght aswell have a go.
1. Death On The Legs (Dedicated to...)
Starts with slightly eery begining with various distance noises before launching into a piono with an accompanied guitar. Freddie's voice is very suited to song too. Kind of what I expected from Queen; a big very very well produced glam kick starter.
2. Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon
Opening with many very British piano led bars. Find the voice very entertaining (aswell as the harmonising and bell rings)before bursting into a great guitar solo-like-thing.
3.In Love WIth My Car
A heavier more Led Zep-like tune with really interesting waves of guitar (with floods of really interesting distorion). Also, like Death On Two Legs, quite sinister but never the less great!
You're My Best Friend
A real great feel good tune with a fun, yet modest, groove. Reminds me of sunny 60's 45's I love and adore so much. A perfect song to remind you of your best of friends. I've caught on now, you rarely have a Queen song without May beautiful rocking along with a slick and iconic guitar line.
5. '39
Really like this one too! Sounds like the classic joyus folk sound which is perfect for standig in a field with both hands in the air whilst loving every moment. Bass-lines really good too and very acts as a very good bridge which transports you from chord to chord. Seems Queen are yet to have a poor song on this abum.
6. Sweet Lady
Ah, back to the classic 70's sound. And as it rolls and rumbles in, I welcome it greatly. Now being fully into the album I expect nothing less than great song writing and divirsity between each song. This delivers! Realy enjoyed the typical 70s guitar found on so many records with an added multi guitar thrash ending, letting them do, one of the thing, they do best.
7. Seaside Rendezvous
Now back to the cheery-Mercury-piano-led sound like Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon. It's a sweet-sugar-sunken song with great complexity and layering. Also briliantly produce and also entertaing as I think I heard a kazoo.
8. The Prophet's Song
This is where the record has taken a slight dip for me personally, due to fact the whole fantasy thing isn't my first choice of song writing basis, but still a good song and I respect Brian May and Queen for making and including the seemingly never ending vocal harmanise outing.
9. Love Of My Life
A very slick change of song opens this track with a harpand a piano helping Mercury beautifully open up and even with the guitar towards the end it's still so precious and delicate as Mercury sings "Please bring it back home to me/Because you don't know what it means to me".
10. Good Company
Another great bouncy number, this time written by May which builds up and down throughout with a ukelele wich is not over used but stil plays and strong foundation in the song. This also contains a great mid 8(?) which is quite physcadelic but still not to much to depart from the general theme of the record.
11. Bohemian Rhapsody
And the moment arrives! The classic song which everybody knows! The one and only! Bohemian Rhapsody! Such an undeniably epic, great song which is even more suited to end such an album. Is their any point in giving a thorough run through of the song and my opinion on it? Probably not so I'm not going to and just be (fairly) brief instead. It's like so many songs rolled into one; packed with sing-a-longs, rock-abouts and talent on an epic scale. And as the song finishes and Mercury repeats the most memerable lyris (apart from the exodus of "Gallileo"s, if they count), "Nothing really matters/ Anyone can see/ Nothing really matters-, nothing really matters to me/.....Anyway the wind blows....." God Save The Queen draws the final curtain of this classic album that, despite only one single listen, has really had a great impression on me.
Conclusion
Really, really, REALLY enjoyed it and, even though I've heard the typical "best of" tunes, my first full listen of A Night Of The Opera was brilliant. It's rightfully a classic album and,probably, shall remain one. Growing up with a best of (Greatest Hits II, to be precise) in the car when i was just 2 or 3 the songs previously heard and new ones all come together so, so well. Will definatley listen to more from around that time. GOD SAVE QUEEN!
Note:
Sorry for any spelling mistakes of general sloppyness (ie tracks 1's title, which is ofcourse Death On Two Legs (Dedicated to...). Today has been VERY long!
I can see why you like it but...
it's not really my type of thing but still respect it for such great songwriting. I'm sure as I grow up (I'm 14 at the moment) I'll grow to get used to the fantasy epics by Queen and other bands, ofcourse. Thanks for commenting by the way, it's nice to hear someone else's views on albums I've heard (which is why I love this thread!). Sorry for replying quite late too.
Michael Jackson - Thriller
alright let's do this!
1. Wanna be Startin' Somethin
well there's just nothing not to like, this is funkier than every red hot chili peppers song playing at once in a small room (as utterly horrible as that sounds) seriously son i know it's become hip to pretend michael jackson didn't touch small genitalia, but it's not credit that isn't due based on what i know, and now this song (which i didn't previously know, obviously)
if i wasn't so tired i'd be dancing
2. baby be mine
i struggle with 80s production sometimes, this is one of those times. even on graceland, which is one of my all time favourites, i cringe at certain points. the 80s managed to infect even the best music, i'm just not a fan of a lot of the recording stuff that went on, it sounds a bit cheap. and that's why this suffers, that little synth makes it sound cheap. but it's a decent little funky ballad, i can definitely see me overlooking the production after a few plays, too.
3. the girl is mine (feat. paul mccartney)
jackson and mccartney's voices work quite well together, and for two dudes to duet together on a ballad is a fairly ballsy move. the little argument near the end between them made me smile :) it's also funny to hear them together sounding jovial, knowing the trouble between them that occurred later.
4. thriller
i wish i could hear this without seeing him dancing with zombies in my head, but i cannot do it. i've tried, i can't do it. i think that's detracting from the song a bit, because that audio+visual is so familiar it's kinda like hearing the 21st century fox theme or the ice cream truck jingle. it's a good song, though - you can't earnestly say otherwise.
5. beat it
I'M TRYING REALLY HARD NOT TO THINK OF WEIRD AL. yeah this is a massive song, it rocks.
van halen guitar solo, he's shredding it up here. i wonder if he went on like this in the studio for 10 minutes and they told him they'd keep the whole thing in, then just trimmed it after he went home.
6. billie jean
this is the MJ indie choice, yeah? it's got the strongest melody for sure, it's really a once in a lifetime kinda song for any songwriter - basically perfection, isn't it? i can't say much more than that.
7. human nature
after 3 of the biggest pop hits ever back to fucking back, i've got to return back to earth for this one. but i really like this, the strong songwriting continues full force and MJ is giving a wonderful vocal performance.
i really love this!
8. P.Y.T. (pretty young thing)
this is a total jam! kinda like the first track, except even better. massive infectious groove, robot voices, jackson gliding along with it effortlessly. feeling this one a lot, too.
i can see why they weren't huge hits like the other 3
i suppose he was so absolutely huge at this point that it would have made no sense for his label not to put out as many singles as possible.
Best song on the album,
top 5-10 MJ tune for sure.
9. the lady in my life
maybe a little too ballady for me. isn't this yacht rock sound coming back or something? it's not terrible - i can get along with the melody, but it's all a bit too timid after the hard-going string of hits that plowed through before it.
it does pick up some nice pace by the end, good enough for a closer.
in summary:
at just 9 tracks, and with at least 3 of them being songs i've heard many times before, i was mostly hoping that the deep cuts were going to be good enough to make the album worth my while. for the most part, they were. i wasn't big on the gentler moments (except human nature) but the faster paced tracks like PYT and wanna be startin somethin were fantastic and i will definitely be putting them on playlists in the future.
feel like i definitely gained something new to me here that i will be listening to more. success!
does anyone want to do a 60s bob dylan album?
i'm sure somebody hasn't heard highway 61 before...i'd like to read that.
I haven't heard Highway 61 revisited
DO IT
download this one:
http://www.mediafire.com/?0yr6rg6bw799jmb
i'm sure some people will say you should listen to the original release, but this is absolutely the best sounding version of highway 61. your choice though, sounds great any way.
yeah
might do it when my mind is a little clearer and more up to the task of speed-typing my responses to the cascade of lyrical symbolism
can't stand his voice either so there is a reason why I've never listened to it
I'll give it a go tomorrow I reckon
when you're finished
you'll want to move on to de la soul is dead, then the rest of their catalogue. dont fight the urge.
Just before I go to bed, Imma do Doolittle (Pixies).
As its an indie classic which I have heard about 2 tracks from.
Here goes.
1) Debaser
And it kicks off with one of the tracks I've already heard. That iconic bassline kicks in, followed by the high pitched guitar riff. Great song, absolute classic. Love how melodic it is despite all the shouting and apparent allusions to slicing eyeballs.
2) Tame
Another bassline, accompanied by whispering. And now a distorted power chord thing and screaming. Nice groove to it, I like it. Can imagine this being fucking epic live.
3) Wave Of Mutiliation
First slicing eyeballs, now waves of mutilation? These lot like blood. Quite melodic this. Has the feel of a classic pop song with heavy guitars and quite plain vocals. So far all the tracks have been fairly similar in style, perhaps a change of pace would be welcome soon.
4) I Bleed
Another bassline. More blood. Loving the boy/girl vocals, especially with the backing vocals carrying the main melody. Quite mid-tempo this, you can see where Weezer got all their ideas from on the first 2 albums. All the songs so far have been really melodic, I can see this becoming a favourite of mine.
I'm already with Lloyds, I'm not converting to Barclays.
5) Here Comes Your Man
This is such a fucking classic, another that I'd heard before. How this wasn't a worldwide number 1 hit I have no idea. Its a nice deviation of style too, with that instantly recognisable chorused guitar (or is it bass?) riff.
6) Dead
Some feedback, samples, and an insistent drum beat, with distorted vocals over the top. Now a jagged riff and screaming. A bit underwhelming after the last one. But then it goes into a lovely melodic chorus, which is nice. Then back to jagged riffs. A bit forgettable.
7) Monkey Gone To Heaven
Spoken word vocals, over a brooding bassline. Then a chorus which I'm certain I must have heard before. This was probably on the radio at some point. I like this a lot. A really really well written song.
More spotify ads.
8) Mr Grieves
Reggae. Interesting. Starts off pretty sinister, especially the vocals. Then back to a more recognisable Pixies style, with an uptempo, punk-ish beat. Keeps changing pace, perhaps too much. Not quite as good as I expected it to be when it started.
9) Crackity Jones
Fast, punky. Possibly a bit of filler, though I can see this worming its way into my head eventually.
10) La La Love You
Bluesy. Great groove. Then an acoustic guitar comes in, with spoken word. I'm getting a 60's vibe from this one, along with a bit of Pixies own distinguishable style.
11) No 13 Baby
I like this so far, a lot of chord changes, and back to the style of of the first four tacks, mid tempo with noisy guitars.
12) There Goes My Gun
Yoo Hoo. I think this is starting to feel a little tiring. Probably mostly because I was already tired when I started. I think the quality of songs has dropped a little since earlier.
13) Hey
Now this is a bit more like it, clean strummed guitars which sound lovely. This is up there with Monkey Gone To Heaven. This is quite relaxing as a song. I like this a lot.
14) Silver
Slide guitar, looks like it may be another slowie. The falsetto is nice. Not quite as good as hey, but still quite nice. Quite sinister actually.
Spotify ads.
15) Gouge Away.
Liking this. Reminds me of early Cure with the bassline. Then the guitars come in and Frank Black starts sing-screaming. Quite a good way to end the record. Feels like its come full circle with the gouging.
Verdict.
I can see myself listening to this over and over again. I certainly like what I'm hearing. Possibly could do with being a little shorter, and there is a bit of filler towards the middle/end of the album, but overall a strong first impression.
THIS, UH!
IS
THE
SOUND
my favourite pixies song (maybe) but definitely frank's best vocal, he's awesome on it. just awesome.
i can't believe this is your first time with doolittle
i don't mean that in a mocking way, it's just that it's such a massive indie staple
you're in for a treat
God I envy
anyone hearing Doolittle for the first time. Back in 1989 that album warped my fragile little mind.
i want to believe there is somebody out there who has never heard funeral
and it's not because the sight of win butler makes them feel physically sick
but i feel the chances are slim. still, putting it out there.
spoke to someone at the borderline on friday night at about 3am and
he said this, he hadn't even heard funeral but thought he might be a fan if he bothered
One of the best threads ever
theShipment this can go on your CV.
When I get spare hour I'll do Pet Sounds. Or Horses. Or Maggot Brain.
out of those, i'd go with horses
it sucks you right in from the first track, there's no fucking about with that album
I'd go with one of the other two
because they're great, and Horses is not.
lol
the dismemberment plan - emergency & i
this has been on my 'must listen to' pile for too long
1. a life of possibilities
there's a nervous stuttery feel here, which i'm liking. i also like the breakdown on the second half, really releases a lot of tension with driving power chords. the bass sounds like an anteater farting into a tub, but apart from that i enjoyed it a lot.
2. memory machine
they really do a good job of mixing familiarity with disjointed weirdness, as soon as you think you're about to latch onto something it skips a few beats, switches up the time signature and leaves you in the dust. i love it. again.
This is my #1 favourite album ever.
Wait until the run from You Are Invited to Girl O'Clock. ABSOLUTE BEST.
3. what do you want me to say?
easily the most trad song so far, but it's not without some killer (yeah i said KILLER) guitar stabs. i'm guessing this is a massive singalong at their live shows?
4. spider in the snow
the bass driven textures really come out and allow for an almost sardonic vocal delivery, this time they don't get frantic on you at the end but the overlapped chorus/outro is really rather beautiful.
5. the jitters
at this point i was expecting it pick up the pace again, but it's slowed it even more. my gut reaction is wanting more of that, but then i hear "nothing's wrong, i'm just fine, i've realised i just don't like jokes" :) i'm sure it'll grow on me.
6. i love a magician
OH MY GOD THIS IS AMAZING. I WANT TO LISTEN TO IT AGAIN BUT I MUST GO ON.
seriously those drums and that crazy hyper guitar made my blood temp go up, this one goes hard and i want to put my dick in it. that is all.
7. you are invited
the lyrics are making me laugh, the idea that he's invited to do absolutely anything ever. but there's obviously a philosophical idea behind it, which i liked a lot. musically, not the most interesting track but it has plenty going for it lyrically.
8. gyroscope
head bobbing. foot tapping. short, fast and really fun.
9. the city
haha the bit where he sings SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GOOONE is sung basically exactly the same way kelly clarkson sings that line, so when he sang it i instinctively expected the since u been gone chords to kick in.
this one is ok, not really blown away unfortunately.
man, probably my favourite D-Plan song
just love the lyrics and the big vocal pay-off. Bet it'll be ruined by your Kelly Clarkson reference now though, damn you >:(
Actually screw that, *this* is the best song they did
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkKH3KddBn8
10. girl o'clock
yeah! it sounds like my ear is right next to the kickdrum. another short stabby affair, exhilarating.
11. 8.5 minutes
i think i need to hear that chorus another 5 times for it to make sense, but it definitely sounds awesome.
12. back and forth
the verses remind me a bit of conduit for sale. i think i need a lyrics sheet for this one, in fact that might not be a bad idea for the whole album seeing as every time i start to focus on the lyrics the music does something fun and i get caught up in that.
final verdict:
at first, i got pretty excited because it sounded exactly like the kind of thing i'd go apeshit for. and some of the tracks definitely lived up to my expectation, but a few didn't. i like the overall sound, it's really fun and interesting, and i can absolutely imagine that with repeated listens everything will fall into place.
The first few versus on this song I love, mainly for vocal delivery.. sweet falsetto at it's finest!
Pet Sounds and The Ramones coming up tomorrow
or today. Oh hai there 2am
You should have listened to Pet Sounds when it was still sunny.
IT'S PERFECT.
I'm going to listen to this RIGHT NOW
Venom - Black Metal
really should have heard this
1 - Black Metal
always wondered how much this was genuinely a musical inspiration to black metal as it's known now... the tremolo picking buzzing into hearing through some sort of static could be from absolutely any bm record from 87' to present... so i'm gonna say quite a big one. as i was writing that it's got a lot more motorhead. oh that breakdown around 2 minutes us badass. and then a guitar break, sweet. the drums are sloppy as fuck. that was great.
2 - To Hell & Back
cool pinch harmonic sounding intro there. kinda weak using the same riff for the chorus but the lyrics are exactly the kind of metal dork nonsense i enjoy. SCREE NOISE SOLO! RIDE WITH ME! drums are laaaaaame. bum tish bum tish bum tish. erm, decent song bad playing there.
3 - Buried Alive
comedy spoken word samples! great. 80s metal clean guitar! rubbish. vocals are a bit grimmer here. can't tell if this is major or minor key hmmm... this solo bit sounds like a grunge band or something, like nirvana. DOTH. BATH FOR ME: IT'S COLD.
4 - Raise The Dead
this appears to be a motorhead song. wheyyyy, chorus is good. gang vocals! much more fun than i thought it would be so far.
5 - Teacher's Pet
boogie metal. doesn't really fit this one. i can't really tell what venom are supposed to be... swinging from quite nasty sounding stuff to some drunk geordie oi! blokes shouting get your tits out for the lads. nah, shit that.
6 - Leave Me In Hell
major key lo-fi riffum hmmm. i don't want to be born.
oh, the little breakdown transition stomp is pretty cool and the riff with the tempo change is a bit cleverer than anything so far, good second half to that track.
7 - Sacrifice
sick riff. i will be learning this shortly, like massacre by thin lizzy. HE'S SPELLING OUT THE SONG TITLE! i like that.
8 - Heaven's on Fire
fuck, they can do opening riffs. SOUNDS LIKE ENTOMBED! 140bpm, punky melody, this is a bit of a beast. i could definitely see myself getting pissed and playing this record very loud. SATAN RULES SUPREME. YES. the solos are just noise it's great.
9 - Countess Bathory
bouncy midtempo rhythm. this one could defo be on a 90s norwegian record. his vocals have grown on me as the album's gone on. bass solo. seems they can actually play a bit, just choose not to.
10 - Don't Burn The Witch
very much rhoads era Ozzy riffing. the intro could have led to something much more brutal with no eyebrows raised, it reminds me of rotten sound a bit. vocally he is a bit weak but rhythmically it's cool, bouncing of the riff and whatnot. big plusses for that un.
11 - At War With Satan
throat singing! spoken word! reverb wails! if only this was in hungarian or even if you couldn't hear his geordie accent sneaking through... it'd be pretty grim. oh no it's gone nwobhm riffy aaaaaand... now it's faded out. the fuck? is that how they finished the record? terrible.
well
a bit of absolute garbage (teacher's pet), a few rippers(black metal, buried alive, heaven's on fire), most in between. the sloppyness grew on me a lot... <taking our chances with pure energy> is not far from the truth but then there is some sexy guitar playing going on in there.
can't really see much of a musical influence on bm for most of it, kind of hard to see what's original that they brought to the table from this distance. in terms of lyrics well, yeah.
enjoyed that, gonna buy it.
To the best of my knowledge, I have never heard a Steely Dan song
Of course, I may have unknowingly heard one on the radio or in a film or something but at the moment I genuinely have no real idea what they sound like. I'm guessing some sort of Tom Petty-ish Americana judging from the publications that trumpet their greatness. So I'm going to give Aja a go.
Aja - Steely Dan
Only 7 tracks - shooty in.
Track 6 - I Got The News
Why did no-one warn me? Sort of given up now - I'm really sorry.
Smuggest chorus ever. Then a bridge of irony - I may never walk again - since I have a broken ankle this brought a resigned smile. The solo here made me want to beat someone to death. Reigned in and pointless.
Vile.
Replied in wrong place
Just to add fucking insult to injury.
Track 1 - Black Cow
Wow. Not what I was expecting. A smooth lounge beat, is flanked by some soulful female backing and understated horn (ewwww). Bit thrown off guard here.
The plinky, plonky keyboard/organ solo towards the end underlines how much this sounds nothing like what I expected. I just had to check youtube to make sure I hadn't downloaded the wrong thing.
Mind genuinely blown. Ehm, I can imagine this acting as really ace background music at a late 70s cocktail/dinner party. I'm picturing brown leather couches and gaudy patterned dresses and mad beehive hair.
Eh. It is nice and tasteful. Fuck knows what it is about.
Track 2 - Aja
The sort of piano that might accompany a woman entering a scene in a Brian De Palma film segues into an upbeat, almost bossa nova, beat. This is really not my sort of thing. Slightly tempted to abandon this little experiment but for YOU. FOR YOU. I will soldier on. Insipid vocals. Doubt anyone on here will be into this making this whole exercise kind of pointless.
I imagine that guy out of Jellyfish might have quite liked this sort of thing. Fuck more plinky, plonky shite. Now we've got some wedding band, tongue stuck out in concentration, guitar wanking. Brrrrr.
Oh god it's still going...
...the horror, the horror. This sax solo is horrendous.
Track 3 - Deacon Blues
Is this where Deacon Blue got their name from? They were shite an' all.
This is all so MOR/AOR it is making me feel a bit ill. I'm going to make a bold claim - no teenager has ever enjoyed the music of Steely Dan. You just couldn't invite your mates round to stick this on. Minimum age to enjoy Steely Dan - 45.
I'm being harsh, maybe. This one is probably the least offensive one so far.... oh god they've ruined it - another sax solo. Bet you Bill Clinton loves getting blowies to this tripe.
Track 4 - Peg
I'll admit I am skipping to the end of some of these songs. Unfortunately the whole vibe is reminding me of being stuck in the back of my Dad's car as a child and being forced to endure all sorts of safe, inoffensive and ultimately boring late 70's, early to mid 80's guff.
Right let's give this one a chance to impress. Almost a smidgeon of funk as this one kicks off, even the Windows Media Player Visualiser(TM) seems to be trying to get mildly excited about this.
Ohhhh actually this is nearly bearable and I can see why it has been sampled - bonus indie points for pointing me in the direction of who used the sample? Was it just one band/song? Hip-Hop of some kind I'm almost certain.
Best song by about three million miles but ultimately all too smug session band empty and soulless for me.
It's sampled on De La Soul's Eye Know
Aja really isn't the place to start with Steely Dan unless you're conversant in the idea of jazz-rock and have a high yacht rock threshold.
Yes I did not have...
...the required tedious prior knowledge in order to enjoy this turgid record.
Track 5 - Home At Last
Between scene music of some 70's cop show drifts into boredom. The vocals leave me cold, the music meanders around - less a case of more than a sum of its parts and more a case of two substandard parts equalling an even more disappointing whole.
I can perhaps imagine some students liking this ironically. It does not belong in this day/age at all. I dunno if you would say it has aged/dated badly or what but can you imagine sitting through this and then sticking on the debut album by The Clash? I can't.
Looking at wikipedia it reckons this is jazz-funk. If I'd known that I never would have started this debacle.
Track 7 - Josie
I will never criticise any other band's lyrics ever again after having to listen to the mundane mediocrity contained herein.
When Josie comes home? She's fucking for it, I tell ya.
I am not letting this horrendous smugfest continue to ruin my morning. Good day to you Steely Dan.
Steely Dan are to music
what painting by numbers is to Art. Safe, unadventurous and facking boring. Never have my expectations been so cruelly exposed as ignorant and exploited by such smug, artless tedium.
Overall verdict - 1/10 - Not for me. Not for anyone under 45 and even then you might have to sell your personality. At least Jamiroquai had some interesting hats. Do not investigate - you have been warned.
I stuck on Mirror Traffic to cleanse...
...myself of that filth. Great return to form by Mr. Malkmus.
I'd never normally say this, but you don't deserve the right to post on DiS
Steely Dan are the greatest band ever.
IGNORE ALL OF SHINY MCSHINE'S POSTS. I'M RAGING I AM.
Really?
I am surprised, I didn't think I'd encounter many fans on here.
Really wasn't my thing. I just gave my honest assessment.
I wanted the truth. I couldn't handle your truth.
Nah fair enough, as much as I love Dan and I've been listening to them since childhood, I can totally see why they'd rub people up the wrong way.
The smoothness and the cynicism and the scrupulously gleaming musicianship is pretty divisive.
Funny article on The Onion you might enjoy: http://www.theonion.com/articles/donald-fagen-defends-steely-dan-to-friends,2601/
That is a top, top article
Nails many of the things that sparked my aversion.
Was really interesting to go into an album with no preconceptions though. Why don't you try it with an album I consider a classic but that you've never heard. It could take a bit of jiggerypokery.
Try my http://www.last.fm/user/LordTangleberry and see if you can pick a suitable target.
If I am in the office this evening
I shall do Mezzanine.
Right, I'm in the office.
Nobody else is in the office. Its either listen to this muthafucka or have a wank. Probably best to do the album, I think the consequences might be a little lesser if I was caught.
Here goes.
1) Angel
Slow beat comes in. Spooky strings. Smooth vocals. This is good. Kind of what I expected, but good. Clearly building up towards something, I wonder what. Downtuned guitars with a somewhat post-punk feel. I think this was on an advert. I am liking this an awful lot now.
2) Risingson
Due to the office computer not having spotify, I'm having to youtube this, and the internet is slow. Classic trip-hop beat. Semi-whispered rapping. I'm struggling not to start shuffling around to this. I really like the little flourishes in the background too, the glitches, samples and guitars. Heavily compressed vocals flutter in and out. I like this, I could listen to this all day.
3) Teardrop
Ok, the one everybody in the world has heard. This is probably the most out and out tuneful thing so far, certainly the closest to a pop song rather than just a mood-setter. Once again, I love this. Based on the first three tracks, I think I will need to buy this album.
4) Inertia Creeps
Starts off sounding slightly eastern, then the trip-hop beat comes in. Actually, this one sounds slightly tribal. Rapping is back. Once again, quite a dancey song actually. I think this might be my favourite so far. This should definitely soundtrack some kind of upmarket spy drama or something. I'm sure it probably has at some point. Some minimal guitar strumming.
Someone has walked into the office.
My listening experience is interrupted. The bastard.
He seems to be writing a memo. I hoped he would leave.
The bastard.
Its actually really irritating.
This album has the feel of something that needs to be listened to in one sitting. This guy will probably be there for hours now.
5) Exchange
He's gone!!! I can rejoice. Just listened to Inertia Creeps again to get back into the mood, and get that sodding new Red Hot Chili Peppers song out of my head.
Anyway, I digress. Piano and strings, sounds a bit like the start of a 70's soul record. This album is fucking great so far, so chilled out and relaxing. Its making me sway from side to side. Musically, it doesn't really seem to be going anywhere, but I don't think that's really a complaint, its just a fantastic mood piece.
6) Dissolved Girl
Intro sounds like it could be house music. Then the vocals come. All hushed and stuff. This seems to have a bit of a pop edge while still being ominous. I like. I like a lot actually. This is my favourite so far. I think this must have been a bit of an influence on Burial.
^best song
and I don't just mean on the album
I think I may agree, I'm re-listening to it.
Its fucking fantastic.
Easily
the best song on Mezzanine, and one of the best they have made.
7) Man Next Door
Fucking youtube. Why so fucking slow? Eugh. Anyway, Horace Andy's vocals come in through some beats and sampled synths. This one isn't as good, though I'm probably still reeling from the awesomeness of the last one. Just a bit dull, not much seems to be happening.
8) Black Milk
This is sounding good. Spooky synth refrain, female vocals. I can tell after just 1:20 that this is going to be a highlight. I am really a fan of these hushed female vocals, on this track it reminds me of Beth Gibbons a bit. Oooh, just found out its Liz Fraser again, yay. This is a better track than teardrop imo aswell. It's quite claustrophobic and dark, but also has a light, airy feel aswell. This is really really really good.
9) Mezzanine
The title track. And the rapping is back! Liking this as well. A bit of a groove comes in about 2 and a half minutes in. I'm dancing in my seat again. Someone has briefly come in and looked at me strangely. I don't think the people here like Massive Attack very much. Ah well, fuck 'em.
10) Group Four
Looks like Ms. Fraser is back. Ominous start, like most tracks. Wah wah synth riff, and in comes the rapping. And then the vocals, sounding almost jazzy mixed with the unsettling backdrop. Works really well. Its getting dark now, which is really suiting the music. Good, this. Guitars are back. I like the way the guitars are played on this record, just a few notes/chords repeated over. It really adds to the feel of the album.
11) (Exchange)
And we're back at the strings and piano of Exchange again for the closer, but this time with vocals. This is much better, Horace Andy really carries this.
Verdict.
I can instantly see why this is a classic. Its fantastic. I'm now seriously considering re-listening straight away, and will probably end up buying this. So far out of the 2 albums I've listened to in this thread, I have liked both a lot, so thank you to whoever made this thread.
It's easily one of my favourite albums
You should turn your office lights out and listen in the dark.
Hmm I might do one shortly.
Maybe PJ Harvey - Stories from the Sea... Or something by Can or NEU! Or if I go hip hop something like Gangstarr or Boogie Down Productions or EPMD...
If anyone is here to give any preferences let me know. Will start a 3 o clock short.
3 o'clock sharp, obviously.
Also if anyone's stuck... http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/ lots of lists from music mags on here.
ok doing PJ Harvey - Stories from the city, stories from the sea
1) Big Exit
Ok liking the guitar straight away on this, vocals start of a bit Patti Smith but not really in the chorus, not really what I was expecting. Slows down a bit in the 3rd quarter and then gets going again for the end. Good stuff.
2) Good Fortune
Very Patti Smith this one straight off. Very similar to something off Horses. I really like Horses though. Foot tapping.
3) A Place Called Home.
Different, bit of slow dancey number, uplifting lyrics 'One day there'll be a place for us'. Some nice piano plinks near the end. Closer to Massive Attack than anything else.
Spotify ad asking me to join the TA
4) One Line
Sorry need to get my replies in order.
Dirty little riff from the off, slow build up. Start sounds like it influenced Anna Calvi. Nice ghoslty backing vocals pretty much all the way through. Kinda peters out a bit at the end for me.
5) Beautiful Feeling
Similar to the last track, dirty little riffs with some 'oooohs' in the background. Probably better listened to in the dark this one for some reason.
6) The Whores hustle and the hustlers whore
Good title. More like the first 2 with Patti Smith-esque aggresively delivered lyrics. Really like this one and the wailing at the end.
7) The Mess we're in.
Duet with Thom Yorke. Mostly sparse with a simple guitar riff and simple drumbeat. With some further keys coming in when PJ sings. Wouldn't be out of place on a Radiohead album. Haunting and beautiful. Really liked the delivery on the line 'I think it's Wednesday'.
8) You Said Something
Starts of a lot jauntier than any the others. Quite a poppy song. Not sure about this one, probably breaks up the album quite nicely for repeat listens, maybe.
9) Kamikaze
Hmm cant describe this, interesting instrumentally, a lot going on. Dont like the shreaking chorus of 'Kamikaze!' Not a big fan of this one.
10) This Is Love
Got a feeling I've heard this for. Oh yeah it's on some advert? Or a cover is. Decent little number, pretty standard rock song though. Sounds a bit like The Kills.
11) Horses in my dreams.
Quite like the title. Starts very slowly with the instruments coming quietly. Liking it. All stops when her vocals come in, very sparse with just guitar (I think). Lovely. Absolutely beautiful. Her voice nice and gravelly. Only just realised I've been listening through that laptop built in speakers. Switched to some exernal ones now.
12) We Float
Had to restart this one as I got distract as good hear Jurassic Park from somewhere.
Great song, dancey drum beat with some lovely pianos and vocals. Simple but effective. 'We float, take life as it comes'. Probably my favourite so far. Best vocal performance too.
13) This Wicked Tongue
Final track. UK and Japan bonus track according to wiki. Grungey guitar riff, again sounds like The Kills if they had a couple more members. Really like it once it gets going and everything kicks in. The chorus is great, good to shout-a-long too. 'This noise is a much as I could bear.
Overall. Probably 8.5/10. Would definitely listen to again and check out her other albums. So have this thread to thanks for that. Preferred the slower more piano based tracks to the guitar leds ones overall.
Big Star - #1 Record
I'm a bit hungover so maybe more irritable then usual
1. Feel
Saxaphone mid 'rock' song and I didn't feel sick, good signs! Yeap I like it even though I'm really not a fan of that guitar tone.
2. The Ballad Of El Goodo
This is sort of what I expected more from Big Star (just based from what people have said about the band in the past and from the band name and the name of their records and so forth)
This is an incredibly good song! I love it, the drums sound incredible and great use of stereo
3. In The Street
CLASSIC song, reminds me of watch That 70's Show when I was an early teen. It's real good, lovely harmonies and a nice chilled groove thats also incredibly easy to dance to.
4. Thirteen
Another incredibly nice song, again great use of stereo between the 2 guitars. I love the recording on this album, it all just sounds so alive... yeah I can see myself listening to this song A LOT. So far I think I prefer their more mellow output, but that might just be my mood at the moment!
5. Don't Lie To Me
This is one to sing a long to at the top of your lungs, real good groove and plenty of energy. Gets nice and noisy in the middle which is always nice... again very good
6. The India Song
This all sounds very different, a far more 'earthy' feel to this song compared to the rest of the album. Unlike that Van Morrison album I reviewed earlier everything seems to gel together. However that being said it's probably the weakest song on the album so far but it's still good.
7. When My Baby's Beside Me
Another fantastic pop song, I've heard this one plenty of times before but never knew who was behind it... how very strange. Big Star certainly know their way around a hook!
8. My Life Is Right
Again, fucking awesome hook! This song is just one big great big ball of fantastic. I can't really fault anything on it, probably my 2nd fav on the album so far behind 'Thirteen'
9. Give Me Another Chance
I really love the vocals on this album, they're so nice! That being said I don't quite think this song is quite up to the standard shown elsewhere, once again by no means bad , it's still nice but I don't it's overly special. It just seems a bit standard to me.
10. Try Again
Very simple and sincere song, but it's bloody effective... yeah good stuff.
11. Watch The Sunrise
Comes in seamlessly after 'Try Again' Again this is an incredibly nice guitar that makes effective use of the acoustic guitar, which is such a beautiful instrument in the right hands, again the vocals and harmonies are pretty spot on. Very very nice
12. St 110/6
it's under a minute long, it's nice
13. In The Street
Ah I've don't remember this happening before. So they have the same song on it twice, thats okay as I've said it's a very good song!
Look on allmusic seems to suggest this isn't on the album twice.. I'm confused? Can someone confirm this for me
First Impressions of Big Star - #1 Record
What an incredible and almost flawless record this is! I love it, plenty of fantastic song with only 1 or 2 hindering it slightly... but even then the weaker songs are still enjoyable! The vocals, the recording, the melodies, the hooks a true showcase of Pop music from the era. 9.5/10
#1 Record is awesome
now listen to Radio City
It's a radio edit I THINK.
More like how The Soft Bulletin has a couple of tracks twice...
Hi!
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World
not sure if it's a classic, but it's certainly a classic-era Bowie album.
1: Width of a circle
Pretty good riff to begin with, a lot heavier than I ever imagined early-ish Bowie would sound.
HEROIC TWO-NOTE GUITAR SOLO, then normal guitar riff solo. This is awesome. Mick Ronson (presumably) is absolutely all over this one. Trying to follow the lyrics. "When god did take my logic for a ride". MORE GUITARS, back to the opening riff (a bit like "Be who you want to be", I guess), all chilling out now. HALFWAY THROUGH THE SONG.
not sure what this second half of the song is about.
Just riffing out, really. OH WAIT NOW IT'S CHANGED. Back to vocals. Sounds a bit S&M-ish. TURN AROUND! GO BACK! I overuse capitals. This is still the same song, but definitely a two-halves thing going on. I think this half edges it, but could do with a different song now.
Thus far, my conclusion: Width Of A Circle <<<< Station to Station. Not that that's saying a lot. Most opening tracks on albums <<<< Station to Station. ANYWAY. One last wig-out vocals, and we're done!
I think I prefer this second one: All The Madmen
Still, pretty RIFF-HEAVY. Not at all what I was expecting, really. It's almost like Black Sabbath at times.
ORGANIC GROWTH IN THE CELLAR. Then it all drops out for a minute. I'm quite a big fan of the recorders, though. Fairly proggy section of marching rhythm and you're into a properly nightmarish bit, but then the "I'm as helpless as can be". Then a nutjob solo.
Too much going on, if you ask me. WHICH YOU DID.
So this is the first album to lean on Nietszche for it's core philosophical viewpoint. Apparently the outro vocal "ouvrez les chiens" is a Also Spracht Zarathustra reference
ANYWAY TRACK 3: Black Country Rock
Again, the GUITARS. So much Ronson! I'm not sure this is a bad thing, just unexpectedly HEAVY. For me, maybe it's a bad thing. Feels like the music needs to focus properly a bit. Too many unrelated solos providing nothing EXTRA to the album.
4: After All
an improvement for the slightly tighter structure, and does the creepiness very well, while the vocals are brilliantly distracted. The chorus line/synth bit is beautiful. Favourite song thus far, actually sets a mood and keeps it after the unfocused insanity of the first few.
But then, maybe they were MEANT to be unfocused and insane. It'd fit in with the overall sound.
5: Running Gun Blues / 6: Saviour Machine
Similar dystopian, messed-up bits and pieces of songs. Many of the same criticisms of the first few tracks could apply here. Maybe I'm just not a fan of This Kind Of Thing.
Kind of want to get to the end of the album..
7: She Shook Me Cold
Kinda nice. MESSY, though.
8: Man Who Sold The World.
Contextually it stands out a lot more, and I'm starting to notice the guitars more than I would otherwise. Also, never noticed the maracas/scratchboard before...
9: The Supermen
UBERMENSCHEN. etc.
Slack bassline/massed vocals. Actually, hold on. This album SUDDENLY reminds me a hell of a lot of bits of At war with the mystics - the backing vocals are TOTALLY something that would fit into that. And the guitars are VERY MUCH comparable to "covering War Pigs"-era F'Lips.
Maybe this album is a grower, but then this is a FIRST IMPRESSIONS thing, so yeah.
I've never heard Nevermind.
And I own zero Nirvana records. Maybe I should do that.
yeah definitely
My opinion changes on whether its overrated or genuinely brilliant quite regularly.
Bjork - Vespertine
Never really listened to Bjork before...interested
1. Hidden Place
Really liking this start. Nice crisp production too. Finding it hard to make out any lyrics (apart from hi-den-plaaaace) but sounds like shes saying something nice at least. Like it!
2. Cocoon
Liking these static noises, reminds me of Burial. Vocals too high in mix for me - wanna hear the stuff going on behind more! Not as good as the opener but can imagine liking it more with each listen.
3. It's Not Upto You
liking the background noises and details again - but also again the vocals seem to be drowning some of them out :( nice when it comes together 90 seconds in or so. Great climax. Gotta say I'm enjoying it so far
4. Undo
Reminding me of Four Tet's Rounds with her vocals on top (not entirely sure why, probably the synth sounds).
5. Pagan Poetry
Not keen on this from the start as much as the others, not keen on the main synth sound (reminds me of shit wobble dubstep). Doesnt really seem to go anywhere either. Worst track so far.
In terms of a Bjork classic, I think the 2 main choices would be Debut and Homogenic
Yeah had a feeling it wasnt the best place to start
but a friend told me it was their soundtrack to the whole 9/11 thing so thought it was appropriate!
One of DiS' favourite albums
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/1254995
6. Frosti
Nice interlude. Nothing to write home about
7. Aurora
Not feeling this one so much as the first few but its carolly and nice. Im getting the feeling this album is one of those that gets better the more you listen to it but its leaving a pretty good first impression
8. An Echo A Stain
Creepy, Boards of Canada-ish start which is more than fine by me. Album picking up again after a bit of a dip. Production a bit flat and squashed at points or is that just me? Great stuff though
9. Sun in my mouth
turn the vocals down! sounds like there's so much going on that I can't quite pick out.
10. Heirloom
Not feeling this one. Think its probably the sound of the bass - bit grating after a while.
11. Harm of Will
Sounding a bit samey now - harps, big strings etc but almost in a good way. Seems to be an album based on mood and texture rather than melody which I like (one of the reasons I prefer King of Limbs to IR)
12. Unison
7 minutes...interested to see if it can keep my attention (quite a long album overall it seems). Loving it once the beat enters. Great finish to the album, big swirling pads and strings, choir sounds and great percussion
So yeah, really enjoyed that!
wasnt expecting that sort of sound for some reason. Can't believe it's 10 years old as well, sounds so modern (especially the percussion). Might be going a bit crazy but parts of it reminded me of Petrushka and I'm not quite sure why :/
Can imagine I'll give this a lot more listens over the next few days and like it even more hopefully, then I'll search out her other stuff. Where next do you think? Only major criticism would be the vocals almost hurt my ears at points as I turned up the volume to hear the details in the background which we're getting drowned out.
Based on what you've said, it's gotta be Homogenic next
thanks :)
I'll give it a go
amazing thread
highlight so far (haven't read it all): douchebag vs NMH
I've never heard Since I Left You
Is now a good time?
Okay, here goes:
Track 1: OoooOOOoooohhh... It all sounds a bit too happy and sparkly for me.
Oh, it's already changed. There's flute. :/
Sample of someone I probably should know but don't.
This is actually fairly repetitive. I guess you could call it 'nice'.
2: Stay Another Season
Starts a bit disco. Early disco though.
I keep expecting this to turn into a huge hiphop beat every time it dies down a little but it just goes straight back to twinkly unicorn sounds.
3: Radio
Okay, so this is settling into a pattern now. Hiphop beat tape made by your friendly sweater-wearing uncle who used to be cool back in the '70s?
I have an overwhelming sensation to just listen to Donuts. I thought I would like this more than I am. It's not bad, just doesn't seem that memorable.
4: Two Hearts in 3/4 Time
It's a waltz in space!
Oh, the vocals are in now. Hmmmm...
They've gone. It all sounds very pretty.
OooooOOOoooooh. Again.
Oh, getting a bit more jazzy/noisier. Relative to everything else so far, that is. Almost got excited there.
5: Avalanche Rock
This is better. Shame it's so short.
Does this get better with more listens? Am I missing something here?
6: Flight Tonight
Not sure what to think of this one. I Hope he isn't going to tell me how he's going to 'book a flight tonight' for too long...
At least it doesn't sound like rainbows.
He's stopped.
Oh, no he's back now.
7: Diners Only
I think it's the keys that grate on me most. This has keys.
Oh, and flute. Yay.
8: A Different Feeling
It started off as really cheesy disco which I kinda enjoyed.
It then stopped and came back almost identically but somehow not nearly as fun.
I give up. There's only so many ways you can write 'it's nice but not that exciting' and none of them are much fun to read.
Go listen to Frontier Psychiatrist
I am loving the dismemberment plan record mentioned earlier.
Already listened to half of it though, so no point liveblogging.
I'm gonna do Psychocandy in the next hour or so
fuck it, tomorrow
OK I think I'm going to give Highway 61 revisited a go in 10 or 15
hmm
:)
7. Highway 61 revisited
title track
I think it's Jason Spacemen 3/Spiritualized's favourite
I can't connect with this at all lyrically, seems like more bollocks but it has a groove at least
Hear(sic) we go ; Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
1. Like a Rolling Stone
This one I've heard before
Good god, that voice really grates
'How does it feel to be without a home, like a complete unknown'
he was a millionaire by this time no?
the band are playing some bum notes
it's all very shambolic and shouty but there's a certain forceful euphoria to it
not sure I'm gonna get all of the lyrics in one sitting
not a fan of the atonal harmonica either
well like a rolling stone has been interpreted every which way for decades
but if there is one unifying thought on what it kinda means (which there isn't) it's about dylan saying how disconnected he is with everything and everybody. by the time H61R came out, the hype for him had gotten so out of control he was beginning to get exasperated and that shines through on this song, more in tone than lyrical content. it's easily the most disjointed track on the album, lyrically, you can tell it's a big mish mash of thoughts and emotions, but it's still his greatest work. the famous live version at "royal albert hall" is out of this world.
2. Tombstone blues
The reincarnation of Paul Revere's horse
Yee-Haw
This sounds derivative even for '65 but I guess it's all about the lyrics
'the sun's not yellow - it's chicken' erm... clever? hmm
'the geometry of innocent flesh on the bone' I like that
how many verses?
3. It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry
Boogie-woogie blues
not enjoying this at all
drunken redneck 3am music
and that harmonica solo is SO self indulgent
this is shit
I can hear why it was absolutely necessary for The Velvet Underground to begin existing
the lyrics aren't even interesting on this one
4. From a Buick 6
slow 12 bar blues
Muddy Waters must have hated Dylan - oh, a Bo Diddly reference there
some of the playing on this record is weak too, the bass player on this track is a bit hamfisted
another poor track
5. Ballad of a thin man
slow swing
Nick Cave has listened to this a lot
really recognise the chord progression too
a bit to much 'and she says' 'and you say' 'and then you' etc.
haven't got a clue what this song is about
seems like a load of bollocks... Mr. Jones
ok, there's a sex verse about a one eyed midget wanting milk
:S
too*
6. Queen Jane Approximately
This sounds like a reprise of Like a Rolling Stone but with added out of tune guitar
I really don't get it
Why is this considered a classic album? Is there some deep, topical, subversive lyrical content here or is it just a european jew trying to grab Americana for his own?
european jew?
are you trolling
nope
but Dylan was a 2nd generation immigrant from Eastern European stock right? (like many)
Just here and there the whole delta blues/folk/honky tonk schtick seems a little put on - like he's going back to someone else's roots if you know what I mean
I'm listening to this 46 years after the fact of course and I realise that 2 world wars had come and gone and wiped the slate clean between Dylan's grandfolks arriving in the US and him becoming the big hero of the folk scene but I dunno...
just an observation
dylan had a lot of respect for the blues and folk artists
and they in turn had a lot of respect for him (johnny cash gave him a guitar)
the fact that he's jewish doesn't really come into it, and you didn't need to bring it up.
why can't I bring it up?
he grew up in a fairly closed Jewish community in an area of the US primarily populated by European immigrants
don't you think that's informed his art either as an influence or something to react against? It's certainly informed his image of himself to a large part and I think that the fact he's a second generation American who wholly embraces the folk music of his adopted country can't possibly be ignored in any discussion of his work
why do you think it's taboo?
the fact that he's jewish isn't taboo
but you brought it up in a fairly anti semitic manner (claiming he was 'taking' something) you could have said "he's trying to take americana for his own" instead of saying "just a european jew trying to take americana for his own"
anti-semitic?
What the hell are you on about?
right, clearly not anti-semitic
BUT, I don't really see why you're bringing his heritage up when 95% of America aren't from America which only goes back a couple generations earlier...
fair enough but I think it is relevant
because the 60s are the defining era for the myth of AMERICA whether it's mainstream culture (Man on the moon) or counter culture (woodstock, LSD & the civil rights movement/protests)
With Dylan, as an artist involved, or in some cases leading (often reluctantly) various social or intellectual schools of thought and producing an art which is very much involved in the discourse of the Folk traditions and the 'journey' of America (the ideological concept) I think it's very important to reflect on his own (family's) cultural and social journey as integral or in contrast to the birth of the post-modern USA
And what I'm saying is that it seems he's faking it a bit here and there and maybe that's a part of his (indeed any artists') psyche
but I dunno
I'm not a student of Shabtai Zisel ben Avraham
isn't that the definition of being america though?
that you can come to the country as a later generation immagrant and still create your own path within a nation which its mythology will have you believe is perpetually moving forward. There is absolutely no reason why a European Jew shouldn't be able to ingrain himself in black roots/americana/folk music if he wants to. If anything he can (and did) bring a fresh perspective on it and thats what makes his being at the time of post-modernism all the more relevant.
None of us truly own music or its heritage, art as an instiution is constantly being influenced/taking things from the past to make up new things of the future. America, if nothing else, is the perfect place in which to do this in.
Incidentally, I do think Dylan is the definition of a flawed mastermind; he can rarely fill albums with top quality material, but the amount of songs over his career that are truly incredible is hugely impressive.
oh yeah, absolutely about the none of us owning music or its heritage thing
it's just that, as I said, some of it wasn't ringing true and I suppose that the feeling of faking it is part of the American Psyche - or at least the counter culture psyche of the 60s
it's a fascinating subject in any case
absolutely
I wish to do my masters on something like this
8. Just like Tom Thumb's blues
another slow one
he's toned down the grating vocal for this one and it certainly benefits the listener - he's almost actually singing in places
Lloyd Cole ripped off this one didn't he? (Four Flights up)
this one seems much more honest lyrically
still HATEFUL harmonica though
9. Desolation Row
Again actually singing over his acoustic guitar instead of forcing a wail
no organ or drums here
still a few bum notes on the bass
lots of fairy tale and biblical references
I'm enjoying the imagery of this one much more
definitely the most responsive to a single listen lyrically
I am at 7 minutes and not bored of it yet
AARRGH - Harmonica solo at 9 minutes :(
'dont send me no more letters... not unless you send 'em from desolation row' I guess that's a dig at his crazy fans huh?
and then more horrid harmonica
and it's done
To sum up then
I'm not a fan of - never have liked - Dylan's voice
The only song of his, or rather recording of him that I ever really liked was Lay lady Lay (maybe Just Like A Woman)
So the tracks that were most enjoyable in that respect were the last two when he lightens up on the forceful nasal trumpeting and actually sings a little
The other thing that makes it hard for me to appreciate this album is that I'm hearing it such a long time after all the other records I've heard that are influenced by it and it suffers by the fact that many other artists have taken pieces from it and lead them off in their own particular directions and refined certain aspects etc (or just plain copied). Some artists I mentioned but I hear many, many others over the course of this record - both Dylan's contemporaries and those that came later.
So, the lyrics;
Bob's got a way with words for sure but for me there are suspiciously many stodgy rhyming couplets and point-scoring literary references on this record for it all to ring true somehow
...maybe it's just me and I'm only really picking up on a small percentage of the conceits and devices but I'm genuinely convinced that a good 30-50% is just impenetrable nonsense that cloying fans search for 'meaning' in when there's none there
on the other hand we could take a post-structuralist viewpoint and say the reader is more important than the author... but then where does that leave the 'fan'?
There's a couple of tracks here that I'm going to listen to again but in the main I can't imagine sitting through the whole record too often
Overall maybe a 6.5/10
if you took away all the harmonica it's easily a 7
As Dylan's contemporaries go I much prefer the lyrics and arrangements AND SINGING of Simon and Garfunkel - a lot of the stories of the heartland of America that they tell are similar to Dylans but I just FEEL those emotions much more in their music than I do with Dylan feeding me the words
As for the electric thing and the NYC sleaze - The Velvet Underground were light years ahead
Sorry Bob
the velvet underground weren't a folk act
the boundaries of rock n roll had been being dismantled for 10+ years before the velvet underground even came to fruition, whereas the folk scene was still a sacramental culture that was taken very seriously. i really don't think you can seriously compare.
erm
what?
It's the mid 60s
We're in New York
You say Dylan's revolutionising the pop song with 'Like a Rolling Stone'
I say 'Man, you ought to hear this new lot called The Velvet Underground - they're REALLY taking it someplace else'
you're being intentionally dense
I don't think so
what makes you say that?
nah i think electric dylan and velvet underpants have certain similarities
both did long repititive songs with little variation with singers who sing in a similar style (kinda)
by, what, 65 dylan was no longer folk anyway
Despeche Mode - Violator review
1. World In My Eyes
Track starts with some nice interesting electronic sounds and has captured my interest immediately and was thinking this sound like something I'd like to listen to. Yes this is very nice and had quite an awesome and somewhat sexy groove to it! I like the quite understated hook
2. Sweetest Perfection
Slightly more understated, it still maintains that quite dark sound they have and once again maintains the groove. Like the vocals on this one and really enjoyed the quite slow build and the final minute or so I thought were really good. Really like it!
4. Halo
That synth bass is bloody groovy, really grabbed me into the track, really quite hypnotic. I love any song that gives you a great soundscape on headphones and this does just that, this song is quite the journey... now it sounds like some sort of neo funky symphony from hell and I likes it.
5. Waiting For The Night
This album does a fantastic job of hooking me from the word, at least has done on all the tracks so far & this one is no exception, more melodic and docile then anything else I've heard so far on this album. But I sense a change as it's clearly another song with a slow build, it's very atmospheric. I really love that twinkly melody coming from the synth and the midi melody going under. This sounds great on headphones, good use of stereo. This is probably my favourite so far.
6. Enjoy The Silence
One of the best pop songs ever created, need I say more?
7. Policy Of Truth
Slightly more in you face sound, was a little uncertain at first but as the song progressed it grew on me and I found myself nodding along. Despeche Modes eye for a hook is truly something to be admired... love the guitar sound towards the end!
8. Blue Dress
Once again another song grabs me from the moment it kicks off, vocal delivery reminds me of morrissey in places... but I wont hold that against it as it sounds nice! This one is is gentle paced song and is incredibly pretty. Yup, once again I'm going with the big thumbs up here
9. Clean
Interesting and compelling and is yet another song that maintains the albums sound whilst maintaining it's own identity, which I think this album does well. It's not the best thing on this record, but it's far from filler.
First thoughts of Depeche Mode - Violator
Yeah sorry for getting the name wrong, I really enjoyed this one... it's a compelling synth pop record with some atmospheric moments, hypnotic moments, compelling moments and has one of the finest pieces of pop music to ever be recorded in 'Enjoy The Silence'. The album kept me interest the whole way threw and has nothing I would consider filler, it's not THE PERFECT album mind but it's pretty close. 9/10
3. Personal Jesus
Have always loved this song, don't know why it took me until now to listen to this album..... come on it's got such a sick hook and groove guys!
can someone do
The Glow Part 2 by The Microphones
yes
i was going to do this yesterday but didn't. i'll do it in a bit.
you are in for a treat
wanna do it together?
sure. 11pm your time? (assuming you're in the UK, 17ish minutes from now)
cool, gotta finish the Ramones but that should be just enough time
I'll join in!
saucy
13. you'll be in the air
some much needed intimacy after the several tracks of fuzz. i think his voice sounds most affecting when he places it to the forefront of the mix - which may sound obvious, but there are some cases when a singer can bring the most out of what they can do vocally by burying it a bit. i think it might be his strongest instrument, and it's utilised wonderfully here, just not often enough.
gorgeous song, really.
The Ramones - The Ramones
Here we go
Blitzkreig Bop
Obviously heard this before, perfect distillation of the pop-punk song. HEY HO LETS GO indeed. Never really noticed those "oooh" backing vocals before though, makes it sound much sweeter than I used to think it was, a bit more 60s
Beat On The Brat
Pretty nice, but that's it really. Since there it's not got meaningful lyrics or anything it really needs to be as catchy as possible ... and it just isn't. Filler #1
get out
great song
Judy Is A Punk
Only other one on the album I've heard for sure before. Love it. Handclaps oh yeah. The backing vocals are much more important than you'd think, maybe that's why the last one was such a let down - joey doesn't have the best singing voice and doesn't have the attitude of a Johnny Rotten, so the backups make it all sound that much fuller
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
Wow, change of pace much. I really thought the old Ramones stuff was straight-up bonehead punk, but this is almost gentle. Totally sounds like a 60s pop song that got a bit lost, and wandered into CBGBs
Chain Saw
Yeah, that's more like it. GRRR SAWS MANLY. Hmm, not feeling this, not much of a hook to be found. Naaah mate
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
The further I get into this the more I realise how much the Runaways ripped these guys off. Hmm, now I've said that Wiki says they were singed/released stuff only like a year apart - enough time to copy, sure, but maybe it's more like they were just part of the same scene. Hmm, benefit of the doubt here.
Anyway, the song. Bleh, bit samey. Again. I don't know how much more powerful these would have sounded live, but these recordings aren't really giving off the youthful urgency and vitality I thought these guys were all about. Smart little riff 35 seconds in though, song would have been a nice deviation if it'd been based on that instead. The ending's good too, with the layered guitars
I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement
Hmm, this is one of the better ones so far, but I have no idea why. Basically sounds the same. Maybe the energy just comes through better on this. Actually, I just like the riff better. Simple as. Also dadio is the coolest word, it makes the song
Loudmouth
Well that made no impact at all
Havana Affair
I remember RHCP using this as an intro to one of their songs. I liked it better like that. Being a bit harsh on this now actually, is it decent but I'm not really connecting at the moment
Listen To My Heart
Best here after the big two, the "that girl could still be mine" bit is just lovely. I much prefer it when they go all sweet and poppy
53rd & 3rd
Yeah, another great one. Just a solid riff with solid drums. Solid. Wait, what the hell. What's with this shitty reverby singing bit. Man, that was *really* not needed.
A great, great song
It's actually really worth listening to the lyrics (which is not something you often say about Ramones songs)
Let's Dance
Good drums at the start, nice change from the straight bass-snare-bass-snare, however slight. The actual song, eh. Better than some here, worse than others. Man I am ever being insightful with this reviewing lark. Hey what was that, that synth-y/organ bit at the end is great, balances his non-singing nicely. If that had been in every chorus it'd have been much better
I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You
Musically can't really tell it from any of the other, but better lyrics than most of the rest. Simple, obvious, but at least it captures a proper emotion. Wait, solo time. That was good. More please
Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World
Best song on the album I'd say. That riff is much darker than anything else here, so this is less of the pop and more of the punk. Oooh, good breakdown outro too. Yeah, that rocks
Conclusions
This is one of those albums where the the impact is massive, and loads of great music comes from it, but as an album, in itself, it just doesn't stand up. I think quite a few other bands used the Ramones formula better (and less repetitively) and the band made much better stuff too. So yeah, historically significant, musically not
your ears dont work
The Microphones - The Glow, pt. 2
ok so anybody doing this, report in.
present, sir
1. I Want Wind To Blow
Yeah, very glad I got my headphones for this rather than sticking to the laptop speakers. The panning of the guitars is great, I feel like my head keeps getting pulled in different directions. Fuck me this is brilliant, really melodic and lovely but sorta fucked up too - my favourite thing in music.
It's got a bit of a beat to it too, doesn't just meander all over the place like a lot of music in this style does. I could even imagine this being given some big bass makeover, and still being beautiful then. Also, Chad VanGaalen must have listened to this loads, his stuff fits right alongside this. I hope these guys are a bit better at self-editing than him though.
Oh yes THIS OUTRO IS SOOOO GOOD. See, big drums and it's still wistfully fragile. Gah. THIS SONG.
2. The Glow Pt. 2
DAT RIFF. Fuck me I have the biggest grin on my face right now. I'm getting the lyrics for the rest of the album up right now too, don't want to miss anything that's going on. Piano noodlings are a bit too random but never mind, that stupidly warmlush organ just made it all better. Makes everything better. How many changes is this song going to go through, and how can every single one be this gorgeous? Oh that bass work, that's Motown worthy.
Just yes
3. The Moon
Intro's a bit too disjointed, but once the organ comes in it all ties together again. Singing on this one is the best so far. Oh and the woodwind-ing is classy too, a little bit jazzy with the intervals they're going for. Like Crispin says, I'm feeling a bit of NMH from the album so far but to me it's outstripping them by quite a way so far. Man, need to play this to my friend, this'll blow his mind. And the lyrics, geez they're good. Not really telling any story, but the images he paints are just amazing. Ending falls away a bit though
4. Headless Horseman
Ok, most straightforward one so far, but it sounds like this guy can do mopey-singer-songwriter as well as anyone. The sound here is so warm, feels like an aural hug. I'm always a sucker for lyrics about missing your friends, so it delivers on that front to. Least remarkable so far, since quite a few other artists could easily do this kind of thing, but it's only weak in comparison to the rest. Very sweet song in its own right
5. My Roots Are Strong And Deep
That piano sounds like it's coming through a timewarp that's stuck under water and I love it - In An Aeroplane Under The Sea, maybe. The falling piano lines kinda fit in with that too, very liquid-y. Love how the really fuzzed out parts come up against the cleaner stuff, one gives you the atmosphere and the other gives the focus
6. The Instrumental
Not much to say, pretty nice. Some bands would kill for the chance to build a proper song out of it though, and these guys can just throw it away. Mazin
7. The Mansion
Ok, here's where the self-editing thing kicks in. As nice as it is, and the stero-bouncing guitar a *really* nice, does the intro really need to be that long? Doesn't really develop or go anywhere, same for the whole song really. Bit like the new Bon Iver, it's all very pretty but it doesn't feel like an actual song, like they've tried to build on a very slender theme for too long. Weakest so far
8. Something
Wow, if you changed the instrumentation up this could easily be the basis for a Burial song, it's got that dark, muffled vibe to it. As it is it's basically whale song set to music, which is lovely. But this middle section is really starting to drag, I hope it picks up soon because the start to this album was just killer
9. (Something)
Same as before, just with a more electronic approach. All this noise and tension and build up is a bit of a jarring change from the start, when all the songs had too many ideas going on. Now it's like there's not enough
10. I'll Not Contain You
Dammit, if this would just settle into a simple strumming pattern or something it would be great. The random flitting back and forth isn't doing it for me on this one, since there's not really any drums it feels too drifty, all the earlier ones had this momentum and drive to them that balanced out the sprawling, changing melodies. This is just a bit of a mess. So much better if they'd built off of that bit with the huge bass line and simplified it all a bit
11. The Gleam Pt. 2
Was gonna rant about this one being directionless again, but the steel drums shut me up. We need more of those in modern music. Really creepy this one, this is a good blend of the atmospheric stuff we've been getting for a while with an actual song. Lovely stuff
12. Maps
GET TO THE SONG ALREADY. Starting to get pissed off here, there's building tension and then there's fannying around for a couple of minutes cos you don't know what else to do.
Ok, we've got drums, everything is going to be better. Is that a girl singing there, really like the tone of her voice, suits his falsetto well. This second section sounds so like something; something classical maybe? No, this is too drawn out again. Ahh, but the end is more like it. All the noodling sounds so much better once there's a structure to carry it, makes it less wanky
13. You'll Be In The Air
Yes, the man and his acoustic, good. Lyrics to this keep filtering through "you'll be in the air and i'll be in your bed" indeed. Lots of longing and missing and stuff going on in this album, think it'd make for good wallowing music.
14. I Want To Be Cold
The album this album gets the better it gets. This song is undeniable proof. Initially it sounds like it could be any one of a number of dark, sludgey bands, but his voice is so sweet over it all, just gloating above it. Relistening right away actually. It sounds so think to, somehow you can hear all the instruments but it still sounds like everything's a full pelt. why doesn't it sound like a mess? Or at least, why does it sound like such a good mess? The piano blowout at the end is great too, that could have been extended by quite a lot
* the louder this albums gets the better it gets
* just floating above it
* sounds so thick too
Why must my typos keep changing the meaning of the sentences :(
15. I Am Bored
Almost a duet between the drums and piano here, the kind of thing I've always wanted to write myself but never been able too. One of the best here so far, wistful is a word i'm gonna keep reaching for. Wish the guitar would actually have done something when it came in though instead of just throwing everything off-kilter
16. I Felt My Size
Getting a Sebadoh vibe from this, maybe with a touch less self-pity. Love how the main instrument in this keeps changing, from guitar to drums to piano to bass and back. Shows how different the same melody can sound in different contexts. Crap ending again though, recurring problem clearly.
17. Instrumental 2
See, this works really well after a couple of more fully-fledged numbers. There's a nice, spooky melody going on and the huge guitar give it a punch that something so drifty needs. And humming is always good
18. I Felt Your Shape
Don't know how to describe this, but it's just lovely. Not quite the chord progression you expect, but it resolves really nicely and the lyrics are strong too, "Really all I felt was falsely strong" is a great line
19. Samurai Sword
Yeah full band freakout yeah! Whatever they've done to the drums - delayed them, doubled them, pitted two competing drummers against each other in an unwitting drum off - it sounds incredible. Huge but always shifting, depending on which side of the stereo you focus on. Lovely how his limpid melodies sit against all that noise, great contrast. And then it FRICKIN DIES AWAY AGAIN. GAH. WRITE AN ENDING TO A SONG ALREADY. Have they had a single one in the whole album so far? I'm sceptical
20.
Epic closer time. Yes, this is how i felt way back with the first song. I can barely keep up with everything that's happening here, beautiful sounds cascading all over the place. Oh, and then he stops it again. Wish he stop that. Seriously.
Anyway, this new section is lovely too, so can't complain. I wanted to say something more about how pretty it was but oh, there it goes. It's ambient time!
Fuck, what a cop out. Two different, wonderful songs crammed into 90 seconds and then ... nothing. This dude knows how to yank my chain
i want wINd to blow
actually, just realised I've listened to this album before.
Really not sure how I forgot that.
It's a pretty great album..
9. (Something)
an extension of 'Something' don't quite know why it isn't one piece... but ya know. This builds on the first part brilliantly, it gets more intense and it would seem the loneliness and paranoia has turned into full out fear. I wish had a grasp on the concept, but one listen won't do that for you on an album like this! I can only imagine how effective this would be once you could place it.
10. I'll Not Contain You
So it appears the atmospheric interludes have now ended. Yet more fairly unique acoustic guitar playing which appears quite jumbled & it's quite hard to wrap your head around. Vocals aren't the most accessible either, the is a lot here to digest.. hasn't grabbed me too much on first listen.
11. The Gleam Pt.2
Ah really getting into this one, again stereo panning is one of this albums greatest allys. Pretty straight forward but pretty great too, draws very vivd images in my head... totally getting behind this one. Could do with being a bit longer maybe, but this is easily one of my favs, I love the stabbing rhythm
12. Map
FUCK me an organ, I'm in a church!
Wow this is very dense, I love the female backing vocals (I think they're female backing vocals) this song is driving nicely & WOW I love this piano break down.... now the haze returns, haze is a big part of this. The female backing vocals are very buried... this is something a bit special, this is a huge journey and I'm loving it... was dubious at first but I think this is the highlight so far... in fact I'm certain... especially with the outro, this would be incredible live
13. You'll be in the Air
Begins simple as you like, but I think the album benefits from these moments, it helps bring the first time listener in and gives it some contrast. His vocal delivery on this song is superb, I like it... probably will never be one of my favourites but it's all very nice and still has that edge to it which is found on the rest of the album
14. I want to be cold
Wow what a contrast to the first song, distorted and frantically driven and heavy drums. But his vocals remain calm as you like, this is awesome, real good noise!
15. I Am Bored
I really like the way this song dances around in the headphones, the is a backbone and foundation to a great song here but it's too short.
16. I Felt My Size
Partly really familiar and partly very alien... the way the drums fade out as soon as they get going is something that keeps you on your toes. It's like 4 very straight forward songs mixed into one, with it flipping between them... could be longer.
17. Instrumental
This is very nice & despite the length isn't too short, I think this is one of the interludes I can really get behind... even without the grasp of the concept. Nice piano sound & real nice guitar sound!
18. I Felt My Shape
This is the most traditional song on it, no experimentation so to speak but either way it's damned effective and is a fantastic little song... such a fantastic one that it really doesn't need anything added to it, it's nice to have something like this on here.
19. Samurai Sword
The something intensely satisfied by hyper buried vocals like this, as well as the wall of noise that accompanies it. Some might say it's just being difficult for the sake of being difficult... the is melody amongst all that noise which I find even more fascinating. Suddenly the song abruptly become earlile quiet with atmosphere being the key focus once again... I like this as it call back to the interludes threw out the album so has continuity. You have the NOISE back in the distance yet it fails to come back.... despite all those fascinating elements I think it's okay and once again under developed
20. My Warm Blood
When this song kicks in I made sure to pay attention... it's what the album has been building to and it better be a good pay off! Starts off changing between 3 movements early on, the 3rd of which goes back to the reoccurring atmospheric track you've heard many times on this album, good continuity.
You can occasionally hear acoustic guitars in the distance during the drone and the odd voice.. sort of like radio tuning in the distance and parts which seem to resemble a heart beat.. all very imerssive stuff. But it didn't quite build to the climax I was expecting or hoping for.... but it does work... it wraps it all up and it's really beautiful in that way in that it really does feel more like a scene to something then a piece of music.
First Impressions of - The Microphones The Glow Pt.2
It feels kind of a shame giving a verdict on this album on one listen but hey thats what we're here for.
Okay, some moments on this album are captivating and incredibly beautiful but because I couldn't quite grasp the concept on the first listen I don't think the album opened up to me in the way the creator intended. To me it seemed like a mess of ideas and underdeveloped songs with the odd beauty sliced in, it was kind of frustrating and this reflects in that I tend to prefer the more focused moments on the album.
Still I'm glad I listened to it at last, it was an experience and was never bored or felt like switching it off.. but for now I cant give it anymore then 6/10
1. I Wan't Wind To Blow
Interesting sound from the acoustic at the start, the song builds and builds, some interesting percussion (not sure what the creaking is) beautiful little opener had me nodding with my eyes closed threw out the later half of the song! The distortion at the end cause by the drums is a bit jarring though, I'm not sure if I liked that or not but loved the rest
2) The Glow Pt.2
Not as straight forward as the opener, starts off with quite a harsh and heavily distorted guitar sound before switching to the acoustic. Get barraged with instruments then it goes down to the horns and vocal.... then it goes into 'full swing' I suppose as it develops further into a more traditional sounding song for the outro... difficult song to digest in one sitting. Didn't blow me away but it's one I want to revisit.
1. i want wind to blow
not bad. 'pleasant' is the word that comes to mind, i can imagine this being wonderful winter evening listening.
the glow pt. 2
initially i was picking up a neutral milk hotel feeling but by the end it actually feels a lot more like okkervil river (this predates OR though i'm sure) and i have to say i'm feeling more power on this one. the way it breaks down into 3 different parts was a real pleasure and actually very moving. i hope there's more like this.
3) The Moon
Acoustic dances around my headphone once again, I love that... then in comes the fuzz... sort of reminds me of Smashing Pumpkins in an odd way... not sure why. It all sounds very hazy, sort of like the soundtrack to a dream... I'm not too sure on the horns and the way they've been placed in the mix however, but again that might be something you'd get used to in time. But yeah this is very nice on the whole, once again finding myself closing my eyes and nodding along. The is a lot going on in the haze, especially with the drums, repeat listens are a must
3. the moon
i wish the vocals were a little higher in the mix, there's definitely a nagging feeling that the power of this one is being undercut by that. but it does sound like a good song, very forward-moving and melodic.
4. Headless Horseman
I like the way this album keeps you guessing, this is a stripped song just a guy and his guitar.... this is incredibly pleasant and very easy to digest and a great rest bite to all the stuff going on in the previous 3 tracks. He has a really nice voice, this is my fav for now, really intimate.
4. headless horseman
i can hear this on joanna newsom's first album, there's a wistful folk essence to the melody and a closeness to the vocal that lets you hear the spit inside his mouth. that sounds gross, but it's not, it was pretty intimate.
5. My Roots Are Strong And Deep
Again back into the haze, very dreamy sounding once again... it's amazing how different each song sound to one another yet how consistent they are. This is beautiful, the way the piano is recorded really adds to this song, especially when he hits the high keys. Continues a pretty flawless scope the album has demonstrated to this point.
5. my roots are strong and deep
a throwaway idea. that's not a bad thing, i could tell by the length and tracklist that there would be a few of those, and there's nothing wrong with having just a single idea in an album if it makes sense to have it there. once again: pleasant.
6. Instrumental
Headphones for this album seem essential, the dancing in the panning is handled so well. Again I love the way this sounds, the recording on this album is quite stunning and possibly my biggest draw to it.. it's an interlude though and ends quite quickly into the next song.
6. instrumental
it ended just as i was really getting into it :( i guess there's something to be said for leaving you wanting more? i just worry when that method gets overplayed though - like with guided by voices. i like that band but god, i really can't stand to listen to a whole album, i just cherry pick songs.
7. the mansion
hmm. this feels like part of an overall theme or story, i was certainly drawn in by the overlapping vocals, but at the same time feel like i was just dumped in the middle of a concept i haven't grasped properly. good, brooding song.
8. (something)
not a whole lot to say, another short atmosphere filler.
8. Something
Again, ATMOSPHERE is the key here, building on a concept I haven't quite grasped. Sounds very lonely, even a bit paranoid and terrifying. It's a real mood builder. Something is a very apt name
9. something cont.
hmm...maybe a bit too much atmosphere filler now.
10. i'll not contain you
okay. not a whole lot more than okay. i'm starting to get worried now.
11. the gleam pt. 2
ok now we're talking. i love the steel drums and the sinister piano/kickdrum. ends too soon.
12. map
whoa, 5 minutes! finally something to get my teeth into. see, at the half way point he could have easily decided to just make this into another song, but he didn't, and i think it sounds all the better for it. but maybe that's the point, maybe these single idea tracks are supposed to challenge the importance we put on album and song structure, or maybe he just doesn't like forcing ideas into boxes.
but like the second track, he does a remarkably good job of bringing an initial idea full circle in a really moving, wonderful way.
fix
14. i want to be cold
stark contrast between the rumble of the beat and the calmness of his voice, it's like two different worlds that don't have a lot to do with each other. i like the end a lot, though.
15. i am bored
good. almost very good, but again, ends too soon. i should probably just stop saying that.
16. i felt my size
is that a penny whistle? something a bit nostalgic about this, i'm not sure if it's because it just has some kind of magical nostalgic quality to the bittersweet melody or if it just reminds me of grandaddy.
17. instrumental 2
i like this. the reprise gives the record a bit of continuity in what is otherwise a sea of ideas.
18. i felt your shape
i really like this one a lot, so familiar but also very fresh. he;s obviously a very talented songwriter, you don't write things like this on a fluke.
19. samurai sword
onslaught of noise. but for maybe the first time his quiet vocals almost work with it, i'm enjoying based on that anomaly but generally this isn't playing to his strengths for me.
20. my warm blood
not...a whole lot happening on this track. it's just atmosphere to end it, i guess. seems fitting.
final verdict:
well final verdict on a first listen, because there's too much to have any definitive statement about. i liked it a whole lot when there was a sequence of ideas put together, instead of some half ideas split up. i'd be willing to bet he doesn't see it that way, and the fans probably don't either.
i want to believe that repeated listens will suddenly open this up for me more, but my dislike of messy albums has always been something that i can't overcome.
i'm glad i listened though, because there's some stunning tracks. i'll check out his other work too, hopefully he expands.
dude ...
This easily one of the most beautifully flawed albums I have ever heard. At it's best (the first 5, a good chunk around track 13) it's untouchable, ranging from noise-rock to mellow acoustic mumblings, from experimental soundscapes to the most straightforwardly pretty piano ballads, and doing all over them as well as anything I've come across. Seriously, if you distilled the good stuff down to one normal-length album I'd not listen to anything else for weeks.
As it is though the middle section is almost a complete waste. Sure, there's beautiful melodies and interesting twists galore, but for 5 solid tracks (a quarter of the album) not a single fully formed idea emerges, just a series of frustrating glimpses of wasted potential. And then at times when they do find something worth holding onto and working on they just abandon it, deciding that, yes, even more tension and build-up is what is needed. The fools.
So yeah, I dunno. Maybe I'm being a bit bitter, but an hour ago I was sure i was about to hear my new favourite album, and then that feeling dissipated with each track. I'll come back to this in a few days and be bowled over by the good stuff all over again though, and not many bands ever create something that affecting. So there's something worth persevering with here
The Mansion
Kicks off with huge amounts of atmosphere, the guitars begin strumming and once again panning is used to great effect. It sounds very listening in on someone strumming a guitar in the wilderness in front of a bonfire in the harshest of winters, quite lonely sounding.
High on atmosphere but it's not one of my favourites so far.. but again I think repeat listens will aid it. I need to focus on the lyrics more, which I undoubtedly will once I digest the music.
The reviews on here & the quietus intrigued me, so
I'm doing Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump (great thread btw)
In a minute
#7 Broken Household
PHASERS... cool
This is a pretty good rock-y track and that intro was nice
Oh
Fade-out because they couldn't work out how to get back to the first part? Lame
That took all the momentum
I haven't been listening to the lyrics sorry
I'm not really sure how much I'm enjoying this.
The bassist is determined not to do anything of note.
#1 He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot
Pretty cool intro, interesting sounding guitar... or keyboard?
OK now it's actually started and i'm liking it less
Not bad, not amazing either, the strings are nice, the keyboards are not. The production/effects are impressing me far more more than the musical content.
OK breakdown. The synth pads & electronics are working for me now... but the melody for this song is so repetitive it's actually pissing me off now
Musically this is nothing special. But it sounds great, at least
At the six minute mark and i'm a bit bored now
It was building up nicely but that synth sound is horrible. I wish the singer would use a different melody.
#2 Hewlett's Daughter
A chugging indie-rock song. Oh hey, they have a bass player! I never noticed. Not doing much though.
I like that dissonant chord they keep putting in there. Apart from that it's pretty standard-M! ooh i like the Mellotron
oh it's over
#3 Jed The Humanoid
Not sure what happened with the M! up there
Anyway... Soundscape, not bad
The lyrics are about building a robot I believe. I haven't paid much attention to the lyrics.
I quite like this one, it's quite saaad sounding
# The Crystal Lake
More chugging. A bit Pixies-esque
I think I'm beginning to warm to this. The synth sounds are growing on my too.
The bit at 1:50 is boss
Got a bit more energetic now (slightly). That synth arpeggio is getting pretty irritating. Uninteresting lead guitar part.
Did that song have a chorus? I must have missed it
#5 Chartsengrafs
Is it wrong these guys remind me of early Ash? They both bum(med) the Pixies. This is a bit more rockin.
Not a bad little riff there.
One finger keyboard solo!
#6 Underneath the Weeping Willow
The first ten seconds are really pretty then they have to go and ruin it by putting a SONG over it.
Standard ballad fare. is it in 6/8? of course it is! It's a ballad!
OK more of an interlude. KNEEJERK REACTIONS
#8 Jed's Other Poem (Beautiful Ground)
fucked up #7
I like the psychedelic floaty vibes of this song. Pretty nice. The fuzzy guitar's cool.
The outro's just lovely.
I should point out that I find the vocals a bit wet.
#9 E. Knieval Interlude
An interlude. I like the distorted low sounds
#10 Miner at the Dial-A-View
This band has two-settings: chug and float
Hello!
This song seems familiar to me. Either they've referred to earlier on the album (it's a concept album right?) or the songs just all sound the same.
The HHHHHHAAAAAAAH vocals are quite nice.
#11 So You'll Aim Toward The Sky
HERE WE GO EPIC FINALE
A guitar chord that isn't a power chord! High five buddy!
Mellotron!
This song is pretty cool. Shades of Radiohead.
I think this song is the only one I've genuinely enjoyed rather than gone hey! it's not bad! The laid-back vocals really work for this track.
END
OK
Not a bad album. I used the word 'nice' fairly often because that's what it is. It was too dynamically flat to have much of an impact on me. Everyone involved sounded like they couldn't be arsed except the producer.
Musically quite standard but it's a great-sounding album. It might be a grower and I could feel harsh about this at a later date but I'm not entirely sure whether I can be bothered to give it another try.
Someone should do The Argument by Fugazi
genuinely reckon people will be pleasantly surprised by it
I will have a pop at this in the afternoon, but for now....
THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - PSYCHOCANDY
1. Just Like Honey
very recognisable drumbeat. already enjoying this, I know it's meant to be their classic song. gentle, brooding vocals, pleasant licks of guitar. feel like I'm drifting through something nice. the tempo has changed, this is all very good so far. Just like honeyyyy...sorry I'm not being articulate, it's early. ooh, its done
2. The Living End
more abrasive, a lot more. vocals sound more panicked. this fuzz is not anything new to me, maybe I'm losing the 'oh shit!' value the record that it had in the mid-80s? this ain't bad, but it's not anything too amazing. nice backwork and occasional bursts of guitar. done.
3. Taste The Floor
already liking this more. more sinister and focused to my ears. I keep leaning near my speakers to hear what's behind the distortion and noise. this sounds like a hook! I'm moving my head and body in a kind of slinky, ugly fashion. guitar prominent, now not so as the vocals return. I like the bassline a lot, and the piercing guitars aren't offputting. There is a tune cloaked there somewhere. not bad.
4. The Hardest Walk
this is more standard fare, quite like that the vocals are higher in the mix. Crystal Stilts have really ripped this wholesale on their most recent record. and I like that record, so this is really doing it for me. we've dropped back to a great bass line and now a DRUM KICK and more guitars. I can see the lineage of modern day bands very clearly with this. Great return to full song around 25sec from the end. cool ending also
5. Cut Dead
it's really hard to separate these songs from the bands that are so heavily influenced by them in the present. This is reminding me of everything and nothing at once. Back to the Just Like Honey glorious drifting, evidently heroin-addled sound. A druggy lullaby. I'm melting into this song, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
6. In A Hole
ouch. that shit woke up right back up. I'm kinda pissed off, I was really enjoying the direction Cut Dead was going in. this has lost my attention. In A Hole. This has picked up a bit, I can make out the (again) great bass sound and now the guitars are EVEN MORE PIERCING and the vocals ARE GETTING STRAINED AND A BIT PISSED OFF. maybe one of his mates has overdosed
7. Taste of Cindy
The pop sensibilities are in full force here, and the noise has been dialled down a bit, and even compliments the song really well without obscuring it. Shit, this is really good! Bass. Sturdy, unflashy, effective bass. Drum fill! Wow, this is making my heart soar. Best track on the album so far. Da fuck, done?!
8. Never Understand
The guitars are raping my ears but I like the tune that's underneath. Propulsive, urgent. But the guitars sound like fucking alien interference on my speakers and it's ruining it for me. Well, not entirely, I do still like this a lot. There are seemingly more gentle washes of guitar underneath the needling distrortion, and I like the sound of them very much. This is like a train speeding out of control, I'm waiting for it to all crash. No crash.
9. Inside Me
yeahhh, this is a good start. a mean riff. as in, it sounds menacing. I want to say on every track: bass skills! they hold it together really nicely. the vocals are all moody and low-slung. neat hook, good chorus(-ish). good.
10. Sowing Seeds
BUM-BUMBUM-TISH. This sounds like more my kind of thing. Very sweet vocals, and this time they're not overly clouded. A terrific 10s of guitar around the minute mark. Great use of echo and reverb. A much more conventional song structure, and I think it's all the better for it. One of the best tracks on this record so far. I really like this
11. My Little Underground
is this about the Velvets? everything seems to be moving at a different pace, to disorientating but pleasing effect. Washes of sound gliding, trudging, crawling towards me. I like the droney effects, it's making my chest feel all weird. Sheets of distortion I'm used to now. This is a headfuck. Was that an aborted solo? Cool track
12. You Trip Me Up
This sounds TOWERING. Really imposing and dark. Is the band angry at me? Solo! A recognisable solo, or a riff. I'm not sure. It's a good 'un whatever. I like the vocals on this one too. Someone's tripped someone up. Same old ending.
13. Something's Wrong
I really, REALLY recognise this melody. But this one came first I know that, ahh I'm so confused. Anyway, because it's so familiar it's great. And it is great. But I'm sure someone has completely ripped this. I've spent the whole track trying to figure out who it is that has made a song so, so similar, I've kind of forgotten to liveblog this one. But it's great. Da-nah-nah-nooooowwwwww guitar work is driving me to distraction
14. It's So Hard
we're up again for the last track. guitars have a bit more bite, slicing alongside the vocals which are considerably less dreamy than the last track. He's pissed off, sounding tortured, falling into an abyss of heroin and chaos. The bass just keeps repeating itself, like someone shaking their head while the lead singer goes mad. Oh fuck, end of the record.
okay then, so, Psychocandy
It's a tough one to call. So much of the music I listen to and love now, from No Age to The Horrors, My Bloody Valentine to Crystal Stilts, just tons and tons of stuff, is derivative in one way or another (or even many ways) of JAMC, there's no disguising it. Just as if you were a colossal Girls fan and then you got a 50s/60s compilation for Christmas, or if you were big on The Rapture then you heard Metal Box/Second Edition (as I did recently) and you were like 'hey wait a minute!' So, if this is - as I understand it - one of the very first records to properly construct and popularise this sound, then a straight 10/10 for innovation and influence.
However, utilisation of the sound is another thing. The other side of the thing is that the novelty of the brittle, harsh guitar work and the dreamy druggy sound that was clearly so fresh out the box and revelatory in 1985 to me now sounds just like a lot of bands. Do the songs stand up? Well, ome of the tracks on here are simply too piercing for me, they do nothing and just piss me off. Most of it, however, is well written, well delivered and well realised. Without the context though, it's hard to really mark this as a favourite.
However, it took me ages to love Loveless and a good while to become enchanted by Slanted and Enchanted. Some records take time, and this is evidently more than just 'a solid record' to so many; so I'm not ruling out that Psychocandy could wind up something I revisit again and again. 7.5/10
p.s. DELICIOUS BASSWORK
honestly, i think JAMC were a shit band
the noise they made was hugely influential, and you have to give them a lot of credit for that. but they have hardly any good songs and so many songs follow the same fuzzy formula, they never do anything good with a great idea.
hardly any good songs?
are you mental? psychocandy is full of killer choons.
noise and pop is always a great concoction and I think they did 10 time better than a lot of people who claim influence
*times
it is Just Like Honey x13
though innit
you Sir
are a boob
no chance
Psychocandy and Darklands are masterpieces.
Darklands is better.
OK, i'm doing LOVE: FOREVER CHANGES
Talking Heads - Remain in the Light
I probably heard this when i was 5 years old or something, I'm pretty sure my parents had this record (they def had stop making sense) but I can't remember
Born Under Punches
FUNK-PUNK
Crosseyed and Painless
sweet melody at the middle of this, new this anyway really but can totally see where LCD Soundsystem gets it from
The Great Curve
pretty cool, i have quite a knack for songs that go on much longer than they perhaps should, sweet rhythms
Once in a Lifetime
what else is there to say? really? It's an incredible song, a timeless classic, it has one of the wierdest yet euphoric production jobs ever, Byrne at his freak-out priestly best.
Houses in Motion
far more down key after Once in a lifetime.
Seen and Not seen
again, the 2nd half of this LP is clearly far more downtrodden. Not really feeling much, but there's lots of cool sounds going in and around
Listening Wind
a delicate ditty still incorporating all the funk-punk stuff but with lots of interesting guitar licks
The Overload
very dark, sounds like a joy Division tune, bit of a downer
overall
Didn't grab me instantly, but albums (particuarly 'classics') rarely do. Was this pointless? maybe.
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get In On
have to leave my trousers on for this one i'm afraid
1
i know this badboy obviously. Wah wah wah intro, woo, we're all sensitive people, giving yourself to me, can never be wrong etc.
Never really paid attention to the details on this before, the string section and backing vocals (Marvin multitracked?) are amazing.
Stone cold classic
2
drumming is fantastic on this, rest of the song is a bit less striking. Vocally it's not one of Marvin's best. Worth saying right now that the mix on this album is superb, the strings and wah guitar and backing vocals work beautifully together
3
love the swelling strings on this, a real heartbreaker. With the multitracking it seems to be a duet between 2 Marvins, which is a nice mental image. Vocal performance is stunning
4
revisitation of the Let's Get It On groove. The groove is classic obviously, but this is a bit unnecessary
5
the start of this is fantastic, bongo swing with aahing backing vocals and sax. This has a bit of a 60s classic soul vibe to it, nice
6
smooth as anything else on the record, with twinkling vibes and vocals of pure honey. The sax solo is a bit aimless, but yeah.. it's smooth
7
gettin nasty now, female moans and Marvin requesting you change your bodily position to allow greater access. Sax is filthy on this, but this strings keep the romance going. Sometimes it drops into this low slung bass groove, which takes it down and dirty again. Fantastic track
8
a dark note to end on, that beyond all the sexiness there's unhappiness in the relationship, all hidden by the fantastic bed action. Marvin's really going for this one, and the "it's too late" refrain is beautiful, but you kind of get the feeling that he's had his fun, then he's kicking you out of bed. A bit cheeky if you ask me, considering what just took place
CONCLUSIONS
at about half an hour you have to wonder, have i been able to satisfy my partner fully yet? He's already calling you a cab 25 minutes in. On the other hand some of the vocal performances are fantastic, the playing is exemplary, and the melodies and songwriting superbly natural and well crafted. The mix is also amazing, everything spaced around you perfectly and playing off one another. The best way to describe the way it sounds would be.. sensual. This has been done with such a smooth hand and such intuition, it's not difficult to work out why it's a sexy time staple. Classic
This is one of my favourite things to play on bass
It's not difficult, or funky, or an amazing tune, or anything like that, but you can just play it for hours.
good, I'm gonna have a go at this
I really always meant to as I'd loved what I have heard
although
is this considered more a classic of TNT? I thought that was the big cheese, anyone?
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
is one of the best albums of ever. TNT is just a very very good album. Wouldn't wanna be without the latter, but given a straight choice then Millions wins every time. In fact, a disc with just Djed and Along the Banks of Rivers on would win every time. <3 Tortoise.
You know that book 1001 albums you must hear before you die...
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/1001Albums.htm
Well there's a Romanian radio station that has them all to stream from here: www.radio3net.ro/1001/
In case anyone was looking for inspiration or somewhere to hear them.
ah yes
I've come across this before, cheers!
the bottom of that list is hilarious, KLAXONS :D
this was^
the 1000th post of the thread. *chuffed*
Did Tortoise
but didn't blog, it was pretty good.
Listend to Holes by Mercury Rev and really liked it, so now the album is on:
Deserter's Songs
Holes, dreamy, really lovely opener, very strong start
Tonight it Shows
bit stranger, not the sort of stuff I'd normally go for on this track, but still something quite likeable.
Endlessly
gives image of pastoral landscapes and curious characters, bit like later Beatles stuff.
the production really is quite something mind.
I collect coins
an interlude, simple piano loop, fits with the theme of the record so far
Opus 40
a very pretty and calming love song
Hudson Line
odd song, not completely out of line but certainly a change of pace; saxophones? wicked guitar solos? complimented with folk/roots drums and double bass? Strange. Good though, different vocalist too right? Nice lyrics.
The Happy End (The Drunk Room)
appropriate title, very jarring loop, on another album would become perhaps a psychidelic track
Goddess on a hiway
big single, obvious to see why, big pay off with the chorus, classic rock sort of feel, nice.
The Funny Bird
very dark, probably the strongest song yet musically, lots of cool twists and turns, dynamics and such. Generally enjoying so far.
Pick up if you're there
another instrumental, a rather chilling one at that
Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp
the most 90's track on this, bit weak, is this actually the last track or is it a bonus?
strange sample at the end.
overall
pretty cool aye, production is excellent, lots of lucious sounds and that, feel it may well grow if I remember to let it
the rolling stones - sticky fingers
a warning: i've never liked the rolling stones much. i don't hate them, but everything i heard growing up left me very indifferent. i tried listening to exile when i was about 17 but was left was so much "meh" feeling i turned it off. but i will approach with this with an open mind, as always.
1. brown sugar
when i imagine what the rolling stones sound like in my head, this is what i hear. a boogie woogie rhythm, mick jagger being mick jagger. bit of sax. okay...
2. sway
slower...but the same. i can feel the energy, but it's not affecting me much.
3. wild horses
i like this quite a bit more. the problem is, i don't really like jagger's voice. i find it kind of ridiculous, which may or may not be because i grew up watching stella street. i can very vaguely see me listening to this again at some point.
4. can't you hear me knocking
gospel ish. organ. piano. getting faster. it's a rolling stones song. i'm struggling.
Love that song
5. you gotta move
sparse, bluesy. here's the thing, all their songs sound like a group of friends having fun together, and i can kind of see the appeal in that, but it doesn't really ROCK like it's supposed to. there's got to be some edge, and i'm not feeling that.
as soon as they start to get heavy i wish i was listening to the stooges, melting my face off
6. bitch
alright, woo! ohh yeah, well alright! you know what if this was turned up to 11 and i was at a bar and i had a drink in one hand and a smoke in the other, i think it might sound pretty badass. but only then.
7. i got the blues
another slower number. i feel less exasperated when they slow it down, but then realise i'm still just as bored. overall reaction: this would be great if somebody else sang it.
8. sister morphine
i'm bored.
9. dead flowers
bit country. i'm seriously so bored, i don't even think it's awful, it's just....nothing to me.
10. moonlight mile
this is probably the biggest curveball they've thrown on this album, it's still basically the same thing but it's mixing up theatrical strings in it. i think this is probably the best song on the album, but i won't be listening to it again.
If you ever watch The Sopranos
then you'll be listening to this one again. Great song!
i've seen the sopranos twice over
so i guess i've heard it and not realised.
It was in the last episode of the first part of series 6.
Either the final or opening song of the episode, and they played a lot of it over a montage. I thought they used it really effectively, but I guess they used most songs incredibly well.
I agree re. Sticky Fingers by the way, it's never really struck me as a great album, except for Moonlight Mile. Have you heard 'Exile On Main Street'? It's much better, although by the sounds of it The Stones just aren't for you.
final impression
what do people see in this? it sounds like extremely dated rock n roll, mick's voice is so over the top and nasal, there's no power to it. the songs aren't really very memorable. there's just so many better rock n roll bands from this era, i do not get it at all. sorry.
Oh wow
Just ... could not disagree more. The Stones *are* rock music to me, no one comes close. They've got the huge riffs, emotional ballads and pretty damn good lyrics.
Oh, and Moonlight Mile is one of the prettiest songs I know of
Trout Mask Replica
Someone's got to do it. Everyone's reaction to the first time is always different, yet golden.
It's got to be a record for 1000, hasn't it?
Thinking of doing something now, not sure what though..
I still havent really even done one yet,
and I have a ton I want to do. Just haven't really had 45-60 consecutive minutes to dedicate.
Doing hissing fauna you are destroyer
track one sufer for fashion Misleading intro into a discoey song love the bassline and kevins singing seems a fairly simple song abit scissor sisters esque but better
2 sink the seine
sounds like a more chilled out fucked up beatles digging the album so very john lennon esque vocals a nice beat as just came in
3 Cato as a pun
still sounding like the beatles abit too slow and dull atm but still not that bad of a song very nice elctronics just came in pretty okay lyrics its got abit better the last 20 seconds or so
4 heimdalgate like a promethan curse
Not bad sounds very sparks esque might be the best track since the opener and maybe abit animal colletive sounding too in places
5 gronlandic edit
funky bassline sounds like more prince than prince yeah digging that bassline good foot tapper
6 a sentence of sorts
Quite similar to the other tracks but nice used of double trackking with thr vocals not a bad album so far seems like 6 songs not a album
7 the past is a grotesque animal
very busy song sounds abit floydish and other which i cant put my finger onto right now only 80 seconds into it great guitar sound and vocals are the best on the album so far definetly bast track so far
8 bunny aint no kind of rider
the disco as come been missing for a few tracks nice awesome handclaps very good and slighty dodgy lyrics but yeah it is Kevin he sound abit like ray davies on this song second best track so far very nice popsong
9 faberage falls for shuggie
sounds like a brass section gone wrong nice fairly laidback song almost elvator music vocals are abit grating though
10 labarinthian pomp
this albums starting to bug me now its good but abit too samey nice track though good bass again ans yet again weirdly kinks esque
11 She's a rejecter
good track this best for a while but really like the last minute of track ten good lyrics songs abit all over the place guitar sounds like franz ferdinand and sounds like mgmt listend to this alot
12 We were born mutans again
fairly laidback closer was expecting a abit more to be honest but it fits and more sounds like a outro then anything else
Final verdict
not bad better in some places then others pretty overated though best track was definetly the past is a groestqusqe animal 6.5/10
Album is amazing when you grasp the concept
jarring on first listen, Past Is A Grotesque Animal IS the best song mind.
this album is a drop dead 10/10 for me.
incredible.
Kraftwerk-Trans Europe Express (remastered)
Never heard more than 1 or 2 tracks from them, always wanted to check them out further.
1. Europe Endless
This is very bouncy, very upbeat. Must've sounded crazy in the 70's. Still sounds very fresh. Synths coming in. Sounds like the music for a trippy CBBC show. Teletubbies on acid.
Hmm, didn't like that beat coming in. Authoratative, robotic vocals come in to save the day. Bit Eno-ish vocal wise.
Very pleasant, wholesome, skipping along the mountainside synths come in for the outro.
Oh fuck it's 9 mins 40 seconds long. This isn't the outro!
2. The Hall of Mirrors
Weird videogame bleeps rising up. Pacman's having a meltdown. Ominous synths. Even more ominous synths! Slightly noirish. Lyrics about reflection. Slightly comedic German vocals.
With repetition the lyrics are actually quite potent...all about looking into the mirror/fame not being a shield....I think.
Reminding me of that Smog song about Prince holed up alone in his studio.
3. Showroom Dummies
This one sounds slightly naff. Talk about 'exposing themselves'. They are 'showroom dummies'. Well that's no excuse. Keep your clothes on you filthy Germans.
Has those weird vocal synths. Sounds a bit more outdated.
I know this is a wanky thing to say
But it is much funnier in German.
The German word for Showroom Dummies is 'Schauffensterpuppen' which is intrinsically funny.
4. Trans Europe Express
Heard this one. It's awesome. Shuffling beat, and those rising synths, makes it sound like a really hip TV news theme. Can just imagine Trevor McDonald rocking out to this.
TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS.
Can definitely see where New Order got the Blue Monday beat from.
Someone do the Argument!
5. Metal on metal
This segues in from the last track. Those sneaky Germans! *shakes fist*
Really does sound like metal on metal.
6. Abzug
OK, they've done it again! This time the bleeps and synths lead the way into this track. They're on a roll. They're storming.
This is really cool. You don't get many albums nowadays which have this kind of momentum. If I was on public transport I would have to stop myself from looking like a bobbing idiot.
On the spotify album this is the name given,
although 4, 5 and 6 are all basically the same track.
7. Franz Schubert
Now they've calmed down. This is very serene. Just perky bleeps and melancholic backing synths.
8. Endless Endless
This is a nice comedown. 'Endless' refrain, built on from the last track.
DAMN YOU, I WAS GOING TO GO TO SLEEP
Fugazi - The Argument
1: Intro / 2: Cashout
Odd bleepy noises. Well, it's an introduction so what can you expect. Strings, and muffled radio chatter.
CASHOUT: quite relaxed beginning, sounds a bit like latter-day RHCP. I don't know if I'm qualified to ANALYSE this kind of music, it just sounds a bit Dani California-ish. BUT THEN THE SHOUTY BIT. I'll try to not use too much caps. The song's calming down now, descending bassline.
I like this so far.
thought I do actually know what you mean
RHCP probably couldn't be any more different from Fugazi, amazing comparison. The fact that you settled on 'liking it' after stating that summary as well :D
this thread has made people say some odd stuff, tbf.
totally
and I'm not disagreeing its just an amazingly obtuse comparison :D
3: Full Disclosure
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUNNNARUNNRUNNAURNURUN
:-D
This is more like what'stheirname, McLusky/FotL. This can only be a good thing, right? The one-note discordant guitars, the slightly indistinct but definitely narked vocals.
PEOPLE THAT REQUESTED THIS: This isn't a concept album, is it?
it was just me, twice
and no, not as far as I'm aware, not really Fugazi's 'thing' but it does flow and come together with a little bit of a narrative sound
p.s
Full Disclosure is just, the greatest :D
I'm really liking the songs after it, as well.
Who does what in Fugazi? Am trying to not look at wikipedia/reviews while I do this, but I know Ian Mackaye and Guy Pidgeotto(howeveryouspellit) are in the band, but not sure what instruments...
they're both guitarists and vocalists
who in rather classic writing style, alternate songs between them in songwriting and vocals.
Otherwise Brendan Canty on drums (he's a beast) who was in Rites of Spring/One Last Wish with Guy Piccoloto, and Joe Lally who is a solo artist now
4: Epic Problem
Like the drum breakdown. I'm not really sure what to compare this to, I always assumed Fugazi album's would have really rattly production, but this is really well produced.
5: Life and Limb
Almost Radiohead-ish in the tingly guitar-parts, and then there's the bass/drum/vocals bits. All in all, kindan disconcerting.
WTF IS THIS I CAN'T EVEN MOSH TO THIS SHIT!
Hand-claps? GOD, Fugazi. I thought you were angrier than this tuneful, well-thought-out record. Weirdly, it feels like this song could be a bit shorter. It's a few good ideas, and would be great if it were a bit clipped.
hahaha Life and Limb is the shortest song on the record
good luck ;)
"GOD, Fugazi. I thought you were angrier than this tuneful, well-thought-out record. "
this is exactly what I'd hoped/thought when I suggested it!
oh, I know it's a short song.
Possibly to do with the fact that I was just listening to the first Brakes album earlier, and half the songs on that are less than 2 minutes, so they're all pretty much THIS IS THE VERSE / THIS IS THE CHORUS / SOLO / MAYBE AN EXTRA CHORUS IF YOU'RE LUCKY / DONE
6: The Kill
More of the slightly unsettling bass/guitars, although maybe I'm just able to pick the parts more easily due to listening on better headphones..
Can never work out the vocals on first listen, always end up just taking in the music without really paying attention to the lyrics.
This isn't AS odd as Life And Limb, but I like the way it fades away with the ventilator sound...
just you wait...
also, don't worry about the lyrics just yet apart from a couple moments they will pass you by, but that's OK, just take in the composition.
7: Strangelight
This album is reminding me of Songs for the deaf QOTSA more than anything else right now. This song especially would fit in ridiculously well, it's sorta like I'm Gonna Lose You or something.
Doomy outro, though: overdrive, cellos, and that neat little riff. THESE GUYS MEAN BUSINESS. Kinda reminds me of the "oompa-loompa stick it up your joompah" bit of I Am The Walrus.
8: Oh
A tribute to Ohio? I DOUBT IT. He's changing all the loooooowcks! He's pissing on your modem? He's shredding all the stalks!
Did not expect this album to remind me of The Bends. This one has HIT SINGLE written all over it, expect for the vocals being a bit abrasive, and him pissing on your motor or whatever.
But it's just really solid, good schtuff. This one's obviously about the vocals, like.
I think it's the bit just before the chorus "...hide away" [RADIOHEAD GUITAR]
Or maybe there's a bit of ATD-I. I wish I was more familiar with the musical reference points. I hate it when people just say "oh Dirty Projectors? They're kinda like Talking Heads with BJORK doing vocals. But you've probably not heard of her."
Or when people compare Doves to Elbow. Pisses me right off. SHREDDING GUITAR. Possibly lacking a bit of focus.
YOU GUYS WILL NEVER BE AS BIG AS NICKELBACK UNLESS YOU MAKE IT RADIO-FRIENDLY, GUYS! Honestly, they're going about being in a band all wrong.
9: Ex-Spectator
It must be odd being Fugazi, on the one hand you're guaranteed a certain sized audience, but then who wants to hear some old hardcore band's new stuff?
Actually, I'm sure loads of people do.
Anyway, this one has the usual elements. PLUS SOME VIOLIN! POSSIBLY!
The only problem with this album (and it's not a big one), is the slight lack in variation. like I was saying earlier, a couple of the songs go on when they could STOP - this sorta reminds me of Husker Du but MINUS Husker Du's ability to just GET TO THE POINT. And at other times, it's a bit like ATD-I MINUS their ability to throw in some completely unexpected piece of sideways movement.
Even on this one, where you have the didder-dinh-didder-dinh-dinh-dinh bit, it still feels like only a slight variation.
I like it, but it feels like something I've already listened to earlier on.
I think that's mostly actually you're first time listening
Once you hear it in full and then start re-listening you'll start seeing where the variation comes from (though subtle)
You also do have to consider what you pointed out, this is quite a departure, for such a widely respected hardcore band (though they did lots of interesting things with their music over their career) this is so widely different from what they did before.
Also, this is probably the only weaker track for me, though I love the drums in it (they play this with TWO kits live)
yeah, I figured as much (on the variation within the album)
I'm still struggling to work out who they would've been compared to had this been a debut album..
yeah totally
They'd be thought of as a completely different band if this was their debut. I'm not entirely sure either, because its a really incredible pop/rock record written by a hardcore punk band, and I'm pretty sure its still the only example of this really.
Even Fucked Up for all their corss-over appeal are still very much a punk band, that's mostly down to the tempo and the vocals though. Husker Du is another example as you said somewhere but they have similar issues as Fucked Up. This record really accents what an amazing voice Piccoloto has, with this being at its most confident and successful.
Maybe 'The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me', but Brand New were always fully aware of being a pop band as much as a punk band.
Oh, The Monitor by Titus Andronicus last year
is also a good example, doesn't have as much variation though
10: Nightshop
See, THIS one has that ATD-I where'd-that-come-from switch, and is a little bit Trailofdeadish. Oh, I don't know who to compare this to.
KEYBOARD/DUNUNUNUNUNGUITAR ==> vocals about patience is pretty great. Reminds me of good bits of The Young Knives.
I DO NOT HAVE THE REFERENCE POINTS FOR THIS BAND. This is quite fun, actually.
11: Argument
So Nightshop was a pretty great diversion.
LAST SONG! distorted radio voices / Halting bassline. Then a start to the song that wouldn't sound out of place on a Steve Malkmus song. Would really like to know what Mackaye/Picciotto were listening to at the time. OH HERE COME THE KEIDIS VOCALS AGAIN. A slowed down Keidis, but Antony Keidis-ish nonetheless. maybe it's just an American vocalist thing. ANYWAY.
Possibly the MOST Pavement song you could ever imagine Fugazi would do. The backing lets the vocals stand out, and it's an instantly great song, this. Grandaddy-ish bit now, followed by the chorus, HRITCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMES. This is a great way to end the song/album, all things told.
SUMMARY: Take out a couple of songs, and this would be a definite 9/10 sorta thing. Possibly the lack of conciseness would stop being an issue once you get to KNOW the album, but with the slightly monotone sound to a few songs, it does stretch for a bit.
So I agree with Pitchfork basically: 8.5
good read
It will grow with repeated listens, but you pretty much nailed the instant things about it.
I think they were undoubtedly listening to The Beatles while making this, but otherwise I'm really not sure. To be honest I think Fugazi are a completely fascinating and totally original band who outdid themselves with every album, with this obviously being the culmination of that. Yeah, they're a punk rock/hardcore band at heart but honestly even their first record is pretty wierd, they're just 4 incredible musicians all equally creating some amazing music.
But wait, are you saying Ian McKaye sounds like Anthony Keidis? dunno if I can forgive that ;)
Impressions
Can see why it's labelled a classic. Still sounds fresh and innovative listening to it today, a sense of fun, fairly varied (I kinda thought that much of their music would be too samey, but I was wrong).
Remember to reply to your initial post
where you name the album you will be listening to.
So this thread has really taken off. I'm going to finally do Daydream Nation in a bit.
STAY TUNED.
1. Teen Age Riot
This is nice and melodic, much moreso than expected. I've listened to Goo before and enjoyed the noisiness but I remember feeling some of it was too annoyingly 'gen X'. For some reason I had it in my head that Daydream Nation was much duller but I really like this. Long intro aside it really doesn't feel like it's nearly 7 minutes long. I'm quite disappointed that it's about to end.
2. Silver Rocket
Yeah this is really good too. I like the production values on this album so far. Nice and raw. And so far it's not annoying in any way.
3. The Sprawl
A Kim Gordon vocal one then. She sounds quite good here. I remember her voice ruining Kool Thing ever so slightly. Just a little bit. I like the guitars on this album a lot. This goes on a bit too long though. Outro gets boring.
4. 'Cross The Breeze
The guitars are starting to hurt my ears a little bit actually. Gordon doesn't sound quite as good on this but then not awful either. I still like the guitars even if the feedback is getting to me slightly.
wow fading at track 4
HANG IN THERE BUD
5. Eric's Trip
This is good, the vocals are great. Wiki says this one is sung by Lee Ranaldo. I'm looking forward to hearing his other contributions. Some nice guitar noise going on in the background here too.
6. Total Trash
I quite like the riff. Good vocals again. I feel like I'm running out of things to say other than "yeah I like this, nice guitar noise". I'm quite bad at this, it seems. But yeah I LIKE THIS, NICE GUITAR NOISE, AGAIN. The long instrumental bits are much better here because the noise is based around a good riff rather than just being seemingly random.
7. Hey Joni
Ranaldo again then? Lovely. Another stand out. I can see myself returning to his contributions the most.
8. Providence
I've been replying in the wrong place, haven't I? I'm supposed to respond to my original post each time. How embarrassing. I'll do it properly next time.
Not much to this track then, bit of an interlude it seems. But quite mood setting. Works well.
best track coming....
9. Candle
Promising start. Nice drum sound. Yeah another melodic one. I like this too. I'm starting to find the album a bit samey but still rather enjoyable. This feels like another standout.
10. Rain King
Welcome back Lee. On one hand I think this might be my favourite so far, but...on the other hand I can't really remember any of the other tracks now. Anyway this is good.
12. Trilogy: a) The Wonder
Again I like the vocal melody of this. Yeah it's good.
Oh fuck I've messed the system up.
11. Kissability
I'll keep these last few in a straight line.
Yeah this is good. A nice short 'rocker' with some good vocals from Gordon. Might manage to remember this one, maybe.
12. Trilogy: a) The Wonder
http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4303644#r6282915
13. Trilogy: b) Hyperstation
Ok I think this is definitely my favourite so far. I'll be listening to this again. It's really good yeah. Feels nice and TENSE coming towards the end of the album.
14. Trilogy: c) Eliminator Jr.
This is alright. Works as an album closer I suppose but I think Hyperstation would have worked better. This would have fit well enough before parts a and b. It's quite good and all, but after the last tracks it feels a little bit, well, unnecessary.
CONCLUSIONS:
This feels very much like an album that's all about the overall sound much more than the individual tracks. Which is all well and good but it means the individial tracks can be a bit forgettable. I enjoyed the album but I can't really see myself sitting through the whole thing again, but there are a handful of tracks that I'm pretty sure I'll return to, while the rest will vanish into the mists of distant memory. To be honest they already have.
It feels a lot like the type of album I should really like but I can't really forge that much of a relationship with it. However I did tquite enjoy it. It would probably make for some very pleasing background noise while carrying out another task. Nice and visceral without really grabbing me to the point of distraction.
sonic youths best song
it's one of those record i don't really imagine i particularly like atm or particularly want to put on but when i do i find it's charm pretty hard to withold. really a great record
suggestion:
the mountain goats - all hail west texas
or tallahasse
Super Furry Animals - Radiator
Some suggested this earlier in the thread and I've never really listened to this band before. Loads of my friends love them and tell me to listen. So here goes...
1. Furryvision
There's a Grandaddy, Eels kind of piano/keys sound with a violin and some other stuff - I like this before the vocal has even entered. Oh no vocal. I guess that was the intro. It was nice.
2. The Placid Casual
Interesting guitar line and background sounds. Kind of psychedelic poppy rock'n'roll. The vocals have entered. Not too sure what they remind me of and I can't really work out what he's saying? Obviously this came much before, but it reminds me a bit of Tame Impala. I like the jagged solo at the end.
3. The International Language of Screaming
Oh hello Britpop. This sounds just like a Graham Coxon solo record - again, this obviously came before GC's solo work. But yeah very 90s. I like the "la la las" and the "Whoooos". Simple pop music. Oh there's a scream and strange distorted noise.
4. Demons
Not as sure about this one, bit Manics-y for me. Were they a britpop band? I thought this would all be a bit more psychedelic? I guess all these songs are pretty fucking catchy though after a few listens. I like the keys/organ sound in this too. Hey there's some brass in the background, I like that too. I've changed my mind from my opening sentence - I like it a lot. I'm findning it hard to hear what he's saying though. Not sure if it's the production or my shitty laptop speakers. Or is he singing in Welsh? - oh no it's definitely English.
5. Short Painkiller (not a real track, nice though)
6. She's Got Spies - Classic rock guitars and bass arrangement at the beginning. Then it kicks in with an unexpected punkier, trebley (though this could be the speakers) pre-chorus and chorus. This is very Blur and Coxon again. I like it though, especially the quieter bits of the song, really like them. The chorus reminds me of Ash a bit. Near the end now. This is brilliant. I love the Beatles-esque "bah bah bah" and backwards recordings. Back in the chrous again. The "woooOOOooOO" is a like the Beach Boys I guess. Good stuff.
7. Play It Cool
This almost reminds me of a more experimental Stone Roses at times. Until the chorus. Man these guys now how to write catchy choruses, right? I know that if I had this album on repeat for a few listens, I would be singing along in no time - if I could work about what they were saying. There's a pretty horrible guitar sound now, it might even be a CD deck being scratched. Sounds really dated that bit, which is a first for the album that's been fresh and exciting so far.
8. Hermann Loves Pauline
Intro is nice, sounds like a fly buzzing around. The almost spoken word delivery of the opening verse is very Jarvis Cocker. Then yet another perfect Brit pop chorus. They lovs their melodies these guys. Fantastic stuff. I think this song has truly won me around. It's so Pulp, Supergrass, Blur - but a bit more eccentric and odd. I adore it.
9. Chubacabras
Classic rock/punkier vibe - with their now trademark "woooOOOoooOO". Probably the least exciting song so far. Almost thrown together and joke sounding. I'd happily skip this. Oh it's finished.
*AlphaCabras
*ChubraDeluxe
10. Torra Fy Ngwallt Yn Hir
This is nice and very short again. Once again a great chorus. I've said it before, but they can write some fantastic vocal melodies. Is that the appeal of this band then? I get them now. Too short that one. I wanted more.
11. Bass Tuned to D.E.A.D
This is a bit more ballad-like. But not really. I love his voice, thick Welsh accent. It shines threw much more in this quieter song and I wish it had been higher up in the mix throughout, but this could just be a Spotify and laptop problem more than anything.
Gonna finish tomorrow
Had to leave the computer.
through not threw. Silly me.
I'm actually listening to Spiritualized
Ladies and Gentlemen right now, but I can't be arsed to blog it because I don't have enough to say and I'm trying to read for my dissertation, will give a summary though
p.s its quite good so far
like a less mental Primal Scream
Someone did it upthread already,
add your thoughts there.
The Beatles - Revolver
2009 mono remaster.
I have never heard this and looking at the track-list the only track I know for sure is Yellow Submarine, which I haven't heard in ages, but remember kind of hating when I was a kid? We'll see. Eleanor Rigby I may have heard but wont know until I get to it.
Starting this up in 10 minutes.
Going w the mono cos I HATE hard panning.
I'll take a little loss of clarity for the sake of personal listen-ability. Stereo version would probably sound good on a proper system, but hard for me to listen to in cans.
I love Revolver
apart from 2 shit songs. Fucking McCartney.
Eleanor Rigby's like the only good Beatles song
You must have heard it.
7. SHE SAID SHE SAID
This is more like what I want.
Nice (seemingly) simple bass. Good tone. I like how everything with these guys is a hook, there's like 8 hooks on this.
Great harmonies on the outro.
1. TAXMAN
Right to it then. Nice groove.
YA, NICE MACHINE GUN FILL RINGO
MOAAAAAAR COWBELLLL
Oh hell this is gonna be good isn't it? That first guitar break is killer, that tone, MEAT. So many hooks, so many melodies.
As of now, this is my favorite Beatles song OF ALL TIME.
Too short.
Proof that Harrison is totes the best.
The bassline on this song
is hard to notice in the mono version, but boy is it good.
Much like OK Computer, this is one of those albums that I listened to because it had been hyped so much, and from track #1 I could kinda see why.
The bass was the first thing I noticed
but didn't comment on for some reason, well actually for me "nice groove" generally translates to nice bass.
2. ELEANOR RIGBY
Def recognize this. Swelly strings and such, building some melodies, this is going to go somewhere right?
It didn't.
:/
3. I'M ONLY SLEEPING
Strummy.
Nice little backwards (?) guitar tone creeping in there, just a tease tho. I do like the little bass run into the hook though.
Pleasant enough, kinda forgettable.
One of my favourites.
<3
4. LOVE YOU TO
Interesting intro, weirdly tense. Hopefully this opens up.
Hmmmm...
Felt like they went for a unique sound rather than actually making a good tune.
WANTING SOMETHING LIKE THE OPENER SOON PLEASE.
5. HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
Really nice harmonies, summery breezy track, fairly boring.
Really hoping this picks up soon.
6. YELLOW SUBMARINE
Yeah, ok, yeah.
Def a good campfire song. I think I like it. Dudes were on massive amounts of drugs, no?
That little lazy trumpet run was the best part.
8. GOOD DAY SUNSHINE
Starting with the hook, JUST GOOD POP.
Was getting kinda bored but that piano peaked my interest. NOW I JUST NOTICED THE PIANO HAS BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME, creeping under the mix there.
I could sing along to this.
This is one of the 2 that I hate.
9. AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING
Great groove again, bass-line holding this down. Last 30 seconds was awesome.
These songs are too short to gather any real thought!
possibly my favourite Beatles song. Sometimes, anyway.
Just the way it's just perfectly formed, so that everything's there, and ridiculously concise about it too.