Discuss the Musics Thread [Archive] - Page 5

Russ

05-12-2009, 10:35 PM

Brian Eno is just so gosh darn quotable:

"There used to be two distinct cultural jobs. One of was them was called artist, and the other was called curator, and they used to be separate. But in the last 20 years or so they've completely merged and they now overlap completely. . . Artists like [Howie B and Spooky] are curating artists of a certain kind. It's a new kind of job that has become possible, technically, in last few years, but in fact existed conceptually for quite a long time before. There are people like Cage who were working with the idea that you could reshuffle other existing pieces of culture. But painters have been doing it for a long time. Music has caught up with what painting has been doing."

Lots of great stuff to check out in this link (http://music.hyperreal.org/artists/brian_eno/interviews/wire96b.html), Daniel.

D_Davis

05-12-2009, 10:42 PM

Howie B - now there's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time.

Russ

05-12-2009, 10:51 PM

Yeah, the article was from '96...

D_Davis

05-12-2009, 10:58 PM

Yeah, the article was from '96...

Oh!

:)

Looks good though. I'll definitely read it later.

I remember when Howie B was supposed to be the next big thing in music production. He put out a couple of decent solo albums, and did some good production, but I totally lost track of him.

Ezee E

05-14-2009, 03:48 PM

I hate to say it, because all her songs before annoyed me, but these recent Britney Spears songs I keep hearing are strangely addictive. Pretty amazing production.

There, I said it.

Runs.

Fuck.

MadMan

05-15-2009, 10:54 PM

Flight of the Concords' self titled CD doesn't contain some other awesome tracks that should be on there (namely their hilarious song mocking the LOTRs). But its still really good regardless, and has some quality gems.

I've already heard some songs from Interpol before, but actually their 2007 release, Our Love to Admire, was fairly rock solid. I'd like to get my hands on their other previous releases, and I dig them a lot.

Glad I didn't buy Employment, as its merely decent/solid at best. There's some good songs on there, but I'm curious if the Kaiser Chiefs' other CD is much better.

Haven't finished At War With the Mystics yet, but I'm halfway through and its psychedelic sweetness. The Flaming Lips could end up being a new favorite band just yet.

Latest Library Rentals:

*Meet the Eels-Essential Eels-Decided to check this out before I start to dive into their albums.
*The Compact King Crimson, King Crimson-Love In the Hall of the Crimson King to death. Never heard the other songs before, though.
*Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!, Godspeed You! Black Emperor-Whoa. Completely blew me away after listening to all of it last night. Not sure what the hell much of it means, or if there's a method to the madness, but I was surprised that I enjoyed an instrumental disc so much.

D_Davis

05-15-2009, 11:03 PM

*The Compact King Crimson, King Crimson-Love In the Hall of the Crimson King to death. Never heard the other songs before, though.

I highly recommend Discipline and Three of a Perfect Pair - two awesome albums.

MadMan

05-16-2009, 04:18 AM

I highly recommend Discipline and Three of a Perfect Pair - two awesome albums.These will be added to my lengthy albums list. Thanks man.

D_Davis

05-16-2009, 03:58 PM

These will be added to my lengthy albums list. Thanks man.

I've got roughly 30 KC albums, and those two are the ones I am constantly returning to.

EvilShoe

05-17-2009, 03:04 AM

Fantastic news! New Broken Social Scene album on the way:
http://pitchfork.com/news/35350-broken-social-scene-recording-new-lp/

You Forgot it in People is a personal fav.

number8

05-17-2009, 09:21 AM

So you guys know Zack Kim? He's another YouTube celeb who's known for playing two guitars at the same time, really well. This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PMQ8eQgZr4) is a rather great rendition of Cinema Paradiso's score.

He has a couple of original compositions, too, and they ain't half bad.

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFqTd-CEjHM&feature=channel) Simpsons cover is probably the most impressive-sounding.

D_Davis

05-19-2009, 03:13 PM

The Field's new one is great. In many ways, it reminds me of mid-period New Order, especially the track "Leave It." I can almost imagine Bernard Sumner singing on this.

D_Davis

05-20-2009, 07:35 PM

Acapelli

05-21-2009, 03:48 AM

hey davis, wanna describe to me what sidechain compression does in layman's terms? i've read that its used on the new phoenix album and i remember you mentioning it on the last page

Derek

05-21-2009, 04:27 AM

Not sure how I feel about The Field's new one, now, after a few listens. While it's more ambitious than From Here We Go Sublime, it also lacks that album's directness. Sublime has a driving, propelling quality to it. The album begins and pushes you along; while listening to it I feel as though I am in a rushing river, totally at the mercy of the current. The new one is more meandering; it doesn't take me anywhere, and I am having a hard time paying attention to it. A couple of the tracks are great, but while listening to it I can't help but long for Sublime.

I hear you as it's a completely different beast than Sublime. This one is looser and more sprawling, but while it lacks the tightness of the last album, it's more adventurous and a bit more open to letting songs head in different directions. I love both, but for different reasons.

However, what is great is Bark Psychosis' Hex - wow. What a find! Thanks Derek. Who are these guys, and where do they get off by only releasing one studio album and a handful of EPs? What's their story? It's a damn crying shame that a band this talented isn't putting out albums on a regular basis. Is this their doing, or were they victims of the soulless industry? I need to know more.

Amazing, isn't it? One of my favorite post-rock albums. You should check out Codename: Dustsucker which is also great, even if it's a step down. I need to get around to their EPs as I've read they have some gems there as well.

As for the band's background:

At the peak of their powers, Bark Psychosis entered the studio in November 1992 to begin work on Hex, their long-awaited full-length debut. In sum, the LP took over a year to complete, forcing the group to the brink of emotional and financial collapse. Upon the record's completion, a tour was planned in support of the single "A Street Scene," but then Ling exited.

Even as Hex appeared to massive critical acclaim -- Reynolds' review of the album marked the first mention of the post-rock label, a tag later attached to similarly uncategorizable bands like Tortoise -- Bark Psychosis was essentially dissolved, although one final single, the techno-inspired "Blue," was issued by the end of 1994. The group officially disbanded in 1997; two posthumous retrospectives, 1994's Independency and 1997's Game Over, summed up their EPs and singles. In the wake of Bark Psychosis' demise, Sutton and Gish plunged fully into the realm of drum'n'bass, recording under the name Boymerang. By the time Regal issued 1997's Balance of the Force, Boymerang was a solo outlet for Sutton. In 1999, Sutton began working on another Bark Psychosis album, with extensive help from former Talk Talk drummer and Boymerang contributor Lee Harris. That album, entitled Codename: Dustsucker, was set for release through Fire in March of 2004.

D_Davis

05-21-2009, 04:46 AM

hey davis, wanna describe to me what sidechain compression does in layman's terms? i've read that its used on the new phoenix album and i remember you mentioning it on the last page

Here is a link I posted in B's mix thread:

How to sound like The Field (aka, a video guide to sidechain compression):

http://www.vimeo.com/3084166

(of course, you'll still need the insane amounts of creativity and know the minimalist aesthetic like the back of your hand...but it's a start.)

It's a short video and gives you the basic idea.

It's basically using the punch of the kick drum to compress the sound of a lead part - usually a keyboard pad - so that the pad pulses in rhythm with the kick. The punch of the kick cuts off the pad. Daft Punk, Justice, and The Field use it extensively. It's basically the sound of French house.

Milky Joe

05-21-2009, 05:05 AM

http://opticalatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cs-sm300.jpg

new Circulatory System leaked. fuck. yes.

Acapelli

05-21-2009, 05:51 AM

Here is a link I posted in B's mix thread
ha, i knew you had posted something like that, but i was looking in the discuss the musics thread

bac0n

05-21-2009, 01:55 PM

Here is a link I posted in B's mix thread:

It's a short video and gives you the basic idea.

It's basically using the punch of the kick drum to compress the sound of a lead part - usually a keyboard pad - so that the pad pulses in rhythm with the kick. The punch of the kick cuts off the pad. Daft Punk, Justice, and The Field use it extensively. It's basically the sound of French house.

It also was the effect du jour in prog trance for awhile, probably still is. I am a fan of sidechain compression, but I will typically drop out the kick-drum when I do so, so as to make the pulsing effect stand out more.

Or rather, that's what I was doing when I was making music, which I haven't done any of for over half a year now. :(

D_Davis

05-21-2009, 01:58 PM

Or rather, that's what I was doing when I was making music, which I haven't done any of for over half a year now. :(

That's alright B - I took about a 3 year break not too long ago.

You'll be drawn back in.

bac0n

05-21-2009, 02:50 PM

That's alright B - I took about a 3 year break not too long ago.

You'll be drawn back in.

I hope to, but I have a much more important project I'm working on at the moment - my two girls :)

D_Davis

05-21-2009, 02:53 PM

I hope to, but I have a much more important project I'm working on at the moment - my two girls :)

Just wait until they're old enough to join in the fun.

bac0n

05-21-2009, 04:11 PM

Just wait until they're old enough to join in the fun.

I've been sampling them since about the day they were born, so in a way, they already are :cool:

Sven

05-24-2009, 01:45 PM

Whoa, check it out! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX5ClCdZMko)

Thirdmango

05-24-2009, 10:43 PM

I went on a mini-road trip yesterday in part to listen to music I had never listened to before. The ones that I really liked were "Afro Elements" and "The Biddu Orchestra".

number8

05-25-2009, 01:26 AM

It's Dylan's birthday and I forgot.

trotchky

05-25-2009, 07:37 AM

Derek

05-25-2009, 08:43 AM

New Sunset Rubdown is out (digitally, with a pre-order of the disc or record (http://www.jagjaguwar.com/onesheet.php?cat=JAG140)) if anyone cares. Alternately I'm sure you could find it for free with relative ease.

Yup, took a few spins to grow on me, but I like it a lot. Not nearly as much as Random Spirit Lover though that was inevitable.

Hugh_Grant

05-25-2009, 01:47 PM

Ex-Wilco member Jay Bennett has died. (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/05/former-wilco-member-jay-bennett-dies.html)

trotchky

05-25-2009, 08:55 PM

Yup, took a few spins to grow on me, but I like it a lot. Not nearly as much as Random Spirit Lover though that was inevitable.

Tell me about it. I've only listened to it a few times now and it's clearly real, real good, but it's hard not to feel disappointed after Random Spirit Lover.

Man. It seems almost an intentional counter-point to that album (like, I'm pretty sure every lyric rhymed on RSL, while any rhyme on Dragonslayer seems accidental). "Trumpet Trumpet II" brought a big dumb fanboy's grin to my face. The part in the last song where he declares "this one's for the critics and their disappointed mothers" makes me smile.

trotchky

05-26-2009, 07:53 AM

I think I'm prepared to call this the most Listenable and Penetrable album I have heard in the year 2009.

transmogrifier

05-26-2009, 12:01 PM

And in other news, I still hate Grizzly Bear. Worst band name ever, and dull, dull, dull music.

EvilShoe

05-26-2009, 12:54 PM

And in other news, I still hate Grizzly Bear. Worst band name ever, and dull, dull, dull music.
This, but opposite.
Loving the new album. :pritch:

Sven

05-26-2009, 01:34 PM

How come nobody has ever told me about Porcupine Tree? Goddammit, people, what do I pay you for?

D_Davis

05-26-2009, 02:21 PM

How come nobody has ever told me about Porcupine Tree? Goddammit, people, what do I pay you for?

Pretty sure I've mentioned them to you before.

They are awesome. Some of the best modern prog around. They've also done some wonderful ambient music.

Do you like Agalloch and Opeth? The dude from Porcupine (Steven Wilson) Tree has produced a number of Opeth albums.

Also, Steven Wilson's latest solo album is pretty good, as is his stuff with No Man. This guy is very prolific.

Speaking of modern prog, also check out Long Fin Killie. Long since broken-up, LFK put out a couple of amazing records. Look for Valentino.

D_Davis

05-26-2009, 04:59 PM

Hey Sven, ever listen to Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue? I bet you'd dig the heck out of it.

trotchky

05-26-2009, 09:00 PM

This, but opposite.
Loving the new album. :pritch:

Concurred. The higher quality of the official release really really benefits this album.

Acapelli

05-27-2009, 12:21 AM

And in other news, I still hate Grizzly Bear. Worst band name ever, and dull, dull, dull music.
o/

the fred falke remix of two weeks is great though, but i can't imagine it having an audience with anyone at matchcut

Derek

05-27-2009, 02:56 AM

And in other news, I still hate Grizzly Bear. Worst band name ever, and dull, dull, dull music.

Veckatimest > The Eternal

Spun Lepton

05-27-2009, 03:28 AM

Somebody please blow my brains out so I can get "you can't reada mah poooker faaaace" out of my fucking head. GAAAAAHHH!!

bac0n

05-27-2009, 03:30 AM

Somebody please blow my brains out so I can get "you can't reada mah poooker faaaace" out of my fucking head. GAAAAAHHH!!

You're Welcome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs4_-xKTDP0)

transmogrifier

05-27-2009, 03:59 AM

Veckatimest > The Eternal

You've got your views, I've got mine.

Derek

05-27-2009, 04:04 AM

You've got your views, I've got mine.

This is true. Allow me to restate:

IMO, Veckatimest > The Eternal.

transmogrifier

05-27-2009, 07:17 AM

This is true. Allow me to restate:

IMO, Veckatimest > The Eternal.

This does little to sway me.

Unlike The Eternal :)

Spun Lepton

05-28-2009, 10:46 PM

You're Welcome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs4_-xKTDP0)

Thankfully, this song sucks too much to be an earworm.

And I still have that insipid "Poker Face" stuck in my head. :frustrated:

Lasse

06-02-2009, 10:21 PM

One of my friends who's a rapper participated on a mixtape featuring rappers from all over the world, and it seems like it's been put out to listen to for free.

If you wish, listen to the track We Are on this page: http://babelrap.com/audio_video.php. He's doing the intro and the first verse. I love it.

transmogrifier

06-03-2009, 05:19 AM

I'm still surprised how underrated Deerhoof's last album, Offend Maggie, was. It may well be my favorite of theirs, now that I consider it. My Purple Past is ball-shakingly good.

D_Davis

06-04-2009, 12:17 AM

Manchester Orchestra is like the new Harvey Danger - I kind of dig it. Intelligent, well-written, big pop-rock with tons of hooks. Nice. Nothing super special, but very solid.

megladon8

06-04-2009, 03:41 AM

I've been collecting stuff by/with the involvement of Mike Patton lately.

What an incredible musical force he is.

Anyways, I read a quote by him regarding his song lyrics which showed exactly how I feel about lyrics *most* of the time...

"I think that too many people think too much about my lyrics. I am more a person who works with the sound of a word than with its meaning. Often I just choose the words because of the rhythm not because of the meaning".

There are certainly instances where the lyrics of a song hit me, but this quote really rang true for me. I often know the owrds to songs phonetically, that is to say I know them as another instrument in the soundscape of the music, rather than looking at them as a narrative structure or a form of literature.

Derek

06-04-2009, 05:02 AM

I'm still surprised how underrated Deerhoof's last album, Offend Maggie, was. It may well be my favorite of theirs, now that I consider it. My Purple Past is ball-shakingly good.

Even when your taste in music is great, it's bad. It's not a bad album by any means, but at the very least, it's a clear step down from Friend Opportunity. Then again, there are days where I'd say Halfbird is their best album, so maybe I'm unreliable as well. :)

D_Davis

06-04-2009, 05:04 AM

I rarely like a 'bad' song because of great lyrics, but I will frequently dislike a 'good' song because of terrible lyrics.

Derek

06-04-2009, 05:21 AM

I rarely like a 'bad' song because of great lyrics, but I will frequently dislike a 'good' song because of terrible lyrics.

I rarely pay much attention to lyrics. I usually end up learning them on albums that I frequently re-listen to, but by that time, I'm usually already too hooked to care much about the words. I prefer the voice as an instrument as opposed to a deliverer of poetry.

That said, there are times when I've been annoyed by lyrics when they're crystal clear and at the forefront of the music, but usually it's not music that interests me in the first place.

transmogrifier

06-04-2009, 07:36 AM

Lyrics are one of the last things I look for in music.

bac0n

06-04-2009, 02:13 PM

Mike Patton is all kinds of awesome. I would love to have the creativity in his pinky finger.

My favorite project of his is Mr. Bungle. Their album California is just awesome. I've been listening to it for years and am still finding new tidbits popping out of the songs. Mr Spun_Lepton, Esq actually got me that album for Christmas one year.

There's a youtube clip somewhere, some concert footage of Mr. Bungle performing Goodbye Sober Day at some sorta outdoor rock festival. Judging by the WTF? looks on the crowd's faces, they didn't quite know what to make of the music - probably not what they were expecting out of the band that was likely billed as "containing the former lead singer of Faith No More!".

Still, Patton seemed to be enjoying performing, most likely because he was reveling in the confusion he was inspiring in the audience.

bac0n

06-04-2009, 02:15 PM

Lyrics are one of the last things I look for in music.

I'm generally the same way, but there have been instances (tho none come immediately to mind) where the lyrics were bad to the point that they distracted from the rest of an otherwise decent to good song.

D_Davis

06-04-2009, 02:36 PM

A lot of the albums that will appear in my top 10 I partially like because of the lyrics.

I think, to me, my attitude towards lyrics and music is like my attitude towards video games. I am of the opinion that in a video game, graphics really do matter. They are as important as the audio and the gameplay. I am very, very demanding: I want all aspects of the stuff I enjoy to be as good as possible. So while graphics can't save a bad game, they often times will make a good game even better.

The same is true with lyrics. Maybe it's because I am a song writer, but I do listen to the lyrics as much as I do the music. And yes I also appreciate the voice as an instrument. It's the whole package that is important to me. The lyrical style needs to fit with the style of music. Hip hop with bad lyrics is utterly crap; Red House Painters and American Music Club wouldn't be half as good without the great lyrics. On the other hand, The Cocteau Twins wouldn't be nearly as interesting if they had straightforward lyrics, but the lyrics they do have are still very important, probably the most important part of the band's sound.

I don't require insightful poetry, but I do listen to what the lyrics are saying. It is through the words that the songwriter tends to convey his or her world view, and that is important to me.

Lyrics and voice, like the guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, turntable..., make up a part of the music I listen to, and I want it all to be as good as it can be.

D_Davis

06-04-2009, 05:14 PM

The most recent American Music Club album, The Golden Age, is fantastic. Really super good. Might have made my top 10 last year had I heard it then.

Duncan

06-04-2009, 08:39 PM

Lyrics are definitely important to me. When I look at a list of my favourite musicians, they're all great writers. Dylan, Cohen, Waits, Berman (of the Silver Jews), GZA, Nas, MF Doom. There's tons of other stuff I like too where I can't understand a word of what is being said, but, generally, great lyrics push musicians over the top for me.

D_Davis

06-05-2009, 03:05 AM

Damnit this new American Music Club is album is awesome. I think it's impossible for them to put out a bad album. It's a shame they've never enjoyed greater success.

D_Davis

06-05-2009, 06:43 PM

This is a cool blog that lists all kinds of great ambient/electronic music from various netlabels (I think most of it is free):

http://hiddenplacemusic.blogspot.com/

So far I've listened to:

Offsets - Circular Drift (http://www.distancerecordings.com/dist013.php)

and

Little World (http://softphase.org/netlabel/releases/sfp01)

Both are amazing - and totally free.

Also, check out the newest album to be recommended....

:)

Duncan

06-07-2009, 05:23 AM

13th Floor Elevators. Great band.

D_Davis

06-08-2009, 01:44 PM

Soft Phase, a small Nordic netlabel, recently released their newest album. It's by a guy called Chris Tenz, and it is a collection of beautiful acoustic-based ambient music.

Check it out, it's free, and really great. (http://softphase.org/netlabel/releases/sfp05)

So far this label has impressed the hell out of me. The Little World album (mentioned above) is one of the sweetest things I've heard in a long time. It's incredibly atmospheric and sensual.

And bonus! They're interested in possibly releasing my next album.

It's awesome to see so much quality music being released for free (legit).

D_Davis

06-09-2009, 03:49 PM

Harold Budd and Clive Write released another album a couple of weeks ago called Candylion. It's very good. I don't like it as much as last year's release, Song for Lost Blossoms, but then again that album is one of the best ambient albums ever recorded. Candylion's songs are more focused, much shorter, and more structured. It's a different kind of record, but still great. Heck, anytime Budd records something new is a good time, and his recent partnership with Clive Wright is interesting.

Listen (http://www.rhapsody.com/harold-budd/candylion)

Acapelli

06-10-2009, 06:33 AM

saw david byrne last night. excellent show, almost makes me not want the talking heads to ever reform, since that stuff sounded so good already. he even played more heads' songs than songs from the eno/byrne albums

D_Davis

06-10-2009, 01:38 PM

That sounds awesome.

I take it Eno wasn't there?

Man, Everything That Happens... is such a brilliant record. One for the ages.

Acapelli

06-10-2009, 11:38 PM

That sounds awesome.

I take it Eno wasn't there?

Man, Everything That Happens... is such a brilliant record. One for the ages.
no, he wasn't there, although the tour is called the songs of david byrne and brian eno tour

i haven't heard all of everything that happens will happen today yet, but the songs i heard at the show (and subsequently downloaded) are great

bac0n

06-11-2009, 08:42 PM

It's not uncommon for me to discover a new band toward the beginning, or a little bit before, one summer, and fortunately, that band then becomes the official band of a particular summer.

Since summers are generally really appreciated here in the upper midwest where, past winter notwithstanding, the winters tend to be long, cold and start to get really tiresome come February, listening to these bands that get associated with a particular summer often recalls fond memories of warmth, greenery, comfortable weather and lazy afternoons.

Summer 2007 was The Guillemots vis a vis their album Through The Windowpane.

Summer 2008 was dibidim and their album Riders.

This year, looks like the winner is Empire of the Sun and their album Walking on a Dream.

Any of you have any artists/albums that are closely associated with a particular summer, and as a result, you can't help but smile when their music hits your ears?

D_Davis

06-11-2009, 09:19 PM

Any of you have any artists/albums that are closely associated with a particular summer, and as a result, you can't help but smile when their music hits your ears?

Ween's The Mollusk was a staple for a few summers.

And I think we've discussed Too Much Joy in this regards as well.

BuffaloWilder

06-12-2009, 09:04 AM

Charles Spearin's concept album, The Happiness Project. Also, The Falcon Project's Lights Karma Action. Of the latter, I find myself listening to "Soul Divider," "Meditations #3," and the title track most often.

megladon8

06-12-2009, 03:26 PM

I'm loving pretty much everything Mike Patton has ever touched.

The Faith No More track "Evidence" is so chill.

transmogrifier

06-12-2009, 11:29 PM

I think I really like Built to Spill, but I would love them if only they had a better vocalist. Any bands you feel similar about?

BuffaloWilder

06-13-2009, 07:45 PM

I love Prince. Right now I'm listening to the Batman soundtrack. "Electric Chair" is just amazing.

Thirdmango

06-13-2009, 07:47 PM

I rarely pay much attention to lyrics. I usually end up learning them on albums that I frequently re-listen to, but by that time, I'm usually already too hooked to care much about the words. I prefer the voice as an instrument as opposed to a deliverer of poetry.

That said, there are times when I've been annoyed by lyrics when they're crystal clear and at the forefront of the music, but usually it's not music that interests me in the first place.

You are the first person I've found who listens to music in just about the same way I do. I can't listen to most singer songwriter because I need the music to be awesome before I can get into the words. But still very similar, I prefer voice as an instrument and don't comprehend the lyrics until I've listened to it many times.

D_Davis

06-16-2009, 02:35 PM

Album cover of the year goes to the upcoming Dino Jr. album:

http://fergolina.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/farm.jpg

Man, this thing is brilliant.

D_Davis

06-16-2009, 02:42 PM

You are the first person I've found who listens to music in just about the same way I do. I can't listen to most singer songwriter because I need the music to be awesome before I can get into the words. But still very similar, I prefer voice as an instrument and don't comprehend the lyrics until I've listened to it many times.

What about your love for Ween, though? Ween is a band that relies heavily on the lyrics. Yes, their music is often amazing, but it is the lyrics that truly give the band their distinct personality. The same can be said for They Might Be Giants.

For those of you who don't care about lyrics, what about hip hop? Is this a genre you don't listen to? Hip hop is, more than anything, a delivery method for poetry. Are you simply into the beats? A good emcee needs flow and great lyrics, right?

I guess the more I think about this topic, the more I realize just how important lyrics are to me.

Acapelli

06-16-2009, 11:23 PM

Boner M

06-17-2009, 12:37 AM

And in other news, I still hate Grizzly Bear. Worst band name ever, and dull, dull, dull music.
Just thought I'd belatedly quote this for truth.

D_Davis

06-17-2009, 12:45 AM

with rap i find that if the beat isn't good, i can't listen to it. while the opposite isn't true for me, although a decent flow is definitely important to me

i find myself not being able to appreciate rappers like az, nas, jadakiss, etc just because their beat selection is so poor. and despite me liking the streets' beats, his flow is so awful that i can't listen to him

I don't think there is anything exceptional about Nas or Jadakiss; protoypical pop-rap as far as I'm concerned.

With rap though, I need good lyrics, and most of the time I find that the rap with good lyrics also has good beats, that is it's good all around.

megladon8

06-17-2009, 12:53 AM

The Roots is still the best rap act in my books.

Acapelli

06-17-2009, 01:19 AM

I don't think there is anything exceptional about Nas or Jadakiss; protoypical pop-rap as far as I'm concerned.

With rap though, I need good lyrics, and most of the time I find that the rap with good lyrics also has good beats, that is it's good all around.
nas and jadakiss are pop rap? seems like you've only listened to what's been played on the radio. two of the better lyrcists today in my opinion

anyway, you and i have a very different opinion of what good rap music is

Derek

06-17-2009, 01:27 AM

Just thought I'd belatedly quote this for truth.

Et tu, boner? I expect it from trans since he hates most non-RAWKing, noodling indie acts these days, but you, you disappoint me.

transmogrifier

06-17-2009, 02:15 AM

Et tu, boner? I expect it from trans since he hates most non-RAWKing, noodling indie acts these days, but you, you disappoint me.

Not most, that's exaggerating. Just:

Animal Collective
Grizzly Bear
Bon Iver
Iron & Wine
Beirut
M. Ward
Bright Eyes
Fleet Foxes
The Shins
Band of Horses
Devendra Banhart
Will Oldham
Andrew Bird

and other stuff too I guess.

Some noodly indie white softcockrock I like:

Sunset Rubdown
Wolf Parade

Boner M

06-17-2009, 02:18 AM

Et tu, boner? I expect it from trans since he hates most non-RAWKing, noodling indie acts these days, but you, you disappoint me.
Yellow House bored me and the new one bores me more. Just another technically skilled yet faceless indie group, that at best serves as an acceptable soundtrack to my Monday morning browse about Borders.

Derek

06-17-2009, 02:20 AM

Some noodly indie white softcockrock I like:

Sunset Rubdown
Wolf Parade

Both Spencer Krug projects! But you know what, giving props to Sunset Rubdown will keep me from speaking against your musical taste for a long time.

Also, one of the cokemachineglow writers called them Grizzly Bore so, you know, feel free to use that in the future as well.

In unrelated news, if there were an apocalypse and only 30 seconds of music could survive, I'm pretty sure I'd choose from 2:30 to 3:00 in Brian Eno's "Mother Whale Eyeless".

Acapelli

06-17-2009, 02:21 AM

i find myself addicted to two weeks, but that's about it

it's got a bit of a swedish pop kick to it

Winston*

06-17-2009, 02:22 AM

Animal Collective
Grizzly Bear
Bon Iver
Iron & Wine
Fleet Foxes
Band of Horses
Devendra Banhart
Will Oldham
Andrew Bird

I like these. Good god, I'm white.

Actually the latest Grizzly Bear album doesn't really do anything for me.

Derek

06-17-2009, 02:22 AM

Yellow House bored me and the new one bores me more. Just another technically skilled yet faceless indie group, that at best serves as an acceptable soundtrack to my Monday morning browse about Borders.

I dunno, I think they have a very distinctive sound, particularly Yellow House which had rich, dense melodies and a unique sense of pacing and rhythm. I can understand someone finding it boring, but certainly not faceless.

D_Davis

06-17-2009, 03:18 AM

anyway, you and i have a very different opinion of what good rap music is

You can say that again.

megladon8

06-17-2009, 03:19 AM

Andrew Bird's little jazz side-project (Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire) is really good.

Acapelli

06-17-2009, 03:38 AM

You can say that again.

anyway, you and i have a very different opinion of what good rap music is
heh

D_Davis

06-17-2009, 03:44 AM

Not most, that's exaggerating. Just:

Animal Collective
Bon Iver
Iron & Wine
M. Ward
Bright Eyes
Fleet Foxes
Will Oldham
Andrew Bird

I don't care for these. I like Band of Horses, haven't heard the others.

Derek

06-17-2009, 04:53 AM

I don't care for these. I like Band of Horses, haven't heard the others.

I think deep down, Davis, you wish you could whistle like Andrew Bird. ;)

By the way, Deep Down Davis must be the title of one of your albums at some point. Please credit me in the liner notes, thanks.

Kurosawa Fan

06-18-2009, 12:22 PM

Not most, that's exaggerating. Just:

Animal Collective
Grizzly Bear
Bon Iver
Iron & Wine
Beirut
M. Ward
Bright Eyes
Fleet Foxes
The Shins
Band of Horses
Devendra Banhart
Will Oldham
Andrew Bird

Outright dislike or hate the bands in red. Like/love the bolds. Your list is bizarre.

number8

06-18-2009, 09:42 PM

Hilarious. An Oakland rap group remixes Jay-Z's "Death of Auto-tune" with autotune:

http://www.myspace.com/wallpaper

D_Davis

06-18-2009, 10:07 PM

By the way, Deep Down Davis must be the title of one of your albums at some point. Please credit me in the liner notes, thanks.

I'll use it for when I enter my thin white duke era.

Acapelli

06-19-2009, 01:14 AM

Hilarious. An Oakland rap group remixes Jay-Z's "Death of Auto-tune" with autotune:

http://www.myspace.com/wallpaper
this is the worst thing i've ever heard[/hyperbole]

and i don't mind autotune in the least when its used "well". love 808s and heartbreaks and t-pain

D_Davis

06-19-2009, 02:09 AM

T-Pain is one of the worst things to happen to popular music this decade.

Milky Joe

06-19-2009, 02:29 AM

Andrew Bird is one of the few true musical geniuses working today. Hate for him absolutely confounds me.

Acapelli

06-19-2009, 02:37 AM

T-Pain is one of the worst things to happen to popular music this decade.
he's a great pop songwriter, although not as good as the-dream

do you even like popular music? there's so much more terrible stuff played on the radio. see: sampling old eurotrashy elctronic songs

Skitch

06-19-2009, 02:42 AM

Et tu, boner?

Maybe I've just had a couple drinks, but thats the funniest thing I've seen in type in some time.

Derek

06-19-2009, 03:13 AM

Maybe I've just had a couple drinks, but thats the funniest thing I've seen in type in some time.

Comic genius comes easy when someone's named after an erect penis.

*Awaits meg's response that there's nothing about phallic about the name and that it was actually inspired by the dictionary definition of "a stupid mistake"*

number8

06-19-2009, 03:57 AM

Andrew Bird is one of the few true musical geniuses working today. Hate for him absolutely confounds me.

T-Pain's real name is Faheem Rasheed Najm, not Andrew Bird.

Justin

06-19-2009, 04:59 AM

Saw Band of Horses last night, wow, one of the biggest surprises in a long time. Never before have I heard that big of a step up from CD to live.

Milky Joe

06-19-2009, 05:21 AM

T-Pain's real name is Faheem Rasheed Najm, not Andrew Bird.

:|

Kurosawa Fan

06-19-2009, 06:55 AM

Saw Band of Horses last night, wow, one of the biggest surprises in a long time. Never before have I heard that big of a step up from CD to live.

Good to know. I missed them the last time they came to my area. Guess I'll have to make it a priority to catch them next time around.

D_Davis

06-19-2009, 01:16 PM

he's a great pop songwriter

Are you serious? His songs are completely insipid, even by bad pop standards. Buy You a Drank is seriously one of the worst songs to ever get major radio play. That it was the number 1 song in America for a year proves to me that we are devolving as a society; when I first heard that song, driving back to Seattle from California, I said to my wife, "maybe the terrorists are right." Instrumentally his songs are juvenile and pedestrian, lacking in any kind of rhythm or melody, and his lyrics are terrible. His songs sound exactly like the demo songs that come packed in with bad audio recording software. And I actually thik that, I'm not just saying it.

Most popular music I can understand the reasons why it is popular, but not that stuff.

I don't really care for too much top 40 pop, but I don't mind listening to Justin Timberlake if I catch one of his songs. He's got good producers.

D_Davis

06-19-2009, 01:19 PM

Andrew Bird is one of the few true musical geniuses working today.

How so?

Maybe I haven't heard enough, but to me he just sounds like Americana/folk pastiche.

number8

06-19-2009, 07:14 PM

D_Davis

06-19-2009, 07:30 PM

I realized yesterday that the only T-Pain song I've ever heard was "I'm on a Boat," which was awesomeness. So I decided to YouTube some of his "real" songs, see if they're just as awesome. Man, that is some terrible shit.

At least "I'm on a Boat" proves that he has a sense of humor, because that song is hilarious.

Milky Joe

06-19-2009, 07:56 PM

How so?

Maybe I haven't heard enough, but to me he just sounds like Americana/folk pastiche.

Can you not be a genius if you make Americana/folk pastiche?

I suppose you have to see him live to really understand. His records are stunningly beautiful and impeccably crafted, but the free-flowing nature of his live performances really demonstrate how unbelievably effortless his mastery of music really is. A genius, in other words.

D_Davis

06-19-2009, 08:13 PM

Can you not be a genius if you make Americana/folk pastiche?

I suppose you have to see him live to really understand. His records are stunningly beautiful and impeccably crafted, but the free-flowing nature of his live performances really demonstrate how unbelievably effortless his mastery of music really is. A genius, in other words.

I'll continue to listen, maybe it will click.

I don't hate him by any means, I just don't hear the genius. But then again, I don't hear the genius in a lot of these more modern singer-songwriter types. The media have been trying to convince my of Bright Eye's genius for a few years now, and that one totally baffles me.

I definitely like what I've heard from Bird more than I do Bright Eyes.

Milky Joe

06-19-2009, 08:18 PM

Yeah, Bright Eyes is an example of when a child prodigy never stops being a child. I thought he was a genius when I was in 10th grade--oh how little I knew.

Andrew Bird is in a completely different league.

Acapelli

06-20-2009, 06:14 AM

just got back from the best show i've ever been to

phoenix

Derek

06-20-2009, 08:51 AM

Just got back from Grizzly Bear. One of the best shows I've seen - such incredibly talented, precise musicians. Their voices are incredible live and I never realized they each play at least two instruments.

EvilShoe

06-20-2009, 11:17 AM

Acapelli

06-20-2009, 04:00 PM

i'll probably be seeing them in august, if i can get in

m83 is very good live, but i am a big fan of theirs, including saturdays=youth (which many seem to dislike)

Duncan

06-20-2009, 08:20 PM

Animal Collective - Like a lot, especially Strawberry Jam
Grizzly Bear - Boring, even live (especially live?).
Bon Iver - Used to really like, maybe listened to him too much.
Iron & Wine - The Shepard's Dog is excellent, other stuff not so much.
Beirut - Don't know them
M. Ward - Boring
Bright Eyes - Boring
Fleet Foxes - Boring
The Shins - Boring
Band of Horses - Boring
Devendra Banhart - I really like Rejoicing in the Hands and Nino Rojo
Will Oldham - Definitely one of the best song writers out there. I See a Darkness, The Letting Go, and a couple of his earlier albums are some of my very favourites.
Andrew Bird - Haven't seen him live, but I've seen YouTube clips, and that's enough to convince me that he's extremely talented. Love The Mysterious Production of Eggs

Sunset Rubdown - Like them, great live show
Wolf Parade - Second album was a big step down from the first.

Also, Nas is one of the best writers in hip hop. Not always at the top of his game, but Illmatic and God's Son are a couple of the best or at least most interesting albums in the rap canon.

Derek

06-20-2009, 08:28 PM

Will Oldham - Definitely one of the best song writers out there. I See a Darkness, The Letting Go, and a couple of his earlier albums are some of my very favourites.

Boring. Better actor than musician.

transmogrifier

06-20-2009, 10:38 PM

Just so people can get some revenge for me cynically listing a bunch of bands who suck, here is my Top 20 Most Played Artists on LastFM. Have at it:

1. Sonic Youth
2. PJ Harvey
3. Radiohead
4. The Fiery Furnaces
5. Sleater-Kinney
6. Electrelane
7. The Delgados
8. Deerhoof
9. R.E.M.
10. Talking Heads
11. Tall Dwarfs
12. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
13. LCD Soundsystem
14. mclusky
15. Crowded House
16. Liars
17. The Clash
18. Can
19. Blur
20. Pixies

Not a boring band in the bunch! Have at it.

Acapelli

06-21-2009, 12:55 AM

i recently realized that i don't care for deerhoof or the fiery furnaces at all

trotchky

06-21-2009, 02:14 AM

Just found out about this:

Why? gives me a reason to live through another year. (http://pitchfork.com/news/35416-whys-yoni-wolf-reveals-new-album-ieskimo-snowi/)

trotchky

06-21-2009, 02:17 AM

i recently realized that i don't care for deerhoof or the fiery furnaces at all

I don't like them very much, either. I also don't like Phoenix.

Best live show I've ever been to was Dan Deacon a few months ago. I "saw" Sunset Rubdown a week or two ago but ended up getting so smashed I puked throughout the entire set. In the coming months I have tixxxxx to see Animal Collective, Cage, and Blink 180-motherfucking-2. Also gonna try to catch Casiotone for the Painfully Alone (at-the-door only sales) on the Fourth of July.

transmogrifier

06-21-2009, 02:31 AM

i recently realized that i don't care for deerhoof or the fiery furnaces at all

Weirdo ;)

Acapelli

06-21-2009, 05:51 AM

Weirdo ;)
everything else on your list i either like/love, or haven't heard enough to form an opinion on

and LOL dan deacon. i probably wouldn't mind him so much if so many awful people didn't listen to him

trotchky

06-21-2009, 05:52 AM

What awful people listen to Dan Deacon?

trotchky

06-21-2009, 06:31 AM

Guys here (http://www.last.fm/user/trotchky) is my last.fm profile, I just registered.

Acapelli

06-21-2009, 06:46 AM

What awful people listen to Dan Deacon?
i don't want to get into this whole thing again, but hipsters

going to brooklyn and seeing a cheap/free show in williamsburg/greenpoint/bushwick is pretty much like the worst thing ever

trotchky

06-21-2009, 06:58 AM

i don't want to get into this whole thing again, but hipsters

going to brooklyn and seeing a cheap/free show in williamsburg/greenpoint/bushwick is pretty much like the worst thing ever

I wouldn't classify an entire subculture as "awful people."

But anyway, hipsters like Phoenix too, you know.

And yo, I was in Williamsburg last week to see Sunset Rubdown. Wasn't so bad! Dem hipsters let me get hammered in their club!

Acapelli

06-21-2009, 07:05 AM

I wouldn't classify an entire subculture as "awful people."
yeah i know, and i don't think they're all awful, but i'd rather not get into this because it's just going to devolve into an obnoxious back and forth with possibly other parties joining in and turn into another terrible and unnecessary convo about hipsters. something this site desperately doesn't need

trotchky

06-21-2009, 07:47 AM

Don't you post on hipinion.com (http://forums.hipinion.com/), the forum by hipsters, for hipsters (to express their hipster opinions)?

Acapelli

06-21-2009, 07:52 AM

Don't you post on hipinion.com (http://forums.hipinion.com/), the forum by hipsters, for hipsters (to express their hipster opinions)?
LOL

dude seriously this isn't worth getting into

trotchky

06-21-2009, 07:54 AM

LOL

dude seriously this isn't worth getting into

Why not?

Acapelli

06-21-2009, 08:00 AM

Why not?
because it's obnoxious. you're not new. you've seen the threads. it's a pointless conversation that has nothing to do with the topic at hand, which is to discuss music, not hipsters, not their culture. i didn't say dan deacon sucked, there are a few people whose opinion i respect who happen to like their music. i just wanted to relate how something as trivial as fans of his music could create such a negative reaction from me. and you've obviously tried to get a rise out of me by mentioning phoenix multiple times

i guess i have no one to blame but myself for bringing this up

trotchky

06-21-2009, 08:07 AM

because it's obnoxious. you're not new. you've seen the threads. it's a pointless conversation that has nothing to do with the topic at hand, which is to discuss music, not hipsters, not their culture. i didn't say dan deacon sucked, there are a few people whose opinion i respect who happen to like their music. i just wanted to relate how something as trivial as fans of his music could create such a negative reaction from me. and you've obviously tried to get a rise out of me by mentioning phoenix multiple times

i guess i have no one to blame but myself for bringing this up

I wasn't trying to get a rise out of you the first time I brought up Phoenix, I was merely stating my earnest opinion about them. And I wasn't trying to get a rise out of you the second time I brought them up, either, I was defending my enjoyment of Dan Deacon by mentioning a band you like that is also liked by hipsters.

Acapelli

06-21-2009, 08:14 AM

well let's just shake on it and pretend this never happened. and hope no one else notices this in the morning

in other news, our last.fm compatability is VERY HIGH. although i did find it funny that one of our shared artists is phoenix

trotchky

06-21-2009, 08:26 AM

Consider it done.

EvilShoe

06-21-2009, 05:02 PM

Four of those hated artists (Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, M. Ward & Fleet Foxes) are in my top 20 most listened. Hms. I'm so white sometimes.

I don't care much for Will Oldham though, Bright Eyes has been bad for a few years now and Iron and Wine is boring.

I'm also one of those people who likes saturdays = youth Ã*nd Phoenix. :pritch:

Kurosawa Fan

06-23-2009, 01:45 PM

The Clash is boring.

D_Davis

06-23-2009, 02:03 PM

The Clash is boring.

I've never liked more than a few songs.

I like Big Audio Dynamite more, especially their album The Globe. Such a neat and elegant little alt-rock album.

Boner M

06-23-2009, 02:06 PM

The Clash is boring.
Mostly true.

Sven

06-23-2009, 02:32 PM

Guys, Sandanista is a great album.

Also, if anyone has the special edition of Porcupine Tree's The Sky Moves Sideways, please PM me. I downloaded it off amazon and one of the best tracks (the coda of Moon Loop) skips. :frustrated:

Spaceman Spiff

06-23-2009, 02:36 PM

All of this wrongness towards The Clash needs to stop. Even Sven who likes them, pimps their worst album. Juheez.

D_Davis

06-23-2009, 02:50 PM

A new album from The Bats today!

Awesome.

D_Davis

06-23-2009, 02:52 PM

And a the new Dinosaur Jr.!

Man, it's a great day.

D_Davis

06-23-2009, 04:47 PM

Russ

06-23-2009, 05:32 PM

All of this wrongness towards The Clash needs to stop. Even Sven who likes them, pimps their worst album. Juheez.
Spoken like someone who has never heard anything they released after Sandanista (and it is a great, albeit bloated, album, so I'm right there with you, Sven).

Spaceman Spiff

06-23-2009, 06:51 PM

Spoken like someone who has never heard anything they released after Sandanista (and it is a great, albeit bloated, album, so I'm right there with you, Sven).

I obviously wasn't including their post Sandinista stuff, which never happened. And even so, I think Combat Rock is better. Sandinista has like 4 or 5 great songs amongst a sea of rubbish.

Sven

06-23-2009, 10:05 PM

With The Guilty Office, The Bats continue to deliver some of the best jangly, guitar-driven pop-rock around. I love their unchanging ways. No matter what the modern trends in music dictate, The Bats just keep on plugging away, doing their own thing. I've got a lot of respect for this band. I'd like my band to play with them - we're very similar. Maybe we'd be better off in Australia; we seem to have a lot in common with this kind of Australian pop.

Have you ever listened to The Hoodoo Gurus? You want great Australian guitar-driven pop-rock? Look no further. They're a bit more fully produced than The Bats, but damnit if their songs aren't infectious.

Sven

06-23-2009, 10:07 PM

Update: Amazon just credited me the price of the entire album back for that 1.5 seconds of scratch. Rock on. Still, I need that track. Someone, please!

Russ

06-23-2009, 10:12 PM

Sandinista has like 4 or 5 great songs amongst a sea of rubbish.
You name me those 4 or 5 songs and I'll bet you I can name another half-dozen equally great (or better) songs from the same album.

:)

Sorry, don't mean to be confrontational, but in some ways, I honestly think this is The Clash's most mature and accomplished work, but, I'll agree, far from perfect.

transmogrifier

06-24-2009, 03:26 AM

transmogrifier

06-24-2009, 03:29 AM

The Clash is boring.

This coming from a man who likes/loves:

Bon Iver
Iron & Wine
Beirut
Fleet Foxes
The Shins
Band of Horses

???

Does boring have a second meaning I'm unaware of? Or has KFan finally gone off the deep end?

D_Davis

06-24-2009, 05:35 AM

:frustrated:

The Bats are a NZ band.

Oh, then I don't like them anymore.

D_Davis

06-24-2009, 05:41 AM

Have you ever listened to The Hoodoo Gurus? You want great Australian guitar-driven pop-rock? Look no further. They're a bit more fully produced than The Bats, but damnit if their songs aren't infectious.

I loved them when I was in high school, but I haven't listened to them in a long time.

bac0n

06-24-2009, 05:54 AM

Discovered a great new band. Outa Oregon. The name of Sneakin' Out. Acoustic bass. Electric Mandolin. Guy in a froofy dress and a mohawk banging on bongos & vibraphone. Played a combination Paint It Black / Beethoven's 5th. It was bloody brilliant.

Boner M

06-24-2009, 05:55 AM

The Bats are touring here in August. Can't wait. Only heard Daddy's Highway but it's awesome. Should check out their latest.

transmogrifier

06-24-2009, 07:03 AM

Oh, then I don't like them anymore.

The fewer people who like a band, the cooler they are. The cooler a country's bands are, the cooler the country is. The cooler the country, the cooler its citizens.

:pritch:

D_Davis

06-24-2009, 01:07 PM

The Bats are touring here in August. Can't wait. Only heard Daddy's Highway but it's awesome. Should check out their latest.

I like Couchmaster a lot. Daddy's Highway is great too. I should see if they're coming through Seattle.

Thirdmango

06-24-2009, 10:48 PM

What about your love for Ween, though? Ween is a band that relies heavily on the lyrics. Yes, their music is often amazing, but it is the lyrics that truly give the band their distinct personality. The same can be said for They Might Be Giants.

For those of you who don't care about lyrics, what about hip hop? Is this a genre you don't listen to? Hip hop is, more than anything, a delivery method for poetry. Are you simply into the beats? A good emcee needs flow and great lyrics, right?

I guess the more I think about this topic, the more I realize just how important lyrics are to me.

Thing is for me, the message of the words is not important until I've been able to listen to the song many times. Yes Ween is very heavy word based but there's not heavy handed messages with their words, it's fun and enjoyable. I don't comprehend messages, I can usually sing along with a song without yet knowing what the hell a band is talking about. And as far as hip hop goes, I really like anything by Jurassic 5 and the guys from Quannum. The music is as important as how they're rapping their words. Again it's how they're saying their words which is more important then the overall message of the poetry being handed out. I hear the words but I don't comprehend the messages. I can if I go back and I read the words from lyrics pages but then it just feels like I'm reading poetry. The connection of the message isn't important for me in music.

Thirdmango

06-24-2009, 11:02 PM

Trotchky and I have low compatibility on last fm. Also Acapelli, I gotta side on a couple other people here that you and I have much differing opinions on music, both hip hop and others. Phoenix's Alphabetical album is one of only two albums I've ever rated as .5 stars. But anyways, I should put up my last fm profile as well so people can see how they rate with me.

Thirdmango's Last Fm. (http://www.last.fm/user/thirdmango)

And for those without compatibility, my top 10 are in order 1-10.

Ween
Phish
Blackalicious
Keller Williams
Lyrics Born
Jurassic 5
The Pillows
Medeski, Martin and Wood
The Mars Volta
Ozomatli

trotchky

06-25-2009, 12:00 AM

The Clash is boring.

I agree.

On a different note, I got the book of photos by David Lynch that accompanies Dark Night of the Soul in the mail today. It's pretty cool!

Acapelli

06-25-2009, 07:49 AM

Trotchky and I have low compatibility on last fm. Also Acapelli, I gotta side on a couple other people here that you and I have much differing opinions on music, both hip hop and others. Phoenix's Alphabetical album is one of only two albums I've ever rated as .5 stars. But anyways, I should put up my last fm profile as well so people can see how they rate with me.
can't say i'm a fan of alphabetical. i much prefer it's never been like that/wolfgang amadeus phoenix

Kurosawa Fan

06-25-2009, 01:36 PM

Does boring have a second meaning I'm unaware of? Or has KFan finally gone off the deep end?

Just because I listen to music you find boring doesn't change the fact that The Clash are also boring.

transmogrifier

06-27-2009, 09:50 PM

Just because I listen to music you find boring doesn't change the fact that The Clash are also boring.

Begging to differ over here. Your inability to use the word "boring" correctly in the context of those awful, awful bands I listed means that I can't trust your use in other contexts. :P

Anyway, I'm listening to the new Fiery Furnaces and it is their most direct, melodical, straight-forward since EP. Love it. I swear, these guys are the best band to come out of the 00s.

Derek

06-28-2009, 12:04 AM

Anyway, I'm listening to the new Fiery Furnaces and it is their most direct, melodical, straight-forward since EP. Love it. I swear, these guys are the best band to come out of the 00s.

Sweet, I love EP. I thought Widow City was a bit of a disappointment coming off the amazing Bitter Tea, so I'd love another balls-to-the-wall great album from these guys.

transmogrifier

06-28-2009, 01:20 AM

Sweet, I love EP. I thought Widow City was a bit of a disappointment coming off the amazing Bitter Tea, so I'd love another balls-to-the-wall great album from these guys.

Yeah, I was surprised how negatively Bitter Tea was received in some quarters. It's great.

1. Blueberry Boat
2. Bitter Tea
3. I'm Going Away
4. EP
5. Gallowbird's Bark
6. Widow City
7. Rehearsing My Choir

But I like all the albums - and I'm Going Away is provisional for now, as befitting the honeymoon period.

Kurosawa Fan

06-28-2009, 01:45 PM

Begging to differ over here. Your inability to use the word "boring" correctly in the context of those awful, awful bands I listed means that I can't trust your use in other contexts. :P

There are several others in this thread who find my use of the word "boring" to be quite apt. I'm feeling quite good about it, actually. And once again, you've given no evidence that my description of The Clash was incorrect, so I can only assume you secretly agree, and are only putting on airs at this point. I'll consider this a victory for yours truly, and wash my hands of the whole thing. Good day sir.

bac0n

06-29-2009, 02:25 PM

Scored some tix to The PSB. They don't come for, what, 20 years, and now twice in 2 years! SCORE. :pritch:

D_Davis

06-29-2009, 02:29 PM

Scored some tix to The PSB. They don't come for, what, 20 years, and now twice in 2 years! SCORE. :pritch:

Awesome.

Should be great.

D_Davis

06-30-2009, 08:15 PM

Another brilliant and beautiful ambient album was recently released as a free download from a small netlabel:

tsotsitaal, by Ten and Tracer (http://www.acrerca.com/customer-panel/cust214176TSOTSITAAL/0146798hh-tsotsitaal-digital.html)

Check it out - it's free, so there's no reason not to.

http://www.acrerca.com/Images/coverplaceholder.jpg

There has never been a better time to be a fan of ambient music - that's a fact.

D_Davis

07-01-2009, 02:38 PM

This Ten and Tracer album is absolutely gorgeous.

Derek and Russ, I think you guys will dig the heck out of this.

D_Davis

07-01-2009, 02:55 PM

Abstract hip/trip hop compilation:

http://error-broadcast.com/index.php/releases/show/release/ebc001/download/normal

Free download - this thing is awesome.

http://www.error-broadcast.com/cache/600_ebc001_front.jpg

MacGuffin

07-04-2009, 08:28 AM

How do you get songs unstuck from your head? For the last few hours, I've had Beyonce's song "Halo" stuck in my head. It's just one of several godawful songs they play over and over at the gym (seriously, they place these songs every day — it's like I could have this stuck in my head, or Soulja Boi's latest single).

Lasse

07-05-2009, 11:22 PM

One of my favorite hip hop bands - Malk De Koijn - played their first concert in six years on this year's Roskilde Festival. I'm listening to the new live bootleg recording and it's so brilliant. Good to have you back, guys. :pritch:

Further listening (so many of their greatest songs aren't on YouTube)
FÃ¥gt Op I Skalle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npj0scBta90)
Vi Tager Fuglen PÃ¥ Dig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HOSolEHvDM)
Kosmisk Kaos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROtwyI3uu-Y)
Ã˜rkenstorm I Aberdeen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBX1MiZXkqc)

D_Davis

07-13-2009, 02:15 PM

A couple of amazing ambient finds last week. Someone added Carl Sagan's Ghost to Last FM, and I checked out a couple of the RIYL artists, and found these, which I love:

Arcticology
http://arcticology.com/

His newest album, Haven, is fantastic. One of the best I've heard this year. Subtle, haunting melodies buried under dense drones and atmospheric. Highly recommended, and like most of the stuff I listen to now days, totally free. But if you like it, donate! For fans of more modern sounding ambient.

Philip Wilkerson
http://www.phillipwilkerson.com/

This dude is also awesome. He's very prolific, and his music is thoughtful. He's released a few things on the Earthmantra netlabel - his newest album is incredible (http://www.earthmantra.com/release-detail.php?id=80) (and free, so if you like ambient music, there is no reason not to dl and listen). For fans of older-style ambient like Steve Roach etc.

D_Davis

07-13-2009, 11:50 PM

Stardeath and White Dwarfs...proving that it pays to have a family member (Wayne Coyne) in the music biz. Terrible.

D_Davis

07-14-2009, 03:37 AM

http://www.serein.co.uk/imgs/cover_thumbs/ser018/cov_thumb.gif

Really nice glitch-based ambient. This label has a ton of great music.

http://www.serein.co.uk/music/ser018/

trotchky

07-14-2009, 10:40 PM

The first single from Why?'s upcoming Eskimo Snow has been made available (http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com.s 3.amazonaws.com/Why%3F%20-%20This%20Blackest%20Purse.mp3 ). And it's great.

D_Davis

07-14-2009, 10:45 PM

The first single from Why?'s upcoming Eskimo Snow has been made available (http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com.s 3.amazonaws.com/Why%3F%20-%20This%20Blackest%20Purse.mp3 ). And it's great.

Nice. I'll check it out. I'm getting a little tired of his (and the Anticon crew's) sound, but I remain interested and hopeful.

bac0n

07-20-2009, 05:05 PM

Any of you guys interested in the Electro House genre (think Justice) should check out Wolfgang Gartner (https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/artist/detail/57010/?utm_source=bp_artists_pages&utm_medium=bp_artists_wolfgang-gartner&utm_term=bp_artists_wolfgang-gartner&utm_content=bp_artists&utm_campaign=bp_beatportal#app =1c03&a486-index=0). He has a few awesome tracks, brimming with punchy drums, fun analog riffs, high production values, fun, and creativity.

Fantastic stuff.

shaun

07-20-2009, 05:54 PM

MCA has cancer; Beastie Boys postpone their upcoming tour.

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/beastie-boys-adam-yauch-has-cancer-tour-1003995438.story

I was going to see them in another week at All Points West. This sucks.

D_Davis

07-20-2009, 06:06 PM

D_Davis

07-20-2009, 06:28 PM

For fans of mid-period Flaming Lips, early Mercury Rev, Spooky Ruben, Money Mark, and other such music, check out:

I Come to Shanghai (http://icometoshanghai.com/home.html)

This band is fronted by Robert Ashely of 1Up.com and A Life Well Wasted fame.

The album's been a work in process for a couple of years, and now it's finally finished.

And it's really good. I highly recommend it.

You can buy the CD for $10 (totally worth it), or you can pay what you want to download the MP3s.

Take a chance on a truly independent artist - it's the best kind of chance you can take.

bac0n

07-20-2009, 06:53 PM

Yeah - that's cool. The second track, Flashback, is killer.

Didja checkout Wolfgang's 5th? That song is all kinds of awesome.

D_Davis

07-20-2009, 06:55 PM

Didja checkout Wolfgang's 5th? That song is all kinds of awesome.

Didn't really care for that one.

D_Davis

07-22-2009, 02:57 PM

So this David Torn cat is blowing my mind. It's like Ornette Coleman meets Jon Hassell by way of King Crimson with modern glitch, looping, and sampling. The first track off of the album Prezens, called Ak, is stunning. It begins as a soft almost traditional jazz tune before transforming into a full on balls-to-walls sonic asault that would shame just about any modern metal band. And every other composition on the album is just as good. Check out the tune Bulbs as well - mind blowing.

bac0n

07-22-2009, 03:40 PM

D_Davis

07-22-2009, 04:15 PM

Sounds intriguing! May have to check the fella out!

It's so good. He's been making music since the early 80s. I'm really looking forward to listening to his discography.

Just look at the people he's worked with:

Torn has contributed to recordings by artists including David Bowie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie), kd lang (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kd_lang), John Legend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Legend), Tori Amos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tori_Amos), Bill Bruford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Bruford), Tony Levin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Levin), Mick Karn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Karn), David Sylvian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sylvian), Chocolate Genius (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_Genius), Michael Shrieve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Shrieve), Steve Roach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Roach_%28musician%29), Patrick O'Hearn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_O%27Hearn), Andy Rinehart (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andy_Rinehart&action=edit&redlink=1), Matt Chamberlain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Chamberlain), Meshell Ndegeocello (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meshell_Ndegeocello) and Don Cherry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Cherry_%28jazz%29).

He also composed the music for Lars and the Real Girl.

D_Davis

07-23-2009, 09:12 PM

trotchky

07-25-2009, 01:11 AM

Sven

07-29-2009, 02:03 AM

You know who rocks? Van Halen rocks. Shove it, KF.

Derek

07-29-2009, 02:41 AM

You know who's the most over-rated band of the 80s? Scratch that...aside from AC/DC, who's the most over-rated band of the 80s? Van Halen!

Grabs KF :pritch:

D_Davis

07-29-2009, 03:03 AM

I dislike AC/DC more than I dislike Van Halen.

Derek

07-29-2009, 03:12 AM

I dislike AC/DC more than I dislike Van Halen.

Sweet!

D_Davis

07-29-2009, 03:16 AM

Sweet!

They're both pretty terrible though. If I am ever listening to anything and AC/DC comes on, I will immediately turn it off. However, if Van Halen's Jump comes on, I'll listen, but that's about it.

Derek

07-29-2009, 03:23 AM

They're both pretty terrible though. If I am ever listening to anything and AC/DC comes on, I will immediately turn it off. However, if Van Halen's Jump comes on, I'll listen, but that's about it.

Oh, I was mostly happy with your use of the word "dislike" with both of them. Usually people look at me funny or post a roll-eyes emoticon. I too find AC/DC completely unlistenable while I can listen to "Jump", "Right Now" or, if the video is playing, "Hot for Teacher" from Van Halen. But yeah, both are pretty terrible.

D_Davis

07-29-2009, 03:25 AM

Oh, I was mostly happy with your use of the word "dislike" with both of them. Usually people look at me funny or post a roll-eyes emoticon. I too find AC/DC completely unlistenable while I can listen to "Jump", "Right Now" or, if the video is playing, "Hot for Teacher" from Van Halen. But yeah, both are pretty terrible.

Yeah.

D_Davis

07-29-2009, 04:43 AM

The new album from the Soft Phase netlabel is pretty good. It's got an old school (I'm talking '70s) vibe to it ala Kraftwerk, mixed in with some modern soundscaping, ambiance, with a dash of avant/experimental. It's also got some really nice trumpet work, reminds me of Jon Hassell at times.

It's totally worth the asking price, and worth your time.

Halo XVI, The Sixteenth Hour (http://softphase.org/netlabel/releases/sfp06)

http://softphase.org/img/sfp06-cover-575px.jpg

Kurosawa Fan

07-29-2009, 01:00 PM

You know who rocks? Van Halen rocks. Shove it, KF.

Holy crap. Please, you're joking. Right? Right?!?

You know who's the most over-rated band of the 80s? Scratch that...aside from AC/DC, who's the most over-rated band of the 80s? Van Halen!

Grabs KF :pritch:

:pritch:

Now you are a good dance partner!

D_Davis

07-29-2009, 02:39 PM

Now you are a good dance partner!

What am I, chopped liver?

bac0n

07-29-2009, 04:55 PM

I dislike AC/DC more than I dislike Van Halen.

Hey, at least AC/DC have no illusions about themselves.

I'm sick to death of people saying we've made 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we've made 12 albums that sound exactly the same!.

Kurosawa Fan

07-29-2009, 05:41 PM

What am I, chopped liver?

I wouldn't know, you've never danced with me.

*equally miffed*

D_Davis

07-29-2009, 05:50 PM

I wouldn't know, you've never danced with me.

*equally miffed*

You've never asked.

Kurosawa Fan

07-29-2009, 06:02 PM

You've never asked.

I didn't have to ask Derek. He took initiative. He's a real man.

D_Davis

07-29-2009, 06:04 PM

I didn't have to ask Derek. He took initiative. He's a real man.

I'm shy.

Kurosawa Fan

07-29-2009, 06:13 PM

I'm shy.

Well your shyness made me feel unwanted.

Sven

07-30-2009, 11:22 PM

Umm... anyone remember Frank Black's Teenager of the Year?

I'm listening to it for the first time since its initial release (when my older sister would spin it) and Ho. Ly. Cow. This may jump up to, like, top ten, it's that good.

D_Davis

07-30-2009, 11:46 PM

D_Davis

07-31-2009, 04:12 AM

New Marconi Union album, Tokyo, came out this week.

http://www.marconiunion.com/catalog/Tokyo.jpg

Fans of minimal electronica, soundscapes, and ambient will want to check it out. These dudes are amazing.

They also released an internet-only collection of 13 songs, available for only 1.99 pounds.

http://www.marconiunion.com/catalog.asp?ID=40

Awesome.

D_Davis

08-03-2009, 04:47 PM

Western Homes - Are Empty (http://www.rackandruinrecords.com/releases14.php#album4)

http://www.rackandruinrecords.com/albums/images/rrr134.jpg

This is a really neat little record. Fans of electro-acoustic-pop stuff should definitely check it out. It's short, well-produced, and very creative. If you like stuff like Looper, or Postal Service, then check it out. It is, of course, free, and totally worth your time.

D_Davis

08-05-2009, 02:56 AM

Petal - The Last Season (http://earthmantra.com/release-detail.php?id=89)

http://earthmantra.com/images/releases/earman089.jpg

The newest release from Earth Mantra is beautiful. Thoughtful, minimalist acoustic guitar parts carry the album while electronic loops bubble away below the surface.

It's a tranquil listening experience, highly creative, and interesting.

Check it out.

number8

08-05-2009, 04:13 AM

So. I'm not sure how to feel in terms of knowing that Eminem ejaculated early on Mariah Carey's belly, and that he took pictures.

D_Davis

08-06-2009, 09:09 PM

Fights Monsters - Surfaces - Free Download

Ambient/Noise/Experimental/Metal

http://bandcamp.com/files/55/62/556296397-1.jpg (http://fightsmonsters.bandcamp.com/album/surfaces)

This is my friend Ryan Tallman's newest project. If you like experimental noise, or really, really slow (<30 BPM) metal, look no further for your next free fix. This is the dude collaborating with me on the next Carl Sagan's Ghost album

trotchky

08-07-2009, 06:28 AM

So. I'm not sure how to feel in terms of knowing that Eminem ejaculated early on Mariah Carey's belly, and that he took pictures.

i know how to feel: total apathy.

D_Davis

08-07-2009, 02:40 PM

I'm pimpin' this here because it's not just me...

PS010 - Various Artists â€“ Ceci nâ€™est pas une pipe

http://lab.pubspaces.com/wp-content/themes/arras-theme/library/timthumb.php?src=http://lab.pubspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/releases_ps010.jpg&w=630&h=250&zc=1
(http://lab.pubspaces.com/2009/08/various-artists-ceci-nest-pas-une-pipe/)
Just released. This collection features 18 ambient/experimental artists, including Carl Sagan's Ghost. My track is an exclusive remix of the first composition on the upcoming album, Darkness and the Light.

Check it out. It's available as MP3 or FLAC, and comes with a ton of great art work. PublicSpacesLab really went all out on this free digital release. They're a great netlabel, doing good by their artists and the community at large.

Enjoy. Nothing like free, quality music.

D_Davis

08-07-2009, 09:22 PM

That comp is really nice; I've finally listened to the whole thing a couple of times. It does a good job of displaying the different styles of ambiance. The compositions range from pastoral field-recordings to dark, deep, and scary soundscapes, and everything in between, with sounds generated using a number of acoustic and electronic methods and techniques. As good as any of Kompact's, Darla's, or Kranky's compilations, and infinitely less expensive. What a fantastic time to be into ambient music.

BuffaloWilder

08-08-2009, 08:54 AM

I'm loving me some His Name Is Alive, right about now. Summer Bird.

D_Davis

08-08-2009, 01:51 PM

I'm loving me some His Name Is Alive, right about now. Summer Bird.

Those guys are sweet. I really like their early albums.

Rowland

08-08-2009, 10:17 PM

Derek

08-08-2009, 10:40 PM

I was listening to the radio the other day and I happened across a station playing some really funky bit music (written and performed with NES-era audio software), and I was wondering if anyone here knows of artists in this field they'd recommend?

Dan Deacon's Bromst and, to a lesser extent, Spiderman of the Rings might hit the spot if that's what you're looking for. They can be manic to the point of grating to some people, but there are stretches of astounding skill and beauty, more so on Bromst.

There's also Dan Friel and, although I don't like them, Crystal Castles fit your description to a T as I believe they do record on that type of software.

D_Davis

08-09-2009, 12:53 AM

I was listening to the radio the other day and I happened across a station playing some really funky bit music (written and performed with NES-era audio software), and I was wondering if anyone here knows of artists in this field they'd recommend?

There are quite a few netlabels devoted to this. The genre is called Chiptunes - all the music is generated through actual hardware chips, at least the authentic stuff is. Some of it is pretty cool.

Here is a cool, newly released album:

http://www.petitejolie.com/images/artworkpics/pj007_-_valzi_-_i_nvr_love_u_-_front_cover_350.jpg

http://www.petitejolie.com/releases/007/

Petite and Jolie has a lot of this stuff.

Here are some links to some Chiptune labels:

http://www.phlow.de/netlabels/index.php/Category:Chiptune

It's fun to explore these releases. Most of them are free, and thus being made by artists just because they love to do it.

Check this out - 1 Bit Music

http://www.1bitmusic.com/images/1_Bit_Music.jpg

http://www.1bitmusic.com/

Weezer Tribute:

http://www.ptesquad.com/more/pte018.html

El Scorcho's brilliant (http://ia360625.us.archive.org/2/items/PTE018/03ElScorcho.mp3)

Lasse

08-09-2009, 07:20 PM

Holy shit. I love the feeling of listening to an album for the first time, and being completely blown away. I had extremely high expectations for Kasper Spez' debut album - and he delivered. Fantastic beats, wonderful lyrics, a minimum of guest artists and a very well crafted album.

First single Efter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIu1ZQFwjLM)

D_Davis

08-09-2009, 07:50 PM

Acapelli

08-09-2009, 08:02 PM

There's also Dan Friel
i saw this guy open for black moth super rainbow and he was awful

Sven

08-09-2009, 11:51 PM

All in favor of Morrissey, please say "Aye"

All opposed, please go away

EyesWideOpen

08-10-2009, 01:59 AM

9/9/09 is gonna break my wallet between Rockband Beatles and this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BSHWUU/ref=s9_simb_gw_xu_s0_p15_i1?

Milky Joe

08-10-2009, 02:40 AM

9/9/09 is gonna break my wallet between Rockband Beatles and this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BSHWUU/ref=s9_simb_gw_xu_s0_p15_i1?

Why not go for this (http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Mono-Box-Set/dp/B002BSHXJA/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b) instead? Mono Beatles 4 Lyfe.

EyesWideOpen

08-10-2009, 02:43 AM

Why not go for this (http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Mono-Box-Set/dp/B002BSHXJA/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b) instead? Mono Beatles 4 Lyfe.

Haha, me and my wife were just talking about that. But no yeah I'm going for the stereo version.

Acapelli

08-10-2009, 02:47 AM

Why not go for this (http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Mono-Box-Set/dp/B002BSHXJA/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b) instead? Mono Beatles 4 Lyfe.
only way to listen to those albums

and then get yellow submarine, abbey road and let it be separate

D_Davis

08-11-2009, 04:28 PM

This is a really neat release:

Off Land - Commute

http://www.restingbell.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/rb062_commute-276x276.jpg

Description
Let’s go back to 2006.
I used to hate my job, the dead-end brainless work.
Even more, I used to hate my commute.
An hour by subway what would take 20 minutes by car if I had owned one.
Everyday I walked to the subway, switching lines in town and took a 2nd line to the end.
I dreamed that one day the subway would take me past the last stop, just keep going.
Or maybe I would end up somewhere else, somewhere new.
Music was my salvation, my soundtrack, those two hours each day.
With or without music the commute was a score I listened to countless times.
On two occasions, for posterity, I recorded the commute.
Now it’s 2009 and my life has changed so much.
I look back into the dust of times and accompany a soundtrack to those days of travel.

This was my commute.

The Process: Commute is an experimental concept album about commuting. The album is the length of my commute in 2006. I recorded my commute four times (2 out and 2 back), overlapping all four audio recordings into one 68 minute sound collage. This soundscape became the foundation of the composition and the subtle ambiance heard throughout Commute. Tones were designated to various sounds; watery piano for people & chimes, dulcimer drones for cars, drums for rain & subway tracks, low drones for subway cars, and synths for general ambient noise. The structure was entirely in the hands of the field recording collage. It was my conscious decision however to break Commute up into three sections. Each section represents a different leg of the commute (1 - The walk to the subway / 2 - The ride downtown / 3 - The 2nd line outbound).
http://www.restingbell.net/releases/rb062-commute

Boner M

08-12-2009, 04:12 AM

Haha, my friend's band (Royal Headache) made the Forkcast today. Totally unexpected.

http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13244-eloise/

He plays bass.

D_Davis

08-12-2009, 04:15 AM

Haha, my friend's band (Royal Headache) made the Forkcast today. Totally unexpected.

http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13244-eloise/

He plays bass.

Awesome. Sounds like an old Guided by Voices tune and recording.

Boner M

08-12-2009, 04:19 AM

Awesome. Sounds like an old Guided by Voices tune and recording.
Yup, they're all big GBV fans. A pretty refreshingly happy band, considering much of the Sydney scene is full of 'tortured' Birthday Party/Nick Cave knockoffs (some of which I like, but still). More songs here (http://www.myspace.com/royalheadache).

Milky Joe

08-12-2009, 04:23 AM

Yes! More bands should sound like that. Your friend is on the right track.

D_Davis

08-12-2009, 04:22 PM

Attention noise and drone fans...

My friend, Sirago 17, has recently made available his collection titled Brainwaves. Check it out.

http://www.rottingamerica.com/rot/images/covers/rot017.jpg

title: Brainwaves
cat. no.: ROT017
year: 1999

Digital soundscapes for practical speaker destruction. Strip mining areas already perfected by Aphex Twin, E.A.R., Whitehouse, and maybe even Eno. Great to play at people.

http://www.rottingamerica.com/rot/html/discography/releases/rot017.html

Sven

08-13-2009, 11:04 PM

Kurosawa Fan

08-13-2009, 11:21 PM

Whoa. Cat Stevens, sorry... Yusuf Islam released a new album in May. How did I miss that? I loved An Other Cup, so I definitely know what I'm getting myself for my birthday. The clips on iTunes sound amazing.

He played a song on The Colbert Report that was quite good, but for some reason I haven't picked up the album either.

*rectifies*

Spaceman Spiff

08-14-2009, 07:17 PM

Haha, my friend's band (Royal Headache) made the Forkcast today. Totally unexpected.

http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13244-eloise/

He plays bass.

Fair play to your mate. Solid music, that.

Sven

08-16-2009, 01:14 AM

Really liking Deserters Songs, Mercury Rev. I'm not a fan of that fragile, high-pitched male rock voice, but the music is fantastic.

D_Davis

08-16-2009, 03:09 PM

Really liking Deserters Songs, Mercury Rev. I'm not a fan of that fragile, high-pitched male rock voice, but the music is fantastic.

It's a great album - although I still prefer Boces. I liked them more when they were more experimental and noisy. But DS is great, too. It's their last really good album.

D_Davis

08-16-2009, 05:17 PM

David Bazan's solo album finally comes out 09/01.

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Bless This Mess (http://barsukmusic.blaireau.net/DavidBazan_BlessThisMess.mp3)

D_Davis

08-18-2009, 09:27 PM

New one from Distance Recordings released today:

Cheer - Dawn Chorus (http://www.distancerecordings.com/dist015.php)

http://www.distancerecordings.com/img/DIST015_250.jpg

This month we're excited to bring you this new release from Glasgow's Alec Cheer. These guitar improvisations were recorded straight to hard disc via a minimal FX chain, in the midst of an unusually warm Scottish summer, with minor overdubbing added later. The result being two wonderfully absorbing long-form guitar pieces. Available in MP3 (320kbps), and FLAC (lossless) formats as always.

It's good, and free.

Sven

08-22-2009, 02:16 AM

I'm beginning to feel a new passion a-kindlin': Frank Black. Always liked the Pixies, but Black's stuff is off the hook. Only heard the first two albums, but would not hesitate awarding high honors to either.

Are there any contemporary bands that take a cue from him? I mean, this stuff is raw, impassioned, expert, and best of all, fun. Great melodies, wonderful guitar playing, his voice... fuhgeddaboutit.

D_Davis

08-22-2009, 06:01 AM

Are there any contemporary bands that take a cue from him? I mean, this stuff is raw, impassioned, expert, and best of all, fun. Great melodies, wonderful guitar playing, his voice... fuhgeddaboutit.

Maybe the Kings of Leon? I love those dudes. Just good rock, with great hooks, good lyrics, and tons of passion.

Justin

08-26-2009, 05:15 PM

Has anyone listened to anything by Dead Man's Bones? It is Ryan Gosling's band which is basically just him, Zach Shields, and a choir. It is surprisingly good, kind of like a creepier Arcade Fire. Here is a video for Name in Stone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEvF7qUf2Pc

D_Davis

08-31-2009, 07:18 AM

So I may be partnering with a guy to start a netlabel. Should be pretty sweet.

D_Davis

08-31-2009, 09:43 PM

A new, short live set from Planet Boelex:

http://planet.boelex.org/news/live-recording-from-les-digitales-switzerland

Very cool, kind of Orb-like with its use of vocal samples. Laid back, down tempo, and well produced. It's highly cinematic, invoking lush imagery.

D_Davis

09-02-2009, 01:24 PM

This new David Bazan album could possibly be my album of the year. It speaks to me in a unique way. It's personal, gut wrenching, and wonderfully written and produced.

MadMan

10-08-2009, 09:08 PM

The Top 15 Albums I've listened to in 2009 (culled from 51 albums total):

1. Illinoise, Sufjan Stevens
2. London Calling-The Clash
3. Attack and Release-The Black Keys
4. The Ghost of Tom Joad-Bruce Springsteen
5. Who's Next-The Who
6. Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!-Godspeed You! Black Emperor
7. Parachutes-Coldplay
8. Guero-Beck
9. Kid A-Radiohead
10. Daydream Nation-Sonic Youth
11. Funeral-Aracade Fire
12. Vampire Weekend-Vampire Weekend
13. After the Gold Rush-Neil Young
14. thickfreakness-The Black Keys
15. The Queen is Dead-The Smiths

The first seven get ****/****, the rest ***1/2 out of ****