Discuss the Musics Thread

[Idioteque Stalker]

I haven't heard it yet, but do you normally think jazz sounds cheesy?

It depends. I find a lot of more contemporary jazz (let's say the last 20-30 years, and certainly not all of it) to be very non-confrontational, easy going, same-y, if admittedly virtuosic. Matana Roberts and most of the Brainfeeder stuff are not cheesy, to give recent examples, but Golden Age of Apocalypse lacks the edginess of the music I've been exposed to that seems to be progressing the form. As much as I like my music to have a bit of utility, I shouldn't be able to play this shit for my grandma.

[MadMan]

Continuing my trek through The Beatles discography, I found Let It Be to be really great, and a fine send off for the group as they ended their career. Also I realized that looking back my rating for The White Album should be a lot higher, although for now I actually prefer the band's last disc to that one slightly. My local library has a couple of their earlier discs so I'll give those a listen, and when I can fork over the dough I'll eventually purchase Magical Mystery Tour, which I believe is the last major release of theirs I haven't heard yet.

[Thirdmango]

I think I hallucinated last night while listening to the Jackson 5.

[endingcredits]

A new Tom Waits track called Bad As Me has been released. It sounds like Marc Ribot on guitar.

http://soundcloud.com/antirecords/tom-waits-bad-as-me

[SirNewt]

RxRy remixes some very iconic music (http://rxryryrx.blogspot.com/2011/08/4eroport-brian-eno-remix.html).

[Sven]

Steely Dan: paragon of lyrical genius. Discuss.

[ledfloyd]

Steely Dan: paragon of lyrical genius. Discuss.
they're certainly the paragon of some kind of genius.

[transmogrifier]

Steely Dan: paragon of lyrical genius. Discuss.

Well, they certainly didn't waste any of that lyrical genius on their name.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Well, they certainly didn't waste any of that lyrical genius on their name.

:lol::lol::lol:

Nice.

[number8]

For the longest time I thought Childish Gambino does joke raps. Because I automatically associate Donald Glover with humor, I guess. Just listened to his albums today and boy, was I wrong. This is... pretty good, actually.

[number8]

This is just excellent.

CASRoCu28Fg

[Derek]

Well, they certainly didn't waste any of that lyrical genius on their name.

It's from Naked Lunch dude.

[transmogrifier]

It's from Naked Lunch dude.

Doesn't make the name any better. A little worse, actually, seeing as it is kind of frat-boyish to name your band after a dildo.

Heh heh. A dildo.

[Sven]

They embrace the entire spectrum of class, Steely Dan. The best writers would, because that's life.

[MadMan]

I've heard only a couple of Steely Dan's songs, and I can't say I like them all that much. Still there's still hope-I recall when I used to not like Jethroll Tull or Fleetwood Mac, either.

[Derek]

I've heard only a couple of Steely Dan's songs, and I can't say I like them all that much. Still there's still hope-I recall when I used to not like Jethroll Tull or Fleetwood Mac, either.

It's a jazz-rock fusion that definitely alienates a lot of people. I love them, but I understand why some consider them a little cheesy.

Have you heard "Peg" or "Hey Nineteen"? Probably my favorite tracks of theirs.

uiXez2XNVtU

ipc9pL27krs

[MadMan]

Yeah I've heard Peg before, and sorry man but I'm not a fan. The same goes for Hey Nineteen, too.

Funny enough I kind of enjoy Rikki Don't Lose That Number as a guilty pleasure.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

So my computer got stolen about a month and a half ago, and I decided that with a new hard drive I'd begin a new iTunes library with only music I'd neglected up 'til now. I've still got a large portion of my old music on an external, but I typically download way too much and subsequently never delete the music that underwhelms me. At any rate, here are the albums I've acquired to fill my new library so farrrrr:

The Apples in Stereo - Fun Trick Noisemaker
Beulah - The Coast is Never Clear
Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost
Das Racist - Relax
Do Make Say Think - & Yet & Yet
Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer
Elliott Smith - XO
Fennesz - Endless Summer
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (Jon Brion Version)
Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here
Jens Lekman - An Argument With Myself (EP)
Jim O'Rourke - Halfway to a Threeway
Kinks - The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster
Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
Manitoba - Up in Flames
Menomena - I Am the Fun Blame Monster
Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs
My Morning Jacket - At Dawn
of Montreal - thecontrollersphere (EP)
OutKast - Aquemini
Paul McCartney - Ram
Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
PJ Harvey - Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea
Prince - Sign O' The Times
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentleman, We Are Floating in Space
St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People (EP)
Sun Airway - Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier
Super Furry Animals - Guerrilla
tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l
Vashti Bunyan - Just Another Diamond Day
Why? - Oaklandazulasylum
Wilco - The Whole Love

[Boner M]

For me, Steely Dan have gone from being 'fuck this jazzbo dad shit' to 'one of the best bands evah' in the span of a few years.

Rockin' this now:

olbmJMJA4Lc

[MadMan]

'fuck this jazzbo dad shit'Yep that's how I think of Steely Dan at the moment.

Plashy I looked over your list and I realize that even though I knew many of the bands/artists, I have not listened to any of those albums. I should try and rectify that in the future.

[Derek]

"This is one song that goes on for six hours, yeah. Now I’ve realized, it’s insane. When we started doing it, it didn’t seem like it was that big of a deal. So we were like, “Yeah, we’ll do a song that is six hours long – it will be fun.” But then you get into it and your like ‘Fuck, what the fuck were we thinking?”

:lol:

[BuffaloWilder]

Anybody pick up Sleep-Over's full-length album, Forever, yet? "Romantic Streams" is euphoric.

pbbOOlYyWlw

[MadMan]

Thirdmango it took me 6 months due to me endlessly forgetting my LastFM password, but I sent you a friend request.

Right now I'm listening to Moby's latest album, Destroyed. I can't remember who mentioned it here, but I like it a lot so far. I also grabbed three Beatles albums and REM's latest from my public library as well.

[Qrazy]

Made my first mash-up the other day. It's a combination of Jay-z's encore (lyrics) and Ben Benjamin's Hypertexan with some audio effects and some old audio film clips added by yours truly.

http://www.mediafire.com/?d9pdh2r2httpzqc

[Qrazy]

New mash up. This one is Caribou+Mos def+Talib Kweli+The Beatles. The vocals are slightly off in one or two places but I couldn't be assed to diddle with timestretch anymore to fix it so... here it is!

http://www.mediafire.com/?s5zjpn9skotxx7u

[Qrazy]

Come on wankers.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Didn't much care for it at first, but I'm really starting to warm up to Biophilia. This is probably her most challenging album (along with Medulla)--"Dark Matter" is some of the most beautiful atonal nonsense I've ever heard.

Has anybody messed with the app(s) yet?

[Russ]

I just dl'ed a 6 disc DVD comp entitled Krautrock and Beyond. Check out this awesome tracklist:

Tracklist DVD1:


01. AMON DÜÜL II: Eye-Shaking King (1970)
02. GURU GURU: Der LSD-Marsche (1970)
03. CAN: Deadlock (1970)
04. TON STEINE SCHERBEN: Macht Kaputt, Was Euch Kaputt Macht (1970)
05. JOY UNLIMITED: Oh Darling (1970)
06. KIN PING MEH: Everything's My Way (1970)
07. XHOL CARAVAN: All Green (1970)
08. KRAFTWERK: Ruckzuck (1970)
09. AMON DÜÜL II: Between The Eyes (1970)
10. FRUMPY: Indian Rope Man (1971)
11. TANGERINE DREAM: Ossiach Lake (1971)
12. CAN: Paperhouse (1971)
13. TON STEINE SCHERBEN: Solidartät (1971)
14. RUFUS ZUPHALL: Portland Town (1971)
15. FLOH DE COLOGNE: Wir Stehen Am Rande (1971)
16. LUCIFER'S FRIEND: Ride The Sky (1971)
17. HOTZENPLOTZ: Untitled (1971)
18. AMON DÜÜL II: Kronwinkl 13 (1971)
19. EMERGENCY: Times Passed By (1971)


Tracklist DVD2:


01. DIES IRAE: Trip (1971)
02. POPOL VUH: Bettina (1971)
03. ET CETERA: Jam Session (1971)
04. KRAFTWERK: Ruckstoß-Gondoliere (1971)
05. BRÖSELMASCHINE: Light Flight (1971)
06. FRUMPY: How The Gypsy Was Born (1971)
07. EPITAPH: Early Morning (1971)
08. HÖLDERLIN: Requiem Für Einen Wicht (1971)
09. EPITAPH: Stop, Look & Listen (1972)
10. FRUMPY: Goin' To The Country (1972)
11. SUBJECT ESQUIRE: Grass (1973)
12. POPOL VUH: Kyrie (1973)
13. KIN PING MEH: Sunday Morning Eve (1973)
14. TRITONUS: Untitled (1973)
15. SCORPIONS: This Is My Song (1973)
16. KLAUS DOLDINGER'S PASSPORT: Schirokko (1973)

Tracklist DVD3:

01. ATLANTIS: Days Of Giving (1973)
02. KRAAN: Jerk Of Life (1974)
03. KARTHAGO: Goin' Down (1974)
04. TIGER B. SMITH: We're The Tiger Bunch (1974)
05. SCORPIONS: Speedy's Coming (1974)
06. HÖLDERLIN: Honeypot (1975)
07. KIN PING MEH: Good Time Gracie (1975)
08. SEESELBERG: Synthetic (1975)
09. FRANZ K.: Au Weia, Mensch Meier (1976)
10. TANGERINE DREAM: Barock 3 (1976)
11. OUGENWEIDE: Willkommen (1976)
12. HÖLDERLIN: Circus (1976)
13. KLAUS SCHULZE: For Barry Graves (1976)
14. ELOY: The Sun Song (1977)
15. CAN: Don't Say No (1977)
16. NOVALIS: Sonnenwende (1978)
17. EMBRYO: Try To Do (1978)
18. BRÖSELMASCHINE: Gedanken (2005)
19. TANGERINE DREAM: Jeanne D'Arc [Excerpt] (2005)

Tracklist DVD4:

01. AMON DÜÜL II: Kanaan (1969)
02. WITTHUSER & WESTRUPP: Kinderlied Fur Erwachsene (1969)
03. PETARDS: On The Road With My Bag (1969)
04. WONDERLAND: Love's A Murder (1969)
05. XHOL CARAVAN: Talking To My Soul (1969)
06. AMON DÜÜL II: Soap Shop Rock (1970)
07. ORGANISATION: Ruckzuck (1970)
08. CAN: Mother Sky (1970)
09. PETARDS: Too Many Heavens (1970)
10. AMON DÜÜL II: Eye-Shaking King (1970)
11. XHOL CARAVAN: Oszillogram (1970)
12. TANGERINE DREAM: Ricochet 1 (1971)
13. ET CETERA: Raga Lady/Blue Thursday Morning/Sunrise (1971)
14. GURU GURU: Electric Junk (1971)
15. FLOH DE COLOGNE: Die Luft Gehört Denen, Die Sie Atmen (1971)
16. RATTLES: You Can't Have Sunshine Everyday (1971)
17. KLAUS DOLDINGER'S PASSPORT: Uranus (1971)
18. ELOY: Walk Alone (1971)
19. CAN: Halleluwah (1971)

Tracklist DVD5:

01. TON STEINE SCHERBEN: Ich Will Nicht Werden, Was Mein Alter Ist (1971)
02. KRAFTWERK: Köln II (1971)
03. BIRTH CONTROL: The Work Is Done (1971)
04. BRÖSELMASCHINE: [I Once Loved] Lassie (1971)
05. JOY UNLIMITED: Everybody Knows (1971)
06. POPOL VUH: Improvisation (Untitled) (1971)
07. FRUMPY: Take Care Of Illusion (1971)
08. EPITAPH: Crossroads (1972)
09. KRAAN: Sarahs Ritt Durch Den Schwarzwald (1972)
10. SCORPIONS: I'm Going Mad (1972)
11. TON STEINE SCHERBEN: Allein Machen Sie Dich Ein (1972)
12. CAN: Vitamin C (1972)
13. GURU GURU: Oxymoron (1972)
14. GURU GURU: Gamma Ray (1972)
15. ATLANTIS: Let's Get On The Road Again (1973)
16. JACQUES PERROTT & KIN PING MEH: Allegro From The 40th Symphony By WA Mozart (1973)
17. GROBSCHNITT: Solar Music (1973)
18. TON STEINE SCHERBEN: Wir Mussen Hier Raus (1973)
19. GURU GURU: Africa Steals The Show (1973)
20. EPITAPH: Woman 60 (1974)
21. TIGER B.SMITH: Tiger Rock (1974)
22. ACHIM REICHEL: Eisenpferde (1974)
23. GIFT: Got To Find A Way (1974)


Tracklist DVD6:

01. CAN: I'm Too Leise (1974)
02. AMON DÜÜL II: Surrounded By The Stars (1975)
03. TRITONUS: Far In The Sky (1975)
04. KRAAN: Hello, Ja, Ja, I Don't Know (1975)
05. HÖLDERLIN: I Love My Dog (1975)
06. UDO LINDBERG & PANIKORCHESTER: Rudi Ratlos (1976)
07. RANDY PIE: Goin' Through The Motions (1976)
08. ELSTER SILBERFLUG: Es Wollt 'Ein Schneider Wandern (1976)
09. EPSILON: Sadness (1976)
10. ELOY: Midnight Fight (1977)
11. CAN: Dizzy Dizzy (1977)
12. NOVALIS: Werr Schmetterlinge Lachen Hört (1976)
13. KRAAN: Vollgas Ahoi (1977)
14. JANE: Expectation (1977)
15. KRAFTWERK: Die Roboter (1978)
16. SCORPIONS: He's A Woman, She's A Man (1978)
17. TANGERINE DREAM: Mädchen Aufe Der Treppe (1982)
18. BRÖSELMASCHINE: Bei Uns Zu Haus (1988)
19. MICHAEL ROTHER: C-Molle (2005)
20. DIETER MOEBIUS: Born Neo (2005)


This is going to keep me busy for a long time! :pritch:

[D_Davis]

WANT!

[Derek]

I just dl'ed a 6 disc DVD comp entitled Krautrock and Beyond. Check out this awesome tracklist:

This is going to keep me busy for a long time! :pritch:

WOW, that's awesome! Report back on any of the more obscure highlights for sure. There's quite a few bands there that I've never even heard of so it's research time.

[D_Davis]

Very disappointed with the way the new Beach Boy's Smile Sessions is laid out. The first disc should contain ONLY the original album, and not any bonus material. The bonus material at the end of the disc disturbs the flow of the entire album - Smile should end with "Good Vibrations." The end. Period. The bonus content should appear on the supplemental discs.

[Russ]

D, have you listened to all of Crazy Clown Time yet? It's dark, mysterious, brimming with twangy tales of inner madness and oh yeah it's FUCKING GREAT.

So yeah, recommended.

[D_Davis]

D, have you listened to all of Crazy Clown Time yet? It's dark, mysterious, brimming with twangy tales of inner madness and oh yeah it's FUCKING GREAT.

So yeah, recommended.

I have not, but I plan to soon.

[ledfloyd]

i thought it was kind of terrible, on a musical level anyway.

[D_Davis]

D, have you listened to all of Crazy Clown Time yet? It's dark, mysterious, brimming with twangy tales of inner madness and oh yeah it's FUCKING GREAT.

So yeah, recommended.

Listened to it last night - loved it. I love the way Lynch produces his music. His guitar tone, the use of reverb, and his lyrical phrasing is always great. If anything, he simply proves that he is a master of mood and atmosphere both the visual and audio spectrum. His work with Badalamenti and Neff is great, but I often wondered just how much of that was actually from Lynch, and now I know - a great deal of it.

[Milky Joe]

Very disappointed with the way the new Beach Boy's Smile Sessions is laid out. The first disc should contain ONLY the original album, and not any bonus material. The bonus material at the end of the disc disturbs the flow of the entire album - Smile should end with "Good Vibrations." The end. Period. The bonus content should appear on the supplemental discs.

The 2xLP version does this. Or, at least, the album is on sides 1, 2, and 3 (side 2 ends with "Surf's Up," 3 ends with "GV") and then side 4 has supplemental songs.

[Ivan Drago]

The new Justice album does not equal their debut album, but it's still pretty fucking awesome.

[Glass Co.]

I'm really not a fan. I like the idea of incorporating a more 70s had rock style, but it completely pales to their debut in execution.

[kopello]

I don't think it's to early to call "Hell Broke Luce" my song of the year.

left.right.left

[Acapelli]

it sucks

[kopello]

nou

But really, it's such a raw and ugly song, it's something only he could pull off. I can understand it not being for everyone though.

[Acapelli]

was talking about the justice album, haven't listened to the tom waits

[MadMan]

Hard Day's Night is pretty fantastic. I have a couple other albums from The Beatles checked out from the library, and then after that all I think all I'll have left to hear from them is probably a couple of lesser known albums and or collections of B-sides.

[EyesWideOpen]

The Beatles don't really have lesser known albums.

[D_Davis]

I feel like I am working in the Red Room today, with music provided David Lynch and Chrysta Bell.

[D_Davis]

Crazy Clown Time is excellent.

[D_Davis]

The newest Bill Callahan album, Apocalypse, is so minimal and threadbare that it's almost anemic, but there is just enough sparse instrumentation and mystery to keep things interesting and memorable.

*****

Don't Blame the Stars, the last album by The Black Swans, is dang good. Well, let me rephrase - half of it is dang good. Each song is preceded by a spoken word introduction, and I'm not really feeling that. However, the songs are amazing.

[MadMan]

Beatles albums (out of the ones I've listened to, out of ****):

1. Abby Road-****
2. Sergent Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band-****
3. Let It Be-****
4. The White Album-****
5. Magical Mystery Tour-****
6. A Hard Day's Night-****
7. Revolver-*** 1/2
8. Help!-*** 1/2
9. Rubber Soul-***

And as far as hits collections go, 1 is fantastic. Got it for X-Mas when, well, I think I was either in 8th or 9th grade. Made a fan of the band, and I've been tracking down their albums ever since.

Oh and whoever said that Moby's latest, Destroyed, was good was indeed correct. I thought it was near great, actually. He's settling into a nice grove as of late.

[D_Davis]

Oh and whoever said that Moby's latest, Destroyed, was good was indeed correct. I thought it was near great, actually. He's settling into a nice grove as of late.


That was me. :)

I'm probably the last person in the world to still like Moby and U2.

It's a great album. It will definitely be making my best of 2011 list.

[D_Davis]

Joanna Newsom's inspiration?

KppaDz6oAYE

;)

[Derek]

Joanna Newsom's inspiration?

KppaDz6oAYE

;)

:lol:

I was not expecting that and as much as I love JoNew, that made me burst out laughing.

[Derek]

Also, a hearty congratulations to the new most retarded music genre to arise. Let's hear it for "footwork".

:rolleyes:

[D_Davis]

:lol:

I was not expecting that and as much as I love JoNew, that made me burst out laughing.

Heh...I couldn't help myself. My friend sent me the link saying it was an outtake from the latest Bjork album, and I replied "More like Joanna Newsom."

BTW - JoNew. Hilarious.

[MadMan]

That was me. :)

I'm probably the last person in the world to still like Moby and U2.

It's a great album. It will definitely be making my best of 2011 list.Hey I still love U2 and Moby as well.

Haven't listened to a great deal from this year, so for now I'd say it stands a chance at cracking my best of 2011 list, too.

Thanks for the rec :cool:

[Idioteque Stalker]

Gonna go ahead and give Derek credit for calling out my comment about "music being weird lately," which I made earlier this year. Nearing year's end, I must admit to not hearing anything as next-level as my #1 of 2010, Cosmogramma, but my top 20 is a bit more exclusive in 2011. Albums I thought would surely land a spot in my top 10 are now barely cracking the list.

And it must be noted how stellar a year it was for ambient music and relative newcomers.

[D_Davis]

And it must be noted how stellar a year it was for ambient music

I thought it was an OK year, but nothing compared to the last two years.

While we got two of the absolute best ambient albums I've ever heard (from Marconi Union and John Foxx & Harold Budd (this album rivals Budd's work with Eno)), I didn't hear a lot else that totally wowed me. There is still stuff that I liked a lot, but my top-list this year contains fewer ambient albums than the last couple.

It was an amazing year for prog-rock/metal though. Opeth, Steven Wilson, Animals as Leaders and Scale the Summit all put out incredible albums, as well as the US release of Anathema's We're Here Because We're Here, which is still the best album I've heard this year.

What are some of your favorite ambient albums this year?

I enjoyed, among others:

Marconi Union - Beautifully Falling Apart
John Foxx & Harold Budd - Nighthawks
Robin Guthrie & Harold Budd - Bordeaux
Jason Sloan - (s)END
A Damned Age - Fragile
Doyeq - Untitled EP
Saito Koji - Luck
Safron Slumber - Somnogen
The Sight Below - Glider
Vishnu - Spacefolk (this was a 12/2010 release, but I'm counting it because it came out after I completed my best of 2010 list)
Sinerider - Ambivert
Even Abeele - Lineage EP

I noticed that the netlabel ambient scene wasn't as good this year as it has been. Granted I haven't been monitoring it as much sense I retired from Carl Sagan's Ghost, but netlabels I trusted a lot in the past were either completely silent, or they were releasing sub-par material.

[D_Davis]

Far from Moscow is a really cool netlabel located at Bandcamp that puts out compilations featuring all kinds of new music from Russia. Lot's of neat stuff.

http://farfrommoscow.bandcamp.com/album/oranges

[Idioteque Stalker]

What are some of your favorite ambient albums this year?

Pretty Awesome:
Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place
Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica
Demdike Stare - Tryptych
The Caretaker - An Empty Bliss Beyond this World

Standouts:
Sean McCann - The Capital
Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972
Grouper - A I A (this counts)

Most of these have already been mentioned here. I'll seek out the two you highlighted.

[D_Davis]

Cool thanks. I'll check some of those out.

I also highly recommend Somnogen, by Saffron Slumber (http://www.restingbell.net/releases/rb092-somnogen). And not just because it is free, or that he's a friend of mine. He's an ambient genius.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I just wanna say how much I fucking love "Paperhouse" by Can. That song is the bee's fucking knees. Probably my favorite song of theirs.

[Glass Co.]

I just wanna say how much I fucking love "Paperhouse" by Can. That song is the bee's fucking knees. Probably my favorite song of theirs.

Amazing song, but for me the dancability (shut up Chrome, that's a word) of Vitamin C remains tops. Krautrock in general may be the most entertaining discovery I ever made in the avenue of music. So many styles, that came out years or decades later in the Anglo world, mixed together.

[D_Davis]

So I think that Steve Kilbey's and Martin Kennedy's album, White Magic, is creeping dangerously close to overthrowing my current pick for album of the year. What a remarkable collection of songs; absolute, sonic perfection.

[B-side]

Damn, these Odd Future kids are crazy good.

[Acapelli]

Also, a hearty congratulations to the new most retarded music genre to arise. Let's hear it for "footwork".

:rolleyes:
juke/footwork has been around for ages

your post is :rolleyes:

[Derek]

juke/footwork has been around for ages

your post is :rolleyes:

Oh, then the new breed of it is getting increasing attention by the music press. Also, I was referring to the stupidity of the name, not the music itself, though what little I've heard from it is decidedly awful.

[D_Davis]

Oh, then the new breed of it is getting increasing attention by the music press. Also, I was referring to the stupidity of the name, not the music itself, though what little I've heard from it is decidedly awful.

Again I have to ask: are we all just being trolled by black people? I see no evidence to prove otherwise. Footwork, Like Bernie, T-Pain, Soulja Boy...that is some EPIC level trolling. Bravo.

[B-side]

Damn, these Odd Future kids are crazy good.

And this discovery has me now knowing where Acapelli's avatar is from. That's the best song I've heard from the group so far, and by the best artist among them, too. It should be noted I've only heard stuff from Tyler, Earl and Frank. I prefer them in that order.

[Derek]

Again I have to ask: are we all just being trolled by black people? I see no evidence to prove otherwise. Footwork, Like Bernie, T-Pain, Soulja Boy...that is some EPIC level trolling. Bravo.

Not to mention Odd Future...

*dodges acapelli's punch*

[D_Davis]

Not to mention Odd Future...

*dodges acapelli's punch*

"Bro, check this out. White people will think that anything we do is the shit."

[Acapelli]

derek, machinedrum is heavily juke/footwork inspired and i bet you would like them (he's also one-half of sepalcure)

8E-h87dRex4


soulja boy rules. odd future is pretty good. t-pain too. i like all these things unironically

[Derek]

derek, machinedrum is heavily juke/footwork inspired and i bet you would like them (he's also one-half of sepalcure)

Oh cool, I liked Room(s) a lot. Haven't heard of Sepalcure. I'll have to check them out.

[dreamdead]

It was an amazing year for prog-rock/metal though. Opeth, Steven Wilson, Animals as Leaders and Scale the Summit all put out incredible albums, as well as the US release of Anathema's We're Here Because We're Here, which is still the best album I've heard this year.


Glad you found the Anathema release. I imported it back in Spring and it continues to be impressive, especially the flow of those first 4 songs--"Dreaming Light" remains a nigh-masterpiece in the alternative genre.

I haven't given the new StS album a thorough listen yet, but I enjoyed their prior album. I should look into this one more. I'm apathetic to the change in Opeth's sound, though; the heavy '70s keyboard emphasis that's been so prevalent the past few albums just seems so pitiful compared to the earlier albums' acoustic guitar emphasis. And I feel, like others in metal communities, feel disenfranchised by the lack of death metal vocals.

I need to give the Wolves in the Throne Room and Blut Aus Nord releases more attention as the year winds up...

[D_Davis]

I like the lack of the growling on the new Opeth - I'm just not into that style. My favorite from them is Damnation, but I also love the new one. It just feels so mature.

But I can understand how a longtime fan would fee disenfranchised.

The first 5 tracks on We're Here.... are incredible. The whole album is fantastic, but damn, those first five tunes are really something special.

I think the new Animals As Leaders is slightly better than the new Scale the Summit - it is, at least, more ambitious and adventurous. And if there is a better guitarist making music right now than Tosin Abasi, I have yet to hear him.

I haven't heard those other two you mentioned.

[D_Davis]

I need to give the Wolves in the Throne Room and Blut Aus Nord releases more attention as the year winds up...

So I listened to some of these today - totally not my thing. :)
Just not into the death metal.

[Yxklyx]

So was considering getting my first IPOD - anyone have recommendations on which to get?

[MadMan]

http://www.inkoma.com/pages/news/09_08/Sonic_Youth_Goo_goo.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/megamp3n/DwightYoakam-ThisTime.jpg

So far I dig both a lot. I figured that since both only cost me $5 a piece, I wouldn't care too much if they weren't utterly amazing or anything.

I got a free iPod mini when I bought my Mac laptop back in 2008, so I really don't know anything about buying iPods. If I ever buy another MP3 player it will probably be a halfway decent cheap one.

[Derek]

Madman, please never put Sonic Youth and Dwight Yoakam in the same post again. It's just not right and god knows what effect it will have on trans when he sees it...

[MadMan]

Madman, please never put Sonic Youth and Dwight Yoakam in the same post again. It's just not right and god knows what effect it will have on trans when he sees it...Hey what can I say? I know what I like :lol:

Really I just went to Barnes and Noble to pick up a pre-ordered copy of Tokyo Drifter (great movie btw). I then got bored, looked through their $5.00 section, and spotted both those CDs. Figured, eh, what the hell, I'll get both.

[D_Davis]

Nothing wrong with Dwight Yoakam at all.

This albums right here is amazing.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31LraLGpzAL._SS400_.jpg

[MadMan]

I love Yoakam mostly for his incredible ability to properly channel Buck Owens. He even recently released an album of Owens covers, I believe. Been a pretty solid fan of his since the early 90s, when I was a kid. Spent most of my childhood listening to only country music-it wasn't until I hit middle school that I branched out into pop and rock 'n' roll.

[Thirdmango]

sometimes I'm an idiot. I've had the outkast idlewild album for a while and when I listened to Call The Law I thought, "this girl on this is pretty good, I should look her up." Well I looked up Janelle Monae tonight for a different reason and now I want all of her stuff because she's simply fantastic and I'm pissed at myself for not looking into her sooner.

[dreamdead]

So according to the AVClub's consensus (http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-best-music-of-2011,66004/), I should love Wye Oak's release from this year. Is this correct, MC? Thoughts on this and Washed Out? (I'm looking at you, Derek)

[Thirdmango]

I went to avclub to look for an album and one of the highest rated was Doomtree's No Kings. I'm glad I looked it up cause it was really good, surprised it wasn't on the consensus.

[Acapelli]

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16074-camp/

ooooooof

p4k ethered donald glover

[EyesWideOpen]

New The Roots album is $3.99 on amazon mp3 right now:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006B3975Y/ref=dm_ty_alb

[ledfloyd]

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16074-camp/

ooooooof

p4k ethered donald glover
there are some very legitimate complaints in that review but nothing to justify that score. i say this as someone who loves the album.

[MadMan]

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16074-camp/

ooooooof

p4k ethered donald gloverI'm still considering buying it, though. Mostly because hey its Donald Glover.

[EyesWideOpen]

It's probably my most disappointing album of the year.

[Acapelli]

really don't see the point of listening to childish gambino. sounds like a half-assed kanye/drake

[Dead & Messed Up]

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16074-camp/

ooooooof

p4k ethered donald glover

This is what I was wondering about. Obviously I dig on Glover, and I think he raps reasonably well (although Pitchfork does point out his "pubescent squeak"), but his aping of hip-hop bravado would make more sense if he had legitimate cause to display it. My knowledge of hip-hop is limited, but it seems like there's a lot more value in someone like Eminem or Jay-Z dropping boastful rhymes about success and getting honeys and blah blah, because they're speaking from the experience of someone who's been through a lot and, on a narrative level, earned the achievements they check off. That without going into general grievances of self-promotion and posturing as the dominant thread of popular hip-hop.

If Glover were poking a hole in that approach, I'd be more receptive, but he seems to be playing it straight, which leaves me a little bewildered. It all seems so thin.

[Yxklyx]

Has anyone here converted vinyl to mp3? I'm using Sound Forge Audio Studio 9.0 and it does a horrible job at splitting the tracks. Looking for some better software.

[D_Davis]

What do you mean by "does a horrible job at splitting the tracks?" With Soundforge you can set markers (just press the M-key where you want the marker to be), and then just double-click and it will auto-select all of the audio between two markers. Just set markers at the beginning and ending of each track, double click, copy, and past the selected audio into a new project.

Or did you mean something else?

[Yxklyx]

What do you mean by "does a horrible job at splitting the tracks?" With Soundforge you can set markers (just press the M-key where you want the marker to be), and then just double-click and it will auto-select all of the audio between two markers. Just set markers at the beginning and ending of each track, double click, copy, and past the selected audio into a new project.

Or did you mean something else?

I was hoping for software that would could distinguish tracks automatically based on the decibel level and time lapse. I did find one that does that but the actual sound quality is pretty awful.

[D_Davis]

I was hoping for software that would could distinguish tracks automatically based on the decibel level and time lapse. I did find one that does that but the actual sound quality is pretty awful.

You could probably set it to place markers at certain transients (setting a dB threshold), but it would probably be quicker and easier to just do it by hand.

[Spun Lepton]

Discovered Die Antwoord last night. Bizarre and a little comical. Apparently the band members are all fictional characters created by the people playing them.

Haven't decided whether I'll pick up one of their CDs ...

Just FYI, in case you decide to surf for their stuff while at work: Don't. Very NSFW lyrics and videos.

Anybody else heard them? Opinions?

[ledfloyd]

http://ledfloyd18.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/2011-the-year-in-music/

my favorite stuff this year.

[D_Davis]

Hurry up February 21....PLEASE!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51X9B3E1mWL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[Thirdmango]

I listened to a whole bunch of Beach Boys, I will say I really don't think they're my bag, but the album I did like the most was Sunflower.

[D_Davis]

Sunflower is a masterpiece. Post Pet Sounds BB FTW.

[Thirdmango]

Sunflower is a masterpiece. Post Pet Sounds BB FTW.

It was actually because you're a Ween fan which got me to give them a try. I got a hold of a lot of their stuff and started doing it in order. There were a couple of songs I was liking here and there, in the early years it was mostly songs I had already heard and instrumentals I was liking, then I got to the Christmas album and I was like, "I can't do a Christmas album, let's go to Davis' list, ah, I should just skip to Pet Sounds." While Pet Sounds was a lot better then anything before it, I don't think it's something I'll be putting in again any time soon.

Sunflower however felt a bit drugged up which felt nice for a band that had been so rehearsed up to that point. I don't know if that's actually the case but it felt nice that it was good and a bit raw as well.

[D_Davis]

All of their post Pet Sounds albums are awesome.

Sunflower
Surf's Up
20/20
Friends
Wild Honey
Carl and the Passions - So Tough
Holland
Smile
Landlocked

I don't really listen to anything else, not even Pet Sounds much.

[Raiders]

The Pop Winds' The Turquoise is already, after only two listens, among my favorite albums ever. So sad that they broke up so quickly. Would love to have seen them live. I mean, this song is pretty much the best pop song ever:

-_XNKi7fM-k

Definitely an album for those who loved AC's Merriweather Post Pavilion.

[Derek]

The Pop Winds' The Turquoise is already, after only two listens, among my favorite albums ever. So sad that they broke up so quickly. Would love to have seen them live. I mean, this song is pretty much the best pop song ever:

Definitely an album for those who loved AC's Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Didn't realize they broke up - that blows. The Turquoise was on my list last year Raiders...pay attention! :)

[Derek]

And Pet Sounds really needs no defense, so I'll just chime in with a 'Davis is nutty' right about now.

[D_Davis]

And Pet Sounds really needs no defense, so I'll just chime in with a 'Davis is nutty' right about now.

It's not bad, it's just not an album that I think of when I think about listening to the Beach Boys.

[D_Davis]

Lots of codeine + some alcohol + headphones + the Devin Townsend Project's Ghost = falling through my bed into the heart of the universe, having a transcendent experience as I witness pure sonic perfection. Townsend takes the wall of sound production techniques to heights never before reached, and has created was is most definitely one of the greatest albums of all time.

[D_Davis]

I am going to be spending loads of time sifting through this catalog.

http://freemusicarchive.org/file/images/curators/New_Weird_Australia_-_20111223201340398.jpg?width=2 90&height=169 (http://freemusicarchive.org/label/New_Weird_Australia/)

[SirNewt]

I've long been a fan of Aphex Twin. But 'Selected Ambient Works, Vol. II' has always been rather opaque to me. It's often heralded by critics and fans but I've never been able to penetrate it. Today, (with some chemical assistance) I've been chilling out and coding and at long last absorbing this lengthy album.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I've long been a fan of Aphex Twin. But 'Selected Ambient Works, Vol. II' has always been rather opaque to me. It's often heralded by critics and fans but I've never been able to penetrate it. Today, (with some chemical assistance) I've been chilling out and coding and at long last absorbing this lengthy album.


My #1 study album. I find that my papers always get all weepy and convicted whenever Licken or Rhubarb come on. The whole thing's kinda creepy. Cliffs is probably my favorite.

[D_Davis]

I've long been a fan of Aphex Twin. But 'Selected Ambient Works, Vol. II' has always been rather opaque to me. It's often heralded by critics and fans but I've never been able to penetrate it. Today, (with some chemical assistance) I've been chilling out and coding and at long last absorbing this lengthy album.

I'm really not into Aphex Twin's ambient stuff at all, and I'm like the ambient guy. It's very '90s sounding, and that was probably my least favorite decade for ambient-style music (even though there are many great ambient albums from the '90s, there was also a huge glut of really terrible things birthed out of the whole "chill out room" scene in the rave culture, and even some of the better albums haven't aged very well).

It wouldn't even make it on my top 50 ambient albums list, and probably not even on a top 100.

[D_Davis]

I might try putting together a top 50 ambient list.

[D_Davis]

While looking back at the ambient music from the 1990s, I realized how many amazing albums there were. However, when I simply think about the decade's ambient music, I almost always think about the glut of really bland, dull techno that was constantly passed off as "ambient." (lots of lame tribal stuff with really boring beats and sounds) What a weird decade. There were many creative albums from some great artists, but even a lot of the really good stuff kind of sounds the same.

[dreamdead]

So I'm watching a live feed of Sleigh Bells perform in NYC. They started at 10:45 EST. They will finish around 11:40. I remember people noting how they'd only perform for about 25 minutes after their first album, but it's ludicrous to finish a headlining concert under an hour.

Also, has anyone seen St. Vincent live? Is it worth it? I worry that it'll be so close to the album version of the material that there will be little difference...

[MadMan]

I finally got my hands on Fleet Foxes' debut self-titled album, and I really dug it a lot. Folk music isn't usually my bag, so to speak, yet I liked many of the tracks on this disc and I've already heard a couple of songs off of their second album thanks to YouTube.

Death Cab For Cutie's Codes and Keys is interesting in that its a tightly wound album that doesn't really have any singles on it, which means its rather unlike their previous effort Narrow Stairs. This is both a good and a bad thing-the album is really good, better than Stairs and a reflection of the band moving past some of their previous work, yet only the title track really stands out, along with maybe one other song.

[Spinal]

Discovered Die Antwoord last night. Bizarre and a little comical. Apparently the band members are all fictional characters created by the people playing them.

Haven't decided whether I'll pick up one of their CDs ...

Just FYI, in case you decide to surf for their stuff while at work: Don't. Very NSFW lyrics and videos.

Anybody else heard them? Opinions?

They are playing in Portland tonight. I made the mistake of watching some of their videos to see what they were all about. Damn it. Why am I not going to this show?

[endingcredits]

Also, has anyone seen St. Vincent live? Is it worth it? I worry that it'll be so close to the album version of the material that there will be little difference...

Definitely worth it. I saw her in toronto and she was covering punk rock and crowd surfing.

[Spinal]

Oh yeah, St. Vincent is awesome live. Definitely worth it.

[Idioteque Stalker]

So I'm watching a live feed of Sleigh Bells perform in NYC. They started at 10:45 EST. They will finish around 11:40. I remember people noting how they'd only perform for about 25 minutes after their first album, but it's ludicrous to finish a headlining concert under an hour.

I saw them on the Treats tour and 25 minutes was long enough, as it was pretty much a punk show. Didn't see the live NYC feed. How was it?

Even though it suffers a little from not bringing in a "new sound" like Treats, the new album is pretty awesome. The rhythms are much more metal than hip-hop and there are more ballads a la "Rill Rill"--it's unmistakably Sleigh Bells but different enough to not be redundant, which is something I feared. My favorites right now are "Leader of the Pack," "You Lost Me" and "Never Say Die." What do other Sleigh Bells fans think? Derek?

And I'll third St. Vincent being worth it live.

[D_Davis]

So I had never heard any of Pete Namlook's and Klaus Schulz's Dark Side of the Moog albums before, and I decided to check out the compilation The Evolution of... to see if there was an album to add to my essential ambient list.

Wow - that music is terrible. Like really, really bad. Just godawful.

I actually bought the CD, because none of it is available via MP3. It arrived at work today, I listened to it, and them promptly threw it under my desk.

What a turd.

[Acapelli]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Guitarist+Calgary+band+Women+C hristopher+Reimer+dies/6187872/story.html

:sad:

[Derek]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Guitarist+Calgary+band+Women+C hristopher+Reimer+dies/6187872/story.html

:sad:

Oh my god, that's terrible. I'd been hoping they'd eventually get back together. :cry:

[ledfloyd]

Also, has anyone seen St. Vincent live? Is it worth it? I worry that it'll be so close to the album version of the material that there will be little difference...
she has a different band now than she did the two times i saw her but she's such a fantastic performer i can't imagine that changing the fact that it's absolutely worth it.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Pretty pumped because for me this is probably the strongest single week of releases in recent memory. New Sleigh Bells, Perfume Genius and Frankie Rose albums are doing it for me, and I disliked the latter two's previous stuff.

[SirNewt]

I'm really not into Aphex Twin's ambient stuff at all, and I'm like the ambient guy. It's very '90s sounding, and that was probably my least favorite decade for ambient-style music (even though there are many great ambient albums from the '90s, there was also a huge glut of really terrible things birthed out of the whole "chill out room" scene in the rave culture, and even some of the better albums haven't aged very well).

It wouldn't even make it on my top 50 ambient albums list, and probably not even on a top 100.

How do you feel about 'Selected Ambient Works 85-92'? It's really different from 'Ambient 2'. It has more in common with newer dance/ambient stuff like 'The Field' and 'Four Tet' than it does with anything off 'Ambient 2'.

[SirNewt]

Pretty pumped because for me this is probably the strongest single week of releases in recent memory. New Sleigh Bells, Perfume Genius and Frankie Rose albums are doing it for me, and I disliked the latter two's previous stuff.

I dig the new Frankie Rose for sure. You should check out 'Visions', the new Grimes album. It's just out this week too.

[Idioteque Stalker]

You should check out 'Visions', the new Grimes album. It's just out this week too.

I listened to it after it seemed to be a consensus choice in the top 10 of 2012 thread. I admire its likability, and I think I'll listen to it more, but it seems distant and kind of awkward to me, especially in large doses. I can imagine really enjoying it in the context of a mixtape, however, so I'll keep trying.

And while I "prefer" vol. 2 to 85-92, they're so incredibly different that it's pretty much apples/oranges. The latter is only ambient if Boards of Canada is also ambient.

[D_Davis]

The latter is only ambient if Boards of Canada is also ambient.

I'd rate them a 1 on my Scale of Ambiance. ;)

[D_Davis]

How do you feel about 'Selected Ambient Works 85-92'? It's really different from 'Ambient 2'. It has more in common with newer dance/ambient stuff like 'The Field' and 'Four Tet' than it does with anything off 'Ambient 2'.

It's pretty good. I'm just really not that into his stuff. I don't dislike it at all, I simply never got really into him.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

After much deliberation and agonizing over costs, my girlfriend and I decided to start a vinyl collection. Spent an hour or so browsing around the L.A. Amoeba last week to get a gauge on pricing and availability and whatnot.

Parents agreed to get the player for my birthday in April, but that hasn't kept me from prematurely obsessing over which records to add to the collection. So far we're at one: Wilco's Summerteeth.

[Russ]

After much deliberation and agonizing over costs, my girlfriend and I decided to start a vinyl collection. Spent an hour or so browsing around the L.A. Amoeba last week to get a gauge on pricing and availability and whatnot.

Parents agreed to get the player for my birthday in April, but that hasn't kept me from prematurely obsessing over which records to add to the collection. So far we're at one: Wilco's Summerteeth.
Vinyl? Any specific wants? Post 'em here, maybe some of us can accomodate (I got tons of stuff)

[kopello]

Even though it's highly regarded (as is most of their discography), I couldn't really get into Speaking in Tongues. I think the main problem is that the majority of the songs are played brilliantly live on Stop Making Sense which I've viewed and listened to countless times. Songs like Girlfriend is Better, Making Flippy Floopy, Swamp, etc., all sound like their played in slow motion compared to the live versions I'm familiar with.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Vinyl? Any specific wants? Post 'em here, maybe some of us can accomodate (I got tons of stuff)

I may take you up on that, let me get back to you!

[D_Davis]

I have like 25 copies of this on vinyl:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TR0Ldxc7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Derek]

Davis, do you still have extra copies of your favorite kung fu preacher?

http://www.topsocialite.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/godspower.jpg

[D_Davis]

Davis, do you still have extra copies of your favorite kung fu preacher?

http://www.topsocialite.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/godspower.jpg

I don't have any copies, but I need to get some.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I've always dug D. I. Go Pop, but now that I'm listening to The Five EPs for the first time I'm about to proclaim Disco Inferno one of my favorite bands ever. So bittersweet and unlike anything else.

[MadMan]

I have like 25 copies of this on vinyl:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TR0Ldxc7L._SL500_AA300_.jpgH ah, I've seen that album cover before on a list of "Worst Album Covers" on another site.

[D_Davis]

http://f0.bcbits.com/z/11/46/1146987352-1.jpg (http://carlsagansghost.bandcamp.com/album/remnants)

[Idioteque Stalker]

How do people here feel about The Weeknd? At first I thought his voice was too r&b-typical, but I ended up being seduced by the conflicted despair porn and House of Balloons landed in my top 5 last year.

Even though his debut was as fully-realized as they come, I'm slowly being convinced that Echoes of Silence is a better album. Not as ground-breaking, if you will, but it has more spacious production, creepier/sadder lyrics, and not even one weak song imo (Not a fan of HoB title track, actually). Seriously, this guy is just milking the whole post-excess comedown emotions for all their worth. What's fascinating to me is how aware of it he seems while still coming off as a total a-hole.

Another talking point: does an album have to be released Jan. 1 or after to be on a year-end list? Echoes of Silence was released on Christmas, but nobody makes a list that late (or at least I don't). As you can tell from the top 10 of 2012 thread, I'm counting it.

[D_Davis]

I usually count late-December releases for the following year.

[D_Davis]

If Motorpsycho's The Death Defying Unicorn, and Ohio Sky's Curses are any indication, 2012 is going to be one hell of a year for prog/metal. If released last year, these would have both been in my top 10.

[Acapelli]

How do people here feel about The Weeknd? At first I thought his voice was too r&b-typical, but I ended up being seduced by the conflicted despair porn and House of Balloons landed in my top 5 last year.

Even though his debut was as fully-realized as they come, I'm slowly being convinced that Echoes of Silence is a better album. Not as ground-breaking, if you will, but it has more spacious production, creepier/sadder lyrics, and not even one weak song imo (Not a fan of HoB title track, actually). Seriously, this guy is just milking the whole post-excess comedown emotions for all their worth. What's fascinating to me is how aware of it he seems while still coming off as a total a-hole.
just seems like watered down pop r&b to me. the-dream's "kill the lights" basically destroys everything the weeknd has ever done, but i'm not sure my opinion is as popular among music aficionados

edit: aaaaand i just read an article where the-dream says he doesn't feel like the weeknd is ripping him off or vice-versa and thinks they're incredible artists. lol

i still feel like "kill the lights" is a response to the increased interest in pbr&b (ugh) acts like the weeknd and frank ocean, but whatever

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

How do people here feel about The Weeknd? At first I thought his voice was too r&b-typical, but I ended up being seduced by the conflicted despair porn and House of Balloons landed in my top 5 last year.

Even though his debut was as fully-realized as they come, I'm slowly being convinced that Echoes of Silence is a better album. Not as ground-breaking, if you will, but it has more spacious production, creepier/sadder lyrics, and not even one weak song imo (Not a fan of HoB title track, actually). Seriously, this guy is just milking the whole post-excess comedown emotions for all their worth. What's fascinating to me is how aware of it he seems while still coming off as a total a-hole.

Another talking point: does an album have to be released Jan. 1 or after to be on a year-end list? Echoes of Silence was released on Christmas, but nobody makes a list that late (or at least I don't). As you can tell from the top 10 of 2012 thread, I'm counting it.

not a big fan of the weeknd...first release was good but not something i put on regularly, second one was trash, third one was bad despite some good production...i like alot of the production on the weeknds first album but not the singer...same way i feel about drake, he receives stellar production but is way too corny/tries too hard to a deep/poetic "romeo" to really take seriously (though i dig "Marvins Room" but seldom does he get his sound working on all cylinders like that)

[Acapelli]

not a big fan of the weeknd...first release was good but not something i put on regularly, second one was trash, third one was bad despite some good production...i like alot of the production on the weeknds first album but not the singer...same way i feel about drake, he receives stellar production but is way too corny/tries too hard to a deep/poetic "romeo" to really take seriously (though i dig "Marvins Room" but seldom does he get his sound working on all cylinders like that)
40's a genius...drake not so much

[Boner M]

Introducing Australia's latest rap sensation... Lil' $hmylan.

JuAJwISlAG8

4v0sY0ZmXs8

[Russ]

I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive you for introducing Australia's latest rap sensation.

[Derek]

I don't know if I will ever be able to forgive you for introducing Australia's latest rap sensation.

That sounds a lot like fucking with $hmyl. Not sure if you made it to the second video, but he's pretty clear that you're not supposed to do that.

[Russ]

I stand by my tongue-in-cheek condemnation of Boner. ;)

[Derek]

I stand by my tongue-in-cheek condemnation of Boner. ;)

Watch your back is all I'm saying. $hmyl don't give a fuck and he's bigger than Donald Duck.

[Russ]

He's rich, he's got a lot of coin,
Smart too, he can count up to noin.

[Derek]

http://oi39.tinypic.com/1zguyjn.jpg

[Russ]

Not sure if you made it to the second video, but he's pretty clear that you're not supposed to do that.
Of course, the real sensation is Big Daddy D. But if you didn't go to the second video, you wouldn't know that, would you?

[D_Davis]

HhszQbOl95k

[Acapelli]

CHUGGO!

[D_Davis]

CHUGGO!

I've been wondering for years - is he mildly retarded?

[Derek]

I've been wondering for years - is he mildly retarded?

Mildly?

[Acapelli]

air france broke up today

:sad:

[Spinal]

I'm listening to In Utero for the first time in a long time. I love this album, but the first song is so bad that it makes me wonder if it's intentional. I know the lyrics are a commentary on the band's unexpected commercial success, but did they take it so far as to make the song generic and lame?

Fortunately, it gets a lot better after that.

[Glass Co.]

I'm listening to In Utero for the first time in a long time. I love this album, but the first song is so bad that it makes me wonder if it's intentional. I know the lyrics are a commentary on the band's unexpected commercial success, but did they take it so far as to make the song generic and lame?

Fortunately, it gets a lot better after that.

Great album, but don't get the hate of "Serve the Servants". It sounds like a Nirvana song. I find it cool in that it's kind of the last attempt to capture Cobain's ideas on Nevermind of mixing noisy punk and catchy melodies before the rest of the album swings wildly in one direction (Milk It) to the other (Pennyroyal Tea).

[D_Davis]

Gene Ween is performing as Aaron Freeman for the first time, with a solo album of Rob McKuen cover songs coming out next month.

http://stereogum.com/993332/aaron-freeman-gene-ween-loves-been-good-to-me-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/

Sounds awesome.

[Kurosawa Fan]

New Regina Spektor in May, and new Fiona Apple in June. I'm a happy guy.

[endingcredits]

The new Spiritualized album Sweet Heart Sweet Light is streaming here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/apr/10/spiritualized-sweet-heart-light-album-stream

I just finished listening to it. It's pretty damned good and I think I'll like it even more with time. It has a nice desperate immediacy running through it which could be due to the health problems J Spacemen faced during recording. It sounds very full without being cluttered and it's significantly more pop driven and personal than the older, more heady stuff.

The tracks "I am what I am", "Life is a problem", and "So long you pretty thing" stood out on first listen with the last of those having a nice Bowie-esque rock anthem quality.

[D_Davis]

which could be due to the health problems J Spacemen faced during recording.

All of his and Sonic Boom's best songs are about times that they almost died, and the best of those have to do with Jesus and heroine.

[D_Davis]

New James Blackshaw out next week.

[Derek]

The new Spiritualized album Sweet Heart Sweet Light is streaming here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/apr/10/spiritualized-sweet-heart-light-album-stream

I just finished listening to it. It's pretty damned good and I think I'll like it even more with time. It has a nice desperate immediacy running through it which could be due to the health problems J Spacemen faced during recording. It sounds very full without being cluttered and it's significantly more pop driven and personal than the older, more heady stuff.

The tracks "I am what I am", "Life is a problem", and "So long you pretty thing" stood out on first listen with the last of those having a nice Bowie-esque rock anthem quality.

I'm pretty much with the consensus that it's their best since Ladies and Gentlemen.... It gets better the more you listen to it. "Hey Jane" and "Mary" are my faves so far. Really psyched to see them next month, esp. since it's in a smaller venue than the only other time I caught them.


All of his and Sonic Boom's best songs are about times that they almost died, and the best of those have to do with Jesus and heroine.

:lol:

So true!


New James Blackshaw out next week.

Apparently with more guitar than his last couple, but 6-string, not 12. Can't wait - dude is crazy talented.

[D_Davis]

Apparently with more guitar than his last couple, but 6-string, not 12. Can't wait - dude is crazy talented.

Cool - stoked for more guitar.

Although I did love his last album.

[Thirdmango]

I know there's a lot of The Mountain Goats lovers and haters on here. I never listened to them mostly cause I know I don't really like folk rock all that much and because the person who gave me the discography I felt had awful taste in music (This is his favorite band). Plus with the love of pitchfork I never gave them a chance, until a good friend who I do trust with music played for me "Heretic Pride" and I actually dug it. So today I'm listening to this album Heretic Pride for the first time and I actually like it. I don't really hate his voice either. So here's the question, how is his stuff comparatively to heretic pride? I'm pretty sure when I first got his stuff about 4 years ago I listened to a couple songs and didn't care for them, and I really like his more upbeat songs. Is he generally upbeat? There's a part of me that suspects that because he has a band with him now he might be better then just guy and his guitar.

Edit: I think I may have answered my own question when Heretic Pride ended and went straight into the EP Nine Black Poppies which, so far, is really awful.

[Qrazy]

Some new mashups. (http://soundcloud.com/djqrazy)

[D_Davis]

Aaron Freeman's Marvelous Clouds is out today, and it is glorious!

Long live Ween!

Long live Rod McKuen!

[D_Davis]

June 17

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41v2TNJkKfL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

From the little bit that I've heard, it sounds like they've out done themselves once again.

[endingcredits]

The Walkmen's new album Heaven is streaming here
http://www.npr.org/2012/05/20/152853333/first-listen-the-walkmen-heaven?sc=tw&cc=twmp

[romantisaurusrex]

New Regina Spektor in May, and new Fiona Apple in June. I'm a happy guy.


KF, What do you think of the new Regina album? I'm obsessed with it, especially the new studio of Patron Saint, which has always been one of my favorite songs. This album ranks up with Soviet Kitsch and Songs for my favorite albums.

[Kurosawa Fan]

KF, What do you think of the new Regina album? I'm obsessed with it, especially the new studio of Patron Saint, which has always been one of my favorite songs. This album ranks up with Soviet Kitsch and Songs for my favorite albums.

I LOVE it. I'm in complete agreement about "Patron Saint," and "Firewood" is just heartbreaking. I don't think there's a low track on the entire album. I even like the new take on "Ne Me Quitte Pas." I hate to say that a new album is my favorite from an artist so soon after it's been released, so I'll refrain from saying that and just say that after a few months of listening, this will likely be my favorite album from her. :P

[Raiders]

New James Blackshaw out next week.


Apparently with more guitar than his last couple, but 6-string, not 12. Can't wait - dude is crazy talented.

You guys listened to it yet? Having recently gotten into his work, and being totally blown away by The Cloud of Unknowing, I was happy to see he was going back to the guitar. Not sure yet if I like it as much as I hoped. He's still a virtuoso, but he doesn't seem as dynamic a musician removed from his 12-string.

[romantisaurusrex]

I LOVE it. I'm in complete agreement about "Patron Saint," and "Firewood" is just heartbreaking. I don't think there's a low track on the entire album. I even like the new take on "Ne Me Quitte Pas." I hate to say that a new album is my favorite from an artist so soon after it's been released, so I'll refrain from saying that and just say that after a few months of listening, this will likely be my favorite album from her. :P

Yeah Begin to Hope was a big disappointment for me, but then she really raised the bar with both Far and What we Saw

[Raiders]

Yeah Begin to Hope was a big disappointment for me, but then she really raised the bar with both Far and What we Saw

Hm, interesting preference. I think Begin to Hope is the best album she has done (of the first three--Soviet Kitsch is pretty equally good) while Far was such a disappointment to me that I haven't even listened to her newest one yet.

In general though, I'm only mainly a fan of her voice.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Yeah Begin to Hope was a big disappointment for me, but then she really raised the bar with both Far and What we Saw

I'm with Raiders in that I prefer Begin to Hope, especially with the bonus tracks, to Far. Far has better high points, but too many tracks that I end up skipping. What We Saw surpasses both though, quite easily thus far. "Firewood" through "All the Rowboats" is perhaps the strongest string of songs on any album she's done, as far as I'm concerned.

[romantisaurusrex]

Y'all are crazy, the only song I skip on Far is Machine. Eet, Human of the Year, and Dance Anthem of the 80's are 3 of her best songs IMO, though I prefer an old live version of Dance Anthem I have to the studio.

I do really like some tracks on BTH (Samson, That Time), but some of it comes off as overly processed to me.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I actually strongly dislike "Two Birds." I don't know what it is, but something about that song is just grating. It's the only song of hers that I can think of that I actually strongly dislike. Aside from that, nothing else is particularly bad, just a few that are kind of forgettable. Love "Eet," "Human of the Year," and "Dance Anthem" though. When I saw her live, "Dance Anthem" was the highlight of the show.

My favorite track on BTH is actually "Field Below." Weird choice, I know, but I think her voice is so powerful on that song, it gives me chills every time.

[Derek]

You guys listened to it yet? Having recently gotten into his work, and being totally blown away by The Cloud of Unknowing, I was happy to see he was going back to the guitar. Not sure yet if I like it as much as I hoped. He's still a virtuoso, but he doesn't seem as dynamic a musician removed from his 12-string.

I haven't heard it yet, but thanks for reminding me! I'll pick this up ASAP.

Have you heard The Glass Bead Game? I'd put that one right up there with Cloud. Not sure why I haven't checked out his earlier work since Sunshrine and O True Believers are both supposedly great.

[D_Davis]

You guys listened to it yet? Having recently gotten into his work, and being totally blown away by The Cloud of Unknowing, I was happy to see he was going back to the guitar. Not sure yet if I like it as much as I hoped. He's still a virtuoso, but he doesn't seem as dynamic a musician removed from his 12-string.

I have not. For some reason it's not available on Amazon MP3, yet. I find this very odd.

[romantisaurusrex]

I actually strongly dislike "Two Birds." I don't know what it is, but something about that song is just grating. It's the only song of hers that I can think of that I actually strongly dislike. Aside from that, nothing else is particularly bad, just a few that are kind of forgettable. Love "Eet," "Human of the Year," and "Dance Anthem" though. When I saw her live, "Dance Anthem" was the highlight of the show.

My favorite track on BTH is actually "Field Below." Weird choice, I know, but I think her voice is so powerful on that song, it gives me chills every time.

Yeah Two Birds kind of sucks. The problem I have with Field Below is that sometimes she gets way too into herself in her vocals, and experimenting around with things that don't sound good. I tend to not like her songs when she keeps repeating the lyrics in different ways. ("I wish I'd? See a field? Below?") It strikes me as annoyingly self-indulgent or something. But I just pick at great things too much also.

[D_Davis]

So I've listened to the samples of the new Beach Boys album on Amazon, and...it sounds amazing. Way more Smile/late-era sounding than the first single would suggest. I absolutely cannot wait.

[D_Davis]

De La Soul's Plug 1 and Plug 2 present....First Serve is the best thing the group has done since De La Soul is Dead. I'm surprised Prince Paul wasn't involved, because it totally reminds me of Prince Among Thieves and Psychoanalysis. It's a concept album (with skits!) telling the story of a made up rap duo called First Serve. And in old-school De La fashion, they lambast and lampoon rap culture perfectly, paying homage where respect is do, and calling out the ridiculousness of it all.

[D_Davis]

David Baker's (the real genius behind the best Mercury Rev stuff - the first two albums) new band, Variety Lights, has an album coming out in a couple of weeks. Sounds amazing. (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TL6ITU/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_LyKXpb1DXVTM V)

[Sven]

De La Soul's Plug 1 and Plug 2 present....First Serve is the best thing the group has done since De La Soul is Dead. I'm surprised Prince Paul wasn't involved, because it totally reminds me of Prince Among Thieves and Psychoanalysis. It's a concept album (with skits!) telling the story of a made up rap duo called First Serve. And in old-school De La fashion, they lambast and lampoon rap culture perfectly, paying homage where respect is do, and calling out the ridiculousness of it all.

Sampling this on iTunes. Sounds terrific.

[D_Davis]

The newest Nora Jones album is so good. She's also still stunningly beautiful.

[D_Davis]

New Sun Kil Moon album is pretty good. Better than the last, but not as good as the first three.

[transmogrifier]

Organising my iTunes library, I decided to clear all the ratings and only use a 5 star rating for the albums I truly love front to back. I was pretty ruthless - they had to have basically no dead spots. Some may have one track I don't like, but no more than that, and certainly not in a row.

These are the ones I chose (though there are plenty more that will get there once I listen to them enough):

Easter Everywhere, 13th Floor Elevators
Funeral, Arcade Fire
Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan
Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
Monster Movie, Can
Tago Mago, Can
Dig Your Own Hole, The Chemical Brothers
The Clash, The Clash
London Calling, The Clash
Cosmo's Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Great Eastern, The Delgados
Electro-shock Blues, Eels
Elastica, Elastica
Blueberry Boat, The Fiery Furnaces
I'm Going Away, The Fiery Furnaces
One Nation Under a Groove, Funkadelic
Entertainment!, Gang of Four
The Ascension, Glenn Branca
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, Godspeed You Black Emperor
The Sophtware Slump, Grandaddy
Dookie, Green Day
Appetite for Destruction, Guns 'N' Roses
Lust for Life, Iggy Pop
This is Happening, LCD Soundsystem
Geek the Girl, Lisa Germano
Transformer, Lou Reed
Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Real Life, Magazine
Mclusky Do Dallas, Mclusky
The Modern Lovers, The Modern Lovers
Try Whistling This, Neil Finn
Neu!, Neu!
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel
Dig!!!, Lazurus, Dig!!!, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
The Fragile, Nine Inch Nails
In Utero, Nirvana
Horses, Patti Smith
Easter, Patti Smith
Radio Ethiopia, Patti Smith
Vitalogy, Pearl Jam
Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd
Dry, PJ Harvey
Rid of Me, PJ Harvey
Is this Desire?, PJ Harvey
This is England, PJ Harvey
Third, Portishead
XTRMNTR, Primal Scream
Murmur, REM
Reckoning, REM
Life’s Rich Pageant, REM
Monster, REM
The Bends, Radiohead
OK Computer, Radiohead
Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols
The General Electric, Shihad
Dig Me Out, Sleater-Kinney
One Beat, Sleater-Kinney
The Woods, Sleater-Kinney
A Thousand Leaves, Sonic Youth
NYC Ghosts & Flowers, Sonic Youth
Murray Street, Sonic Youth
Sonic Nurse, Sonic Youth
Fun House, The Stooges
A Grand Don’t Come for Free, The Steets
Shut Up I Am Dreaming, Sunset Rubdown
Aenima, Tool
Lateralus, Tool
The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Velvet Underground
White Light/White Heat, The Velvet Underground
Pinkerton, Weezer
Pink Flag, WireNot a lot. The perfect album is hard.

[Spaceman Spiff]

These are awesome:

Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
London Calling, The Clash
The Clash, The Clash
Cosmo's Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival
One Nation Under a Groove, Funkadelic
Entertainment!, Gang of Four
The Ascension, Glenn Branca
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, Godspeed You Black Emperor
Lust for Life, Iggy Pop
Transformer, Lou Reed
Real Life, Magazine
The Modern Lovers, The Modern Lovers
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel
Horses, Patti Smith
Radio Ethiopia, Patti Smith
Rid of Me, PJ Harvey
Third, Portishead
The Bends, Radiohead
OK Computer, Radiohead
Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols
Fun House, The Stooges
The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Velvet Underground
White Light/White Heat, The Velvet Underground

These are meh:
Appetite for Destruction, Guns 'N' Roses
This is Happening, LCD Soundsystem
Dig!!!, Lazurus, Dig!!!, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
In Utero, Nirvana

These are interesting choices:
Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan - Love it (natch), but Dylan has maybe 4 or 5 albums I prefer (including Highway 61).
Tago Mago, Can - Adore the first half, then it gets too weird for weird's sake in the second half, though Jaki pounds those drums like nobody else.
Pink Flag, Wire - Definitely think there's too much filler to this one. Greatly prefer Chairs Missing, loads of great tracks though.

Also, you've got way too much of a hardon for REM, PJ (who I do like), S-K and Sonic Youth if you're this picky about what constitutes a "perfect album".

[Spaceman Spiff]

woah, what the hell happened to my post?

[transmogrifier]

I don't know if I'm picky in that I don't really have a list of highly specific criteria that an album has to meet for me to claim it perfect. Basically I have to love or like all the tracks and it has to feel like a unified collection of songs, like a properly thought out sequence, not just a greatest hits package.

I'll never back away from my PJ, Sonic Youth, REM or Sleater-Kinney love because they know (or knew, tear) how to make an awesome album. The A Thousand Leaves to Sonic Nurse sequence is amazing, a band celebrating their 20th birthday by finding the absolute sweet spot between noise extravaganza, avant garde noodling and classic rock. Best 4 album sequence ever.

[Boner M]

Best 4 album sequence ever.
Bad Moon Rising to Daydream Nation, y'mean.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Bad Moon Rising to Daydream Nation, y'mean.

Pretty sure it's this to be honest:

Beggars Banquet - Let it Bleed - Sticky Fingers - Exile on Main St.

[Boner M]

More great 4-album runs, excluding live albums:

Can: Monster Movie > Tago Mago > Ege Bamyasi > Future Days

Eno: Here Come the Warm Jets > Taking Tiger Mountain > Another Green World > Before and After Science (not counting Discreet Music)

Miles Davis: In a Silent Way > Bitches Brew> A Tribute to Jack Johnson > On the Corner

Outkast: Southernplayalisticadillacmuzi k > ATLiens > Aquemini > Stankonia

[D_Davis]

Pink Floyd
Meddle > Obscured by Clouds > Dark Side of the Moon > Wish You Were Here

[transmogrifier]

Bad Moon Rising to Daydream Nation, y'mean.

I like that side of them, but don't love it. I think they got better.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Pink Floyd
Meddle > Obscured by Clouds > Dark Side of the Moon > Wish You Were Here

Damn, that's pretty solid as well. Still think that Stones sequence is untouchable though.

Talking Heads:
'77 - More songs about buildings and food - Fear of music - Remain in Light

[Acapelli]

weird choices for sonic youth too. no daydream nation? evol? sister? etc?

my favorite might be confusion is sex w/ kill yr idols tacked onto the end

[Russ]

The Residents: The Third Reich 'N Roll > Duck Stab > The Commercial Album > Eskimo

:cool:

[D_Davis]

For Sonic Youth

Sister > Daydream Nation > Goo > Dirty. Dirty is the last SY album that I love.

[D_Davis]

New Beach Boys album today!

[D_Davis]

The second half of That's Why God Made the Radio is much better than the first half, and the final three songs are fantastic. They represent more of what I was looking for in this album - a graceful reflection on growing old, and not a longing for the days of youth, a sentiment too common on the album's first half. The final tune, "Summer's Gone" is pure, classic Brian Wilson, almost worth the price of admission on its own. It's a sad and wonderful piece of laid back pop music.

[dreamdead]

Dead Can Dance

Within the Realm of a Dying Sun - Into the Labyrinth

The band killed it during this run. So many classics, but more importantly, so little dropoff in quality. Never did get into Spiritchaser despite that gorgeous last song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJOQ6klCTgQ)...

[D_Davis]

Man - the final three tracks on this new Beach Boys album are really something else. And to think, it was supposed to be a full 6-part song cycle, but got cut to 3 for some reason. Brian Wilson wanted the final song, "Summer's Gone" to be the last track on the very last Beach Boys album, and it is absolutely perfect for this occasion.

[D_Davis]

Talking Heads:
'77 - More songs about buildings and food - Fear of music - Remain in Light

This is super solid.

[transmogrifier]

More:

R.E.M.: Murmur - Reckoning - Fables of the Reconstruction - Lifes Rich Pageant
PJ Harvey: Dry - Rid of Me - To Bring You My Love - Is This Desire?
The Clash: The Clash - Give 'Em Enough Rope - London Calling - Sandinista!

[D_Davis]

R.E.M.: Murmur - Reckoning - Fables of the Reconstruction - Lifes Rich Pageant


Also a great run.

New Order:
Power, Corruption & Lies - Low-Life - Brotherhood - Technique

The Beach Boys:
Friends - 20/20 - Sunflower - Surf's Up

King Crimson:
Red - Discipline - Beat - Three of a Perfect Pair (Wow...talk about 4 amazing albums, damn!)

[Yxklyx]

Fables of the Reconstruction is easily my favorite R.E.M. - that's when they peaked for me. Just discovered Google Play - uploading all the songs! A good omen that it started uploading Echo's With A Hip first.

Edit: Dang! It doesn't support Apple Lossless format - there goes that idea.

[Acapelli]

Wire:
Pink Flag - Chairs Missing - 154

[Glass Co.]

Godspeed You: F#A# - Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada - Lift Your Skinny Fists - Yanqui U.X.O.
Kraftwerk: Raioactivity - Trans Europe Express - The Man-Machine - Computer World
Dylan: Another Side of Bob Dylan - Bringing it All Back Home - Highway 61 Revisited - Blonde on Blonde

[D_Davis]

Ween (RIP)

12 Golden Country Greats - The Mollusk - White Pepper - Quebec

[endingcredits]

The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico > White Light/White Heat > The Velvet Underground > Loaded

Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies > Fucked Up Inside > Pure Phase > Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space

[D_Davis]

Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies > Fucked Up Inside > Pure Phase > Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space

I give them a 3-album run:

Lazer Guided Melodies > Fucked Up Inside > Pure Phase

I can't stand Ladies and Gentlemen....

Pure Phase though, wow. That is their masterpiece.

[D_Davis]

Echo & the Bunnymen:
Heaven up Here - Porcupine - Ocean Rain - s/t

Depeche Mode:
Some Great Reward - Black Celebration - Music for the Masses - Violator (damn!)

The Flaming Lips:
In a Priest Driven Ambulance - Hit to Death in the Future Head - Transmissions for the Satellite Heart - Clouds Taste Metallic (man, the '90s belonged to the Flips)

[Spaceman Spiff]

The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico > White Light/White Heat > The Velvet Underground > Loaded

:pritch:

[bac0n]

Pet Shop Boys
Please-> Actually -> Introspective -> Behaviour -> Very

If the 90s belonged to The Flips, the 80s (and early 90s) were all about The PSB.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Bjork: Post > Homogenic > Vespertine > Medulla

And this new Liars album really sounds like old Radiohead.

[transmogrifier]

Bjork: Post > Homogenic > Vespertine > Medulla

And this new Liars album really sounds like old Radiohead.

How old? The Bends old or like Kid A old?

[Milky Joe]

I can't stand Ladies and Gentlemen....

:crazy: I mean I know it's a hipster darling nowadays, but c'mon...

[Derek]

Bjork: Post > Homogenic > Vespertine > Medulla

I'd take Debut through Vespertine instead, but that's just splitting hairs.


How old? The Bends old or like Kid A old?

There are hints of OKC and Kid A in it, yet it still feels distinctly like a Liars album. Just more electronic with less guitars.

[Derek]

I'll throw OMD into the pot:

Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark - Organisation - Architecture & Morality - Dazzle Ships

[D_Davis]

:crazy: I mean I know it's a hipster darling nowadays, but c'mon...

I never like or dislike something because of popularity. Come on! ;)

It's just not a very good album, especially compared to Pure Phase. Pure Phase was forward thinking and progressive, Ladies and Gentlemen is not. I do enjoy some tracks from the first 1/2, but the entire second 1/2 I really dislike.

[Derek]

but the entire second 1/2 I really dislike.

Oh man, when they encored with "Cop Shoot Cop" a few weeks ago, I about flipped. You would've headed for the exit, you nut! ;)

[D_Davis]

Oh man, when they encored with "Cop Shoot Cop" a few weeks ago, I about flipped. You would've headed for the exit, you nut! ;)

Yeah - one of my least favorite Spiritualized songs. Once they started doing 30 minutes of that live, I stopped caring. :)

On the other hand, a 30 minute version of "Medication" or "Feel so Sad"...

[D_Davis]

New Marconi Union album tomorrow!

[D_Davis]

New Marconi Union album tomorrow!

Actually, I got my CD today!

Actually - there are two new MU albums out today. Different Colours, and Weightless: Ambient Transmissions V.2. It's pretty much the best day ever in the history of ambient music.

So far, Different Colours is completely blowing my mind. Once again, MU proves how far ahead they are of any of their contemporaries. Track 3, "Flying (in Crimson Skies)" is a bona fide masterpiece.

[Derek]

Actually, I got my CD today!

Actually - there are two new MU albums out today. Different Colours, and Weightless: Ambient Transmissions V.2. It's pretty much the best day ever in the history of ambient music.

So far, Different Colours is completely blowing my mind. Once again, MU proves how far ahead they are of any of their contemporaries. Track 3, "Flying (in Crimson Skies)" is a bona fide masterpiece.

I've actually been enjoying their first two albums (Under Wires & Searchlights and [Distance]) since the weekend. Thanks for turning me on to these guys...great background/reading music.

[D_Davis]

Distance is amazing.

[Derek]

Distance is amazing.

Yeah, it's pretty awesome and I haven't even listened with headphones yet. Is this your favorite MU album?

[D_Davis]

Yeah, it's pretty awesome and I haven't even listened with headphones yet. Is this your favorite MU album?

So hard for me to pick a favorite. Each one is amazing and different in its own right. Distance is special for me though, in that it was the album that got me back into making music.

For a long time, A Lost Connection was my least favorite, but then last year I started listening to it again, and for awhile I was convinced it was their best.

But then last year's Beautifully Falling Apart came out, and it was my favorite for awhile, and still might be their best strictly-ambient album (although today's release of Weightless might challenge that.)

My least favorite is probably 13, but only because it's not really an album; it's a collection of remixes and unreleased tracks. However, it contains one of my top 5 MU tracks, "Buildings Without People," a variation of "Buildings and People," from Distance.

Really, they're all amazing.

[D_Davis]

Let's just put it this way: Marconi Union's body of work comprises some of the ~6 best hours of ambient-electronic music ever produced.

The things I love about them is their instrumentation, their understanding of timbre (tone quality and color), and that they rarely lose site of melody. Their sonic pallet, as it were, is my favorite.

[Russ]

pallet

http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xAEp_SPwTkk/TWV-cDr8XjI/AAAAAAAAby8/y32VEy--UYY/s1600/pallet2.gif&sa=X&ei=Wl7iT9DgI4qQ9gTlmrmHCA&ved=0CAwQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNFaJrTBwZLKcpwQ5Dwaik LGRw17ew

Just what we need: one more grammar nazi up in this place. :)

[D_Davis]

Stupid homophones.

[Lucky]

Are there any songwriters on this board? I've been messing with some of my songs by adding background vocal tracks using Audacity. Is that a decent program? Are there better free ones out there? I'm relatively new when it comes to mixing tracks and I'm not looking for anything too fancy, but I'm open to suggestions/advice..

[Russ]

Some favorites..

Top 5 Brian Eno songs (vocal):

1. The River (album: Wrong Way Up)

KyXCobF-jlI

2. Some Words (album: My Squelchy Life)

NaI_qKn0XHI

3. The Roil, The Choke (album: Nerve Net)

azNXAAH-H08

4. Stiff (album: My Squelchy Life)

1zW37Ek7rTk

5. Spider and I (album: Before and After Science)

SPluE34pkGg




HM:

On Some Faraway Beach (album: Here Come the Warm Jets)

8HwUsgZ_fXU&feature=fvwrel

The Great Pretender (album: Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy))

WQ-Hv4tOk2E

[transmogrifier]

Stupid homophones.

Bigot!

[Idioteque Stalker]

I've only heard a few of those Eno tunes, and I consider myself a fan. :sad:

More things like this please!



Also, it seems to me that Fiona Apple's new album is the most buzzed-about of the year so far, but I'm curious to see what people here think of it/her in general. How does it compare to her other stuff, and how should I approach it as a newcomer to her music?

[transmogrifier]

I've only heard a few of those Eno tunes, and I consider myself a fan. :sad:

More things like this please!



Also, it seems to me that Fiona Apple's new album is the most buzzed-about of the year so far, but I'm curious to see what people here think of it/her in general. How does it compare to her other stuff, and how should I approach it as a newcomer to her music?

To me, Apple begins and ends with Criminal. Great song. The rest of her stuff I can take or leave.

[transmogrifier]

A Web of Sound by The Seeds is very, very close to being added to my perfect album list. Maybe a couple more plays....

[ledfloyd]

Also, it seems to me that Fiona Apple's new album is the most buzzed-about of the year so far, but I'm curious to see what people here think of it/her in general. How does it compare to her other stuff, and how should I approach it as a newcomer to her music?
my thoughts on the new record are here (http://ledfloyd18.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/the-best-album-of-2011/).

if you're a newcomer i would probably recommend starting with When the Pawn... i do think The Idler Wheel... is probably her best work, but it gains something from being viewed in light of her earlier work. also, When the Pawn... is just a more inviting album. it's much easier for me to fathom someone finding parts of The Idler Wheel... off putting if its their first exposure to Fiona.

Extraordinary Machine is fantastic as well, but i prefer the bootlegged Jon Brion mixes to the Mike Elizondo produced re-recording she ended up releasing officially. and Tidal functions more as a collection of singles than an album proper. still highly recommended, just not as good an introduction as When the Pawn... or as defining a statement as The Idler Wheel...

i think this post makes it very apparent that i view Fiona to be one of the best artists of the last 20 years. the fact that she isn't putting out albums every other year probably aids her consistency, but i'm kind of stunned that i've been listening to her since i was 12 years old and she's never disappointed. so many of my favorite bands put out albums i'm anticipating highly, and when they finally come out i have to readjust my expectations to really appreciate them. Fiona just keeps upping the ante.

[D_Davis]

Are there any songwriters on this board? I've been messing with some of my songs by adding background vocal tracks using Audacity. Is that a decent program? Are there better free ones out there? I'm relatively new when it comes to mixing tracks and I'm not looking for anything too fancy, but I'm open to suggestions/advice..

Check out Reaper. It's not exactly free, but the demo never expires and it's not feature-locked. And if you like it, it's only $60. It is more robust than Audacity, but it is also intuitive and easy to use.

http://www.reaper.fm/

[D_Davis]

Good Eno choices, Russ.

This is probably my favorite Eno w/ vocals.

ldPkTI9jZxE

[Spaceman Spiff]

A Web of Sound by The Seeds is very, very close to being added to my perfect album list. Maybe a couple more plays....

:pritch:

Do you like Love?

[D_Davis]

Looks like I'm going to be a part of the next Meditone Project. Really looking forward to it. I'm pretty sure that I posted a link to the Meditone Project Volume 1 in the listening thread, but here it is again. It's one of my favorite ambient releases of the year so far.

http://f0.bcbits.com/z/37/54/3754125797-1.jpg (http://themeditoneproject.bandcamp.co m/)

[transmogrifier]

:pritch:

Do you like Love?

Haven't heard it. I'm not even sure how I came to have A Web of Sound on my computer (I search many places for recommendations of older stuff). I know nothing else about the band....time to start digging!

[Boner M]

Web of Sound is great, The Seeds have the best grasp on groove of any 60's garage band methinks.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Haven't heard it. I'm not even sure how I came to have A Web of Sound on my computer (I search many places for recommendations of older stuff). I know nothing else about the band....time to start digging!

Love is a band from about the same time. Started off garage-rockey then got slightly more folksy and weird. Good stuff. I'm sure you have heard it before, they are used occasionally in films and stuff.

[Boner M]

I vaguely remember trans not liking Forever Changes? Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

[Derek]

Web of Sound is great, The Seeds have the best grasp on groove of any 60's garage band methinks.

Better than Monks? Anyway, I've only heard the 1 or 2 Seeds tracks on Nuggets, but looks like their first 2 albums are worth checking out.



I vaguely remember trans not liking Forever Changes? Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

I know trans is easily bored/made sleepy, but surely not Forever Changes.