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AuthorTopic: Album Of The Week (Read 13,181 times)
davers
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #315 on Oct 6, 2011, 2:03pm »		[Quote]
OK so my reply still exists.

I have a tough time knowing what music is actually influenced by drugs sometimes. Sometimes people are just really weird when sober, and sometimes they are suprisingly normal when they are on drugs. Apparently At Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade was recorded while the band was on mushrooms. Despite the title being a reference to mushrooms I never really thought that the album was heavily influenced by drugs. Granted all of the songs may have been written while the guys were sober, drugs still obviously played a role in the final sound. You could have told me they were sober for the entire process and I would believe you.

At the same time there is music I would think is drug influenced but it turns out it isnt. I am going to use the example of The XX. Opinions of their music aside, I always thought there was some sort of drugs involved in the making of that. Then I find out they are called The XX because they are straight edge, meaning they take no mind altering substances whatsoever, not even coffee.

And then there are people who tell me certain music is about drugs I have never done before. I was told by someone the song 3rd Planet by Modest Mouse is about cocaine. I have never done it so I cant really say, but I see a song about something entirely different than cocaine. I asked for an explaination but he just said, "If you had done it, you would understand".

Now, there is music that is pretty clearly influenced by drugs. Since you brought up MGMT's Congratulations, lets start there. I spent a lot of time listening to that album because I had to make an 8 hour drive with it being the only CD in my car. It is totally a drug album. It is pretty damn clear that most if not all of the album was inspired by and based on experiences with drugs. That being said, I still like it. It isnt an amazing album, not nearly as catchy as their last one, but once I got into it I quite enjoyed it. You dont have to do drugs to like it, and it doesnt seem like it was made specifically for people on drugs.

I dont really use drugs to specifically for the point of experiencing recorded music very often, so I may not be an expert on the subject. I remember when I was probably around 16 and just getting into weed a bunch of friends and I took a boombox to the beach on a clear summer night, smoked a bunch of pot and listened to Dark Side of the Moon while looking at the stars (cliche I know). I enjoyed it, but I didnt have a reaction to the album much different than when I listen to is sober (though we did have a bit of a laughing fit during On the Run).

I think if artists use drugs to make music then it can have a positive or negative effect, depending on the artist. I dont seem to have a strong preference one way or the other, I just like music I consider good. One thing I do have a bit of an issue with is when an artist makes music that is meant to be listened to while on drugs. I dont mind using drugs to enhance music, but if it is completly unlistenable sober, I have a tough time taking it seriously, no matter how good it may sound while on various mind altering substances.

Basically drugs are just another thing that influences music. You could make the same comparison with relationships. It isnt very common that an album with lyrics doesnt have some reference to a friend, girlfriend or boyfriend and the feelings associated with them. Some artists do it well, others not so much.

I dont think I did a great job explaining what I was trying to get at, but feel free to debate anything I just said, I would love to hear what other people think about this stuff.
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Mar 14, 2013, 6:35pm, 2ndairyfurmentashn wrote:
I want to sig this...Dr. Garbanzouring out
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #316 on Oct 6, 2011, 2:33pm »		[Quote]
Davers you bring up good points regarding the other factors that inspire the mood or content of albums. I think Gramma and myself were more so referring to the actual musical fabric of an album. When I'm talking about music being inspired by drugs I don't mean that the subject matter or lyrics are necessarily aluding to or mentioning drugs, but more so how that subject matter is delivered. What sonic or vocal techniques are being put to use. Often there is a "second" language being spoken in the sounds and music accompanying the lyrical content. Often this has been a result of an artists interaction with drugs. At the same token many ideas being put forth in albums and their internalization of them by the artist have been a result of drugs even if that idea has nothing to do with anything drug related.
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #317 on Oct 6, 2011, 2:52pm »		[Quote]

Oct 6, 2011, 2:03pm, davers wrote:
One thing I do have a bit of an issue with is when an artist makes music that is meant to be listened to while on drugs. I dont mind using drugs to enhance music, but if it is completly unlistenable sober, I have a tough time taking it seriously, no matter how good it may sound while on various mind altering substances.



DUB STEP!!! WOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMP
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #318 on Oct 6, 2011, 4:59pm »		[Quote]

Oct 6, 2011, 2:52pm, wompwomp wrote:

Oct 6, 2011, 2:03pm, davers wrote:
One thing I do have a bit of an issue with is when an artist makes music that is meant to be listened to while on drugs. I dont mind using drugs to enhance music, but if it is completly unlistenable sober, I have a tough time taking it seriously, no matter how good it may sound while on various mind altering substances.



DUB STEP!!! WOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMP


Haha, despite my whinings about dubstep on this board I can actually listen to some of it every now and then. Burial is pretty cool stuff, even though it doesnt really fit into what most people think of when they think of dubstep.
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Mar 14, 2013, 6:35pm, 2ndairyfurmentashn wrote:
I want to sig this...Dr. Garbanzouring out
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #319 on Oct 6, 2011, 5:04pm »		[Quote]

Oct 6, 2011, 4:59pm, davers wrote:

Oct 6, 2011, 2:52pm, wompwomp wrote:


DUB STEP!!! WOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMPWOMP


Haha, despite my whinings about dubstep on this board I can actually listen to some of it every now and then. Burial is pretty cool stuff, even though it doesnt really fit into what most people think of when they think of dubstep.


Ha ha, no I totally agree. Drugs are what got me into dub step in the first place. There is a ton of stuff I now enjoy without being under the influence, whereas before I found it to be painful to listen to.
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #320 on Oct 6, 2011, 8:44pm »		[Quote]
HG and Friendly, what's your take on AC in regards to drugs and music? HG, I'm guessing you know at least a little bit in this regard.
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May 19, 2012, 7:49pm, onelove420 wrote:
Right on thanks Dr. Garbanzo! My high ass would be trying to Dr. Garbanzoure that shit out all night
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #321 on Oct 6, 2011, 9:46pm »		[Quote]

Oct 5, 2011, 1:02pm, Friendly Destroyer wrote:
Circulatory System - Circulatory System

I've been listening to this album a number of times since Drew put it up, more than any other AotW. I need to throw a disclaimer out here that in no way am I trying to be an asshole, preach, not preach, or talk down to anyone in the following. I'm simply trying to express something that I feel is never really talked about in music and yet  it is an undeniable part of it. That thing being, drugs. I'll just start by saying that drugs and art have had a pretty long standing relationship going and it is probably not on display more in any other art form than it is in music. I'll just clarify here that genius and enjoyable music does not need to be influenced by drugs and much of it isn't. But at the same time a LOT of it is. A lot of unexplored musical doors were busted wide open especially by one little devil called LSD. Some of it was genius and some of it was annoying as all holy Hell and incredibly self indulgent. But in the 60's regardless of its quality I find it hard not to see the pervasive influence it has had on all of our favorite artists. As time has moved away from the hippie generation this influence has presented itself as further artist experimentation with drugs and music and building onto the ideas of the past yielding outstanding  results, but it has also influenced people to be inspired to think outside the box, possibly not even realizing the grand influence drugs had on the music that blew their minds wide open with their own creative ideas. 

I just want to reiterate that I'm not trying to say that all music influenced by drugs is the best and that "drugs is music". At the core of everything there is an inherent talent within the musician. Sometimes this talent is thrust into creative overdrive by drugs, for others it is not a part of how they create yet they will still operate at the same hyper creative level. Both remain distinctly unique and wonderful. One isn't necessarily better than the other. On the same token I'm not afraid to say that drugs have definitely allowed all of us to hear some incredible music that almost certainly would not have been made without their kind assistance, yet at its core is not a simple result of just ingesting drugs, but a talent bound within the artist themself.

However there is also a very limiting and trapping quality drugs can have on music, where instead of bringing forth an originality that exists beyond the intoxication, all we get are songs that sound like most people's generic trip experiences. Now in the 60's that is totally acceptable as it was all new, not just in music, but drugs themselves like LSD were new and people were having this new experience at the same time. So The Incredible String Band was free to throw in as many AMAZING bird chirps, SUPER SWEET babbling brook sounds and flutes as it needed to. Some ten years later this all probably seemed pretty predictable and more indicative of straight up trips rather than "music". But the fact is that it was made at a time where it was "creative" and very original. 

Circulatory System have basically made a "Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" to my ears, but in the year 2000. To me it all sounds 100% like LSD. I have a hard time seeing the musical merit it holds beyond soundtracking a trip. Which is fine, but it starts to rub me the wrong way and always mystifies me when I hear people praising these albums to no end. I usually find it is people who've never really done drugs before. Which I suppose makes sense, since it must sound "different", and I say this very genuinely, different is always appealing. But when people start talking about music, like for example The Weekend, as being super original and innovative, all I seem to hear is a dude soundtracking his next night of serious reefer. Again, nothing wrong with it, but not original or innovative. This is where I see Circulatory System, only with LSD opposed to The Weeknds reefer.

Drugs and music is definitely a high wire act for artists. A recent example for me would be MGMT's "Congratulations". To me it floats just below the line of being something more than the drugs they've taken and their musical inspirations. However it does have some very original moments scattered throughout. I think by their next album they will have completed a certain psychedelic and musical experience that has the potential to produce something great.

I'm writing this all from my phone so I'm sorry if it sounds confusing, all I'm looking to do is express what's on my mind and see what y'all think 


My first thought when reading this of course goes back to poetry - Wordsworth said poetry was a moment of strong emotions "recollected in tranquility." That last phrase is the most important and defines the Romantic movement. To them, poetry wasn't just an opportunity to lay their emotions out on the page, but rather to reflect on those moments in their work.

Recording music inherently mirrors this process. While music may be written, performed and recorded under the influence, at some point presumably the artist makes important artistic decisions in the editing process (at the very least) in "tranquility."

So what I'm saying is, any music made on drugs is also sort of music about drugs. So FD, as I understand it, you're saying that there's a "generic" trip experience, and that the Circulatory System album does nothing except describe that experience, and does nothing to transcend the experience, and I disagree with that. I think that while Hart and other E6 dudes were doing the same drugs that we've all been doing since the 60's, that in this instance he came up with something unique and transcendent. I have to say that I have used psychedelics, including LSD, several times, and I've also listened to The Incredible String Band and most psychedelic touchstones of the past few decades (though I defer to you and HG in that respect), I sort of resent the notion that this is drug music for people who don't do drugs.

I think Hart's brilliance in the studio and dedication to his craft (i.e. his ability for "recollection in tranquility") make this album great. There's such a weird sonic focus here, and the melodies are half lovely-and-at-ease and half -paranoid-and-tense. I think there's real emotional depth that goes beyond the generic trip experience here.

So in summary - if you don't like how this sounds, or you think it's a simple retread - I disagree but differing opinions are always welcome. But I reject the idea that there is nothing beyond the typical trip experience in this music and that it's drug music for the inexperienced.

/neighborly rebuttal

Maybe it's for another thread, but while I'm addressing you, I'm also really interested to know what you think of the new Feist album, because I know you're a fan. I love it.
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Apr 26, 2013, 9:25pm, weenie wrote:
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #322 on Oct 6, 2011, 11:45pm »		[Quote]
Regarding Look Sharp!, aside from Is She Really Going Out with Him I'm not sure I have ever heard anything else from the album prior to this.

The sound felt really well put together and tight, and thankfully sounds quite different from the more corporate rock sound I would generally associate with the late 70s / early 80s.

I don't have a lot more to say; I guess after three listens the album didn't make much more of an impression on me other than I would listen to it again for sure, but I don't think I'm likely to actively seek it out.

And for whatever reason, Is She Really Going Out With Him is probably the track I enjoyed most; I suspect it's partly nostalgia and familiarity playing into that though.
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #323 on Oct 7, 2011, 1:27am »		[Quote]

Oct 6, 2011, 8:44pm, J. Walter Weatherman wrote:
HG and Friendly, what's your take on AC in regards to drugs and music? HG, I'm guessing you know at least a little bit in this regard.


I'd say it is pretty evident (by now) that AC have created something extremely artful and unique, they've most certainly turned the corner on being no more than bunch of kids fucking around with drugs. I think Circulatory System and Sung Tongs share pretty much everything in common regarding their LSD influence and musical motivations to sound a particular way while tripping. For me I just hear a much more forward thinking sound from Sung Tongs and can almost feel the building and genesis of something new trying to be put together, this is the biggest lacking element for me in the CS album.

AC now sound like a band who has undoubtedly been shaped by their experiences with psychedelics, but are making music whose confines and motivation lie so much more beyond the world of drugs. Plus I read a couple years ago that they attributed their current creative drive and want to hone their craft as a result of "taking way less drugs these days". I think their music most definitely challenges and excites your mind, whether sober or not, in a very legitimate way.
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #324 on Oct 7, 2011, 3:54am »		[Quote]
Thats about what I had gathered, but everything that I've gathered about them has led me to believe that they are something else entirely.
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May 19, 2012, 7:49pm, onelove420 wrote:
Right on thanks Dr. Garbanzo! My high ass would be trying to Dr. Garbanzoure that shit out all night
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #325 on Oct 7, 2011, 10:20am »		[Quote]
The comparison of Sung Tongs to Circulatory System works great for me. Both of those albums certainly fall into the 'Guided Trip' category of Drug Music, and I agree that Animal Collective did a much finer job. Honestly, the Circulatory System record sounds just soooo much like an Olivia Tremor Control record minus the sunnier, poppier songs that Bill Doss would have contributed. And every Olivia Tremor Control record is, to me, an exercise in patience as you try to make sense of Will Hart's contributions while simultaneously waiting for the soothing rays of one of Doss's songs (i.e., 'Marking Time' on Cubist Castle).

See, that's why it works though, that's why it IS drug music -- a serious trip is the same way. There's a lot of abstraction, there's a lot of disorientation. Some of it can be kind of frightening. But then here and there you'll have a fit of the giggles, or see something that almost brings you to tears. Sung Tongs emulates these kinds of waves: You go from the upbeat 'Leaf House' and 'Who Could Win a Rabbit' into the wind-chime beat of 'The Softest Voice', and then after 'Winter's Love' and 'Kids on Holiday' fade in and out of coherence for a little while we shortly come across 'Visiting Friends'.

Dark Side of the Moon does the same thing, if you think about it. The exact same thing. Drive -> Ambiance -> Abstraction -> Lucidity.

I complain about OTC's tape collages all the time, but that is like one of the key signifiers of what we'd call 'drug music' : long stretches of what can only be called noise. It has the effect, under the influence of LSD, of drawing your mind out and further out. Your brain has been following the familiar procession of song structures, but then the handrails are taken away and you are left to just kind of float, and you hear things between the sounds.

But what do all three of these records do immediately following these extended moments of 'Brain Space'? They slap you, hard; you are pulled harshly out of that 'Brain Space' by a sudden, brief burst of noise.

Dusk at Cubist Castle: The end of 'Green Typewriters' with the vocal entrance "HOW MUCH LONGER CAN I WAIT!?"
Sung Tongs: 'Visiting Friends' -- > 'College' (utterly sublime, by the way)
Dark Side of the Moon: As 'On the Run' peters out, then come the chimes of 'Time'; similarly 'The Great Gig in the Sky' is followed immediately by the cash registers in 'Money'.

It's funny to think that albums of 'drug music' really do have a common structure, but they do.
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Dec 8, 2011, 9:44pm, knowidyuh wrote:
As a general rule of thumb, do what HG says.


May 20, 2013, 9:59pm, cheblarwharpo wrote:
This thread has all the cares...
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #326 on Oct 7, 2011, 11:16am »		[Quote]

Oct 7, 2011, 10:20am, Horned Gramma wrote:
Sung Tongs: 'Visiting Friends' -- > 'College' (utterly sublime, by the way)


This is definitely one of the best transitions ever. Seriously, I remember laying on the bed, tripping out to the abstract noise, and then suddenly being vaulted back to my surroundings with the most incredible and simple idea.
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Apr 13, 2013, 1:08am, weenie wrote:
But seriously...those flowers are seriously beautiful and i will curb stomp you if fuck them up.

But really.

Don't fuck up my azaleas.
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #327 on Oct 7, 2011, 11:18am »		[Quote]
I don't know if that makes any sense, but it does to me.
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Apr 13, 2013, 1:08am, weenie wrote:
But seriously...those flowers are seriously beautiful and i will curb stomp you if fuck them up.

But really.

Don't fuck up my azaleas.
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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #328 on Oct 8, 2011, 2:42pm »		[Quote]
Looks like it's my turn this week. Picking one album for a bunch of hardcore music lovers is a pretty intimidating and daunting task. In the end, I decided to follow the lead of my Canadian brethren and choose and album that is Canadian and has carried me through the years.

My pick for the week is one of my favourite albums to listen to in the autumn months, as everything changes colour, the leaves fall from the trees and the weather turns from warm to brisk.

THE TEA PARTY - SPLENDOR SOLIS - 1993

[image]

I have owned this debut album since it's original 1993 release and have never grown tired of it. I've seen the band numerous times in concert, including the time that they played with an entire orchestra and another time when they opened for Blind Melon. They are simply outstanding in any facet that I have seen them play.

This album is so dynamic in sound and style that it is hard to get bored of it. There are the Can-Con FM radio staples, "The River" and "Save You", slow burning Zeppelin style rockers, "A Certain Slant of Light", "The Majestic Song" and "Dreams Of Reason", the East Indian/Sitar driven tracks, "Raven Skies" and "Midsummer Day" and a beautifully gentle ballad, "In This Time", thrown in for good measure. This album also contains one of my favourite songs of all time, "Sun Going Down", which is an intense blues/folk freak-out.

The Tea Party has recently reunited after a six year hiatus and I have yet to decide if that's a good or bad thing. I'm not particularly sure if they can or will ever again match the intensity of their early career, but I suppose I will have to see them live just to find out. In the meantime, I will continue to listen to this album, which is in my point of view, one of the greatest debut albums by a Canadian artist.

Enjoy.


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Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #329 on Oct 8, 2011, 4:04pm »		[Quote]
I've only ever listened to their FM radio hits, I'm looking forward to giving this a spin.
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