|  Author | Topic: Album Of The Week (Read 13,121 times) |
Souly
Abominable Snowman
beer enthusiast
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx118/s0uL8/c170dba6-6a3d-4178-bed4-691cdc8760f2.jpg "[avatar]")
Now with 50% less Fucks.
Joined: Jan 2011
Gender: Female 
Posts: 3,392
Location: Mars
|  | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #300 on Oct 4, 2011, 12:04am » | ![[Quote]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/quote.png "[Quote]") |
I'd like to start this off with a warning that this is the first time I've ever tried to sell people on an album in writing. I hope it's not too painful for anyone.
The album I've chosen is 'In a Quiet World' by We Are The City.
![[image]](http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx118/s0uL8/44F43B74D9B8432EEC781D2EF5B2.jpg "[image]")
I saw this band open for Mother Mother in a party tent at the Calgary Stampede two years ago, and it was an instant connection for me. The band is made up of three young guys, one one keyboards, one on drums, and one guitar player. They've had a few different guitar players lately, but the drums and piano are what matter anyways. The two of them have the best chemistry I've ever seen on stage, and that is what made me buy their album at the merch table right after.
You obviously can't see the chemistry when you listen to the album, but I can still hear it. I think you need to see them live to understand. Funny thing about that is they just announced a US tour on Friday. Anyways! Let's get talking about the album. I've always loved music with deliberate pauses, as well as when the song builds up to a climax. My favourite songs on this album use on or both of these techniques. I also love the use of synchronized drumming and piano playing in the entire album. Sometimes I can't tell which is which. I can already tell that I really suck about talking about what I like in this music, so it's probably better if you all listen to it.
I just wanted to talk a little more about the actual band, just because I think they are going places. They were part of this band competition in 2010 with a radio station in Vancouver. The prize was ten thousand dollars, and they won it, out of 20 something bands. They recently put out a new album that they originally meant to be under a different band name, that is also incredible. They also made personalized thank you videos to everyone who helped them with their first album, that are the funniest things I have ever seen. I would have to say these guys are the band that is most dear to me, and I really hope you all like them as much as I do!
You can listen to most of the album on their myspace
http://www.myspace.com/thecitiesmusic
Or if you just want to check them out quickly, I highly recommend this video. The brother of the drummer does all of the filming and editing for their videos too, which I think is pretty neat.
Edit: UGHHHH none of my links are working, I fail at the internets
Second Edit: Got them all!
|
|
|
davers
Snarling Mapinguary
Doesn't Afraid of Anything
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://zlogblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/cutitout.jpg "[avatar]")
WHO'S BAD? PARTY TIME
Joined: Apr 2011
Gender: Male 
Posts: 2,776
Location: Vancouver, BC
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #301 on Oct 4, 2011, 1:32am » | |
FYI they won $150,000 for winning that contest. Jimmy P, the guy who owns that radio station and pretty much the rest of Vancouver, has a shit ton of cash.
The Zolas brought those guys out for their last song at Live at Squamish and they seemed to be having a great time. They are pretty hilarious.
|
|
|
Souly
Abominable Snowman
beer enthusiast
member is offline
Now with 50% less Fucks.
Joined: Jan 2011
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,392
Location: Mars
|  | Album Of The Week
« Reply #302 on Oct 4, 2011, 1:36am via the ProBoards Mobile App » | |
Holy shit! I was pretty sure that 10k was right! That's a huge amount! That's amazing. I think they definitely deserve it though. I've had the best time at their shows.
|
|
|
davers
Snarling Mapinguary
Doesn't Afraid of Anything
member is offline
WHO'S BAD? PARTY TIME
Joined: Apr 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,776
Location: Vancouver, BC
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #303 on Oct 4, 2011, 1:44am » | |
Every year for the last 3 years they have given away 100K+ to the winner of that contest, this year it is $100,500 (100.5K) which I am guessing they will stick with because the radio station is 100.5. I really love what it is doing for music around here, tons of exposure for bands that actually deserve it and a couple months worth of $12 live shows. Which, for the record, is 780398759 times better than what CFOX is doing, as their yearly contest breeds a handful of Nickleback clones that go nowhere ever since Nickleback won however many years ago.
Anywho, good choice, I am pretty interested to see what people not from Vancouver think of these guys.
|
|
|
blacksmile
Sasquatch!
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://ffwdweekly.com/media/article_images/COVER-GFKinside_cmyk_t_w480.jpg "[avatar]")
Joined: Jan 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,593
Location: Calgary
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #304 on Oct 4, 2011, 1:04pm » | |
SLOAN - TWICE REMOVED
I haven't listened to this album in a really long time and even though it's my least favourite Sloan album it was still a pleasant blast from the past. That being said, I can definitly appreciate why you picked it. I too have my go to albums from that era as well, and may even pick one of them next week.
Overall, I found this to be a decent power pop album. It was a bit of a departure from the sloppy sounds of Smeared, and the songwriting is not as solid as some of their future works, but being that this was their second proper album they were still a band in the works. There are some really solid songs on Twice Removed, but given the polished and professional production, the offkey harmonies show through. Smeared has some of the same vocal stylings as well, but given that it was a noisier album it is not quite as prevelant. I've seen them live a number of times and the songs off of this album come across a lot better now that they've learned to sing with some control and melody. Still though, the album is pretty damn good and at the time of its release showed a band with great potential. It's hard to believe that they recently celebrated their 20th anniversary.
Standout Tracks: "People of the Sky", "Coax Me", Bells On", "Snowsuit Sound"
|
I wouldn't be surprised if you are picturing me peeling a carrot with a staple gun. |
|
Friendly Destroyer
Roaring Meh-Teh
King of Herbs
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://www.slantmagazine.com/images/house/film/evesunset_6.jpg "[avatar]")
"I'm ready for my close-up"
Joined: Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,851
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #305 on Oct 5, 2011, 1:02pm » | |
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
|
Jan 27, 2013, 1:59pm, R. Kelly wrote:| "Tell me what's wrong dawg what the hell you damnin' 'bout? I'm your homie so just say what's on your mind." |
|
|
|
J. Walter Weatherman
Snarling Mapinguary
Olive Lover
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/517533534/JWW.jpg "[avatar]")
Joined: Jan 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,726
Location: Auburn, WA
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #306 on Oct 5, 2011, 1:26pm » | |
That was a really good read, Friendly.
And its hardcore that you typed all that on your phone.
|
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 |
|
|
|
Horned Gramma
Administrator
MVP
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y342/HornedGramma/gramma3-1.png "[avatar]")
16% NICER THAN PREVIOUS MODELS
![[aim]](http://images.proboards.com/aim.gif "[aim]")
Joined: Jan 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 14,376
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #307 on Oct 5, 2011, 1:39pm » | |
I love this post. I absolutely agree with everything you said, and particularly in reference to the Circulatory System album. The members of Olivia Tremor Control were always by far the most guilty among their fellow Elephant 6 members of the habit of making music and sounds that were specifically intended to be listened to and understood while on LSD ("Green Typewriters").
My love of music was firmly in place long before I started experimenting with drugs. I don't know if it was a coincidence or just a product of my personality that most of the music that I was drawn to as a teenager was 'drug music' -- Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, XTC. So when I got older and started smoking marijuana and then taking psychedelics, I was delighted to finally hear and 'get' the music the way it was, arguably, intended to be heard.
Like the Dark Side of the Moon/Wizard of Oz phenomenon, it amuses and amazes me that for many great records the musicians intentionally left the last piece of the puzzle out of the box and left it up to the listener to find it out in the world and put it into place. As if to say, We've done as much in the studio as we possibly can and the rest is up to you.
But I agree with you, Friendly D -- that is NOT to say that drug music is meant to be exclusive and can never be made sense of without the assistance of chemicals. There are a couple of exceptions that prove this rule. Zappa, for instance, abhorred the use of recreational drugs. He was known to call people under the influence of drugs "Assholes In Action". And yet his music was undeniably a part of the drug culture of the late 60's and early 70's. I don't know how he tapped into that psychedelic vein so totally and convincingly with that attitude -- it probably just proves that the man was using a greater percentage of his gray matter than the rest of us. Songs like 'Who Needs the Peace Corps?' include Zappa being blatantly condescending to a massive segment of his fan base. It is brilliant; it is hilarious.
And then there are The Residents, of course. The Residents simply are drug music, in the very same way that the Beatles' 'Revolution #9' is drug music, and it is an extremely rare occasion that I meet a true fan of theirs who hasn't been over the rainbow several times. I honestly couldn't tell if you if I got heavily into the Residents in my early twenties because of the psychedelics, or if I got heavily into psychedelics in my early twenties because of the Residents. They arrived on my scene at the same moment, and from there my interest shifted heavily toward more experimental sounds.
There's nothing wrong with it -- it is what it is. Dubstep is the same thing -- dubstep is drug music, and it's rise in popularity I have no doubt is largely due to the recent development of a new drug culture. It is informed and enhanced by amphetamine-based drugs in the same way that the psychedelic tidal wave in the 60's was informed and enhanced by LSD. And for the same reason, the vast majority of that type of music is backwash, and will be forgotten very very soon. It is no different now than it was then -- the vast majority of minimally talented psychedelic garage bands from the late 60's have been forgotten as well. Take a look at the most excellent Nuggets box set that encapsulates that period. Names of dozens of bands whose records disappeared decades ago, forever out of print. They were all the rage at the time, but when that tidal wave receded it dragged most of them out to sea, where they were lost.
|
|
|
Friendly Destroyer
Roaring Meh-Teh
King of Herbs
member is offline
"I'm ready for my close-up"
Joined: Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,851
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #308 on Oct 5, 2011, 2:04pm » | |
^^^
That is exactly what I was trying to get across. As much as substances have added to the way I hear and understand music, I don't think it would have had the same effect on me personally had I not had my love and creative inspiration from music firmly in place before I ever tried any type of experimentation.
The Dubstep comparison is dead on.
|
Jan 27, 2013, 1:59pm, R. Kelly wrote:| "Tell me what's wrong dawg what the hell you damnin' 'bout? I'm your homie so just say what's on your mind." |
|
|
|
Friendly Destroyer
Roaring Meh-Teh
King of Herbs
member is offline
"I'm ready for my close-up"
Joined: Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,851
|  | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #309 on Oct 5, 2011, 3:34pm » | |
One last thing I want to add to this is that I find it pretty fascinating how we have 2 albums like Circulatory System and My Life in the Bush of Ghosts on this list and the reactions they've gotten.
To my ears the CS album sounds borderline irritating and boring in its blatant "druggyness", where as MLitBoG sounds absolutely exciting and original. Though I find that most often I see people jumping all over 100% drug albums and hailing them for their musical originality, usually never even bringing up the word drugs or not even realizing the dominant influence drugs had on the album. But it seems to be that albums such as MLitBoG always are quicker to get slapped with the "druggy" tag. Are drugs involved in these albums too? Sure, but mainly as a catalyst for the artist's creativity, not as a motivation for every sound on the album. Many times substances were not even involved in that time frame and the only imprint they have on the album is in the knowledge and insight they have provided the artist to explore new territories independent of substances or simply transcending substances.
|
Jan 27, 2013, 1:59pm, R. Kelly wrote:| "Tell me what's wrong dawg what the hell you damnin' 'bout? I'm your homie so just say what's on your mind." |
|
|
|
RUST NEVER SLEEPS
Howling Windigo
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://www.uncut.co.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/article/2012/07/neilyoung280612w.jpg "[avatar]")
Original Model
Joined: Aug 2012
Gender: Male
Posts: 387
Location: Vancouver , B.C
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #310 on Oct 5, 2011, 4:04pm » | |
I have never done any drugs, but have always wondered if the music listening experience would be enhanced on them. I guess I got my answer....now where do I find me some LSD in this town.....
|
LEXICON |
|
Friendly Destroyer
Roaring Meh-Teh
King of Herbs
member is offline
"I'm ready for my close-up"
Joined: Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,851
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #311 on Oct 5, 2011, 4:21pm » | |
Oct 5, 2011, 4:04pm, RUST NEVER SLEEPS wrote:| I have never done any drugs, but have always wondered if the music listening experience would be enhanced on them. I guess I got my answer....now where do I find me some LSD in this town..... |
|
Listen, I'm definitely not trying to get ANYBODY to do drugs or make them feel it is an absolute necessity to love music. My hope wasn't to force people to see the break down of the fourth wall and rain on their music parade. I was just bringing up some stuff I often see and was wondering if others felt the same.
EDIT: Why is there a "thumbs up" at the top of my previous post?
|
Jan 27, 2013, 1:59pm, R. Kelly wrote:| "Tell me what's wrong dawg what the hell you damnin' 'bout? I'm your homie so just say what's on your mind." |
|
|
|
davers
Snarling Mapinguary
Doesn't Afraid of Anything
member is offline
WHO'S BAD? PARTY TIME
Joined: Apr 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,776
Location: Vancouver, BC
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #312 on Oct 5, 2011, 8:33pm » | |
Dammit I had a reply to the music and drugs thing I typed out at work on coffee break but never posted it. I will do so tomorrow if my computer still has it on there.
|
|
|
Horned Gramma
Administrator
MVP
member is offline
16% NICER THAN PREVIOUS MODELS
Joined: Jan 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 14,376
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #313 on Oct 5, 2011, 8:36pm » | |
I encourage the continued life of this conversation! Music and drugs, like chocolate and peanut butter, are two of my favorite things that only make each other more awesome when you mix 'em together.
|
|
|
Friendly Destroyer
Roaring Meh-Teh
King of Herbs
member is offline
"I'm ready for my close-up"
Joined: Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,851
| | Re: Album Of The Week
« Reply #314 on Oct 5, 2011, 9:56pm » | |
Oct 5, 2011, 8:33pm, davers wrote:| Dammit I had a reply to the music and drugs thing I typed out at work on coffee break but never posted it. I will do so tomorrow if my computer still has it on there. |
|
Your document has been sent to your boss.
|
Jan 27, 2013, 1:59pm, R. Kelly wrote:| "Tell me what's wrong dawg what the hell you damnin' 'bout? I'm your homie so just say what's on your mind." |
|
|
| |
|
![[Home]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/home.png "[Home]")
![[New Topics]](http://images.proboards.com/menu/topics.png "[New Topics]")
![[Help]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/help.png "[Help]")
![[Search]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/search.png "[Search]")
![[Login]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/login.png "[Login]")
![[Register]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/register.png "[Register]")
![[Search This Thread]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/search2.png "[Search This Thread]")
![[Reply]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/reply.png "[Reply]")
![[Share Topic]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/share.png "[Share Topic]")
![[Print]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/print.png "[Print]")
Logged