I'm flip-flopping between Deep Cuts and Silent Shout in terms of recommendations for The Knife. Probably Silent Shout for you, it's a little moodier; lots of fantastic textures. Deep Cuts is a little more poppy and a little more scatter-shot; some days I like it better, I dunno. Yeah, Silent Shout.
For Built to Spill... Again, I'm trying to tailor my recommendation to what I know of your taste, and although it wouldn't be my suggestion for a lot of other people, for you I'd call out Perfect From Now On. It's a real slow burn -- lots of multi-sectioned seven minute songs, stuff like that. Just fucking incredible, though. After thirteen years, that record still surprises me.
Alright, I'm gonna go for both options and see how it pans out. Thanks gents!
Hahaha I was totally going to ammend my post to say "...but Gramma will probably tell you to go with Silent Shout and Perfect From Now On." These are their subsequent releases to the ones I suggested -- both are natural technical progressions from the previous works. You should probably lean towards Gramma's suggestions since he is putting personal consideration into them, but I personally feel cheated if I hear a later "greater" piece of work before hearing the building blocks that got them to that great place.
Keep it Like a Secret is TOO accessible, if you ask me. The most interesting part of Built to Spill is the expansive, twisting guitar interplay. That never really gets showcased on the albums where Martsch is trying to keep his songs under four minutes. Honestly, Secret is my least favorite.
You like Ancient Melodies more than Secret?
I love you because I know you and you surprise me.
I do in fact like Ancient Melodies better. Wasn't always the case, but Secret loses a little more luster every time I play it.
I was seriously shocked when you said you'd never heard The Knife, Fox. Like, I literally thought they were one of your favorite bands. Just by default, because I was all like this is exactly the kind of music that Fox thinks is the shit.
Built to Spill...? Are you sure you're listening to the right Built to Spill, and not some weird Dutch band named Bilten Spiel or something? I can see vague similarities to Modest Mouse, but Death Cab and the Decemberists are, like, the furthest thing West from BTS of anything I can think of.
It was a joke dude. I seriously plan to listen to all recommendations, and I didn't hate that song, I was just looking for a dumb comment to post about it.
It's a little early to say this, but we may forego festivals next year and drive to Alaska....
That's one of the dumbest statements I'v ever heard. I just went to Alaska (sort of, the little handle part) and while it was pretty cool, if I didn't get paid to drive there it would have been questionable if it was worth the drive. Missing Sasquatch for that is just insanity.
You should just go right after Sasquatch, it's only like a 3 day drive to the Yukon, tops. You can make both work.