Rusty
North American Scumfoot
Posts: 710
|
Post by Rusty on Aug 5, 2011 18:20:19 GMT -8
before anybody else goes there, in with a "too long didn't read" Man, I read every word. You did a great review. Also I fucking love this album (well anything Frank Black/Pixies related) when I get some time I will do a review ( along with the back log of reviews I still need to do.) great pick Lumps.
|
|
|
Post by Lump on Aug 5, 2011 18:30:35 GMT -8
PHEW! Glad that went over well. Appreciate it, Rusty!
|
|
|
Post by kymess_jr on Aug 7, 2011 19:42:02 GMT -8
So very late in joining the party here, but I've been slowly writing out little reviews for each album. Thanks everyone for picking such interesting albums so far. This has very easily turned into my favourite thread to read on this board!
N.A.S.A (I kinda nerded out on this one):
Ok, so I made a huge mistake and listened to this album the first few times while working. I was about to dismiss it as nothing more than something fun to have on in the background when I decided to give it one more close listen, and I'm glad I did. It turns out this album is a lot more than just a bunch of random collaborations between artists of different genres, but rather a musical essay on human existence (and a nice, geeky treat for the English major in me).
I found the theme made for a great flow from track to track, still keeping the album as a cohesive unit despite each track being by different artists. I really enjoyed the game of trying to figure out which element of "being human" each track was going to be about, and some of the topics were presented in a very refreshing way. One of the more interesting turns I thought was "The People Tree" and "Money"; each track evokes a different concept of the beginning of human existence -- space, time and evolution, and the bible (with money as a modern god), respectively -- the juxtaposition of which made for a great start to this album. However, eventually the concept became tiresome, and I think the album would've been stronger had a few tracks been cut.
The "Intro" spews some arrogant statements: apparently they're gonna "transcend preconceived divisions" and the listener is going to witness "[N.A.S.A] create together breaking boundaries / And borders set for us by society." I think they succeeded. The range of topics covered-- existence, spaces and places, language, movement, sound, need, etc.-- serve to break down all boundaries between us, showing that at the core of it all, we're all connected. Mixing artists from different genres together definitely achieve this musically. And as someone who rarely listens to any sort of rap or hip-hop, I left this album feeling like they'd created a hip-hop album for people who don't like hip-hop. This one's definitely gonna stay in my rotation for a while.
Some stand-out tracks: Money (all about David Byrne in this one for me); Strange Enough (hooked on that hook); Gifted (loved the female voices in this one)
|
|
|
Post by kymess_jr on Aug 7, 2011 19:44:26 GMT -8
Self -
This album took me a bit to fully get into it. From the first listen, "Meg Ryan" definitely grabbed my attention so I wasn't willing to give up on it. It took some work from me, but I've ended up having a lot of fun with this one.
I love all the different sounds thrown at me. Instead of overwhelming or just "too much", they've managed to find a great balance that keeps me interested in what's gonna happen next. One thing I did figure out fast was this one works best for me when listened to through headphones-- I end up missing too much if I listen at work or in the car, and it's just not as satisfying then. There's definitely a nineties feel, giving it a nostalgic air even though it's completely new to me. Overall, I think it's a pretty solid album, even though I took a while to warm up to it.
"Meg Ryan" remains the stand-out track for me-- it's turned into my "song of the summer". My other faves are definitely "Suzie Q Sailaway" and "Breakfast with Girls".
Circulatory System-
My absolute favourite so far!! As soon as I heard the child at the beginning of the first track I just knew I was gonna love this one. This album just makes so me feel so happy and calm and peaceful every time I listen to it. I look forward to putting it on. Lately, I've been throwing it on as I head into work and it just sets me up to be in a great frame of mind, making my shifts so much more bearable these days.
When I first saw that it was 22 tracks long, I was a little worried that it might get long-winded. I do find I sometimes tune out about half-way through but I also tune back in at different points each time too, so each listening experience so far has been different. Also, the tracks seem to blend so when I think it's only been one song, it's been 2 or 3, or the opposite will happen. Maybe some people would find those negative points against the album, but for me it's just strengthening my love for it.
Standouts are a little harder to pinpoint 'cause of the blending, but I absolutely love "Diary of Wood" every single time. Also the section "Days to Come (in Photographs)" through to "Should a Cloud Replace a Compass?". And the opening track "Yesterday's World" which has ended up perfectly filling a missing spot I had on a playlist I've been working on for a while.
|
|
|
Post by Blacksmile on Aug 7, 2011 19:58:03 GMT -8
PHEW! Glad that went over well. Appreciate it, Rusty! NICE PICK! Looking forward to blowing the dust off of this one since I haven't pulled it out of my collection in close to three years. I also liked the review of it and it was interesting to read that you break this album up into sections. It's a different way of listening to an album for sure. Review to follow in a few days. I'm lovin' this album of the week thread!! So much fun and I love the anticipation of seeing what album comes next.
|
|
|
Post by Catherine Sun Chips on Aug 8, 2011 6:17:30 GMT -8
Know, I'd like to participate in this! Mind squeezing me into the schedule for October?
|
|
|
Post by Friendly Destroyer on Aug 8, 2011 11:11:01 GMT -8
Most excellent review Lumpy!
|
|
|
Post by stamper on Aug 8, 2011 13:59:40 GMT -8
Lumpz, this is a major league home-run of a review. bravo zulu!
great album, too!
|
|
|
Post by know ID yuh on Aug 8, 2011 18:30:04 GMT -8
Schedule: 1. N.A.S.A. - Spirit of Apollo (know ID yuh) 2. Slint - Spiderland (cbats) 3. Circulatory System - Circulatory System (drew) 4. The Lowest of the Low - Shakespeare My Butt...(bradberad) 5. Self - Breakfast With Girls (stormypinkness) 6. Brian Eno/David Byrne - My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (J-Dawg) 7. Frank Black - Teenager Of The Year (lumpy) 8/14 (wompwomp) 8/21 (Comeswithasword) 8/28 (friendlyD) 9/4 (HornedGramma) 9/11 (Rustneversleeps) 9/18 (Geno) 9/25 (EMptY) 10/2 (Souly) 10/9 (blacksmile) 10/16 (Stamper) 10/23 (Catsquatch)
Schedule has been updated.
Nice review Lumps. It's fun writing long posts here and there, right?
Kymess, you want in on this? Even if your post count is low, it looks like you are in the spirit of the thread.
|
|
|
Post by Blacksmile on Aug 9, 2011 19:13:10 GMT -8
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts...what to say, what to say. As mentioned earlier on, I have a group of friends at work and we all choose a song each week, listen to it and critique it. A couple of people are huge Brian Eno fans and one is a big Talking Heads fan. Until recently I had not had much exposure to either, but over the last few months I have listened to a few songs from each. Every Brian Eno track put forth sounds different from the last. Some I've liked, "King's Lead Hat" from Before and After Science and some I've hated, "Spinning Away" from Wrong Way Up. But I digress, my point being that I had no idea what to expect from this album.
This album is 100% fucking strange. The title says it all. It's haunting, distant and gives the listener the feeling of being lost in an unknown land full of characters straight out of a David Lynch film. Due it's rich textures, odd ambient noises and distorted mix of singing and spoken word it was definitely a tough listen, yet somewhat compelling. Did I like it? Not Really. Did I hate it? Not really. I found it to be a little disturbing and creepy, but there was something about the album that makes me want to revisit it again, just not anytime soon.
The standout track for me was the schizo tribal stomp of "Mea Culpa". The prize for the scariest tracks go to "Mountain of Needles" and "Come With Us".
|
|
|
Post by J-Dawg on Aug 9, 2011 19:51:34 GMT -8
blacksmile, I agree the album is unusual, which is part of why I posted it here. I pretty much knew what HG's reaction would be before I posted it, but I wasn't sure what anyone else would think on here. It's definitely not something you would ever expect to hear at Sasquatch.
I do find it interesting that both you and HG mentioned it was somewhat creepy / scary, since I really don't get that vibe at all from anything on the album. Maybe I just read too many horror short stories and listen to too much illbient electronic music to find this unnerving, but I find it challenges me in an enjoyable way.
|
|
|
Post by kymess_jr on Aug 10, 2011 2:03:57 GMT -8
Yeah, sure, sign me up!
I think by November I can probably think of something to post...
|
|
|
Post by wompwomp on Aug 15, 2011 6:36:30 GMT -8
Oh look, another Canadian picking a Cancon record! This week's album is Down at the Khyber by the Joel Plaskett Emergency. grooveshark.com/#/album/Down+At+The+Khyber/2383222Joel freaking Plaskett. Joel has been a mainstay on the Canadian indie scene for over two decades now, and is truly one of Canada's most unique talents. Plasketts career began in the early 90's with the Halifax based group Thrush Hermit. After a moderately successful run (especially in the east coast), the band broke up at the end of the 90's. Plaskett then ventured out on his own with several solo records and several records with his new band, The Emergency. Released in 2001, Down at the Khyber was Joel Plasketts second record after the break up of Thrush Hermit, and his first record with The Emergency. In my opinion, this is easily his best work. This album finds Joel at a real turning point in his career, and it is a great mix of the artist he used to be, and the artist he would become in the future. There are elements of the grunge-y blues rock that formed the sound of Thrush Hermit, the pop-rock sound that would be the sound of The Emergency and also the folk-rock sound that you find in his solo work. Aside from Joels always stellar song-writing, two things really stand out to me on this record. Firstly, Joels guitar-playing is incredible. As an artist not really known before for his guitar work, Plaskett really lays it down on this record. Secondly was the massive influence of drummer Dave Marsh. This was the first record that Marsh performed on, and the two have been together ever since (Marsh has been on every Plaskett record since, Joel produced and performed on Marsh's solo records...). Marsh really tightens up the sound of the group and lays down some good ole white boy soul. "True Patriot Love" was the big single off the record, and was the first time Plaskett started getting some national airplay. However, in my opinion it is one of the weakest tracks on the album. "Waiting to be Discovered" is the real stand out to me, along with "Light of the Moon", "Cry Together" and the title track, "Down at the Khyber". As for criticisms of the album, well it mostly focuses on Plasketts voice. Some people that I have recommended Plaskett to find his high-pitched warble to be quite grating. I'm a big fan of his voice, I love the distinctiveness and the character it adds to his songs, but I can see where they are coming from. Also, this album is so unbelievably Canadian; it might turn some of you Americans off. Half the songs reference Canadia, whether he's singing about Nova Scotia or the prairies. Hell, the big single is even called "True Patriot Love" (a line from our national anthem). Down at the Khyber is one of my all time favorite albums from one of my all time favorite artists. This album was ranked #46 on the Greatest Canadian Album list that came out a couple years ago. Plaskett has had such an fascinating and unique career (his last two albums were a concept album about a rock, and a triple album of folk songs he did with his father....seriously), dude is a national treasure. Hope you all enjoy it!
|
|
|
Post by Blacksmile on Aug 15, 2011 6:49:28 GMT -8
Amazing pick WOMP!!! One of my personal favourite Canadian artists!
|
|
|
Post by Lump on Aug 15, 2011 17:05:55 GMT -8
Ain't nobody gon' review the album I posted? I wuz so excited to hear these reviews.
|
|
|
Post by Horned Gramma on Aug 15, 2011 17:16:29 GMT -8
Dont'cha worry, lumpy-doodle. I've noticed there's a healthy lag of about five days while people make sincere attempts to digest people's selections. Personally I've been re-visiting Teenager of the Year repeatedly this week (the first quality time I've spent with it in about four years, honestly). I'll get my thoughts down in the next day or so; your extensively thoughtful review on it cast it in a far different light than I've ever considered it before, and it's been solidly in my top 25 records of all time for at least ten years.
|
|
|
Post by StormyPinkness on Aug 15, 2011 17:16:41 GMT -8
I will be catching up soon!
|
|
|
Post by Horned Gramma on Aug 15, 2011 17:18:14 GMT -8
...actually you've put me on the hunt for a copy on vinyl. Bet it's gonna cost me an arm and an ass-cheek, once I fucking find one.
|
|
|
Post by Lump on Aug 15, 2011 17:38:55 GMT -8
Phew!
|
|
|
Post by Blacksmile on Aug 15, 2011 18:48:15 GMT -8
I'm giving it a third spin tomorrow on the way to work. I'm a bit surprised by the lack of people reviewing given the amount of people on the list. I hope this thread doesn't crash and burn.
|
|