Best Ever Albums

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 18:46:04 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/23/2014 22:46

Chicago will have to write a song about leaving the tournament

17-7

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

drakonium — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:15:10 GMT

Author: drakonium

Posted: 06/23/2014 11:15

So I've listened to Chicago, and I've enjoyed it a lot. Vote to it easily.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

RockyRaccoon — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 01:10:53 GMT

Author: RockyRaccoon

Posted: 06/23/2014 05:10

Oh holy shit, Chicago is fantastic. I mean, really fantastic. I knew they'd lose, but I have such a love affair with (pre-Terry-Cath's-death) Chicago, especially this album. It isn't as good as CTA, but damn it's impressive.

The sheer scope of the album is impressive to me, a double album that is, in my opinion, never slow. The whole "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon" is fantastic, with the gorgeous "Colour My World" and "Make Me Smile". "25 Or 6 To 4" is one of the greatest rock songs ever.

This is one of the most instrumentally impressive albums I've ever heard. The brass is absolutely superb, in my opinion the best brass section of a rock band I've heard (only BS&T, Earth Wind & Fire and Chase compete). Terry Cath is one of the MOST underrated guitarists ever and Danny Seraphin is one of the most underrated drummers ever and both of them shine on "25 Or 6 To 4", that guitar solo was my LIFE growing up as a budding guitarist. It's why I bought a wah-pedal, I still know it by heart, I can sing the whole solo if I wanted. And that drumming, hot damn, it's awesome. Mix this all in with the fact that Terry Cath, Pete Cetera and Bobby Lamm are all fantastic singers and damnit you have a fantastic album.

Seriously. It's incredible. This, CTA, Chicago III, it's all pure magic.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 22:42:58 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/23/2014 02:42

25 or 6 to 4 plays with fire, the rest of Chicago is ash.

As for Songs About Leaving, it's pretty classic and essential slowcore. I wouldn't put it up there with my favorites from the genre (Red House Painters, Low, Bedhead, Codeine, Early Day Miners, etc.), but it's a striking and wonderful album. Pretty extremely easy vote for me on this one.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

meccalecca — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 16:45:15 GMT

Author: meccalecca

Posted: 06/22/2014 20:45

RepoMan wrote:

I always had a negative attitude towards Chicago because there popular stuff in 80s was abysmal tacky taffy.

Same. This album is much better than that. But it's still pretty much the whitest music you'll ever hear. Whatever that means.

Songs About Leaving creates the far better mood for my liking.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:20:32 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/22/2014 19:20

I thought this would be so easy. I discovered Songs About leaving in the wake of really digging Band of Horses stunning debut. Fell in love with it on first listen, and it still pulls on my heartstrings a decade later. Meanwhile, I always had a negative attitude towards Chicago because there popular stuff in 80s was abysmal tacky taffy.

Well color me impressed! Chicago II is an insanely great amalgam of jazz, r&b, and classic rock which just brims with more ideas in a few songs than most bands muster in entire careers. I think this is the sound and ambition that Paul McCartney wanted for his band Wings but never could quite pull off! (How's that for a controversial BEA statement.)

Anyways, vote for the underdog.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

NickVolos — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:07:11 GMT

Author: NickVolos

Posted: 06/22/2014 19:07

What are we comparing here? Chicago's grand debut 2nd effort, a masterful work of infested jazz rock to Songs About Leaving? - a good record but nonetheless nowhere close. Vote to Chicago.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Skinny — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 11:16:05 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 06/22/2014 15:16

Eh, I preferred Songs About Leaving, but this is yet another matchup where I'm struggling to get excited about either record. Disappointing that Palace Brothers and Ghost are up against each other; I'd vote for either over any other record in these opening matchups.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

mickilennial — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 20:56:13 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 06/22/2014 00:56

I sort of knew Carissa's Wierd would crush Chicago, and rightfully it is. Better lyrical songwriting, better mood/tone, and definitely to me a more special record despite the fact me liking Chicago's output pretty well.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

benpaco — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 18:29:44 GMT

Author: benpaco

Posted: 06/21/2014 22:29

Chicagos ... losing? The hell BEA? Alright guys ...

Songs about Leaving was fine, but blended in with a lot of other albums. Can't listen to anything as I'm on the road so maybe it'll be better with a relisten, but nah. Voted Chicago.

Fun fact, this is the only matchup I can vote on :/

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Listmeister — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 13:18:53 GMT

Author: Listmeister

Posted: 06/21/2014 17:18

Chicago Transit Authority II was really good. Lots of variety, some slow songs, some rocking songs. A few hits that I was already familiar with. Songs About Leaving was less varying, but what it did, it did really well.

It's close. My vote goes to The Puking Lions because I want to hear that album again. The Chicago one, meh, it's there.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Hayden — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 10:55:18 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/21/2014 14:55

Songs About Leaving obviously.

Nothing wrong with the Chicago record though, all in good fun.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Norman Bates — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 09:19:53 GMT

Author: Norman Bates

Posted: 06/21/2014 13:19

Carissa's Wierd is better.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

drakonium — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 08:05:37 GMT

Author: drakonium

Posted: 06/21/2014 12:05

Songs About Leaving is alright, but it won't take too much for Chicago to beat it. I'll update that post after the listening.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

SuedeSwede — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 07:16:51 GMT

Author: SuedeSwede

Posted: 06/21/2014 11:16

BrandonMiaow wrote:

Low Budget Slow Motion Soundtrack Song for the Leaving Scene is probably my favourite.

*high five*

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

WindowAbove — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 22:16:03 GMT

Author: WindowAbove

Posted: 06/21/2014 02:16

Songs About Leaving

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 22:14:16 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/21/2014 02:14

Chicago's debut was possibly one of the best jazz rock albums ever created. They mastered their instrumentation and managed to create some of the catchiest music I've heard in that particular branch of genre. However, they started to lose it straight after that (even though their self titled is pretty good) and eventually became that less interesting romance band that I'm not too keen on. Simply said, after their second album (this one), they became boring to listen to.

Songs about leaving is a pretty decent album, but I'm not too keen on it so vote to Chicago.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 20:32:55 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/21/2014 00:32

Songs About Leaving means a lot to me. Haven't gotten around to Chicago yet, so I can't vote atm, but I guess I'll go ahead and write about how much I love it. Some of you guys did a good job in nominating some of my favourite albums so I didn't have to. 🤣 We got Carissa's Wierd, Giles Corey, Third Ear Band, etc. 😜

So, I can't say I studiously focus on the nuances of the lyrics. Mostly I just get snippets of lyrics and the overall vibe. I read what I want into it, right? I'm such a great music listener like that. Well, this is part of...hmm, a trio? A trio of albums I associate with how fucking painful it can be to be in a long distance relationship (the other two being Cerulean by Baths and Strawberry Jam by Animal Collective). It's so autumnal. Not quite warm, not quite cold. Distant but inviting. It's got that vibe down perfectly.
And I think it is just one of the prettiest albums there is. Piano Song is seriously heart melting. Low Budget Slow Motion Soundtrack Song for the Leaving Scene is probably my favourite.
I don't really know what else to say about this album other than it has made me cry quite a few times. It's so lonely but so lovely. Aagh. >_< SuedeSwede is better at putting it into words it seems. But yeah, I'd say it deserves the title masterpiece. It's in a realm all its own.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

SuedeSwede — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 20:09:59 GMT

Author: SuedeSwede

Posted: 06/21/2014 00:09

Oh dear lord how much I love this album

SuedeSwede wrote:

This is the most personal album I've heard. The harmonies have that lovely blending kind of sound that MBV achieved in 'Loveless', and then mixed with the twee guitars and excessive strings, this album has all the ingredients to make me squeal.

And then there's the lyrics. I could go on forever about the lyrics, they are some of the most bold lyrics I've ever laid my ears upon. They are admitting of love, but also anguish at the same time. They portray that bipolar feeling of hatred after leaving someone or being left but still wanting to be back with them as there is still an element of affection. The lyrics show those signs and show that everyone is human and people feel similar emotions, so it is easy to sympathise with.

Also, the female vocalist here is top-notch, I mean she is possibly my favourite female vocalist.

SuedeSwede wrote:

Seeing as I don't think I've actually given this a full review outside of my chart, I'll give it - not a review but - a long summary.

I don't know what to feel, think, or act like during this album. There are stories of hatred, guilt, past love, deceased affection, and an overwhelming dose of the realisation of reality. The songwriters (Brooke/Ghetto) here are of opposing genders, which is very strange to listen to. Considering there is near to no credit given to individual songs, you never know what is coming from who, and I don't think I want to know. My point here is that there are two polar opposites in gender, and the whole album is so lyrically cohesive throughout. That confuses me in such a way that is fascinating, and when the two are harmonising and sharing songs, it's as if they are both having a bond in emotions, and this cannot be broken. They understand each other and, to be honest, each song sounds like both of their experiences merged together. Both Brooke and Ghetto feel the same way, and I don't think this is a coincidence. I like to think that there was, at some point, something between the two of them and that through everything, they can still pull through and create one of the most poignant experiences ever, together. Now, this is not a conclusive fact, so it shouldn't actually contribute anything. But even if they weren't actually together, the two of them are on the exact same page emotionally. This adds so much personality to the album, it makes it sound a lot more heartfelt and it tells listeners that, when you are down, and when you are feeling a sense of loss, may it be death, heartbreak, or just someone close leaving your life, there is so much sympathy throughout the world, and so many people feel the way you do. Additionally, this is actually explored in "it's hard to write this song, it's all a joke, it's all been wrote down by someone who's probably dead". I first heard this album a few weeks after a breakup (which wasn't really that devastating), and I wasn't feeling anything negative about this breakup at that time. I was past her, but what really made me forget about the whole ordeal completely was that lyric. I wrote a song about the breakup (which is bitchy and whiny), and I realised it was just so pointless because this song can be found anywhere, in anyone's mind, all over the world. Every lyric has been explored in some song somewhere, and it was pointless. The song brought nothing contributory to anyone anywhere anyway because it was just about the "pains" I was going through after what was actually a really easy breakup. So, I scrapped it. And I scrapped worrying about the past. Yeah, the past has shaped who you are up to now, but what shapes you even more so, is your future actions. You shouldn't care about your past, and you should move on to try and craft a better you and a better future.

Now, this is very astray from my original point, but if an album can make me waffle this much while still staying on the topic of what I realised after listening to it, then it sure is powerful. And it is powerful, for me at least. If it were a boxer, it would be Muhammad Ali. It floats like an elegant butterfly, the music is so beautifully crafted and rich, it is what all chamber musicians should aspire to sound like. But, under this elegant music, it stings like a bee. The lyrics are so compellingly strong that you are being, to reuse a metaphor, stung like a bee.

There's probably countless contradicting points in here but just take into account I didn't stop typing whilst writing this, so most of it is just trying to word thought processes.

tl;dr: This album is greater than life.

Re: [CLOSED] +1500: Round 1: Chicago VS Songs About Leaving

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 20:08:14 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 06/21/2014 00:08

Chicago was a good bit a fun, but I found it to be too long. Songs About Leaving was a great slowcore album. Vote to Carissa.