Best Ever Albums

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 07:08:17 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 09/22/2014 11:08

Great ULL, Gowie! Glad you're feeling better.

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

mickilennial — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 03:52:09 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 09/22/2014 07:52

RepoMan wrote:

Lydia Loveless (which album should I start with?)

Both Somewhere Else and Indestructible Machine have some really cool songwriting and if you ask me both are pretty quality records. The latter has my favorite Loveless song (Steve Earle), but the former seems a wee bit more consistent. So either.

RepoMan wrote:

Angel Guts (I don't listen to enough Xiu Xiu, & this sounds like a good one for me. What's your favorite Xiu Xiu stuff)

Knife Play
The Air Force
Dear God, I Hate Myself (dat title track)
Angel Guts: Red Classroom

Are the records he's done that I really really appreciate and love. Again, Xiu Xiu has always been this "weird duck" of a project/artistic expression and I really don't think one record is much like the other which is something I always appreciated. I think as of late I have listened to DGIHM and AG:RC more than the two that made me really dig his work (the former two) but those are the most recent.

pa wrote:

I'm planning to listen to this album, I think that I'm gonna love it!

is it worth listening to all their discography?

Yes, I even like the "This is Damon Che's band now" sort of direction on later releases. But I have a bias as Don Cab held two of the most talented musicians that simply wowed me beyond belief (Ian and Damon).

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

pa — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 03:50:20 GMT

Author: pa

Posted: 09/22/2014 07:50

Gowienczyk wrote:

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American Don by Don Caballero
...American Don is one of those special records that when you listen to it you can hear the evolution of Don Caballero as musicians in the year it was released as well as have an inkling of what this record could have influenced.

I'm planning to listen to this album, I think that I'm gonna love it!

is it worth listening to all their discography?

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 02:33:30 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 09/22/2014 06:33

Gowienczyk wrote:

What else did you stash?

Brill Builders (of course)
Lydia Loveless (which album should I start with?)
Let Me Introduce My Friends (always wanted to check them out)
Angel Guts (I don't listen to enough Xiu Xiu, & this sounds like a good one for me. What's your favorite Xiu Xiu stuff)
X.ENC (you name-checked 3 of my faves)

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

mickilennial — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 02:06:43 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 09/22/2014 06:06

Going to ignore Revolver's antics now.

RepoMan wrote:

now you're just showing off. 🤣

LOVING Fox Confessor!!! Thanks for hooking me up. Sometimes I need a good kick. Have stashed a few other albums from your ULL into my listening bin as well.

I really liked your write-ups, Gowi! So keep run-on. 🤡 :D

I really wanted to listen to stuff friday and saturday, but what is done is done. I'll finish what I haven't with thoughts when I can. Glad somebody enjoyed them.

Also YES, I am very glad you dig that record so now here's my obligatory "listen to the rest".

What else did you stash?

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 01:45:34 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 09/22/2014 05:45

Gowienczyk wrote:

Would've been better had it not for me being basically forced to skip two days out of it. Hell, all of it would be better had I not been sick at all. Thanks though.

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

revolver94 — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 01:16:31 GMT

Author: revolver94

Posted: 09/22/2014 05:16

Gowienczyk wrote:

structural anarchy

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

mickilennial — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 01:10:50 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 09/22/2014 05:10

revolver94 wrote:

split up your gd sentences!!!!

ur second grade teacher is having a fit!!!!! 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 #-o

Informal thoughts/laziness. I'm well aware of the structural anarchy going on.

CameronMB wrote:

Thanks Gowienczyk for a great ULL week. Tough act to follow.

Would've been better had it not for me being basically forced to skip two days out of it. Hell, all of it would be better had I not been sick at all. Thanks though.

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

revolver94 — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:01:03 GMT

Author: revolver94

Posted: 09/22/2014 04:01

Gowienczyk wrote:

Maybe Michigan is still my favorite due to local bias, but I can hear so much emotion and have so much understanding listening to all of the songs off that record because not to sound lame but “I get it” and that resonance is something The Age of Adz does not have for me though I understand the quality on this record compositionally but it doesn’t feel like Sufjan put his heart and soul into this.

split up your gd sentences!!!!

ur second grade teacher is having a fit!!!!! 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

CameronMB — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 23:27:03 GMT

Author: CameronMB

Posted: 09/22/2014 03:27

Thanks Gowienczyk for a great ULL week. Tough act to follow.

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 18:39:49 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 09/21/2014 22:39

No Precerec?

Wack ULL

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

mickilennial — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 17:30:02 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 09/21/2014 21:30

Sunday, September 21st

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Bug by Dinosaur Jr.

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Memories Of A Dream by Arwen

When people describe power metal as lacking bite and being melodramatic “flower metal” this is probably one of the albums that confirms that description. The riffwork isn’t the dominant feature here but more of the melodies in the vocals and keyboards. Memories of a Dream pretty much is comprised with a lot of ballad-esque tempo as the band goes through the record to paint a pretty and light mood. It’s definitely not even in my top 20 of power metal records ever but it’s enjoyable on the rare chance I’m in the mood for it.

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The Chronicles Of Marnia by Marnie Stern

Kaleidoscope by Siouxsie & The Banshees

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These Ones Are Bitter by Ben Weasel

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Crazy For You by Best Coast

Hands by Little Boots

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The Man-Machine by Kraftwerk

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

mickilennial — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 02:58:37 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 09/21/2014 06:58

Friday, September 19th / Saturday, September 20th

Caught something that bogged me down, didn't do much listening. Sunday will be different.

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

pa — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 06:00:24 GMT

Author: pa

Posted: 09/19/2014 10:00

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Rise by Anoushka Shankar

I love this record �'�

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

mickilennial — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 04:26:12 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 09/18/2014 08:26

Thursday, September 18th

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King James Version by Harvey Danger

Metamorphosis by Magenta

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Occult Radiance by Fleeting Joys

"Whenever a great band dissolves out of nowhere, there must always come a infatuated fan to carry the torch., the idea of repeating what was done before you with little progression is a thing that is not uncommon in rock music’s history. Bands like Interpol, Where's Moo and countless others are called such things when it comes to continuing where the band that influenced them started. But what separates such flattering repetition and truly carrying the torch? This thought comes to mind often and we go back and listen to the dreamy, liquid and mesmerizing standard that was My Bloody Valentine. Shoegaze has hardly dispersed into nothing which this review should make painfully obvious. After 1991’s Loveless , the shoegaze powerhouse disappeared from the map. Now you wonder, where can I hear another Loveless? I will give you the answer with the subject matter of this review. Fleeting Joys’ second album, Occult Radiance.

Unlike their debut, the Fleeting Joys realize there is a difference from spot on imitation (although good imitation) and carrying the torch. Occult Radiance displays a similarity so much that some people on the internet had uploaded the album on share site’s as a My Bloody Valentine’s newest record. The prank, seemingly unnoticed at first is a brilliant marketing strategy by fans of Fleeting Joys. The album displays more emotion, more wailing and more gloom-esque beauty than the debut it is following. The album opens with You Are The Darkness and displays you what could be their Only Shallow. It’s accessible, but it wails and crunches through your ears like a droning banshee, it’s screams driving you in and not letting go. It’s beautiful in every meaning of the word. Through the albums progression you can see the flow going through and soon become very aware that you are not actually listening to Loveless. The shoegaze soon transforms back down to dream pop by the time you hear All Release and Don’t Go and it is fantastic. The album strikes never a dull moment for fans of dream pop & shoegaze. This is Fleeting Joys, this is shoegaze, this is potentially the legend of My Bloody Valentine.

This record is firmly fantastic, although dropping some punches by the second half of the record to some. But I don’t think so in any regard. This isn’t noise rock, it’s not supposed to grab you by your jaws and hit your face in with a sledgehammer. Though, I would like to hear a fusion of two in eventuality. Not on this record, however. Truly, if you are a fan of shoegaze, dream pop or hell just any type of music that makes you trapped in a gaze, this is for you. I’ve listened to this record on several occasions and it has not waned at all. It is such a crime that this band is so unknown in the music community and it would be a travesty if you don’t at least listen to Occult Radiance."

See above.

My thought on Occult Radiance has not changed, it's one of my favorite shoegaze albums of all time and I've discussed it plenty of times with Silver iirc why I think it's wonderful. It is yeah, My Bloody Valentine 'part two'-esque but it does it a lot better than a lot of other nu-gaze bands that try to do the same thing. They are supposed to be working on a third album so maybe I'll have something to gush over with the next year or two...

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All Is Violent, All Is Bright by God Is An Astronaut

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The End Of The Beginning by God Is An Astronaut

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Let Me Introduce My Friends by I'm From Barcelona

There are two forms of twee pop – the more subtle (see: Belle and Sebastian) and the more bombastic (see: The Boy Least Likely To) but both are forms of relishing in childhood which creates cutesy indie pop that is just nice to get lost in for a little while. My favorite type of twee is those more like The Boy Least Likely To and I’m From Barcelona who use theatric bombast and soaring choirs to evoke the sound of childhood. Often time lyrically it relishes itself in quirky tone that works really well. This is one of my favorite twee records; and might be my first or second experience to the genre so there might be a childlike (lol) nostalgic feeling here. Take a listen and see if it’s your bag. But yeah, more Feist and TBLLT than B&S or Beat Happening:

Link

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Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins

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Angel Guts: Red Classroom by Xiu Xiu

"Jamie Stewart has always been this sort of artistic sort and each one of his records resonate differently with me and this one is no different. I can understand why a lot of people don’t enjoy this as its pretty abrasive from the start of the album, but when you get to it this record is staunch to the background of this sort of hostile atmosphere that drags you down with Stewart’s sense of hopelessness, frantic emotion, and anxiety—which is all something that’s been a part of Xiu Xiu for as long as I can remember. At the very least I can tell where the experiments could not resonate with other listeners, but for me everything he’s doing on this record is great, moody, sort of dark music; from the variable synths, animal screeches, noise-esque wailing, and occasional shrieking walls of noise there’s something to appreciate if you have a taste for that sort of thing."

Again, see above.

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Thanks I Needed That by The Glass House

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Rise by Anoushka Shankar

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Tales Of Us by Goldfrapp

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X.ENC. by Neils Children

Bauhaus and Joy Division worship in a revival context that isn't bland or contrived; Neils Children feel very natural and authentic in their approach to post-punk instrumentation and goth rock wailing. Actually one of my favorite 'non-revival revival' acts who take the sounds of old and give them a respectful spin. If you like their influences (The Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division, etc.) then you should at least give this one a try.

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

mickilennial — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 20:11:00 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 09/18/2014 00:11

Wednesday, September 17th

Had my itunes on shuffle today.

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On A Wire by The Get Up Kids

Probably The Get-Up Kids weakest record for me, even considering 2011’s These Are Rules. The group just works better as a high energy pop-rock (with or without their Midwest emo influences) outfit than it does with what’s going on in this record. I keep coming back to it and it keeps leaving me neutral each time with a thought that goes “Well this is okay, I guess”.

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The Elephant Riders by Clutch

Early Clutch, pretty raw and less focused than their later albums that I tend to listen to more. I don’t spin this one often but sometimes shuffle or my mood demands it. Though I tend to prefer other records by Clutch this one does have a bit going for it—riffwork, energy; though I do think it is a pretty uneven effort.

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Deerhoof vs. Evil by Deerhoof

I tend to prefer Deerhoof’s middle period, but this is my third or fourth listen to this one and I think it really is gaining traction with me, which is weird because for the fanbase it is considered maybe their third weakest album (or at least one of their more “contemporary” though I don’t really see it). I’ve liked Deerhoof since I found them through I think a music video on a now defunct internet music video channel—it was either that or a friend’s link. Deerhoof was a jumping off point toward weirder indie rock-esque stuff for me as I had yet to listen to Ween back when I first listened to them nor had I discovered Xiu Xiu and so forth yet either. But yeah, I do like this one quite a bit and reminds me to listen to the band more often.

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Modal Soul by Nujabes

Japan lost a talent in Nujabes and you can see it on his work; no matter which choice you pick you can hear his knack for production that only got progressive better as his career went on. He had a good sense of mood and tone as he created his own brand of jazz-hop productions that borrowed from cool jazz, trip-hop, and so forth. I think would have only gotten better as he got older but unfortunately that wasn’t meant to be as with many musicians who were cut off before his time. I’ve liked this one a long time and I think it was either this or Metaphorical Music that made me interested into jazz-based hip-hop in general so there’s that.

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A Lullaby For The Devil by Dead Soul Tribe

Dead Soul Tribe is a rare spin for me, following the tradition of the alternative metal scene in the nineties (Tool, Quicksand, Helmet) and keeping the wheel spinning. They add a few progressive metal nods here and there but it’s overall pretty direct riff-oriented rock music. Personally I think this is one of their weakest records (shuffle is really failing me tonight) as I tend to prefer 2004’s The January Tree a lot more. But if you like the sort of Tool-inspired set you could do a lot worse than this album.

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Oblivious To The Obvious by Hourglass

For some reason as the night teeters on I feel in the mood for Hourglass, a progressive metal band that takes cues from Vanden Plas and Dream Theater. This record is a damn good one I’ve been going back to for years since its release in 2009. Lyrically focusing on aspects of emotional turmoil, life commentary, etc. they do it pretty well and for me it doesn’t feel hokey. ”No Chance” is one of my favorite songs on the record and I think it’s mostly for the emotional resonance of the cycle of abuse that leads into a story about change as well as redemption through the following songs. It feels corny talking about it like that, though, now that I read it. But there’s great songs all throughout the record lyrically...

“In a boat with just one oar, another person they’d ignore, the tide pulls me in but to what avail?” – Faces

Witching Hour by Ladytron

One of my favorite electropop kind of things. It's fairly lush with pretty cool textures under the guise of pop and I think I've gotten some people into this record on a few occasions, anyway I really like this yet I feel like I should feel it is pretty standard. I don't know, I like Chvrches for similar reasons though they are a bit different than Ladytron. Though there are at times Shoegazey/Dream Pop-esque influences (in the guitars and lush textures I guess) going on with this record so there is that.

Link

Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie

The evolution of Death Cab continues and I'm not sure where they are going to go after this or Codes & Keys since Chris Walla decided he wanted to pursue artistic involvements elsewhere. I'm one of the few fans of the band who think they have always been progressing in one way or the other in regards to their sound and my favorite isn't even their most "indie rock" (Songs About Airplanes, We Can Play These Songs With Chords, etc) but when they began to progress beyond that (Plans, The Photo Album, Narrow Stairs). But Narrow Stairs tends to have this sort of "overlong" feel to it at times but I don't feel weighted down by it, it's all very interesting for me and it's maybe my third or fourth favorite record by Gibbard and the gang.

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

mickilennial — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:57:12 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 09/16/2014 23:57

Tuesday, September 16th

Took me awhile to get going today, had some stuff to take care of and my father dropped by to check on things. That and I played Skyrim WAY too late so I was half-awake most of the day.

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American Don by Don Caballero

The math rock holy grail and it was obviously influential on third generation(?) post-rock as well. I guess I was reading the Ian Williams v Thurston Moore thread and I got thinking to how long has it been since I listened to one of my favorite records of all time from one of the most impeccable alternative music scene groups? Too long. Ian Williams and Damon Che are amazing musicians who have such flawless precision with their timing. Wonderful. But yeah, American Don is one of those special records that when you listen to it you can hear the evolution of Don Caballero as musicians in the year it was released as well as have an inkling of what this record could have influenced.

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The Age Of Adz by Sufjan Stevens

I promised CubaZed that I’d get around to re-listening to one of my least favorite Sufjan records to give it a solid second chance sometime before the year ended. So why not for my log? So here we go.

I liked this one a lot more than the first listen but I still think I find Michigan and Illinois as the higher echelon of Sufjan as a lyrical songwriter (but maybe not as an arranger/composer) and it has been amazing how the man has grown as an artist. Maybe Michigan is still my favorite due to local bias, but I can hear so much emotion and have so much understanding listening to all of the songs off that record because not to sound lame but “I get it” and that resonance is something The Age of Adz does not have for me though I understand the quality on this record compositionally but it doesn’t feel like Sufjan put his heart and soul into this. The re-listen helped my perspective though.

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Knocking the Skill Level by Garden Variety

In the vein of Unwound instrumentally with the vocal weight of bands from the early nineties such as Texas is the Reason and Boilermaker; Garden Variety is a sort of obscure gem in the nineties post-hardcore scene that creates very noisy yet heartfelt alternative rock that works really well and while I don’t like them as much as Unwound, Drive Like Jehu, or Boilermaker they are certainly up there. There is some Midwest Emo riffwork here and it’s all really good raw stuff.

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Pardon My French by Fuck

Low key lo-fi indie rock from 1997 that combines the weird sensibilities of Ween and Unrest in a sense for whimsy. There is use of kazoo and other stuff in-between the indie rock here presented on the record. This used to be my favorite indie rock album, actually, and Pardon My French has a bit of a nostalgic trip to like six years ago and I still really enjoy this one and the albums before and after it. The mood is slow and quiet, but that is why I think I really like it. It sort of stands out in the indie rock of it's day and that's a very good thing.

DIStopping by Charisma.com

Japanese hip-hop duo who lyrically (from the research I’ve done) have a taste for cynical social commentary dripping in snark and probably one of the biggest surprises of 2014 for me even if I’m not quite in love with it as a record. Jpop-esque electropop backing to what sounds to me a very capable MC in Itsuka. But yeah, as my night winds down I’m enjoying this—might bump it up another rating scale. Leading single off this one is "イイナ�...ケブルー"

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:51:47 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 09/16/2014 23:51

Great stuff! 😜

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

Mercury — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:45:36 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 09/16/2014 23:45

Wow! Great ULL so far! Will agree on Neko Case, she's amazing. And "Blacklisted" is stunning. I really need to hear more of her stuff.

Anyway, yeah this ULL has already gotten me fired up
about
Back into Neko Case
Back into New Pornographers
Getting back into AC Newman
Back into Daniel Johnston

And that's after 1 bloody post! Keep it up.

Re: ULL: Gowienczyk

meccalecca — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:31:56 GMT

Author: meccalecca

Posted: 09/16/2014 21:31

Skinny wrote:

Gonna step in and say that the best two Johnston albums are Yip/Jump Music and Songs of Pain. You should hit those up next. Enjoying this so far though.

I'd say 1990 is on par, albeit a bit for different reasons. Yip/Jump and Songs of Pain are perfect lo-fi recordings while 1990 is just an excellent display of Johnston's songwriting ability.

Gowi, Thanks for pushing this New Pornographers album. I didn't love the last one and was starting to write the band off, but it looks like this might be a nice return to form.

I'm with you on Neko. She's the ultimate Siren. Been a big fan since my brother introduced me to Blacklisted. She was the cover story for the debut issue of his short-lived (lasted one issue) Chicago music magazine.