Best Ever Albums

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

Luigii — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 20:05:43 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 09/22/2017 00:05

sethmadsen wrote:

I suppose I'm stuck in the 2000s... Hahahaha.

You'll get out of the 2000's. And find records that will get into your greatest list. I say venture into genres you're not crazy about. As well as if some years weren't crazy, go back to it and maybe the albums will sneak on you.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

RoundTheBend — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 19:59:29 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 09/21/2017 23:59

I suppose I'm stuck in the 2000s... Hahahaha.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

Daydreamer — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 05:47:08 GMT

Author: Daydreamer

Posted: 09/21/2017 09:47

sethmadsen wrote:

Daydreamer wrote:

I thought the same about 2017 albums for a long time, but now A Deeper Understanding, American Dream and Villains have solidified themselves as top 3 albums of the year for me, and all could get A's or strong B's.
And I still have high expectations for the new Killers record which comes out in a couple of days.

Any A+'s- meaning amazing/something that'd bump your overall? The last year to make my overall was 2014... 🙁

I'm trying...

I'm stuck with the wrong musicians I guess...

Something definitely could get in my overall. As for newer albums on my overall, Blackstar is in my top 20 currently (yes it's that good), and there are couple others in the top 100 (Lost in The Dream, Skeleton Tree, Currents..)

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

RoundTheBend — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 00:20:02 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 09/21/2017 04:20

Daydreamer wrote:

Any A+'s- meaning amazing/something that'd bump your overall? The last year to make my overall was 2014... 🙁

I'm trying...

I'm stuck with the wrong musicians I guess...

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

LedZep — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 07:22:16 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 09/20/2017 11:22

I've listened to Villains twice and yesterday I've heard Concrete & Gold for the first time. Wouldn't say any of these two is among the bands' best work, but neither is truly bad or underwhelming too. Concrete and Gold is what you'd expect from Foo Fighters, with several new details including vocal harmonies, Grohl's growl on Run (reminiscent of White Limo, one of my favs!) and slightly poppier production. It's a consistent album, has its moments but never falls short. Villains on the other hand has several problems. I reeeealy don't like the production, not because it's Ronson or whatever, but because it sounds bland and bad. Homme's songwriting is more diverse than Grohl's, but it's hit or miss. I like some of the more balladry-like stuff, and I really like the opening track's more experimental character while a few songs really drag on and on. Not as consistent as the Foo's record, but more diverse and interesting in its peaks. Haven't yet decided which one's better tho, I'll need several more listens!
P.S. sorry for bad English

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

Daydreamer — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 05:56:29 GMT

Author: Daydreamer

Posted: 09/20/2017 09:56

I thought the same about 2017 albums for a long time, but now A Deeper Understanding, American Dream and Villains have solidified themselves as top 3 albums of the year for me, and all could get A's or strong B's.
And I still have high expectations for the new Killers record which comes out in a couple of days.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

RoundTheBend — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 01:35:00 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 09/20/2017 05:35

I've been listening to both a few times this last week.

I kinda feel like they just are... different.

Concrete and Gold has some immediacy to it I enjoy (like most Foo records). It throws some curve balls, yet is easy to like.

Villains is a much more complicated album, and this is to both it's detriment and advantage.

Villains has the Bowie influence which is funny for me to say cause I actually am not a fanatic about Bowie. I dig some stuff he did, but he's not in my top 10 (I don't even think he made my top 100). And it's not him, it's me. I digress. Bowie had some great vocals and I think (starting with their last record???) Josh really started to take that vocal tone on and I dig it.

Both albums are like a B or B+, but I wouldn't really give anything on those records an A or A+ (amazing).

Then again, I'm having a hard time finding anything in 2017 to give an A+. B+ (85) and A's (90) often, but no REAL 100s... (I'm starting to retract maybe some 100s I've given).

If I had to pick one or the other to only be able to listen to again, I'd probably pick Foo's new album.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

Space-Dementia — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 23:54:00 GMT

Author: Space-Dementia

Posted: 09/20/2017 03:54

I prefer Villains, but both are disappointing. Concrete and Gold has some interesting chord progressions on it that I wouldn't really expect from the Foo Fighters, but overall there's too many bland tracks, and one or two just bad ones. Villains is pretty forgettable, but at least it's consistent.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

Daydreamer — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:42:11 GMT

Author: Daydreamer

Posted: 09/19/2017 22:42

I listened to Concrete and Gold for the first time today. It was weirdly underwhelming but since it's just a first listen, I won't read to much into it.
On the other hand Villains is getting better and better with every listen and is becoming one of my favourite albums of the year.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

cobbo95 — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 18:24:36 GMT

Author: cobbo95

Posted: 09/17/2017 22:24

I don't quite get the criticism for 'Villains'? It's still a QOTSA-esque sounding album, with the odd bit of sheen thrown into the mix for good measure. I'd even go to say that Mark Ronson really doesn't make all that big an impact on the album, bar 'The Way You Used to Do', which feels very separate from the rest. The majority of the songs feature the classic dark riffage of the band, with Josh's classic falsetto breaks. It's not as concise as '...Like Clockwork', but to be fair that was the first QOTSA offering I ever thought all went together really well. 'Villains' seems to take the industrial sound of songs like 'Battery Acid' and 'Sick, Sick, Sick' from 'Era Vulgaris' (one of my fav QOTSA albums) and gives it a slight injection of rhythm a la 'Smooth Sailing'. All in all, I'm a fan of this new album and whilst not perfect, it manages to be a great, modern 2017 rock record. Really love 'Domesticated Animals', 'Un-Reborn Again', 'The Evil Has Landed' and the closer 'Villains of Circumstance' - which probably is their first attempt at an all-our rock ballad.

I've only listened to 'Concrete and Gold' once so I don't have as much to say on the matter, but my first thoughts are that it's a mixed bag. Really liked the first half and thought that up until 'Dirty Water', it was the most diverse Foo's record in years. After that...it really drifted off and became quite sterile (like a lot of their post-TINLTL albums). I'll need to give it a few more listens, because at the moment it's a record of two halves. I really liked 'Wasting Light' and get the feeling they're not going to ever top that in the second phase of their career. Sorry Foos.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

Daydreamer — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 18:11:18 GMT

Author: Daydreamer

Posted: 09/17/2017 22:11

AAL2014 wrote:

Fair on all points. I'm never one to write an album off on first or second listen, I just haven't been that motivated to relisten to Villains as of yet. I like almost everything Queens has put out so I'll get around to it.

Your thoughts on Concrete and Gold?

What motivated me to give Villains more listens is that fantastic artwork I think. It's just great.

Still haven't listened to Concrete and Gold, I'll probably do it sometime tomorrow.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

AAL2014 — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 17:22:37 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 09/17/2017 21:22

Daydreamer wrote:

I feel like I'm the only one who really liked Villains. Yes the guitar tone is pretty specific and I could see how it could be annoying, but I don' mind it. I think that guitar tone is where Mark Ronson's influence is at its most visible. However, the songs are there and that's why I like it. Some strong Bowie/Iggy influences throughout.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

Daydreamer — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 12:50:50 GMT

Author: Daydreamer

Posted: 09/17/2017 16:50

I feel like I'm the only one who really liked Villains. Yes the guitar tone is pretty specific and I could see how it could be annoying, but I don' mind it. I think that guitar tone is where Mark Ronson's influence is at its most visible. However, the songs are there and that's why I like it. Some strong Bowie/Iggy influences throughout.

Re: Concrete And Gold or Villains?

AAL2014 — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 10:53:29 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 09/16/2017 14:53

I had zero expectations going into the new Foo Fighters album. It really blew me away though. Concrete and Gold is their best "Play this as an album" record. It's not perfect, but I think it's genuine, emotional, and very well produced.

With the Queens of the Stone Age album, I was very disappointed. I didn't like the sound of the record, drums are so fucking flat and lifeless, and the effect on/tone of the guitar for a lot of record becomes pretty tedious.

I'm going with Foo Fighters on this one.

Concrete And Gold or Villains?

Ianlucadp — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 09:39:06 GMT

Author: Ianlucadp

Posted: 09/16/2017 13:39

QOFTSA? FOO?