Best Ever Albums

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 20:08:06 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/17/2018 01:08

YoungPunk wrote:

Yeah I tend to oversimplify things :)

And I never exaggerate. 🤣

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

YoungPunk — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 01:41:56 GMT

Author: YoungPunk

Posted: 02/16/2018 06:41

Yeah I tend to oversimplify things 😄

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 00:46:19 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/16/2018 05:46

YoungPunk wrote:

Your tribulations with modern music is that you are a rock fan and rock is being phased out.

Since the days of disco baby!!!

Sure that's probably part of it.

I think it's a bit more complex though. My age, the culture shift of "the greatest artist" really not existing anymore, 30 million albums to sort through instead of a radio/record companies/limitation of resources (average person only owned so many records - and nobody had access to 30 million at their fingertips. I also learned from this experience I wasn't giving enough time to newer artists - I'd maybe listen to 10 albums of the year and be pissed at what I "found" as mediocre. Not realizing all my other music I had years to grow on me.

And I do actually like a lot of musical genres beyond rock. As far as the album is concerned, I still think Jazz and Rock corner the market (overal/And Rock isn't the only old music. Electronic music, rap music, pop music, all these genres are much older than people realize. I think saying rock is being phased out is over simplified. They probably said the same thing before the explosion of rock music in 1991... or again in the 2000s after boy bands and divas took over for what seemed like 6 or so years and rock more or less died.

But you are likely right - 30 years from now, it may just be that all forms of "guitar" music are as common as Jazz music today. Having said that Kamasi Washington is a big hit on this site, and there's actually plenty of new jazz music being released today - it's no where near as prevalent as it was from the 20s to the 60s, but it's very much so alive and kicking. So is the classical world. Hundreds of millions, if not billions, is spent on the "Classical" music industry worldwide.

Anyway, I 30-50% agree with the oversimplified solution you are suggesting.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

YoungPunk — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 00:22:00 GMT

Author: YoungPunk

Posted: 02/16/2018 05:22

Your tribulations with modern music is that you are a rock fan and rock is being phased out.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 00:53:57 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/13/2018 05:53

Also I'm terrified I did some bad data entry on my chart/spreadsheet.

I missed putting this great album on my chart. Glad I caught it... but it has me wondering did I miss something else.

Aromanticism by Moses Sumney

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 00:51:59 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/13/2018 05:51

So I had a conversation with a dude today. A dude who probably was me in 2011. A dude who said, man, there really just isn't any good music anymore. This dude is about 30. I'm about 33. Statistically, this is when people become close-minded about music and really just have the "aptitude", for a lack of a better word, for getting into new music. It's a normal phenomenon. Most parents hate their kids music and it's just a common thing.

Anyway, due to this site and my persistence (really I have Arcade Fire to thank, even if their album is slightly disappointing), I think I finally was able to say to many people, 2017 actually had some great music, you just have to look for it.

The other hurdle that is new just in the past 15 years or so, is that the myriad of musical options is daunting to the average music listener. It's daunting to me. I thought I was cool for owning 200 CDs and then later 932 albums digitally. Now I have literally 30 MILLION plus albums I could go listen to on Spotify. To not recognize how daunting that is... I mean if I lived 70 years and listened to an hour long album every hour of my life, I'd only scratch a mere 613,200 albums.

All I'm saying is I'm grateful I took the time to dive into 2017 (I think I got to about 150 albums under my belt since October of last year) and find some new music.

I think I'm done with this project for now.

I appreciate all of the suggestions and each of you for showing me great music in 2017.

I was then able to share my findings with 3 or 4 2011 versions of myself. I'll consider that a win, even if small.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 17:05:21 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/10/2018 22:05

Thanks for the recs RKM. Added to my chart! (the ones I got to).

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 15:39:10 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/10/2018 20:39

rkm wrote:

Thanks for listening, Seth. With Gruska, it's that candidness and the relative simplicitly of the arrangements that totally draw me in. It's what makes it completely believable to me, and emotional authenticity is something that ranks high for me in music (and life). Sonically, I really like the choice to use an acoustic piano with the quiet pedal on. You can almost hear the piano hammers. Somehow, this contributes to the humanity of it, combined with his hushed vocal. In a way it reminds me of Satie. Some classical guys are a bit dismissive of Satie, but there is something enduringly beautiful about Gymnopédie, for instance, in its stillness and simplicity, and I hear that sort of thing in this.

Exactly - his arrangements seem simple, but they really have some subtle complexities to them, which probably would draw me in more. His vocal style I'd still probably have to get over though (somehow it turns me off).

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 15:34:59 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/10/2018 20:34

rkm wrote:

I imagine Randy Newman could do a pretty funny song about Utah.

🤣

Looks like he did:
Lyrics of "The Beehive State" (which is the state nickname)
"Since you're the delegate from Kansas
Will you kindly take the floor
And tell us what Kansas is thinking
And what is Kansas for?"
"Well Kansas is for the farmer
We stand behind the little man
And we need a firehouse in Topeka
So help us if you can"
"I see the delegate from Utah
Our friendly Beehive State
How can we help you, Utah?
How can we make you great?"
"Well, we got to irrigate our deserts
So we can get some things to grow
And we got to tell this country about Utah
`Cause nobody seems to know

This song plays after every Dodger game win in Dodger Stadium (Lived in LA for 5 years and my wife hasn't missed a game at Dodger Stadium since 1990):

Link

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

rkm — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 15:22:28 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 02/10/2018 20:22

I imagine Randy Newman could do a pretty funny song about Utah.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 15:18:30 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/10/2018 20:18

Dark Matter by Randy Newman

I see what you mean RKM. Putin and The Great Debate were great and the rest was pretty solid too. First listen of course.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

rkm — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 15:18:00 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 02/10/2018 20:18

The Way Is Read. Total ear candy. I found it musically intriguing also. Particularly how their voices at times become another instrument in the ensemble. I can understand not connecting to this one emotionally as much. Their last record was produced by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. It's probably less adventurous, but I find myself listening to it more, and connecting more with the songs. Again, thanks for checking them out.

If I Was by The Staves

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

rkm — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 15:11:54 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 02/10/2018 20:11

Thanks for listening, Seth. With Gruska, it's that candidness and the relative simplicitly of the arrangements that totally draw me in. It's what makes it completely believable to me, and emotional authenticity is something that ranks high for me in music (and life). Sonically, I really like the choice to use an acoustic piano with the quiet pedal on. You can almost hear the piano hammers. Somehow, this contributes to the humanity of it, combined with his hushed vocal. In a way it reminds me of Satie. Some classical guys are a bit dismissive of Satie, but there is something enduringly beautiful about Gymnopédie, for instance, in its stillness and simplicity, and I hear that sort of thing in this.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 13:39:43 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/10/2018 18:39

rkm wrote:

Suggestions to make your list longer...

This was my favourite album of the year. Subdued, darkly-lit piano and hushed vocal. Sounds like the late night confessions of your flat-mate sitting at the piano in another room.

Slowmotionary by Ethan Gruska

The Way Is Read. The Staves (folky harmonising sisters) collaborate with modern creative instrumental group, yMiusic. Accessible, yet not dumbed down. Best of both worlds.

The Way Is Read by The Staves & YMusic

I could go on with other suggestions, but here's my list if you're interested...
https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=35636

Just from a first listen:

The Gruska album is interesting. The style is usually not something I like (yet it did have a maturity/flair/complexity most don't in this genre), but his lyrics and honest delivery do indeed bring me in for more. Your description is spot on. I like how quickly he gets you into an emotional thought and then only visits shortly. Lyrically The Valley stood out the most. Musically there wasn't anything that really =I'd listen to it again.

The Way is Read:
This was musically fantastic. Take Me Home and All My Life were musically intriguing. Somehow I didn't connect with this emotionally at all though. Probably more me.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Fri, 9 Feb 2018 21:55:49 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/10/2018 02:55

And I am contemplating updating my 2010s list now, but I feel when I built my original 2010s list, I had some kind of benchmark at the time. My 2017 benchmark is totally different so I'm mixing and matching stuff... might have to go with gut feel on if a 2017 album actually is better than what I already have (not that it couldn't be, it's just my "objective subjective" feels a little off somehow.

I want to check out those records RKM (espcially the Tinariwen album as I have heard some of their stuff, but I don't think a full album just yet). Part of me thinks the Randy Newman will blow my mind and part of me thinks I'd be bored (will never tell until I check it, right?).

Anyway, I'm thinking of working on it and I'm also contemplating how to stop waterboarding myself with musical endeavors hahaha (It's me, not you).

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Fri, 9 Feb 2018 19:33:33 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/10/2018 00:33

Alright... here's a good song from each album I liked in 2017:
https://play.google.com/music/playlist/...FZlA%3D%3D

https://open.spotify.com/user/122614575...M0OzDbhiew

EDIT: so I've been listening to this list and am pretty happy with it. It's a quick "fruits of labor" check, and there's some good fruit here. I'm not shuffling it due to the multi-part songs and the flow is ok somehow even though I didn't attempt to care about that aspect.

It appears you can find gems if you actually look for them.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Fri, 9 Feb 2018 12:46:54 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/09/2018 17:46

rkm wrote:

sethmadsen wrote:

RE: Album suggestions

I actually really appreciate it!

I am neglecting my medieval music parties to wrap up 2017. But if you highly recommend, I'm all ears.

Well, I like everything on my list. I narrowed it down from about 70 to 35. That's no guarantee that you'll like any of it, though.

As stupid as it sounds, this album is the first time I realised that folk music is important for the storytelling.

Chronicles Of The Great Irish Famine by Declan O'Rourke

I chose this one over Father John Misty, because it was smart-ass and funny, but less depressing.

Dark Matter by Randy Newman

Every year I try to find things to cover my tastes. I like blues-based music, but not necessarily 12 bar blues. This is African blues.

Elwan by Tinariwen

This one's perfectly sad and beautiful. Not as sad as Mount Eerie.

Stranger In The Alps by Phoebe Bridgers

Awesome - I'll check em.

Also I laughed out loud at the folk music being story telling. In some instances that's all it's good for. In others there's a great balance between the music and the story telling.

Also those sound like some cool albums.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

RoundTheBend — Fri, 9 Feb 2018 12:44:10 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 02/09/2018 17:44

rkm wrote:

Man, those Mormon girls certainly are bubbly! I feel like I've inhaled helium, or something.

🤣

It is a bit of satire (it's two girls the whole time making fun of it).... but yes that's also a bit of the culture.

Sometimes my brother and I call them the fun girls, and not for reasons you'd think... they respond to everything like a "valley girl" saying, oh my gosh, that's so fun! They are responding to something like, oh so I just painted my fence because it was falling apart... 🤣

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

rkm — Fri, 9 Feb 2018 01:09:51 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 02/09/2018 06:09

sethmadsen wrote:

RE: Album suggestions

I actually really appreciate it!

I am neglecting my medieval music parties to wrap up 2017. But if you highly recommend, I'm all ears.

Re: An Idiot Listens to 2017

rkm — Fri, 9 Feb 2018 01:01:36 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 02/09/2018 06:01

Man, those Mormon girls certainly are bubbly! I feel like I've inhaled helium, or something.