Best Ever Albums

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

baystateoftheart — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 19:57:07 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 08/25/2019 23:57

Joy As An Act Of Resistance. defeats Be The Cowboy 15-13 and advances to the sweet sixteen.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

cestuneblague — Fri, 9 Aug 2019 14:28:04 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 08/09/2019 18:28

baystateoftheart wrote:

I could be wrong, but based on the interviews I've seen, I bet Mitski would disagree that that was in any way a goal of this album.

In any case, I typically rate albums based on how much I like their sounds and not how much they live up to what I think they were going for or how much they "work" as albums.

No I'm not saying there's anything wrong with ambition, and yes I do think even with it's brevity in running time Be the Cowboy is a very ambitious record that's trying to take the introspective themes of her earlier records towards a grander and universal take on modern american identity & isolation, certainly all the more interesting because of her own mixed national background. Now obviously how something works or doesn't as an entire album is not easily dissectable because it's different for what each artist is trying to do, and yes I do think there is a certain difference between the craft of a song and that of an album and that a lot of great songs or musical moments doesn't automatically make a great record, but again that take is situationally based with every individual listener and release on what does or doesn't work about it. And maybe that's kind of my issue with this record in particular is that I'm not quite sure why it doesn't quite gel at the end, yes I mean some songs feel a bit kind of have-cake-eat-it where they want to have a sense of slowly-building grandeur but then all of a sudden turn into something purposefully modest & intimate that leads to some awkward, unfocused numbers, but really there just seems to be something missing here, I donno a certain song, a string of ideas or that there just isn't quite a center to the album despite the clearer sense of thematic purpose. I donno, maybe just super high expectations after Puberty 2 (which would get my vote in any 2016 matchup) exaggherated my own dissapointment.

But yes in the end it feels like I'm bagging on the album too much when I really did love a strong amount of the material and would probably vote for it over most of the albums in the tournament, but what can I say I did love Idles' album even if I can understand those who have a mirror-image take on both works as well.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

mickilennial — Wed, 7 Aug 2019 02:35:43 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 08/07/2019 06:35

baystateoftheart wrote:

It was the most popular idea for tiebreakers when I solicited feedback last year. What’s your suggestion?

i dont really have a suggestion but merely a complaint.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

Repo — Tue, 6 Aug 2019 22:29:35 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 08/07/2019 02:29

baystateoftheart wrote:

I could be wrong, but based on the interviews I've seen, I bet Mitski would disagree that that was in any way a goal of this album.

I actually got the same sense as CGD. Still a great album, but it certainly striving a bit to be THE album of 2018 and it mostly succeeds.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

baystateoftheart — Tue, 6 Aug 2019 22:27:19 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 08/07/2019 02:27

CryingGameDahlin wrote:

trying very hard to be the Next Great Album of it's day and not quite covering all the corners while doing so

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

cestuneblague — Tue, 6 Aug 2019 16:30:00 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 08/06/2019 20:30

baystateoftheart wrote:

Listened to both again before voting, because why not? Joy As An Act Of Resistance. is a good punk album that is overrated because it feels zeitgeisty to a lot of people. Be The Cowboy is a timeless classic and in my overall chart.

I would say Mitski is pretty zeitgeist-y too, if more in a current sense of identity than a political one.

Again I liked Mitski's album quite a lot, I think it definitely had moments of brilliance and certainly solidified her talent but I think it needed a little more room to breathe. It really seems to be missing it's penultimate numbers and kind of ends awkwardly, and sort of the feeling that it's trying to be very sharp and direct while also very grand and propulsive, trying very hard to be the Next Great Album of it's day and not quite covering all the corners while doing so. Still a lot to like from it, but while Mitski is not overhyped this album was to an extent. Given though I still thought it would clean up here, geniunely surprised by how well Idles is doing, and I prefer their somewhat more graceful step-up towards a grander sound and I think a more fully realized vision here as an entire album. Though if you switched this for a Puberty 2 v Brutalism matchup (the latter I liked a whole bunch too) I would still go for Mit without hesitiation.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

Fischman — Tue, 6 Aug 2019 10:44:20 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 08/06/2019 14:44

Gowi wrote:

thats a stupid rule

It makes perfect sense to me. If those on this thread can't arrive at a winner, it makes sense to turn to the massed votes of the BEA community.

Anything else would likely be less democratic and thus defeat the purpose of voting in the first place.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

baystateoftheart — Tue, 6 Aug 2019 08:00:11 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 08/06/2019 12:00

Gowi wrote:

thats a stupid rule

It was the most popular idea for tiebreakers when I solicited feedback last year. What’s your suggestion?

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

Purplepash — Tue, 6 Aug 2019 02:28:01 GMT

Author: Purplepash

Posted: 08/06/2019 06:28

For those who enjoyed the Idles album I strongly recommend watching theit Glastonbury performane on youtube. Amazing!!! I had chills in the first few minutes, fun along the way, and was truly moved by the end.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

mickilennial — Mon, 5 Aug 2019 23:24:47 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 08/06/2019 03:24

thats a stupid rule

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

baystateoftheart — Mon, 5 Aug 2019 22:15:06 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 08/06/2019 02:15

Wow, what a race. Let's hope we Mitski fans didn't bet on losing dogs when it comes to these albums (sorry). Because Idles has a much higher BEA rating (81-77), they will advance as a result of any tie.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

Fischman — Sat, 3 Aug 2019 19:57:11 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 08/03/2019 23:57

Gowi wrote:

idles is one of the more overstated young acts out there and mitski is a gold-spinning songwriter with more depth to her. easy pick for mitski.

What Gowi said.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

Hayden — Fri, 2 Aug 2019 22:05:59 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 08/03/2019 02:05

Not that it's a dire comment, but I keep forgetting how sort Be The Cowboy is. Gave it another spin yesterday and it was over before I knew it. I only have the stream for it, and I've been too lazy to add up the times so I figured it landed somewhere in the 40-45 minute range... really shocked it only comes in at a little over 32 minutes. Over the years I've always considered albums clocking under 35 minutes short, but it's beginning to feel more and more like the norm.

Also, it gets my vote. Both albums are pretty close on my 2018 chart though, so no hard feelings.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

baystateoftheart — Fri, 2 Aug 2019 20:49:12 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 08/03/2019 00:49

Listened to both again before voting, because why not? Joy As An Act Of Resistance. is a good punk album that is overrated because it feels zeitgeisty to a lot of people. Be The Cowboy is a timeless classic and in my overall chart.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

dihansse — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 16:01:49 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 07/31/2019 20:01

I had never heard a Mitski album before and I must say it was a pleasant surprise: especially A Pearl is a pearl.
But I still like the straight out rock of Idles a bit more so my vote goes to Idles.

But I wouldn't mind at all if Mitski would get the vote and would even by a consensus vote for the final contest.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

craola — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 15:18:17 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 07/31/2019 19:18

i found both albums a bit underwhelming and voted idles due to my sensibilities.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

junodog4 — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 14:56:25 GMT

Author: junodog4

Posted: 07/31/2019 18:56

Mitski bored me. Idles I came back to. My vote goes to the Idles.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

thirstyDog — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 18:41:30 GMT

Author: thirstyDog

Posted: 07/30/2019 22:41

Mitski all the way. Idles is overrated.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

Patman360 — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 13:23:09 GMT

Author: Patman360

Posted: 07/30/2019 17:23

Really dig both, but probably just favouring Idles slightly at the moment.

Re: Round 1: Idles v. Mitski

Skinny — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 13:09:54 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 07/30/2019 17:09

I was disappointed by BTC after the masterpiece that was Puberty 2, but Idles isn't my thing at all so vote to Mitski, with the caveat that she operates in a genre that simply appeals more to my sensibilities.