Best Ever Albums

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

monosyllables — Tue, 6 Dec 2011 19:16:58 GMT

Author: monosyllables

Posted: 12/07/2011 00:16

I am a firm believer in the cliched (also french!) addage that music is a universal language. That being said, I think it's a little silly to think that only the stuff that automatically sounds nice to us is worth immersing ourselves in and listening to. I've learned more about music listening over and over to stuff that (at first!) was more "interesting" than it was aesthetically pleasing. Chief among what I learned is how easy it is to adapt your palette to a much broader range of sounds, and really why wouldn't you want to?
One of the best examples I can think of is the totally arbitrary slavishness to a minute handful of accepted time signatures by a puzzling majority of musicians and composers. Even the ones that still sound pretty organic to us--5/4, 7/4, 7/8, etc.--are grossly underrepresented! Maybe it's cause we can't dance to it. And who says we even need time signatures for all our music?
Another important thing I think one ought to keep in mind about the avant-garde is that it absolutely relies on the background of straight up-and-down rock and roll and other mainstream music, because it's all an outgrowth and a revolution. Just look at an earlier Beefheart album, Safe as Milk! The last few tracks on that album KILL precisely because we're hearing them in the wake of almost a full record of funky rock and blues!

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

CellarDoor — Tue, 6 Dec 2011 08:05:29 GMT

Author: CellarDoor

Posted: 12/06/2011 13:05

Mind Movie wrote:

CellarDoor wrote:

I listen to fucked up music, read fucked up books and watch fucked up movies.

Oh dear.

Well, your chart doesn't look very fucked. I've listened to all your albums in the top 10, and I believe most people would consider those as straight forward albums without any challenging moments.

Avant-garde is french.

As is poseur.

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Tue, 6 Dec 2011 04:51:50 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 09:51

CellarDoor wrote:

I listen to fucked up music, read fucked up books and watch fucked up movies.

Oh dear.

Well, your chart doesn't look very fucked. I've listened to all your albums in the top 10, and I believe most people would consider those as straight forward albums without any challenging moments.

In Rainbows vs. The King of Limbs

RoundTheBend — Tue, 6 Dec 2011 01:24:31 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 12/06/2011 06:24

This is how I felt when I heard the King of Limbs for the first time- especially the song Feral. I felt like I was listening to a CD that was skipping or something. I felt like it was not music- everything except some of the most beautiful stuff they have ever done- the last two songs. The last two reminded me of In Rainbows, which is arguably one of their best albums. Songs that were approachable and "pleasing." I now like most of King of Limbs, but it is still very not approachable for some of it, and then the rest of it sounds like B sides almost.

I play bass as a hobby and one of my best friends growing up started learning guitar at like 5. He could play Fleur de lise on the guitar in 6th grade. The kid is crazy now- tapping master- and just all over the place. Really great stuff technically, but hard to approach. I have always asked myself- is that a bad thing that it isn't approachable? How much better would the same concepts be if they were approachable. Don't know...

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Facetious — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 23:56:19 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 12/06/2011 04:56

Mind Movie wrote:

I listened to Suicide's first album yesterday, and I can safely say that "Frankie Teardrop" is, without competition, the worst shit I've ever heard.

I made me wonder why so many of these "arty" people actually listen to this kind of music - as I see it, many of these "experimental/avant-garde/arty/free-from/blablabla" artists simply can't write great songs or compositions. So instead of at least trying, they make something completely weird that simply deny the existence of euphony and melodies.

I understand that making this kind of music can be fun, and I bet Suicide laughed their ass off while recording "Frankie Teardrop". But I don't understand why people listen to this. What do you music lovers hear in "Frankie Teardrop", "Trout Mask Replica", "Metal Machine Music", "Twin Infinitives" etc. which is so great? Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Depends on the person, what s/he considers "pleasure to the ears". For example, for me, "Trout Mask Replica" was a pleasure to the ears. That said, I haven't listened to the others. Sound pretty interesting, though. Will look into them.

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Jackwc — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:44:20 GMT

Author: Jackwc

Posted: 12/06/2011 02:44

40footwolf wrote:

Jhereko wrote:

40footwolf wrote:

I think you're confused about the cause-and-effect of these things. The whole bombastic rock god thing shriveled up and died because the record industry imploded, not because other types of music were threatening its sovereignty. Indie music isn't the cause, it's the response.

Rock music has by and large been a mainstream, corporate entity since the late '70s; it hasn't had an "edge" in over 30 years. And please-rock has always been selling fashion, from the Beatles to David Bowie to The Human League to Stone Temple Pilots to Arcade Fire. The spirit of rock hasn't changed whatsoever, it's just changed how it looks a bit. As it should-I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to listen to a string of identical groups that just rip off the Rolling Stones for the rest of my life.

�'�

Seriously this is awesome.

Once Jack has finished sucking your dick...can I have a turn?

Alright, but you've got a tough act to follow. He does this swirly thing with his tongue that's just insane.

YOU SAID YOU'D NEVER TELL ANYONE!

(sobs)

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

SquishypuffDave — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:40:27 GMT

Author: SquishypuffDave

Posted: 12/06/2011 02:40

Definition of "not a hipster": N/A

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Hayden — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:38:13 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 12/06/2011 02:38

purple wrote:

Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres wasn't even an automatic option on the Pitchfork poll... hipster FAIL. Finished what I had to on it to nominate these for top 5 of the year, though none will likely win...

1. Beach Boys - SMiLE Sessions
2. Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres
3. Colin Stetson - New History Warfare v.2: Judges
4. Nicolas Jaar - Space is Only Noise
5. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

Omg. This poll is driving me crazy 🤣 . No CunninLynguists, Matana Roberts, Middle Brother, and Yuck's Shook Down isn't an option for singles. 🧱

And the survey AFTER that, i'm finding next to impossible to answer 🤣

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:37:55 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 02:37

anyone who tries to call out a hipster is a hipster themself: FACT.

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Jackwc — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:31:17 GMT

Author: Jackwc

Posted: 12/06/2011 02:31

Thas heepster tawk right dur

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

SquishypuffDave — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:12:52 GMT

Author: SquishypuffDave

Posted: 12/06/2011 02:12

I don't mind Pitchfork. They definitely have a strong genre bias though.

In regards to hipsters: Hipsters do not know that they are hipsters. I know I'm a hipster. Therefore I am not a hipster.

🤔

Seriously though, "hipster" is the most useless classification ever. Stereotyping is bad, mkay?

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:53:54 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:53

Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres wasn't even an automatic option on the Pitchfork poll... hipster FAIL. Finished what I had to on it to nominate these for top 5 of the year, though none will likely win...

1. Beach Boys - SMiLE Sessions
2. Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres
3. Colin Stetson - New History Warfare v.2: Judges
4. Nicolas Jaar - Space is Only Noise
5. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:50:55 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:50

🤣 oh god...it's true.

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

40footwolf — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:43:09 GMT

Author: 40footwolf

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:43

Jhereko wrote:

40footwolf wrote:

�'�

Seriously this is awesome.

Once Jack has finished sucking your dick...can I have a turn?

Alright, but you've got a tough act to follow. He does this swirly thing with his tongue that's just insane.

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:38:51 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:38

40footwolf wrote:

�'�

Seriously this is awesome.

Once Jack has finished sucking your dick...can I have a turn?

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:37:41 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:37

😜

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:36:21 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:36

Polythene Pam wrote:

Jhereko wrote:

Polythene Pam wrote:

Jhereko wrote:

Well then we shall start Pitchforkers Anonymous! a small band of us who aren't afraid.

Incidentally (though I'm sure all PAers will know about this) Pitchfork just opened their readers poll if peeps want to vote

http://pitchfork.com/news/44768-the-2011-pitchfork-readers-poll/

it's always an interesting read when the results come out!

🤣

That "readers poll", is all market research

Website is a joke

Pitchfork "what kind of spirits do you like to drink"

Pam "click exit"

So edgy Pam! What the fuck poll were you looking at anyway? not this one

http://readerspoll.pitchfork.com/survey/

I couldn't see that question anywhere.

Its in that one, click next. and then its all market research

meh, everyone needs money to run. at least that's what this guy told me

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

40footwolf — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:30:16 GMT

Author: 40footwolf

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:30

I think you're confused about the cause-and-effect of these things. The whole bombastic rock god thing shriveled up and died because the record industry imploded, not because other types of music were threatening its sovereignty. Indie music isn't the cause, it's the response.

Rock music has by and large been a mainstream, corporate entity since the late '70s; it hasn't had an "edge" in over 30 years. And please-rock has always been selling fashion, from the Beatles to David Bowie to The Human League to Stone Temple Pilots to Arcade Fire. The spirit of rock hasn't changed whatsoever, it's just changed how it looks a bit. As it should-I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to listen to a string of identical groups that just rip off the Rolling Stones for the rest of my life.

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:28:13 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:28

Jhereko wrote:

Polythene Pam wrote:

Jhereko wrote:

🤣

That "readers poll", is all market research

Website is a joke

Pitchfork "what kind of spirits do you like to drink"

Pam "click exit"

So edgy Pam! What the fuck poll were you looking at anyway? not this one

http://readerspoll.pitchfork.com/survey/

I couldn't see that question anywhere.

Its in that one, click next. and then its all market research

Re: Shouldn't music be a pleasure for the ears?

Anonymous — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:24:17 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:24

Polythene Pam wrote:

Jhereko wrote:

🤣

That "readers poll", is all market research

Website is a joke

Pitchfork "what kind of spirits do you like to drink"

Pam "click exit"

So edgy Pam! What the fuck poll were you looking at anyway? not this one

http://readerspoll.pitchfork.com/survey/

I couldn't see that question anywhere.