That Sinking Feeling - Music - Forums : Best Ever Albums

Anonymous · 2011-07-17T18:17:34-04:00

Some more incoherent rambling from me. :roll: Well a few months ago an album called 'Yuck' by a band of the same name was released. It was hyped by a handful of members here as the return of 'Rock and roll' and even a 'revolution'. Naturally I was interested, if you want me to listen to album you're better off throwing those terms around rather than 'post rock', 'post indie punk' or 'post office'. So I went and got my copy. Mostly good stuff. One description I heard was that it sounded like Sonic Youth making catchy songs and that seems correct to me. Not much in the way of 'revolution' or return of rock, just a dozen so decent guitar driven tracks from a new band. I have been listening to many albums from 2011 since then. As I no longer have a single magazine for music reviews, I rely on this site and Rate Your Music for the new albums. I would pick a random album from near the top 100 and check a track or two or listen on Spotify (only ever used to listen to new albums once these days) These is something I have noticed about these new albums... but I can't quite put my finger on what. A combination of things. The word 'crystalline' comes to mind. Tame, whispering, high pitched voices. Lyrics not really about anything. And finally, the near absence of a guitar or demotion of it to a keyboard style instrument. There are some good albums in 2011. However they are either by bands which have been with us for years or the ones mentioned above. For example: Cults - Cults 70/100 Chilled as a glacier. The vocalist is in a daze throughout. Nothing makes me want to jump up screaming. All I do is remain seated "That sounds pleasant, that to... that's nice, that's nice to." - Best track: Bad Things Moment Bends - Architecture In Helsinki - 75/100 As a pop album it is brilliant. They have been with us a few years but the first album was a lot more forgettable. Look at the front cover, that gives a very strong indication of what you're getting. If you want a head rush, best not listen. Best track - That Beep No Witch - The Cave Singers 70/100 More organic instruments. Plods along but the songs are so neatly presented they make inviting pop folk music. Imagine being in the room on the cover as bunch "indie" kids give you presents. They play music as you unwrap them rather than wrapping the guitar around your neck. Well they are the best of the crop. Much of the rest give similar stories but with much weaker music. For heavier music? Well there is the Foo Fighters doing what they do. Not exactly a new band anymore are they? Music I'm looking forward to - well there is that Destroyer album and Foster the People. From songs I heard it sounds like it will be the same affairs as above but better (maybe 8/10 material). But I wondering... is it just because of the time. Would I be listening to these musicians if there was more heavier music? Is the icecream to the brain music of 2011 is taking a hold of me? :shock: I haven't listened to the top 4 yet (although I recently got Pj Harvey). Radiohead, well they are becoming more electronic. In the few things I read about the album I have heard nothing along the lines of "more guitars" or similarities to Pablo Honey or The Bends. Fleet Foxes? First album was a good one. They play more ethereal music than anything close to rock. Some say it is better than the debut. They describe is a musical journey rather than a balls our punch to the face. I'll listen to the album in future though. Bon Iver... well I'm not expecting much there. PJ Harvey? Well the first tracks bored me on that :-k So bringing this full circle, the Yuck album. What has dawned on me about it is this 'revolution', this return to 'Rock and roll'... well it is the use of guitars... it is being loud and not trying to be ironic It feels to me that as "rock" gets more and more confused with "indie", "indie" music is becoming more and more of a whimper, which in turn is making "rock" get associated with such a thing. And where would this lead us? In 2015 would picking up a guitar be called a 'rock revival'? What would music ideas be like? Will 2018 see ideas like putting down the instruments on stage while swaying to pre recorded music with bright petticoats and fringes that cover their eyes. Music as fashionable as the red berets on their heads. Hey, it isn't all doom and gloom. Things come and go in cycles right? Maybe there is something big coming :twisted: Much less frosty than today*. * - The ending was terrible, I know. I wrote this all on Friday apart from the last tiny paragraph and came back to realized I had completely lost my train of thought. So yeah... I hadn't a clue how to end it but I really wanted to post it tonight

Kiki

ShaneSpear wrote:

an_outlaw wrote:

What? 😲 You serious? They put a 3 year old single on an album and I thought it was the best one? Wow!

And I think this deserves a different thread than the 2011 one. I'm aiming for a discussion.

Yeah, I have no idea what took them so long to get the album out only for it to be so fucking boring. You should give In Case We Die another try though for reals.

Sorry for bitching at you though. I was/am cranky today/yesterday.

Edit: Also, when I looked up That Beep on wikipedia just now I was reminded they actually have four albums, not three. That usually happens to me when I try to correct someone.

Fingers Crossed n/a
In Case We Die 80/100
Places Like This 70/100
Moment Bends 50/100

The band sounded a lot different than I expected although I haven't listened to any of the other albums.

ShaneSpear Thread Killah Moderator Profile

itsit wrote:

I'm actually making a list, using the british and american charts, of all the rock albums that have gotten to number one in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 (I don't think it's fair to use 2011 as it hasen't finished yet) to see if what those people who say "rock is deaaaad" is correct.
And so far, they're full of shit. It's not dying, just taking a break.

But what are you calling "rock"? Coldplay? Linkin Park? Jack Johnson? Fall Out Boy? Kid Rock?

Kiki

ShaneSpear wrote:

itsit wrote:

I'm actually making a list, using the british and american charts, of all the rock albums that have gotten to number one in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 (I don't think it's fair to use 2011 as it hasen't finished yet) to see if what those people who say "rock is deaaaad" is correct.
And so far, they're full of shit. It's not dying, just taking a break.

But what are you calling "rock"? Coldplay? Linkin Park? Jack Johnson? Fall Out Boy? Kid Rock?

It would easier to do "indie". Any artist with a guitar is "indie"

ShaneSpear Thread Killah Moderator Profile

an_outlaw wrote:

ShaneSpear wrote:

itsit wrote:

I'm actually making a list, using the british and american charts, of all the rock albums that have gotten to number one in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 (I don't think it's fair to use 2011 as it hasen't finished yet) to see if what those people who say "rock is deaaaad" is correct.
And so far, they're full of shit. It's not dying, just taking a break.

But what are you calling "rock"? Coldplay? Linkin Park? Jack Johnson? Fall Out Boy? Kid Rock?

It would easier to do "indie". Any artist with a guitar is "indie"

Genres! Bleh... 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 🧱

Wombi

ShaneSpear wrote:

an_outlaw wrote:

ShaneSpear wrote:

itsit wrote:

I'm actually making a list, using the british and american charts, of all the rock albums that have gotten to number one in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 (I don't think it's fair to use 2011 as it hasen't finished yet) to see if what those people who say "rock is deaaaad" is correct.
And so far, they're full of shit. It's not dying, just taking a break.

But what are you calling "rock"? Coldplay? Linkin Park? Jack Johnson? Fall Out Boy? Kid Rock?

It would easier to do "indie". Any artist with a guitar is "indie"

Genres! Bleh... 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 ](*,)

Agreed. I just tag the genre of all my mp3's as 'Other' and forgoe categorising.

Kiki

Jhereko wrote:

ShaneSpear wrote:

an_outlaw wrote:

ShaneSpear wrote:

itsit wrote:

I'm actually making a list, using the british and american charts, of all the rock albums that have gotten to number one in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 (I don't think it's fair to use 2011 as it hasen't finished yet) to see if what those people who say "rock is deaaaad" is correct.
And so far, they're full of shit. It's not dying, just taking a break.

But what are you calling "rock"? Coldplay? Linkin Park? Jack Johnson? Fall Out Boy? Kid Rock?

It would easier to do "indie". Any artist with a guitar is "indie"

Genres! Bleh... 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 ](*,)

Agreed. I just tag the genre of all my mp3's as 'Other' and forgoe categorising.

How about "pop"? 😜

videoheadcleaner formerly Harkan Profile

2010
Own: 65 albums
Top 3
The National - High Violet
Foals - Total Life Forever
Hurts - Happiness
Overall: Lots of albums purchased that I will continue to listen to. A favourite year of mine for quite some time.

2011
Own: 32
Top 3
Jack Ladder - Hurtsville
Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys!
Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Overall: So far, only one album has grabbed me (Hurtsville) with other offerings highly anticipated but not reaching great heights.

The year isn't over but I still think last year was, quality-wise, better than this year.

cartoken The Seer Profile
Paris

2011 had been a very poor year so far.
In 2010 i've rated 8 albums more than 90/100 versus only 1 this year (Angles)