A State Of Decrepitude by Wanderwelle
Stole this one from Anti's diary and just never bothered to hit play. Shoutout to him, I have like a 90% hit ratio with his recs, dude just knows his music. Going into this I expected a dark and sinister ambient album based on the name and cover art. And it's kinda dark, but much more beautiful and peaceful than I anticipated. Melancholic too. Definitely an evening album, and it's 3 PM right now so not exactly the perfect time to listen to it. The incorporation of field recordings was done really well, the style's right up my alley and it's a great listen overall. Perhaps it could've been more dynamic, and the length of 54 minutes is felt at times, but that's a minor concern. High 7.5/10
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From the top
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Leftovers list + some 2021
Meridian Brothers - Desesperanza
Still Corners - The Last Exit
Henry Flynt - You Are My Everloving / Celestial Power
Lawrence - The Absence of Blight
Bismuth - The Slow Dying of the Great Barrier Reef
The Goats - Tricks of the Shade
Faceless Burial - Speciation
Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
John Talabot - Fin
The Beginning Of The End - Funky Nassau _________________ Overall chart Fake overall chart
So after going through a punk album yesterday, I got to tackle a pop punk album from 1977. And it was great. Admittedly, while I'd argue the jazzier qualities more on an individual level, I'd say The Sex Pistols album was to me more complete to me. Love Costello's vocals, but feel like the album at times meanders a bit where in a sound sense, it isn't as full as it could be. Especially compared to Steely Dan which is on that list. Also would say even with the bite size length, it could get a little stale. Especially when I listen to an ambient album from 1993 that is quite stark but oddly striking and addicting even when you know the first 10 minutes you know the rest. So grade wise:85 Below Fleetwood Mac but still an enjoyable album.
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Led listen to The Goats.
(3)
BEA's Top 100 of 1977
(3) Television-Marquee Moon
(6) Steely Dan-Aja (R)
(7) The Clash-Self Titled
(9) Billy Joel-The Stranger (R)
(10) Kraftwerk-Trans-Europa Express
(11) Bob Marley and The Wailers-Exodus
(12) Wire-Pink Flag
(14) Talking Heads-77
(15) Electric Light Orchestra-Out Of The Blue
(16) Iggy Pop-Lust For Life
MercuryTurn your back on the pay-you-back last callProfile St. Louis
(Excellent pop album. Varied with excellent hooks and melodies and the vocals are lowkey emotional. I don't have much of value to say about this. It is just a quality album start to finish.)
So I heard this once and thought it was ... pretty good. I was left, however, with a sense that I had nothing to say or comment on. So I listened again to see what I get out of it on second listen - and because it was good so of course wanted to hear again. And on second listen I liked it more. The moments that before sounded pretty plastic and uninteresting raised up to at least interesting. And the songs I liked before I liked more. however, I still had next to nothing to cooment on. The production is bright and lively and detailed. The more upbeat dancey tracks hit with a joyous energy. The more introspective and sadder or more reserved pop tracks had a special something that made me relate and vibe with them despite not understanding what exactly was being spoken of. Yet outside of these vague pluses I had nothing else.
On third listen there was no change. I at that point decided that not every album will I have something to say or some particular strong opinion to express. From what I've read on the ionternet about this album the many MANY features include some luminaries. However, I don't recognize any of the names, so I don't know where C. Tangana ends and someone else begins. That is fine, because I think the entire album flows nicely and there aren't any jarring or disjointed tracks that are clearly made with a completely different vision in mind.
In closing, this is a cool pop album and I likes it.
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@Luigii, at last you can listen to Pink Flag and see if you fall more on the kokkinos or mercury end of that debate ๐
top 10 2021 albums that I want to hear. They are the top albums on my self-made list of albums Iโve been circling.
1. The Art of Losing by The Anchoress (art pop I think, cool cover)
2. Music City Joke by Mac Leaphart (Country)
3. Fishmonger by Underscores (Indie pop)
4. I Became Birds by Home is Where (Post Hardcore, Midwest Emo)
5. Etemen รnka by Dvne (Sludge/Progressive Metal per RYM)
6. Methods of Human Disposal by Gravesend (Deathgrind)
7. Songs for the Enamel Queen by Black Sheep Wall (Atmospheric Sludge/Doom metal)
8. Vampire by Saint Agnes (Not sure what genre. Forget. Remember it looking and sounding cool so I threw it on my list of "to look into".)
9. Flock by Jane Weaver (Psych Pop, Art Pop)
10. No Fun by Jexno (Noise Pop, Singer/songwriter) _________________ -Ryan
@Luigii, at last you can listen to Pink Flag and see if you fall more on the kokkinos or mercury end of that debate Wink
After listening to Pink Flag for the first time, I could say it's good. Though on an enjoyment level I think side with kokkinos. For one, I wasn't crazy about the vocals. While in a punk sense, it fits I just don't get knocked in that sheer rage or rowdy behavior of The Sex Pistols. Maybe it has to be the 2006 remaster that gives me a bit of a flashback to Ulver's 1997 album where I feel like I am behind the glass. And in a music sense, I don't like that. Then unlike Low which has a bit of a backstory as to why the first half has the shorter or that sort of video game ethos, these short songs excluding 106 kind of come and go. I would say I like them. I could tap my toe to them and see that jam quality. But then I'm back to the behind the glass analogy. Though I do sense a bit more ambition in the longer tracks. Highlights include Strange, Pink Flag, the opener. I do hope both Chairs Missing and 154 make me look at the band more differently. So there is that. On a slider I would be ahead of kokkinos but would me more close to him than Mercury or Romaneli.
Grade wise:70 in that light to decent range.
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Mercury listen to Vampire
(3)
BEA's Top 100 of 1977
(3) Television-Marquee Moon
(6) Steely Dan-Aja (R)
(7) The Clash-Self Titled
(9) Billy Joel-The Stranger (R)
(10) Kraftwerk-Trans-Europa Express
(11) Bob Marley and The Wailers-Exodus
(14) Talking Heads-77
(15) Electric Light Orchestra-Out Of The Blue
(16) Iggy Pop-Lust For Life
(17) Suicide-Self Titled
Tricks Of The Shade by The Goats
Love this cover, easy 9/10. Very good early 90s Philly underground rap. The Goats' debut is political, jazzy, smooth and the skits are at the same time weird, irritating, corny and fun. Although much more on the positive and fun side for me personally. The voices of the 2 characters sound comic over the carnival sounds. The album details the story of 2 brothers, Chicken Little and Hammerhead in their search for "Uncle Sam" after their mother ended up in jail for unsuccessfully trying to illegally abort Hammerhead. And they're children running around a carnival in the skits but they're not children in the songs, so idk what to make of it. Maybe need to listen to it more carefully. Like I said it's extremely politically charged and the uncle Sam references are obvious. It tackles topics such as militarism, police brutality, racism and classism. The rappers (OaTie Kato, Madd and Swayzack) are all really solid, although their style sounds a bit dated (or maybe "simplistic" is a better word) at times, but mostly in a really enjoyable kind of way, like early Tribe. Some excellent verses though.
"Coo Coo ca chew I'm the Goats who are you?
Grab the microphone and do that thing that you do
Ya call it rhymin', ha, that's so funny I forgot ta laugh
I made better sounds than that come out crack of my ass
On my first day, on my worst day, and even in my hearse day
You couldn't write a rhyme, if I gave you the first verse
Ta play with sorta sloppily but make sure you gives props to me
I don't play games so damn I hates Monopoly
I'm the macho, hancho, nacho eatin'
Like Tanto, I'm yo, smooth as a motherfucker" - Madd
The production sounds excellent for a 1992 album, 8.5/10
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Luigii since you've sided with kokkinos I have to side with Merc heh. Wire are great.
Edit: my bad, Lugii go with Suicide. It was one of my most played albums of 2020 and I have a feeling youโll like it.
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Leftovers list + some 2021
Meridian Brothers - Desesperanza
Still Corners - The Last Exit
Henry Flynt - You Are My Everloving / Celestial Power
Lawrence - The Absence of Blight
Bismuth - The Slow Dying of the Great Barrier Reef
Faceless Burial - Speciation
Arab Strap - As Days Get Dark
John Talabot - Fin
The Beginning Of The End - Funky Nassau
Soda Stereo - Dynamo _________________ Overall chart Fake overall chart
Before listening to this album, the only song I knew well was How Will I Know, which I consider to be one of the greatest singles of all time. I had heard the rest of the album was pretty dissimilar and not likely to measure up. That turned out to be correct. While Houston's singing is excellent, the production and songwriting do her few favors. The album is very heavy on sappy ballads over corny 80s adult contemporary backdrops, and the guest vocals from Jermaine Jackson and Teddy Pendergrass are surprisingly disposable. There are bright spots - the uptempo songs are by far the best part, though far too few in number. Despite its clear flaws, Houston's debut is never unlistenable, and there is beauty in the ballads in spite of the fact that most are drenched in cheese. I also can't stress enough what a titanic song How Will I Know is. Overall a pretty good listen, but I'll stick to her handful of classic danceable singles instead of rushing to hear the rest of her albums. 3/5.
195. AM - Arctic Monkeys
225. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
237. Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs - Derek & The Dominos
264. Hotel California - Eagles
268. Machine Head - Deep Purple
270. Room On Fire - The Strokes
273. Thick As A Brick - Jethro Tull
281. Crime Of The Century - Supertramp
282. The Number Of The Beast - Iron Maiden
295. Vs. - Pearl Jam _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
MercuryTurn your back on the pay-you-back last callProfile St. Louis
Awesome slow and sludgy, heavy stoner doom metal. I wasn't super keen on the vocals but they weren't that big of a detraction either, and I got used to them as the album went along. This is the sort of music I can lose myself in, similar I imagine to what ambient music can do for others, where time just passes by without me even noticing how long it is, and it wouldn't have bothered me if it was longer. 8/10, 14/49 for 2000, and 98/100 for the decade.
Probably not your thing but Vs. is my favourite of those, and was in regular rotation in my album listening at the time, so I have to choose that.
Time to listen to some albums from outside my comfort zone (probably...I don't know what most of them are ๐ ).
Top 45 Music Albums of 2000 by Luigii (5 picks left)
1. Vocalcity by Luomo
3. Sunset Mission by Bohren & Der Club Of Gore
4. SMPTe by Transatlantic
7. Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu
8. ๅ่จดในใใชใใ [Shลso Strip] by ๆคๅ ๆๆช [Shiina Ringo]
9. Faith And Courage by Sinรฉad O'Connor
10. Lovers Rock by Sade
11. Aijuswanaseing by Musiq Soulchild
12. Programmed To Love by Bent
14. Suzuki by Tosca
MercuryTurn your back on the pay-you-back last callProfile St. Louis
(This sounds like an overly fuzzed out Kills-clone with some of that peak White Stripes squeaky guitar and riffage but done half as well. There is a certain air of swag here, but it feels forced and juvenile. Not a fan.)
Okay, first for some stuff I liked. The riffs actually are kinda cool at times. While the guitar tone is absurdly fuzzy, the guitar work is kinda cool. The time signatures are interestingly odd, and sometimes when the singer isn't trying to be the most edgy woman of all time, she sounds good.
But mostly...this really doesn't sound good to me. Based off what I read about it and some of the names these reviewers and commenters had the AUDACITY to drop (fucking white stripes, Kills, THE GUN CLUB?!? whaaaat?...) I thought this would kick. friggin. assss! The reality is that it sounds most like The Kills at their worst, with that mid to late 90s goth/edge vibe done badly. The random NIN cover at the end was a brilliant surprise. I love the Broken EP by Nine Inch Nails more than maybe anything else by Reznor, and that song choice was, admittedly, dope. But I don't think they did the song justice.
Anyway, sorry to be a downer. Not feeling this album. But alas not all can be winners.
2.
@Purplepash, glad you loved that 'lectric Wizard classic, next one I'll nominate for you is a badass one indeed:
top 10 2021 albums that I want to hear. They are the top albums on my self-made list of albums Iโve been circling.
1. The Art of Losing by The Anchoress (art pop I think, cool cover)
2. Music City Joke by Mac Leaphart (Country)
3. Fishmonger by Underscores (Indie pop)
4. I Became Birds by Home is Where (Post Hardcore, Midwest Emo)
5. Etemen รnka by Dvne (Sludge/Progressive Metal per RYM)
6. Methods of Human Disposal by Gravesend (Deathgrind)
7. Songs for the Enamel Queen by Black Sheep Wall (Atmospheric Sludge/Doom metal)
8. As the Flame Withers by Yoth Iria (Black Metal)
9. Flock by Jane Weaver (Psych Pop, Art Pop)
10. No Fun by Jexno (Noise Pop, Singer/songwriter) _________________ -Ryan
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LedZep
Mercury
baystateoftheart
Purplepash
