February SRE Week 4 - Music - Forums : Best Ever Albums

Fergenaprido

Gender: Male
Location: GTA

Here are the five albums for Week 4 of the February Song Rating Extravaganza (February 19 - 25)
All data is from January 29th, 2012.

Album 1 nominated by Applerill

Not a Pretty Girl

Ani Difranco

Album 2 nominated by Jhereko

Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Belle & Sebastian

Album 3 nominated by gussteivi

California

Mr. Bungle

Album 4 nominated by junodog4

One Chord to Another

Sloan

Album 5 nominated by harkan

The Colour of Spring

Talk Talk

junodog4
Future Grumpy Old Man

Gender: Male
Location: Calgary

Fantastic! I obviously know Sloan very well, Very Happy

but I don't know the other albums at all... Embarassed

A great opportunity to objective. Will have a go.

Fergenaprido

Gender: Male
Location: GTA

junodog4 wrote:

Fantastic! I obviously know Sloan very well, Very Happy

but I don't know the other albums at all... Embarassed

A great opportunity to objective. Will have a go.

I'm not sure which week I've been looking forward to the most, but this would be a contender. I own Catastrophe and adore it, so I'm going to enjoy having another go at that one. But Sloan is a band I've always known about but never gotten around to getting into, so it's easily one of the most anticipated albums in the SRE for me. Same with Ani, but with less enthusiasm. And Talk Talk is a band everyone seems to talk about and respect on BEA, so I think it'd be a good thing to at least listen to, to understand what all the fuss is about. Smile

gussteivi

I've been neglecting this, and now I'm way behind.

The problem is I don't think I have time to listen to very much music this week. Or the next few weeks really.
Maybe I'll do my own personal "Mid March Song Rating Extravaganza".

And about Mr. Bungle: it requires several listens.
I don't think you've ever heard anything like it before (I sure hadn't anyway).

videoheadcleaner
formerly Harkan

Gender: Male
Age: 38

Fergenaprido wrote:

And Talk Talk is a band everyone seems to talk about and respect on BEA, so I think it'd be a good thing to at least listen to, to understand what all the fuss is about. Smile

Hopefully high expectations work in your favour. I was initially not sure about them but I love The Colour Of Spring; art rock becoming post-rock.

Fergenaprido

Gender: Male
Location: GTA

Dear Catastrophe Waitress by Belle & Sebastian
90/100
also number ten on my chart

80 - Step Into My Office, Baby
80 - Dear Catastrophe Waitress
100 - If She Wants Me
90 - Piazza, New York Catcher
100 - Asleep on a Sunbeam
90 - I'm a Cuckoo
80 - You Don't Send Me
90 - Wrapped Up in Books
85 - Lord Anthony
90 - If You Find Yourself Caught in Love
90 - Roy Walker
90 - Stay Loose

This is my favourite B&S album. The Life Pursuit briefly took that spot when it came out, but DCW has regained the crown. Not a bad song for me in the bunch, a nice mix of mellow, sunny afternoon poppy songs (I guess this is the definition of twee?), and more rollicking, longer tunes (especially I'm a Cuckoo & Stay Loose, which kind of act as the caps for an imaginary side A and side B for me). If She Wants Me is definitely my favourite of the bunch. If there is any criticism I have for this, it's that some of the songs are too short; I just want to keep bouncing along with the beat indefinitely.

While If You're Feeling Sinister might be the most acclaimed of their albums, I find Catastrophe to be the most fun. Roy Walker & Piazza are also gems on this album.

junodog4
Future Grumpy Old Man

Gender: Male
Location: Calgary

Fergenaprido wrote:

Dear Catastrophe Waitress by Belle & Sebastian
90/100
also number ten on my chart

80 - Step Into My Office, Baby
80 - Dear Catastrophe Waitress
100 - If She Wants Me
90 - Piazza, New York Catcher
100 - Asleep on a Sunbeam
90 - I'm a Cuckoo
80 - You Don't Send Me
90 - Wrapped Up in Books
85 - Lord Anthony
90 - If You Find Yourself Caught in Love
90 - Roy Walker
90 - Stay Loose

This is my favourite B&S album. The Life Pursuit briefly took that spot when it came out, but DCW has regained the crown. Not a bad song for me in the bunch, a nice mix of mellow, sunny afternoon poppy songs (I guess this is the definition of twee?), and more rollicking, longer tunes (especially I'm a Cuckoo & Stay Loose, which kind of act as the caps for an imaginary side A and side B for me). If She Wants Me is definitely my favourite of the bunch. If there is any criticism I have for this, it's that some of the songs are too short; I just want to keep bouncing along with the beat indefinitely.

While If You're Feeling Sinister might be the most acclaimed of their albums, I find Catastrophe to be the most fun. Roy Walker & Piazza are also gems on this album.

I was quite impressed! My only prior exposure to Belle and Sebastian was "Boy With the Arab Strap". Embarassed

I thought this was quality work. Songs will be rated by stars. It's funny - my reaction wasn't much different to yours, except subtract about 10 points from each rating. I liked it, but wasn't quite pooping my pants. Anxious

I hope the other 3 albums from this week are this good.

Fergenaprido

Gender: Male
Location: GTA

I haven't had a chance to check out the other albums this week, but I should try and get around to it.

If you enjoyed Catastrophe, I definitely recommend The Life Pursuit and If You're Feeling Sinister. Sinister is probably the most acclaimed B&S album, and while not my favourite, I can see the appeal. I would recommend you start there and with Tigermilk.

Kiki

I forgot all about this Shocked

I'm giving it a go tonight. I should have one of them somewhere