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The SE++ Listening Party Thread. Now Playing: Fox and the Bird - Floating Feather
Posts
Yeah, this is the stuff. I love the idea of recording an entire album in one single take, and it's executed almost flawlessly. Her voice is lovely, as is her piano/guitar playing, and I knew I was in for a treat from the very first track - I love when musicians take very simple instrumentation, especially instruments typically considered """boring""" (is that enough quotations to show what I think of that claim?) - in this case just a single piano/keyboard - and combined with the vocals use it to make an upbeat, poppy tune. But I enjoyed the more mellow stuff a lot, too, including the entirely-instrumental tracks. The piano melodies were very nice, and though there was some impressive technical stuff in there (with her voice too! goddamn!) it was never used to show off, just aid the song.
Just, yeah, really really dug this.
Steam: Chagrin LoL: Bonhomie
The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow
It's a compilation of all of The Smiths early material recorded in 1983, and it's incredible. The album contains some of my favorite pop music, ever.
EDIT:
Some of this stuff sounds a lot like Jeff Buckley, but with more punk influence.
I'm doing Susanne Sundfor right now, and have a good first impression, so long as she does not go on absolutely pointless vocal runs I think we will be fast friends.
Doomtree exceeded all expectations, Bangarang being the only song I had heard of theirs before, but I will file them along with Das Racist for vaguely silly/irreverent hip hop to feel good to.
So it's odd that I've never really checked out the Smiths all that much. Several of my favourite artists/bands cite them and Morrissey as huge influences, and I've enjoyed their songs when I hear them, but I think listening to this made me figure it out: for some reason, The Smiths don't excite me, even though when I sit down and listen to their music I find it very pleasant. Lyrically I don't have a strong emotional connection to it (even though I tend to gravitate toward songs that deal with issues of homosexuality), and musically it's kept somewhat restrained in a way that works for the songs, but doesn't necessarily grab an detached listener. There's something about this music that is very appealing in a warm, comfortable way that could very easily be assimilated into my music collection, I just wouldn't particularly think to go looking for it, if that makes sense. And saying that sounds like I enjoyed it less than I did - I really liked it! A lot! It's just, I guess it's something that seems more suited to being something that comes on than something I put on.
I really love This Charming Man though. I mean, there were several songs I liked a lot but now I can't remember very well, which I think is kind of my ultimate point. Not that it's forgettable, just that it doesn't leave an impact on me specifically for whatever reason. But I definitely enjoyed it a great deal and am starring it on Spotify in hopes it crops up occasionally.
Edit: Forgot to add that I love his voice.
Steam: Chagrin LoL: Bonhomie
Cabsy, go ahead and give us your selection if Oghulk hasn't posted by then.
Cabsy's a her
edit: ah hell, if Cabsy goes today, that means I've got to come up with something by tuesday
I don't know why you would scandalously change my post like that! Of course I know cabsy's a her! :P
Oghulk - Shit I love this album. Absolutely something I'd listen to regularly in the car, nice mix of lyrics and nice beats. I do have a hard time with Bitch but the lyrics are a little too angry breakup mixed with misogyny for me. I do like everything else!
I'm going to go ahead with suggesting N.E.R.D. - Nothing for my selection, even though we just had some hiphop and I know it'll garner some criticism of being 'phat beats' which is exactly what most of it is. N.E.R.D. is great about mostly being some really nice dance beats usually mixed with funk elements and while I don't think anybody will say it was like a religious experience hopefully you guys will like it!
Looks like I've got some catching up to do.
Das Racist - Relax: I love Das Racist. I like Shut Up Dude, and Sit Down, Man more though. Relax for the most part felt like more of the same. More of the same excellent fun, but still.
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea: This is definitely going on my list of things to listen to again. Jeff Mangum's voice seems like it would be a bit of an acquired taste, but if I can get used to Colin Meloy's voice and enjoy The Decemberists in spite of it, I can handle Mangum. I don't know if the fuzziness was deliberate or if they really were making do with crappy recording equipment, but it's kind of distracting.
Susanne Sundfør - Take One: This has been the album I've taken to most immediately, and the first one I felt I should make my wife listen to. There was something about her voice that sounded familiar, but I couldn't figure out who she reminded me of until today, when I decided on my album.
The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow: The Smiths were a band that I knew I should listen to, but never got around to it, or knew where to start. So thanks for this! I really enjoyed it, and I fully realize how backwards this is but they remind me of Los Campesinos! in terms of tone and lyrics - they've both got a tendency towards almost uncomfortably personal.
Dumbfoundead - DFD: I've only been listening to hip hop for a few years so I'm really not good at articulating what I like about stuff like this. But I did enjoy this for the most part. He's got a likeable voice/flow, some fun wordplay which are my favourite things (see above love of Das Racist), though the misogyny Cabsy mentioned made me wince.
more to come
Yeah, and it's not made better by knowing that at least some of it is joking/playing to a crowd. That sort of thing just makes me uncomfortable unless it's blatant parody, like Tenacious D or Ween.
If you are tired of Hip-hop of all flavors, even though I swear mine is different, proceed to option B. Otherwise, join me for Option A
Option A: Astronautalis: This is Our Science
One of my favorite albums, blends seriously well considered lyrics with punchy delivery, and just a tinge of roughness voice to carry it through. Things to watch for include allegory, allusion, and just generally well constructed, thematic songs. If the lead guy of Atmosphere were better read, he could have done this. The other albums are spottier, but still good, and if you can find a live freestyle recording they tend to be cool because he takes a few topics from audience suggestion to work into it. I remember one where he did Pixies, rascal scooters, and burritos, among a few other things. Makes it even more impressive to me to have to work some disparate elements together. Also he has a rap about the battle of Trenton. I mean come on.
Option B: Yes yes, you are sick of hip-hop/ it just really is not your thing. In that case, you need to chill out, and grab Andrew Bird: Weather Systems. Yes it's kinda outdated, shut up. Sit in your tweed coat with the arm patches as you read some classic lit and try not to shed a tear listening to "Lull".
(If option B is not on spotify let me know, I am at work and can't check, I'm sure This is Our Science is though)
!checkthisout
@QuantumTurk, I just put Astronautalis as your pick. Again, hip hop isn't traditionally my cup of tea, but after all of this hip hop in a row I am sort of getting a better grasp of the genre, especially after this selection. Even though it's something I wouldn't really play for people and say, "This is what I'm totally into," I can appreciate the effort it takes to make this kind of art.
I do like the album cover, actually. And I like how the CD is sort of a cross between rock and rap; for people who dip their toes into both streams, I can see this as something they could really sink their teeth into.
Pomegranate is my favorite CD of his.
This is p. good indie stuff. I'm not going to spend my iTunes birthday gift cards on the whole album, but I can see how some people would really like it.
I enjoyed Secrets on Our Lips, The River, The Woods, Measure the Globe the most.
Oh yeah I didn't mean to imply that Dumbfoundead was the worst offender or anything, it's just that's the only song of his where it really broke it for me in terms of listenability.
I actually created a thread about this album a year and a half or so ago, but it was a crueler time for music threads, and it was locked within the first page or two. My album is...
Hadestown, by Anaïs Mitchell (and friends)
I included a Grooveshark link because Spotify is bigoted against Canadians, but if someone wants to give me a spotify link I can edit it in.
edit: In my old OP which I quoted above, I missed one of the cast - Ben Knox Miller of The Low Anthem sang the part of Hermes.
Sorry about not really commenting on the other albums. I been thinking about it but I wanna add something more substantial "This is cool!" or "This is really my style but I dig it"., Maybe I'll do a couple relisten and go back and comment on them.
what the FUCK
A friend I introduced to this album said that Greg Brown sounded like a Disney villain, but he said it like it was a bad thing, which makes no sense to me.