My review of Thom Yorke's The Eraser:

Aww shit...Look who's got a laptop! Thom Yorke sets out to prove that computers are more than just OK with this disc of glitchy laptronica.

Thanks for putting this together FKA. The end result turned out great and I'm glad enough people participated to pull it all together.

I think that part of Midlake's review (#19) disappeared?!?

Nah, that's all I got for it, I was also a bit confused by it but thomyorkeisgod sent me 5 write-ups and they were all of the same style.

The Eraser:

More minimal and electronic than any of Radiohead's later offerings, the lead singer's solo album combines simple melodies with his deeply affecting voice and an array of stuttering beats and claustrophobic synth backgrounds. Some found it to be too sparse and alien, while others warmed to Yorke's moving vocals and intelligent lyrics.

~

I would have one compliant with the formatting on the list, FKA. It's a little difficult to skim past the list of voters and get to the mini-reviews -- a few line breaks would be endlessly helpful.

Il Mago, that's my dawg!

quote:

Islands won't change your life. They won't show you things that previously did not exist. Nope. If you're looking for that, look elsewhere. Islands want you to have fun. Their songs are classic alt-pop; Strong melodies, off-kilter instrumentation and oddly-affecting but slightly out-of-tune vocals. Their strongest asset is their rhythm. Tight, propulsive drumming, clickety-clack wooden percussion and bouncy, almost raggae-fied bass keep the album rolling along smoothly. Throw in the strangest rap verse I've ever heard (Busdriver, the second rapper on "Whalebone") and I'm laughing, smiling and bobbing my head along with every song. In a time when "indie" culture is taking itself way too seriously, Islands just want to party. Apparently I do too, because I can't stop listening.

That was probably my favorite write up on the list. It conveys passion about the record without giving you too much to digest. It has context, big ("won't change your life") and small ("'indie' takes itself way too seriously"). Has some onomatopoeia, too, which is always great, like a rare spice, when used just sparingly in a review.

It made me forget that I didn't even care for the record. That's saying something.

quote:

Nah, that's all I got for it, I was also a bit confused by it but thomyorkeisgod sent me 5 write-ups and they were all of the same style.

yea thats my bad. i sent those write ups and short little pre-views of what i would write about.

i figured you'd make a list on whos going tow rite about who then we'd do it. lol.

my bad.

if you would like i can make a better, longer review on that one, and you can edit it in?

let me know.

Sure, go ahead and send it to me as a PM and I will edit it in, no problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
Il Mago, that's my dawg!

I thought my ears were burning. Thanks Yay!. It was my favourite review too....

The proper, gentlemanly, middle American response here is a humble "thank you".

Then giving me a compliment about MY write up that might, or might not, actually be sincere.

This is how most people operate.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
The proper, gentlemanly, middle American response here is a humble "thank you".

Then giving me a compliment about MY write up that might, or might not, actually be sincere.

This is how most people operate.

Yay!, buddy, I was joking, hence the smiley sticking his tongue out. I did say "Thanks"....to be honest I forgot you did a write up (I really only skimmed them). But then I went back and read your review. It's spot on. Everything All the Time is not a great album, but it is very easy on the ears.

Cool?

quote:

Originally posted by Dork:
The Eraser:

More minimal and electronic than any of Radiohead's later offerings, the lead singer's solo album combines simple melodies with his deeply affecting voice and an array of stuttering beats and claustrophobic synth backgrounds. Some found it to be too sparse and alien, while others warmed to Yorke's moving vocals and intelligent lyrics.

I'm looking for more songs like "Black Swan". I love that song and I want to make a playlist based on it, but I'm having a hard time finding songs that really match the grain. "You Make Me Like Charity" by The Knife is the closest I've gotten so far.

I can't tell you which songs, and this probably isn't what you're looking for, but "Black Swan" is easily the most Radiohead song on the album, so I'd check the 'Head first.

Sorry.

Thanks mark. Your intuition was right however. I don't want any artist redundancy in the playlist, so the 'Head are out.

I was just writing a post on LastFM about my revised Top 20 of 2006... might as well post it here in this topic, eh?


20. Bob Dylan - Modern Times

-It's good, and a good deal different than the rest of Dylan's material that I own. I just didn't find myself going back to it after the year was done, and that's why it dropped so far. It might have been up there due to the fact that this was Bob fucking Dylan, and you don't fucking ignore him. Sorry Bob.

19. Islands - Return to the Sea

-While it has one simply amazing song (Rough Gem) and several good ones, my original hypothesis about this album was right - it's too uneven to really last. I'm still looking forward to whatever these guys put out next, because lord knows it'll be interesting.

18. The Thermals - The Body, the Blood, the Machine

-One of my favorites from last year, it just kind of fell out of sight after a while. It's quite good, but the only song I really still listen to is "Pillar of Salt," which has enough energy to get me moving during a workout.

17. Asobi Seksu - Citrus

-A 2007 discovery. Very fun, catchy shoegaze. (A contradiction, I know.) The light vocals contrast very well with the super-heavy guitars.

16. Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Fur Coat

-A good album that has stuck with me fairly well. Her voice is wonderful here. It's certainly better than this year's Rilo Kiley album, that's for sure. She's said in interviews that she's got more material that she's thinking about doing solo, so I'll definitely be on the lookout for that.

15. M. Ward - Post-War

-One of those albums that I discovered after 2006 was over. Very good, folky stuff. "Requiem" is a personal favorite. I'll have to delve into his back catalog sometime.

14. Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives EP

-Another 2007 discovery. The title track is the real gem here, but the other four songs aren't slouches. I discovered all of their stuff around the same time, so it was a nice windfall of good music. The new album is... pretty good.

13. Beirut - Gulag Orkestar

-A phenom album that caught everyone's attention. I think it's good, but didn't quite live up to the hype beyond the utterly gorgeous song "Postcards from Italy." Luckily, this year he's followed it up with an even better album! So nice when people live up to the potential they show. (coughVoxtrotcough)

12. The Format - Dog Problems

-2007 discovery again. This album is full of great hooks and post-breakup hatred, and it is so darn good. I think they were sharing this album free on their site, not sure if they're still doing that. Unabashed pop, but if you're cool with that you'd love this.

11. Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit

-Still a great pop album with some great songs... a solid followup to my personal favorite B&S album, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress." I still take offense at Murdoch's attempt to rhyme "throat" with "poet," though. Artistic license only goes so far.

10. Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America

-Definitely a laster. It doesn't have that original of a sound, but the lyrics and delivery of such, along with some great rock piano, have secured my love for it. It's pretty much about a life that I don't really know, but damn, it's fun to sing along to.

9. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas

-Yet another 2007 discovery. This is what the Smashing Pumpkins' return should have sounded like! Very heavy and very good, provided you can get with the lead singer's voice. (I can.) Almost mesmerising in its heaviness, but never gets overwhelmed in its own sound.

8. Joanna Newsom - Ys

-It's like a work of art. It's not going to be one of those albums I always pull out and rock out to, but when I put it on I'm overwhelmed by how intricate, beautiful, and original it is. Once again, once you get past that voice... :P

7. The Pipettes - We Are the Pipettes

-Yeah, I still love these girls. "Pull Shapes" is the #1 song on my iPod and the rest of the CD is fun as well. "Judy" and "Your Kisses are Wasted on Me" are other highlights, but "Pull Shapes" is still easily the catchiest and best pop song of the year. I really, REALLY hope I can make one of their shows in Tokyo...


6. I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends

-And this is where some of you groan and roll your eyes. Sorry, they are still addictive and sweet and just plain great. 2007 saw a bunch of my friends getting into them as well, and let me tell you, singing along to "Treehouse" with some friends is great fun. They're not going to change the world, but they do make it a little more fun.

5. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

-This album's fallen a bit out of my favor; it's good, it opens strong and closes strong, but the middle is so weak, sadly. I give them props for going outside of their comfort zone, but sometimes it works (prog-metal song) and sometimes it doesn't (dance-rock song - lazily written, if not lazily played.) Despite this, I still love the Decemberists and can't wait to see what they do next.

4. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

-The longer I listen to this album, the more I appreciate it. It's just so different and so layered and so strong in every conceivable way... plus, "Wolf Like Me" fucking DESTROYS live. Christ jesus.

3. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations

-They are NOT a guilty pleasure. I love their over-the-top melodramatics and fucking silly lyrics. I really need to see them live! This year has seen them become overplayed on most alt-rock radio, but considering they're generally the only good thing being played on said radio stations, I don't mind.

2. Guillemots - Through the Windowpane

-I have fallen in love with this album. Helpless, head-over-heels love. I'm not sure if it's the happy romanticism of the lyrics, or the inventiveness of the pop orchestration, or the lead singer's impossible range and joyous delivery. Maybe it's the sheer balls of the closing song, "Sao Paolo," that takes 12 minutes to get to one of the most glorious finales I've ever heard. Whatever it is, I love this album so much... that it could only be beaten by one other album in 2006...

1. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

-Yep, she's still #1. The Voice is still haunting my dreams, and the songs, as fragmented and wild as they are, are still some of the most darkly beautiful works of the entire decade. I've taken to listening to this album as I go to sleep... I have pleasant dreams.

Some very nice writing there berk. Would you like to contribute some writing if we do the write-ups again for the 2007 year?

Provided I have time, sure thing. We'll see what ranks highest, though, before I volunteer my efforts.

quote:

1. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

-Yep, she's still #1. The Voice is still haunting my dreams, and the songs, as fragmented and wild as they are, are still some of the most darkly beautiful works of the entire decade. I've taken to listening to this album as I go to sleep... I have pleasant dreams.

This truely is a masterpiece by any number of measures. It was not quite hip enough in P4k's eyes to make their end-of-year list, which I disagree with, frankly, along with the exclusion of the Islands record. Tremendous musicianship is on display throughout, and of course: The Voice.

I'm curious what mark f thinks of this one.