Shout out to Ilyich for starting this last year. Thought it'd be good to carry this over for the '06.

I think most reviewers are ignoring a fair amount of my favorite releases, including Anathallo's "Floating World," Ahleuchatistas' "What You Will," and Dysrhythmia's "Barriers and Passages."

Also, much of the criticism leveled at "Mr. Beast" is simply wrong. It's a GREAT and nearly flawless Mogwai album-- a return to form for them. Hell, I think its easily in the top three of the band's best releases to date.

Nathan Fake's new record is also being criminally overlooked.

I like several of the songs from Mr. Beast, but I wouldn't come near calling it flawless. A number of songs I find hopelessly boring, particularly "Team-Handed" and "I Chose Horses."

Of course, I could end up coming back to this album in a couple months and totally change my mind. It has happened before (most recently with Devin Davis's 2005 album, which I found decent when I heard it several months ago and brilliant when I re-listened to it yesterday), so maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.

Also, who is Nathan Fake, and why is his album inciting criminal behavior?

Nathan Fake's "Drowning in a Sea of Love" hasn't been touched on much by reviewers, but its excellent. Check it out.

TWO GALLANTS
TWO GALLANTS
TWO GALLSNTS

some people just can't handle it i guess.

The New Flaming Lips, while not great, is better than the reviews, and much closer in quality to Soft and Yoshimi than most are admitting...if anything, the reverse is more true...I've never bought into either Soft or Yoshimi as great for the ages albums...all three to me are good albums with a few great songs, but none come even close to a fantastic front to back listen.

You aren't really me, are you? I would have written that earlier if I thought anybody else cared. In fact I did send it as a personal message here about a week ago.

The thing is, though, that it's still a well-reviewed album, but yeah, I don't find it disappointing. I actually find it "enjoyable".

I think I said something earlier here about the three Strokes albums being pretty similar in quality, but that went nowhere.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
I think I said something earlier here about the three Strokes albums being pretty similar in quality, but that went nowhere.

I haven't heard the third Strokes album, but I think the first two were of pretty much identical quality. My brother has the third one, so maybe I'll give it a shot and test that hypothesis (all experiments must be replicated in order to gain credibility, even if such a renowned music scientist as mark f is the author).

I would agree with mark f, in saying that the first three Strokes albums are pretty similar in quality. The new one, First Impressions of Earth, does explore different sounds for the band, but they maintain the same aesthetic(sp.) as the first two albums. The quality of the songs hold up as well.

Back on topic, I think the album I am nuts about would be the latest from Secret Machines. Although, the Metacritic score is 73, most reviews I have read say it is a disappointment, which I don't believe.

as much as I love the Secret Machines, Ten Silver Drops isn't a great record. Its mediocre at best. Maybe half of it is worthy of the potential that those musicians have.

The Stills 'without feathers' only scored a 61 on metacritic. I was pretty surprised actually. I really think it's solid album from start to finish.

Also, I noticed that mellowdrone's new album didn't fair all that well with many critics. I love this album.

quote:

Originally posted by hudson:
The Stills 'without feathers' only scored a 61 on metacritic. I was pretty surprised actually. I really think it's solid album from start to finish.

Also, I noticed that mellowdrone's new album didn't fair all that well with many critics. I love this album.

I like both of those records, too. But the Metascores don't surprise me. I figured the Stills would get some sophomore slump-type reviews (although Pitchfork liked it BETTER than the debut!) and Mellowdrone is such an odd bird of a record (a major label quasi-shoegaze rock record just doesn't 'fit' these days) that it's hard to place it. Mellowdrone did get a very nice review (and an interview) in the last issue of Under the Radar.

I think the reason Mellowdrone didn't do well is because it's crap. It's like he directly ripped NIN and Depeche Mode for every song, then added terrible lyrics and called it a day.

I haven't bought the Stills new album yet, but I listened to it on AOL and there seems to be some strong songs on it. I enjoyed their debut when it first came out, but I don't remember the last time I played it.

Jeezum criminy. I was just browsing through the Metascores from this year, and I noticed that my current #2 album from 2006 has one of the lowest Metascores of the year. I'm talking about Ms John Soda's Notes and the Like, which somehow, mystifyingly, has a 64 Metascore.

It's not often that I like an album that receives such a low score. (Of course, this is partly due to the fact that I really don't like most of the albums I hear, but still.)Blueberry Boat really is the only other album that I really liked that had a comparably low Metascore.

I don't know of anyone else who's heard Notes and the Like, and I'm curious of what any of yous guys think about it. Do not believe that haters. It is definitely worth checking out.

I'm going to start using that emoticon a lot more. It's so great, because it could mean just about anything.

dear Raving,

Ms. John Soda? I like it (it's still in my top 20 for the year so far), though I'm a little predisposed as I like much of the Morr Music sound, especially Lali Puna, The Notwist, Duo 505, Styrofoam, b. fleischmann. The sound is a very gentle German elecronica, peaceful and quite un-American.

I was totally blown away the first time I heard the Dresden Dolls' Yes, Virginia and I was shocked when it got relatively poor reviews. Then I heard their debut and I understood what a step back the new album was. Still, I like about half the songs a lot and will try to see them at Bonnaroo, though they're scheduled to go on at like 2:30 AM.

I'm very, very confused at the overall reaction to DBT's "A Blessing and A Curse" from what I've seen, I've heard only three people (or so) say its DBT's best work ever and most say that its their most disappointing. I've made my call (I think its a nearly flawless album), but maybe other people will come around to later? I dunno.

I think it's probably the best album to introduce somebody to the DBT. I think it's also probably their shortest, most-straightforward set of songs, just about all top-notch. Some complaints say that it's not really a concept album like their last few, but I hear a solid concept of love and loss. I guess political and sociological issues are supposed to make the other albums better, but I like this one well-enough. I wasn't disappointed. I even got to hear some good takes on the Outlaws and the Faces.

"Daylight" is essentially a U2 song. Totally got me, man. Totally got me.

I'm with you, dubs. Yes, Virginia... absolutely blew me away. Then I heard the Dolls' debut album, and could see why some people would be disappointed. Virginia is not anywhere near as odd or adventurous as the debut, and it also has more filler tracks. But I think the slicker production actually really benefits the band, and the good songs are so good they more than make up for it. Dirty Business, Sex Changes, My Alcoholic Friends, Backstabber and Shores of California are all amongst my favorite songs of the year.

I also really like the new Stills album, and can't believe it has a metascore of 61. I prefer it to their overrated debut.

And I'm perplexed that more people haven't discovered Victory At Sea's All Your Things Are Gone...probbly still my fave of the year. Hopefully this will turn out like the National's Alligator, sneaking on to people's lists as the year continues.