quote:

Originally posted by Dork:
You'll also have to do better than "technical reasons", as Orphans is more than half new and is dimensionally better than Modern Times -- at least in my book.

You know, I outlined the requirements that albums had to meet to count for our list, but anyone is free to disqualify albums that meet our standards on their own list. So I guess I'm saying that technical reasons is a completely legitimate reason for leaving something off. I'm not a Waits fan, but even if I was I might've left Orphans off because it's just kind of a fuzzy area with regard to years, and I don't like dealing with that kind of thing.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Sometimes an "expletive" is the lightest and "funnest" way to talk about something. People around here are way too serious. I KNOW you believe that!

Maybe I am missing something, and if I am, please let me know. Are you really being like this or are you really drinking something? And was your "people around here are way too serious" a stab at me or just a joke? I am just confused, you may not even be on anymore but I guess I need some clarification.

First off, are you trying to turn me into a bad guy?
Secondly, I think everybody should say what they feel. That's why I said what I did. I believe I was "attacked" before I "attacked", but it doesn't matter to me.
Thirdly, if somebody has to ask me, everytime I say something, what I mean, after almost 8000 posts, then just forget talking to me. You don't get me, but you have to deal with me. What does that mean? That's more important than these "every little things". And yes, we have plenty of problem children around here. Is that my fault?

I never said anything about you being a bad guy. If you remember my first reply was almost entirely directed at what I though Dork did wrong. Only the very last section was towards you.

Forgive me for not knowing how you are or for not "getting you." Sure you have almost 8000 posts but I have only truly conversed with you for maybe the past two or three months. I don't mean any of these to further antogonize you but I was just asking some questions because the Mark that I have seen has never gotten this upset over something. Maybe you have, but I haven't seen it so that's why I was asking because I was confused but I guess I know now not to ask in the future.

Whoa! Mark's got 7777 posts. Cool.

Please..., but Buddy, you can ask, and if you still think I'm upset, you need to do more research under my name. The thing is that I want to champion everybody's ideas. It's just when somebody breezes in and tells me, out of the blue, that I'm an asshole, I have to call them on it and explain to them that I or others MIGHT know that to be true, but they don't! AND maybe they should look at themselves before calling strangers "assholes", whether that's a quote or a paraphrase. I still believe everyone belongs here. I believe it's weird that I'm the ONE getting heat tonight for believing that.

That's what I am trying to tell you, I am not giving you heat. If Dork was still on he would be here with us arguing his point. Look, you know I think you are swell and I think that it's great that you think everyone's opinions should be respected. I really do. I just didn't think he was calling you an a**hole for say.

The bottom line I am getting at is that you have a right to be as upset as you want and I am in no means trying to make you feel like a bad guy or putting the heat on you, I was just expressing my own "ideas" on yours two spat. I definetely see what you mean and I completely respect the fact that you felt attacked and even moreso wrongfully, attacked. I will stop and simply step away.

I am sorry if anything I said was intentionally stated, you know that I think you are a great, invaluable member.

I DO want to put this in perspective, since I'm still awake and not DRUNK (too bad for me!!). Whenever I put a negative spin, please feel free to express your own opinions, just as you have already done, but remember that I will often fire back because YOU, whoever you are, MAY be wrong!

I'm pretty confident and happy here. Now, maybe I shouldn't be because maybe my opinions may be worthless (note: I didn't say not worth defending), but these forums are so different than what most people believe they are, it's hard for me to explain it.

I want people to be comfortable enough to express their thoughts here. I realize that means everybody, but put yourself in my shoes. Somebody new posts derogatory comments. Do I defend that as freedom of speech or do I pooh-pooh it, so others feel better about posting? The context is important. Being a moderator is very important to our system, and I take it very seriously. That's why when I SWEAR, I believe it's for a reason. You can disagree with me, but that's what Personal Messages are for. If I have to explain this again, I feel I have to bow out of these forums, and I fear the shit will hit the fan. (Maybe that's what some want to happen...)

OK, I got you.

Methinks the moderator doth protest too much.

Mark, I was under the distinct impression that, to incite an intellectual debate, one did not need to end every sentence with IMO simply to avoid being called an "asshole" or being told to "fuck off". I'm not trying to shove my tastes (which are totally subjective) down your throat -- I just wanted to see your point of view, and to do that I had to express some difference of opinion. I did not really expect the harshest flame I've had on any forum stemming from a statement not meant to be taken so dreadfully seriously.

When someone who has consistently advocated a kind, subtle, friendly tone starts posting extremely rude, confrontational flames then yes, I would hope that you have indeed consumed alchohol. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on that and assume that you took my post too seriously, or that I simply didn't state clearly enough that I was not being totally serious -- I certainly wasn't preaching, merely stating an opinion without the (apparently necessary) disclaimers of "from my point of view" or "the way I see it". I don't think you're a problem. I don't think many of the things you seem to have attributed to me. And sometimes, I don't think (at all).

My point is, Modern Times is an album I don't 'get' (if we can get away from the utterly absurd melodrama). Can anyone show me why I'm looking in the wrong places for its charm, its quality? What am I missing here, what am I doing wrong? Do I need to turn the lights down? Should I do Yoga while listening to it?

Absolutely not. There is nothing I can say which will help anybody get it. Just invest the time, wit and energy you have with me here and now; I can't think of anything else. To me, the band is incredible. Bob doesn't have to open any new doors. How many times does one have to invite somebody in? I honestly believe that the older one gets, the more they will appreciate his later albums, and this one is the easiest to appreciate. He has gone from guru to preacher to best friend, and all mostly in the last few albums. You can't tell me that the brilliant young man from 30-45 years ago was so open with his feelings before very lately. Sure, he had problems and protested them, but now, he's trying to help you get past those and see the "larger picture".

Maybe I should just go drink some more, but I DO appreciate being called kind, even if it was "once upon a time..." Can you tell me the difference, at least in me, between the old days and tonight? After all, I thought everybody (who paid attention) already knew what I thought of Modern Times.

quote:

Originally posted by Dork:
Should I do Yoga while listening to it?

Dude, you do Yoga?

I'm a lurker, but I've been registered for a while, hopefully this will count. So without further ado, here is my pretty eclectic list:

1. Bottoms of Barrels - Tilly and the Wall (My roommate scored an advanced copy from Team Love and it has not left my cd player in my car since mid March. This album has informed my entire year. They're great people, great music, and I saw them live three times this year, included driving all over the state of Georgia to see them two consecutive nights in different cities...but it was worth it.)

2. Begin to Hope - Regina Spektor (A couple of weeks ago this album really started to sink in even though I got it on the release date. Now I'm loving it. This is someone else I saw live this year. She's great.)

3. The Greatest - Cat Power

4. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - The Arctic Monkeys (This is a pretty new edition for me. Based on some reviews and some friends, I acquired the album. And well, it's pretty obvious what I thought.)

5. Alright, Still - Lily Allen (I discovered her back in March and it's been a love affair ever since.)

6. Return to the Sea - The Islands (I have this forum to thank for this. I currently cannot get enough.)

7. Pretty Little Head - Nellie McKay (Continuing to do what it is she does...and oh so well.)

8. Show Your Bones - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (This is another one that was in my CD player for a long time.)

9. Impeach My Bush - Peaches

10. Standing in the Way of Control - The Gossip
11. Dying to Say This to You - The Sounds
12. Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
13. Remember That I Love You - Kimya Dawson
14. Like Vines - The Hush Sound
15. Sam's Town - The Killers
16. Ballad of the Broken Seas - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
17. Zombie! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! - hellogoodbye
18. Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
19. When Jamie Went to London...We Broke Up: Park Ave.
20. Teenage Graffiti - The Pink Spiders
21. Back To Basics - Christina Aguilera
22. Loose - Nellie Furtado


**The third time I saw Tilly and the Wall (this was back on October 30th), they played with Mew. Everyone that I was with agreed that the lead singer was fantastic, but we didn't know what was up with the visuals and a lot of the music. We were completely confused. Oh yeah, and pissed, because they played for 1.5 hours and they weren't even the headliners. So now when I'm seeing praise for their album I'm completely confounded. Can anyone tell me more about it?

quote:

6. Return to the Sea - The Islands (I have this forum to thank for this. I currently cannot get enough.)

m2

I'm still amused by the fact people whose musical awakenings came within the last two or three years feel the need to question (rudely) those posters who've been entrenched in music longer than these Internet forum critics have been alive.

Mark should have stopped at "Fuck you," as far as I'm concerned.

Reason #1467893543213 I could never be a moderator here.

1. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
2. Mystery Jets - Making Dens
3. The Knike - Silent Shout
4. Soweto Kinch - A Life in the Day of B19: Tales of the Towerblock
5. Sway - This is My Demo
6. The Beatles - Love
7. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
8. Secrt Machines - Ten Silver Drops
9. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
10. The Kooks - Inside In/Inside Out
11. The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics
12. The Who - Endless Wire

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:
I'm still amused by the fact people whose musical awakenings came within the last two or three years feel the need to question (rudely) those posters who've been entrenched in music longer than these Internet forum critics have been alive.

Out of pure curiosity, how do you know how long people have been into music? Or even more had a "musical awakening"?

Group hug!

quote:

Originally posted by E:
11 Bat for Lashes: Fur and Gold

Great to see this one in yet another list. Quite an addictive album, I hope she releases another cd this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Borachon:

quote:

Originally posted by Dork:
Should I do Yoga while listening to it?

Dude, you do Yoga?

No, but I'm double-jointed... does that count?

Maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places on MT. I'm not big on lyrics, though I have always appreciated some of Dylan's more than most, but mostly I focus on the music. Personally the delivery has always been of greater importance than the message, and I simply do not like the mild, inoffensive music backing Dylan's rasp. It's not terrible, but it just seems like Dylan's trying very hard to blend in, even mellowing his voice in songs like "Spirit On The Water". Even the lyrics I did understand were fairly pedestrian.

I'm giving Modern Times it's last chance right now; after that, I'm going to assume that I'm just not 'missing' anything and that I just don't care for it.