quote:

Dang Illiniq, if Marvin Gaye ain't top tier, I don't know what is. That guy is a legend if ever there was one

Disagree...He's got one masterpiece, What's going On, that's basically variations on four songs. Once you get past that, his catalog isn't nearly as deep in quality material as several other motown acts.

If you look at my B-Tier, it's full of monster talents...I just think there are two tiers to the all-time greats and Gaye to me isn't on par with the artists listed in the A-Tier.

But those tiers are yours, and we have every right to also disagree. I would never come up with such an "in-depth" list, but I admire your chutzpah for putting it out there.

I'd say the Raconteurs album is a slight disappointment. I really wanted to like it, since I'm a big White Stripes fan, and Brendan Benson's got some decent stuff too. But, aside from a couple of tracks, it seems pretty bland. It's not bad, but I guess I expected more. Maybe I overhyped it in my own mind.

Edit:

But it's still a jillion times more listenable than that Danielson album everyone's raving about. I gave that a spin and had trouble making though a single track. I'd like to present it with the "Architectue in Helsinki/Deerhoof Award for Most Annoying Album of the Year."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hark! EricG75 Sings!,

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That Beirut album that everybody's going crazy about is nothing special. I kinda thought it would be.

I disagree, Gulag Orkestar is easily my favorite album of the year so far. Jangly, eastern European guitar sound, interesting vocal harmonies and it's consistent from beginning to end. My big gripe with the record is that the production seems a little off, but perhaps the "recorded in the 1950s" sound is what they were looking for.

I also defend the new The Streets album. I think it's an enjoyable, poppy album. It's much shorter and less adventurous than "Original Pirate Material" and "A Grand Don't Come for Free," but I can listen to it beginning to end without skipping a single track, and "Memento Mori" is an excellent song.

As far as dissapointments in 2006, I would have to go with Tapes 'n Tapes and Neko Case "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" mostly because of the insane amount of hype. I enjoyed one or two songs from Fox Confessor, but the rest of the album is almost unlistenable to me. Tapes 'n Tapes is just bland. Blah.

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Originally posted by RavingLunatic:

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Originally posted by hudson:
Thee More Shallows "monkey vs. shark" ep is a little disappointing. I was hoping for something a little less bland and monotonous.

I agree. The Al Green cover is good, but other than that, it was pretty weak. I'll wait until their next full-length comes out, though, until I dismiss them as a one-album fluke band (I'm not a huge fan of their first record, A History of Sport Fishing.)

I like Monkey vs Shark a lot on my first half dozen listens and see a clear development from their last album. I felt uncomfortable repeating that I Can't Get Next To You was an Al Green cover - it didn't ring the right bells in my memory. It's actually by the Motown writing team of Whitfield/Strong and was first a big hit for the Temptations in 1969.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: gomad361,

biggest disappointments this year:-

Howe Gelb Sno Angel Like You 87
Alejandro Escovedo The Boxing Mirror 87
Neko Case Fox Confessor Brings The Flood 83
Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not 82
Vitalic OK Cowboy 81
Gomez How We Operate 80
Aphex Twin Chosen Lords 80
Jason Collett Idols Of Exile 79
Cat Power The Greatest 79
Clogs Lantern 74
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit 74
Hard-Fi Stars Of CCTV 73
Coldcut Sound Mirrors 71

I've include their metacritic scores. I suppose the logic is that my assessment differed in a most significantly negative way compared to general critical opinion.
Two of the biggest disappointments for me this year still figure in my favourite 20 for 2006 so far, I just expected so much more from them - the Flaming Lips and Dresden Dolls.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: gomad361,

Gomad, I'm surprised you didn't like Vitalic. What is it about the record you didn't like?

I'm not all that impressed with that Tropicalia brazilian compilation thing that got such a ridiculously high score. What's the big deal? It's nothing we all havent' heard before. Nothing special there.

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Originally posted by hudson:
I'm not all that impressed with that Tropicalia brazilian compilation thing that got such a ridiculously high score. What's the big deal? It's nothing we all havent' heard before. Nothing special there.

I hadn't heard it before. I think it's great.

Primal Scream: Riot City Blues
Placebo: Meds
Belle And Sebastian: The Life Pursuit

Scott Walker – The Drift

Wow, this album defines disappointment for me. This might be my least favorite disc of the year so far. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I expect more from the highest rated album (not counting compilations) on Metacritic.com. There’s absolutely nothing about this album that makes me want to give it more listens (I gave it two full spins before writing this).

All of the songs blend together, the music has two tempos: really slow and not so slow, and the lyrics just don’t do anything for me. I don’t get all the critical hype regarding this album. As an art-project, I can get why some people might be turned on to this sort of thing, with its theatrical music and ‘literary lyrics’. But as an album I’m going to reach for on a regular basis – no thanks.

Sunset Rubdown.

Just not doing anything for me, and I enjoyed Apologies to the Queen. I've given it several listens and something about the production feels like it just doesn't do justice to the songs.

Tapes 'n Tapes also wore out very quickly on me. Even "Insistor," which I loved for about a week has grown stale.

Maybe it's the fact that i've only listened to it a couple of times, but I can't stand the new Futureheads. Boring and annoying,imo.

Disappointments:

Tapes 'N Tapes - It just doesn't sound "great" to me. It's a pretty generic indie rock album, and everything (lyrics, hooks) don't really hold up to repeated listenings.

I agree that Monkey Vs. Shark isn't nearly as good as More Deep Cuts, but the only track that I really disliked was the Freshmen Remix. Can't Get Next To You is really excellent, though.

Destroyer has a few songs I really love, like European Oils, but I still can't salivate over it like the critics have been doing. I don't see it making my top 20, and maybe not even my top 50.

Band of Horses I really like, but it's a lot more subtle than the single I heard, "The Funeral". I still love it, but it took me by surprise.

I didn't enjoy The Black Keys's EP at all. It sounded thouroughly generic to me, and I just felt let down.

Grandaddy's last album is as good as Sumday, but I was really hoping to see them go out with a bang and have some real rockers. Besides Jeez Louise, I didn't see that.

Danger Doom's free EP Occult Hymn really sucks, but it's free and the Madlib remix is pretty good, so I'll let it be.

Finally, Placebo's Meds was a pretty big letdown for me. I really enjoyed Sleeping With Ghosts, but Meds just sounds like a poor follow-up and sounds much less mature than their last two records.

I liked Shearwater's album a lot, just don't expect the same band you heard in the last albums.

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hudson
Enthusiast
Posted 16 June 2006 10:57 AM
Maybe it's the fact that i've only listened to it a couple of times, but I can't stand the new Futureheads. Boring and annoying,imo.

I've only given it one listen so far, but based solely on first impression I'm inclined to agree...especially since it's not the kind of music that takes a lot of listen's to suss out. Seemed like one of those efforts where nothing gels.

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Originally posted by pak:
Grandaddy's last album is as good as Sumday, but I was really hoping to see them go out with a bang and have some real rockers. Besides Jeez Louise, I didn't see that.

Don't forget "Disconnecty." That's a pretty rocking song. My favorite from the album. Overall, though, I didn't think Fambly Cat was nearly as good as any of the previous Grandaddy LPs. Heck I like a couple EPs and their B-Sides collection (Concrete Dunes) better.

catpower's "the greatest" was somewhat of a dissapointment for me. I was so excited about this album because of the concept of marshall chan playing with veteran memphis session players was just so awesome. And the title track that they released as a single was so damn good! Unfortunately, the rest of the album didn't hold up too well.. sometimes even approaching the dreaded norah jones blandness of adult contemporary. I dunno, I guess this is getting typical of cat power releases - one really awesome track, and a handful of mehs.

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I guess this is getting typical of cat power releases - one really awesome track, and a handful of mehs.

Even with You Are Free?

You Are Free was definitely good, but it kind of followed the same pattern because nothing else was as good as the best song (also released as a single) which was "he war". The rest of the songs were solid no doubt but when I buy an album based on the strength of one song, I kind of expect the whole album to be on par.

I think that "Love and Communication" is the best song on The Greatest. That's a late '60s epic ala "Hey Jude". True, I do like "The Greatest" because it recycles "Moon River", but there are other songs I like too. Even though it was recorded in Memphis, The Greatest seems most like a jazz album.

quote:

Originally posted by gomad361:
biggest disappointments this year:-

Howe Gelb Sno Angel Like You 87
Alejandro Escovedo The Boxing Mirror 87
Neko Case Fox Confessor Brings The Flood 83
Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not 82
Vitalic OK Cowboy 81
Gomez How We Operate 80
Aphex Twin Chosen Lords 80
Jason Collett Idols Of Exile 79
Cat Power The Greatest 79
Clogs Lantern 74
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit 74
Hard-Fi Stars Of CCTV 73
Coldcut Sound Mirrors 71

I've include their metacritic scores. I suppose the logic is that my assessment differed in a most significantly negative way compared to general critical opinion.
Two of the biggest disappointments for me this year still figure in my favourite 20 for 2006 so far, I just expected so much more from them - the Flaming Lips and Dresden Dolls.

You don't like Howe Gelb? Why not? That record is phenomenal!