quote:

Originally posted by typewriter:
In response to brighteyes, Belle and Sebastian annoys me endlessly. Why? I'm not quite sure, but I'll try to explain. It's not the "touching" aspect...I've been a Death Cab fan since way back when, so I'm obviously not opposed to grandiose displays of emotion. I think it's that everyone perceives them as witty and clever...the music comes off as too self-aware to be either of those things.

Most of my negative feelings stem from the quality of their live shows (lack thereof). That's a major part of what turns me on/off to a particular group. Anybody can record an album and with the right help can make it sound amazing...it's a lot harder to fake it live. As for the Fiery Furnaces, the quality of their albums is way too inconsistent to hold my attention. Lyrics are another factor...I've never liked Belle and Sebastian's or Of Montreal's lyrics.

For future reference, I'm a chick...I've been called a guy a few times now.

Ah sorry I guess I meant dude in the um unisex way. So first of all a big part of Belle and Sebastian is a sense of self-awareness, self-deprecation, introspection but in a witty and tongue and cheek manner. Not to say they aren't sincere, but rather that they're too smart to be 100% sincere. I mean just look at Get Me Away from Here I'm Dying or State I Am In. I mean any band that has lines like " So I gave myself to God, there was a pregnant pause before he said okay" and "Oh love of mine would you condescend to help me cuz I'm stupid in blind" has to know how to have a good laugh. It's sad and funny music. I mean if you're not into that it's cool. But don't insult Belle and Sebastian by comparing them to Death Cab. Death Cab may have talent but they've always gone in for the uber-sincere/ emo way. Not to say their earlier stuff and some of the stuff on plans isn't good just I don't see any similiarity between them. Second of all I've seen them live and I don't know what you're talking about no quality live. I mean I heard that a couple of years back they weren't so good live but that would seem natural. I mean they're really a band for personal enjoyment. But when I saw them in March of this year, they were great. I mean Stuart Murdoch was joking around with the audience, he even stage dove kinda, the performances were great, especially since the song selection had a good amount from If You're Feeling Sinister.

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But don't insult Belle and Sebastian by comparing them to Death Cab. Death Cab may have talent but they've always gone in for the uber-sincere/ emo way.

That pretty much sums it up. I'm all about uber-sincere, you're all about the self-aware. And while I'm not opposed to self-deprecation whatsover, I just don't like the Belle and Sebastian's take on it. I feel like I can't relate to the music...whereas Death Cab I can.

As for the quality of the live shows, I stand by my comment. I'm assuming you already liked B&S before seeing them live....I was naturally more critical when I saw them, because I wasn't familiar with a lot of their music. Nine Inch Nails has always been one of my favorite bands...I'm sure if you went to a NIN show, you'd say it was crap (assuming you aren't familiar with Trent Reznor or dislike him already).

quote:

Originally posted by typewriter:
That pretty much sums it up. I'm all about uber-sincere, you're all about the self-aware. And while I'm not opposed to self-deprecation whatsover, I just don't like the Belle and Sebastian's take on it. I feel like I can't relate to the music...whereas Death Cab I can.

As for the quality of the live shows, I stand by my comment. I'm assuming you already liked B&S before seeing them live....I was naturally more critical when I saw them, because I wasn't familiar with a lot of their music. Nine Inch Nails has always been one of my favorite bands...I'm sure if you went to a NIN show, you'd say it was crap (assuming you aren't familiar with Trent Reznor or dislike him already).

Well no it's not that I dislike Death Cab. I'm just saying that comparing them to Belle and Sebastian is stupid. But yeah I'm not familiar with Nine Inch Nails music but that doesn't mean if I go to a concert I'd hate it if I wasn't familiar. And what exactly was it about Belle and Sebastian's performance that wasn't good?

I wasn't trying to compare the two...I was using Death Cab as an example of emotional music...just the first band that came to mind. When I saw B&S live, the biggest problem I had was audience interaction. They just played the music and left...half the time they didn't even look at the audience, down at the floor instead. It seemed like they wanted to get the hell out of there as quickly as possible. Maybe I caught them on an off night, because it was really terrible.

Oh it seemed you were but I misread. And definately an off night or you saw them in previous tours because when I saw them they had tons of audience interaction. Murdoch even pulled 6 girls from the audience to be dancers onto the stage for "If You Find Yourself Caught in Love." It was like a rockette line And he joked around quite a bit. Definately not looking at the floor.

Artic Monkeys - Bought the album based on hype (stupid decision), and I now wish that iTunes had refunds.

Bright Eyes - I like Conor Oberst, but I just can't force myself to like most of his music

Jenny Lewis - The poor man's Cat Power.

Modest Mouse - Gets old after no less and no more than one listen. Every time.

Scott Walker - The Drift and Tilt are good (maybe even great) records, but a lot of people act like he is the second coming of Christ.

Snow Patrol - I broke into your house last night ... and burned every Snow Patrol CD in it.

Wolf Parade - Will never, ever come close to the Arcade Fire. It is a travesty to suggest they might.

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Jenny Lewis - The poor man's Cat Power.

Interesting...while I've never been a huge fan of either, I like Jenny Lewis a lot more. The whole Cat Power persona gets on my nerves...what is it about Jenny Lewis you don't like?

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Bright Eyes - I like Conor Oberst, but I just can't force myself to like most of his music

Thank god someone finally said it...

pE said it long ago and often.

I still love Loaded..., no matter how pretentious it may be.

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Originally posted by typewriter:

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Jenny Lewis - The poor man's Cat Power.

Interesting...while I've never been a huge fan of either, I like Jenny Lewis a lot more. The whole Cat Power persona gets on my nerves...what is it about Jenny Lewis you don't like?

For me, there is something Cat Power's voice that gets me. It's thick and antiquated, but also sad and fragile. I also feel that her lyrics are far superior to those of Jenny Lewis. I still listen to Jenny Lewis' music, but sparingly. I think she's just good, nothing more.

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Bright Eyes - I like Conor Oberst, but I just can't force myself to like most of his music

Thank god someone finally said it...

I know. He writes good lyrics... such good ones that I sometimes think he should just drop the music (which i find to be unmemorable at best) and become a writer.

I've heard prople say that about Dylan since I was taking naps in Kindergarten.

True. I wouldn't say there are many people that fit that. I think that Jeff Mangum would fit the profile.

Stereolab
Wilco
Massive Attack
AC/DC
Belle and Sebatian
Get Up Kids
The White Stripes
The Strokes

Not neccesarily horrible, but very overrated:
Guided by Voices
Bjork
Radiohead (besides OK Computer)
Liz Phair
The Jesus and Mary Chain (and all the other V.U-worshipping bands)
and of course, The Velvet Underground themselves

I let this go before, but I would have sworn that SY was a VU-worshipping band.

Plus, truth be told, I don't believe that you've heard much of all the bands you assign to the cement slab. Come clean. Name every album which you've heard from the shit or "not necessarily Horrible" but sucks list.

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Originally posted by mark f:
I let this go before, but I would have sworn that SY was a VU-worshipping band.

Ha

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Plus, truth be told, I don't believe that you've heard much of all the bands you assign to the cement slab. Come clean. Name every album which you've heard from the shit or "not necessarily Horrible" but sucks list.

Of course I've heard all of those bands.

And I'll go ahead and point out I do like some of the V.U.'s first album, and Metal Machine Music (which was a masterpiece).

And of course Bjork has a few good songs (Army of Me, Human Behavior), along with Liz Phair (Flower, anyone?)

Guided by Voices and especially The Jesus and Mary Chain should be on the top list. I'm not sure what I was thinking.

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Originally posted by slipdream:
...and Metal Machine Music (which was a masterpiece).

At this point, I can no longer take you seriously. You're considering an album of noise that Lou Reed released for the sole purpose of pissing off his record label, a masterpiece. Okay. Whatever.

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Originally posted by ericg75:

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Originally posted by slipdream:
...and Metal Machine Music (which was a masterpiece).

At this point, I can no longer take you seriously. You're considering an album of noise that Lou Reed released for the sole purpose of pissing off his record label, a masterpiece. Okay. Whatever.

Metal Machine Music isn't for everybody. And it wasn't released "for the sole purpose of pissing off his record label."

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Originally posted by slipdream:
Metal Machine Music isn't for everybody.

Up until today, I didn't think it was for anybody.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:

quote:

Originally posted by slipdream:
Metal Machine Music isn't for everybody.

Up until today, I didn't think it was for anybody.

Not true. There are many, many fans out there in to dense layers of atonal feedback and distortion.

It was very shocking for it's time. Sonic Youth and others came along and did very similar stuff later on.

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Originally posted by slipdream:
Sonic Youth and others came along and did very similar stuff later on.

Ahh...yes. I heard that lost Sonic Youth album of Thurston Moore farting is quite the masterpiece.

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Originally posted by ericg75:

quote:

Originally posted by slipdream:
Sonic Youth and others came along and did very similar stuff later on.

Ahh...yes. I heard that lost Sonic Youth album of Thurston Moore farting is quite the masterpiece.

Have you even heard Metal Machine Music ???