quote:

Originally posted by Portable Joystick:

quote:

Originally posted by equestion:
Considering I like albums with strong melodies, what is the best starting point?

They don't make pop albums.

I see. So melody = pop. I finally learned something on Metacritic. Thanks. I understand the Liars don't make pop albums. Anyway, forget I even asked...

quote:

Originally posted by equestion:
Question for a relative Liars noob. What is their most "accessible" record to start off with? I tried starting with Drums Not Dead and really couldn't get into it. I feel immensely unhip/uncool/retarded/hopeless for thinking this, however. Considering I like albums with strong melodies, what is the best starting point?

Anyways, like has been said previously, this is definitely Liars most accessible album. So, start here.

"plaster casts of everything" is a great first track, rocking out pretty hard and changes up a few times throughout its almost 4 min runtime.

"houseclouds" is a huge curveball and a facinating sound coming from this band. Sets you up for the diversity of this album.

"leather prowler" is something of a return to the dirt-in-the-gears sound of the first track. An ugly thing of beauty.

"sailing to byzantium" seems to be establishing an every-other-track kind of pattern by returning to a cleaner sound, and is the first song with an expansive vocal hook. Great slow-grooving song with a killer effects-laden guitar solo segueing into the howling-at-the-moon ending.

"what would they know" might be the most dissident track on the album by virtue of the distracting amp-innards sound-effect that is repeated through the song, but it does continue the strange parallel themes of the album. And it has a mysterious vocal mantra "stop pretending" that is sort-of chanted through much of the song.

"cycle time" has riotous opening that has some mysterious antagonist touching the singers head, and him henceforth being "wrong". Then the song shifts gears and just rocks to close after a brief runtime.

"freak out" is one of the stand-outs with the highly quotable "nothing to freak out about... out, out" lyric and some fuzzy plops of guitar segueing into the fade-out ending.

"pure unevil": by this time the pattern is breaking down, but this song is a charming meditation on... something not be the only pure unevil, or something. Mellow but solid track.

"clear island" is my second favorite song on the album with one of lyrical high-points of the year with something "banging back and forth, throwing lightning at us", and the infectious chorus. This song rocks pretty hard to, and is over too soon.

"the dumb in the rain" is another grimey song with th--by-now typical-- slightly warped, kindergarten-simple guitar solos wobbling throughout. Another kind of meditative vocal-line repeating throughout. Nothing to complain about here.

"protection" is my favorite song, ending the album in much the same way as the closing track of Drum's Not Dead. 'nuff said, I think.

quote:

Question for a relative Liars noob. What is their most "accessible" record to start off with? I tried starting with Drums Not Dead and really couldn't get into it. I feel immensely unhip/uncool/retarded/hopeless for thinking this, however. Considering I like albums with strong melodies, what is the best starting point?

I haven't heard this newest one, but I can tell you one thing for sure: do not start with their two middle albums. We Were Wrong, So They Drowned and Drum's Not Dead are nowhere near "melodic". You might have a chance with their debut. From what I'm hearing about their newest, it could be a valid avenue as well.

I gotta be honest - if you're looking for stuff with strong melodies, you could be looking at the wrong band. Liars are notoriously difficult.

I hear a lot of Jesus and Mary Chain in "Freak Out." Rockin' track.

P4k's review should be arriving soon (Tuesday?). The "periphery" reviews are coming in and so far so good. Any final thoughts on this one?

although i loved it when it first came out (i mean on the internet like two months ago), i've fallen out of love with it. it just hasn't held up to time that well. i'll cherish the memories of the first few listens, though. they were beautiful, in that sort of angst, scream ridden drone of "plaster casts of everything." its just a confusing album because it has such great strengths but very great weaknesses. if that makes any sense.

my rating: 7.5.

I took a lil break from it then came back to it earlier today and it's still fresh. I just think it's one of those polarizing albums, one that leaves very few people in the middle... Liars have an amazing ability to do that.

quote:

Originally posted by Jglass:
I took a lil break from it then came back to it earlier today and it's still fresh. I just think it's one of those polarizing albums, one that leaves very few people in the middle... Liars have an amazing ability to do that.

parts of it are very fresh for me but some of it isn't at all. that's why i gave it an above mediocre score but below good. some of my fav songs of the year are on this album. as the album as a whole, though, it is slightly above mediocre.

The Liars new self-titled album is streaming here if anyone would like to hear it.

This album is really dry. It lacks the fun of their previous albums. I have listened to it plenty and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

I disagree. I'd say it's their most fun album actually.

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Originally posted by cuneyt81:
I disagree. I'd say it's their most fun album actually.

I agree. If nothing else, it's a million times less serious than "Drum's"

sicnarf, what do you mean by "dry?"

and yes, jglass, drum's is depressing compared to this one.

dry as in emotionless. Just feels like it lacks any previous heart that they put into their albums. I'm not emo or anything, just my personal take I guess.

Maybe its no fun because I don't see them enjoying themselves playing it or creating it? maybe? Can't quite put my finger on it.

I don't think it's as energetic or frenetic as any of their previous releases but I do like it quite a bit.

Hey Everyoneanindividual, long time no see.

I've heard the Liars album a few times now but I don't really like it. I am torn because three or four songs on the thing are amazingly good, just great. However, the rest are really not that good at all.

I admire the band because they are always trying to do new things and do some of it successfully. I thought that Drum's Not Dead was a little bit too bleak for me and this new one has some stuff that is dang near un-listenable.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Hey Everyoneanindividual, long time no see.

I've heard the Liars album a few times now but I don't really like it. I am torn because three or four songs on the thing are amazingly good, just great. However, the rest are really not that good at all.

I admire the band because they are always trying to do new things and do some of it successfully. I thought that Drum's Not Dead was a little bit too bleak for me and this new one has some stuff that is dang near un-listenable.

I actually enjoy most of the "unlistenable" songs like "Leather Prowler" because they show the kind of iconoclastic attitude that I associate with the Liars. For this reason, the more straight-up accessible cuts like "Sailing To Byzantium" seem slightly out of place. In summary, I think the album is quite strong, if a bit unfocused. This is pretty obvious when comparing the self-titled to "Drum's" because, where that record was propelled by a singular conceptual thread, the new "Liars" is just the opposite: it has no thread at all (except the metacritic one *zing* pun!). Still worthy of a purchase IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by CouldBAnyone:

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Hey Everyoneanindividual, long time no see.

I've heard the Liars album a few times now but I don't really like it. I am torn because three or four songs on the thing are amazingly good, just great. However, the rest are really not that good at all.

I admire the band because they are always trying to do new things and do some of it successfully. I thought that Drum's Not Dead was a little bit too bleak for me and this new one has some stuff that is dang near un-listenable.

I actually enjoy most of the "unlistenable" songs like "Leather Prowler" because they show the kind of iconoclastic attitude that I associate with the Liars. For this reason, the more straight-up accessible cuts like "Sailing To Byzantium" seem slightly out of place. In summary, I think the album is quite strong, if a bit unfocused. This is pretty obvious when comparing the self-titled to "Drum's" because, where that record was propelled by a singular conceptual thread, the new "Liars" is just the opposite: it has no thread at all (except the metacritic one *zing* pun!). Still worthy of a purchase IMO.

Idk, I like how scattered it is.

Leather Prowler is one of my favorite tracks from the album.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Hey Everyoneanindividual, long time no see.

I've heard the Liars album a few times now but I don't really like it. I am torn because three or four songs on the thing are amazingly good, just great. However, the rest are really not that good at all.

I admire the band because they are always trying to do new things and do some of it successfully. I thought that Drum's Not Dead was a little bit too bleak for me and this new one has some stuff that is dang near un-listenable.

Hey FKA... Yeah, I haven't been on as much. I can see your point, The album could have definitely been a bit more consistent.