Okay, so I just checked Pitchfork again and guess what??

The score hasn't changed.

I shouldn't make such a big deal about this, but it deserved higher. This is kinda bullshit.

If you ask me, this album belongs in league with In The Aeroplane... and company.

More people would get into this album if Pitchfork rated it correctly.

8.5 is a VERY high rating from any source, especially since 9+ is basically off-limits. You can always wait for their year-end list to see it get rated above many of their "higher-rated" albums.

But take this all with a grain of salt because I never even go to Pitchfork unless I see an interesting link.

P.S. I've only listened to the album once so far. I think an 8.5 is fair.

I agree with mark. 8+ from P4K is a great rating. I'm no Sunset Rubdown fan, but 8.5 seems quite generous. To me, something in the 9-10 range is a classic, along the lines of Sticky Fingers or Reckoning.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
Also, I can't recall the last time Pitchfork gave a 9 - was it Person Pitch or Sound of Silver? Neither of them really deserved it.

It was Strawberry Jam, which totally deserved it.

I really do like Random Spirit Lover and while I could maybe see the score being bumped up just a few points, the 8.5 score seems perfectly reasonable to me. It's a great album, but certainly not without its share of snags.

quote:

Originally posted by benjiru:
Okay, so I just checked Pitchfork again and guess what??

The score hasn't changed.

I shouldn't make such a big deal about this, but it deserved higher. This is kinda bullshit.

If you ask me, this album belongs in league with In The Aeroplane... and company.

More people would get into this album if Pitchfork rated it correctly.

Chill. It's very creative but not very focused. He needed to pare down some of the songs and maybe leave a weaker track or two off. But Krug is nothing if not ambitious.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
Also, I can't recall the last time Pitchfork gave a 9 - was it Person Pitch or Sound of Silver? Neither of them really deserved it.

Jens Lekman too. 9.0

Ah, well Strawberry Jam didn't deserve that score either.

If nothing else, Pitchfork does give us something to discuss.

I get the hype... I just listened to it and I am blown away. The best thing Spencer Krug has ever done... EVER.

I felt that the pitchfork review was good but still felt underwhelming when compared to this magnificent piece of work. It's devestatingly good. This is my favorite album of 2007 period.

quote:

Originally posted by Vypa:
Chill. It's very creative but not very focused. He needed to pare down some of the songs and maybe leave a weaker track or two off. But Krug is nothing if not ambitious.

I like that it's not focused.

I listened to it again today and I like it just as much as every other time I've listened to it. I was surprised to find that I liked it upon first listen because other Krug generally bores me.

quote:

Originally posted by Everyoneanindividual:
The best thing Spencer Krug has ever done... EVER.

Second this.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:

quote:

Originally posted by Everyoneanindividual:
The best thing Spencer Krug has ever done... EVER.

Second this.

I second the statement that FKA just made and third my own.

The more I listen to this album, the more impressed I am with the musicianship displayed on it.

It has outstandingly off-kilter percussion, aggressive-sounding guitar-work, and intricate keyboard parts.

I'm not one to listen to something just because it's musically technical, but this one is very impressive in that arena.

The more I grow to love Mr. Krug's output over the past couple of years, the more I wonder what he could possibly have left for Wolf Parade. Save something big guy!!

I couldn't agree more! Krug's work has not only been consistantly great, but it's getting better and better. In addition to that, fellow Wolf Parader Dan Boeckner put out a pretty good album this year as Handsome Furs.

I've got high hopes for this album and can't wait to see it come out, or at least to see it leak...

That said, I have trouble believing it'll top Random Spirit Lover.

Alright you Sunset Rubdown lovers, I've got a question. Would someone who has been underwhelmed by Spencer Krug's output to this point likely find anything to love with this album?

Is there a still a stream of the album available somewhere at this point?

I would answer your first question with a yes. In fact, I have also been underwhelmed by everything Spencer Krug has fronted up until this. RSL is much more epic and cohesive than anything he's done so far.

As for the stream...I have no idea.

I heard this once, about two weeks ago. I'm still waiting for it in the mail. I think epic is a good term. I'd add intense and totally involving, but I liked Wolf Parade's debut. However, this thing is MUCH better; at least based on my one-time, two-week-old listen it sure as hell is.

quote:

Originally posted by grabblegarrr:
I would answer your first question with a yes. In fact, I have also been underwhelmed by everything Spencer Krug has fronted up until this. RSL is much more epic and cohesive than anything he's done so far.

As for the stream...I have no idea.

Seconded.

RSL is definitely going to be one of my top album at the end of the year.

I admittedly had a tough time getting through the first listen but I am totally addicted. I pretty much listened Radiohead's In Rainbows and RSL at the same time and it made In Rainbows see very dull and boring.