And by that i don't mean the Giants winning the superbowl. This is a different kind of upset, meaning those albums which you waited so patiently for but were disappointed in (but not necessarily the "worst" album of the year, because i think that spot should be reserved for Protest the Hero and whatever Panic At the Disco put out).
And i don't want to start a war, i feel as though i have to qualify things now, I just want to see some reactions to albums that potentially would have been greats.
Here's what i got and didn't dig on:
Night Marchers - See You in Magic - I expect great things from a band that features everyone from Hot Snakes except Rick Froberg. Apparently Froberg was the only one that made Hot Snakes so absolutely amazing. Not that this is a horrendous album, it just sounds like RFTC when i expected something spectacular.
NIN - Ghosts - I have a soft spot for Trent Reznor, but his whole pricing scheme for this album is quite questionable (I paid $10 and just got the cds in the mail when, if i had heard the album beforehand, i wouldn't have spent anything on). This album seems like some pretty decent ideas spread way too thinly over a 2-hour timespan. It's like the skeleton of a NIN album.
Blood on the Wall - Liferz - i wanted some kind of evolution from these guys i guess, but instead just got Awesomer part 2. Which is nice i guess, but some progression would've helped a bit.
Magnetic Fields - Distortion - Once the novelty of the whole JAMC thing wore off, this album revealed itself as mediocre at best when compare to his earlier works.
The Racounteurs - Consolers of the Lonely - I didn't expect much from this, but instead got something completely terrible in my opinion. I liked Icky Thump quite a bit, but this one leaves a bad taste in my mouth every time i try and listen to it.
And last, but certainly not least:
Tapes 'n Tapes - Walk it Off - I really can't understand this incredible fumble of theirs. Sure, they didn't have too much going for them, just some charisma and, for lack of a better word, spunky giddiness. I blame this on Fridmann, but i guess i was expecting more from them.
Oh yeah, I'm debating whether or not Vampire Weekend belong on here considering their s/t is a debut, but all that hype made them seem like the second coming of Christ, so I'll just say they sound like a mix of down-syndrome Talking Heads and Paul Simon without any talent. I'm sure people will shit their collective pants when they read that (how dare I forsake the wonderful Vampire Weekend, but their album really doesn't stand the test of time. And by time I mean, you know, the 2 and a half months since it came out, because i initially liked the album)
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
I was also disappointed by Tapes 'N Tapes, but I'll give them a pass because they still have day jobs, they're young, it's hard to find inspiration and direction for a second album, and the album would probably not seem so mediocre if it didn't follow up The Loon, which was brilliant.
Posts: 210 | Location: New York | Registered: 18 September 2007
Originally posted by JeffinNYC: The Raconteurs royally sucked.
I was also disappointed by Tapes 'N Tapes, but I'll give them a pass because they still have day jobs, they're young, it's hard to find inspiration and direction for a second album, and the album would probably not seem so mediocre if it didn't follow up The Loon, which was brilliant.
I agree it's not as good as The Loon. However, it does lend itself well to playing at higher volumes on a good stereo system. It rocks enough for me to enjoy it.
So far there have been three major disappointments this year for me. Firstly, Cat Power 'Jukebox' is a mediocre rehash of covers in the style of 'The Greatest'. The album lacks emotion and even the killer tracks from 'The Greatest' are missing. Gnarls Barkley's 'The Odd Couple' is a royal mess that sees the band losing the only elements that made them listenable in the first place: catchy choruses and danceable hooks. Finally, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' 'Dig Lazarus Dig' is an album I find to be boring and uninspired. The Grinderman release from last year was much more engaging and fun, and even the new Murder By Death album trumps it in the best noir album of the year.
It ain't hallelujah, but it might as well have been.
Posts: 840 | Location: Sweden | Registered: 27 September 2006
Originally posted by CleverName84: And by that i don't mean the Giants winning the superbowl. This is a different kind of upset, meaning those albums which you waited so patiently for but were disappointed in (but not necessarily the "worst" album of the year, because i think that spot should be reserved for Protest the Hero and whatever Panic At the Disco put out).
And i don't want to start a war, i feel as though i have to qualify things now, I just want to see some reactions to albums that potentially would have been greats.
Here's what i got and didn't dig on:
Night Marchers - See You in Magic - I expect great things from a band that features everyone from Hot Snakes except Rick Froberg. Apparently Froberg was the only one that made Hot Snakes so absolutely amazing. Not that this is a horrendous album, it just sounds like RFTC when i expected something spectacular.
NIN - Ghosts - I have a soft spot for Trent Reznor, but his whole pricing scheme for this album is quite questionable (I paid $10 and just got the cds in the mail when, if i had heard the album beforehand, i wouldn't have spent anything on). This album seems like some pretty decent ideas spread way too thinly over a 2-hour timespan. It's like the skeleton of a NIN album.
Blood on the Wall - Liferz - i wanted some kind of evolution from these guys i guess, but instead just got Awesomer part 2. Which is nice i guess, but some progression would've helped a bit.
Magnetic Fields - Distortion - Once the novelty of the whole JAMC thing wore off, this album revealed itself as mediocre at best when compare to his earlier works.
The Racounteurs - Consolers of the Lonely - I didn't expect much from this, but instead got something completely terrible in my opinion. I liked Icky Thump quite a bit, but this one leaves a bad taste in my mouth every time i try and listen to it.
And last, but certainly not least:
Tapes 'n Tapes - Walk it Off - I really can't understand this incredible fumble of theirs. Sure, they didn't have too much going for them, just some charisma and, for lack of a better word, spunky giddiness. I blame this on Fridmann, but i guess i was expecting more from them.
Oh yeah, I'm debating whether or not Vampire Weekend belong on here considering their s/t is a debut, but all that hype made them seem like the second coming of Christ, so I'll just say they sound like a mix of down-syndrome Talking Heads and Paul Simon without any talent. I'm sure people will shit their collective pants when they read that (how dare I forsake the wonderful Vampire Weekend, but their album really doesn't stand the test of time. And by time I mean, you know, the 2 and a half months since it came out, because i initially liked the album)
there are still a lot of bit-time releases due out this year (wolf parade, lightning bolt, etc.) so i wouldn't fret too much. its not like you chose the most stellar lineup of bands. you had never listened to the first band (side projects are never a certainty), NIN have sucked for quite a while now (even if this new cd is over long, and the positives are spread thin - at least this album has positives this time around), blood on the wall is ungodly overrated (even the last album), magnetic fields has gotten solid reviews (though i have never been a fan), the racounteurs new release is mediocre but a million times better than their last, tapes 'n tapes were a hype machine with one album to speak of (is it really that suprising that this one is a flop?), and this is the first release for vampire weekend - so how are you so disappointed? you should just check out some more stuff; there have been a solid number of strong debuts this year. either that or just pick up the {{{Sunset}}} release...
Posts: 517 | Location: San Diego | Registered: 26 November 2007
I've mentioned this before, and I hate to keep complaining about such an amazing band, but I was disapointed with Super Furry Animal's Hey Venus. I can respect it, and I can understand how someone else could really like it, but it really highlights and is built around an aspect of the Supers that is really not my preference. I am at a loss to say exactly what that aspect is though. I guess I just miss the clean hook laden fields of dancable pop I remember finding in their last albums. I still frequently find myself singing "Oh won't you give me some foooood! I really need to get some MSG in me. Give me Sooooome".
---------------------------- There's an ember in the rafters and it's gonna burn this whole thing down.
I don't think Night Marchers are a side-project actually... Hot Snakes and RFTC are both gone. I miss Hot Snakes (I saw them tour behind Audit in Progress, BOO-YEAH!), which i guess is why i found Night Marchers a tad bland.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
Originally posted by CleverName84: I don't think Night Marchers are a side-project actually... Hot Snakes and RFTC are both gone. I miss Hot Snakes (I saw them tour behind Audit in Progress, BOO-YEAH!), which i guess is why i found Night Marchers a tad bland.
i miss hot snakes as well, but not nearly as much as drive like jehu.
Originally posted by krugulitis: just pick up the {{{Sunset}}} release...
And April. And Blood Pressure Sessions... and I could keep going.
I feel like everyone's on a different tip this year. Previous years we've all been mostly in the same boat and now the forum is starting to get diversity.
Originally posted by krugulitis: just pick up the {{{Sunset}}} release...
And April. And Blood Pressure Sessions... and I could keep going.
I feel like everyone's on a different tip this year. Previous years we've all been mostly in the same boat and now the forum is starting to get diversity.
Diversity is killing discussion.
Hey Jackson, I remember you talking up Autechre's new album, so I checked it out and it's really good. What sort of similar stuff would you recommend?
I was hugely disappointed with the new Tokyo Police Club album. I mean I was kind of expecting them to go poppy because of "Your English is Good" but I guess I was just hopeful that it would have some edge. Production wise they sound fine, maybe even better but they don't have the great instrumentation of their EPs. They don't have the unique sounds similar to the hand clapping and guitar solos they would work in and I just expected more.
Posts: 3 | Location: Buffalo | Registered: 30 March 2008
I have no idea how Raconteaurs ended up "sucking royally"...it seemed equal to if not better than Broken boy soldiers. To the defense of TnT, I realize it's not The Loon, but it's just supposed to be fun to listen to and hard rocking stuff that makes you like music. Nothing is going to be perfect, but if it's not perfect, it doesn't make it an upset.
I didn't find "Walk it Off" hard-rocking at all... it is more limp and wanky than The Loon and nowhere near as urgent in delivery. Fridmann ruined it i think.
Posts: 551 | Location: California | Registered: 06 March 2008
The new Weezer really sucks. Not that it's any surprise or anything, but I'm always rooting for them. I kinda like Troublemaker and Dreamin'. Those were the first 2 songs I listened to, and I got all hopeful. But the rest pretty much blow.
Originally posted by CleverName84: NIN - Ghosts - I have a soft spot for Trent Reznor, but his whole pricing scheme for this album is quite questionable (I paid $10 and just got the cds in the mail when, if i had heard the album beforehand, i wouldn't have spent anything on). This album seems like some pretty decent ideas spread way too thinly over a 2-hour timespan. It's like the skeleton of a NIN album.
I'm not a big fan of Nails but I really must comment on this. There is no reason why you could not have listened to the album before purchasing. In fact, it was encouraged. And legal. Not having heard the album, I won't comment on its quality, but I will defend the pricing scheme and CC license.
"Listen to the silence in between. It's louder than the bombs when they come screaming in."
Posts: 257 | Location: Between 762 and 767 | Registered: 10 June 2007
Sun Kil Moon - April. What a snoozefest. I've given this album several months now to settle in and grow on me, but it has not come through in the least. I've always been a Kozolek fan, especially Ghosts of the Great Highway and some of his RHP's stuff, although it can get a little boring at times as well, but the songs on this album just don't go anywhere or do anything exciting.
What do you mean when you say "but the songs on this album just don't go anywhere or do anything exciting"? What would make this album on par with his other work? It sounds like a more experimental RHP album to me.
Tapes n' Tapes really killed me. Loon has been a staple in my cd player for quite some time but I can't even get through this one and I have tried several times.
