quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
I wasn't accusing anybody of hipsterism or anything like that, just it seemed a few people on this particular thread were making a point of not caring about the critics.

I wasn't personally making a point about critics, merely one about being obsessive about arbitrary numbers and scoring. I plaud Metacritic for being a clearinghouse of information, but I think there are quite a few people who seem to take the numbers WAY too seriously. I like the fact that Metacritic links reviews, and compiles them. I just don't fret when an album that I like doesn't get a high score.

Honestly, I'd take the advice of LinnTate, or mark f, or flem_snopes, or Imprezu21 far more seriously than I would from any critic. Those are the reviewers whose opinions really sway me, thanks mainly to Metacritic.

Well, I wouldn't take any *one* source of advice too seriously. It's more the aggregate of very positive word of mouth and reviews that makes a strong case to me. If something has a metascore of 90, and everybody on the board says they love it -- I'm getting it. But one or the other would probably spur me to strongly consider it too.

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
Honestly, I'd take the advice of LinnTate, or mark f, or flem_snopes, or Imprezu21 far more seriously than I would from any critic. Those are the reviewers whose opinions really sway me, thanks mainly to Metacritic.

To quote my mother-in-law's favorite actor Patrick Swayze (not really, but her heart went pitter-pat while watching Dirty Dancing), from his immortal performance in Ghost (a film I actually like), "Ditto", pE and thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
Three month groups is just an arbitrary way to do so that works. It's not really important, just...it's a way for me to look at albums in 20-30 album groups, and pick the best in each group, then look at the best of each group to make my 'best of year' lists.

Sorry if you'd thought a line had been drawn under this thread but I'm intrigued with this concept. What if the top five albums in any year were released within a month of each other? Your method would mean the best of each of the other quarters would have a greater weighting and so your top ten would be skewed.

It may be fun (and I suppose on a Metascore forum appropriate), but I say we all keep our personal top ten lists back until, say, November when it starts to have some relevance. What's anyones top 5 for April thru June don't mean diddly squit to me. Anyone?

I agree, but I think (hope) Bob has contigency plans since he's gonna keep listening throughout the year, especailly at the end of the year. I think we'll all see how it pans out.

quote:

Originally posted by Istanbullies:

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
Three month groups is just an arbitrary way to do so that works. It's not really important, just...it's a way for me to look at albums in 20-30 album groups, and pick the best in each group, then look at the best of each group to make my 'best of year' lists.

Sorry if you'd thought a line had been drawn under this thread but I'm intrigued with this concept. What if the top five albums in any year were released within a month of each other? Your method would mean the best of each of the other quarters would have a greater weighting and so your top ten would be skewed.

It may be fun (and I suppose on a Metascore forum appropriate), but I say we all keep our personal top ten lists back until, say, November when it starts to have some relevance. What's anyones top 5 for April thru June don't mean diddly squit to me. Anyone?

Actually, I did the math, and if each of my favorite ten albums is equally likely to appear in any given quarter, then the odds of six or more of them appearing in the same quarter is about 1 in 12.

Yes, I am a geek.

quote:

Originally posted by dano:
There's way too much music being made to hear it all, so reviews steer me towards which ones are probably most worth my time.

here here (hear hear)

I wish I had the time to sit through the 1,000's of releases so far this year. I pick up a few Cd's. I have time to read through 1/10th of the reviews that pass my eyes, yet we cannot listen to every Cd avail, and may be missing the best of the year through filtering our selections, and totally missing the boat on something we will never get a chance to listen (forever, not even within the year released).
It's hit and miss, and fortunately we can guide ourselves to find what we love and try to listen to as much as we can.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
Honestly, I'd take the advice of LinnTate, or mark f, or flem_snopes, or Imprezu21 far more seriously than I would from any critic. Those are the reviewers whose opinions really sway me, thanks mainly to Metacritic.

To quote my mother-in-law's favorite actor Patrick Swayze (not really, but her heart went pitter-pat while watching Dirty Dancing), from his immortal performance in Ghost (a film I actually like), "Ditto", pE and thanks.

another hear hear!! I've appreciated the input from all here at MC, even if I disagree with some....hopefully the same to others down the road...

Okay, I decided I really hate Smog - A River Ain't Too Much Love

All the songs sound the same and Smog thinks he's a good poet, when in fact, he's a really terrible one. I think this one supplants Frances the Mute as 'Worst album of 2005 that somehow tricked me into buying it'.

Thing is, hearing one track can sound okay. But then finding out they all sound the same and the focus is the singer's jarring vocals...ick. Just ick. Some of the instrumentals sound like they could be used to make really good songs. Just, the vocals are borderline unlistenable after ten minutes.

I don't know, Smog is one of the few albums this year that I am actually enjoying and going back to after several listens. I would say it probably isn't as good as some of his other albums, like 'knock knock' and 'wild love', but it is still better than most of the stuff coming out this year. I can actually understand picking on the fact that all the songs sound the same, especially if you were new to his music, but I really don't see how his lyrics and voice are awful. He has grown over the years to be one of my favorites in both of those categories, and this album does nothing but cement that opinion for me.

I don't get Vitalic - OK Cowboy. I only gave it two listens, but it didn't strike me as an album that would reveal much more after repeated listens. I've never listened to much electro stuff before (I've never heard any Daft Punk, for instance), so maybe it's just the whole genre I don't like. It kinda reminds me of listening to Autechre, only not as interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
I don't get Vitalic - OK Cowboy. I only gave it two listens, but it didn't strike me as an album that would reveal much more after repeated listens. I've never listened to much electro stuff before (I've never heard any Daft Punk, for instance), so maybe it's just the whole genre I don't like. It kinda reminds me of listening to Autechre, only not as interesting.

Agreed, electronic music and I don't mix well. It doesn't seem like it has any real value other than making your head bob occasionally. Everytime I see people raving about one of these (Vitalic, the Juan Maclean, Daft Punk) I listen and turn it off before it's over. Even LCD Soundsystem falls into this category for me. Although I liked Daft Punk is Playing at My House.

Its all a matter of finding what u like.I certainly hope u are not putting the whole electronic genre into one boat?There are so many people making extremely wonderfull "electronic" music these days that it is hard to pass up.

The artists u are speaking of have a pretty dedicated following.Especially daft punk...i dont like them either.The juan maclean is starnge.It is dfa so u know it is gonna be a bit harsh.
I am sure if u delved a bit deeper into the genre u would find a bunch of things u would like.

It would be lik eme saying i hate all rock.!!Which i dont,but i do not like alot of it.I certainly would not say I hate it.I just dont get enough time in between my normal purchases to get into it.

I still hold out hope that one day I will like an electronic music album, which is why I still download them when everyone and their mother starts saying how great one is. But I never like them. I dunno, maybe I'm looking in the wrong places...

quote:

Its all a matter of finding what u like.I certainly hope u are not putting the whole electronic genre into one boat?There are so many people making extremely wonderfull "electronic" music these days that it is hard to pass up.

I didn't mean to dismiss all electronic music, just the sub-genre that Vitalic inhabits. I love Four Tet, Out Hud, Mum, and Boards of Canada, as well as some artists that fuse rock and electronic elements like Lali Puna, M83, Notwist, Ms. John Soda, and Kid A. I'm not well versed in music genres and sub-genres, but isn't electro different from electronic in some way?

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:

quote:

Its all a matter of finding what u like.I certainly hope u are not putting the whole electronic genre into one boat?There are so many people making extremely wonderfull "electronic" music these days that it is hard to pass up.

I didn't mean to dismiss all electronic music, just the sub-genre that Vitalic inhabits. I love Four Tet, Out Hud, Mum, and Boards of Canada, as well as some artists that fuse rock and electronic elements like Lali Puna, M83, Notwist, Ms. John Soda, and Kid A. I'm not well versed in music genres and sub-genres, but isn't electro different from electronic in some way?

definetely.
very different.
I guess dano was the one who said he didnt like "electronic" music and u said electro.

Electro is different it is more like early rap with a heavy dose of adrenaline.Originally it was considered hip-hop...but instead of hip hop made with samples it was made with drum machines and synthesizers and all that.

Vitalic is electro...but not in the same vane as say a mantronix was or herbie hancock, etc.

It is hard to describe because some people view electro in a very different light.It has changed over time.

I once heard someone compare the Microphones to the The Flaming Lips...ridiculous...

There's one track on the new Oasis album that is actually excellent, but generally I just
can't stand them...I liked their first two, loved some tracks on those albums...but the pompousness of the music that they've made since makes me feel ill, especially considering the dire standard...I mean, I can't believe I thought that maybe the arrogance surrounding their latest release might be because they'd made something innovative...

I think the Pitchfork score for the new Coldplay album is ridiculous, but then again, so is the Q score. There are a few brilliant songs on XY, and there aren't any songs that I dislike intensely. Except perhaps 'Fix You', I really can't stand that song...

In terms of critics...I'm afraid most of the time I go with Pitchfork when investigating music...but if they give an album a bad review, and someone else here, or anywhere else says otherwise, I give that album another go. This only applies to music that I haven't heard though.

Yeah, I just dismissed Oasis, but I heard a track that sounded like one of their voices playing at a CD store that, to my surprise, actually sounded good.

--

With Pitchfork...I think, if they give something a good review, I might take it into account in considering whether to get the album, but if they give something a bad review, I dismiss it entirely.

What they like, more often than not, tends to be good. Just, they hate a whole lot of great stuff too.

--

I heard a song off Billy Corgan's new album. Let's just say it's...bad.

Take the great music he wrote for Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie. Subtract the beautiful, grandiose piano music, and triple the gloominess. Now add some basic synth stuff and imagine it sounding exactly like mid-90s grunge. "I have...sorrow...sorrow...sorrow.."

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

Where did you see that Microphones/Flaming Lips comparison, headinsand? That's gotta be the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

I've given the Decemberist's latest, Picaresque, a few good listens, and while I didn't like it much at first, I think it's a pretty good album. For some reason, they started the album off with the two worst songs on the record, but later on it gets good. I especially like the anti-war song, "16 Military Wives." I may have to look into some of their earlier stuff.

Hmm..Infanta is one of my two or three favorites on the album, actually...