I have gotten a lot of ideas from Metacritic and these Discussion Forums as to what I should give a good listen to for new music.

So, if anyone has checked out any new bands because of this website, it would be interesting to know what you picked up on and what you left at the store/internet site.

I've checked out a lot, and can tell by a few listens whether I want to part with the cash, or just leave it on the rack:

Kept
1. Out Hud -Let Us Never Speak Of It Again - mediocre score(78) but I enjoyed their 1st outing.

2. M.I.A. - Rave reviews here.

3. The Books - I haven't picked up yet but will.

4. Prefuse 73 - same as above. Liked the sound, but always bought something else instead.



DIDN'T CARE FOR(new artists I don't have in my library)

1. The Decemberists - overall sound is something I wouldn't play a lot

2. Antony And THe Johnsons - I didn't give it a chance, listened to the first 2 songs and gave up (but I may re-visit because of the positive talk on this one)

3. Soundtrack of Our Lives - not for me

4. Bloc Party - I will give this one another try. Seemed average.

**5. Bright Eyes - Okay, I need input on this one.I'm 50/50 on picking this up. I would prefer the electronic disc(digital Ash) but it received the lower Metacritic score(63) compared to Wide Awake(84). I like electronic music, but was wondering how good Wide Awake is after repeated listens for those of you who bought it.

I checked out a couple Amon Tobin (Supermodified and Splinter Cell) albums based on recommendations from a couple guys in the electronic forum. I really don't like it, even after 4 or 5 listens. I just don't think it's my type of music.

I also downloaded Architecture In Helsinki's first album, Fingers Crossed. I liked it pretty well, but not enough to buy. The few tracks I've heard from they're new album seem much better, and I'm thinking about buying it based on those tracks and comparisons in reviews to the Fiery Furnaces.

I've also listened to AC Newman's "The Slow Wonder" since some people were raving about it. I liked it, and there were definitely some standouts, but I just like depressing music so much better.

EDIT: I think I might check out the Decemberists since so many people compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel. Also, FF, don't expect too much out of the Books new album. I listened to it numerous times and hated it. Such a disappointment after The Lemon of Pink.

Thanks RL. That's the second time I read here that the new The Books is not that good. Maybe I should double back and get Lemon of Pink instead.

It was probably me both times, FF, but yeah, if you haven't heard Lemon of Pink, definitely get that first.

Anybody with feedback to Bright Eyes???? Either Album???? Hungry for feedback on this one as stated above.

Here is everything at the forums about Bright Eyes. Have you checked the user comments at MC proper?
My own opinion is that both albums rate about a 75. Since you enjoy electronica more than I do, you'd probably bump up Digital Ash higher than I would. Sorry I can't get more specific right now.

I have the album...i have listened it to once.It is nothing special.The music reminds me of figurine a bit.Well with tamborello helping produce a bit...it should.I would give it a 5/10.

Well, my general pattern is to listen to 1 or 2 tracks off as many albums as possible, so I could list a few dozen I heard a track off of but didn't bother listening through.

But I mostly haven't heard them all the way through until I've bought them. I did get 4 or 5 tracks off Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy and Martha Wainwright - s/t and didn't think quite enough of them to buy them. Those are probably the two closest to the threshold that would make me buy them without quite being over.

And a few albums I bought then was sorely disappointed:

British Sea Power - Open Season
Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins
Low - The Great Destroyer

Yup. That's the idea for this thread. Thanks Bob, I also gave a quick listen to Deerhoof and I am on the wall on that one.

Thanks for the Bright Eyes input....

i think for sure you need to give antony and the johnsons another listen, his voice is totally amazing...mia is nasty...as hiphop goes def. pick up edan 'beauty and the beat' 60s psyche + late 80s hiphop...silent alarm is just average, but i find myself putting it on the turntable quite alot. favorite disc so for this year tho is definately the run the road grime comp...anyways.
peace

Antony and the Johnstons is a 'you'll love it or hate it' band, like Architecture in Helsinki.

I didn't really like the Decemberists either. Their arrangements are kind of monotonous, probably with the goal of making Colin Meloy the centerpiece. Not an inherently bad voice, and there were plenty of stories and whatnot, but not what I want.

Eh, I admit Decemberists have gone down a little for me over repeated listens, but monotonous arrangements aside, the songs are very well written, musically and lyrically. It's probably fallen from #1 to #3 for me.

One surprise buy for me was Antony and the Johnstons. I saw Rufus Wainwright comparisons and, because I saw him at the Newport Folk Festival while I was waiting for Wilco to go on, assumed that meant I wouldn't like it. Then I was at a store and they had those scan-and-listen things, so I listened to it to kill time, and went to buy it immediately.

Both of the bright eyes disc's are amazing. I found wide Awake more suited to my taste, but they are both up there. I find with most of Conner's music that it takes a few listens to fully understand and appreciate the songs, so you have to put a little effort in, but the rewards can be staggering. Can anybody give me a discription of the Archer Prewitt disk. He's getting a lot of good word of mouth on these forums and I was contemplating a blind buy. Who can you compare him too and is the praise lyrically based, music based or is he well rounded. Thanks!

quote:

I find with most of Conner's music that it takes a few listens to fully understand and appreciate the songs, so you have to put a little effort in, but the rewards can be staggering.

Lately, I find that true about everything I listen to. I like almost nothing after one listen. It usually takes 3 listens before I can really get into something. The new Beck album is a perfect example. I listened to it a couple times and thought it was bad. I put it away, and when I was driving somewhere I saw it lying in the car. I popped it in and I now love it. Not as good as Sea Change, but probably his second best album in my book.

I find the first, and last two songs on Wide Awake It's Morning quite good (If you ignore the annoying narrative at the start of the first song), and the rest of it quite mediocre.

Archer Prewitt...it's hard to compare him. There is quite a bit of musical quality, and the lyrics seem okay, but I don't really pay much attention to them. I guess I'd describe him as singer-songwriter or very good pop/rock.

quote:

I find the first, and last two songs on Wide Awake It's Morning quite good (If you ignore the annoying narrative at the start of the first song), and the rest of it quite mediocre.

First Day of my life, Lua and Landlocked blues are all beautiful, Id give the cd another chance if I were you.

A nice surprise for me this year was Joel Plasketts La De Da,

Biggest dissapointment has to be bloc party, I love Kasabien and read so much hype, the entire cd just sits as not bad in my eyes with very little in the way of stand out tracks.

quote:

Originally posted by A Charming Man:
Can anybody give me a discription of the Archer Prewitt disk. He's getting a lot of good word of mouth on these forums and I was contemplating a blind buy. Who can you compare him too and is the praise lyrically based, music based or is he well rounded. Thanks!

Well, I WOULDN'T compare Archer's solo records with his work with his full-time group, The Sea and Cake. It's much more lush and straightforwardly poppish than the artsy Sea and Cake stuff.

What I would compare him to would be the following groups (and forgive me if you don't know them, but they're the points of reference that come to mind): Eric Matthews/Richard Davies/Cardinal, The Divine Comedy, A.C. Newman, Rogue Wave, The Shins. Going back further, maybe the Beach Boys and some Bacharach flourishes, with a little Nick Drake sadness mixed in.

Hope it helps. It's a really good record that deserves repeated listenings. I'm gonna have to pull it back out and play it again soon.

That does help, thanks very much, sounds like something I'd enjoy.

Bright Eyes - Wide Awake is much better than Digital Ash (as the reviews suggest). In fact it's still my #1 album for the year.

Albums I didn't care for:
Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze : was a major disappointment. I expected it to be so much more.
Feeder - Pushing The Senses : As above. Just too downbeat compared with their earlier stuff.
Stereophonics - Language Sex Violence Other : Not a return to the form of their first two albums unfortunately.
The Bravery - The Bravery : Don't believe the hype. There are so many other bands that do this stuff better.
Weezer - Make Believe : Not quite as bad as Pitchfork says, but still nowhere near good.