Album(s) of the Week - Discussions Only

[Xamnam]

I will be in three weeks, but I think for this start, we should limit it to one album a week. We always start out so ambitious, and then lose steam.

[andrewvb]

i think we should move it to the normal forum so people are reminded it exists

[Kamera]

It didn't help that the old board closing threw people off. I'm down to listen to some new music.

[ten15]

I'm in.

[regionrat6337]

Same

[teekoh]

I'm in, too. One album a week, or having two and expanding the time frame a bit (2 weeks? A month?) is a good idea.

[mookie]

Yeah, I'm back in

[Deleted]

Sept 26, 2017 7:24:57 GMT -6 andrewvb said:

i think we should move it to the normal forum so people are reminded it exists

Exactly why I'm just now getting to this thread again. Xamnam can we get it moved? Or you can make me an admin. 

[Deleted]

There are other forums?

[Deleted]

Album of the Week - Oct 9th - Oct 13th

Phoebe Bridgers: Stranger in the Alps (nom'd by regionrat6337)
Released: 09/22/17
Genre: Indie Folk, Folk pop

[Deleted]

maybe...

[neader]

did i miss the part where we actually discuss the album?

[Deleted]

Fixed. begin discussion now.

[munkivelli]

Deleted my response post with the other album cover in order to avoid confusion....

That said, love this album from start to finish

[andrewvb]

bandcamp link to the album: phoebebridgers.bandcamp.com/

[Deleted]

It's also on Spotify if you like them fancy streaming services.

About 3/4 through the album and it's solid. Good recommendation, I'll say more later.

[neader]

I really do like this album but at some points it seems like she's trying to hard to sound like Elliott Smith, mainly with Scotch Street and Demi Moore.

Highlights for me are Smoke Signals (by far my favorite), Funeral, Georgia, and Would You Rather.

Lyrics are deeply personal but somehow still relateable. She's a really great storyteller that knows how to pull the heart strings. Admittedly, imo, some songs really fall flat (You Missed My Heart) but still a damn good album. It's a good appetizer for Turn Out the Lights.

[Deleted]

The first half of the record is very good to me, but the second kind of peters out, and I didn't care for Would You Rather's guest spot from Conor Oberst. Never been a fan of his work, so without him it would have been more enjoyable.

[neader]

Never really listened to him or Bright Eyes so I had no idea that was him. I do agree the first half outshines the second.

[munkivelli]

- While I agree that the first half is stronger, the second half of the album has grown on me considerably after a handful of listens.

- Would You Rather is probably my least favorite song on the album, but I don't dislike it.

- Worth noting, if not already known, that You Missed My Heart is a cover of a Mark Kozelek song.

-Favorite songs on the album would be Killer, Georgia, Funeral and Smoke Signals. Motion Sickness is a fun song too.

-I get a bit of an Aimee Mann vibe from her as well on some songs.

-If you like this, it's worth checking out the Killer EP from last year, that has stripped-down versions of Killer and Georgia, as well as another nice song called Steamroller, which I wish had been reworked for this album.

[anime]

I actually tried a few songs of this album on somebody's recommendation and thought it did what it did well but it didn't click with me. I probably should give the whole record a listen though.

[ten15]

I listened to this earlier in the week and found it to be quite pleasant. I didn't much care for the last 2 songs before the reprise, however. Conor Oberst - ugh, and the Kozelek cover just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the tracks.

Glad I listened and will listen again, but it really is not in my wheelhouse. Having said that, I think she is an act that I would enjoy in a live setting more than on record.

[teekoh]

After a couple of listens I really love this album. I was falling apart on my damn lunch break today. The writing and shape of the songs are so good, and I think the moments where they chose to add harmonies and other textures are spot on.

I don't get the hate for the Oberst appearance, though. It seems inoffensive at worst and the song is very good. I'm kicking myself for not going to that Vic show where she opened for him. Great recommendation.

[Deleted]

October 16th - 20th

Benjamin Clementine - I Tell A Fly (rec'd by anime)




Released: 29 September 2017
Recorded: 2016–2017
Studio: RAK Studios, (London) Abbey Road Studios, (London) Studio 13, (London)
Genre: Avant-garde progressive rock experimental pop contemporary classical
Length: 45:00
Label: Behind / Virgin EMI
Producer: Benjamin Clementine

Metacritic Score: 81/100

Earlier this year he guested on the Gorillaz track "Hallelujah Money."

[ten15]

Um. What did I just listen to? This album seems to be the soundtrack to a strange, unconventional play, that I am completely unfamiliar with. Some of the instrumental parts were beautiful, but others seemed like noodling.

I listened to this today without any knowledge of who Benjamin was except for the guesting on "Hallelujah Money", which, I guess should have given me a clue as to what I would think of this. Had I known that he was "avant-garde progessive rock experimental pop contemporary classical" I may have been better prepared? But probably not. Didn't like it as a whole, and was actually hate listening to parts.

Bold nomination - it is just not for me.

[anime]

Fair enough! I'm glad you at least gave it a try.

I absolutely love his turn towards avant-garde on this album. The almost Count Dracula-esque piano (can't put my thumb on a better explanation but I know one exists) throughout the thing (and the different moods he conjures with it) complement his voice well, which is a powerhouse. Also think he's a great lyricist. What he's doing is super unique and I can also see how it's an acquired taste. It's not something I would have expected to like before diving in but it's become a sound I can't get out of my head.

Two songs I think stand out and are amongst my favs of the year. Phantom of Aleppoville might be my fav of the year and I think the video helps to sell it for first-time listeners (your comment about it being a soundtrack to a play might kinda help you make more sense of the album here). Hallelujah Money is also significantly my fav track on the Gorillaz album and what introduced me to him.

[dij22]

I listened to the Phoebe Bridgers album and enjoyed it. Probably could have just been a very strong EP but that's most debuts I suppose.

I thought her lyrics were very strong and there were a few songs that I went back to read the lyrics. "Funeral" was the standout for me, but outside of that I don't know if any songs will stay in rotation for me.

Also I thought the Conor Oberst song was very good.

[Deleted]

I listened to Clementine last week when I thought it was the AOTW. Instrumentation wise it was very adventurous. The whole album I kept getting a feel similar to an Of Montreal album. Very different styles, but similar in approach. He bounces from so many different styles that it was quite jarring, all within a single track. Sometimes the returns were good, sometimes they were bad.

I know we talk a lot about restraint within an artists album (FJM, King Krule, etc.) and I think we can add Clementine to that list. He has a lot of ideas here, and he bridges them together well in some areas, but in others it just feels like a cut and paste in the production. It was a very challenging listen. Not sure how I feel about it overall, but I did like Jupiter and some of his harmonies in Ave Dreamer that reminded me of The Very Best. Mixed bag, but not a total throwaway listen for me.

[Deleted]

Have you listened to Benjamin Clementine? If so, post here!

[andrewvb]

this started off pretty interesting and off kilter but i got kind of bored of it after a while. does he play all the instruments himself? pretty cool.