Well, I tried - how about you?

I do enjoy PT but have to agree with you on John Mayer. You put it well, just doesn't move me at all.

well, if you listen to classical music, you get disappointed from time to time as well.

Gardiner's reading of beethoven's Missa Solemnis is an overblown, over sung, over played reading that misses the sincerity crucial to a good performance of this work.

and gardiner's take on grainger's "the warriors" fails because the music stinks.

both these recordings got rave reviews, and both represent disappointing music making for totally different reasons.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
well, if you listen to classical music, you get disappointed from time to time as well.

Fortunately, no disappointing classical purchases this year

My biggest musical disappointment this year was Robert Plant saying he would not be part of a Led Zeppelin reunion.

As for albums released, I have been mostly pleased by the releases by artists I follow this year, but a couple releases were let downs.

I have been a fan of Porcupine Tree since the mid 90's, but I have not enjoyed their move towards a more metal sound. I really did not like 'Nil Recurring'.

Not sure if it was this year, or the end of last year, the latest Underworld studio album 'Oblivion with Bells' was very patchy, a few good tracks, but some dreadful ones too. Their live releases, have been excellent though.

I have tried to listen to Radiohead a bit again this year, but they just leave me cold these days, although ten years ago I loved them.

One band raved about on various forums, especially the Peter Hammill/VDGG ones, is 'The Fall'. I jus don't get them, but I guess, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Jimmy Page, etc. are culpable for that.

I am starting to work through some of the suggestions of new artists to try from a thread I started asking about artists trying to move music forwards. Maybe I will find something inspiring through that.

This forum, and also a rare recordings website I frequent, are both excellent places to find music. I feel far better than radio, TV or the press.

Well I must admit I am the same with John Mayer. He just doesn't push my buttons.

Porcupine Tree I need to give a decent listen to.

The amount of obsessiveness for Pineapple Bush on the Forum made me feel as though i was missing something special. I am always keen to try something new and open my ears to music afresh. I have tried a few times and they just don't do it for me in any shape or form. In someways its good that we don't all like the same thing I guess.

Regards

Diccus

I had recently been thinking of posting a thank you to all contributers to this forum along similar lines to Huwge posting here.

This forum has over the years opened my ears to music I would not (nor could not)have found and for that my thanks. True not all have been great, to my ears anyway, but I have never came away thinking that my time was wasted in listening (well once or twice but I got over it)
Thank you all.
C.

quote:

Originally posted by Howlinhounddog:
I had recently been thinking of posting a thank you to all contributers to this forum along similar lines to Huwge posting here.

This forum has over the years opened my ears to music I would not (nor could not)have found and for that my thanks. True not all have been great, to my ears anyway, but I have never came away thinking that my time was wasted in listening (well once or twice but I got over it)
Thank you all.
C.

Couldn't agree more. What a pleasure to have a place to talk/learn about music or whatever. And with out alot of nonsense flaming (nod to the moderators) And back to topic - With regard to new music people are humming to, I must say I have not gotten in tune with (wincing in anticipation of vehement arguments to the counter..)



and I cant be bothered with

quote:

Originally posted by John M:

quote:

Originally posted by Howlinhounddog:
I had recently been thinking of posting a thank you to all contributers to this forum along similar lines to Huwge posting here.

This forum has over the years opened my ears to music I would not (nor could not)have found and for that my thanks. True not all have been great, to my ears anyway, but I have never came away thinking that my time was wasted in listening (well once or twice but I got over it)
Thank you all.
C.

Couldn't agree more. What a pleasure to have a place to talk/learn about music or whatever. And with out alot of nonsense flaming (nod to the moderators) And back to topic - With regard to new music people are humming to, I must say I have not gotten in tune with (wincing in anticipation of vehement arguments to the counter..)

[

and I cant be bothered with

I have to admit I have never listend to the John Legend album. I love my R&B and Hip-Hop but done like Kanye West, maybe that's why I have never listened to John Legend.
On Duffy - must be one of my favorite albums of the year.

Cheers ... Oliver

quote:

Fortunately, no disappointing classical purchases this year

Is that a good thing?
What does 'disappointing' mean?
Is being curious about music you've never heard worth risking 'disappointment'?
Just a few thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:

I have to admit I have never listend to the John Legend album. I love my R&B and Hip-Hop but done like Kanye West, maybe that's why I have never listened to John Legend.
On Duffy - must be one of my favorite albums of the year.

Cheers ... Oliver

Oliver -

I take your opinion of duffy quite seriously after having seen your prolific and eclectic "listening to" posts. Our tastes/tendencies tend to be very similar. If I am not mistaken, you have broad tastes and an open mind, like me. I am very interested to hear what you are hearing - please tell me what made Duffy's album special for you. I found her album cute at first, catchy. But then I saw her on Saturday Night Live and I was hugely disappointed. Other live viewings, same result. I wont go into my critical review, but it had to do with vocal range, tone and styling. Not to my taste, although female R&B/Soul singers are among my favorite of any genre. Not that it has to do with Duffy, seems I latch on to recordings, and then am knocked off them by live performances of same. Not that I want them to sound the same - I just want to see new facets of a performer through their live show, as opposed to being disappointed by their lack of chops or whatever. Because the studio magic can make so much out of people that have not enough, I never believe my ears any more.

Love Kanye for his creativity. With John Legend it is a matter of seeing him in person. He played a benefit I was involved in and really mailed in the performance, I guess. But it has put me off him since. I have respect, just no love.

So let me in on your Duffy world...I knew I might be alone in the cold out here

quote:

Originally posted by Jeremy Marchant:

quote:

Fortunately, no disappointing classical purchases this year

Is that a good thing?
What does 'disappointing' mean?
Is being curious about music you've never heard worth risking 'disappointment'?
Just a few thoughts.

Hi Jeremy,

from a purely budgetary perspective, yes, it is a good thing. Have to say that it is also unusual as there is normally at least one dog, but this year not.

Disappointment, to me, is unfulfilled expectation. I tend to buy music on the basis of prior familiarity (band, composer, artist), the occasional review that I get to read (online newspapers predominantly), personal recommendation or internet fora like this. Whilst I purchase more than the average punter I try not to be wanton and so there has to be a certain degree of filtration, but my biggest new pleasure has to be from Ethiopian "jazz," - Dub Colossus and Les Éthiopiques series. This was a bit of a punt and I can't remember what prompted it. From a classical perspective, there were few genuine punts this year as most of my purchases were based on some prior familiarity, but even soloists and orchestras can have off days.

I am intensely curious about music and drive my partner mad with my eclecticism, but tend to have very few discs that do not stand continued replay. This thread was prompted by my failure to "get" an artist and a band that seem to be very much enjoyed by people whose musical taste often crosses over with mine and where other prompts have resulted in successful new discoveries. I know that my liking of Dub Colossus was not entirely shared by some friends who generously purchase based on my recommendation. So, whilst I continue to risk disappointment I hope it remains in the < 1% of purchases.

Best,

Huw

quote:

Originally posted by John M:

So let me in on your Duffy world...I knew I might be alone in the cold out here

It's funny John, I didn't like her at first. My only listening was via a Tivoli radio alarm, but my partner was constantly singing along. So, to please her, I bought the CD. Listening on the main rig put a huge grin on my face as her accent is impossible to hide and just put a huge grin on my face. Seeing her video on the TV sealed the deal, I was 18 again and back in Cardiff. I do think that it is easy to pigeon-hole her in the Amy-lite box, but it's not a bad disc when all is said and done.

Sorry to hear that it does not translate live. Seeing Amy Winehouse earlier this year, as off her box as she was, made her albums pale into shadows. When she gets it right, wow!

Huw

Yeah Huw, I kind of avoided the whole Amy vs. Duffy thing, but now that you said it....

I always feel feeble minded when I find myself comparing artists hierarchically, Amy lite as you put it. I have my personal favorites, but I like to give everyone their own box. I totally get that she makes you smile, and I actually am going to try that the next time I listen to her...smile. Kind of the way I feel about the Beach Boys (Friends, Sunflower and 20/20 albums.)

Munch, that warble is part of what I am talking about. Bugs the $%*& out of me. But also just IMHO the lack of range and flexibility in her voice. But to be honest I am going to try a few more times. Especially since SWMBO and big sis cant get enough, I spose I better find a comfortable place to enjoy the girl.

I hope I get to see Amy Winehouse before she does something awful(er) to herself. I can not get over her, even when, as you say, she were off her box. Saw her acting like a paranoid crackhead on the tv, but she was still fantastic. And not just in a train wreck kind of way.

I can't get Winehouse annoying voice or Duffy all I can think of is Lulu. Kanye I lump in with many looks before performance types,does not hit any right spots for me.

quote:

Originally posted by John M:

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:

I have to admit I have never listend to the John Legend album. I love my R&B and Hip-Hop but done like Kanye West, maybe that's why I have never listened to John Legend.
On Duffy - must be one of my favorite albums of the year.

Cheers ... Oliver

Oliver -

I take your opinion of duffy quite seriously after having seen your prolific and eclectic "listening to" posts. Our tastes/tendencies tend to be very similar. If I am not mistaken, you have broad tastes and an open mind, like me. I am very interested to hear what you are hearing - please tell me what made Duffy's album special for you. I found her album cute at first, catchy. But then I saw her on Saturday Night Live and I was hugely disappointed. Other live viewings, same result. I wont go into my critical review, but it had to do with vocal range, tone and styling. Not to my taste, although female R&B/Soul singers are among my favorite of any genre. Not that it has to do with Duffy, seems I latch on to recordings, and then am knocked off them by live performances of same. Not that I want them to sound the same - I just want to see new facets of a performer through their live show, as opposed to being disappointed by their lack of chops or whatever. Because the studio magic can make so much out of people that have not enough, I never believe my ears any more.

Love Kanye for his creativity. With John Legend it is a matter of seeing him in person. He played a benefit I was involved in and really mailed in the performance, I guess. But it has put me off him since. I have respect, just no love.

So let me in on your Duffy world...I knew I might be alone in the cold out here

John,

many thanks for the kind words. I have not seen the SNL performance but it got quite a few bad reviews from folks I know - I still would like to see one of her performances live. When I first got her album I didn't expect much but was captivated from the first time I listened to the album. I'm kind of a sucker for everything on the soul side of life but what I liked specifically on this album was that lyrics, musical arrangement and her voice clicked for me from the first listening. Another point of importance to me is that I don't walk away from an album with just a song or two that I like but that I can play most of the album in one go and enjoy it. I think that tracks 1-5 on her album are outstanding.

Now, I do have to admit that I came a little late to Amy's party. In hindsight I can understand where Huw's Amy-lite comment is coming from. I recently bought the Deluxe Edition of Rockferry which was pretty much a waste of money and does feed the Amy-lite point even more, the tracks on the extra CD were week IMHO.

I will look forward to her second album to see if she can pull it off or will go down as a one album wonder. I'm routing for her.

Greetings from down under ... Oliver

On the John Mayer thing, I've got a few of his albums plus "Where the Light Is" concert on BluRay.

I think he's an awesome guitarist, got a great band, the live concert's beautifully recorded...

But his songs are all a little bit crap IMO.

quote:

I can't get Winehouse annoying voice or Duffy all I can think of is Lulu.

YEP, YEP, YEP.

quote:

On the John Mayer thing, I've got a few of his albums
But his songs are all a little bit crap IMO.

NO,NO,NO

But is'nt that the beauty of this place,