Thread to Rate Al***s Using Nick Lees Head as a Quality Index
Posted by: matthewr on 05 June 2003
It has occured that the admirable Nick Lees is the archtypal Music Room poster -- he has excellent taste, a huge record collection and perhaps most importantly bridges the gap between the 60s/70s classics/traditionalists and the sort of utlra-fashionable hipsters like myself who listen to impossibly cool records only available from an obscure record shop in Norway.
Therefore, and in an effort to reinvigorate our Music Room which we still do way better than the varuous other forums I would like to introduce a new standardised and highly objective system for rating albums by positioning a picture of Nick on a special designed rating thermometer. And then optionally adding a suitable summary comment for quoting on one of those annoying stickers that record companies like to put on the front of CD cases.
e.g.
"Destined to be bought by the bass players Mum, people who shop while drunk and Mick Parry"
"these people should be boiled in oil for making this"
"for dedicated fans and completists only"
"... monumental... a staggering achievement"
"... an instant classic and potential Album of the Year"
To this end I present a brief review of one of my favourite discs this year:
Matthew
Therefore, and in an effort to reinvigorate our Music Room which we still do way better than the varuous other forums I would like to introduce a new standardised and highly objective system for rating albums by positioning a picture of Nick on a special designed rating thermometer. And then optionally adding a suitable summary comment for quoting on one of those annoying stickers that record companies like to put on the front of CD cases.
e.g.
"Destined to be bought by the bass players Mum, people who shop while drunk and Mick Parry"
"these people should be boiled in oil for making this"
"for dedicated fans and completists only"
"... monumental... a staggering achievement"
"... an instant classic and potential Album of the Year"
To this end I present a brief review of one of my favourite discs this year:
Matthew
Amateur Dramatics - Scarred For Life EP
Legs and Mr Cooper are part of the Mechanical Insects collective, from which recent Kid Acne collaborator and Warp artist, Req, stands out as the biggest name. Legs runs the Infinte Records shop in Brighton, and Mr Cooper is a much in demand producer (he is also in Mummy Fortuna's Theatre Company), despite the fact he's still at uni. Legs describes this release as the least experimental thing he's done. Well, it's not hard work, if that is what he means. The production is lush, and the rhymes flow, with Legs keeping his delivery at an intelligible speed, keeping the vocal gymnastics dialled back a notch. For me, the stand out track is 'no one pays attention', but there's not a weak one here. It's been described elsewhere as 'essential'. I agree. It's a vinyl only release, and unfortunately, it might be hard to track down. Infinite Records are on 01273 689853, I have an idea that it's the only place you can get it.
Fresh avant-hop from Brighton.
Legs and Mr Cooper are part of the Mechanical Insects collective, from which recent Kid Acne collaborator and Warp artist, Req, stands out as the biggest name. Legs runs the Infinte Records shop in Brighton, and Mr Cooper is a much in demand producer (he is also in Mummy Fortuna's Theatre Company), despite the fact he's still at uni. Legs describes this release as the least experimental thing he's done. Well, it's not hard work, if that is what he means. The production is lush, and the rhymes flow, with Legs keeping his delivery at an intelligible speed, keeping the vocal gymnastics dialled back a notch. For me, the stand out track is 'no one pays attention', but there's not a weak one here. It's been described elsewhere as 'essential'. I agree. It's a vinyl only release, and unfortunately, it might be hard to track down. Infinite Records are on 01273 689853, I have an idea that it's the only place you can get it.
Fresh avant-hop from Brighton.
Constantines: Shine a Light
Been scratching my head over this, which has been critically acclaimed by our friends at Pitchfork as a "painfully simple reconstruction of all the music that's ever really Mattered." That I don't get. It's raw, yes. But it won't really hold a candle to recent McClusky or Giddy Motors releases. Heartfelt too, but in a way that's uncomfortably close to a weary imitation of Springsteen (the singer's voice comes in somewhere between a gruff Springsteen and Jim Morrison). Songs such as the title track start off well and then fall flat, all the while apparently oblivious to the tired lyrics (Chorus: "you shine a light, a light on me"
).
Frankly there are only about three good songs on this album.
Keep your expectations low and you'll be happier
Been scratching my head over this, which has been critically acclaimed by our friends at Pitchfork as a "painfully simple reconstruction of all the music that's ever really Mattered." That I don't get. It's raw, yes. But it won't really hold a candle to recent McClusky or Giddy Motors releases. Heartfelt too, but in a way that's uncomfortably close to a weary imitation of Springsteen (the singer's voice comes in somewhere between a gruff Springsteen and Jim Morrison). Songs such as the title track start off well and then fall flat, all the while apparently oblivious to the tired lyrics (Chorus: "you shine a light, a light on me"
). Frankly there are only about three good songs on this album.
Keep your expectations low and you'll be happier
Swans: Children of God/World of Skin (double CD)
This is another re-release (remastered) of Children of God, which has been in and out of print for years -- it's now back in, obviously (what little I had of them has been on cassette until now). The World of Skin part consists of band members' Jarboe and Gira's "Skin" side-project of the mid-late 80's (sort of the Swans' Ciccone Youth).
There are so many lines of influence leading into and radiating out of these albums that it's become almost impossible to trace. Although said to have been an influence on Sonic Youth, that connection is actually the hardest to see, with only a couple of songs -- most notably Beautiful Child -- sounding anything like SY did in the '80s. Certainly the most obvious influence, at least in retrospect, is Joy Division. This is especially clear on the World of Skin CD. Unexpectedly, with 20/20 hindsight, an album that winds up strangely akin to Children of God at times is The Mekons Rock and Roll.
Anyway, I can't believe I haven't listened to this stuff for so long. The whole bizzare Jesus-obsession in Children of God remains both funny and spine-tinglingly creepy. The earnestness of the album, apparently regarded as campy in '87, has held up well and seems entirely on the mark. World of Skin is weaker but still entirely listenable, with Jarboe's exceptionally powerful voice rising eerily above Gira's chanting, all interspersed with sudden atonal vocal overdubs and industrial beats.
Very much worth (re-)discovering
This is another re-release (remastered) of Children of God, which has been in and out of print for years -- it's now back in, obviously (what little I had of them has been on cassette until now). The World of Skin part consists of band members' Jarboe and Gira's "Skin" side-project of the mid-late 80's (sort of the Swans' Ciccone Youth).
There are so many lines of influence leading into and radiating out of these albums that it's become almost impossible to trace. Although said to have been an influence on Sonic Youth, that connection is actually the hardest to see, with only a couple of songs -- most notably Beautiful Child -- sounding anything like SY did in the '80s. Certainly the most obvious influence, at least in retrospect, is Joy Division. This is especially clear on the World of Skin CD. Unexpectedly, with 20/20 hindsight, an album that winds up strangely akin to Children of God at times is The Mekons Rock and Roll.
Anyway, I can't believe I haven't listened to this stuff for so long. The whole bizzare Jesus-obsession in Children of God remains both funny and spine-tinglingly creepy. The earnestness of the album, apparently regarded as campy in '87, has held up well and seems entirely on the mark. World of Skin is weaker but still entirely listenable, with Jarboe's exceptionally powerful voice rising eerily above Gira's chanting, all interspersed with sudden atonal vocal overdubs and industrial beats.
Very much worth (re-)discovering
Last season when West Ham's defence was in turmoil there was a phase where a seemingly endless series of players were rotated at centre half on the basis that the longer it was since one of them had played the less fresh their mediocrity was in one's memory and so the more likely they were to be picked. I noted at the time that one might therefore regard them as a single player known as BreenDaillyPearce.
Playing my latest batch of purchases acquired using the "albums rated over 7.5 by Pitchfork that sound like my sort of thing" heuristic and the generally (Constantines notwithstanding) reliable Best New Music List it occured to me that you could make much the same argument for US Indie Pop/Rock. There is an awful lot of it anyway and what there is so often much of a muchness that's its difficult to get too excited about it. The following albums fall mostly into this category but as I this is basically the music I enjoy I still think they are worthy of note. You should probably shade the scores by at least a point if you are not an unreconstructed indie kid like myself.
TV on the Radio -- "Young Liars"
Apparently TVotR are the great new hopes of US Indie and this debut EP is certainly a fine start. Although there is some interesting production and some synthy lines that nicely chug along and the like to spice up what is otherwise straightforward rock/pop tunes the thing that really jumps out is the guy’s voice. Its not only interesting and technically pretty good (relatively speaking) it’s the first time I’ve heard what can best be described as a “gospel croon” on an indie pop record. It’s most noticeable on the final track which is an a copella version of Mr Greaves (as in the Pixies song) where he sings all three parts of a three part harmony.
Review
"If Jimmy Swaggert’s choir leader went all Indie and formed a band"
Steve Burns – “Songs for Dustmites “
Apparently Steve Burns is the sort of kids TV presenter who makes this an impossible listen if you are even vaguely aware of what he is like. In which case I reckon you avoid it as this is not bad at all. Basically a collection of absolutely straight down the line inidie pop songs breathed on with some classy production and fab drumming by two blokes from the Flaming Lips. Doesn’t quite live up to the fantastic opening track and there is an element of annoying naffness about it that puts one off but I keep playing it.
Review
"Ostensibly unremarkable album that has become something of a guilty pleasure against my better judgement"
Broken Social Scene – “You Forgot is In People”
I was blown away by this (when it finally arrived – it proved quite hard to track down for a while) although I played it to a mate and he was distinctly underwhelmed on a first listen and it took about three runs trough for him to be converted.
Anyway, Broken Social Scene are from Toronto, they have more members than Lambchop and having all been in various inpenetrable obscurest Indie outfits that sold a miserable 2000 copies of each carefully wrought album they got together to make an album of sing-a-long anthemic indie pop that will probably sell about 2000 copies. Like the TV on the Radio it has enough variety and inventiveness to avoid being just another indie-pop record and its above all hugely enjoyable and packed with tunes and stadium sized riffs. It takes some odd leftfield turns at times but where these are not that successful (the lounge jazz rock + reverb drenched surf guitar of “Pacific Theme”) is easily outweighed by the good stuff (the fab pseudo J-Pop of in “Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl”). I even forgive them the stupid Pavement but without the irony style track naming of the completely riff-tastic “Cause = Time”.
They play the ICA in London on October 9th (Tickets from www.wayahead.com).
Review
"A perfect blend of indie-pop with a hint of arthouse muso wankery"
Earlimart – “Everyone Down Here”
A fine example of the essentially unremarkable but fantastically catchy indie pop album.
Borders on the formulaic (its basically a whole album’s worth of Broken Social Scene’s “Stars and Songs”) but worth it for sing-a-long three chord trick wonders of “Burning the Cow” alone.
Review
"Hide it inside your Kid A jewel case so you don’t get busted by the Muso Police"
Bardo Pond – On the Eclipse
Doesn’t really fit with the others here and its been mentioned before on the fourm. Its the best version of their drones + soundtracky atmostpherics + reflective vocals and, erm, flute to date.
Review
"Mogwai with Flute. So sort of Post Rock Jethro Tull then"
Matthew
PS Regulars will note improvements to the ISO Standard Interweb album rating system with transparent backgrounds and the long awaited “decimal Nicks” for more accureate scores.
Use like this but with square brackets instead of curly:
{IMG}http://comedylimp.com/images/nick4.gif{/IMG}
{IMG}http://comedylimp.com/images/half.gif{/IMG}
{b}"Pithy Quote"{/b}
[This message was edited by Matthew Robinson on SUNDAY 07 September 2003 at 12:28.]
Playing my latest batch of purchases acquired using the "albums rated over 7.5 by Pitchfork that sound like my sort of thing" heuristic and the generally (Constantines notwithstanding) reliable Best New Music List it occured to me that you could make much the same argument for US Indie Pop/Rock. There is an awful lot of it anyway and what there is so often much of a muchness that's its difficult to get too excited about it. The following albums fall mostly into this category but as I this is basically the music I enjoy I still think they are worthy of note. You should probably shade the scores by at least a point if you are not an unreconstructed indie kid like myself.
TV on the Radio -- "Young Liars"
Apparently TVotR are the great new hopes of US Indie and this debut EP is certainly a fine start. Although there is some interesting production and some synthy lines that nicely chug along and the like to spice up what is otherwise straightforward rock/pop tunes the thing that really jumps out is the guy’s voice. Its not only interesting and technically pretty good (relatively speaking) it’s the first time I’ve heard what can best be described as a “gospel croon” on an indie pop record. It’s most noticeable on the final track which is an a copella version of Mr Greaves (as in the Pixies song) where he sings all three parts of a three part harmony.
Review
"If Jimmy Swaggert’s choir leader went all Indie and formed a band"
Steve Burns – “Songs for Dustmites “
Apparently Steve Burns is the sort of kids TV presenter who makes this an impossible listen if you are even vaguely aware of what he is like. In which case I reckon you avoid it as this is not bad at all. Basically a collection of absolutely straight down the line inidie pop songs breathed on with some classy production and fab drumming by two blokes from the Flaming Lips. Doesn’t quite live up to the fantastic opening track and there is an element of annoying naffness about it that puts one off but I keep playing it.
Review
"Ostensibly unremarkable album that has become something of a guilty pleasure against my better judgement"
Broken Social Scene – “You Forgot is In People”
I was blown away by this (when it finally arrived – it proved quite hard to track down for a while) although I played it to a mate and he was distinctly underwhelmed on a first listen and it took about three runs trough for him to be converted.
Anyway, Broken Social Scene are from Toronto, they have more members than Lambchop and having all been in various inpenetrable obscurest Indie outfits that sold a miserable 2000 copies of each carefully wrought album they got together to make an album of sing-a-long anthemic indie pop that will probably sell about 2000 copies. Like the TV on the Radio it has enough variety and inventiveness to avoid being just another indie-pop record and its above all hugely enjoyable and packed with tunes and stadium sized riffs. It takes some odd leftfield turns at times but where these are not that successful (the lounge jazz rock + reverb drenched surf guitar of “Pacific Theme”) is easily outweighed by the good stuff (the fab pseudo J-Pop of in “Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl”). I even forgive them the stupid Pavement but without the irony style track naming of the completely riff-tastic “Cause = Time”.
They play the ICA in London on October 9th (Tickets from www.wayahead.com).
Review
"A perfect blend of indie-pop with a hint of arthouse muso wankery"
Earlimart – “Everyone Down Here”
A fine example of the essentially unremarkable but fantastically catchy indie pop album.
Borders on the formulaic (its basically a whole album’s worth of Broken Social Scene’s “Stars and Songs”) but worth it for sing-a-long three chord trick wonders of “Burning the Cow” alone.
Review
"Hide it inside your Kid A jewel case so you don’t get busted by the Muso Police"
Bardo Pond – On the Eclipse
Doesn’t really fit with the others here and its been mentioned before on the fourm. Its the best version of their drones + soundtracky atmostpherics + reflective vocals and, erm, flute to date.
Review
"Mogwai with Flute. So sort of Post Rock Jethro Tull then"
Matthew
PS Regulars will note improvements to the ISO Standard Interweb album rating system with transparent backgrounds and the long awaited “decimal Nicks” for more accureate scores.
Use like this but with square brackets instead of curly:
{IMG}http://comedylimp.com/images/nick4.gif{/IMG}
{IMG}http://comedylimp.com/images/half.gif{/IMG}
{b}"Pithy Quote"{/b}
[This message was edited by Matthew Robinson on SUNDAY 07 September 2003 at 12:28.]
Sixtoo - Antagonist Survival Kit
Boomkat have tipped this as potential hip hop release of the year. That is premature in my book, given we are awaiting releases from the Non-Prophets, Buck 65, cLOUDDEAD, and Aesop Rock, but I'd definitely take Outremont Main Line Runs Across The Sunset as one of the most interesting singles of the year (that realplayer version doesn't do it any justice, obviously). For sure Sixtoo's flows are some of the most twisted I've heard in the last twelve months, some distance from underground hip hop's usual suspects, and miles from the occasionally hyperspeed style of Sole, for instance. Sixtoo's delivery is more about shifting cadence, and his timing is perfect. However, if you prefer, Vertical Form have also released an cut price instrumental version, which I'd imagine anyone with even the vaguest interest in sparse downtempo beats would enjoy.
Lovingly crafted, sparse, emotive hip hop
Boomkat have tipped this as potential hip hop release of the year. That is premature in my book, given we are awaiting releases from the Non-Prophets, Buck 65, cLOUDDEAD, and Aesop Rock, but I'd definitely take Outremont Main Line Runs Across The Sunset as one of the most interesting singles of the year (that realplayer version doesn't do it any justice, obviously). For sure Sixtoo's flows are some of the most twisted I've heard in the last twelve months, some distance from underground hip hop's usual suspects, and miles from the occasionally hyperspeed style of Sole, for instance. Sixtoo's delivery is more about shifting cadence, and his timing is perfect. However, if you prefer, Vertical Form have also released an cut price instrumental version, which I'd imagine anyone with even the vaguest interest in sparse downtempo beats would enjoy.
Lovingly crafted, sparse, emotive hip hop
A whole bunch of recent releases all deserving of the highest praise:
"Charlie Sings Nick Drake" - Charlie Drake
"On Motherfucker's Doorstep" - Mancs With Attitude
"Crunchy the Donkey Brays Elgar" - Crunchy the Donkey
"And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Bread..." - The Ducks
"Jack Charlton Reads the Book of Job" - Jack Charlton
"Salute the Chemists Rota" - Crass
"Sing Something Sampled" - The Comical Brothers
If you like the sound of these then you should go here
Matthew
"Charlie Sings Nick Drake" - Charlie Drake
"On Motherfucker's Doorstep" - Mancs With Attitude
"Crunchy the Donkey Brays Elgar" - Crunchy the Donkey
"And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Bread..." - The Ducks
"Jack Charlton Reads the Book of Job" - Jack Charlton
"Salute the Chemists Rota" - Crass
"Sing Something Sampled" - The Comical Brothers
If you like the sound of these then you should go here
Matthew
Beulah: Yoko
Is it possible to dislike an album without being able to point to anything that's wrong with it?
Impressed (if only mildly) by this band's 2001 "The Coast is Never Clear", I tried this, Beulah's latest effort. Every song is nice. careful, polished. Listening is a bit like eating cheap chocolate; this bite tastes ok, this next bite tastes ok, this next bite tastes ok, .... I feel sick.
I'll probably regret this after another listen, but:
Best consumed with an antiacid
Is it possible to dislike an album without being able to point to anything that's wrong with it?
Impressed (if only mildly) by this band's 2001 "The Coast is Never Clear", I tried this, Beulah's latest effort. Every song is nice. careful, polished. Listening is a bit like eating cheap chocolate; this bite tastes ok, this next bite tastes ok, this next bite tastes ok, .... I feel sick.
I'll probably regret this after another listen, but:
Best consumed with an antiacid
A Trillion Barnacle Lapse: Black Lava
A rare album that made me think of Gang of Four on the first listen (that's supposed to be a compliment, and no, it's not because I think the band name is equally clever). The vocalist's detached monotone is about the only thing holding together a synth-poppy beat and noisy, sometimes crunchy guitars. It's weird and fun, but...
Each time I've listened to the whole thing I'm glad it's over. For all of the complexity of the music, there's something monotonous and fatiguing about the album. Maybe too much of a good thing?
How do you guys get the nickhead thing to wiggle between two values? Anyway:
side one:
side two:
A rare album that made me think of Gang of Four on the first listen (that's supposed to be a compliment, and no, it's not because I think the band name is equally clever). The vocalist's detached monotone is about the only thing holding together a synth-poppy beat and noisy, sometimes crunchy guitars. It's weird and fun, but...
Each time I've listened to the whole thing I'm glad it's over. For all of the complexity of the music, there's something monotonous and fatiguing about the album. Maybe too much of a good thing?
How do you guys get the nickhead thing to wiggle between two values? Anyway:
side one:
side two:
Enon: Hocus-Pocus
I'm a big fan of the first two Enon albums, especially "Believo!", which I can't help but hear as a cruel and twisted but very catchy parody of 80's new-wave (a la Brainiac).
This album doesn't sound much like that Enon. It sounds a lot like Blonde Redhead; or maybe Blonde Redhead on barbituates. There are none of the ripping rockers of either Believo or High Society.
On the low side of:
Laid back, but in a rather boring way
I'm a big fan of the first two Enon albums, especially "Believo!", which I can't help but hear as a cruel and twisted but very catchy parody of 80's new-wave (a la Brainiac).
This album doesn't sound much like that Enon. It sounds a lot like Blonde Redhead; or maybe Blonde Redhead on barbituates. There are none of the ripping rockers of either Believo or High Society.
On the low side of:
Laid back, but in a rather boring way
With a name like that and your metric being a hairy male ass (I think), I'd expect a review of The Hidden Cameras. 
quote:Is that a gay thing? Well, my name really is Walter which is the same as the nerdy lad in the British Dennis The Menace comic strip, who was also known as The Prince Of Softies.
Originally posted by Ludwig:
With a name like that and your metric being a hairy male ass (I think), I'd expect a review of The Hidden Cameras.
As for the bottom thing, my wife spotted the thread and asked what that strange thing was on the screen (Mr Lees's head - sorry), so I let her choose a different strange thing to put on the meter.
I hasten to add that it's not my bottom. As my dear old Nan once said "Put that thing away sonny, before I stick a daffodil in it." It was several years before I saw the relevant Carry On movie and I understood what this was a reference to.
Been awhile since I have posted, but here goes.
Surprised this has not been reviewed yet. Not even on pitchfork.
Mojave 3 - Spoon and Rafter
I was taken with the first song, Bluebird of Happiness, right off the bat. Thought it was 2 songs at first until the intro came back as the outro, errr, or something like that. 9:15 is quite the achievement. The rest of the album is quite good also. Warm sounding and tinged with sadness. There are interesting bells and odd noises ala Wilco/Mercury Rev that sets this apart from other Mojave 3 records for me. I do believe it is a new favorite of mine from these folks. The vinyl is not yet available here in the states, but from the quality of the cd, I can only imagine how great it will sound.
Surprised this has not been reviewed yet. Not even on pitchfork.
Mojave 3 - Spoon and Rafter
I was taken with the first song, Bluebird of Happiness, right off the bat. Thought it was 2 songs at first until the intro came back as the outro, errr, or something like that. 9:15 is quite the achievement. The rest of the album is quite good also. Warm sounding and tinged with sadness. There are interesting bells and odd noises ala Wilco/Mercury Rev that sets this apart from other Mojave 3 records for me. I do believe it is a new favorite of mine from these folks. The vinyl is not yet available here in the states, but from the quality of the cd, I can only imagine how great it will sound.
quote:
1st song is worth the price of admission alone
Alex
What you've just described as a daydream is actually a tampon advertisment.
Ludders (who doesn't own baggy sweaters or brown corduroys)
What you've just described as a daydream is actually a tampon advertisment.
Ludders (who doesn't own baggy sweaters or brown corduroys)
90 Day Men: To Everybody
I bought this several months ago (it's an '02 release). After a long gestation period it's been gradually moving into heavy rotation at home and I'm really starting to enjoy it. I found myself wanting to play it more after repeatedly finding the tunes in my head.
90 Day Men is basically a rock band, but with a lot of piano; many of the songs revolve around piano melodies. The structure of the music is very open, the beats are spare but the timings are complex. It rythmically almost reminds me of free-jazz, although unlike free jazz there is not much in the way of dissonance.
One vocalist sounds a lot like the guy from Arab Strap. The other is harder to place -- the only person I can think of that he's close to is Robert Plant. Their duets are initially odd sounding, as you might imagine, yet begin to work on you over time.
Really a fine and most unconventional effort:
Induction on past experience says this could climb higher.
I bought this several months ago (it's an '02 release). After a long gestation period it's been gradually moving into heavy rotation at home and I'm really starting to enjoy it. I found myself wanting to play it more after repeatedly finding the tunes in my head.
90 Day Men is basically a rock band, but with a lot of piano; many of the songs revolve around piano melodies. The structure of the music is very open, the beats are spare but the timings are complex. It rythmically almost reminds me of free-jazz, although unlike free jazz there is not much in the way of dissonance.
One vocalist sounds a lot like the guy from Arab Strap. The other is harder to place -- the only person I can think of that he's close to is Robert Plant. Their duets are initially odd sounding, as you might imagine, yet begin to work on you over time.
Really a fine and most unconventional effort:
Induction on past experience says this could climb higher.
Viktor Vaughn Vaudeville Villain (Sound Ink)
Compared to the King Geedorah album, this one's lyrics are much more loosey-goosey and freestyle sounding. Some of the stuff MF Doom comes up with will certainly make you chuckle- mention of knucklef*cks, Peter Parker, karate class, the NASDAQ, etc. The backdrop is much less elevator jazz-ish than his King Geedorah album, and a bit more aggressive. As always the beats are solid and there are plenty of goofy VCR samples. While most of it is very good, the track based on Salt N Pepa's "Supersonic" should've been left out. There are a few other low points, but overall:
Hip-hop consciousness flowing down a twisty path. A masterful madman strikes back with a solid effort.
Peace be with ya. I'm out.
Compared to the King Geedorah album, this one's lyrics are much more loosey-goosey and freestyle sounding. Some of the stuff MF Doom comes up with will certainly make you chuckle- mention of knucklef*cks, Peter Parker, karate class, the NASDAQ, etc. The backdrop is much less elevator jazz-ish than his King Geedorah album, and a bit more aggressive. As always the beats are solid and there are plenty of goofy VCR samples. While most of it is very good, the track based on Salt N Pepa's "Supersonic" should've been left out. There are a few other low points, but overall:
Hip-hop consciousness flowing down a twisty path. A masterful madman strikes back with a solid effort.
Peace be with ya. I'm out.
Lee Fields Problems (Soul Fire)
I've had several repeated listens to this since it arrived by mail. This album is real nice gritty funk, luckily produced before any polish was applied. And to say it's 100% straight-up funk would be misleading- Fields and cronies add in some African funk percussion a la spanking drums and bongos by hand, some effects on Fields' voice, and a soulful crooning track. Of course, there's guitar tinkering reminiscent of CHiPs chase scenes and a sprinkling "Uhhhhh! Ha! Heyyyyyy!" kinda stuff.
I like it: 4.625 Nh +/- 0.125
Gritty funktified fun that will transform your sofa to the bench seat of a '70 Buick, cruising the streets of Detroit for chicks on a hot summer night.
PS- Buyer beware... I ordered this from Soul Fire's website August 26th and just received it.
[This message was edited by Ludwig on TUESDAY 28 October 2003 at 21:10.]
I've had several repeated listens to this since it arrived by mail. This album is real nice gritty funk, luckily produced before any polish was applied. And to say it's 100% straight-up funk would be misleading- Fields and cronies add in some African funk percussion a la spanking drums and bongos by hand, some effects on Fields' voice, and a soulful crooning track. Of course, there's guitar tinkering reminiscent of CHiPs chase scenes and a sprinkling "Uhhhhh! Ha! Heyyyyyy!" kinda stuff.
I like it: 4.625 Nh +/- 0.125
Gritty funktified fun that will transform your sofa to the bench seat of a '70 Buick, cruising the streets of Detroit for chicks on a hot summer night.
PS- Buyer beware... I ordered this from Soul Fire's website August 26th and just received it.
[This message was edited by Ludwig on TUESDAY 28 October 2003 at 21:10.]
Non-Prophets - Hope
This is the debut album of Sage Francis' & Joe Beats' collaboration project. Sage's debut is one of my favourite hip hop albums full stop, so this has a tough act to follow. The rest of this post comes off a little negative, so to counteract that, I'll say now, this is a 5-head release. Anyway...
Where Personal Journals was intimate, and listening was a voyeuristic experience, where you weren't sure if you should be hearing such things over a hip hop beat, Hope is confident and straightforward. On his debut, you were sure he meant it, but less sure he should tell you about it, now he is telling it, but it's less clear he means it. Still, he hasn't gone Nelly by any stretch. This album achieves all its goals, it's just that its goals are a little less lofty than the Sage's first album. This is a straight up hip hop album, with first rate production and top shelf wordplay. It's just that Personal Journals was all about the content, and despite it's disjointed sound, it was something very special. Hope is crafted, it sits together well, and their skills are on display. I should adore this album, but the greatness of Personal Journals is stopping me from embracing it fully. Still, it took me the better part of a year to get to grips with his debut, so maybe I need to give it more time.
All that said, it is a great album. It's definitely the best hip hop album of the year so far, and as such...
Artisan-built rhymes and beats
This is the debut album of Sage Francis' & Joe Beats' collaboration project. Sage's debut is one of my favourite hip hop albums full stop, so this has a tough act to follow. The rest of this post comes off a little negative, so to counteract that, I'll say now, this is a 5-head release. Anyway...
Where Personal Journals was intimate, and listening was a voyeuristic experience, where you weren't sure if you should be hearing such things over a hip hop beat, Hope is confident and straightforward. On his debut, you were sure he meant it, but less sure he should tell you about it, now he is telling it, but it's less clear he means it. Still, he hasn't gone Nelly by any stretch. This album achieves all its goals, it's just that its goals are a little less lofty than the Sage's first album. This is a straight up hip hop album, with first rate production and top shelf wordplay. It's just that Personal Journals was all about the content, and despite it's disjointed sound, it was something very special. Hope is crafted, it sits together well, and their skills are on display. I should adore this album, but the greatness of Personal Journals is stopping me from embracing it fully. Still, it took me the better part of a year to get to grips with his debut, so maybe I need to give it more time.
All that said, it is a great album. It's definitely the best hip hop album of the year so far, and as such...
Artisan-built rhymes and beats
Death Cab for Cutie: Transatlanticism
I like it in spite of myself.
This album won't win any prizes for innovation; the sound here had pretty much been covered by Quasi circa 1998 (or Galaxie 500 circa '89, for that matter). Song structure is simple to the point of being simplistic; the title track, for instance, lumbers along with a predictability that stays just this side of tiresome. All of which is rather odd given the DIntel and Dismemberment Plan influences that apparently went into this.
Still, it's on the high-side of:
I like it in spite of myself
I like it in spite of myself.
This album won't win any prizes for innovation; the sound here had pretty much been covered by Quasi circa 1998 (or Galaxie 500 circa '89, for that matter). Song structure is simple to the point of being simplistic; the title track, for instance, lumbers along with a predictability that stays just this side of tiresome. All of which is rather odd given the DIntel and Dismemberment Plan influences that apparently went into this.
Still, it's on the high-side of:
I like it in spite of myself
Madlib Blunted In The Bomb Shelter (Antidote/Trojan)
I had high hopes for this one given Madlib's genius on other projects. The album in comprised of 45 solid tracks picked from Trojan's catalog of legendary Jamaican tunes by Madlib, then remixed. The problem is that they're woven together somewhat loosely, and Madlib and crew couldn't avoid throwing in scratches, cuts, and lame production effects where they weren't needed. This album is at its best when you get a run of 3-4 continuous tracks without any of the mentioned "tricks".
Decent if you're in the mood. Great tracks, but ignore what's between or thrown atop them.
[This message was edited by Ludwig on FRIDAY 14 November 2003 at 21:02.]
I had high hopes for this one given Madlib's genius on other projects. The album in comprised of 45 solid tracks picked from Trojan's catalog of legendary Jamaican tunes by Madlib, then remixed. The problem is that they're woven together somewhat loosely, and Madlib and crew couldn't avoid throwing in scratches, cuts, and lame production effects where they weren't needed. This album is at its best when you get a run of 3-4 continuous tracks without any of the mentioned "tricks".
Decent if you're in the mood. Great tracks, but ignore what's between or thrown atop them.
[This message was edited by Ludwig on FRIDAY 14 November 2003 at 21:02.]