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
That's okay- I forgive you. 
Have you picked up the Fiery Furnaces album? Local radio has been playing it the past several weeks and it sounds like a winner.
Have you picked up the Fiery Furnaces album? Local radio has been playing it the past several weeks and it sounds like a winner.
Vast Aire - Look Mom...No Hands
The word on this has been mixed, falling somwhere between 'lyrics that go beyond being intelligent to becoming unintelligible' to 'content, braggadocio, observations and word play...clever, and seldom babbling'. Certainly, this isn't an easy album to dip into. It's packed full of tweaked flow and busted up cadences; my golden-age loving better half won't stay in the same room as it. RDJ2 and Madlib are among the names on the production credits, and I guess it's in that list that the problems lies. The homogeneity of El-P's production gave Cold Vein claustrophobic sound. Look Mom is blurred in comparison. Lastly, MF Doom. Why would you give him a guest spot on your album? You know he is only going to put the hurt of you, and he does, with his delivery on 'Da Superfriendz' coming across as effortless.
More than a 3Nh, but not quite a...
Bigg Jus - Black Mamba Serums V2.0
Bigg Jus was one third of Company Flow, so we should pay attention, right? Well, NMS - Woe to thee o land whose king is a child, his last release with Orko Elohiem, was in my Top 5 of 2003, but criminally ignored by most everyone else. The press on this one seems to concentrate on the back story; this album has an odd genesis, with some material dating back to 2001. Whatever, this album never sounds less than boxfresh, with not a sound coming across as dated. More than that, the calibre of the verbal gymnastics is matched by soul and anger; this album isn't just showboating his technical wizardry. It resembles Mike Ladd and and Saul Williams in emotional tone. It's the most human messed up out there hip hop that's nowhere near not-hip hop.
Hefty
[This message was edited by Mekon on Tue 10 August 2004 at 10:11.]
Drive-By Truckers The Dirty South (New West, 2004)
The Truckers are finally getting props for their own brand of Southern rock and painting the blue collar South old and new for the listener (they're from Alabama). This album retains key elements of the Truckers' sound- 3 guitarists sharing vocals duties (one nicknamed "The Ace Stroker"; better he than I), and a capable rhythm section. And of course the simple but effective storytelling:
"Another Joker in the White House, said a change was comin' round
But I'm still workin' at the Wal-Mart and Mary Alice, in the ground
And all them politicians, they all lyin' sacks of shit
They say better days upon us but I'm sucking left hind tit"
&
"It's been a while since I put on a suit of my own clothes
And even longer since I cast my shadow on a church house door
They say every sin is deadly but I believe they may be wrong
I'm guilty of all seven and I don't feel too bad at all"
I prefer this one over last year's "Decoration Day" for its darker more devilish tone in places. Also, there are moments of bitterness, nostalgia, sadness, beauty, and liquored-up foot-stomping that add up to a great ride from start to finish.
Just a notch or two below 5 Nh:
A thoroughly enjoyable guitar-driven journey through the backwaters and byways of the (dirty) South. Sure to be in my EOY Top 5.
Reviews by people who know what they're torquin' bout here and here.
PS- See them live if you can. They'll blow you away.
The Truckers are finally getting props for their own brand of Southern rock and painting the blue collar South old and new for the listener (they're from Alabama). This album retains key elements of the Truckers' sound- 3 guitarists sharing vocals duties (one nicknamed "The Ace Stroker"; better he than I), and a capable rhythm section. And of course the simple but effective storytelling:
"Another Joker in the White House, said a change was comin' round
But I'm still workin' at the Wal-Mart and Mary Alice, in the ground
And all them politicians, they all lyin' sacks of shit
They say better days upon us but I'm sucking left hind tit"
&
"It's been a while since I put on a suit of my own clothes
And even longer since I cast my shadow on a church house door
They say every sin is deadly but I believe they may be wrong
I'm guilty of all seven and I don't feel too bad at all"
I prefer this one over last year's "Decoration Day" for its darker more devilish tone in places. Also, there are moments of bitterness, nostalgia, sadness, beauty, and liquored-up foot-stomping that add up to a great ride from start to finish.
Just a notch or two below 5 Nh:
A thoroughly enjoyable guitar-driven journey through the backwaters and byways of the (dirty) South. Sure to be in my EOY Top 5.
Reviews by people who know what they're torquin' bout here and here.
PS- See them live if you can. They'll blow you away.
Since I'm geeking out on linking to pics on my amateur website, here's a pic of the Drive-By Truckers:
Bumbershoot 2004, Seattle Center
Bumbershoot 2004, Seattle Center
Giant Sand - "Giant Sand is All Over the Map"
Giant Sand, and Howe Gelbs as a solo artist, are one of those bands who you kind of figure everyone who is likely to like them will somehow find them through some sort of musical gravity. Still if you don't know them, they are basically a very solid bunch of musicians who play slightly quirky but always solid songs a variety of rootsy American styles (folk, jazz, C&W, blues, etc) and have a borderline mentalist singer. The new album is a typically quality outing and well worth the asking IMHO.
I am sure Ludwig will like these -- but then I guess he probably knows them anyway.
Some MP3s here which, although not from the new album, should give you an idea.
Pitchfork Review
Kind of like if Calexico got pissed
Max Richter - "The Blue Notebooks"
If they gave awards for pretentiousness, then how about an album of minimalist contempoary classical music with added glitchy Electronica and and plummy voiced English actress reading extracts from Kafka?
That aside this is really good if one is in the right mood -- a mood that can be readily achieved either by (presumably) enormous intellect or, for us mere mortals, some mild abuse of prescription analgesics.
See http://maxrichter.com/ for some samples and more info.
Pitchfork Review
Imagine Michael Nyman remixed by Low
Devendra Banhart Nino Rojo (Young God, 2004)
More of the same genius that made his prior '04 release "Rejoicing In The Hands" so enjoyable, except it's a bit samey because it's the follow up (huh?). But Banhart keeps his folky mental in-patient singing and plucking pruned with fine lyrics like:
"Little white monkey, staring at the sand,
Well maybe that monkey figured out something I couldn't understand...
Who knows?"
Approximately 4 Nh.
"For vomit-inducing hippy pinko fools, young and old. Oh and Fritz too."
-Mensa Mick
"Together with "Rejoicing In The Hands", begs for a 2-CD changer or back-to-back play (totaling 90 minutes), though this one's not as strong on it own."
-Me
Sample bits here (be warned- the free MP3 is not at all representative). Reviews here.
The story of Devendra Banhart, who was discovered 2 years ago, "then a homeless, wandering, neo psych/folk hippie artist and musician, not yet 21 years old", here.
[This message was edited by Ludwig on Thu 23 September 2004 at 5:03.]
More of the same genius that made his prior '04 release "Rejoicing In The Hands" so enjoyable, except it's a bit samey because it's the follow up (huh?). But Banhart keeps his folky mental in-patient singing and plucking pruned with fine lyrics like:
"Little white monkey, staring at the sand,
Well maybe that monkey figured out something I couldn't understand...
Who knows?"
Approximately 4 Nh.
"For vomit-inducing hippy pinko fools, young and old. Oh and Fritz too."
-Mensa Mick
"Together with "Rejoicing In The Hands", begs for a 2-CD changer or back-to-back play (totaling 90 minutes), though this one's not as strong on it own."
-Me
Sample bits here (be warned- the free MP3 is not at all representative). Reviews here.
The story of Devendra Banhart, who was discovered 2 years ago, "then a homeless, wandering, neo psych/folk hippie artist and musician, not yet 21 years old", here.
[This message was edited by Ludwig on Thu 23 September 2004 at 5:03.]
Arcade Fire: Funeral
This is old news for some of you (like Matthew), I know. Still, I *finally* got a copy a few days ago (there have been serious supply issues, it appears), and after several listens have to say it's an essential '04 record.
'nuff said
This is old news for some of you (like Matthew), I know. Still, I *finally* got a copy a few days ago (there have been serious supply issues, it appears), and after several listens have to say it's an essential '04 record.
'nuff said