The Syndicate

You can take it away if you like!

nutella wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2019 2:09 pm here's an example basically the host chooses some set of categories, they can be weird abstract ideas like the ones here, or specific criteria like cover songs or fast songs,and players submit one song for each category, can be any genre though the host can suggest what they like/dislike, then the host listens to all the submissions and ranks them based on how well they fit the cat and how much they like them, revealing each submission in a countdown. It seems like a fun way to recommend music and get a wide variety of genres. I have no idea why it's called walrus btw.

I'd give it a go.

I get the impression we could use a collective break from SAW, which is perfectly fine. It's been going for over a year! We can resume this at a later time when it's better for everyone.

I gave Young the Giant a spin as well. It had a nicely restrained manner of drama about it, in that the sound was large and loud without being obnoxious or particularly cheesy. In that regard I am reminded of some of nutella's earliest submissions to SAW -- that's a good thing.

So I finally had an opportunity today to listen through: Perlman plays Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn concertos

It was quite enjoyable. I thought the most appealing material was in the first one or two videos in Golden's playlist, as the slower, more sweeping atmospheric sound worked better for me than the more active material. Regardless, I didn't struggle to get through it, and that is high praise considering the length.

That’s fine, and I appreciate you keeping up with things lately.

Reminder to self to SAW soon.

I just realized I never got to Van Lear Rose. I'll need to remedy that soon.

I gave Lanquidity a go today and didn't get much out of it. Albums of this general construction tend to struggle to hold my attention -- I just don't think it's an approach to music that resonates with me. Even when I dedicate total attention, it tends to end this way.

There Will Be Fireworks - The Dark, Dark Bright - 2013 / Indie rock / 12 tracks / 48:26 / YouTube and Spotify

The album was enjoyable, and well suited to my need to multi-task while listening. I have never played Majora's Mask, but I did still hear familiar melodies from Ocarina of Time (particularly in the last track). I've long had the desire to play through the Zelda collection in full, because I've only ever played OoT and ALttP. Perhaps this will serve as the inspiration, assuming I can find decent emulated versions.

Sorry, it's been so hard to keep up. I'm going to put this on right now.

speedchuck wrote: ↑Thu May 24, 2018 12:01 pm @JaggedJimmyJay What do you think of Emotion?

I'll say a bit more when I can, but for now: I think it's the best-written pop music album of the 2010s decade [so far]. I think Carly Rae Jepsen is an enormously talented songwriter, particularly in her ability to put together hooks that just do not fail. Even Call Me Maybe, with it's dorky lyrical content, features one of the most magnetic hooks in recent memory -- that's why it got immense radio play despite most people thinking it's cheesy. Emotion is a natural progression from that foundation, featuring the same incredible songwriting talent without the cheese. She has matured into the best of her era, and that's saying a lot with a lot of supremely talented competition.

My favorite track is "Let's Get Lost".

[mention]Zephyrus[/mention], check it out.

Thanks everyone for keeping this moving while I have been slacking.

Rhythm, Chord, and Melody was okay. I didn't get into it really, and there were some parts that seemed a bit cheesy (primarily in the lyrics and vocal delivery). It wasn't unpleasant though, and I can see the appeal.

666 was fun. It continued to turn in surprising directions, but still somehow seemed to have a measure of order and purpose. That's a rare combination. The song "infinity" was a funny diversion (and also a bit scary). I suspect that if my apartment neighbors could hear that playing they'd have thought I was blasting porn.

After one go through Replica I already forget nearly all of it. It was a bit of a sedative. It may have been aided [hindered] in that regard by my allergy hell. There was a brief bit of piano that I found quiet agreeable. Otherwise I have no thoughts either way about this one. It exists.

How Did We Get So Dark continually reminded me of another group who has to date only released one album: Them Crooked Vultures (a stoner rock styled supergroup featuring Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters among others, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin). I think it's a good thing, as at this point it's difficult for standard-construction hard rock to be interesting. There's already so much of it through the eras. The stoner variety (don't blame me for the stupid genre name) works though because it builds on momentum and groove beyond just banging guitar riffs or solos.

Guys I'm listening to SAW albums!

Yeah that's a good idea. Sorry for the absence gang. It's been a hell of a few weeks. Summer is here though so ideally I'll get a chance soon.

All genres are made up. It stands.

G-Man wrote: ↑Mon Apr 30, 2018 12:07 pm So which album is next? I have no idea how Jimmy orders the submissions.

Of the people who submitted albums, the person whose last submission was the longest time ago goes first.

I'll submit Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion

And I have got to listen to the last two albums soon. There's never time for anything anymore.

I don't have much time to move us forward again (or apparently listen to albums). I'd appreciate it if someone could gimme a hand.

I'm swamped, and I'd appreciate if anyone could move us forward here. I'll try to listen to HDWGSD sometime today. This might be the first time I've missed a week.

I'm glad you moved forward, because I was about to forget.

I think it gets called "prog metal" for the same reason The Wall gets called "prog rock". Concept albums fall into those tags by default even when they don't fit at all.

I helped start the fight on RYM. There's a revolution calling.

speedchuck wrote: ↑Thu Apr 05, 2018 4:08 pmI've scarcely heard more dynamic and interesting vocals, in my time listening to music. Between the dynamic inflection, range, jovial delivery, and wailing harmony, the vocals capture everything I want in rock vocals. It catches my attention, makes me want to listen enough times that I can sing along.

For years I considered Geoff Tate to be my favorite vocalist. I'd probably still call him my favorite in rock music.

It doesn't take a metalhead to appreciate what he put together in 'Eyes of a Stranger'.

I decided to submit this album for the hell of it. I haven't listened to it much in recent memory, but it used to be an absolute favorite. I generally don't care for metal music, as it tends to seem childish and ridiculous to me. I also find most rock operas incredibly cheesy.

This is a metal album. It's a rock opera. Many people revere it as the progenitor of the progressive metal genre (which I tend to find terrible). There's really no reason I should like this thing. I do though. It's Pink Floyd meets Metallica, and somehow it isn't stupid. Y'all might disagree. Who knows.

I'll say a bit about it later. Be aware that the last two tracks on the YouTube playlist are bonus tracks (live versions of tracks already covered on the album).

G-Man wrote: ↑Fri Mar 30, 2018 3:08 pm JaggedJimmyJay I think I understand what you mean by the music not seeming to go anywhere. It’s a criticism the band has gotten on their last two albums- they made pretty, cinematic music for the sake of making pretty, cinematic music. I will agree that The Wilderness lacks the kind of trajectory/ musical journey that their best work contains. It does at least mark a new direction for the band, as they added a few new elements.

I wouldn't necessarily consider it a criticism. I don't know that there's any urgent need for music to have a "destination", as long as it's clear from the start that it's not that kind of thing. I listened again today and it was a pleasant experience. It doesn't move me a great deal, but it sounds nice and that's better than I can say for a great many things.

I gave it a spin today. The whole of it sounded very nice, and I think it'd make good music for an otherwise quiet room while doing nothing at all or even taking a nap. I don't mean that it is sedative though. I am not sure it went anywhere really, or if it ever meant to go anywhere. So it's a limited thing, but within its boundaries it does a nice job. 3 stars.

My favorite Emilíana Torrini song:

I first heard this album years ago at dunya's recommendation, and it was an instant hit. I suggested last week that I have a preference for women on vocals, and Emilíana Torrini is one of the premier examples of what drives that preference. She has very few peers for me in that regard. She also writes great songs, and has a surprisingly diverse catalog. Her two best albums by my measure are Me and Armini and Fisherman's Woman, and the two of them truly don't sound much alike beyond the person singing the songs. This one is an easy 4 stars for me, and the former album is a 4.5.

Iceland has a population of 330,000 (comparable to the city of Cincinnati). It's remarkable that they've produced three major names on the international scene (with Björk and Sigur Rós as household names among music enthusiasts, and Emilíana relatively well-known in her own right). When I visited two years ago, music from all three was often on proud display in tourist shops.

The 52nd week will mark the first full year of SAW (with a few kinks in the timeline, but whatever). It has lasted much longer than I ever expected it to, so thanks very much to everyone who has contributed in any capacity and especially to those who have kept it going for the long haul.

The album has improved quickly with repetition. Even when I was feeling less enthusiastic, I felt an urge to play it again -- perhaps to reassess given the initial impression, or perhaps a sign that my first perspective wasn't entirely reflective of my true feelings. I dunno. It's working quite well now though. I am a big fan of the drums on this sucker, throughout the album. 3.5 right now, and probably closer to the 4 side than the 3 side.

I played the album a second time. Or at least I meant to.

It was on shuffle the whole time and I didn't realize it through six tracks.

My first attempt with this album was a bit misleading. The first few notes sounded great and projected a strong whole, like speedchuck suggested. For me though, that didn't last long and the album fell into a steady state of being just decent beyond the first track. I have no gripes about the vocalist though. More often than not, I prefer women on vocals over men.

dunya wrote: ↑Mon Mar 12, 2018 12:37 pma strong 3.5/5

now wait just a damned minute

I’m going to be on the road a lot tomorrow. If someone else wants to introduce the next album, have at it.

Enrique wrote: ↑Wed Mar 07, 2018 2:49 pm how do i participate in this

At will! Just listen to whatever is up for the week and tell us what you think. When the current queue is ending we’ll submit new suggestions and carry on. We’d love to have you take part.

I listened while I worked this evening, so as usual lately I was distracted. It was pleasant enough though if not especially engaging. I wouldn't speak ill of it at least. I'll listen again later in the week and hopefully have something more interesting to say. I rarely seem to have time at this point to just sit down and focus on an album.

Wait that's where it already was. Confused.

Ricochet wrote: ↑Mon Mar 05, 2018 1:02 pm Once again, I did not submit an album second to last only for it to become second in line, therefore its chronological placement needs to be respected, or put last (since the last has now become the first), or otherwise ignored altogether.

They're ordered by the time elapsed since the last submission was run per user. If you want to be last I can accommodate.

So let it be written, so let it be done.