Search found 110 matches

by Golden
Thu Feb 09, 2017 9:29 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: New activity maybe

I would do a non prog nomination and then I would be voted down :p but most of my music listening takes place in a different space.

Oh well, why not.

Corinne Bailey Rae - The Heart Speaks In Whispers
by Golden
Thu Feb 09, 2017 9:34 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: New activity maybe

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:Don't worry, you're not the only curmudgeonly prog hater around. :dark:
I like prog.
by Golden
Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:26 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: New activity maybe

I wouldn't want to go much shorter than a week. Music does take time to digest, I'd want to listen to it, let it sit, listen to it again.
by Golden
Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:47 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: New activity maybe

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:How about 5 days? A bit more difficult to track, but I guess it's still just basic math. :p
Not differential calculus? Are you sure?
by Golden
Fri Feb 10, 2017 12:03 am
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: New activity maybe

Epignosis wrote:
Golden wrote:I wouldn't want to go much shorter than a week. Music does take time to digest, I'd want to listen to it, let it sit, listen to it again.
Ariana Grande doesn't take a week to digest, Golden.
You wouldn't.... :scared:
by Golden
Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:19 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: Syndicate Album Ranking and Sharing [First Poll]

I'm going to take it personally! :p
by Golden
Sat Feb 11, 2017 4:26 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: Syndicate Album Ranking and Sharing [First Poll]

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:There's Rico voting for his own album. :meany:
And voting for 6.

EDIT: no, I just can't do counting apparently
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 2:45 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: Syndicate Album Ranking and Sharing [First Poll]

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:I guess if there's a tie I'll just include everything within the tie. That might look shady since my submission is currently tied for 5th, but a coin flip wouldn't really be fair (this ain't no lynch). So whatever.
I'm fine with a coin flip, even if it goes against my submission. The thing will still be there next time.

A question - what to do with the submissions that aren't in the top 5? Just roll them over to the next poll? Does that mean people who are successful get to nominate another, the others don't?
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 2:57 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: Syndicate Album Ranking and Sharing [First Poll]

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:~ I don't want a small portion of the participants getting all the glory, and that's possible with repeating polls.
A one poll stand down after your album is selected? Or is that discouraging.
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:02 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

SARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

MovingPictures07 wrote:
Golden wrote:
JaggedJimmyJay wrote:~ I don't want a small portion of the participants getting all the glory, and that's possible with repeating polls.
A one poll stand down after your album is selected? Or is that discouraging.
I must be being dense right now; what is meant by a "one poll stand down after your album is selected"?
It's probably a bad idea. I just meant that people who get selected one week take a week off from nominating, so they aren't on the poll next week. Would mean the same five people don't get picked week after week.
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:36 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

G-Man wrote:Yeah, severe accute respiratory syndrome isn't something you want your music thread to be confused with.
I'm on board with Russian oligarchs, though.
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:44 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

I don't have Spotify either.
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:52 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

G-Man wrote:Simply put: If I'm going to listen to your weird music, I want you to eventually listen to my weird music.
Yeah, that's what I think too. I think a one poll stand down should be fine, since it inherently comes with having had people discuss your choice recently already.
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:54 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

Technically it's five weeks.
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:40 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

Hey, this is the place for analysis. It's ok not to like things (some of you aren't going to like my tastes, and I'm not sure I'm going to like some of yours). But, I think the idea is to put your finger on why.
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:43 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

Oooh, lush orchestration. This might be my kind of thing.
by Golden
Sun Feb 12, 2017 9:32 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

Actually, he means the Taylor Swift album.
by Golden
Mon Feb 13, 2017 2:43 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

I listened to the first 2 tracks so far (I assume... the YouTube clip doesn't split them)

It's interesting. I think the melodic choices are a little more mainstream than I was expecting (probably just because I expect you all to be weirdos). I hear Muse influences in the first track. I really enjoyed the track, including the vocalist. Next pass I'll try to listen to the lyrics more closely. If I had one criticism, that cello player is attacking the thing so hard that you get those tuneless screeches, which clashes with my classical musician sensibilities perhaps, or maybe it's just a love/hate relationship I have with strings generally. It does have a bit of 'cello guys' to it though.

The second track was nice but gave me less to talk about.
by Golden
Mon Feb 13, 2017 3:47 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

I listened to a few more tracks while getting ready for work. The fourth? Track, with its New Orleans and charleston influences is completely gorgeous, it may enter my play list. It's interesting how eclectic this is, i agree with others that influences aren't worn too heavily, but it doesn't hurt that it's hard to hear the same influence twice. I really enjoyed the fifth track as well.

I understand what some are saying about the vocalist. In some places, it's almost melodic speaking rather than singing. I don't think the first track was the best showcase of them, though, and in other places I hear the influence of jazz greats like Etta James and billie holiday. It's not someone I could listen to A Cappella, but then neither is Etta James. I feel the vocals do enhance rather than detract from the music here.

@llama - techniques like sampling (or even a hideous technique like autotune) only bothers me when it takes me out of the music, although I get what you are saying about the greater depth of a real human. I just think that can be achieved on the cello with slightly less vigor.
by Golden
Mon Feb 13, 2017 4:30 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

thellama73 wrote:I have to say I'm enjoying the album much more on the second listen. I've concluded that there are no samplers and all the instruments are indeed played by humans, which is nice. Some of the "whoa oh oh" vocals on the second and third tracks are mildly annoying to me. They remind me of The Polyphonic Spree. But I don't mind the vocals as much as I did, and some of the arrangements are very nice and intricate.
So far the second and third tracks are the weakest for my money. That's through around six or seven.
by Golden
Mon Feb 13, 2017 11:48 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

Epignosis wrote:First of all, the lead vocalist is clearly a male. I don't understand how anyone thought otherwise.
It is really androgynous.
by Golden
Mon Feb 13, 2017 11:53 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

Epignosis wrote:
Golden wrote:
Epignosis wrote:First of all, the lead vocalist is clearly a male. I don't understand how anyone thought otherwise.
It is really androgynous.
Then check your ears. He has an incredible range. Fantastic vocalist.
Checked them. They're still there.
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 2:53 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

So I've done most of a second listen. I'm pretty much with mp - 3.5 stars, it's pretty good, I would listen to it again. If I was to buy, I'd more likely select specific tracks than the whole thing, although some tracks that passed me by the first time I liked more on the second listen.

Howl (possibly including 'Williams dirge' based on what g-man said) is definitely my favourite track. It even ends the same way a Lost episode does (surely others heard this?)

Beneath the Brine is clearly the masterpiece on the album. In a way I think it sets expectations too high, in terms of how adventurous the album is. It's such a unique and well put together song that on the first listen, some of the other tracks sounded almost like paint by numbers pop on a first listen. On a second listen, I got more from some of those tracks, though. The weakest tracks on the album are, for me, ones that lack in lyrical originality as well as musical originality. 'Love don't go' stands out on that front. Having said that, it's rare that an album that can manage strong tracks across the board.

The biggest thing that stands out to me is that whoever writes the music is a very strong orchestrator, and that's what makes the album so successful for me.
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 3:01 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: TSARS [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

I haven't listened to it yet. I shall find it today.
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 5:22 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

I intend to rank the albums as we get beyond one. I'm not sure how I can rank a single album.
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 5:22 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

It's number one!
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 5:28 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

thellama73 wrote:Does anyone find it useful to rank tracks on an album? I find it very strange. I view an album as a coherent unit of music, not just a collection of songs.
So do I. At least, assuming it is a coherent unit of music. If it isn't, then I'm likely to admire it slightly less. The more coherent an album feels, the better I'm likely to receive it.

I put a lot of time into figuring out if I felt Beneath the Brine was coherent, given how eclectic it was. In the end, I decided that it is essentially coherent.
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:00 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

I don't think my opinions should make anyone feel bad. I know nothing, and so it's just about what happens to be pleasing to my ears.
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:20 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

Epignosis wrote:
S~V~S wrote:
Epignosis wrote:
Golden wrote:
Epignosis wrote:First of all, the lead vocalist is clearly a male. I don't understand how anyone thought otherwise.
It is really androgynous.
Then check your ears. He has an incredible range. Fantastic vocalist.
Can we do this without judging other peoples opinions? I am already intimidated posting in this group as so many of you come from a music background or site. Saying things like this make people like me even less likely to join this type of discussion.

Thank You.
I wasn't judging his opinion. I thought I was being...fraternal? More along the lines of:

"Man, Stephen Curry is the greatest basketball player ever."

"Then check your eyes. You clearly didn't see what a mess he was against the Nuggets last night, who are awful against point guards."

Maybe I'm just hanging around on DFS sites too much. :p
I have to say, when I heard the back half of the album, it was clearly a man.

Then I listened to the front half again, and I maintain there are several tracks in the first few where it's quite ambiguous.
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:21 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

S~V~S wrote:
Epignosis wrote:
Golden wrote:
Epignosis wrote:First of all, the lead vocalist is clearly a male. I don't understand how anyone thought otherwise.
It is really androgynous.
Then check your ears. He has an incredible range. Fantastic vocalist.
Can we do this without judging other peoples opinions? I am already intimidated posting in this group as so many of you come from a music background or site. Saying things like this make people like me even less likely to join this type of discussion.

Thank You.
I am actually hanging out for your opinions in this thread SVS. I'm definitely going to value them. In fact, I've even thought ahead to an album I want to add to a poll in the future with you in mind.
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:22 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

Hey, G-Man. Did you catch this?
Golden wrote:Howl ends the same way a Lost episode does (surely others heard this?)
by Golden
Tue Feb 14, 2017 8:23 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 1 - "Beneath the Brine"]

G-Man wrote::fist: Darn it, you coward! Now you've got me scouring my memory for Lost motifs to hum. I'm getting all nostalgic now. If it weren't for the fact that it would feel disjointed to the uninitiated, I'd say someone should nominate the Lost soundtracks sometime during this thread's run.
I have already considered it :p I mean, in some ways, it's not different that picking another classical album, and I feel the need to do that at some point. In fact, I've got quite a list of things I'm considering - some things that I love and I want to share with others, some things where my opinion is up in the air and I'm interested in other views, some things that are more mainstream and less about sharing something new than getting people to think about it and talk about it, and then things like this lol.
by Golden
Mon Feb 20, 2017 7:14 am
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 2 - "98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare"]

I finally got a few minutes to watch ricos review of beneath the brine, but I'm sorry rico it's a little spooky and uncanny because you are kind of not so far from being my doppelgänger. Even my wife thinks you look like me.
by Golden
Tue Feb 21, 2017 7:06 am
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 2 - "98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare"]

I'm a few tracks in to my first listen. I'm guessing given the run time it will only be one listen, but I'll see what happens.

I didn't know what I was in for, so now reading people calling it 'dream pop' makes sense. It was not at all what I expected from mp.

So - seven tracks in, and it's an enjoyable enough experience. The first track I didn't enjoy at all - too bizarre, and while the guitar riff felt like something that would be fun to play for the first minute or so, it never went anywhere. The whole thing felt bizarre to me, and perhaps the exact thing that others describe about the drawback of live albums. It feels like 'you have to be there'.

But then, something happens. It hits a funk vibe - almost brassless ska - and seems to stay right in that pocket. It feels like an outdoor concert on a summers Saturday afternoon - something to take a picnic to and allow it to wash over you. In fact, I might say it almost feels like a Japanese sound with New Zealand sensibilities - something like fat freddys drop. Actually it feels a lot like home in that sense. It fits like a glove. This even holds when it hits a more reggae vibe in track 6. (Would love to know what dp makes of freddys. Mp too now, for that matter.) The more the tracks passed, the more the comparison felt apt.

What does this mean? Well, it's still not for me, even though it's probably a close relative of things I would really adore. For me, up to track seven, there's a few things which hold it back from me being able to adore it. There's not really enough going on for me to get a huge amount out of it as a pure auditory experience (which, in a way, makes the fact it's a 'live album' feel oddly appropriate, since that's the setting I think I'd find myself enjoying it in most.) I'd be far more likely to listen to it while doing other things, rather than treat it as the thing that I am doing. Also, the vocalist doesn't really do it much for me. The last thing is that, for music like this, I find lyrics can really push it over the edge. Unfortunately, I don't speak Japanese. This has the advantage that no lyrical choices can be annoying (as I found last week with 'Love Don't Go') but also the disadvantage that it could just as well work as an instrumental for me.
by Golden
Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:02 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 2 - "98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare"]

Rico, you are phenomenal. That was a step up from week one, which given how good week one was is impressive. Hilarious, thoughtful - and it made me think of the album slightly differently, so genuine impact too.
by Golden
Fri Feb 24, 2017 4:25 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 2 - "98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare"]

S~V~S wrote:I did like it alot having listened all the way through. Maybe becasue their sound was so unique, it did not have the drawbacks live albums usually have.

Someone earlier said they found the "fishman"s of the first track annoying; that was what actually hooked me to finish the album, I really liked the first track.
That was me. One day we'll see eye to eye on something :p
by Golden
Fri Feb 24, 2017 5:14 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 2 - "98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare"]

G-Man wrote:To be brief, this album was odd but rather pleasant.
I think that's where I landed too.

I couldn't possibly pick three tracks. It is very different to Beneath the Brine in how I would consume it in the future. Last week I could see a couple of tracks fitting into a regular playlist. This album is more likely to be the thing I stick on as a whole, occasionally, when I'm in a very particular mood.
by Golden
Sun Feb 26, 2017 4:33 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

We moved on, but I didn't rank the Fishmans album yet, so...

(converting to out of ten)

I finished it and gave it a 5. It was a pleasant experience, and for me tracks 2 through 7 were the high point. It was an interesting experience in trying to put my finger on what captures my imagination, because I did often have the feeling this album had a lot in common with something I might give 9 or 10 out of 10 and put on my playlist. But ultimately I didn't get the sense I'd be likely to revisit it. I was only able to find time for one listen but that was fine for me (if I'd had a second listen, I probably would have restricted it to the first disc - the second didn't do much for me).

Rankings so far

1) Beneath the Brine - the Family Crest - 7/10
2) 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare - Fishmans - 5/10
by Golden
Sun Feb 26, 2017 6:27 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

Epignosis wrote:I listened to The Family Crest a second time today.

I found that I could hum several of the instrumental or vocal passages with ease. If I can do that on a second listen, it almost always means I'm in love.
After a week off, I find myself already wanting to go back and revisit it.

I'm not going to do it yet, but it makes me think that at the end of each set of five, I might pick one to revisit.
by Golden
Tue Feb 28, 2017 9:25 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

It definitely reminds me of goats. It has a Mongolian feel. "World Music" is an apt name. Haven't decided what I think of it yet.
by Golden
Tue Feb 28, 2017 9:42 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

MovingPictures07 wrote:perhaps exposing you all to the Fishmans live album first wasn't the best decision after all
I don't think so. I feel like it was actually quite a good entry point.
by Golden
Wed Mar 01, 2017 2:47 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

thellama73 wrote:
triceratopzeuhl wrote:haven't had much time to write words about music lately but this is my favourite album we've listened to so far

it actually kind of reminds me of OM of all things
Yes, and I was considering nominating an Om album next, but I feel like too many people here have already heard them.
I was considering nominating a Beatles album at some point. I don't think this is only about introducing something that's likely to be new to everyone, but also can be about hearing things a different way. Thinking about the music more. So, don't worry if you think people have heard it (I doubt I have, btw).
by Golden
Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:10 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

nutella wrote:and fwiw I hadn't heard of Crowded House until this thread :blush:
This would be literally impossible if you lived in NZ.
by Golden
Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:23 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

This week I decided to watch Rico's review 'on Youtube' and discovered that his Youtube account name is 'lynchmarmot'. lol.

He also put spot on how I feel about this album, in that it made me consider whether I'm getting my scores wrong and made me realise there could be a bunch in the 5ish area.

I want to take another listen before I settle on this, but overall I got the sense that 1) This isn't what I'd expect 'psychedelic' rock to sound like at all (not that I know), but that it simply felt like folk music mixed with a percussive rock band. I have odd frames of references for many of these things, as you will discover over time, but as a percussionist this album really reminded me of the Blue Man Group. If they did folk songs (and added some lyrics sometimes). From time to time I am in the mood for a listen to the Blue Man Group, but its for a particular mood.

It's very hard for me, so far, to compare it to the Fishman's album from last week. Fishman's had a longer patch of the album where I felt like it was a very cozy, background music vibe listen, whereas I didn't get that from World Music. On the other hand, Fishman's had tracks that stood out to me and there was at least one I immediately liked a lot here (the fifth track).

This is all very vague - I might listen to it again (and perhaps tracks 2-7 of Fishman's again) to see how I feel about the two combined. My instinct at the moment is that I have to treat my scale in a way that only things from, say, 2/10 down are albums I don't like at all, and above that there is simply shades of a combination between how good I felt they were objectively and how likely I'd be to return to them. For now, I sense I'm going to give this 4/10, because I felt like the whole thing was actually quite good objectively, i probably even enjoyed it more - but I wouldn't return to it (and in a different way to Fishman's, where I ultimately decided I'd be unlikely to return to it more as a function of time than as enjoyment... I have other albums that sounds a bit like it that don't get much play even though I like them).

See how I feel after the next listen.
by Golden
Fri Mar 03, 2017 6:38 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

Ok so I've figured this out. It reminds me of the soundtrack to a movie where a Hollywood A lister goes to Mongolia and finds themselves. It has a sort of 'Mongol Lost In Translation' vibe to it.

I can easily do G-Mans three track rule here - I quite like tracks one (Diarabi) two (Goatman) and especially 5 (Golden Dawn). Golden Dawn is up there as one of my favourite tracks of the three albums so far. It's also hard for me to point to any particular negatives about the music.

But overall I'm left without a sense of a whole. I guess saying it comes across like a soundtrack may also speak to the idea that it doesn't come across as an album to me, although I do feel as though the last track ties in to the first, which I like.

Comparing it again to last weeks album - last weeks had the feel of being seminal and demonstrating a progression. This one, in contrast, feels like it is what it is - a very enjoyable album if this is your kind of music, but not likely to reveal in itself something deeper with repeated listens (at least not to me). It reminds me of the kind of thing I'd have been likely to study in music school, which might not help.

I enjoyed it well enough (which I wasn't expecting to based on 'psychedelic rock') and I'm glad it was picked and I had a listen. But it gets 4/10 for being the one I'm least likely to return to so far.
by Golden
Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:00 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

I'm 2.5 and 2 for the last two rico
by Golden
Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:09 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 3 - "World Music"]

Rankings so far

1) Beneath the Brine - the Family Crest - 7/10
2) 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare - Fishmans - 5/10
3) World Music - Goat - 4/10
by Golden
Tue Mar 07, 2017 11:58 pm
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 4 - "Bish Bosch"]

I haven't even listened yet. I have to mentally prepare myself. It's possible that I won't be able to listen at all (just based on the comments so far).
by Golden
Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:10 am
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 4 - "Bish Bosch"]

Ricochet wrote:
Golden wrote:I haven't even listened yet. I have to mentally prepare myself. It's possible that I won't be able to listen at all (just based on the comments so far).
Don't be a _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Lol. Oh, but haven't I proved that I am?

I will listen to it. I just don't promise I'll finish it if I hate it.
by Golden
Thu Mar 09, 2017 8:38 am
Forum: Tin Pan Alley
Topic: SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
Replies: 2046
Views: 79804

Re: SAW [Week 4 - "Bish Bosch"]

Well, I took a leap, I'm not all the way through yet, but at the very least it isn't as much of a turn off as I thought it could be based on lyric extracts etc. Because it's clear pretty quickly the lyrics are entirely nonsense.

This album once again reminds me of music school, but not in a good way. It reminds me of being amongst the composition students (or worse, having to perform their music) when they've been doing the avant garde. To be fair, we had (at least at the time I was there) a renowned and strong electronic facility to be used in similar music. I've never truly appreciated this kind of music (it's just not for me) but I struggle to hear much of a difference between Scott Walker and an 18 year old composition student. That doesn't feel like the way it should be. I've come across avant garde that feels truly unique. This doesn't, to me. It feels like the first instinct - some random sounds that sound cool, meaningless lyrics... and yes, as a percussionist, I've had to MAKE many of those sounds. It's just not a comparison I feel flattering. But, then, I'm neither the gourmand of the avant garde, nor the target audience.

I am, however, glad that I am listening to it. If nothing else because I want to listen to rico's review fully informed.

I won't give it a rating yet. It has to be well below Goat Music because that is an album I actually genuinely enjoyed. So, it's really a question of whether I get anything out of it.

(I apologise that this review will sound harsh. But, I'm being honest about my tastes and experiences, and so this is simply a case of mileage will vary).

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