Just a rough count in my head:
6 Crowded House
2 Split Enz
1 Neil Finn
1 Finn Brothers
2 Shihad
1 Bic Runga
2 Lorde
1 Julia Deans
16/150 = 10.7%
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Just a rough count in my head:
There's unfortunately no way to comment on individual entries, but you can comment on the list itself in the top right corner. That requires an account though (nudge nudge ). I'm always happy to talk about the tunage though, and Discord is probably the best place for that.nutella wrote: ↑Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:19 am Fun reading through your list Jay. I have a lot of comments but I don't want to ramble about it here as I could never have the patience or decisiveness to make such a list myself, but might there be a way to leave comments on specific slot descriptions on the list? I had several thoughts/agreements/disagreements while reading through it that could be fun to discuss. Maybe on discord. Also some surprising absences (personally the Decemberists come to mind, I wouldn't leave The Crane Wife out of a top 100 myself, but maybe you never got into them or they're not your thing and that's fair but slightly surprising to me based on others you have up there) -- I can think of a couple artists that I could recommend based on your taste if you're not familiar with them.
So I would recommend any of the 3.5's as a listen to after WTROADS album, but The Serpent's Egg or Spleen and Ideal specifically might be the best second DCD album selections due to their close chronological proximity to the sound on this album.Dead Can Dance -- 3.0
Spleen and Ideal -- 3.5
Within the Realm of a Dying Sun -- 4.0
The Serpent's Egg -- 3.5
Aion -- 3.0
Into the Labyrinth -- 3.5
Spiritchaser -- 3.0
Anastasis -- 3.5
Yeah, everything just kind of comes together in the best way for them on this album. I was hoping to find another album of at least this caliber when revisiting their discography but came to the same realization. Still a solid discography though for sure, at least for my taste. Just nothing else this good.JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2017 12:41 pm I've listened to a number of Dead Can Dance albums now, and it seems clear to me that this one was their best. I even listened to a compilation without realizing it (ewww compilation) and preferred this.
Excellent review as always, Rico. I nearly spit out my breakfast at your opening though.
I think you encapsulated everything I like about this artist in this post. To each their own.JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2017 3:21 am I'm mostly through the Toehider album now. It has been a bit of a mixed bag, but mostly positive. What I like is that it's more diverse than it appears on the surface. It seems to be a semi-concept album and those aren't known for broad genre interactions. I think they're at their best when they emphasize the vocalist, because I agree he has talent. They seem to have a decent knack for writing an electric rhythm and it works well throughout the middle portion of the album. I'm even tempted to call it power pop. The prog elements aren't egregious in their noodling and don't detract from the cohesiveness of the thing, so that's good too. The longer tracks have dragged though. I'm wondering if I'd have actually liked it more if it was less variable.
Light 3.5.
Irrelevant complaint: I can't stand their release covers. They really annoy me to look at. That alone might drive me away long-term, silly as it may be.
I would listen to SOAD more, but I don't really like the vocalist.
When it comes to a vocalist making or breaking a listening experience, I can't fault anyone. In the end, music appreciation is extremely subjective. Though I am curious- do you dislike SOAD's singer's voice specifically or is it a lyrics/politics dispute? I find myself listening to a lot of radical hard rock for the music but am pretty opposed to their political and policy stances at the same time.speedchuck wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2017 1:23 pmI would listen to SOAD more, but I don't really like the vocalist.
Don't feel that you've "taken a spot." I think any submission should be welcome, whether it's from someone who is a regular here or just someone who drops in once in a great while. Otherwise we're just going to keep getting submissions from the same set of people every time. That could get boring.speedchuck wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2017 8:54 pm Hey guys.
Firstly I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with this. I thought I could, but I can't. Which makes me feel sorta bad for taking up a slot, but it's here. I'll take the chance to talk about it anyway.
Toehider is (for the most part) one guy, Michael Mills. I ran into him on the Ayreon rock opera The Theory of Everything and decided almost immediately that he was in my top 3 vocalists of all time, if not my favorite. When I went to check out his original band, I was surprised to find a silly proggy rock mashup of everything I like in music. Everything. This is the first album that I listened to, and is my favorite Toehider work, and one of my favorite albums of all time.
Let me know what you think, and again, sorry about stealing a slot. Won't happen again. Promise.
1. Voice. I don't really care about the political content.G-Man wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:13 pmWhen it comes to a vocalist making or breaking a listening experience, I can't fault anyone. In the end, music appreciation is extremely subjective. Though I am curious- do you dislike SOAD's singer's voice specifically or is it a lyrics/politics dispute? I find myself listening to a lot of radical hard rock for the music but am pretty opposed to their political and policy stances at the same time.speedchuck wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2017 1:23 pmI would listen to SOAD more, but I don't really like the vocalist.
Also...Don't feel that you've "taken a spot." I think any submission should be welcome, whether it's from someone who is a regular here or just someone who drops in once in a great while. Otherwise we're just going to keep getting submissions from the same set of people every time. That could get boring.speedchuck wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2017 8:54 pm Hey guys.
Firstly I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with this. I thought I could, but I can't. Which makes me feel sorta bad for taking up a slot, but it's here. I'll take the chance to talk about it anyway.
Toehider is (for the most part) one guy, Michael Mills. I ran into him on the Ayreon rock opera The Theory of Everything and decided almost immediately that he was in my top 3 vocalists of all time, if not my favorite. When I went to check out his original band, I was surprised to find a silly proggy rock mashup of everything I like in music. Everything. This is the first album that I listened to, and is my favorite Toehider work, and one of my favorite albums of all time.
Let me know what you think, and again, sorry about stealing a slot. Won't happen again. Promise.
I'll let others handle the answers to your questions, since I am a bit biased. To me it all sounds like a talented guy having fun with a lot of different types of songs. Amusing, charming, fun and interesting, but perhaps not as artsy or thick with mastery.G-Man wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2017 12:21 pm Now that my focus is solely fixed upon Toehider's album, I have to say that it almost feels too diverse. Has anyone else felt that way about it?
There are certainly a few standout tracks but I guess I come back to my earlier opinion that parts of the album sound more like someone who wants to play songs that sound like the bands that inspire him rather than exemplifying a cohesive style that he is passionate about playing. Another possibility that I'm considering is that I'm finally "old" to the point where much of what I hear in newer music are the echoes of bands I'm familiar with and sounds I've heard before. I don't mean to compare but perhaps I'm just becoming too set in my "they don't make them like they used to but they sure recycle a lot of stuff that used to sound fresh" ways.
There's talent here but I guess I feel like he needs to pick a direction and master it. Does that make sense?
You're welcome! I enjoy pretty much all of his stuff. I've bought both his full albums and the 'Best of 12 EPs in 12 Months'. It's all worth a listen.nutella wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2017 1:55 pm Btw Epi I haven't seen you participate in here in a while but have you listened to this week's album? I really think you'd like it.
I'm checking out Toehider's other stuff on Spotify, this EP-compilation deal (guess it's all on bandcamp too). Liking it so far. This is a really interesting artist speed, thanks for showing us.