SAW [Week 64 - "Home of the Strange"]
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Re: SAW [Week 32 - "A City Dressed in Dynamite"]
The Golden Age
I don't know that Woodkid's voice would work in any of the other categories of Pop that I listed before except for maybe Traditional Pop. His accent doesn't bother me but his range strikes me as limited in range and his expressiveness was lacking or limited in a number of tracks. That being said, I think the artist knows what his vocal limitations are and wrote orchestration that suits his abilities pretty well.
Track 1, "The Golden Age," tries to put its best foot forward and does for the most part. Even with my headphones on, I felt that his voice got swallowed up by the orchestra too much. Whether that's a mixing issue or just the reality of his voice vs. the music is unclear. Track 2, "Run Boy Run," hits the right combination of the two elements and has a good driving energy. Track 3, "The Great Escape," was grand in scope but the horns were a little over the top for me. I can envision a music video of a high-fantasy world, the hero gallantly riding his steed in time to the percussion. I don't know what should or even could replace the horns but it seemed a little thick for me.
That's more or less how this album played out for me. There were five solid tracks and the rest were just pretty good to my ears. Some songs feel a little too close to other music I'm familiar with (Coldplay, Michael Giacchino, James Bond music) and other tracks just felt like they were incomplete or missing one or two crucial elements that would put it over the top. When it works though, it's very enjoyable.
My three favorite tracks were "Run Boy Run," "I Love You," and "Ghost Lights." "Run Boy Run" has a great energy to it and contains more than just the singer and the orchestra. The opening of "I Love You" reminded me of Original Sin with its echoey, metallic sounds. The strings and bells were a nice touch in that song too. "Ghost Lights" might be my favorite of the tracks for the long brass notes. They provide some oomph that is either missing or not quite complete on other tracks.
Orchestral Pop seems to be full of niche artists that can't escape from the shadows of the soulful dramatic pop of Adele unless you are into the genre and go looking for indie/obscure artists. This album came in just a few points under The Family Crest, which surprised me. I went back and looked to see why (I thought Woodkid would come in well below them) and I found that while The Family Crest went all-out with their gusto and wore their passion on their sleeve, they were inconsistent. I wasn't indifferent to any of the tracks on The Golden Age while I was indifferent to a few on Beneath the Brine but Woodkid's album contained more tracks and fewer tracks that I thought were 'very good.' I'm fascinated that these two albums took very different journeys to very similar ratings.
G-Man Scale: 3.30 out of 5
Rico Scale: 3.5 out of 5
I don't know that Woodkid's voice would work in any of the other categories of Pop that I listed before except for maybe Traditional Pop. His accent doesn't bother me but his range strikes me as limited in range and his expressiveness was lacking or limited in a number of tracks. That being said, I think the artist knows what his vocal limitations are and wrote orchestration that suits his abilities pretty well.
Track 1, "The Golden Age," tries to put its best foot forward and does for the most part. Even with my headphones on, I felt that his voice got swallowed up by the orchestra too much. Whether that's a mixing issue or just the reality of his voice vs. the music is unclear. Track 2, "Run Boy Run," hits the right combination of the two elements and has a good driving energy. Track 3, "The Great Escape," was grand in scope but the horns were a little over the top for me. I can envision a music video of a high-fantasy world, the hero gallantly riding his steed in time to the percussion. I don't know what should or even could replace the horns but it seemed a little thick for me.
That's more or less how this album played out for me. There were five solid tracks and the rest were just pretty good to my ears. Some songs feel a little too close to other music I'm familiar with (Coldplay, Michael Giacchino, James Bond music) and other tracks just felt like they were incomplete or missing one or two crucial elements that would put it over the top. When it works though, it's very enjoyable.
My three favorite tracks were "Run Boy Run," "I Love You," and "Ghost Lights." "Run Boy Run" has a great energy to it and contains more than just the singer and the orchestra. The opening of "I Love You" reminded me of Original Sin with its echoey, metallic sounds. The strings and bells were a nice touch in that song too. "Ghost Lights" might be my favorite of the tracks for the long brass notes. They provide some oomph that is either missing or not quite complete on other tracks.
Orchestral Pop seems to be full of niche artists that can't escape from the shadows of the soulful dramatic pop of Adele unless you are into the genre and go looking for indie/obscure artists. This album came in just a few points under The Family Crest, which surprised me. I went back and looked to see why (I thought Woodkid would come in well below them) and I found that while The Family Crest went all-out with their gusto and wore their passion on their sleeve, they were inconsistent. I wasn't indifferent to any of the tracks on The Golden Age while I was indifferent to a few on Beneath the Brine but Woodkid's album contained more tracks and fewer tracks that I thought were 'very good.' I'm fascinated that these two albums took very different journeys to very similar ratings.
G-Man Scale: 3.30 out of 5
Rico Scale: 3.5 out of 5
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SAW [Week 33 - "Creep On Creepin' On"]
Oops, forgot to change yesterday and Jay is an awful boss at having delegated me to do everything from now on.
Week 33: Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On
Submitted by [mention]insertnamehere[/mention]
Available on YouTube and surely Spotify
Happy HalloweenSubmitted by [mention]insertnamehere[/mention]
Available on YouTube and surely Spotify
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Re: SAW [Week 33 - "Creep On Creepin' On"]
Ahhh yes this will be a good Halloween one. I've heard Timber Timbre before and keep meaning to actually listen to them more. Good shit
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Re: SAW [Week 33 - "Creep On Creepin' On"]
THAT HANDSOME DEVIL:
Another attribute I've noticed is that the artists are very intentional about portraying an image through their music. Some of the little things, like a laugh here, an extra side comment to the listener there, seem like things more suited to a live show, so it's like their trying to capture some of their stage persona on the record. It's fine on this album but it might wear thin over multiple albums for me. Another analogy I came up with to describe the album is this: take every single Quentin Tarantino movie soundtrack, put it in a blender, and add a healthy dose of Tarantino's desire to be intentionally hip with everything he does, and it might sound like A City Dressed in Dynamite.
TIMBRE TIMBRE:
How is this a variant of folk music? To me it just sounds like quasi-tongue-in-cheek gothic alternative.
Another attribute I've noticed is that the artists are very intentional about portraying an image through their music. Some of the little things, like a laugh here, an extra side comment to the listener there, seem like things more suited to a live show, so it's like their trying to capture some of their stage persona on the record. It's fine on this album but it might wear thin over multiple albums for me. Another analogy I came up with to describe the album is this: take every single Quentin Tarantino movie soundtrack, put it in a blender, and add a healthy dose of Tarantino's desire to be intentionally hip with everything he does, and it might sound like A City Dressed in Dynamite.
TIMBRE TIMBRE:
How is this a variant of folk music? To me it just sounds like quasi-tongue-in-cheek gothic alternative.
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Re: SAW [Week 33 - "Creep On Creepin' On"]
I'd say Obelisk, Swamp Magic, Lonesome Hunter, and Souvenirs all qualify as "folk" on Creep On.G-Man wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:18 pm THAT HANDSOME DEVIL:
Another attribute I've noticed is that the artists are very intentional about portraying an image through their music. Some of the little things, like a laugh here, an extra side comment to the listener there, seem like things more suited to a live show, so it's like their trying to capture some of their stage persona on the record. It's fine on this album but it might wear thin over multiple albums for me. Another analogy I came up with to describe the album is this: take every single Quentin Tarantino movie soundtrack, put it in a blender, and add a healthy dose of Tarantino's desire to be intentionally hip with everything he does, and it might sound like A City Dressed in Dynamite.
TIMBRE TIMBRE:
How is this a variant of folk music? To me it just sounds like quasi-tongue-in-cheek gothic alternative.
Timber Timbre changes their sound from album to album. Their early stuff is their folkiest, and was literally recorded in a cabin in the middle of the woods. After they signed with an indie label, they gradually added more and more instrumentation and production values, while still keeping the same general atmosphere to their music for their next couple albums (Creep On being included in that.)
After the release of this album, they went into more varied and retro territory. Hot Dreams was a tribute to California, and was made to sound like 50's film scores/the closest thing to gothic country ever concocted. Their latest album is kind of their arbitrary synthesizer album that seemingly every band has to do at some point, and is my least favorite of theirs. They recently released a pretty snazzy single that sounds like, yet again, a new direction for the band with dark lounge crooning and seemingly random French interjections.
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Re: SAW [Week 33 - "Creep On Creepin' On"]
I listened to the first 3rd of the album before bed. It's very pleasant. I like the voice.
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- Uomini D'onore (Man of Honor)
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Re: SAW [Week 33 - "Creep On Creepin' On"]
Yooooooo what you guys think of Timbrrrr Tahmbrrr
Also, lmao, Fantano mispronounces them twice as Timber Timber before realizing it.
I'm safe.
Also, lmao, Fantano mispronounces them twice as Timber Timber before realizing it.
I'm safe.
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Re: SAW [Week 33 - "Creep On Creepin' On"]
"like the tingling sensation of a spider walking on your forearm"
perfect summation of this album.
Yeah, I agree with you in saying that this isn't Timber Timbre's best work, but I think it's the best possible gateway to the band and links to the rest of their discography clearly. Essentially, this is the "start here" album on the Timber Timbre flowchart, with arrows labeled "rawer and lo-fi," "more like this," and "what if instead of spooky woods, California" leading to Medicinals, their self-titled album, and Hot Dreams respectively.
Plus, this is probably their most outwardly "spoooooky" album, which seemed appropriate for the holiday.
My personal favorite is Hot Dreams, but despite being a kick-ass album, it isn't really indicative of the rest of the band's work.
You also correctly identified Beat the Dead Horse, Under Your Spell, and Lay Down In The Tall Grass as pure quality.
perfect summation of this album.
Yeah, I agree with you in saying that this isn't Timber Timbre's best work, but I think it's the best possible gateway to the band and links to the rest of their discography clearly. Essentially, this is the "start here" album on the Timber Timbre flowchart, with arrows labeled "rawer and lo-fi," "more like this," and "what if instead of spooky woods, California" leading to Medicinals, their self-titled album, and Hot Dreams respectively.
Plus, this is probably their most outwardly "spoooooky" album, which seemed appropriate for the holiday.
My personal favorite is Hot Dreams, but despite being a kick-ass album, it isn't really indicative of the rest of the band's work.
You also correctly identified Beat the Dead Horse, Under Your Spell, and Lay Down In The Tall Grass as pure quality.
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Re: SAW [Week 33 - "Creep On Creepin' On"]
I'll be back into this soon! Haven't really been listening to / rating stuff the past week due to everything RL happening lately.
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SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Well, after that scintillating 7-post feedback, it's time to move on.
I swear, the cover always made me somehow visualise a cockroach without looking closer.
Week 34: Chris Squire - Fish Out of Water
Submitted by [mention]Epignosis[/mention]
Available on YouTube and Spotify? Is prog allowed on Spotify?
Submitted by [mention]Epignosis[/mention]
Available on YouTube and Spotify? Is prog allowed on Spotify?
I swear, the cover always made me somehow visualise a cockroach without looking closer.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Sorry I'm so behind! I'll give That Handsome Devil a high-leaning 3.5 -- I wasn't really into them at first but then I listened to their other albums and enjoyed them a lot, and subsequently enjoyed this one more as well. Really fun stuff. Will do the same for Timber Timbre tomorrow (listen to other albums and then this one again)
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- Uomini D'onore (Man of Honor)
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
I wish to file a formal complaint that I'm suddenly hearing A Flock of Seagulls EVERYWHERE in 80s related movies or TVs.
A n g e r y
A n g e r y
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
HA-HA! HA! HA!
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Could have bet my house on that being your reply.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Been really enjoying Timber Timbre's discography. Giving it a high-leaning 3.5 also.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Re: Fish Out Of Water - 3/5
I can't say I'm the world's biggest Progressive Rock fan (well, apart from a handful of bands who rule the Progressive rock world as far as I'm concerned--King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Rush, Can and obviously Yes but to a lesser extent...), but I did appreciate this and was surprised I hadn't heard it before. I'm picky with my music and my progressive rock listening days are numbered, and not an every day occurrence, cos you gotta be in that mood. With all that said, it was pretty decent and definitely dug and appreciated the jazz fusion inside (yay jazz yay). I loved Silently Falling , but Lucky Seven was very jazzy and maybe my favorite. Great use of the bass throughout, I mean it's Chris Squire, but apart from those two tracks, can't say it really stood out for me and Squire was never a lead vocalist so I could see the vocals ruining the tracks for some people. It's probably decent to listen to as evening background music, nice ambiance, a little moody, a little chill out tempo'd. It's a warm 3.5/5 or a solid 3/5 depending on my mood I guess.
I can't say I'm the world's biggest Progressive Rock fan (well, apart from a handful of bands who rule the Progressive rock world as far as I'm concerned--King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Rush, Can and obviously Yes but to a lesser extent...), but I did appreciate this and was surprised I hadn't heard it before. I'm picky with my music and my progressive rock listening days are numbered, and not an every day occurrence, cos you gotta be in that mood. With all that said, it was pretty decent and definitely dug and appreciated the jazz fusion inside (yay jazz yay). I loved Silently Falling , but Lucky Seven was very jazzy and maybe my favorite. Great use of the bass throughout, I mean it's Chris Squire, but apart from those two tracks, can't say it really stood out for me and Squire was never a lead vocalist so I could see the vocals ruining the tracks for some people. It's probably decent to listen to as evening background music, nice ambiance, a little moody, a little chill out tempo'd. It's a warm 3.5/5 or a solid 3/5 depending on my mood I guess.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Re: Timber Timbre - Creep on Creepin' On
The early portion of the album surprised me in that my first instant of an impression was "eh", probably driven most by the singer. It settled quickly into a place though where I found myself enjoying it pretty easily. The title track and "Black Water" were probably the highlights with one spin. The album did start to wear on me over the second half though, and the songs began to blend together into a continuous beige. That kind of thing can often improve with repetition so it isn't necessarily a damning problem. After one go though I'm feeling another 3 star album.
The early portion of the album surprised me in that my first instant of an impression was "eh", probably driven most by the singer. It settled quickly into a place though where I found myself enjoying it pretty easily. The title track and "Black Water" were probably the highlights with one spin. The album did start to wear on me over the second half though, and the songs began to blend together into a continuous beige. That kind of thing can often improve with repetition so it isn't necessarily a damning problem. After one go though I'm feeling another 3 star album.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Re: Chris Squire - Fish out of Water
Welp, it's definitely a prog rock album. I don't want to rehash the negatives I have already stated on that front elsewhere in this thread. Generally the album seemed to have a purpose and that's good, but it didn't connect with me anywhere and I was left trying to appreciate it purely at face value. That rarely ends well for me. I won't say the album was bad; I have definitely heard worse from prog and worse in general. I was pretty bored though. 2.5 stars.
Welp, it's definitely a prog rock album. I don't want to rehash the negatives I have already stated on that front elsewhere in this thread. Generally the album seemed to have a purpose and that's good, but it didn't connect with me anywhere and I was left trying to appreciate it purely at face value. That rarely ends well for me. I won't say the album was bad; I have definitely heard worse from prog and worse in general. I was pretty bored though. 2.5 stars.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
I'm listening to Timber Timbre now. Not what I was expecting...I'm rather impressed.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Re: Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On
So, the vocalist reminded me a bit of M. Ward in the first song. I dug it. I love M. Ward, I love his distorted version of love songs, and I thought I found something similar in Timber Timbre. Changed a bit as the album went on; wasn't crazy about the second track at all, but the album has some catchy tunes like Do I Have Power and Woman--and obviously Bad Ritual is an amazing opener. It's definitely a little gothic-y and dark and perhaps that just isn't my thing if it isn't implemented by PJ Harvey ala White Chalk. I don't think the band will change my life, but a 3/5 for this album for sure. Was easy to listen to, and enjoyable in some parts, but I wouldn't necessarily hurry back to listen to it again.
So, the vocalist reminded me a bit of M. Ward in the first song. I dug it. I love M. Ward, I love his distorted version of love songs, and I thought I found something similar in Timber Timbre. Changed a bit as the album went on; wasn't crazy about the second track at all, but the album has some catchy tunes like Do I Have Power and Woman--and obviously Bad Ritual is an amazing opener. It's definitely a little gothic-y and dark and perhaps that just isn't my thing if it isn't implemented by PJ Harvey ala White Chalk. I don't think the band will change my life, but a 3/5 for this album for sure. Was easy to listen to, and enjoyable in some parts, but I wouldn't necessarily hurry back to listen to it again.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
I will listen to Fish out of Water, but it will probably be next week. I like yes, and their bassist is one of the highlights of the band.
...
I guess all of the members are. Still, I didn't know this solo album existed. I'll let you know what I think.
...
I guess all of the members are. Still, I didn't know this solo album existed. I'll let you know what I think.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
I’ve been a tremendous slouch lately but I wonder what’s possibly occupying my attention right now
I should have time to finalize That Handsome Devil and Timber Timbre this weekend. THD is the kind of album that grows on me with each listen. TT not so much but it’s adequate.
Chris Squire strikes me as music made for music people. The vocals fit somewhere in the same region as Elton John and late/post-Police Sting. Not bad but not the kind of thing that reaches out and commands your attention.
I should have time to finalize That Handsome Devil and Timber Timbre this weekend. THD is the kind of album that grows on me with each listen. TT not so much but it’s adequate.
Chris Squire strikes me as music made for music people. The vocals fit somewhere in the same region as Elton John and late/post-Police Sting. Not bad but not the kind of thing that reaches out and commands your attention.
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
Note to self: Don't listen to soft prog-rock first thing in the morning.
Chris Squire very nearly put me to sleep at my desk this morning. That's not a firm knock against the artist/album but more so a reminder to me that I can't listen to anything too light before I'm fully awake.
At the risk of starting controversy, I pondered to myself if Fish Out of Water could be considered soft rock as well as prog. While technically, soft rock normally involves acoustic instruments, why can't it include electric? I would consider Chris Squire's sound to be soft because it lacks any edge whatsoever. It's mellow but it is still artful. Perhaps soft rock is derided because it is mellow without being artful?
It's not boring but it's also not gripping. I don't know where that leaves me.
Chris Squire very nearly put me to sleep at my desk this morning. That's not a firm knock against the artist/album but more so a reminder to me that I can't listen to anything too light before I'm fully awake.
At the risk of starting controversy, I pondered to myself if Fish Out of Water could be considered soft rock as well as prog. While technically, soft rock normally involves acoustic instruments, why can't it include electric? I would consider Chris Squire's sound to be soft because it lacks any edge whatsoever. It's mellow but it is still artful. Perhaps soft rock is derided because it is mellow without being artful?
It's not boring but it's also not gripping. I don't know where that leaves me.
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
A little about why I submitted Ys:
This is an album which has earned quite a lot of critical acclaim since its release 11 years ago, so there's a good chance some of the nerdier music nerds here have already been acquainted with it. Joanna Newsom has royalty status in the Cardigan Realm, particularly for people who care about shit like Pitchfork (I don't). I say this as a sort of disclaimer -- this is a hipster hub. I have always found that term and that concept to be meaningless though, and I've never struggled to enjoy this music. I consider Joanna Newsom to be the best lyricist in music, at least among those I am familiar enough with to judge. For that reason I've provided links here to the lyrics for each of the five tracks on Ys. I feel the experience of the album is greatly enriched if the lyrics are followed, so if you have the time to do that I encourage it. Many people struggle with her voice which is fair, but I never had that problem. I think her voice is very appealing.
I think there's a decent chance for this album to have broad appeal in this particular setting, wherein we have numerous people who appreciate the folk aesthetic and numerous more who appreciate the complexity of progressive rock and otherwise. This is a relatively complex album in its own right, clearly more than either of the other two albums I have submitted for SAW prior.
Enjoy it. Or don't. Ain't no skin off my back.
Lyrics by track:
Emily
Monkey & Bear
Sawdust and Diamonds
Only Skin
Cosmia
This is an album which has earned quite a lot of critical acclaim since its release 11 years ago, so there's a good chance some of the nerdier music nerds here have already been acquainted with it. Joanna Newsom has royalty status in the Cardigan Realm, particularly for people who care about shit like Pitchfork (I don't). I say this as a sort of disclaimer -- this is a hipster hub. I have always found that term and that concept to be meaningless though, and I've never struggled to enjoy this music. I consider Joanna Newsom to be the best lyricist in music, at least among those I am familiar enough with to judge. For that reason I've provided links here to the lyrics for each of the five tracks on Ys. I feel the experience of the album is greatly enriched if the lyrics are followed, so if you have the time to do that I encourage it. Many people struggle with her voice which is fair, but I never had that problem. I think her voice is very appealing.
I think there's a decent chance for this album to have broad appeal in this particular setting, wherein we have numerous people who appreciate the folk aesthetic and numerous more who appreciate the complexity of progressive rock and otherwise. This is a relatively complex album in its own right, clearly more than either of the other two albums I have submitted for SAW prior.
Enjoy it. Or don't. Ain't no skin off my back.
Lyrics by track:
Emily
Monkey & Bear
Sawdust and Diamonds
Only Skin
Cosmia
Spoiler: show
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Re: SAW [Week 34 - "Fish Out of Water"]
The album is meant to highlight Squire's gritty Rickenbacker bass work and his vocals, as the latter was always primarily featured as a harmony behind Jon Anderson's lead.G-Man wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:28 am Note to self: Don't listen to soft prog-rock first thing in the morning.
Chris Squire very nearly put me to sleep at my desk this morning. That's not a firm knock against the artist/album but more so a reminder to me that I can't listen to anything too light before I'm fully awake.
At the risk of starting controversy, I pondered to myself if Fish Out of Water could be considered soft rock as well as prog. While technically, soft rock normally involves acoustic instruments, why can't it include electric? I would consider Chris Squire's sound to be soft because it lacks any edge whatsoever. It's mellow but it is still artful. Perhaps soft rock is derided because it is mellow without being artful?
It's not boring but it's also not gripping. I don't know where that leaves me.
The album was called Fish Out of Water because Squire's nickname is "Fish" (because of his long baths), and this was his first go at recording outside of his main band Yes.
"Hold Out Your Hand" is my favorite track on the album. I think it kicks off the record mightily, with that bass right there front and center. The second track highlights Squire's influences, those British bands of the previous decade (like The Beatles, of course). I think the chord progressions and melodies in the first half of "Silently Falling" are incredible. "Lucky Seven" is a jazzy change of pace, with the song in 7/4 time (in case you missed that). I love the main section of the final track, with that bearing the brunt of my main criticism: The piece carries on six or seven minutes longer than it should have.
This is my favorite of the Yes men's solo albums.
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
I'll be back into this thing starting tomorrow and will catch up then. It's been a crazy couple of weeks between having rotating company (BWT, then Sokoth, then Annie's sister) and defending my proposal. I miss this though. Looking forward to catching up!
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
A City Dressed in Dynamite
I've said most of what I have to say about this album in bits and pieces already. It's very diverse and eclectic, which (for me) makes this band a niche product because of the genres is splices together. The uptempo songs were more fun but some of the slower tunes seemed to falter. I think it was due to their down-trodden tone, almost like wallowing a little in the gritty gloom of the storytelling.
The opener, "Damn Door," serves as a solid opener. It greets you right away with the kind of irreverence and kookiness that plays out over the whole album. It sets the expectation of not knowing what to expect. "Wintergreen" followed it up nicely but some of the language turned me off (personal thing, sorry). "Rob the Prez-O-Dent" is amusing but perhaps it's the politically-tumultuous times that we live in that kept me from embracing this song as a standout.
My three favorite tracks were "Damn Door," "Viva Discordia," and ""Squares." I've already touched on the first of my choices. I enjoyed the swing-meets-hip hop vibe of "Viva Discordia" and it was a nice pick-me-up after a few slower, less zany tracks. "Squares" hits a couple of marks for me. It has the quirky, retro anti-drugs propaganda film sample, and a fun fusion of hip hop spitting and hard-hitting rock guitar. That track alone stands as a nice summation of what this album offers.
I can't say that this is an album that I'd consistently turn to if offered but it is an album that grew on me with each listen. As someone who has little exposure to the world of drugs, street crime, and poverty, perhaps it would take a little more time for me to appreciate the lyrics. I don't typically focus on the lyrics but some tracks stand out as better storytelling than others. Perhaps I just haven't had enough time to take it all in yet.
Overall, it was a unique and interesting experience. I feel like I say that too often for the albums you folks nominate. Perhaps that means my music tastes are too conventional, boring, and/or pedestrian. We'll see.
G-Man Scale: 3.33 out of 5
Rico Scale: 3.5 out of 5
I've said most of what I have to say about this album in bits and pieces already. It's very diverse and eclectic, which (for me) makes this band a niche product because of the genres is splices together. The uptempo songs were more fun but some of the slower tunes seemed to falter. I think it was due to their down-trodden tone, almost like wallowing a little in the gritty gloom of the storytelling.
The opener, "Damn Door," serves as a solid opener. It greets you right away with the kind of irreverence and kookiness that plays out over the whole album. It sets the expectation of not knowing what to expect. "Wintergreen" followed it up nicely but some of the language turned me off (personal thing, sorry). "Rob the Prez-O-Dent" is amusing but perhaps it's the politically-tumultuous times that we live in that kept me from embracing this song as a standout.
My three favorite tracks were "Damn Door," "Viva Discordia," and ""Squares." I've already touched on the first of my choices. I enjoyed the swing-meets-hip hop vibe of "Viva Discordia" and it was a nice pick-me-up after a few slower, less zany tracks. "Squares" hits a couple of marks for me. It has the quirky, retro anti-drugs propaganda film sample, and a fun fusion of hip hop spitting and hard-hitting rock guitar. That track alone stands as a nice summation of what this album offers.
I can't say that this is an album that I'd consistently turn to if offered but it is an album that grew on me with each listen. As someone who has little exposure to the world of drugs, street crime, and poverty, perhaps it would take a little more time for me to appreciate the lyrics. I don't typically focus on the lyrics but some tracks stand out as better storytelling than others. Perhaps I just haven't had enough time to take it all in yet.
Overall, it was a unique and interesting experience. I feel like I say that too often for the albums you folks nominate. Perhaps that means my music tastes are too conventional, boring, and/or pedestrian. We'll see.
G-Man Scale: 3.33 out of 5
Rico Scale: 3.5 out of 5
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Also y'all should submit those albums for the next block. Everyone NOT listed below is eligible this time:
nutella
speedchuck
insertnamehere
Epignosis
JJJ
nutella
speedchuck
insertnamehere
Epignosis
JJJ
Spoiler: show
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Fish out of Water was about what I expected. Soothing but interesting yes tunes, a bit more emphasis on the bass. I wasn't blown away, but do I have to be? I enjoyed this immensely, though it's more like music that I would listen to while driving, working, editing, and so on than music I would use to hype me up or music that I would listen to on it's own. That's just me I guess.
Definitely toe-tapping (yes, even to lucky seven. I'm a drummer, I can toe tap to anything.)
I give it 4 stars.
Definitely toe-tapping (yes, even to lucky seven. I'm a drummer, I can toe tap to anything.)
I give it 4 stars.
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Spoiler: show
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
I would like to nominate Drake - Take Care
(yes, I did)
The full album exists on YouTube
and Spotify.
(yes, I did)
The full album exists on YouTube
and Spotify.
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Really enjoying Fish Out Of Water. I don't have a lot of fancy review words to use, but despite not getting a ton out of my first listen I'm loving every minute of the second listen. Rather indifferent to his voice, but all the different instrumental flourishes hold my interest. (I'm also a sucker for 7/4 time, haha) Very cool listen.
I'm having a hard time sorting out my ratings for the last three albums. They're all leaning toward 4.0 but it's hard to say for sure if they all deserve that, in relation to how I've previously used my ratings. I use 3.5s a lot but it tends to span a wide range. So I'm just gonna give these all 4s because of how much they grew on me with each listen, making me excited to go back to them later (I think Timber Timbre edges out the others by a fair bit and it definitely deserves a 4, but I've been looking forward to revisiting THD as well since it was so interesting)
A City Dressed in Dynamite - 4.0
Creep On Creepin' On - 4.0
Fish Out Of Water - 4.0
I'm really looking forward to Joanna Newsom!
I'm having a hard time sorting out my ratings for the last three albums. They're all leaning toward 4.0 but it's hard to say for sure if they all deserve that, in relation to how I've previously used my ratings. I use 3.5s a lot but it tends to span a wide range. So I'm just gonna give these all 4s because of how much they grew on me with each listen, making me excited to go back to them later (I think Timber Timbre edges out the others by a fair bit and it definitely deserves a 4, but I've been looking forward to revisiting THD as well since it was so interesting)
A City Dressed in Dynamite - 4.0
Creep On Creepin' On - 4.0
Fish Out Of Water - 4.0
I'm really looking forward to Joanna Newsom!
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Next week is Thanksgiving, which means that I will allow myself to listen to Christmas music come Black Friday. I'd like to take advantage of the Christmas season and nominate what is quite possibly the only jazz album I own:
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi Trio
1965
11 Tracks (though most playlists feature bonus tracks)
40:25
Available on YouTube and Spotify
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi Trio
1965
11 Tracks (though most playlists feature bonus tracks)
40:25
Available on YouTube and Spotify
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Creep On Creepin' On
I still don't see how this album is labeled as folk. INH tried to explain it but I still don't hear it. Perhaps that's because I don't have a firm working knowledge of folk music in general. Perhaps I'm just too cynical about weird genre names like freak folk. Whatever the case, the genre doesn't fit the album for me and the album didn't fit my tastes much either.
Track 1 ("Bad Ritual") opens with the kind of beat you might hear sampled on a hip-hop album. I dig the piano and drums combo, as well as the muted, understated tone. The sound of the vocals is deliberately eerie. If the song did more than just verse-chorus-verse-chorus, then I might have liked it more though. Track 2 ("Obelisk") was a tense and fascinating instrumental piece. I'd have liked to see more of that kind of music variety seep into other tracks. Track 3 ("Creep On Creepin' On") sounded similar to several other songs on the album but it got bonus points for the added instrumentation on the intro and sprinkled here and there throughout the track.
I think my main gripe with this album is that half the songs are structured too similarly. Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8 are all rooted in the plink-plink-plink of the high keys and minimalist drumbeats. Some tracks have more to them than others but the overall sparse instrumentation really made the plink-plink-plink stand out to me. I don't want to say that I was bored but I wasn't really feeling it for most of the album.
My top three include "Creep On Creepin' On" for its musical variety, "Obelisk" for being the most interesting sound on the album, and "Too Old to Die Young" for drawing me back into the second half of the album with a non-plink-plink-plink foundation. I could see this being an interesting album to listen to when you're stoned or drinking (absinthe especially) but my conventional ears were left wanting more. Still, the band set out to evoke a mood and I think they succeeded.
I can appreciate a minimalist approach but I felt like there was too much repetitiveness in the foundations. I docked it a sliver extra for the over-reliance on the plink-plink-plink but I still enjoyed enough of it to avoid indifference. I think this might mean that I'm just not indie enough for bands like this.
G-Man Scale: 3.21 out of 5
Rico Scale: 3 out of 5
I still don't see how this album is labeled as folk. INH tried to explain it but I still don't hear it. Perhaps that's because I don't have a firm working knowledge of folk music in general. Perhaps I'm just too cynical about weird genre names like freak folk. Whatever the case, the genre doesn't fit the album for me and the album didn't fit my tastes much either.
Track 1 ("Bad Ritual") opens with the kind of beat you might hear sampled on a hip-hop album. I dig the piano and drums combo, as well as the muted, understated tone. The sound of the vocals is deliberately eerie. If the song did more than just verse-chorus-verse-chorus, then I might have liked it more though. Track 2 ("Obelisk") was a tense and fascinating instrumental piece. I'd have liked to see more of that kind of music variety seep into other tracks. Track 3 ("Creep On Creepin' On") sounded similar to several other songs on the album but it got bonus points for the added instrumentation on the intro and sprinkled here and there throughout the track.
I think my main gripe with this album is that half the songs are structured too similarly. Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8 are all rooted in the plink-plink-plink of the high keys and minimalist drumbeats. Some tracks have more to them than others but the overall sparse instrumentation really made the plink-plink-plink stand out to me. I don't want to say that I was bored but I wasn't really feeling it for most of the album.
My top three include "Creep On Creepin' On" for its musical variety, "Obelisk" for being the most interesting sound on the album, and "Too Old to Die Young" for drawing me back into the second half of the album with a non-plink-plink-plink foundation. I could see this being an interesting album to listen to when you're stoned or drinking (absinthe especially) but my conventional ears were left wanting more. Still, the band set out to evoke a mood and I think they succeeded.
I can appreciate a minimalist approach but I felt like there was too much repetitiveness in the foundations. I docked it a sliver extra for the over-reliance on the plink-plink-plink but I still enjoyed enough of it to avoid indifference. I think this might mean that I'm just not indie enough for bands like this.
G-Man Scale: 3.21 out of 5
Rico Scale: 3 out of 5
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Timber Timbre was boring to me -- the very definition of disengaging. I'm not a huge fan of TT's clear influences to begin with (Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, etc.), and I like this less. It's alright I guess though; all of that said, I didn't really feel anything remotely negative about it, but I don't think I'd care if I never heard it again either. 2.5 stars.
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
nice one!! a staple in my family's Christmas season album rotationG-Man wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:16 pm Next week is Thanksgiving, which means that I will allow myself to listen to Christmas music come Black Friday. I'd like to take advantage of the Christmas season and nominate what is quite possibly the only jazz album I own:
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi Trio
1965
11 Tracks (though most playlists feature bonus tracks)
40:25
Available on YouTube and Spotify
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Chris Squire's FOoW is an album I'm familiar with, but hadn't heard in ages until today. For some reason it never did a ton for me; I sometimes used to find myself wondering why I am not just listening to a Yes album instead when giving it a spin. My opinion hasn't really changed in that regard.
That said, it was cool to revisit it after so long. It's a solid album, but Squire's vocals aren't as good when he's a lead, and although the compositions are generally pretty engaging and intriguing, my enjoyment can shift a bit throughout the listen. The album is also mood-dependent in that I still just can't imagine reaching for it too often. Overall though the album is good and it's an easy 3.0 stars.
That said, it was cool to revisit it after so long. It's a solid album, but Squire's vocals aren't as good when he's a lead, and although the compositions are generally pretty engaging and intriguing, my enjoyment can shift a bit throughout the listen. The album is also mood-dependent in that I still just can't imagine reaching for it too often. Overall though the album is good and it's an easy 3.0 stars.
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Oh boy... Joanna Newsom's Ys. I have a long history of trying to crack enjoyment out of this album only to fail every time. It's been at least a few years since I've tried though. Well, here goes.
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
There's something about Joanna's voice quality/articulation/enunciation style that I don't really like, but otherwise everything about Ys so far is near musical perfection. I'm only about halfway through but loving the intricate melodies and varied string timbres (the plinky bits in track 3 are heavenly)
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
I've always had that problem too. The problem is that the music historically hasn't reached me either. But I feel like I'm the one missing something. Hopefully I can get it this time.nutella wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:25 pm There's something about Joanna's voice quality/articulation/enunciation style that I don't really like, but otherwise everything about Ys so far is near musical perfection. I'm only about halfway through but loving the intricate melodies and varied string timbres (the plinky bits in track 3 are heavenly)
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
I'm already bored out of my mind.
Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Lies. Squire is my favorite vocalist from Yes (yours is probably Howe ). "Does it Really Happen?" and "Can You Imagine" (huh, two questions) are a couple of Squire's vocal highlights for me. Granted, they came later on, after his male voice had a chance to mature I suppose.MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:22 pm Chris Squire's FOoW is an album I'm familiar with, but hadn't heard in ages until today. For some reason it never did a ton for me; I sometimes used to find myself wondering why I am not just listening to a Yes album instead when giving it a spin. My opinion hasn't really changed in that regard.
That said, it was cool to revisit it after so long. It's a solid album, but Squire's vocals aren't as good when he's a lead, and although the compositions are generally pretty engaging and intriguing, my enjoyment can shift a bit throughout the listen. The album is also mood-dependent in that I still just can't imagine reaching for it too often. Overall though the album is good and it's an easy 3.0 stars.
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
Yeah, those songs are quite good, and I do think his vocal delivery is better on those than on FOoW, but in comparison to Anderson -- it's always an easy choice for me. I'm a Jon Anderson man.Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:12 pmLies. Squire is my favorite vocalist from Yes (yours is probably Howe ). "Does it Really Happen?" and "Can You Imagine" (huh, two questions) are a couple of Squire's vocal highlights for me. Granted, they came later on, after his male voice had a chance to mature I suppose.MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:22 pm Chris Squire's FOoW is an album I'm familiar with, but hadn't heard in ages until today. For some reason it never did a ton for me; I sometimes used to find myself wondering why I am not just listening to a Yes album instead when giving it a spin. My opinion hasn't really changed in that regard.
That said, it was cool to revisit it after so long. It's a solid album, but Squire's vocals aren't as good when he's a lead, and although the compositions are generally pretty engaging and intriguing, my enjoyment can shift a bit throughout the listen. The album is also mood-dependent in that I still just can't imagine reaching for it too often. Overall though the album is good and it's an easy 3.0 stars.
Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
I think Anderson's voice is unique and is critical to the sound of Yes. I've just always liked Squire's a little more. Something about his delivery- a nice, powerful, choir-boy contrast to Anderson's airiness (and maybe because he so rarely got solo spots). Now that neither are in the band...MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:14 pmYeah, those songs are quite good, and I do think his vocal delivery is better on those than on FOoW, but in comparison to Anderson -- it's always an easy choice for me. I'm a Jon Anderson man.Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:12 pmLies. Squire is my favorite vocalist from Yes (yours is probably Howe ). "Does it Really Happen?" and "Can You Imagine" (huh, two questions) are a couple of Squire's vocal highlights for me. Granted, they came later on, after his male voice had a chance to mature I suppose.MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:22 pm Chris Squire's FOoW is an album I'm familiar with, but hadn't heard in ages until today. For some reason it never did a ton for me; I sometimes used to find myself wondering why I am not just listening to a Yes album instead when giving it a spin. My opinion hasn't really changed in that regard.
That said, it was cool to revisit it after so long. It's a solid album, but Squire's vocals aren't as good when he's a lead, and although the compositions are generally pretty engaging and intriguing, my enjoyment can shift a bit throughout the listen. The album is also mood-dependent in that I still just can't imagine reaching for it too often. Overall though the album is good and it's an easy 3.0 stars.
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Re: SAW [Week 35 - "Ys"]
I actually think Yes's vocals are best (and sometimes even transcendent) at the precise harmonic moments when Anderson is lead and Squire is backing partially for the reasons you present here. Your perspective is understandable though.Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:17 pmI think Anderson's voice is unique and is critical to the sound of Yes. I've just always liked Squire's a little more. Something about his delivery- a nice, powerful, choir-boy contrast to Anderson's airiness (and maybe because he so rarely got solo spots). Now that neither are in the band...MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:14 pmYeah, those songs are quite good, and I do think his vocal delivery is better on those than on FOoW, but in comparison to Anderson -- it's always an easy choice for me. I'm a Jon Anderson man.Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:12 pmLies. Squire is my favorite vocalist from Yes (yours is probably Howe ). "Does it Really Happen?" and "Can You Imagine" (huh, two questions) are a couple of Squire's vocal highlights for me. Granted, they came later on, after his male voice had a chance to mature I suppose.MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:22 pm Chris Squire's FOoW is an album I'm familiar with, but hadn't heard in ages until today. For some reason it never did a ton for me; I sometimes used to find myself wondering why I am not just listening to a Yes album instead when giving it a spin. My opinion hasn't really changed in that regard.
That said, it was cool to revisit it after so long. It's a solid album, but Squire's vocals aren't as good when he's a lead, and although the compositions are generally pretty engaging and intriguing, my enjoyment can shift a bit throughout the listen. The album is also mood-dependent in that I still just can't imagine reaching for it too often. Overall though the album is good and it's an easy 3.0 stars.