The Syndicate

Woo! Caught up today. Here are my thoughts on the past two albums as well as this week's.

Mobius Trip - 3.0
First Utterance - 3.5
Faces in the Rocks - 2.5

Bowman was thoroughly pleasant, although a bit rough around the edges. I echo others who said the vocals weren't so great. My enjoyment dipped a bit in the second half of the album as the songwriting got a bit weaker and samey for my taste, but it still was enjoyable overall. I love me some solid synthpop though and this album definitely had its awesome moments. I also was a bit surprised by the instrumental/ambient pieces which were quite enjoyable as well. Overall a good album for sure.

Comus is an old acquaintance of mine as well. I have a weird relationship with folky stuff; it tends to be a more hit or miss area for me (like blues). That said, this one is an incredibly enjoyable listen. Despite knowing this album for a long time and always enjoying it, it never has made it to my favorites, and I think that's just because of my pickiness re: folk and its inconsistency. If all the songs were to the level of "Drip Drip", it'd be a 4.0+ star album for sure. Such an amazing song. I'd say the second half of this album is worse than the first too, but it's strong all throughout. There's a reason this one's so well acclaimed.

As for Mariee Sioux, sad to report that this one did very little for me. I was pretty bored from about two minutes into the first track through the rest of the album. I wouldn't say any of it was even remotely unlikable though, just inoffensive. Maybe I'll give it another try later in the week and see if it elicits some other reaction from me.

First listen of Faces in the Rocks was a bit of a struggle. I put it on while balancing my checkbook. Perhaps the tedious work of personal finances made the music feel tedious. Maybe it was the fact that some of these songs are really long without doing much structurally. Maybe it was some kind of subconscious Eurocentric hatefulness that made me slightly cynical of the artist after hearing countless Native American themes and references (I guess I have a limit to how many references to buffalo and mama bears I can take in at one time). Maybe it was a combination of all three. Either way, by about the halfway point, I was looking forward to it being over.

It's pretty music, but it wasn't engaging me enough while I fiddled with numbers. I'll give it another spin tomorrow.

Listening to Faces in the Rocks right now. I'll give more elaborate thoughts later tonight, but right now I've gotta say this has gotta be some of the most relaxing shit I've ever heard.

I thought I was in the perfect state of mind when I started Faces in the Rocks. I was tired, in a good enough mood and just wanted some downtime. I wanted to throw out my typical philosophy of 'let whatever play alongside whatever I'm doing at the time and judge it as background noise'. Here's a track-by-track evaluation.

The first two albums were very good. The instruments meshed together well and was overall very relaxing. The lyrics didn't do much for me though (though they weren't something I made an effort to focus on). That said, the singer's voice was such a good match for the vibe of the thing that it'd be a waste to exclude it. This is a recurring opinion through pretty much all of the tracks. If I were so inclined, I'd listen to these whenever I was feeling particularly stressed.

Friendboats and Wild Eyes weren't as interesting. Previously, I had the impression that the vocals were being treated as more of an accompaniment to the instrumentals, though in these tracks the vocals were more obtrusive. Wild Eyes was particularly dull, 9 minutes long and it never really seemed to draw me in in the same way the previous tracks did. It's the big exception to my prior thoughts that the vocals were a necessary part of the track.

Bravitzlana Rubakalva wasn't bad. Better than the previous two tracks, but not as good as the two before it. I made more of an effort to focus on the lyrics this time; it was cute. Gonna try keep it up in the next few tracks.

I can't really put my finger on exactly how I felt about Two Tongues. It brought a lot of what I disliked about previous tracks, like obtrusive vocals and a lack of structure, but it had a certain charm to it. It came closest to eliciting some description of an emotional reaction from me.

Bundles came closer to the first two tracks, but it was a lot faster paced which I consider a negative. I don't think these tracks have business being fast paced. It was another long one too, without much in the way of evolution. I started to get a bit bored with the album here.

Flowers and Blood was a thing. Yeah. I was in Discord as it played so it didn't get the same attention as the rest. General opinion: it was nice.

---

I'm a fan of the genre. There wasn't a track that I disliked, though there were only a few that I really, really liked. There might be better albums out there in this genre, but this one does it justice, methinks.

3.75

Just caught up on the last three Rico reviews too. Keep them up, man, they're awesome as always!

Quin wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2017 5:30 am 3.75

>actually listens to something in eons
>gives a rating I've no idea how to convert in a chart that works with stars and half of stars

:blobglare:

I don't recall the previous two tables having needed a recent update, so I didn't bother with re-uploading them this time.

Quin has opened the gates to 3/4 star ratings on the Rico scale.

I'd like to rate Faces in the Rocks at ★★★7/8

I already spend way too much brain power rating things. I know I would love to dig deeper than by 0.5, but I don't even want to tempt myself with that rabbit hole.

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2017 7:09 pm Quin has opened the gates to 3/4 star ratings on the Rico scale.

I'd like to rate Faces in the Rocks at ★★★7/8

To be honest I'd be fine with just integers. Ratings are mostly b/s.

My serious FitR rating is 4 big ones.

My second listen was considerably better than the first. Rather than looking forward to its conclusion, by track six, the novelty of the soft, simple sound had faded for me. As my exposure to folk music has been very limited, I do consider it something of a novelty.

Mariee Sioux's voice reminds me of Delores O'Riordan at times, especially when it's layered for harmony. That's a good thing. The lyrics do become a bit too emphasized in the second half of the album, so I'm with Quin on that front.

I'm back now but not all caught up

Always liked Comus and I've listened to this album countless times - 4.5/5
Mariee Sioux - great voice, pretty album, 4/5. Bundles and Buried In Teeth are my fave tracks.

I just noticed that Mariee Sioux's voice in "Wizard Flurry Home" sounds a lot like Let England Shake era PJ Harvey.

When I was a teenager, I had a thing for Native American music. I didn't like how it was packaged and promoted as "cultural kitsch," if that makes any sense.

Faces in the Rocks isn't what I would call Native American music though. It's Native American-inspired folk music.

What caught my ear were the tempo and rhythmic changes throughout. Just when you've got the pace, it shifts in a brilliant, unexpected way.

The vocal harmonies are ethereal. She has a delivery like Jewel and Grace Slick.

I initially thought the sixth track was a bit silly, but those lyrics are haunting in a way that makes the haunting beautiful. It is my favorite track alongside "Buried in Teeth."

If I could add something, it would be a tad more instrumentation and direction. I felt like I was listening to "Dust in the Wind" on repeat. But eight versions of "Dust in the Wind" like this is all right by me.

4/5

Love this.

Almost done with a first half-attentive listen. Lovely, beautiful, I'll have to listen more to get a rating but it'll be a high one.

I'll have no time to move us forward tomorrow, so I'd appreciate if anyone could take the reigns. Thanks to all gave Mariee Sioux a listen.

*crickets*

I'm going with 4.5 for Faces in the Rocks. I love it.

Tears for Fears are decent but a little lighter than I like my new wave. One of the most 80s sounding albums ever with all that reverb.

3*, Head Over Heels is the best track.

Mobius Trip and Hadron Kaleido - the best parts are the ambient instrumental spacy tracks like the opener, closer & parts of Lies With The Sea. I didn't like the vocals or the electro drums and the whole thing is produced really loud and trebly.

2*

sTOOGES - never been much of a punk rocker but this was a fun listen, it's almost got this chill/low energy vibe to it that most punk doesn't. Sometimes can't understand what Iggy is singing but it fits with the songs. Loose and Dirt are my favourite tracks. strong 3*

Toehider - it's the kind of prog metal I don't like at all (which is virtually all prog metal ), technically impressive but does nothing for me, don't enjoy the compositions or singing. 1.5*

Circlesongs link didn't work for me, still need more listens on the others I've missed

also I swear I posted about Mountain Goats already but don't see anything from me so:

2.5*, I like the instrumentation, ending up not minding the singer's half-talking voice as much as I thought I would, didn't like the "lol I'm so random" lyrics though.

I'm sorry I haven't been more active here myself!

Songs from the Big Chair is a solid synthpop/new wave album. I'd give it a 3.5.

I finished my listens of Marie Sioux, I just never put my thoughts together. I'll take care of that this weekend. It didn't make a big impact on me.

As for Tears for Fears, I was pleasantly surprised. While their sound is completely dated (seriously, there is no chance anyone could misplace the decade any of those songs come from), listening to it within the context of "this is an 80s album" was rewarding. Prior to this listen, I could have only recognized two Tears for Fears songs from listening to them (both on this album). It was nice to hear the full scope of their sound beyond their two songs still played on classic rock stations.

I've always enjoyed "Shout" and not just because of this cover from my high school days...

Just FYI, the next week or two will be highly uncertain in terms of producing reviews, because it's that time of the year again for me to panic that I have to present a PhD update on my progress [spoilers: I have made no progress] and scramble with a week or so left to, uhm, present something. anything...

SLUGTONY CRAPTANO HERE, THE INTERNET'S WORST PHD SCHOLAR...

Nothing to do with either the current or upcoming submissions or the level of investment in them - it's not as if I won't be able to listen to them - but, you know, precious hours be precious. Right now I'm looking at 90% odds of getting no reviewing done this weekend.

I've always liked this album a lot, though that primarily focused on the big three hits (Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Head Over Heels). The rest don't do much for me, but they don't take away from the experience either. They're just there. Overall I give it a 4. It may be top heavy, but that top is really good.

TYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYME FLIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS

I'll keep my remarks brief.

Songs from the Big Chair is my favorite pop album of all time. It was one of several soundtracks to my fondly-remembered childhood, and the skating rink was a frequently visited place of recreation.

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Head Over Heels" are the highlights. This album takes what Tears for Fears did right on their debut (another great album merely overshadowed by its successor) and magnifies it.

If I had any complaint whatsoever, it would be that I wish Smith sang lead more, as I consider him to have the better voice.

This is the best answer to the question, "What did the 80s sound like?"

5/5

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2017 1:48 pm
This is the best answer to the question, "What did the 80s sound like?"

While that may be true, it may still not be a pretty answer to some.

Faces in the Rocks

The first two tracks on this album were really good and they helped set the tone for the entire album. Sioux may be pulling from a portion of her heritage but it never sounds like she's exploiting it. Track three was on the fence between pleasant and good but fell over to the pleasant side. The rest of the album failed to climb back on that fence for me. After three tracks, I was still interested in hearing what the artist brought to the table.

"Bravitzlana Rubakalva" was a curious track, as it brought out the Eastern- and Central European roots of Sioux just a little bit. I think this was the point where the lyrics started to stand out to me in a weird way. They became a little to odd and referential to things that the artist herself only heard from her mother growing up. She didn't grow up on a reservation or surrounded by people of her mother's tribal affiliation. So the cynic in me felt she started making more Native American-sounding references for the sake of sounding more Native American.

While the lyrics started to lose their luster, the music remained good the whole way through. The longer songs lacked much musical variation, which wore me down near album's end. Sometimes simplicity works very well. Stretching simplicity out too long, however, doesn't always work. Here it did not.

I'd say my three favorites are the first three tracks. They set the tone and made a decent first impression. Then the novelty wore off. Yes, I still find this simple, folksy style of music a novelty. I can't help it. I didn't grow up around this kind of stuff so I am biased against it slightly. She's got a good voice but she needs to expand her sound a little.

G-Man Scale: 3.28 out of 5
Rico Scale: 3.5 out of 5

25. A Person - Moor Mother - Fetish Bones / 2016 / Noise/hip hop / 13 tracks / 30:16 / YouTube, Bandcamp, and Spotify

This album is up today. I'll transform this into a proper introduction when time permits.

Also, submit your albums for the next poll.

Ooo I'm eligible again. I submit The Golden Age by Woodkid.

I resubmit Townes Van Zandt

I'm going to go with a choice that will probably make me look like a copycat of Epi, but I've been waiting to suggest this one.

A Flock of Seagulls' debut album, A Flock of Seagulls. This comes with a stipulation though. I am submitting the original, UK release version. It is only available through YouTube. Spotify uses the US release version of the album, which omits a song and has a very different (and in my opinion, inferior) track order.


A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls
Released 4/30/1982
New Wave / Synth-Pop
11 Tracks, 41:06

Songs from the Big Chair

It's amazing what a difference a good pair of headphones makes. I listened to this album several times at work on cheap but mostly decent accessory speakers. When listening to it at home on my good-quality, moderately priced headphones, I was blown away at times by the depth, richness, and fullness of the sound Tears For Fears accomplished here.

Track one, "Shout," is an old favorite, so that was a great way to start things off. I grew to like "The Working Hour" the more I listened to it but it's still a step down from "Shout." "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" has been so overplayed over the years that I couldn't put it on par with "Shout." It's a classic example of the stereotypical 80's sound but it elicits half an eyeroll just because I heard it so many freaking times on the radio growing up.

But, as a product the 80s (and a child of the 90s), this music is part of my cultural DNA. Hearing music like Tears For Fears brings me back to a hard-to-define point of origin. It's not just a cliched throwback to be kept at arms length. I'm old enough to be considered either tail-end Gen-X or proto-Millennial. In some weird way, listening to this stuff is akin to coming home. With good headphones, it was an eye-opener.

Overall, 80s new wave isn't exactly my genre but I can appreciate it for the pop constructions that make it up. I didn't love everything about this album but I was impressed by how well-crafted all these songs are. The only track I didn't consider 'good' or better was "I Believe" because it was too mellow the whole way through and missed some chances to build up to something better.

This is a fine album overall and I can understand anyone who might think it should be taken as is. To pick three though, isn't too difficult. I'd take "Shout," "Mothers Talk," and "Head Over Heals/Broken." I passed on "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" because of the biases I mentioned earlier. Still a fine little pop tune but after the whatever-thousandth time hearing it, I just half to side-step it for something I hadn't heard before.

G-Man Scale: 3.98 out of 5
Rico Scale: 4 out of 5

My submission remains the same.

"The Working Hour" would be #3 for me. "Shout" #4.

Ricochet wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2017 6:10 pm My submission remains the same.

Ditto

So, Moor Mother.

A Person seems to enjoy albums that trigger my tinnitus.

Faces in the Rocks is super pleasant. I feel like I have to be in a certain mood to like it, but I love it.

I don't feel like giving stars for these albums, because I'm mostly listening to songs that other people said were faves. It's all I have time for. I am here and listening though. :P

The thread is properly updated for Fetish Bones.

I'm a bit behind, sorry folks! Intend on catching back up this week.

First thoughts on Fetish Bone:
-lyrically interesting
-compositionally uninteresting
-robot poetry slam
-hostile at times
-makes me yearn for some Rage Against the Machine