fett on 13/12/2007 at 02:06
True dat. It's actually pretty cool that this isn't a music forum, yet most people here listen to similar stuff.
My quick votes are for:
1) NIN - same reasons most others listed
2) WuTang - 8 Diagrams. I think someone else listed this. Just got it this yesterday, but haven't taken it out since, and every single song sticks in your head. Great stuff from a group I thought was dead in the water.
3) Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos. Probably the most technically proficient, pop-sensible, yet brutal metal album of their career.
4) Foo Fighters - still continuing to amaze after all these years.
5) Sixx A.M. (Nikki Sixx) Soundtrack to the Heroin Diaries Scary, dark, and just about the only thing he's ever done that's worth your $15. (I know he was in Motley Crue. Fuck you.)
ercles on 13/12/2007 at 02:13
Quote Posted by N'Al
QotSA - Era Vulgaris:
I was very disappointed by this. Can't really put my finger on why, though. Sorry ercles.
When you consider how this was quite a departure from their stoner rock days with more upbeat syncopated guitar riffs, it's unsurprising that a lot of people really didn't like this cd. As much as I used to enjoy the sinister smooth rock that they used to churn out (I'm thinking songs like Avon, First it Giveth, In My Head), the newer approach that is more of a quick step grungy sound is just more geared to my personal tastes. Without meaning to be patronising (because I hate it when people assume I haven't given a cd a go), have you listened to it much? I didn't really get into it for the first few listens, just because it wasn't what I was expecting...
Tonamel on 13/12/2007 at 02:27
I have the same kind of problem with Caribou's Andorra. I'd probably love the album if I wasn't already such a huge fan of Up In Flames. But instead I just want more of his old sound, and I'm not quite getting it.
As an aside, could "Melody Day" sound any more like the Mamas and the Papas?
Aja on 13/12/2007 at 06:13
Top 7 (yeah seven is all I could do)
1. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
This one had me hooked from the start. I put it on the car and almost got into an accident due to UNCONTROLLABLE DANCING. But it's also subtle and atmospheric, almost ambient at times, with an analogue warmth and a cohesive, deliberate structure. James Murphy's wailing on North American Scum, the pounding beat of Get Innocuous, the kalimbas on the title track, it's the closest thing to a perfect album I can think of. Hands down, the best record of the year.
2. Radiohead - In Rainbows
Truly this is their OK Computer. My discbox has mercifully been dispatched, which means only a few weeks until I get to hear it in all it's uncompressed glory, plus a bonus disc!
3. Stars of the Lid - And Their Refinement of the Decline
Caught somewhere between waking and dreaming, it shifts and wanes, tones blend, harmonize, dissonate, and wash over you like the first rays of the sun creeping up from just beneath the horizon. If you can find the perfect moment, Stars of the Lid is the most incredible music you'll ever hear.
4. The Field - From Here We Go Sublime
Oh god, this album is the musical equivalent of submerging yourself in warm oil. "Luxurious" is a word I stole from Pitchfork but it's so apt that I'm using it anyway. Constructed almost entirely of 1-second samples, it repeats, repeats, repeats, maintaining a consistent electro-tension until the samples finally resolve in sometimes funny, sometimes unsettling directions.
5. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
There's a certain satisfaction I get from listening to this album.. "chewy" is a good word. The songs are interesting and catchy but not exceptional; what really carries them is the sound, these wonderful, articulate tones (including Daniel's voice) are addictive in their own right . And the bonus disc ain't half bad either.
6. Justice - †
YOU WILL DANCE NOW oh yes I will uh uh! This is unapologetic and unsubtle French hedonism. The beat goes douche! douche! and square waves threaten to grind your face off. It's glorious and ostentatious. Justice is music for when God and Satan finally engage in an epic battle over the apocalyptic ruins of the Eiffel Tower.
7. White Stripes - Icky Thump
Loved this when I first bought it along with Sound of Silver. Except I still listen to the latter while Icky Thump mostly sits on the shelf. I want more experimentation, more title track, less Led Zeppelin. That being said, this album was still fantastic for the first few months, and Rag and Bone still gets my pulse up.
Honorable Mentions
Liars - Liars
The jury's still half-out on this one. It isn't as good as the excellent Drum's Not Dead, but it does have some really great, pounding tracks that retain Drum's primal aesthetic while adding new electronics and guitars. Stay tuned for further analysis later on.
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
They're so adorable and so inventive and catchy and I'd probably put this much higher if her voice didn't start to grate on my after a few songs. Still, the opening track plus Matchbook Seeks Maniac are some of the best pop I've heard in the past few years (or is this prog? who knows).
Battles - Mirrored
Parts of this album are amazing, others are excruciating. It's original, but too calculated, too sterile. It feels as though there might be a time when it's exactly what I want to hear, but that hasn't happened yet. That being said,
Single of the Year
* Battles - Atlas
If all of Mirrored were as good as this, it'd be in my top ten. As it is, Atlas is so fucking good but the rest of the album makes me itchy.
Guitar Solo of the Year
* White Stripes - 300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues
at about 2:04.
On the Radar
Ghostface - The Big Doe Rehab
Loved Fishscale, didn't love More Fish (more like less fish haha), so my hopes aren't high but whatever.
Zappa - Wazoo
Yeah yeah I know it's not "relevant" but Zappa doesn't lead me wrong and this is concert material from the early 70s. You don't like it, go eat some yellow snow.
Volcano the Bear - Amidst the Noise and Twigs
Nobody else on the forum knows about these guys, and I probably wouldn't either if the owner of Listen Records wasn't a fan. But they're a great experimental band, and this new record is supposedly more melodic, so I'm kinda excited.
Scots Taffer on 13/12/2007 at 06:32
Ah sorry, I totally forgot a couple. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (06) and Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War.
heretic on 13/12/2007 at 06:53
I can only think of six.
Black Francis - Bluefinger
Dropkick Murphys - Meanest of Times
Meshell Ndegeocello - The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams
Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
PJ Harvey - White Chalk
Puscifer - V is for Vagina
Jackablade on 13/12/2007 at 07:02
Quote Posted by Aja
6.
Justice - †YOU WILL DANCE NOW oh yes I will uh uh! This is unapologetic and unsubtle French hedonism. The beat goes
douche! douche! and square waves threaten to grind your face off. It's glorious and ostentatious.
Justice is music for when God and Satan finally engage in an epic battle over the apocalyptic ruins of the Eiffel Tower.
This is, like, the best description of anything ever.
henke on 13/12/2007 at 07:24
This year has mostly just been dissapointingly mediocre albums from my favourite artists.
Disapointing But Still Good Top 3:
1. Sage Francis - Human The Death Dance
Two years after releasing my fave album of 2005, A Healthy Distrust, he finaly gets the follow-up released and only half the songs live up to the standard set by it's predecessor. The last 6 tracks would make one hell of an EP though.
2. Buck 65 - Situation
Ok, so it's been 3 albums since he made his best work but I was hoping that after the experimentation of Secret House Against The World he'd get his shit together and make something really classic again. Situation is good though, just not great.
3. Björk - Volta
"Declare Independence" almost makes up for all the mediocre stuff here. Almost.
Good stuff, too:
Grinderman - Grinderman
Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight
Jerry and The Outlaws - Jerry and The Outlaws No. 2
A local band that none of you are likely to have heard of em. Good country music with occasionally good lyrics tho.
Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
Still gotta make my mind up about:
Burial - Untrue
What's this? Sounds good. I'm sure Vivian will have something to say about it once he's sobered up.
Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
Got into Wu-Tang via Ghostface Killah's Fishscale(which I got into via MF DOOM) and although I've only had a chance to listen to it once yet there is some nice stuff here. "Unpredictable" is goddamn amazing and "The Heart Gently Weeps" is growing on me.
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
The National - Boxer
Ghostface Killah - Big Doe Rehab
No DOOM? Waaah.
So, a few great songs scatered here and there but not really any great albums this year, as far as I'm concerned.
Next year:
Slipknot's new album and... uh... Scarlet Johansson's album of Tom Waits covers.
N'Al on 13/12/2007 at 10:14
Quote Posted by ercles
When you consider how this was quite a departure from their stoner rock days with more upbeat syncopated guitar riffs, it's unsurprising that a lot of people really didn't like this cd. As much as I used to enjoy the sinister smooth rock that they used to churn out (I'm thinking songs like Avon, First it Giveth, In My Head), the newer approach that is more of a quick step grungy sound is just more geared to my personal tastes. Without meaning to be patronising (because I hate it when people assume I haven't given a cd a go), have you listened to it much? I didn't really get into it for the first few listens, just because it wasn't what I was expecting...
Well, I did buy it on release day (release day in France, that is, don't know whether that makes a difference), so I've had it as long as humanly possible. ;) I've listened to it quite a bit since then, but maybe not as often as I
should have yet. It
has gotten better with repeated listens, I'll say that much.
There's some great tracks on there;
Misfit Love in particular comes to mind - also a great track at QotSA's recent concert in London (although
(http://www.xfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=520364) Feel Good Hit Of The Summer + Rehab was the highlight ;) ). But overall there's too many tracks I'm not too fond of, e.g.
Sick, Sick, Sick.
I promise I'll listen to it again; maybe I reconsider then.
st.patrick on 13/12/2007 at 11:01
Tops:
1. Finntroll - Ur Jordens Djup So good I'm afraid the next album will be a huge disappointment.
2. Siouxsie Sioux - Mantaray That's one damn chilling, sexy, husky voice.
3. Public Enemy - How You sell Soul To Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul Black is back and kicks ass m0r3 7h4n 3v4h!
4. Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker Pedafly got me floating off my chair, then rammed me flat on the flooor
5. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta! not as good as Gypsy Punks, yet delivering all kinds of joyness
6. - 10. In no specific order:
Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead slightly more yeah! songs than meh? songs
Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero have to accept the hard facts, TDS times are gone
Jesu - Conqueror could've been less drowsy
Ministry - The Last Sucker a nice full stop after a successful career
Front Line Assembly - Fallout can't beat their live performance...
Would've made a great single:
Me'Shell NdegéOcello - The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams for The Sloganeer: Paradise
Don't get it at all:
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Aw christ why why why?
Marilyn Manson - Eat Me, Drink Me, Manu Chao - La Radiolina, Therion - Gothic Kabbalah
