Sorry if you feel that way, but I never meant to blatantly judge the music. I was just expressing how I felt about what I've listened to. Just because I feel a certain way doesn't mean I won't end up liking it. I didn't like Hendrix right away but that took some time. Also (and you're probably going to deny this), you seem to be a very patronizing person from my experience with speaking with you. Some of the comments that I see you post seem to aim at provoking another individual. Of course, you'll deny this or respond with some sarcastic remark (maybe I'm just over-predicting it). Would it kill you to be a bit nicer instead of laughing or saying something a bit patronizing towards someone?

I'm sorry for finding your comments funny Jack Pat. I'll be sure to take everything you say super-seriously in the future.

I rest my case.

:laughing:

It's a great record. Not to review it advance. Learn to love it!

Watch out or he'll accuse you of being patronizing!

I'd always assumed the point of such a group was to force you out of your comfort zone. That's generally what the purpose of avant-garde music is (as a blanket statement, of course). In order to truly introduce and reinforce new forms of the avant-garde, they need to be given a fair shot. Perhaps if you download this, you'll learn to appreciate noisier, more improvisational and more angular works. Perhaps not. But you'll gain the experience, the ability to discuss it intelligently, and you'll know you've given the genre the old college try.

Had I known I might not like Flux, I probably still would've downloaded it, as I want to contribute something to this group (it's tight-nit enough as it is!) and maybe I'd find something to enjoy.

I never said I wasn't going to give it a try. I was just saying how I felt. You're definitely right, though.

EDIT: By the way, this isn't the 1989 re-release is it? It has the same album cover but it's not labeled as such.

So I already asked this in another thread, but would you like me to add polls to discussion threads so that you can rate these albums? Personally, I don't really like to rate numerically or whatever, but maybe it would be helpful for some like OccultHawk pointed out. However, for those curious about these albums I feel it would be more helpful to read our comments than to just check our ratings.

But, anyway, what do you say? Rating polls or no rating polls?

I'd like it, as long as it involved words rather than numbers. I'd much rather say the album is excellent than '4.0/5.0!!!'. Numbers have a tendency to obscure meanings due to their subjective value, whereas the definitions of words are set and can't be tampered with much beyond a slight tweak.

Yeah that's what I had in mind actually, words not the actual numbers. OK I'll think of the format and a number of options.

Yeah, I'm on board for that idea. And agree with Clutnuckle about using words as opposed to numerical value.

I would say that this description is the exact opposite of the actual relationship between words and numbers. I do agree that I don't want to start rating albums numerically though.

How about 7 options? 4 positive 3 negative, more or less...because when something is crap I don't really feel the need to differentiate how much crap it is. Anyway since this won't be only my rating system, I've decided to include the usual descriptive words:

masterpiece
excellent
very good
solid
average
poor
crap

Now, about masterpiece, I realize this is hard to give to an album you've only listened to a couple of times, but I thought it should be there like the absolute highest value.
Average, this word gives me a vibe that something is, how should I say, meh, leaves me indifferent and to me that's sometimes worse than crap. So, that's more on the negative side. But, since I'm not a native English speaker, is that how this word sounds to you?

If you have some suggestions about number of options or choice of words, speak up.

I'm not so sure I'm a fan of the ratings idea in general. I mean, I are we actually even reviewing albums here or are we just kind of commenting on them?

Well, I'm not a fan of ratings either, but I thought maybe people would like to have that option. As for the other thing, anything goes, reviews, comments, debating, rating... I would just like, if I include the rating, that people also write something and then rate, if they want that option. Discussing should be the priority.

Why not try the rating system just once and see how it goes? Afterwards, you can gather opinions and the club as a whole can make a decision. Right now, I'm 50/50 on the idea so I can't really contribute to this discussion

The new poll is up!

Fine.

^^Hahaha, you really want Branca. Should I vote for my own suggestion then?

Bring it on home!

Lame! I already KNOW The Ascension is fantastic, I want something else... :(

The only Glenn Branca I actually own (or really listened to is Symphony #2). I bought it on cassette by phone order way back. I remember asking the guy on the phone if the guys in Sonic Youth play on that one and he called out to someone else saying 'Hey, do you know if Thurston or Lee played on #2?' I guess he said they did because that was the one I ended up buying. Still mixed in with hundreds of other cassettes. I really don't know why I didn't get it all instead of almost none. I still have things that need to be rectified and that's one of them. Downloading a bunch of Branca.

*cough* Thevelvetundergroundandnico

I already know that's awesome as well.

I was gunning for something new... Oh well. Perhaps this'll give me a chance to wax poetic about one of my old favorites.

I was just kidding. I don't know anyone on this site who hasn't listened to that album yet.

It's clear who wins this round...

Fortunately, I haven't listened to the Ascension.

I wish I hadn't. A month ago, I got on a No Wave tangent and listened to a lot of Branca, Contortions, early Sonic Youth, DNA (great band - highly suggest you check them out), etc. I went ahead and voted on it anyways, though, because OccultHawk has been dying to listen to it. Plus, it'll be fun to discuss.

Sorry for the delay, I couldn't make it earlier. I'll make AMM thread in a few...

This week's listening is Glenn Branca - The Ascension (1981)

I added rating polls to all album discussion threads. I decided to go with 6 options, so 'excellent' is the highest mark. You can vote if you like.

somebody ship me over a link?

^Sent! If anyone else wants it, let me know.

The poll is open!

Partch gets my vote

I hate to say it, but sampling the stuff on this list isn't very encouraging. A lot of silly crap. Everything I've heard from Partch leads me to believe he's nothing but a moronic goofball.

That couldn't be anymore further from the truth...

Voted for Kallaps.

I'm voting for Partch then :D

Btw, feel free to suggest some album.

That is a great record. I've heard listened to it countless times but still it's true it is awesome.

OK

I'll recommend something

Gum - Vinyl

http://monochromevision.ru/catalog/i...0Anthology.jpg

please note the track listing

Gum - Vinyl (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs

That was the original release but in all likelyhood people will end up downloading the full Anthology should this win but my suggestion is for the tracks on the original release only

Gum : Vinyl Anthology

^Oooh, that sounds like a great one. The comparisons to Philip Jeck definitely make it seem pretty appealing to me. Plus you can't go wrong with a song called "Testicle Stretch" can you?

My vote next week is going to that for sure. Seems incredibly interesting. In fact, I'm pretty tempting to go snooping for it right now...