Album Wars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Howard the Duck · 07-08-2011, 10:00 AM

i actually have heard of USA, but not heard them

TockTockTock · 07-08-2011, 11:31 AM

After listening to them again, I am going to have to go with the USA album. It's more diverse in terms of its sound, and it incorporates other instruments, such as the electric violin and piano (while leaving out the guitar in the process). I also find it more lyrically interesting than the other two. However, I do agree with Unknown Soldier about White Noise. I find their use of electronics to be much more innovative and mature than the other two albums, but I have to disagree with him on USA... I certainly don't find their utilization of electronics to be random in any way whatsoever -- if that was the case then the entire album wouldn't sound right since they used them in replace of guitars.

Anyways, Cauldron is a great album, too, but it feels like Fifty Foot Hose is just playing jazz and blues-based psychedelic rock over little "spurts" of electronic sound (except for the short pieces like "For Paula" and "Opus 11"). If it had more songs like the title track, then it would be much better...

USA - 1

White Noise - 1

Fifty Foot Hose - 0

It was certainly a hard decision to make... Both White Noise's and USA's debuts are about the same in terms of innovation, interest, and (in my opinion) enjoyment.

~~James~~ · 07-08-2011, 03:24 PM

USA-1
White Noise-2
Fifty Foot Hose-0

White Noise are an awesome band, they don't get enough credit.

bob. · 07-09-2011, 12:49 PM

Delia Derbyshire is a all time hero of mine sooo...

USA - 1
White Noise - 3
Fifty Foot Hose - 0

Electrophonic Tonic · 07-09-2011, 03:50 PM

USA - 2
White Noise - 3
Fifty Foot Hose - 0

These are all great albums, but USA blew my mind when I first heard it. The others are incredible, but that initial reactions for me puts USA over the top.

Blarobbarg · 07-10-2011, 06:12 PM

USA - 3
White Noise - 3
Fifty Foot Hose - 0

Well, after listening, I have to disagree with those voting on White Noise... I didn't like that at all. USA's album was quite enjoyable, and Fifty Foot Hose was a close second. None of them were quite mind blowing, but definitely shocking in their use of electronics in a time when synthesizers were barely invented.

Howard the Duck · 07-13-2011, 03:24 AM

finally downloaded all three:-

Fifty Foot Hose

The most disappointing of them. If they had stuck with the primordial noise rock of the first three trax, I might have loved this more. Instead, they sound mostly like a Jefferson Airplane wannabe (before the two guys went to form Hot Tuna), using jazz and noise to spice up the sound. When the best track is a cover of a jazz standard, you know you got problems. Fail!

USA

Nice! I like this. They infuse their sound with Beach Boys harmonies and interweaving Fairport Convention-ish folk rock guitars. The electronics are mostly background and are not intrusive in any way.

White Noise

Okay. I'll go with this. Ponderous and I love the submerged sound that sounds like it give the inspiration to Lee " Scratch" Perry to use on his ARK productions' records. The experimentation is generally cool and gives a "shoegazer"-like effect on the songs. I had to turn My Game of Loving down because people might think Im watching porn in the office. Again. Only downer? "Firebird" is corrupt maybe someone can help me here? (A zipped file of that song would be nice)

So:-

USA - 3
White Noise - 4
Fifty Foot Hose - 0

Zer0 · 07-15-2011, 03:23 PM

Looks like we're not going to get anymore votes so White Noise wins that one.

Next up, courtesy of Electrophonic Tonic:

Vanilla Fudge - Vanilla Fudge (1967)

VS

It's a Beautiful Day - It's a Beautiful Day (1969)

VS

Traffic - Traffic (1968)

"A battle of psychedelic, eponymous albums"

Get voting peeps, and please don't forget to give an explanation for your choices.

Blarobbarg · 07-15-2011, 08:58 PM

Downloaded... they look really cool, always loved psychedilia.

On that note, I'd like to point out that Traffic is not the debut album for the band. It is their second album.

Electrophonic Tonic · 07-16-2011, 12:01 AM

I am going to remove myself from the voting since it's my album war. But if anyone needs audio and can't find good downloads online, just send me a PM. I've had trouble finding a quality rip of 'It's a Beautiful Day' on my initial, limited search, just to see what's out there. But hopefully you guys find something that works.

I do apologize for not realizing Traffic was not the debut. I just looked at my music library and didn't double check. But they're still eponymous, psychedelic albums.

Spoiler for But if I did vote....:

07-08-2011, 11:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
TockTockTock They/Them Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,914	After listening to them again, I am going to have to go with the USA album. It's more diverse in terms of its sound, and it incorporates other instruments, such as the electric violin and piano (while leaving out the guitar in the process). I also find it more lyrically interesting than the other two. However, I do agree with Unknown Soldier about White Noise. I find their use of electronics to be much more innovative and mature than the other two albums, but I have to disagree with him on USA... I certainly don't find their utilization of electronics to be random in any way whatsoever -- if that was the case then the entire album wouldn't sound right since they used them in replace of guitars. Anyways, Cauldron is a great album, too, but it feels like Fifty Foot Hose is just playing jazz and blues-based psychedelic rock over little "spurts" of electronic sound (except for the short pieces like "For Paula" and "Opus 11"). If it had more songs like the title track, then it would be much better... USA - 1 White Noise - 1 Fifty Foot Hose - 0 It was certainly a hard decision to make... Both White Noise's and USA's debuts are about the same in terms of innovation, interest, and (in my opinion) enjoyment. Last edited by TockTockTock; 07-08-2011 at 11:41 AM.

07-09-2011, 12:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	Delia Derbyshire is a all time hero of mine sooo... USA - 1 White Noise - 3 Fifty Foot Hose - 0 __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

07-15-2011, 03:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Zer0 ∞ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,792	Looks like we're not going to get anymore votes so White Noise wins that one. Next up, courtesy of Electrophonic Tonic: Vanilla Fudge - Vanilla Fudge (1967) VS It's a Beautiful Day - It's a Beautiful Day (1969) VS Traffic - Traffic (1968) "A battle of psychedelic, eponymous albums" Get voting peeps, and please don't forget to give an explanation for your choices. __________________ Last FM \| RYM \| The Final Sound Last edited by Zer0; 07-16-2011 at 05:33 AM.

07-16-2011, 12:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	I am going to remove myself from the voting since it's my album war. But if anyone needs audio and can't find good downloads online, just send me a PM. I've had trouble finding a quality rip of 'It's a Beautiful Day' on my initial, limited search, just to see what's out there. But hopefully you guys find something that works. I do apologize for not realizing Traffic was not the debut. I just looked at my music library and didn't double check. But they're still eponymous, psychedelic albums. Spoiler for But if I did vote....: Vanilla Fudge.

07-08-2011, 03:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
~~James~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,483	USA-1 White Noise-2 Fifty Foot Hose-0 White Noise are an awesome band, they don't get enough credit.

07-09-2011, 03:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	USA - 2 White Noise - 3 Fifty Foot Hose - 0 These are all great albums, but USA blew my mind when I first heard it. The others are incredible, but that initial reactions for me puts USA over the top.

07-10-2011, 06:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	USA - 3 White Noise - 3 Fifty Foot Hose - 0 Well, after listening, I have to disagree with those voting on White Noise... I didn't like that at all. USA's album was quite enjoyable, and Fifty Foot Hose was a close second. None of them were quite mind blowing, but definitely shocking in their use of electronics in a time when synthesizers were barely invented.

07-15-2011, 08:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	Downloaded... they look really cool, always loved psychedilia. On that note, I'd like to point out that Traffic is not the debut album for the band. It is their second album.