The "Recommended by" thread

[Isbjørn]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

It's like someone trying, unsuccessfully, to do a really bad English accent.

She's Scottish, and the Scottish accent is cute.

Seems like our opinions on the album are vastly different. I loved it and thought there wasn't one bad song, and that her singing was the best part.

[Trollheart]

Doesn't sound at all Scottish to me.
But like you say, we're poles apart in opinion and I appear to be in the minority, which is no surprise. I'm not dissing the album; I just couldn't get past that voice.

[Trollheart]

XO --- Elliot Smith --- Recommended by Ki and Briks

I expected big things from this album, and I certainly don't want to throw dirt into the eyes of anyone's hero, but I just don't get it. I'm not saying the album is bad, because it isn't, but it's just good, as far as I can see. Not great, not lifechanging, and certainly not, as both the above guys have claimed, the perfect album.

Maybe you need to know more about the guy, or be into his music for a while, but all I heard was a decent songwriter with some weak tracks on an okay album. I thought I would be able to say "Wow! I see why these guys love this!" but I did not. And it wasn't for a lack of trying. It just didn't grab me.Not only that, but as I accidentally let the selection run on I also got another album (think it was "Either/or") plus about four tracks off his s/t, so it's not like you could even say that was a poor example (though given the above comment from the lads that would never seem to have been the case anyway).

There were some great tracks, some good tracks and some poor ones. Like any other album. It was good. It was okay. But I'd be waiting before trying to get into his music again. Bit of a disappointment for me.

Rec rating: I'll be respectful of the guys and award it a decent 6/10, but I can't really justify anything higher than that.

(Sits back and waits for the backlash...)

[Goofle]

6/10 is about right on mine.

[Isbjørn]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

(Sits back and waits for the backlash...)

I'll try to be nice. I'm a little disappointed, but not at all surprised. You're a prog/hard rock guy, right? So I guess this isn't really your type of music, and that's alright. But if you find yourself in the mood for mood for some sad, sappy, non-progressive indie pop, give him another try, please? You're missing out.

[Anteater]

XO is more of an 8/10 for me. The thing I've always liked about Elliot Smith (particularly here) are all those classic power-pop influences floating in and out like the tide that he filters through his own charisma. You can tell he's a huge Beatles, Todd Rundgren (and probably Jeff Lynne) fan, and that's a good thing.

I'm up for recommendations right now by the way, and I'm open to any genre.

[Isbjørn]

Originally Posted by Anteater

XO is more of an 8/10 for me. The thing I've always liked about Elliot Smith (particularly here) are all those classic power-pop influences floating in and out like the tide that he filters through his own charisma. You can tell he's a huge Beatles, Todd Rundgren (and probably Jeff Lynne) fan, and that's a good thing.

I'm up for recommendations right now by the way, and I'm open to any genre.

I immediately thought "The Beatles!" upon hearing the song "Independence Day" for the first time. They must've influenced him somehow.

[neardeathexperience]

Arkells "High Noon". Fresh pop songs written by people who still understand what Friday night means to the youth of today!

[Pet_Sounds]

I've had several recommendations from MB, and quite a few of them have turned out well. I don't have time for a full album review of any of the bands now, but I'll post one soon if I can find the time.

Briks turned me onto Elliot Smith recently. I am now hooked.

When I first joined, Frownland and DriveYourCarDownToTheSea recommended Tame Impala. Also hooked.

Black Francis gave me a Pixies recommendation, and while I'm not hooked to the extent of the above two, I'm enjoying them.

[Key]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

XO --- Elliot Smith --- Recommended by Ki and Briks

I expected big things from this album, and I certainly don't want to throw dirt into the eyes of anyone's hero, but I just don't get it. I'm not saying the album is bad, because it isn't, but it's just good, as far as I can see. Not great, not lifechanging, and certainly not, as both the above guys have claimed, the perfect album.

Maybe you need to know more about the guy, or be into his music for a while, but all I heard was a decent songwriter with some weak tracks on an okay album. I thought I would be able to say "Wow! I see why these guys love this!" but I did not. And it wasn't for a lack of trying. It just didn't grab me.Not only that, but as I accidentally let the selection run on I also got another album (think it was "Either/or") plus about four tracks off his s/t, so it's not like you could even say that was a poor example (though given the above comment from the lads that would never seem to have been the case anyway).

There were some great tracks, some good tracks and some poor ones. Like any other album. It was good. It was okay. But I'd be waiting before trying to get into his music again. Bit of a disappointment for me.

Rec rating: I'll be respectful of the guys and award it a decent 6/10, but I can't really justify anything higher than that.

(Sits back and waits for the backlash...)

Nothing wrong with not feeling the same way about an album as others do. If it helps, it took a few listens after my first initial listen to really feel a deep connection with this album. Elliott Smith is one of the few artists that I can really feel the pain through his lyrics because part of me feels like in some way, it's related to things i've been through. It's difficult to explain. He's just someone that I have a deep connection with and he'll never know it.