The "Recommended by" thread

Trollheart · 03-29-2014, 02:15 PM

Lost in the dream --- The War on Drugs --- Recommended by Watmoo

I had never even heard of this band before but based on the rec I thought I'd listen to it. From the first track I loved it and it just got better with each song. I don't think there's anything on it I didn't like. I heard elements of Prefab Sprout, Deacon Blue, Passenger, Waterboys and of course Dylan in this, a great mix of styles and influences, and yet TWOD have their own unique sound.

"Under the pressure" is a great opener, and I really like the ballad "Suffering", although I don't really see the qualities other reviewers are giving the album, with a lot of stuff about emotions, lost innocence and so on. Probably comes from not reading too deeply into the lyrics, or indeed, reading them at all.

But none of that stops this being a top album which I will return to again and again.

Rec rating: 8.5/10

Trollheart · 03-29-2014, 02:21 PM

Singles --- Future Islands --- Recommended by YorkeDaddy and James.

This came highly recommended as you can see, and when it started up I really liked the sound, thought here we go with another discovery on the level of Chvrches. But then the singing began. I tried, I really did. I got about five tracks in before I decided I'd had enough. The singer's voice just grated on me like nails on a blackboard and I couldn't handle it. A real pity, as I was digging the music. But if I can't listen to the singer then I can't listen to the album, is how it is.

If he had even shared vocal duties with another person on some of the tracks I might have been able to ignore his annoying voice, but he seems to do all the singing himself. I'm sure it's not that he's a bad singer, just his voice went right through me. So unfortunately I'll have to chalk this up as one which may have gotten away.

Rec rating: 7/10 for the music but after the singing began, 2/10

03-29-2014, 02:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Lost in the dream --- The War on Drugs --- Recommended by Watmoo I had never even heard of this band before but based on the rec I thought I'd listen to it. From the first track I loved it and it just got better with each song. I don't think there's anything on it I didn't like. I heard elements of Prefab Sprout, Deacon Blue, Passenger, Waterboys and of course Dylan in this, a great mix of styles and influences, and yet TWOD have their own unique sound. "Under the pressure" is a great opener, and I really like the ballad "Suffering", although I don't really see the qualities other reviewers are giving the album, with a lot of stuff about emotions, lost innocence and so on. Probably comes from not reading too deeply into the lyrics, or indeed, reading them at all. But none of that stops this being a top album which I will return to again and again. Rec rating: 8.5/10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-29-2014, 02:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Singles --- Future Islands --- Recommended by YorkeDaddy and James. This came highly recommended as you can see, and when it started up I really liked the sound, thought here we go with another discovery on the level of Chvrches. But then the singing began. I tried, I really did. I got about five tracks in before I decided I'd had enough. The singer's voice just grated on me like nails on a blackboard and I couldn't handle it. A real pity, as I was digging the music. But if I can't listen to the singer then I can't listen to the album, is how it is. If he had even shared vocal duties with another person on some of the tracks I might have been able to ignore his annoying voice, but he seems to do all the singing himself. I'm sure it's not that he's a bad singer, just his voice went right through me. So unfortunately I'll have to chalk this up as one which may have gotten away. Rec rating: 7/10 for the music but after the singing began, 2/10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 03-29-2014 at 06:27 PM.