Albums that surprised you
 

Either in a good or bad way, albums that you either never intended to listen to and ended up doing so, or tried for whatever reason, and which either reinforced or changed your view of the artiste and/or their music.

I'd have to say that
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...s_Memories.jpg
was a big surprise to me. Expected to hate it, to sneer what's all the fuss, but ended up really loving it. After I had resisted long enough and gave in, and then wondered why I had waited so long...

You are just on a role with threads aren't ya? Anyway, I probably have a few to list off, but I'll just keep it simple.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...etalDomain.png
Cannibal Corpse - A Skeletal Domain

It took me a while to finally get around to listening to this album, and most of the stalling was due to me just not liking Cannibal Corpse that much, if at all. I found their previous albums very bland and mediocre and didn't interest me much. However, upon hearing this album, I was shocked to find that I do enjoy it quite a bit. Definitely doesn't change my opinion about the band in general, but I can say that I do like an album of theirs now.

Re: Random Access Memories...yeah, sometimes it's hard to like the Grammy Album of the Year ;)

For me, it's this one:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-_Paracosm.png

An erstwhile friend used to mostly recommend shit to me, but this is one of the gems.

I don't know what I was expecting before I listened to Trout Mask Replica, but I was surprised and perplexed all the same.

I really thought that I'd hate Death Grips like a lot, but Exmilitary was definitely an album that I still play in near constant rotation.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iPtPo8Sa3NE

For me, it wasnt an album but an entire band: Marilyn Manson

I didnt like their whole "shock value" mentality and took an immediate dislike without listening to them , and I so so so wanted to keep on hatin' ---- then, in the late 2000s, I discovered that (musically and as an entertainment entity), they are absolutely phenomenal. Too bad I wasted all that hate energy for all those years......

One recently was Billie Holiday. I didn't really think much of the concept of vocal jazz. I was so serious about the creativity of the music, I missed the beauty of it. I now think she is one of the most beautiful humans to have ever lived thanks to Body & Soul.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V748PYV9L.jpg

Spent 40 years of my life thinking the Grateful Dead were a boring noodle band with no real songs that you could enjoy without being out of your mind on LSD. This album changed that for me completely. I know most people are not interested but it's a great place to start if you are interested in giving them a try. I am not one of those people that listen to a ton of them, I couldn't tell you what shows are good or what year they are from by listening. But I do like them.

^when you're out of your mind on LSD, everything is amazing

I came in here to post this. I cannot get into rap/hip hop for some reason... it's either the lyrics or something else. I love Death Grips though and the stuff people play in plug like Public Enemy.

It took me a long time ti warm up to hip-hop, but I can say that I find quite a bit really appealing. Have you tried out MF DOOM yet,

Not yet but he is another artist that I planned on checking out. I'll check him out tonight or tomorrow and post my thoughts somewhere.

Well, I was in a huge antique emporium looking through literal mountains of vinyl, when I found "Rock and Roll Survivors" by Fanny. I'd heard of the band, so I decided to give it a shot. I thought it would be awful, but I actually really liked it. And yeah, out of the huge mountains of vinyl, that was the only album I bought that day, although I did get a Paul Revere and the Raiders 45 as well.

Cool can't wait to see what you think I suggest Operation: Doomsday, or Mm... Food.

I suppose I never expected to fall in love with Lana Del Rey. But generally I think I have gone into most other albums with an open mind, so if they were good it wasn't exactly a surprise.

As for albums I didn't like: Good Kid Mad City is probably the big one for me. I love his first two projects, and fully expected that trend to continue. The funny thing is, I'd probably enjoy it more if I gave it a few more listens now, but I can't be arsed.

in a negative way, probably anything from Sun O))) or Swans. Both seem like bands that I should love, but for whatever reason, don't. Swans I atleast see myself becoming closer to liking, but Sun O))) I just cant find anything redeeming there to continue to try. meh oh well.

I actually cant think of something ive been super surprised that I ended up loving atm tho. usually I go into things expecting that ill like it.

It took me a long ass time to get into Swans and after a while a lot of it started to click with me, the best I can say is listen to them in short bursts over time and it might be more easing.

Kind of agree on Sunn O)). Even when they did albums with Scott Walker and Ulver, both of which I love, they didn't do anything for me.

That album with Ulver is so rank. Not listened to the Scott Walker one yet.

Heard some good stuff about the Scott Walker one at least. Only gave it one listen, but it was a task.

With Sunn O))) I find that I really have to be in the right mood for them. Black One can sound good with headphones and it almost reminds me of walking through a creepy forest on my own late at night, surrounded by weird sounds and having that feeling of being followed.

Yeah, they do unsettle their listeners well. I must admit if I am high I tend to get up to change any Sunn O))) song because they freak me a little.

I like a lot of drone music, but if I wanted to be really bored by a drone album I'd listen to Earth 2: Special Low Frequency Version. I was expecting it to be amazing because of all I had read about it. But it really surprised me how bloody boring it was.

I think if anything, itll be the 80s Swans that I end up liking. it's just everytime I listen to that stuff (Filth f.ex), I don't hate it, I just feel like id rather hear something else. And basically every album of theirs ive heard past that has sounded pretty lame to me. The Seer was one of the worst albums of last year imo, like it was a parody on the genre or something. and I am likely never going to listen to their newest. Just not my bag.

Earth is another good shout for being a wayyy overrated drone outfit. But i think maybe the reason i don't like Sun O))) that much is because people keep telling me that theyre so unsettling and stuff, but it has always underwhelmed in that regard. might've just been my expectations that were really high, but there are other, more creepy stuff out there i guess.

I feel you should listen to To Be Kind. It's yards better than The Seer and just an album that feels really important.

Personally the 80 ' stuff is a bit dated sounding dare I say it, I liked The Seer a lot and To Be Kind was amazing, but if it's not your cup of tea then yeah I wouldn't really expect you to like it. I didn't really like what I heard of Earth tbh, but I really like Jesu a lot.

really? i heard it was pretty similar to the seer, and when i heard that i immediately become completely uninterested.

It's not a vast change in style, but it's much higher quality.

I agree. Keep going back to that one more than other Swans.

i may check it out eventually, but im not really in a rush to tbh. I don't really like Soundracks either, and i know that gets a lot of praise. i really don't have high expectations for this one.

The Seer focused a lot more on folk instrumentation and the Gothic sensibility of their 90's output while adding a lot of drone element as well. To Be Kind focuses on drone still they keep the very long slow moving songs, but with a lot heavier and groove orientated take. It's a really awesome album I'd suggest it.

I'll be giving To Be Kind another listen in a few days. It just didn't touch me the first time around.

Soundtracks is my favourite album of all time, potentially. So maybe you shouldn't listen to me haha!

I heard A Little God In My Hands when it first came out, and I hated it only many listens and many months layer did I say oh well that's kind of ****ing awesome.

hm maybe i should just so i can tell you how bad it is along with your taste in music :0

Cheers. Btw, I fixed your asterisk-ed word above.

Ah thanks looks loads better. :laughing:

Feisty <3

I knew you'd come around!

Four Year Strong - Go Down In History [EP] [2014] [Pop Punk]
I probably wouldn't listen to Four Year Strong if I wasn't extremely nostalgic for it. However, their new EP went back to their old sound and is their best yet. It's really happy yet aggressive, energetic , very catchy and very cheesy, yet it's not making me cringe like New Found Glory would. Oh and the lyrics might not be all that good but at least they're not songs about girlfriends and ex girlfriends, so I'm okay with it.