Cool. Pretty much what I should have expected.

Got another suggestion:

Charles Manson - Lie: The Love and Terror Cult
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41oqwEAVjaL.jpg

And yes, it is actually by Charles Manson.

I actually like this album, he has talent... It's a bit like, you know, say what you will about the Nazis, but they were sharp dressers.

Grimes - Art Angels

when the true loves are just tooooo easyyyyy

Not to mention the trains ran on time, there were no strikes, etc etc .... ;)

http://cdn.discogs.com/F-4UmB_myCNp_...-9786.jpeg.jpg
Title: Die the Nightmare
Artiste: Pat “The Bunny” Schneeweis
Genre: Punk?
Familiarity: Zero

1. First song: Punk? Punk? It's acoustic folky music. I like it. Very catchy, lyric is hilarious.
2. More about alcoholism: Yeah I can hear the punk here; much faster, angrier, still acoustic though. This is quite interesting.
3. We are all compost in training: Yeah this is good. The only problem is that when all the tracks are a little clever/funny the joke may begin to wear thin before the album is over. But we'll see.
4. From here to Utopia (Song for the desperate): Great riff to this, reminds me in ways of Springsteen's “Open all night”. Probably the best track yet.
5. Never coming home (Song for the guilty): Slower kind of lament. Nice.
6. Vampires are poseurs (Song for the living): Great title anyway. Good start. It's more uptempo, but it doesn't really live up to the promise of the title.
7. Of ballots and barricades: Yeah it's okay but I'm kind of losing interest now.
8. Bitter old man: So, he wrote a song about me, did he? Nice and uptempo. Other than that, meh.
9. Your heart is a muscle the size of your fist: Yeah it's okay but I'm finding it hard to care now.
10. First song (Part 2): Yeah, just bored now.

End result: It's good but the novelty soon wore off and I was just left waiting for it to end.

So, Love or Hate? Nothing more than a Meh here I'm afraid.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...lbum_cover.jpg
Title: Roots
Artiste: Curtis Mayfield
Genre: Soul/R&B
Familiarity: Who doesn't know of Curtis? Saw him on the OGWT from the 70s; very uplifting performance. Haven't heard much at all from him though.

1. Get down: Sort of opens like a steam train coming into the station, then some very Santanaesque guitar gets the song going, some great brass coming in. Great sense of togetherness, brotherhood in the song. Certainly brings the funk.
2. Keep on keeping on: More soulful and laidback to a degree, kind of reminds me in ways of “What's happenin'?” Great backing vocals. Again the brass is excellent.
3. Underground: Very soft vocal, almost spoken; seems to be an early eco-song. Nice soft tribal style drums. Definitely see a correlation between this and what Marvin was doing. Real kind of shuffle to it.
4. We got to have peace: Man, there was certainly optimism back then wasn't there? Between himself and Marvin they really hoped for the future and tried to build a better world. Love the keys in this and the short sax solo. And the longer sax outro.
5. Beautiful brother of mine: Sort of an idea of a Bond movie about this. Funks along nicely. Some fine orchestration. Great stuff at the end there, sounds like synth but were they using synth in 1971?
6. Now you're gone: Ooh yeah! Sing them blues, Curtis! This is obviously the big ballad. Again that orchestra adds its punch in just the right moments and never swamps the production like some later bands. It's a vehicle for Curtis's voice, not an excuse for it or something to hide behind.
7. Love to keep you in mind: Kind of a feel like a Mariachi ballad, with the trumpets going. Not bad, but maybe not as strong as some of the other tracks. Won't spoil a perfect record though; it's worth a Green of anyone's money.

End result: Superb and important soul album from the glory days of r&B, when the genre actually meant what it stood for, not just for where the singer came from or how many Grammys they had won. Destiny's Child? Give me a break! This music MEANT something. Excellent stuff.

So, Love or Hate? Well, it has to be a Love, don't it? Micco is, as I said already, turning into my sensei for soul and r&b...

Replace my Mr. Bungle track with this one since the full album has been recommended to you now (it's wildly different from Disco Volante, in case you were afraid of that).

Gonjasufi - Kobwebz

It's on Spotify, but for some reason that's the only track from the album that's not available on Youtube.

I'm afraid of nothing!

Except spiders, wasps, strange sounds at night, getting old, the gathering darkness....

To give a bit of backround on this album, these are all stripped down acoustic versions of Pat's album Live The Dream which is much more fleshed out in sound. I like this album, but Live The Dreams kicks serious ass I recommend trying that one out as well if you ever get the chance to.

http://www.trollheart.com/Almanac.png
Title: Almanac
Artiste: The Deaf Aids
Genre: Electronic
Familiarity: I've heard I think two of Plainview's albums before...

1. Inertia: Nice, very nice sax opening then some feedback or something. Weird guitar stuff? This is why I don't like Plainview's music and Frownland probably does: he starts off with a good melody and then starts messing and experimenting. I'm sure it's very clever but it's not something I like to listen to personally. One more reason why I intend to stop accepting recs for people's personal albums. This isn't too bad to be fair.
2. Let's be lonely together: This has some nice synthwork; something phasing? Sounds pretty good when it falls back to just that sound. Then other synths come in. Still quite pleasant. Some sampled sounds now? Voices? Gaining in intensity. This all works quite well. Peppy synth coming back in and the beat is picking up. Yeah, like this one.
3. Packed in: Big kind of roaring wind sound, then either heavy steps or breathing, and what sounds like milk bottles being tapped. Vocoder? Heavy (looped?) piano, very bassy. Few samples coming together. Milk bottles are back. Kind of a honking synth taking the tune mostly. More bassy piano as it ends. Badly, I'm afraid.
4. You are not awake: Shark in the water! Get out of the water! And he's playing a solo on a guitar too! Samply synth added in now and I think that may be digital piano now? That's quite nice, then there's something like a spaceship flying to and fro, unless it's whalesong. Guitar is back now. Same solo so assume that's a sample. Gone now. Piano only. Bippy synth on the edges. Went into something of a dirge, which was annoying, then ended on that piano again.
5. Perfect plastic replica: Has a little more of a cohesive feel of tuneful melody about it but still not really the kind of thing I want to listen to I'm afraid. Bit plodding too.
6. Erase me: Nice sort of Supertramp-y sax with a kind of industrial vibe. That could have been harmonica just now. Or possibly not. Nice combination of synth and piano there at the end.
7. Alienation: Making a cup of coffee? Then climbing the stairs? Yeah, this one is a little too weird. Nice funky bass, but again for me the tune doesn't go anywhere or do anything. I know it doesn't have to, but I prefer it to. Some nice interesting samples change it up, but they just kind of add to the overall weirdness. But then again, I suppose it is called “Alienation”. Did he just use the Windows start sound? :laughing:
8. Fog: Has that Floyd “On the run” sound about it. Is that sampled? No, he wouldn't do that! Nice peppy horns or synth. Pretty cool really.
9. Reheated: Kind of sounds like a pig got loose in the studio! And a guy walking around with a tuba chasing it, trying to catch it. Put the tuba down man! You'll have a much better chance that way! :laughing: Gone into a slower, more laidback groove now and it sounds like the pig has been replaced by a dog. That's definitely harmonica though. Nice sort of strings keys at the end. I'll actually change this from White to Orange.
10. I don't want any trouble: This has a nice sort of slow, orchestral feel to it, then something like glass harp, though I'm sure it's not. Nice melody throughout mostly. One of my favourites here. Like the way it speeds up almost techno-lite at the end.
11. Kids in glass cages: Nice mix of a sort of industrial feel merging with an older lounge music/jazz thing. Pretty cool closer really.

End result: Well of all Plainview's music I've listened to this is the first I've actually been able to pick out some tracks on which I liked. Which is not to say his music is bad, not at all, just usually not my kind of thing. This still isn't, not really, but it's definitely the best of his I've listened to.

So, Love or Hate? One step up then. Not a Love but a good strong Like.

i honestly thought you might have enjoyed the Skinny Puppy album a little more :)

http://cdn.discogs.com/ktEZKJYRCMpGu...54115.jpeg.jpg
Ride - Nowhere

i feel like pushing your shoegaze sensibility :)

Just to show you that you won't necessarily hate all metalcore.


Protest the Hero - Fortress


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61bl2SKK5NL.jpg

Protest the Hero is great. I prefer their first album over this, though. Not all metalcore is awful, but I don't consider Protest as traditional metalcore. I rec' this album as well.

Interestingly I thought you'd like this least. It's always irritating with your own recs because I've now shifted towards a style I think you'd enjoy a lot more. I'll see what you make of Spirit of Eden though first, because it's heavily inspired by that album. Maybe I'll chuck a single your way? Glad you didn't dislike it anyway!

Edit: Yeah I'm gonna go for it, here's my latest track for submission: https://soundcloud.com/the-deaf-aids/repentance

Got another for you:

Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415-ZDopaZL.jpg

Chrales Manson lol

Here's one you'll probably like

Jeff Rosenstock - We Cool?

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...collection.jpg

きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ [Kyary Pamyu Pamyu] - なんだこれくしょん (Nandakorekushon) (2013)

Maybe you might like this.

Will I be able to find it? Or have you a link?

It's on Spotify I think. But I can provide a link.

Lol. Is that the one with "Ponponpon" on it?

CANNOT wait for this review

I don't think it is Batlord. I think that was released before it. So in other words, I've sent the wrong album. This is the one I meant TH...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...tion_Cover.jpg

ぱみゅぱみゅレボリューション (Pamyu Pamyu Revolution)

Replace the Luxuria album with this if you don't mind TH?

:(

Edit: Wait, did you change it to the one with "Ponponpon". I doubt the song is much different from her other songs, but... you know.

Just tell me what I have to search, because there is no way I'm inputting a string of Chinese characters into Spotify...

Search the English bit.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Bone_Apple.jpg
Title: Apple
Artiste: Mother Love Bone
Genre: Alt-Rock
Familiarity: Zero

1. This is Shangrila: Seems this was their one and only album. Was there a reason for that? Let's see: oh **** there was. The lead singer passed away shortly before the release of the album. Very sad. Another pointless, avoidable death thanks to drugs, and apparently a very promising career cut short. The music? Good start. Hard rockin' with a nice swagger, sort of reminds me of Zep. 1990 but sounds more mid-seventies really.
2. Stardog champion: Slower, bluesy grinder; kind of puts me in mind of Bad English at times. Very catchy hook. Like this one.
3. Holy roller: Good punch to this one. Like the guitar buildup.
4. Bone china: This sounds more introspective. Could be a ballad but I have a feeling it may kick up in a bit. Yeah, there it goes: ominous kind of guitar riff; reminds me slightly of “Wanted dead or alive” by Bon Jovi. Also hear a hint of Scorpions in there.
5. Come bite the apple: Another good boogie rocker.
6. Stargazer: Sounds awfully similar to “Every rose has its thorn”. Or is that the other way around? No, Poison had their hit in 1988. This isn't a copy but the structure of the opening lines of the verses are very similar, and the guitar solo comes close too. Pity.
7. Heartshine: Kind of a chant almost set up by the guitar, with some odd drumming and then a real boogie vibe.
8. Captain Hi-Top: Just a good rocker with a very Plantesque vocal
9. Man of golden words: Beautiful piano ballad.
10. Capricorn sister: This rocks along nicely with again a very Zep vibe
11. Gentle groove: Ooh! Another ballad! This reminds me of Marillion's “Cathedral wall”.
12. Mr Danny Boy: You know, this sounds like a ballad too... No, it started out that way but it's kicking up now. Like the shuffle in this.
13. Crown of thorns: Good acoustic start, longest track. Again this is very Poison/GNR but a good closer.

End result: Really good rock album that harks back to the glory days of seventies hard rock like Zep and Free. Real pity they didn't get to record more material.

So, Love or Hate? This would be a Love, certainly.

You do know the rest of the band became Pearl Jam, right? So they did get to record a bit more material.

I used to really dig Mother Love Bone. Great group. I forgot if Chloe Dancer was tied with Crown of Thorns on this release but you really have to hear the whole thing if it isn't.

I mean, you could always copy and paste it...

It amuses me that without any knowledge of Mother Love Bone, Trollheart saw the album as retro seventies rock combined with hair metal. Grunge fans love to pretend that Apple is like one of the crown jewels of the genre, but it isn't even really grunge. Or that good.

Honestly I can never get my head around why people thought grunge was a genuine genre. Sure, the groups all pull from similar influences and have the same production, but none of them sound too much alike other than that. They all fit more neatly into other genres.

It was more of a marketing term for labels really, or a descriptive word for distortion. But if distortion is the only characteristic of grunge then a lot should be classified as grunge.

For my next rec

Melting Sun by Lântlos

Yeah, I read that.
I say what I hear, man. Some of the songs were VERY close to Poison territory. Also, I did read about them so while I may not know them, I do know a little about them now. I always research before I write. You should know that. Also, I never mentioned grunge, just so you know.

I was agreeing with you. Mother Love Bone are Zeppelin meets Poison.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...verpowered.png
Title: Overpowered
Artiste: Róisín Murphy
Genre: Electronica/Pop
Familiarity: Zero

1. Overpowered: Synth-heavy of course, she has a nice voice which doesn't grate; this is a slowish opener. Yeah, I like it. Restrained but with a decent punch.
2. You know me better: More uptempo, slightly dancier but still catchy.
3. Checkin' on me: This has a sort of soul tinge to it
4. Let me know: Started off like a ballad but picked up into a real funk groover. Nice.
5. Movie star: Nice thick buzzy synths on this one. Oh yeah, really like this one. If I knew what Lady Gaga sounded like I would probably say this sounds like her, but I don't so I can't. But I bet it does. Actually it reminds me of Animotion. Best track so far.
6. Primitive: This is a nice change. A laidback little track that isn't quite a ballad but is slower and more relaxed than the rest of the album so far.
7. Footprints: Back to the funk, with some real seventies style synth, handclaps, the whole bit. She really has a nice voice. Sounds like Judie Tzuke at times, especially here. I'd like to see though what she does with a really passionate ballad, maybe piano or acoustic guitar.
8. Dear Miami: Like this too. Has a very fresh, relaxing feel to it.
9. Cry baby: This is a real techno dancer, but pretty damn cool. I could dance to this. You have been fairly warned.
10. Tell everybody: This is just so smooth!
11. Scarlet ribbons: Ah yes! A soulful ballad. Love this, and she hits it right on the money.

End result: Not the sort of music I would normally listen to, but this album was pretty damn righteous. Batty nails it again.

So, Love or Hate? Nothing but Love, here.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...y_Open_Eye.jpg
Title: Every Open Eye
Artiste: Chvrches
Genre: Pop
Familiarity: Heard and loved the debut album; looking forward to this one.

1. Never ending circles: Well it's not disappointing from the off. A nice marching kind of pop song, heavy percussion, great rippling synth
2. Leave a trace: Kind of lighter and more uptempo, still really good though. Man, she has some voice, hasn't she?
3. Keep you on my side: Nice and boppy; nothing as strong so far as anything off the debut. Waiting...
4. Make them gold: This is the first time I've heard something comparable to The Bones of What You Believe. Excellent track.
5. Clearest blue: Now we're getting somewhere. This album just took off.
6. High enough to carry you over: Boo. Male vocal. Decent song, but is decent good enough for this album? I think we all know the answer to that.
7. Empty threat: Oh yeah, so much better when Lauren gets behind the mike. Great pumping, powerful, happy pop song with such a hook.
8. Downside of me: Superb little downtempo track. Love it.
9. Playing dead: Has a real hard edge to it. Powerful percussion (drum machine?)
10. Bury it: Yeah, it's just getting better now as it heads towards the end. Another hard-edged song with stabbing synthwork.
11. Afterglow: Beautiful ethereal ballad to end; almost ambient. Just gorgeous.

End result: I kind of expected this to be great, so it's not as big a surprise as the debut album was. That said, I was perhaps a little more expectant and maybe ended up being a little harder on this than I should have been. Still a great album, and a wonderful followup to The Bones of What You Believe, but that album still holds first place for me.

So, Love or Hate? Nevertheless, and to no-one's surprise, it's a total Love.

I don't even remember who that is. :laughing:

Agree the male vocal is easily my least favorite trap. Not that bad of a song but it sticks out like a really sore thumb

Yeah they should really leave Lauren to the singing. She's far better at it.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...wl_Ballads.jpg
Title: Dust Bowl Ballads
Artiste: Woody Guthrie
Genre: Folk
Familiarity: An American folk hero, but I've heard little of his work.

1. The great dust storm (Dust storm disaster): Kind of an uptempo song, I assume just he and his guitar, very acoustic, gives a good idea of the hard times in what became known as the Dust Bowl in America in the 1930s. Like much folk, it's basically telling a story, fairly straightforward, almost as if Guthrie was an observer and not involved, and yet there's great emotion coming through too.
2. I ain't got no home in this world anymore: Another uptempo one; odd, given the title and the subject matter.
3. Talkin' dust bowl blues: Sort of a narrated vocal rather than a singing one. Like the line “Gamblin' man is rich and the workin' man is poor.”
4. Vigilante man: Ooh! Harmonica! Nice. Good tune.
5. Dust can't kill me: Real sense of defiance in this. Like it, though it Does come across as a little selfish --- “Dust got my baby but it can't get me.” Hmmm.
6. Pretty Boy Floyd: It's okay but not that great.
7. Dust pneumonia blues: Meh, not mad about this one. Just not feeling it.
8. Blowin' down this road: More harmonica. Cool. Like this one.
9. Tom Joad part 1: I never liked Tom Joad from the time I heard the Springsteen album, so I'm not starting from a good place here. Meh.
10. Tom Joad part 2: Why does this have to be in two parts? They're basically the same. Meh again.
11. Dust Bowl refugee: Good harmonica start. This is pleasant enough.
12. Do re mi: I know this one. Heard Nanci Griffith cover it on her Other Voices, Other Rooms album.
13. Dust bowl blues: A real old blues tune, can't beat it. :thumb:
14. Dusty old dust: God damn I can feel that dust in my throat! Need a drink after this. Another decent acoustic song.

End result: I think the problem with this album is that, while it's great and all, there's only so much you can listen to him talk about how the dust storms ruined his life. Not to cheapen what happened, but would you listen to a full album about say Hurricane Katrina or the Great San Francisco Earthquake? It gets a little boring after a while.

So, Love or Hate? Despite all that I still have to give it a Love. There's just too much honesty and pain in there not to acknowledge it.