The Album Club 2017

Trollheart · 07-02-2017, 06:17 AM

Okay, I've decided to go further.
Round two will not be based on when you joined, but how much you've contributed up to now. In other words, if you're someone who has reviewed all or most albums, you're going to get preference and you'll find yourself up near the top of the queue, even if you were last to join. Conversely, if you only dropped in for one or two albums, or missed out a lot, you're gonna be more towards the bottom of the pile. I feel this is fair, as it rewards those who have put in the effort by moving their albums up the queue.

Of course, if someone who has been a "model citizen" up to now suddenly drops off in regularity of reviews, they are just as susceptible as anyone else to having their album removed, though trust will be an issue here, ie if you are known to be a good contributor you'll get more of a chance to sort yourself out than someone who's not usually bothered.

TechnicLePanther · 07-02-2017, 09:49 AM

Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans

Not sure if you're obligated to review your own album, but here goes.

I think this album is a near perfect example of what Sufjan is best at, and that is arrangement. He knows how to take several quite simple melodies and intertwine them to create an expansive and complex atmosphere. Then, he cleanly fits his deeply personal stories and descriptions into this atmosphere to complete the package. A cherry on top, so to speak.

First half has a couple great tracks, namely To Be Alone With You, Sister, and The Dress Looks Nice on You, but the second side is where the album really shines in my opinion. It's got Size Too Small, A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Seven Swans, and The Transfiguration, with a couple slightly worse tracks sprinkled within. Seven Swans might be my favorite track for the way it slowly picks up and then really takes off at the end.

I'm well aware that the relative simplicity of this album isn't for everyone, and I agree that Carrie and Lowell has a similar atmosphere with improved songwriting. But taken on its own merit, I still really enjoy this album; it's jam-packed with catchy melodies and soothing instrumentation, and even the less intriguing songs have something interesting to say.

Favorite Tracks: To Be Alone With You, Sister, Size Too Small, Seven Swans

8/10

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 07-02-2017, 10:09 AM

the toughest thing for me with this album is deciding between it, illinois, or carrie & lowell as Sufjan's peak.

there's just something so hauntingly beautiful with this album. tracks like The Dress Looks Nice On You and To Be Alone With You are up there amongst my favourite of his, and for the duration of the album i feel sucked into the story, as if i'm in the room with sufjan as he is writing these songs.

i know the whole indie folk label turns off a lot of people around here, and although i haven't read many of the reviews yet, i'm expecting this thing to get peppered for being "boring" and "typical indie" but it will always have a spot close to me.

8/10

Trollheart · 07-02-2017, 12:54 PM

Spreadsheet showing the story of participation in this thread...

Based on this information we can see that the ones who have contributed most to the thread, or at least,
most consistently, are OccultHawk, Innerspaceboy, Anteater and Aloysius, with Electrophonic Tonic and Psy-Fi up next. Rjinn, 1blankmind, Technic and The Matrix all get a pass, as they joined later, but you can see how though interest was pretty constant for the first few weeks it quickly faded away. Some people kept going though (I'm obviously not on it, as I know I reviewed every album anyway) and those people will be rewarded by being moved to the top of the list for round two.

Edit: actually, looking deeper at the data, our latecomers have not all performed well. Rjinn has only reviewed one album since joining, missing out on four, while 1blankmind has missed five consecutive albums since he joined, though he does well on either side of those (two since joining, two after the five-week gap).

OccultHawk · 07-02-2017, 01:08 PM

I have two misses?

Trollheart · 07-02-2017, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I have two misses?

It would appear so, though I may very well have got that wrong. I'll check back if you like: week eight and seventeen it would look like. You're still one of the most consistent members, and usually the one to put up your review first.

Edit: one is definitely right. That was Moondog, whose album you couldn't find and would not download. The other appears to be The Gris Gris's self-titled?

OccultHawk · 07-02-2017, 01:22 PM

http://www.musicbanter.com/1823027-post597.html

I also felt like I did due diligence on Moondog pointing out which version from what label was intended and commenting on the musician in general but shonuff I didn't write an actual review for that one.

**Frownland** · 07-02-2017, 01:27 PM

http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ml#post1809030

I've listened to every album at least.

The Batlord · 07-02-2017, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Spreadsheet showing the story of participation in this thread...

Based on this information we can see that the ones who have contributed most to the thread, or at least,
most consistently, are OccultHawk, Innerspaceboy, Anteater and Aloysius, with Electrophonic Tonic (sorry for the misspelling of your username, but it was just for research purposes so I didn't bother going back to correct it) and Psy-Fi up next. Rjinn, 1blankmind, Technic and The Matrix all get a pass, as they joined later, but you can see how though interest was pretty constant for the first few weeks it quickly faded away. Some people kept going though (I'm obviously not on it, as I know I reviewed every album anyway) and those people will be rewarded by being moved to the top of the list for round two.

Edit: actually, looking deeper at the data, our latecomers have not all performed well. Rjinn has only reviewed one album since joining, missing out on four, while 1blankmind has missed five consecutive albums since he joined, though he does well on either side of those (two since joining, two after the five-week gap).

omg you ****ing nerd lol

OccultHawk · 07-02-2017, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ml#post1809030

I've listened to every album at least.

Are you implying I wrote ill-informed reviews?

07-02-2017, 06:17 AM	#1071 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Okay, I've decided to go further. Round two will not be based on when you joined, but how much you've contributed up to now. In other words, if you're someone who has reviewed all or most albums, you're going to get preference and you'll find yourself up near the top of the queue, even if you were last to join. Conversely, if you only dropped in for one or two albums, or missed out a lot, you're gonna be more towards the bottom of the pile. I feel this is fair, as it rewards those who have put in the effort by moving their albums up the queue. Of course, if someone who has been a "model citizen" up to now suddenly drops off in regularity of reviews, they are just as susceptible as anyone else to having their album removed, though trust will be an issue here, ie if you are known to be a good contributor you'll get more of a chance to sort yourself out than someone who's not usually bothered. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

07-02-2017, 09:49 AM	#1072 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans Not sure if you're obligated to review your own album, but here goes. I think this album is a near perfect example of what Sufjan is best at, and that is arrangement. He knows how to take several quite simple melodies and intertwine them to create an expansive and complex atmosphere. Then, he cleanly fits his deeply personal stories and descriptions into this atmosphere to complete the package. A cherry on top, so to speak. First half has a couple great tracks, namely To Be Alone With You, Sister, and The Dress Looks Nice on You, but the second side is where the album really shines in my opinion. It's got Size Too Small, A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Seven Swans, and The Transfiguration, with a couple slightly worse tracks sprinkled within. Seven Swans might be my favorite track for the way it slowly picks up and then really takes off at the end. I'm well aware that the relative simplicity of this album isn't for everyone, and I agree that Carrie and Lowell has a similar atmosphere with improved songwriting. But taken on its own merit, I still really enjoy this album; it's jam-packed with catchy melodies and soothing instrumentation, and even the less intriguing songs have something interesting to say. Favorite Tracks: To Be Alone With You, Sister, Size Too Small, Seven Swans 8/10 __________________ Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN *SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM* - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough. Last edited by TechnicLePanther; 07-02-2017 at 10:01 AM.

07-02-2017, 12:54 PM	#1074 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Spreadsheet showing the story of participation in this thread... Based on this information we can see that the ones who have contributed most to the thread, or at least, most consistently, are OccultHawk, Innerspaceboy, Anteater and Aloysius, with Electrophonic Tonic and Psy-Fi up next. Rjinn, 1blankmind, Technic and The Matrix all get a pass, as they joined later, but you can see how though interest was pretty constant for the first few weeks it quickly faded away. Some people kept going though (I'm obviously not on it, as I know I reviewed every album anyway) and those people will be rewarded by being moved to the top of the list for round two. Edit: actually, looking deeper at the data, our latecomers have not all performed well. Rjinn has only reviewed one album since joining, missing out on four, while 1blankmind has missed five consecutive albums since he joined, though he does well on either side of those (two since joining, two after the five-week gap). __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 07-02-2017 at 06:16 PM.

07-02-2017, 01:08 PM	#1075 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	I have two misses? __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

07-02-2017, 01:22 PM	#1077 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	http://www.musicbanter.com/1823027-post597.html I also felt like I did due diligence on Moondog pointing out which version from what label was intended and commenting on the musician in general but shonuff I didn't write an actual review for that one. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

07-02-2017, 01:27 PM	#1078 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ml#post1809030 I've listened to every album at least. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x