The Album Club 2017

TechnicLePanther · 06-11-2017, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Please be clear that Newsom is much better.

I agree that she is better.

Anteater · 06-11-2017, 06:27 PM

Miranda Sex Garden - Suspiria

Decent darkwave stuff that sits somewhere in the midst of the early 90's shoegaze scene, The Cure and Dead Can Dance. To these ears though, they basically sound like they are sitting on the opposite polarity of Bel Canto in mood / timbre (a similar band who I like better overall).

Lots of ups and downs, but I think these guys sound at their best on material like 'Bring Down The Sky' where their melodic tendencies gel the best with the lush, choral atmosphere that permeates the record.

7.5 / 10

**Goofle** · 06-12-2017, 07:18 AM

Miranda Sex Garden - Suspiria

Listening to the first two songs on this album gave me a feeling of "I kinda wanna skip through this quite quickly" because I just wasn't really interested in the operatic and grandiose elements, from the vocals to the music. However, I really dug "Sunshine", which has more of a backbone and rock tinges - especially in the drumming.

The next track was a bit softer but pleasant. Worked well as a transition between "Sunshine" and "Play" - which grows nicely and surprisingly into a track that could easily be on a Pain Teens record.

My favourite tracks on this album are the ones which have fewer operatic or melodramatic elements and just hit you with a bit of balls.

7/10

innerspaceboy · 06-12-2017, 04:15 PM

Pretend - Tapestry'd Life

I was curious at the album's opening. Elements of math rock were evident, but with a heavy dose of emo, which I am simply too old to ever be able to enjoy. The first track was pleasant, with enough going on to make it interesting so I kept listening. Unfortunately, it quickly became evident that all the album's cards were on the table by the end of that opening selection.

The remaining tracks were a smattering of minor variations on the first track's musical theme. The vocals were nearly identical from track to track, as was the guitar work, percussion, and bass. If there were something of greater substance here, perhaps it could function as a concept record or single-track effort, but two solid hours of the stuff really lost my interest. It was the same academic time signature play, lazy emo vocals, and crescendos and decrescendos for the entirety of the album.

Nothing repulsive, but perhaps worse - nothing particularly engaging. The album just... happens, and left little of an impression on this listener. Perhaps I'm in the wrong headspace for emo post-rock. Perhaps it comprises qualities which don't particularly appeal to my musical aestheticism. It isn't a bad record, but it just feels far too long without saying anything of substance. Not at all bad as sonic wallpaper, but not good for much beyond that.

5/10

**Exo** · 06-14-2017, 10:53 AM

Well, since nobody really wants to review the album I submitted, I will. Briefly though, as is my nature.

Pretend
Tapestry'd Life

I found out about this album on one single best of 2015 list. They described the band as post rock meets experimental emo and math rock and I was intrigued. Maybe it was something about the somewhat subdued vocals but I felt that every single note and detail from every second of this album is perfectly paired. The album flows. I've heard it over 100 times and I still couldn't tell you what song is playing at any given time. It reminds me of most Kayo Dot or Maudlin of the Well albums, the way it kind of falls into the next track. I respect ISB's opinion on it. It certainly isn't for everybody. I do however find difficulty in the notion that the instrumentation was the same throughout, especially the drums. This is one of my favorite albums ever for many reasons but the drums may be number 1. Absolutely frenetic and chaotic but honed in just enough to compliment the guitar play into something pretty beautiful.

Anyway, it's a top 20 album for me and I hope you lot get around to listening to it.

Trollheart · 06-14-2017, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exo

Well, since nobody really wants to review the album I submitted, I will. Briefly though, as is my nature.

Ah, we have till Saturday Exo... or even Sunday. Some people push it further. You'll get your reviews, if I have to write them all myself!

**Exo** · 06-14-2017, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Ah, we have till Saturday Exo... or even Sunday. Some people push it further. You'll get your reviews, if I have to write them all myself!

Yeah, I know. I was just being dramatic.

OccultHawk · 06-14-2017, 12:33 PM

Pretend
Tapestry'd Life

Math rock and emo are both terms I defined for myself a long time ago. Maybe I'm ignorant to how these genres have expanded but this record doesn't strike me as much of either. To me it sounds like melodic, ethereal, neo-psychedelic music. Two bands come to my mind, Talk Talk and Angel'In Heavy Syrup.

The best way I can describe this record is to compare to an excellent and complicated novel. There's two main ways it's very striking and beautiful. First, the wilderness created by the relationship between the percussion, guitar and vocals... it's like when authors try to weave several elements of plot together simultaneously, most either can't pull it off or have to step into a realm of discordance that equates to musical dissonance. This is like an author that can tell you three stories at the same time seamlessly. It moves along like it's meant to be together but if you took it apart you wouldn't understand how it's related. If you listened to any of the instruments or the vocals in isolation I doubt you could imagine how well it would work placed together. The way it all floats around and fits together is astonishing. It's like watching the clouds. The other way it's like a complicated novel is the sudden tempo switches. Usually when an author makes a sudden shift in plot it's disruptive and at least a little off putting. I don't mean twists but more like flashbacks or sequences that may or may not be real. This record incorporates many time signatures shifts but again it's not disruptive. Somehow it works every time. What should be rough edges are incredibly smooth.

At least 4 out of 5 stars. It would take more listens to go a full 5/5 but I can imagine it.

Heck, I'm just going to throw this in: This also reminds me of The Tin Drum. The album and the novel.

Electrophonic Tonic · 06-15-2017, 12:23 AM

Looks like I've already been scarlet lettered on the main post. But, I wanted to say that I want to be back hopefully before July, but July at the latest. I work for a summer camp and June is almost always a ****show before the camps actually start.

In the mean time, I will personally create my own whip and flog myself for every album review I've missed and for each mediocre reception of my chosen album. It's only fair.

Trollheart · 06-15-2017, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrophonic Tonic

Looks like I've already been scarlet lettered on the main post. But, I wanted to say that I want to be back hopefully before July, but July at the latest. I work for a summer camp and June is almost always a ****show before the camps actually start.

In the mean time, I will personally create my own whip and flog myself for every album review I've missed and for each mediocre reception of my chosen album. It's only fair.

No you haven't. Your album was reviewed and I'm just waiting for your second choice. Only two people are coded red, and neither of them are you.

06-14-2017, 10:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	Well, since nobody really wants to review the album I submitted, I will. Briefly though, as is my nature. Pretend Tapestry'd Life I found out about this album on one single best of 2015 list. They described the band as post rock meets experimental emo and math rock and I was intrigued. Maybe it was something about the somewhat subdued vocals but I felt that every single note and detail from every second of this album is perfectly paired. The album flows. I've heard it over 100 times and I still couldn't tell you what song is playing at any given time. It reminds me of most Kayo Dot or Maudlin of the Well albums, the way it kind of falls into the next track. I respect ISB's opinion on it. It certainly isn't for everybody. I do however find difficulty in the notion that the instrumentation was the same throughout, especially the drums. This is one of my favorite albums ever for many reasons but the drums may be number 1. Absolutely frenetic and chaotic but honed in just enough to compliment the guitar play into something pretty beautiful. Anyway, it's a top 20 album for me and I hope you lot get around to listening to it. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

06-14-2017, 12:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Pretend Tapestry'd Life Math rock and emo are both terms I defined for myself a long time ago. Maybe I'm ignorant to how these genres have expanded but this record doesn't strike me as much of either. To me it sounds like melodic, ethereal, neo-psychedelic music. Two bands come to my mind, Talk Talk and Angel'In Heavy Syrup. The best way I can describe this record is to compare to an excellent and complicated novel. There's two main ways it's very striking and beautiful. First, the wilderness created by the relationship between the percussion, guitar and vocals... it's like when authors try to weave several elements of plot together simultaneously, most either can't pull it off or have to step into a realm of discordance that equates to musical dissonance. This is like an author that can tell you three stories at the same time seamlessly. It moves along like it's meant to be together but if you took it apart you wouldn't understand how it's related. If you listened to any of the instruments or the vocals in isolation I doubt you could imagine how well it would work placed together. The way it all floats around and fits together is astonishing. It's like watching the clouds. The other way it's like a complicated novel is the sudden tempo switches. Usually when an author makes a sudden shift in plot it's disruptive and at least a little off putting. I don't mean twists but more like flashbacks or sequences that may or may not be real. This record incorporates many time signatures shifts but again it's not disruptive. Somehow it works every time. What should be rough edges are incredibly smooth. At least 4 out of 5 stars. It would take more listens to go a full 5/5 but I can imagine it. Heck, I'm just going to throw this in: This also reminds me of The Tin Drum. The album and the novel. __________________ 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

06-15-2017, 12:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	Looks like I've already been scarlet lettered on the main post. But, I wanted to say that I want to be back hopefully before July, but July at the latest. I work for a summer camp and June is almost always a ****show before the camps actually start. In the mean time, I will personally create my own whip and flog myself for every album review I've missed and for each mediocre reception of my chosen album. It's only fair. __________________ I was told I wouldn't need a signature...