The Album Club 2017

Aloysius · 06-02-2017, 07:14 PM

Moondog - Moondog

I'm glad ISB chose this for the album club, I'd never heard it before.

I really hate giving a score of 10/10. For that score to have any meaning it has to be reserved for a very rare kind of album, and each time another album gets that score it somehow diminishes that score's meaning, however Moondog's self titled leaves me with no other choice, it really is that good. Compressing symphonic ideas into a few minutes is like compressing a novel into a blog post, it shouldn't work, but it does. His use of percussion and sense of groove is unique. This can't be described as a good example of any particular genre or scene, it's coming from a completely different planet, the result of a person not only living outside of society's norms, but being entirely comfortable in that place.

10/10

rostasi · 06-02-2017, 07:49 PM

His 30 minute album with Julie "Mary Poppins" Andrews is fun too!

**Frownland** · 06-02-2017, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aloysius

Moondog - Moondog

I'm glad ISB chose this for the album club, I'd never heard it before.
10/10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

While I think that this is a fantastic album, I thought that it was kind of a poor choice for the club because of how ubiquitous I consider Moondog on this type of forum, which makes discussion more difficult than talking about an album that you've heard for the first time. Plus it adds to the "club" element when we discuss something that's new to all of us except for the recommender. No offense to ISB, that's just a part of my philosophy when it comes to this kind of thing.

Retracted for this album because I guess I overstated its popularity. Glad you dug it man, it's hard not to. Philosophy still remains though.

OccultHawk · 06-02-2017, 08:02 PM

I've never heard it and unless they put it on Spotify I might never hear it.

Akai · 06-02-2017, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aloysius

Moondog - Moondog

I'm glad ISB chose this for the album club, I'd never heard it before.

I really hate giving a score of 10/10. For that score to have any meaning it has to be reserved for a very rare kind of album, and each time another album gets that score it somehow diminishes that score's meaning, however Moondog's self titled leaves me with no other choice, it really is that good. Compressing symphonic ideas into a few minutes is like compressing a novel into a blog post, it shouldn't work, but it does. His use of percussion and sense of groove is unique. This can't be described as a good example of any particular genre or scene, it's coming from a completely different planet, the result of a person not only living outside of society's norms, but being entirely comfortable in that place.

10/10

Check out ''Sax Pax for a Sax'' & ''The German Years''

Rjinn · 06-03-2017, 03:19 AM

Moondog - Moondog

I honestly think this is the type of album where you need to give it at least a few listens to review it, as it is quite an eccentric avant-garde album. The use of tones are quite hard to articulate especially as a collective. It seems to be a strange classical mix between, but not limited to, foreign, street, cinematic and natural sounds which come together quite beautifully. The use of drumming here really stands out and is quite raw. It has this overall gorgeous lightly dark (yes I know it's an oxymoron) ambient feel that sucks you in from the beginning. I don't feel a lot of avant-garde albums do that for me at the start, but this one did very well. 9/10

TechnicLePanther · 06-03-2017, 10:45 AM

Moondog - Moondog

Wrote a longer review, but it got screwed by the server. Irregardless, pretty much just great album. Good performances + Great songwriting = excellent IMO. Quite like the mix of jazz rhythms and classical progressions. 9/10

On my list of favorite albums of all time:

DJ Shadow - ...Entroducing
Moondog - Moondog
J.J. Cale - Naturally

Anteater · 06-03-2017, 08:42 PM

Moondog - Moondog

Frownland said pretty much everything I was gonna say. But for all the basic bitches out there this album is:

8.5/10

Trollheart · 06-04-2017, 06:11 AM

Given that I already know this album, having been recommended it by (I thnk) DWV in “Love or Hate?” some of the questions here are superfluous, so I'll only answer the ones that are relevant.

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
N/a
2. What did you think of the opening track?
Really loved it, great atmosphere
3. What did you think of the next track?
Excellent also; the quality here never really dips beyond close to perfection
4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?*(see note 1)
n/a
5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?*(see note 2)
Goddamn, yes.
6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
N/a
7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
N/a (no lyrics as such)
8. Did you like the instrumental parts?*(see note 3)
Oh yeah. Fantastic.
9. What did you think of the production?
The usual
10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
Yes, as above, though not before then
11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Kind of classical really, so yes
12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
This is an album that just improves (ie gets more perfect) with every listen
13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
Everything, but especially the two “Symphoniques”, “Witch of Endor, “Bird's Lament" etc
14. And the one(s) you liked least?
Not a single one
15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?*(see note 4)
n/a
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
Very much so
17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
No, as I already knew the album
18. Did the album end well?
Ended as well as it began
19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Impossible
20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
I found it hung together very well.

Happy to give this my second 10/10

Trollheart · 06-04-2017, 06:20 AM

Chicagoslaw8, can you please suggest an album as you are next after Exo, ie in two weeks' time? I've asked several times now, and If I don't get an answer from you I'm going to have to skip over you and you won't get a chance till the next round, when your turn comes up.

Thanks.

We've now seven weeks left before this loops around again, so I'm happy to accept suggestions from everyone for their second album. As it's received it will be put into the list and marked with the appropriate start date. If you previously suggested a second album please remind me, as I ain't trawling through over 100 pages to find out where you posted that. Thanks.

06-03-2017, 03:19 AM	#966 (permalink)
Rjinn The Aerosol in your Soul Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 1,546	Moondog - Moondog I honestly think this is the type of album where you need to give it at least a few listens to review it, as it is quite an eccentric avant-garde album. The use of tones are quite hard to articulate especially as a collective. It seems to be a strange classical mix between, but not limited to, foreign, street, cinematic and natural sounds which come together quite beautifully. The use of drumming here really stands out and is quite raw. It has this overall gorgeous lightly dark (yes I know it's an oxymoron) ambient feel that sucks you in from the beginning. I don't feel a lot of avant-garde albums do that for me at the start, but this one did very well. 9/10 __________________ last.fm Last edited by Rjinn; 06-03-2017 at 10:03 AM.

06-03-2017, 10:45 AM	#967 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	Moondog - Moondog Wrote a longer review, but it got screwed by the server. Irregardless, pretty much just great album. Good performances + Great songwriting = excellent IMO. Quite like the mix of jazz rhythms and classical progressions. 9/10 On my list of favorite albums of all time: DJ Shadow - ...Entroducing Moondog - Moondog J.J. Cale - Naturally __________________ 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.

06-04-2017, 06:11 AM	#969 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Given that I already know this album, having been recommended it by (I thnk) DWV in “Love or Hate?” some of the questions here are superfluous, so I'll only answer the ones that are relevant. 1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? N/a 2. What did you think of the opening track? Really loved it, great atmosphere 3. What did you think of the next track? Excellent also; the quality here never really dips beyond close to perfection *4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?(see note 1) n/a 5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?(see note 2)* Goddamn, yes. 6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)? N/a 7. What did you think of the lyrical content? N/a (no lyrics as such) *8. Did you like the instrumental parts?(see note 3) Oh yeah. Fantastic. 9. What did you think of the production? The usual 10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album? Yes, as above, though not before then 11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not? Kind of classical really, so yes 12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less? This is an album that just improves (ie gets more perfect) with every listen 13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any? Everything, but especially the two “Symphoniques”, “Witch of Endor, “Bird's Lament" etc 14. And the one(s) you liked least? Not a single one 15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?(see note 4) n/a 16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?* Very much so 17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album? No, as I already knew the album 18. Did the album end well? Ended as well as it began 19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved? Impossible 20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss? I found it hung together very well. Happy to give this my second 10/10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-04-2017, 06:20 AM	#970 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Chicagoslaw8, can you please suggest an album as you are next after Exo, ie in two weeks' time? I've asked several times now, and If I don't get an answer from you I'm going to have to skip over you and you won't get a chance till the next round, when your turn comes up. Thanks. We've now seven weeks left before this loops around again, so I'm happy to accept suggestions from everyone for their second album. As it's received it will be put into the list and marked with the appropriate start date. If you previously suggested a second album please remind me, as I ain't trawling through over 100 pages to find out where you posted that. Thanks. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-02-2017, 07:14 PM	#961 (permalink)
Aloysius Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 353	Moondog - Moondog I'm glad ISB chose this for the album club, I'd never heard it before. I really hate giving a score of 10/10. For that score to have any meaning it has to be reserved for a very rare kind of album, and each time another album gets that score it somehow diminishes that score's meaning, however Moondog's self titled leaves me with no other choice, it really is that good. Compressing symphonic ideas into a few minutes is like compressing a novel into a blog post, it shouldn't work, but it does. His use of percussion and sense of groove is unique. This can't be described as a good example of any particular genre or scene, it's coming from a completely different planet, the result of a person not only living outside of society's norms, but being entirely comfortable in that place. 10/10

06-02-2017, 07:49 PM	#962 (permalink)
rostasi . Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 4,007	His 30 minute album with Julie "Mary Poppins" Andrews is fun too!

06-02-2017, 08:02 PM	#964 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	I've never heard it and unless they put it on Spotify I might never hear it.