MB Classics: The United States of America - The United States of America

TechnicLePanther · 12-23-2017, 08:04 PM

Saw Rubber Soul's pic in a record shop today, did not pick it up however because no thanks. Anyway, this album is great. Plenty of excellent melodies and wonderful arrangements in general. Nothing bored me, nothing wow'd me, but still the amount of superb tracks had to bring it up. Just barely, but voted 9/10.

OccultHawk · 12-23-2017, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I guess we'll have to see, but I'm pretty certain this is going to end up on the list despite not being exclusively electroacoustic music.

I gave it a 10. It's one of the best psych rock records ever made and the way pulls together the pop of the time with the European avant-garde is as good as efforts by artists like Beefheart and 50 Foot Hose. On a sonic level alone I would give this a ten, but as a historical landmark in the democratization of music? An unbudging 11. Don't let these separatists get to you.

What’s the excuse for the goofball bull**** in The American Metaphysical Circus?

I’m not even going to address you mentioning Beefheart but I will say that The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators and The Parable of Arable Land are both better.

Democratization of music? The Fugs and The Monks.

**Frownland** · 12-23-2017, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

What’s the excuse for the goofball bull**** in The American Metaphysical Circus?

Gee idunno

OccultHawk · 12-23-2017, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Gee idunno

Good point but bad song

**Frownland** · 12-23-2017, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Good point but bad song

Nah. The orchestral parts in the beginning are like the buildup of a trip where you're entering a circus and the middle part of the song is when you're inside and things get surreal and the fade out returns to the orchestra mashup as if you're leaving the circus. Plus I love that dark vibe. It's good ****.

I'd give the other stuff that you're comparing it to a 10/10 as well, some like Red Krayola and The Monks are even better. Getting bent that it isn't attempting to be standalone electroacoustic music as opposed to rock that implemented elements of that is kind of missing the point of the album in the same way that so many people do with Sgt. Pepper's.

OccultHawk · 12-23-2017, 11:16 PM

It’s the Harry Partch thing. His music always chapped my ass because it sounds like a ****ing joke.

**Frownland** · 12-23-2017, 11:18 PM

Thing is that this sounds pretty great though.

OccultHawk · 12-23-2017, 11:24 PM

It is a great record

OccultHawk · 12-23-2017, 11:40 PM

http://www.musicbanter.com/avant-gar...on-thread.html

A little bit from back in the day

Maajo · 12-23-2017, 11:43 PM

I have this one on CD, not vinyl, but I haven't listened to it in a long time. I discovered United States Of America through a list website called DigitalDreamDoor back in 2008 or 2009 when I was really into psychedelic music and thought it was the coolest thing ever (and I still do). I remember only being able to find certain songs at the time (YouTube wasn't as expansive at the time, it was mostly videos of backyard wrestling and kids lighting bottle rockets in their friends asses), so it took me a while to ever listen to the full album. It's pretty insane, but it's good and I think it'll get an 8 for sure, probably a 9. I really have to listen to it again, though.

View Poll Results: Rate it!
10	4	25.00%
9	2	12.50%
8	5	31.25%
7	1	6.25%
6	2	12.50%
5	2	12.50%
4	0	0%
3	0	0%
2	0	0%
1	0	0%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

12-23-2017, 08:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	Saw Rubber Soul's pic in a record shop today, did not pick it up however because no thanks. Anyway, this album is great. Plenty of excellent melodies and wonderful arrangements in general. Nothing bored me, nothing wow'd me, but still the amount of superb tracks had to bring it up. Just barely, but voted 9/10. __________________ 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.

12-23-2017, 11:16 PM	#16 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	It’s the Harry Partch thing. His music always chapped my ass because it sounds like a ****ing joke. __________________ 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

12-23-2017, 11:18 PM	#17 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Thing is that this sounds pretty great though. __________________ 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

12-23-2017, 11:24 PM	#18 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	It is a great record __________________ 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

12-23-2017, 11:40 PM	#19 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	http://www.musicbanter.com/avant-gar...on-thread.html A little bit from back in the day __________________ 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

12-23-2017, 11:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
Maajo Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 513	I have this one on CD, not vinyl, but I haven't listened to it in a long time. I discovered United States Of America through a list website called DigitalDreamDoor back in 2008 or 2009 when I was really into psychedelic music and thought it was the coolest thing ever (and I still do). I remember only being able to find certain songs at the time (YouTube wasn't as expansive at the time, it was mostly videos of backyard wrestling and kids lighting bottle rockets in their friends asses), so it took me a while to ever listen to the full album. It's pretty insane, but it's good and I think it'll get an 8 for sure, probably a 9. I really have to listen to it again, though.