The Album Club: "West End Coast" by Young Gun Silver Fox

OccultHawk · 08-09-2018, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

I feel like they are re-gifting the 70s, so I am pretty apprehensive whether I could build a relationship with this record. I mean they are not referencing bands like ABBA and Player, they are down right stealing from them. "Building a relationship with this record?" It would be more like dating a kleptomaniac.

I did indeed date a klepto in my day. Two words: Free ****

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/03/06/artists-steal/

Quote:

In 1967 the Los Angeles based music critic and lecturer Peter Yates published the book “Twentieth Century Music”. Yates claimed that he heard the prominent composer Igor Stravinsky employ an instance of the saying. Stravinsky’s version did not reference “poets” or “artists”; it was tailored to “composers”

Igor Stravinsky said to me of his Three Songs by William Shakespeare, in which he epitomized his discovery of Webern’s music: “A good composer does not imitate; he steals.”

Psy-Fi · 08-09-2018, 06:51 AM

I have a love/meh reaction to Shawn Lee's music. I think he's an exceptionally talented musician/songwriter/arranger/producer with some great stuff like 'World of Funk' (my pick for round 1 of the album club) and some rather well made but forgettable albums that drift in one ear and out the other without sticking in my mind. This album is very well done all around and perfectly captures the 70's sound of radio-friendly soft-rock groups like Hall & Oats, Seals & Crofts, The Doobie Brothers and more ( I even heard some Captain & Tennille influences) but it just didn't grab me or thrill me. Overall, it sounds like top 40 music from the 70's that you would often hear on the radio, while you were in a car or at the beach (for example) without bothering to pay much attention to it while it played in the background.

I gave it a "like" because it really nails the top 40 soft-rock sound of that time so well and it's easy on the ears but it's not an album that I'll be adding to my collection any time soon.

6.5/10

OccultHawk · 08-09-2018, 08:29 AM

But like the process of those top 40 tracks making their way into your consciousness was fun. This record gives us the chance to do it again and on our own terms.

Trollheart · 08-09-2018, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicShazam

I can see a bit of similarity to the two first Tzuke albums, Welcome to the Cruise and Sportscar, but let's not pretend they're sound all that similar in the end. Tzuke's early albums personally remind me a bit more of Kate Bush's first couple albums in some ways.

Judie Tzuke's early albums feel very pop rock to me. Emphasis on pop.

It did feel a bit like some sort of Frankenstein's monster, sewn together from various familiar acts and songs. I'm not sure if I think that's a sin, but it was a bit hard to feel like the album had all that much personality.

Just in the very sort of clean, measured delivery, the album even reminded me of Steely Dan. Not sure if anyone else can see what I mean.

Welcome to the Cruise and Sportscar are 1979 and 1980 respectively. I guess Ant is talking more Ritmo/I am the Phoenix/Shoot the Moonterritory.

Anteater · 08-11-2018, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I did indeed date a klepto in my day. Two words: Free ****

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/03/06/artists-steal/

Key · 08-11-2018, 03:19 PM

I voted for liked it. Mostly because I only had time this week to listen to it once.

Trollheart · 08-12-2018, 06:52 PM

Any sort of familiarity with this album/artist, or are both entirely new to you? None at all
Expectations (if any): I expect to like this a lot, given what I've heard from others
Initial impression: Excellent, gives me a real Eagles/Seals and Crofts vibe
Favourite track(s): "You Can Feel It", "Long Way Back", "Better"
Least favourite track(s): "In My Pocket"
Overall impression: Kind of bored me in the end
Chances of listening to further material from this artist? Not terribly high
Rating (not mandatory): 6/10
Comments:
Wow. I had expected to like this a lot more than I ended up doing. I think it pins down the seventies Doobies/CSNY sound really well, and there are some good tracks, but about halfway through it just started to irritate me. Not quite sure why. Maybe it's because it tries so hard to be so seventies, and, well, it isn't. But I did manage only the one listen, so my opinion might change on further attempts to get into it.

Anteater · 08-12-2018, 08:39 PM

Eh, 'Spiral' and 'Saturday' are both great songs. Latter's got that primetime Hall & Oates bounce that's a real bitch to capture, but these guys make it sound easy.

View Poll Results: How Much Did You Enjoy The Album?
Loved it	2	33.33%
Liked it	3	50.00%
Meh	0	0%
Disliked it	1	16.67%
Hated it	0	0%
Voters: 6. You may not vote on this poll

08-09-2018, 08:29 AM	#13 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	But like the process of those top 40 tracks making their way into your consciousness was fun. This record gives us the chance to do it again and on our own terms. __________________ 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

08-12-2018, 06:52 PM	#17 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Any sort of familiarity with this album/artist, or are both entirely new to you? None at all Expectations (if any): I expect to like this a lot, given what I've heard from others Initial impression: Excellent, gives me a real Eagles/Seals and Crofts vibe Favourite track(s): "You Can Feel It", "Long Way Back", "Better" Least favourite track(s): "In My Pocket" Overall impression: Kind of bored me in the end Chances of listening to further material from this artist? Not terribly high Rating (not mandatory): 6/10 Comments: Wow. I had expected to like this a lot more than I ended up doing. I think it pins down the seventies Doobies/CSNY sound really well, and there are some good tracks, but about halfway through it just started to irritate me. Not quite sure why. Maybe it's because it tries so hard to be so seventies, and, well, it isn't. But I did manage only the one listen, so my opinion might change on further attempts to get into it. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-11-2018, 03:19 PM	#16 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	I voted for liked it. Mostly because I only had time this week to listen to it once.