MB Album Club 2022

rubber soul · 04-26-2022, 07:19 AM

It doesn't matter who goes first, Trolls. I was just looking at the post order.

Trollheart · 04-26-2022, 08:04 AM

As long as it's not the New World Order, we're okay I guess.

SGR · 04-26-2022, 08:23 AM

Okay trying to get my ass in gear here:

Program Music I

This is an album that ebbs and flows. It seems to have a practiced sense of dynamism and the attraction of the ear to auditory juxtaposition. What begins calmly builds into the frenetic and slowly moves back where it came. I actually really dig the glitching - in fact, I wish there was more of it - it may have made the album a bit more interesting - replace some of the many slower piano/strings sections with more glitching. The glitching made the music feel more real to me - a similar effect to Low's album HEY WHAT released last year.

I've gone through and listened to this twice and I will admit it did get better on the second listen. It's curious that Lisna mentioned Zelda as something he could see this music in - my mind actually went to Miyazaki's animated movies. In fact, during the album's quieter moments where there's little but the piano, I was reminded strongly of this song in particular:

So, to that extent, there's parts of this album I must admit I really enjoy if it reminds me of Spirited Away's OST. That said, I think it goes on a bit too long - there are times where it seems like the music is about to go somewhere really interesting - like it's building to something greater, and too often it doesn't really get there for me (halfway through track 2 when the piano starts to become more aggressive is a prime example).

I can't lie though - this music does make me feel something. It's not quite longing, it's not quite regret, it's not quite hope, and it's not optimism. Perhaps it's the feeling of life - filled with moments of spontaneity (sometimes forced, sometimes natural), moments of solitude, moments of energy and moments of enervation. Sometimes life moves from one to the other without time for you to catch up and even if it feels like unbridled chaos sometimes, too often we look back and it all makes sense - we wouldn't have traded it for something else even if we could. We make peace with it.

I can't say I've completely made peace with this album, but I might with more time. And I certainly don't regret listening to it. Good pick Lisna!

7/10

SGR · 04-26-2022, 09:23 AM

Alright, I'm gonna review Trollheart's album next.

Question though:

I know this is the 'Album Club', but would we be averse to being more permissive in our proscriptions for nominations?

Here's my thought: house music. It's rare that you get a flat-out great house album because the genre is so geared towards mixing. Its origins were in the form of live DJ sets (not albums), different records mixed together to get people dancing in clubs. That's where you find the potential of house music unlocked.

The album as a format is supposed to be a unified work that's greater than the sum of its parts, and is demonstrative of the talent of the person or persons who created the album. House mixes are the same - the only difference being that usually, a house mix contains music from people other than just the DJs playing and the songs blend (or mix) into each other. Still, the talent, mood, sound, and flow of the mix is all the responsibility of the DJs at hand, and is reflective of their talent.

So what do ya'll (and Trollheart) think? Would we be okay with allowing that? This thread could use something with a little bop that you could dance to (no offense to y'alls music choices).

In short - I want to nominate a house mix but will relent if y'all would prefer to keep to the holy sanctity of the album format and would consider doing otherwise to be sacrilege.

**Marie Monday** · 04-26-2022, 09:27 AM

Yeah sounds good to me

rubber soul · 04-26-2022, 09:29 AM

I wouldn't have a problem with it as long as I knew where to access it , but it's Troll's thread so it should be his call.

(And don't say Spotify because I'm still boycotting the buggers)

SGR · 04-26-2022, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul

I wouldn't have a problem with it as long as I knew where to access it , but it's Troll's thread so it should be his call.

(And don't say Spotify because I'm still boycotting the buggers)

Yeah, it's optimal format is actually Youtube because it's got sweet drone footage that accompanies it to increase the ambiance of the music.

And Troll - who knows, if you approve, I may even give your album a 10/10.

Trollheart · 04-26-2022, 12:43 PM

How can I resist such a naked bribe?

(Nearly wrote naked bride: now THAT I could not resist!

)

Yeah, go for it, SGR: the actual definition of an album has shifted in the last decade or so anyway, with a lot of your hip-hop artists releasing, mix tapes is it? Then there are EPs which are often as long as an album. So yeah, as far as the term album is concerned, I'd say really any collection of songs or music brought together on a recording medium (NO Frownland: masonry bricks with musical notes chiselled out on them do NOT qualify!) can be seen as an album.

I should sound a note of warning: ain't no fan of house music. But sure, we'll deal with that when we get to it.

SGR · 04-26-2022, 12:57 PM

Thanks!

I guess I better get to listening to Al Stewart now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I should sound a note of warning: ain't no fan of house music. But sure, we'll deal with that when we get to it.

Who knows, you haven't heard an SGR-approved house mix yet.

music_collector · 04-26-2022, 02:04 PM

I know nothing about house music.

I'm five tracks into the Al Stewart album. I'll have to get listening.

04-26-2022, 08:04 AM	#182 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	As long as it's not the New World Order, we're okay I guess. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

04-26-2022, 12:43 PM	#188 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	How can I resist such a naked bribe? (Nearly wrote naked bride: now THAT I could not resist! ) Yeah, go for it, SGR: the actual definition of an album has shifted in the last decade or so anyway, with a lot of your hip-hop artists releasing, mix tapes is it? Then there are EPs which are often as long as an album. So yeah, as far as the term album is concerned, I'd say really any collection of songs or music brought together on a recording medium (NO Frownland: masonry bricks with musical notes chiselled out on them do NOT qualify!) can be seen as an album. I should sound a note of warning: ain't no fan of house music. But sure, we'll deal with that when we get to it. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

04-26-2022, 08:23 AM	#183 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,326	Okay trying to get my ass in gear here: Program Music I This is an album that ebbs and flows. It seems to have a practiced sense of dynamism and the attraction of the ear to auditory juxtaposition. What begins calmly builds into the frenetic and slowly moves back where it came. I actually really dig the glitching - in fact, I wish there was more of it - it may have made the album a bit more interesting - replace some of the many slower piano/strings sections with more glitching. The glitching made the music feel more real to me - a similar effect to Low's album HEY WHAT released last year. I've gone through and listened to this twice and I will admit it did get better on the second listen. It's curious that Lisna mentioned Zelda as something he could see this music in - my mind actually went to Miyazaki's animated movies. In fact, during the album's quieter moments where there's little but the piano, I was reminded strongly of this song in particular: So, to that extent, there's parts of this album I must admit I really enjoy if it reminds me of Spirited Away's OST. That said, I think it goes on a bit too long - there are times where it seems like the music is about to go somewhere really interesting - like it's building to something greater, and too often it doesn't really get there for me (halfway through track 2 when the piano starts to become more aggressive is a prime example). I can't lie though - this music does make me feel something. It's not quite longing, it's not quite regret, it's not quite hope, and it's not optimism. Perhaps it's the feeling of life - filled with moments of spontaneity (sometimes forced, sometimes natural), moments of solitude, moments of energy and moments of enervation. Sometimes life moves from one to the other without time for you to catch up and even if it feels like unbridled chaos sometimes, too often we look back and it all makes sense - we wouldn't have traded it for something else even if we could. We make peace with it. I can't say I've completely made peace with this album, but I might with more time. And I certainly don't regret listening to it. Good pick Lisna! 7/10

04-26-2022, 09:23 AM	#184 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,326	Alright, I'm gonna review Trollheart's album next. Question though: I know this is the 'Album Club', but would we be averse to being more permissive in our proscriptions for nominations? Here's my thought: house music. It's rare that you get a flat-out great house album because the genre is so geared towards mixing. Its origins were in the form of live DJ sets (not albums), different records mixed together to get people dancing in clubs. That's where you find the potential of house music unlocked. The album as a format is supposed to be a unified work that's greater than the sum of its parts, and is demonstrative of the talent of the person or persons who created the album. House mixes are the same - the only difference being that usually, a house mix contains music from people other than just the DJs playing and the songs blend (or mix) into each other. Still, the talent, mood, sound, and flow of the mix is all the responsibility of the DJs at hand, and is reflective of their talent. So what do ya'll (and Trollheart) think? Would we be okay with allowing that? This thread could use something with a little bop that you could dance to (no offense to y'alls music choices). In short - I want to nominate a house mix but will relent if y'all would prefer to keep to the holy sanctity of the album format and would consider doing otherwise to be sacrilege.

04-26-2022, 02:04 PM	#190 (permalink)
music_collector Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Canada Posts: 744	I know nothing about house music. I'm five tracks into the Al Stewart album. I'll have to get listening.