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Glancing Over...
Dear god, I need to start saving this crap while I'm doing it, this was the third god forsaken time I've written this thing and it's killing my muse. Anyway... Glancing Over... Schizotypic's Journey Into Sound http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...c/IMG0-1-1.jpg To Find Music Welcome to my Member Journal. If your here just for the album reviews and compilations feel free to skip down to Part VII, it'll sum it all up. However, if your interested, my Journal is themed around my personal musical enlightenment. Story, Part I: A little over six months ago (written at 5/30/09) I was musically retarded. By this I mean the best albums of my entire life were Opiate by Tool and Amputechture by The Mars Volta, and only a few songs. Aside from that was okay music at best and again, I never listened to albums- just mediocre songs and indie-techno. Part II: About four months ago I put myself into rehab. While I was there I decided to musically enlighten myself. I used everyone I knew (patients, therapists, counselors) to try and make a list of the very best artists to start myself off with when I left. My three favorite counselors (early 20's college students), lent me their musical tastes to narrow down the list with a 2/3rds vote. Basically only their suggestions survived, ending with about 100 artists. After two months of being there I was finally released. Part III: My first few days home I immediately was on Playlist(.)com trying to sample around to see who I would start off with. I was mainly after discographies. Then I found Musicbanter. I was around the poetry forum when Big3's firm attitude gave me an idea of what the forum was actually about, so I decided to look around and got lost fairly quickly. Part IV: By the time I hit only 100 posts my itunes had become more of a library then a place for music personal to me. My list had nearly doubled, it was overwhelming. To this day it still is, I think music should be done over a lifetime, but I got so excited I just got all I could by any artists that interested me. I literally have a waiting list for organization, so I don't try and get 100 artists at once. Musicbanter is such amazing exposure, and some of the albums I've heard, after giving it it's time, have moved me in unique ways drugs never could have and has given me feelings I never knew existed. Part V: I was loving it all, but I got extremely swept up in life and stopped posting regularly. I still haven't gone a day without hearing a good amount of music since rehab though. After realizing how intimate an album has to be, I made a playlist for albums I've already listened to and want to get to know better. Still, it takes some time (for me anyway). I have about 70, each one I love in a different way, and I'm consistently getting new things from them on each listen. Part VI: Speaking of which, yesterday I was listening to the first album I am going to review- The Velvet Underground And Nico. It was on my fourth listen, but this last time it full on slapped me across the face. I think it hit me harder because I had more of an idea of Lou Reed's humor and social realism after listening to The Blue Mask. I was stuck there staring into my wall the entire album, and when it was over, I asked for a member journal. I just had to vent. Part VII: So this is how it's going to be Musicbanter- I'm still being beat up by life but when it so happens I come across something that hit me as hard as this last album did, your going to hear about it. And in that way you'll be going with me, through this new journey I'm on, into the ocean of sound, to find what music really is- to me. Next Album Review: Unknown ---------------------------------------------- A not from me: I may also do other stuff besides album reviews, too, I just can't think of what. Map (index) The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground And Nico 6/5 ratio: 1/5 Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - The Firstborn Is Dead 6/5 ratio 2/5 The Book Of Knots - Traineater 6/5 ratio: 3/5 Comus - First Utterance 6/5 ratio 4/5 Slint - Spiderland 6/5 ratio: 5/5 Fat Freddy's Drop - Based On A True Story 5/5 no ratio The Album Leaf - In A Safe Place 5/5/ no ratio Pink Floyd - The Wall 5/5 no ratio 6/5 Albums and the ratio system: My rating system is an incredibly hard to judge ratio. This is because a lot of the albums I'll be reviewing, to me, are 6/5 albums (and this rule only applies to albums with a 6/5 rating) If I only have one album review, that album will receive a 1/1 ratio. If I have reviewed three, each album would get a number out of /3. Etc, etc... Will now also be reviewing albums that are not 6/5 rating, as only 3 other albums I own have this rating for me, and two of those three just barely make it. |
A very personal and honest assessment of what music means to you and the work it is continuing to do for you. I am looking forward to this journal a lot.
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The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground And Nico (1967) http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...ground1967.jpg This is for all of you people out here who have not heard this album. Think of my album review like a childrens book, yeah you could chuckle, but if you listen I'll get your ass from point A to B. I'd like you to meet Lou Reed. http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ude420/lou.jpg One thing you should know about Lou is that he's been around the block. Like he has really been around the block. As a teenager he struggled with homosexual feelings, resulting in mental institutions and treatment of electroconvulsive therapy. Here: YouTube - Lou Reed Kill Your Sons He also dipped his hands into heroin addiction and S&M sex. Luckily for us, he was playing around with rhythm, blues, country, etc before he was even in high school- so we end up enjoying things like this: YouTube - Lou Reed - White Light / White Heat from Rock n Roll Animal Why yes, he does kick fucking ass. This is John Cale. http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1...o/johncale.jpg John, like Lou, can play. Here's them together live, really old, performing Smalltown from their 1990 album Songs For Drella: YouTube - Reed & Cale DRELLA 1: Smalltown/open house/style it takes The important thing about Cale is that he picked up the viola at a very early age and went on to do classical, noise, and a technique he took from minimalism called drone. "drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece, sustained or repeated, and most often establishing a tonality upon which the rest of the piece is built" My friends, I give you Andy Warhol: http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...y_Warhol-1.jpg He was a very artistic man, here's a link to some of his most popular work: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...print-1968.jpg Um... well, he did pop-art. Coco-cola and stuff. If you didn't know that already, that picture was probably ironic, but wait, it gets worse. ---------------------------------------------------- So here we are and it's 1963. Andy is an up and coming artist, doing pop-art paintings of controversial this and that. Lou just moved to New York and was playing in garages until he got hired as an in-house songwriter for Pickwick Records. He and Cale get thrown together. Reed and Cale lived together on the Lower East Side, and two of Reed's college acquaintances Sterling Morrison (guitarist) and Maureen Tucker (drummer) are added to the group, they formed The Velvet Underground. Andy at the time was surrounding himself with underground artists and caught wind of them. He helped the band immeasurably as far as notoriety, and urged to add European former model Nico to the lineup. Of course they didn't really, thus the name: ---------------------------------------------------- The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) If your not persuaded by this point to get this album I'm astonished, but I guess it can be hard to get. Let me tell a little bit about the actual album itself and what to look out for. Before I do, I'd like to officially state on Musicbanter (as long as it's been from the time I started this journal) this is still my favorite album in my life so far, and in my current opinion the best. Anyway, getting back on track, this is clearly one of the most influential albums of at least the past sixty years. Lou Reed's lyrics are that of an unbiased knife of raw truth, and with mighty balls, cutting into the bones of the untouched and unsafe subject matter of late 1960's. The music is filled to the point of spilling over with diversity. Sunday Morning, the first track on the album, is soft and comfortable, while the rest of the album is more raw. The music is as close to realism as you can get with the use of drone in songs like I'm Waiting For My Man or Heroin. Calmer songs make you feel like your being hit by a cold breeze in the freezing ocean. Your calm and tranquil, but at the same time it's bracing, this includes I'll Be Your Mirror or All Tomorrows Parties. There's also a notable use of beautifully done discordance meshed into raw noise and peaking into chaos in songs like European Son or The Black Angel's Death Song. The album never really hit commercial success but is on Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums Of All Time as number 13, as it's influences branch off from noise rock, rawness, and drone- I'd be listing things for another half hour if I were to sit down and find all the different ways music went branching off those three. In conclusion, If you have never heard it, and you want to- PM me asap. One of the best albums around, get this MB. With honesty and desire to share, MB's Schizotypic. 6/5 Ration: 1/5 |
Top review there - nice to see things laid put a bit differently. As for the album, I haven't listened to it for years, but I might just dig it out again after reading that. Good work sir :thumb:
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Nice job putting a new spin on a review that a lot of people have done here. I too think it's as much about the cast of characters as anything really. The music is fantastic, unique, disciplined chaos but the personalities and juxtaposition surrounding this project makes it more of an expereince and an event than most art could ever dream of being.
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The Book Of Knots Traineater (2006) http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...fKnots2006.jpg Reviewers Opinion: The first few things that I would like to tell any readers about this album is the same thing that you should assume with any album that is in my member journal: you should be bothering me for an upload right after you read this. If you have already heard it and you don't like it, you should be listening to it again. And finally, if you both have it and love it, then now is a good time to stop for a few seconds and have a moment of silence in which to fully admire it's greatness. In my current opinion, yes, it is straight-up that good. Unfortunately... my word alone is, most likely, not going to get any of you readers who haven't heard this masterpiece to go through the five minutes of asking for an upload and the five spins it takes (I think) to fully appreciate a work like this. So now, simply because I'm a nice guy who wants to spread the wealth, I'm going to review Traineater. Hopefully my good words will be enough, but if not, your loss. I mean, sorry for being so matter-of-factly with this... I just couldn't understand someone giving this enough time to grow on them and not loving it. On with the review: Loosely based on growing up in a depressed steel town, the masterpiece that is the second installment in what will one day be mind-churning trilogy is nothing more then the raw carnation of desperation itself; pure in form as if it had been chemically extracted from the last breathe of a tortuously suffocated man. This affect is not something that is blasted at you from your speakers or over exaggerated by some electronically twisted voice, no, it's amazingly crafted by the likes of brilliant musicianship and realistic perspective. Moving on with less imagery, I would like for fresh ears to take notice of details and grains; of each string and sound. From the screams of any dizzied guitars or hemorrhaged basses to the weak and shattered cries of utterly hopeless string instruments. Be attentive and let the sounds familiarize, and on the second spin, maybe it's time to try and grasp at what the lyrics are? All at your own time, but keep at it, eventually all the pieces will fit together and articulate song by song a different suffering. There's actually a couple in particular that I think manage to catch the pain of an entire lifetime. This being my concluding paragraph, I'd like to point out a couple things I did that you may have already noticed. One, I haven't really said much aside from seemingly exaggerating the greatness of an album with tricky essay-writing words. I assure you, oh not easily motivated one, that It's not exaggerated. And two, I didn't say much at all about the group. Most likely you noticed this if you're already in love with the album. My hope is that I don't have to, why write another three paragraphs when I could just write this and inspire anyone who's interested to go look-up The Book Of Knots themselves. Look, smart ass, I know it's cheating but I'll go to whatever length to spread the wealth. Enjoy you guys and cheers. Sincerely, Schizotypic. 6/5 Ration: 3/5 |
Kudos for the Book of Knots. Interested to see what's next.
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Fat Freddy’s Drop Based On A True Story (2000) http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...pic/185208.jpg Fat Freddy's Drop has turned out nothing more then the richest of albums. A New Zealand success story of an absolutely amazing independent labeled band going on to find well deserved critical acclaim and booming sells. If you haven't yet heard Based On A True Story, then I highly recommend you PM me immediately. If just to have it, as to eventually hear something that will make you regret not spinning it earlier on the very first listen. The greatest thing about this album is that it is so accessible and at the same time so brilliant! I've yet to come across an album which upon the first listen has imprinted itself upon me so solidly; the only thing it gets with repeated listens is better. It's also a notable accomplishment to have such a diverse album, with so many different genres sewn into it, feel so natural and smooth. I have only dipped my toes into the likes of Reggae, Dub, Soul, or Funk, and yet I can feel bits and pieces of them all in this. Possibly even bits of Jazz there? I think in the end it isn't any of these, as they are all so enmeshed together that Based On True Story has become something else entirely. What it is I'm not sure of, but Fat Freddy's Drop has truly created an album which is of the rarest of diamonds; truly, one in a million. Any readers who haven't heard this, PM me. Such a great album, I hope this helps to spread it. Cheers MB! Sincerely, Schizotypic. A solid and well deserved 5/5 |
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds The Firstborn Is Dead (1985) http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...ckCave1985.jpg I doubt there is an artist on the face of this earth as enthusiastically into his music as the great and almighty Nick Cave. It's true I may forget every once in a while, but whenever I spin just one song on The Firstborn Is Dead I HAVE to play the entire thing, and sing it, too. If you'll notice I give my all time favorite albums (which there are what, five of?) a rating of 6/5. This may seem confusing, so let me explain; not only are every single track on these albums stunning, but there's also something more there. That something may be different from album to album, but here it's just obvious. It may take a few spins, but the very second you are in sync with it there is absolutely no denying that it's beautifully done and mindbogglingly drop-your-feet stunning. I look back at my old review of this and am embarrassed with how much effort I put into it. If you haven't heard this album then you could either trust me and give me a PM (I'll get it to you asap), or you could read my old review.. http://www.musicbanter.com/album-rev...tml#post629662, or you could go online and get one of the hundreds of well-written album reviews on this thing to convince you. I'm sorry I don't give any new to Musicbanter readers more information on this, but I would end-up trying to beat to perfection the ten paragraphs I would be forced to write just trying to capture how good this album is. It's got a 6/5 rating, so PM me! If you haven't heard this and you post in here without PMing me I'm tracking you down... seriously I'm not kidding. Bad review, fucking brilliant album. Cheers MB! Sincerely, Schizotypic 6/5 ration 2/5 |
Slint Spiderland (1991) http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s.../Slint1991.jpg Writers relationship with this album: Even I'm surprised this album somehow achieved a 6/5 rating from me. Those who have spun this before know how good of an album it is, but I'm really not sure it's that good. I'll repeat this to myself over and over, thinking of why I ever decided this to be of my favorite albums, thinking maybe it should be re-assessed. But then, as I listen to it, I realize I couldn't possibly give this anything lower. Every song hits me in just the right spots, taking me from wherever I am with my thoughts and mood and dragging me into it's world. On top of that, there's something else. There's more to this. It's so complete, it does it's job so well, that at the end your left holding it above albums you thought it would never surpass. Review: Spiderland is five seemingly unrelated stories throw together on a 6-track album. Really it's more of a collection of ghost tales then a concept album. The lyrical nature is that of the absolute creepiest, slow-paced and with emphasis on every breath; it leaves you wondering what happens next while tingles run down your back. Of course it's best listened to in the darkest part of night while camping alone. The two things that make this album great are the separate but equal parts of the mood and the lyrics. The creepiness is the backbone of the album, giving you the general picture of the dark scenes, and replacing your feelings with it's. The lyrics are the detail, like a book, they are purposely written in such a way to focus your mind on exactly where Slint wants it to go. Together they'll take over everything you experience. The last and least important thing worth mentioning is the simplicity of all of this. The style of the music is of drone and mathrock, and the lyrics are of nothing more then the most concrete storytelling's. So how is it that something so simple can be so amazing? Well, I think it's the implication of it all. Take a look at Lou Reed's Heroin, or I'm Waiting For The Man, both are done with concrete storytelling and drone. It's what the implications are that really get you. The difference is that Lou's implies obvious things, usually in a satirical or sarcastic way. Here, with Spiderland, the impications are the of the unknown and the unworldly. Truly it's greatness must be in it's implied pointing toward the scariest of all human demons; the overwhelming and infinite vague. Highly recommended. Of course if you haven't heard this, give me a PM, I'll fix you up. Cheers MB, to another great album! Sincerely, Schizotypic. 6/5 Ratio: 5/5 |
I wish I could interest a few forum members in reviewing a Velvet Underground album, other than VUs first album which is over-reviewed to the point of banality. Everything that is insightful about Peel Slowly and See has been said 1000 times over in 100,000 reviews of the album over the past five decades. I wish I could have been first to say some of those insightful things about VU, but older and better music critics beat me to the punch a long time ago.
This is in no way a commentary the quality of Schizotypic's review. I'll read it later a probably keep any thoughts about his review to myself, unless he says anthing in the review that is innacurate by the historcal record, or if he says somthing insightful enough for me to respond to. My comments are more of reflection on the lack of imagination we all exercise when we choose our subject matter for review. I'm as guilty of it, as the next person and will often select an artist or album that been heavily reviewed, just to get my 2 cents in. I rarely see reviews of VU's next three equally superb albums White Light White Heat the untitled album known as Velvet Underground, and Loaded VU's final album with Lou Reed at the helm. Personally I can't write about VU anymore, having collected nearly every concert review, VU flyer, and record review written about VU from 1966-1984 as a favor to Gerard Malanga when he was writting his own autobiography about his involvement with the Factory and VU. Some of that collected material is in Gerard's archive at archives malanga. The archive has contains the answer to nearly anything you've ever wanted to know about Andy Warhol, VU, Edie Segewick, the Factory or Gerard's own considerable contributions to both VU and Warhol's art. Gerard was right smack dab in the middle of it all running Warhol's art print operation, his movie production company and whip dancing on stage with VU's Exploding Plastic Intevitable as his night gig. Someone should do a review of him. I won't even post my earliest reviews of nearly all of VUs albums in MB or anywhere else, because they were written long enough ago to make me embarassed by the poor quality of the review. My days of writting about VU are pretty much over and I've only made one or two exceptions (to the highest bidder) to that rule. Nothing is ever sealed in stone but for now, just listening to them is the only VU related activity that I can still enjoy and I do...every day of my life without exception. |
Every review I do in my journal isn't about quality, I don't need quality to persuade anyone who hasn't already given an album here a listen. Also it's irrelevant if an album I review has had 100,000 reviews already written on it. The person who hasn't heard the album doesn't know about those reviews anyway. The only reason I write is to share something that was dear to me.
Sorry I didn't review another album by the VU just because it was more rare, and I'm sure they are just as good but unfortunately I have yet to give any other VU album the time of day. Not because I don't want to, but there are so many great albums I own and haven't listened to it's hard to stay focused on just one artist for more then an album or two, also considering how much of my time goes into fully connection and building a relationship with albums which strikes my interest, it isn't a surprise in the six months I've been delving into music that I haven't heard every album from every catologue. If I ever listen to another by them and end-up loving it as much as I did the album I did review, I'll be absolutely sure to review it- as to share the wealth. |
As I said in my post the comments were no reflection on your review and I apoligize, perhaps it would have been wiser for me to post them somewhere else. No malice was intended, I simply got carried away in moment with a subject matter that's very near and dear to my heart.
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Personally I'm sick of seeing reviews on this forum of an 'obscure' album that ends up either being crap or bland at best.
I much prefer this thread as at least it's honest, it's not written in some way that resembles a bad Pitchfork review. I'd prefer members to write a review on an album they love whether it is obscure or whether it features in an arbitrary top ten albums you'd find in any mag, than an album that's just there for posing sake. Schizotypic is discovering music and I'd like to see him review albums he discovers, regardless of how long I have had them and whether or not I actually like them. My number one reason for reading album reviews is that I enjoy people talking about music they love and explaining why they love, how it makes them feel. Schizo, review whatever album you want and keep up the good work. |
Thanks Toe, I totally agree and appreciate the post. I'll be definitely reviewing the next album on my list really late tonight or early morning tomorrow dependent on when I get back. It's I.A.S.P by T.A.L if you can figure out what that stands for, ha.
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The Album Leaf In A Safe Place (2004) http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...f_iasp_300.jpg The Album Leaf is the solo project of Jimmy LaValle, a former member of the aggressive math/grindcore band The Locusts. His solo work sounds nothing in the slightest to his work with The Locusts. Rather then distorted riffs and rough edges The Album Leaf chooses to focus its energy on creating the complete opposite; a sense of calm and togetherness. I don't know what inspired this change of heart, but every album is dripping subtly of peace and beauty. One of the most aesthetic bands I've ever come across. This is the album I would recommend to anyone who has had a rough week. A hybrid of soft electronic, tranquil instrumental, calming beats, and fuzzed singing, it is one of the most comfortable albums I have ever to sank into. The title of the album is in no way deceiving, really, it does feel like you're in a safe place. If you're in the mood to write poetry, do homework, or just sit and feel out a tough problem, this is the friend to turn to. It gives great advice and is always a comfort to be around. I highly recommend this album to anybody who wants to cool off. The reason I give this a rating of 5/5 isn't for musical ability but rather just because it impressed me. It did the one thing that I look for in music the most: it took me exactly where it wanted me to be. I couldn't imagine not having the Oasis that is In A Safe Place to turn to every once in a while. It's like living in a house across from a quiet abandoned beach, so if anybody wants an up, feel free to give me a PM. Don't be afraid to post in here either, I love to hear responses. Really beautiful, enjoy MB. With a head full of peace, Schizotypic. 5/5 |
I just cannot get into the Album Leaf at all. I have tried on a few occasions to listen to them but I turn them off after a couple of tracks. this was about a year ago and I still have 3 albums so maybe I should see if anythings changed.
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Amazing journey!
Schizotypic, that's an amazing thing you're going through. I can connect deeply with that feeling because I'm going through something very similar!
About 11 months ago I started really delving into music. Before then, I was completely casual about it, musically retarded if you will ;D I completely agree that music is a lifelong journey and sympathize that there's so much to catch up with that sometimes we feel like we're Tryin' to Throw Our Arms Around The World. But I'm young and I don't need to instantly grow musical knowledge and tastes to match those from people who have lived the golden decades (I speak for myself 'cause I don't know your age). There's time and we should relax and savour the great albums with our undue attention. Way to go! I love how you develop a deep connection with the albums you like the most, and I think I need to incorporate that into my method. My way of going through albums ("simmering" for me) is slower than yours, but more all-around-the-block I guess. Maybe not. Maybe it's just plain inferior, but it's my own so I'll never admit it!! :D You might like to check my journal (can't link to it 'cause I'm a fledgling but it's up at the top of the journals as of now) started only yesterday, I still have about 4 posts to add in order to bring the journey to where I stand currently. I loved your initial brief log of events by parts, and might in the future rip it off. And before you begin tracking me down, do know I WILL be checking all the albums you are hailing as masterpieces, but I only take so many albums at any given time and now it has to wait at least until october - oh wait, october's all booked up too so that brings us to december! Best of luck.. and fare-well! Be |
^Thanks for checking out my Members Journal so thoroughly. I completely understand how it may take a while to get around to listening to any recommendations, I have hundreds myself. I will check out your Journal and also wish you the best of luck and hope dearly that you stick around.
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Well, it definitely helps that your journal's relatively recent and doesn't have 10+ pages full of great recommendation I'd feel I couldn't miss! And unfortunately for me I do feel like that about longer journals and.. gasp... read it all!! So I do hope your journal reaches those heights and maybe mine too :D
Needless to say, I should start off with The Velvet Underground & Nico, hopefully by year's end! Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds is intriguing me too. Do you think it would be a better experience to hear From Her to Eternity first or I should just skip right through to The Firstborn Is Dead ? I usually feel I should give an artist's justice and listen in chronological order, especially when the debut's a good album, but most of the time I don't actually do it. |
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Cave is such a random 'beast' when it comes to the style of his albums, its difficult to pin down a suggestion for anyone. Which ever way you go about it you will be richly rewarded for putting in the time. I'm not a huge fan of his earlier stuff (In comparison to his later stuff) and would personally suggest starting @ the 90's. However, that is just one fan, and if you talk to five people you will get five suggestions. He is one artist you DON'T have to start from the start with. So yeah, Firstborn is a good way to go, or Let Love In, or Tender Prey, or Abattoir Blues etc etc :p: :D |
Wow, the freedom! Thanks for shedding those shackles ;D
So yeah, I owe it to the journal owner to start from the First, then I can jump both feet into the 90's. Wish me a fine ride. |
Forgot to add, great journal, love the way you review albums.
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Comus First Utterance (1971) http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...ypic/Comus.jpg First Utterance is hands down the most (lyrically) twisted album I have ever heard, and at the same time among the most beautiful instrumentally and also one of the most intense. Even standing as a lone beast against the numerous and varied discographies of it's time, it seems that Comus in their effort had made an album which achieved with ease the goal of bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, and King Crimson: to take you to another place completely. In my opinion they did it better. Bongos, violin, acoustic guitar, electric bass. If you had to guess what this album was going to sound like based only upon the bands instrument choice, you would almost undoubtedly be wrong. The sound here is as abrasive as it is experimental and is relentless in striving to create the perfect mood for murder, rape, and eternal suffering. Don't let this mislead you, once you've spun this enough you'll notice how beautiful it really is; it reminds me of mountains and torture and sky. Lyrically each song is its own epic story. First Utterance is the best of storytellers here, as it makes certain you feel the suspense of every single second. Despite the vocals being extremely layered, they sound as acoustic as the rest of the album- and also thoroughly raise you up and drop you as they please. "As they please" are the key words of my summary. Comus has all of the power, they know what they want you to feel, and you're going to feel it. It's just what makes this particular gem a rating of 6/5. Of course highly recommended. Listen to this at 3:00am. Sincerely, Schizotypic. 6/5 Ratio: 4/5 |
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Thanks for all the comments etc, etc. I should have the next review up pretty soon. |
your scores are grossly inflated! stop liking everything damnit!
edit: post #666 |
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My scores are actually pretty harsh, I just don't review anything I think is below a 5/5. I'll admit there are things like The Album Leaf which just happen to hit me in the right spot, but I'm not going to not include something because of what other people may think- I think it's a 5/5 album. Trust me, if I were to try and review the albums I thought were a 4/5 I'd be in over my head. To give you an idea, I'd be reviewing undoubtedly every PJ Harvey album, a bunch of Crime & The City Solution, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Gram Rabbit, Lou Reed, Morphine, the list can go on and on. I mean, honestly, sometimes an album will be a 4/5 and one day it'll grow on me enough to make the cut (like The Album Leaf) and those are borderline. Really, though, I'm not as easy a grader as you think I am... these albums just mean a lot to me. |
fair enough
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Yeah, Schizotypic, I know what you're getting at. And I like your 6/5 solution. It's like a godlike, blackbelt status to an album. Sort of like a top ranking, where one newcomer is likely to take the place of another, as you taste more and more albums. Me, I use 5/5 for that kind of status. Most of the albums I love are 4/5, which would mean 5/5 to you. Actually, I've yet to come across a 5/5 album in my journey (but then I haven't gotten REAL deep with any one album). It's that special. |
The Arcade Fire - Funeral http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...tradcd_219.jpg *extremely* personal album review for a person album: A 2004 LP by the name of Funeral released by The Arcade Fire. First impressions usually barely scratch the surface for me, and although that is true of this album it is not a grower. It's so accessible that you can literally dance to it and it's immediately beautiful sounding. Because of this I originally passed it off as pretty good indie-label popular music. Of course I was embarrassingly wrong. If you don't want to know about my personal shit, see last paragraph. A warning to those who only like prog- it's not the musicianship which impressed me, and actually I'm not even impressed. This is an album which let me open-up my defenses and feel things I've been trying to work through for several months. I'm talking adult shit here, too, no over dramatizing. Into the bowels of self and family, through the deep and unknown of the pain, validating all the abuse was there, cutting webs of resentments, the rock and hard place of the last stop at co-dependence peak; basically truly and really accepting reality at it's grittiest. The album is ahead of me as the end of it is acceptance, I'm not there yet. But It will be waiting for when I am. And I'm so grateful for Davey Moore's review on this, which I read after listening to it, in that we must share some common ground- as I agree, this album is an exorcism. There is some beautiful music and real emotional depth to Funeral which reminds me why music is so amazing. This album is an exact picture of the very center of someone, the roots of the core problems which weave their way into every one of us humans who are capable of feeling them- despite how differently we deal with it, the pit of the fruit is always the same. And here it is, a photo X-ray, staring you in the eye. Right at you. YouTube - Arcade Fire- Neighborhood 3 (Power Out) with lyrics http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...eyeball1-2.jpg n/a |
i would say my favorite album of the aughts that i have heard.
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YouTube - Pink Floyd - When the tigers broke free (Film version) + Lyrics http://i569.photobucket.com/albums/s...r-C1004812.jpg Me and The Wall: No grading system can reveal what this album means to me, because I am super biased when it comes to The Wall. I guess if you didn't grow-up with this thing you wouldn't understand, but despite me listening to shit music until MB, this was the one good album I knew all the words to and all the turns the album was going to take by the time I was like eight. Thank god my grades are only dependent on what I think, because seriously trying to compare this realistically to other albums in here would be hard. The Review: On with the actual review, I would strongly suggest anyone who hasn't watched this movie at 3:00am with some popcorn and the lyrics sitting next to them to put it on their list of things to do. Something else to note is not to really think of it the same you would any other Pink Floyd album, in fact, for me this isn't either an album or Pink Floyd. For me this is an entirely different entity then a lot Pink Floyd, I think this is really more of Roger Waters Rock Opera then anything... so, pretend your at the opera! Anyway, looking back it is sort of cheesy, which is why I kind of didn't want to review it... but at the same time I love this album and it will always have a special place in my heart, it's a hell of a beautiful story and I think something that has actually enriched my life some by being part of it. Hope someone ends-up liking this as much as I do, Sincerely, MB's only Schizotypic. 5/5 No ratio |
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