Is it still possible to be innovative in Pop music?

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-02-2013, 10:59 PM

I've listened to some Radiohead but can't really get into it.

Surell · 09-02-2013, 11:04 PM

i can dig it, their new one's pretty laid back if you dig that (along with lower key folky Grizzly Bear) you may like it.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-02-2013, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surell

EDIT: I luuuuuv overbearing beats but i suppose i can be a little overbearing. In my attempt to bridge Pop, Hip Hop, and Radiohead in this thread, here it is:

it embraces studio innovation and melody, uses a more spoken style (once i heard in a more jamaican music sense), and also it's radiohead.

This is typical of my reaction to Radiohead. It's OK, I can see some creativity in there, but it just doesn't really jump out at me.

At work a couple months ago while doing stuff on my computer I listened to OK Computer twice in a row, seeing how many accolades it got, and blah blah blah, but my reaction to it was just, "meh."

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-02-2013, 11:21 PM

Prior to getting into AnCo recently, the last time I got into some new (or, "new") music was about 10 years ago when I got into some Brazilian music, starting with this band (which was just a 1-album project by 3 well-known Brazilian musicians). This song is my favorite. I don't speak a word of Portuguese but I've got the words to this song memorized anyway.

Surell · 09-02-2013, 11:25 PM

OKC isn't my favorite either, it's more of it's context and hype from that moment alone that's kept it's reputation so high. It's got some great songs and ideas but Kid A far outdoes it at its own game. Honestly, it's how i feel about Sgt. Peppers as far as its original context is concerned, but that's a whole other discussion.

Plus, OKC, though very melodic, is more rock based, where TKOL has a very easy atmosphere for the most part, and pretty prominent melodies and hooks, though it could be said to have a fairly flat/dry tone.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-03-2013, 02:21 PM

Alright I listened to the rest of Grizzly Bear's albums this morning.

Basically, there's Yellow House, and there's everything else. Horn of Plenty was OK, but not great, and essentially, the newer the album was, the more "meh" it was.

They had a great sound on Yellow House with all those acoustic instruments (flutes, banjos, etc) plus the extensive use of harmonies. Seems to me there was plenty of additional room to explore there, but aside from a few songs here and there on the other albums, it seems like they gave up on the sound. Pity. I can understand them wanting to make each album sound different, but I don't know why they didn't try to do more with the nice sound they had on Yellow House.

Surell · 09-03-2013, 03:31 PM

I'll have to give Yellow House another chance, i always heard good things but i just couldn't get into it the couple times i tried, but i probably just wasn't in the right mood.

If you dug that, you may also like (i'm starting to feel like spotify) Fleet Foxes, they've got some fantastic harmonies and melodies, as well as some generally good songwriting based around folk instruments, very CSN(Y)/Beach Boys strand kinda stuff. I'm most familiar with their newest album, Helplessness Blues, but their first one is supposed to be as good or better depending on who you ask. The main guy, Robin Pecknold, is a perfectionist much like Wilson was, though relating back to the thread i wouldn't say he's as innovative as some of the names mentioned here. He makes great folk/pop with some psychedelic influence (it plays less of a role the way i hear it), and the production is great, but as I said, it's pretty clearly indebted to great pop/folk songwriters (this also includes Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, though with less Beatles love like the latter).

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-03-2013, 03:45 PM

Thanks, I'll check them out.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-03-2013, 05:02 PM

Alright I've listened to Fleet Foxes and am about half way through Helplessness Blues. Generally my reaction is another "meh." It's pleasant stuff, but not much that grabs me and makes me want to pay attention (reminds me of a similar experience I had with Beach House). I actually think I like Grizzly Bear a bit more, it's a little more interesting musically.

That said, the songwriting on Helplessness Blues so far sounds better than on their first album. I suspect the guy who writes the songs will hit his stride maybe around their 4th or 5th full-length album.

Still no one can even come close to touching AnCo.

derek · 09-03-2013, 05:18 PM

I think Kpop is pretty cool... blend of Korean pop, hip-hop, blues with some doo-wop and a few more elements thrown into the mix...i think american pop music should similarly do the same minus Korean pop

09-02-2013, 10:59 PM	#21 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,172	I've listened to some Radiohead but can't really get into it. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

09-02-2013, 11:21 PM	#24 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,172	Prior to getting into AnCo recently, the last time I got into some new (or, "new") music was about 10 years ago when I got into some Brazilian music, starting with this band (which was just a 1-album project by 3 well-known Brazilian musicians). This song is my favorite. I don't speak a word of Portuguese but I've got the words to this song memorized anyway. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

09-03-2013, 02:21 PM	#26 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,172	Alright I listened to the rest of Grizzly Bear's albums this morning. Basically, there's Yellow House, and there's everything else. Horn of Plenty was OK, but not great, and essentially, the newer the album was, the more "meh" it was. They had a great sound on Yellow House with all those acoustic instruments (flutes, banjos, etc) plus the extensive use of harmonies. Seems to me there was plenty of additional room to explore there, but aside from a few songs here and there on the other albums, it seems like they gave up on the sound. Pity. I can understand them wanting to make each album sound different, but I don't know why they didn't try to do more with the nice sound they had on Yellow House. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

09-03-2013, 03:45 PM	#28 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,172	Thanks, I'll check them out. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

09-03-2013, 05:02 PM	#29 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,172	Alright I've listened to Fleet Foxes and am about half way through Helplessness Blues. Generally my reaction is another "meh." It's pleasant stuff, but not much that grabs me and makes me want to pay attention (reminds me of a similar experience I had with Beach House). I actually think I like Grizzly Bear a bit more, it's a little more interesting musically. That said, the songwriting on Helplessness Blues so far sounds better than on their first album. I suspect the guy who writes the songs will hit his stride maybe around their 4th or 5th full-length album. Still no one can even come close to touching AnCo. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here Last edited by DriveYourCarDownToTheSea; 09-03-2013 at 06:01 PM.

09-03-2013, 05:18 PM	#30 (permalink)
derek Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 778	I think Kpop is pretty cool... blend of Korean pop, hip-hop, blues with some doo-wop and a few more elements thrown into the mix...i think american pop music should similarly do the same minus Korean pop Last edited by derek; 09-04-2013 at 12:08 AM.