Board 8 > *Vincent's favorite 2011 songs & albums* [iconsience] [ulti]

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tag1!

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"Life is a bunch of stuff" -- Whiskey Nick

Hey guys, I decided I'm doing this. Kind of in a short format (10 songs, 20 albums) because I'm lazy and otherwise I'll never get this done. I've listened to over 60 albums this year, which is still not that much compared to a few geeks here. (I'm looking at you, Giggs and Icon)

I missed out on some major releases. So if you're thinking at the end of this list 'what, the new Tom Waits isn't on here???', it's because I haven't listened to it yet or because I thought it sucked (the first being true for Tom Waits, the latter for the new Strokes). Feel free to ask whichever one it is.


There's also a big chance that some songs (maybe a lot) of my top 10 don't really mesh with my top 20 albums. It's because some releases this year had amazing singles, but disappointing albums. That's life.


I'm probably the first of many to be starting a list like this at the end of the year, but at least I'm FIRST. It could be that everyone else is even lazier than me though.

For some of you, this list will be generic. Other people will probably only know like 2 albums from the list. So it goes.

Song #10 and album #20 will be up later today.

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Also, there'll be the odd EP/Mixtape in that album list. Because that's how I roll.

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what, the new Tom Waits isn't on here???

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I'm pretty serious about chocobos.

10. The Strokes – Under Cover of Darkness



How about that new Strokes record? As I said in the opening post, I think it's kind of dull. I couldn't get into it at all, which is sad because this song had me hyped a bit. It's classic Strokes, but feels more polished. Which is a good thing for this song, but ultimately bad for a whole Strokes record. That wasn't the main problem for me though, it was the fact that Angles sounded too synthy for its own good. I don't want my Strokes layered with a more eighties sound if they can't pull it off properly.

That said, Under Cover of Darkness is a great song. It's got a catchy chorus, and has more prominent guitars than any other song on Angles. Despite its very basic structure and light nature musically, it still sounds fresh. It's something this band should strive for more often these days.

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20. Kode9 & The Spaceape – Black Sun



Genre: Dubstep

Key songs:
"Am I"

"Black Smoke"

"Otherman"


Black Sun is a slightly ambivalent record for me. When it comes down to songwriting, it's a bit sloppy. I contemplated on where I should put it on the list. I was even planning on not including it at all at some point. In the end, as you can see, it got number twenty. Which isn't a bad feat at all, because I definitely enjoyed more than twenty records this year.

It's mostly because of the gritty beats and the harrowing atmosphere this record has. It crackles along for a whopping forty five minutes, which isn't that long I guess but it feels that way on some listens. It's mostly because of the spaceape's delivery and the monotone nature of the record, which can be a bit dull sometimes. But in short bursts this album has a lot of great tracks.

There's times I even thought of putting this record in the higher parts of the list. But ultimately, I feel like this a good spot to place it. Not too shabby at all, right?

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tag

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aww man i love this time of year, hopefully i'll see something cool i don't already know about

not too interested in black sun but i like how you used three paragraphs to make essentially one point. you're learning from the best!

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songs like "Am I" and other tracks on Black Sun aren't really about tight, logical songwriting, they're more about spaceape's aggressive rapping and kode9's relentless beats creating a visceral sense of paranoia. it's a loud, violent, somewhat disturbing record. not sure I'd agree with the monotony, either. I do get a bit tired of the record, but spaceape changes his delivery up a bunch, Kode9's productions are wildly progressive, and then there's another singer every few songs, Cha Cha.

good placement, though. that's probably where I'd have it. maybe a bit lower.


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ICON:
When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set Bidoof on fire.

From: Giggsalot | #008
i like how you used three paragraphs to make essentially one point. you're learning from the best!

endless drivel is the best

on a related note:


19.Deaf Center – Owl Splinters



Genre: Ambient

Key songs:
"The Day I Would Never Have"

"New Beginning (Tidal Darkness)"


I'm positive that only Giggs has heard this record. Which is a shame, because I'm pretty sure we have some ambient fans here too. Pale Ravine slowly became one of my favorite records in the genre and Owl Splinters isn't far from that record in terms of quality. In comparison to Pale Ravine, Owl Splinters is different. Pale Ravine was more approachable in whatever mood you were in, this really only draws you in when you're feeling either melancholic or depressed. Maybe both. That's not a bad thing either, a lot of my favorite records are very mood dependant.

It's incredibly dark and has a lot of moments where the bass sounds tremble along, almost overwhelming everything else in a song. It's got lots of reverby climaxes too. It's a very direct record in that aspect, but in other areas it's also really subtle. Like the intricate piano melodies that layer over each other, or the way some songs start of with nothing but real ambience, no melody going on whatsoever. It also has a lot of cello, which is never a bad thing. The cello is an amazing instrument.


So yeah, if you like dark, moody ambient this won't disappoint you. If you aren't into that kind of music, try it anyway.

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From: the icon ownz all | #009
songs like "Am I" and other tracks on Black Sun aren't really about tight, logical songwriting, they're more about spaceape's aggressive rapping and kode9's relentless beats creating a visceral sense of paranoia. it's a loud, violent, somewhat disturbing record. not sure I'd agree with the monotony, either. I do get a bit tired of the record, but spaceape changes his delivery up a bunch, Kode9's productions are wildly progressive, and then there's another singer every few songs, Cha Cha.

I can agree with that, but that doesn't mean I don't prefer tight, logical songwriting most of the time!

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Tag. I always dig any music topic of yours.

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it's just a weird point to make, is all. i'm not going to point out that the latest necks album lacks poppy hooks!


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Can I kick it?

tagging this

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From: the icon ownz all | #013
it's just a weird point to make, is all. i'm not going to point out that the latest necks album lacks poppy hooks!

That's true I guess. What I really meant with 'sloppy songwriting' was that it has a lot of moments where it throws you off. Which is not necessarily a 'bad' thing, but it is for some songs on Black Sun for me personally!

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ok tag

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Oracle Challenge ~ Rank: 15th ~Today's prediction: Cloud / Seph - 61.16%

More tomorrow. Secret bump.

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tkol aoty

also tag

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Black Turtle shoots the lights out

bump, #18 and #9 today probably

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9. CunninLynguists - Hard As They Come (Act I) (Feat. Freddie Gibbs)



Only the second best hip hop song this year. A lot of you can already guess what tops it for me. But that's not important really, because this song still slays. Every verse is great, and I think Natti's is my favorite. There's really not that much to say about it, except that it sounds fresh while still retaining some kind of old school hip hop style. It's serious subject material, because that's how CunninLynguists roll.




LACKLUSTER WRITEUP #1

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tag

Ego/Mirror best be on this s***

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SephirothG, channeling awesomeness from Mershiness.
The Resurrection

Also Ghetto Dreams is the best hip-hop song released this year and it ain't even close

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SephirothG, channeling awesomeness from Mershiness.
The Resurrection

WalrusJump posted...
tkol aoty

also tag

predix: topic won't make it that far

tag

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sig

Vincent actually finishes things unlike the icon ownz nothing

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SephirothG, channeling awesomeness from Mershiness.
The Resurrection

i had the time to complete the list back in early November but decided against it because I enjoy hearing you complain

also, as someone who follows Vince lists, that is not remotely true!

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ICON:
When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set Bidoof on fire.

hey Vince

will actrice make an appearance?

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ICON:
When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set Bidoof on fire.

I for one have never seen a completed Vince List but that's okay, I'm not complaining.

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maybe Vincent should start a top 500 albums list, I haven't seen one of those completed in a while

(tag)

Vince doesn't even know what "to complete" means.

I haven't finished a list in ages


I plan on doing this though! #18 tonight but nobody will care since no one will have listened to it


yeahh

I'm at my dad's until saturday and haven't got my list with me, but I'll try to remember what exact spots I gave to what and what not. Could be that I switch a few albums around, but ultimately the placings won't be too different because I do know what I like more of course (yes I don't know my own list by heart it's horrible)

18. dEUS - Keep You Close



Genre: Alternative Rock

Key songs:

"Dark Sets In"

"Constant Now"



dEUS is one of those bands I keep mentioning here but no one really cares. I don't think this album will change anyone's mind either, it's just a really solid alternative rock record. The album's about 40 minutes long I think and only has 9 songs, so they're basically all round the 5 minute mark.

It feels a lot more polished than their previous album Vantage Point. And with polished I don't mean in the bad way: The songs just feel a lot more finished for some reason. That said, I still really liked Vantage Point so an improvement was welcome, but not needed. They'll never be able to attain the weird, catchy almost avant garde pop electro rock they had in their early days, but that's not really needed either. I like the new smooth and groovy dEUS. As long as they keep putting out quality songwriting like this, I don't care that they're not the most innovative band in the Belgian scene anymore.

just posting to confirm that i don't care

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Damn it Giggs

I thought someone actually cared you hungarian welsh bastard

haha i was hoping for that

excellent

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HM. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Brendan's Death Song



Yeah, I forgot this song existed until RHCP came along on MTV today. No, I have no idea why I was watching MTV in the first place. Anyway, I'm positive people will forgive me for cheating on my already incredibly short list. It also gives me time to remember what exact placements I gave to what songs/albums. So maybe I'll do a few more honorable mentions until saturday, to keep things exciting!

While I'm With You was a disappointment overall, it was still a 'pretty good' album. It's not top 20 material, but I enjoyed it. Brendan's Death Song is the best song on it. It's a very bombastic and melodic song, which surprised me because I always believed Frusciante to bring the more melodic side to RHCP.

That said, I'm sure Klinghoffer thinks in the same way John does about music. It basically has everything that can make a RHCP either very good, or very cliché: A sing along chorus, an acoustic guitar intro, bombastic drums, lyrics about a dead friend and a climax with Kiedis shouting YEAH. Luckily, this song's in the first category.

bump

red hot chili peppers were appropriately met with silence

what's mtv belgium like, anyway?


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ICON:
Can I kick it?

A lot of Jersey Shore and Jackass reruns


so I guess basically the same thing as US/canada?

canadian mtv is restricted from playing music programming because much - owned by chum, who are in turn owned by bell, who in turn have a former ceo presiding over the CRTC which regulates all of this - have a monopoly on music programming. in recent years, much (who were bound by laws stating they had to air 80% music programming, or something close to that number) have appealed to the CRTC to loosen those restrictions to the point where now any program with a musician in it counts as music programming.

it's really dumb

anyway, mtv canada is mostly jersey shore and one girl five gays reruns


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ICON:
When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set Bidoof on fire.

Sounds dumb, but believe me MTV WITH music isn't much better!


bump

HM. Braids - Native Speaker



"Key" Songs:
Lemonade

Plath Heart



I have no idea if someone besides Rusty, who rec'd them to me I think, has listened to this record. I have to thank Rusty for introducing them to me because they are a pretty great band!

BUT VINCENT, why are they not in your top 20?

It's pretty simple: The songs are memorable enough to recognize them when I listen to them again. But they aren't memorable, or catchy, or great enough to keep coming back to them. And there's nothing wrong with that! It's just a delightful treat every once in a while.

Now, the second reason I didn't place them in my top 20 is because of their sound. HOLD UP VINCENT: You just said you thought they were pretty great. Yes, random board 8 member: They are! But sadly, there's another artist that already did this exact same sound, there's only one real difference: They have male vocals instead of a female lead singer.

Who is this mysterious band? Just look at the damn cover: even that will make you realize what band I'm talking about, if you know them that is. Now I don't really hold that against them, because the sound they're trying to reproduce is a really great one. The problem lies more with the fact that they don't DO anything with it. I can listen to a band like White Lies, who take the original sound Joy Division had, and say: "Well this kind of music has been played before, but they do have a kind of unique characteristic to make every 80s sounding song into a more bombastic climax, whether you like it or not", which is a more original approach than just plain copying another artist's way to create music.

It's a minor, but necessary complaint and it drags the album down a notch for me. Don't get me wrong though: I still like Native Speaker a lot more than White Lies' new record. Which wasn't bad, but had a lot of dull songs that overshadowed the good ones.

Why did I bring White Lies into the equation? This will only confuse people.


Tl;dr: If you like Animal Collective and you like female vocals, you'll probably like Braids.

bump

i liked lemonade

didn't really care for the album though i didn't give it much time

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At school.

Lemonade is a pretty sweet song


eh hehe he eheh eheh


(bad pun bump)

8. Young The Giant - My Body




Because of a technicality (Young The Giant's album being released in 2010 digitally) I can't put their album on this list. This song came out as a single in 2011, I guess that counts or something? I don't care either way. My Body's just an amazingly fun indie pop song. There's fewer and fewer times that genre works, but Young The Giant hit the nail on the head with this song and their album. Great band if you like this kind of music, otherwise you'll find them dull probably.

so is there an ulti in our future because that's the only reason I clicked on this topic

I always tag important topics like these with ulti, to attract people



It finally worked

bump

more today.

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too many HM's! But I'll listen to these sometime today and post thoughts. I only know Hard as they Come.

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