Board 8 > Recommend two albums. I'll rate, rank and review them.

(+) Yeah! (+)

hey wait I got skipped
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Man how do you get through so much music? I have to listen to a song many times before I really develope any sort of opinion on it and you're doing so much every day!
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I guess I'll nominate two more of my favorites from this year (which both came out since my first nominations); #1 and #4 respectively:
St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION
Fever Ray - Plunge
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jcgamer107 posted...

hey wait I got skipped

Very sorry, crazy that I missed it given the number of times I've combed through this topic to make sure I got the list right. I guess I'm not that close to finishing after all. I'll do one tonight.

CoolCly posted...

Man how do you get through so much music? I have to listen to a song many times before I really develope any sort of opinion on it and you're doing so much every day!

I actually feel like I've gotten really lazy lately in terms of how much I'm actually writing, but on my best days... It's actually not easy or much fun when compared to my leisure listening. I can't really do much multi-tasking if I want to form any decent thoughts and even then sometimes I'm just not moved at all and I really have to force it. The cool thing is that after doing it for this long, I don't need nearly as much time and I can actually get most of my thoughts on an album after one listen, while for the first couple weeks it honestly took all day and at least 3-4 plays before I could write anything.

I think I've mostly got what I needed out of this topic though, want to start a new project soon. I have something really, really Canadian in mind.
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Minimall - HUH!

Wow. Im really into this little EP. Its got that ridiculously sweet indie pop sound, the kind that is probably too sweet, but you tolerate it anyway because it gives you those warm fuzzy feelings.Everything about the recording feels low stakes, as if they decided to simply jam a few songs and record what they came up with. Thats not to say it musically sounds like a jam band its that there are literally a few moments through the recording that made me go Thats the take you decided to go with?. I dont mean that entirely as a criticism either, there are just a few awkward vocal moments stick out but at the same time they just add to the charm of the whole thing. Technical perfection surely wasnt the goal when they decided to record this EP and its likely stronger because of it.

There are some really powerful hooks here, most notably in Static which I feel is going to be stuck in my head for weeks on end. I honestly cant get enough of it right now and am fighting the urge to just listen to it on repeat rather than go through the rest of the EP. The only part I really dislike here (and to be fair its only 17 minutes of music) is the first 3/4 of Drunken Stars before the tempo change. It veers a little too close to that twee hipster ukulele shit that I cant really get into, but it still ends quite strong so I cant really complain.

Im really into this, Ill have to keep an eye on them.

Final Rating: It helps that a lot of this sounds like a mini mall/10
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I too would love a full length Luna album. An f(x) album would be neat too; it's been 2 years.

The Gnod album is repetitive, but I like the variations on the same words being repeated.

I'll nominate two more:
Forest Swords - Compassion
Red Velvet - Perfect Velvet

or if Perfect Velvet isn't out by the time you get to it:
Red Velvet - The Red
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Ben Folds Five - The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind

Whats the deal with all you guys requesting the same bands/albums you made me listen to for the Title Track ranking? Dont you remember what I said about them back then? Because I definitely dont. This album isnt nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. I was familiar the title track from that topic a few years back and its easily one of my least favourites from the album. I dont actually know if its because I think the song is bad, or if Im just sick of it after hearing it so many times back then. In general Im not a fan of the piano-driven production this album is filled with, as much of the time its sound is just so bright and upfront that it really steals the stage from the other instruments in the worst possible way. Luckily, a lot of the music is saved by the clever lyricism. Draw A Crowd is one that always catches my attention and is probably my favourite on the album. Its main sections feature the piano playing a lot lower than it usually is, which lets it blend into the mix a little better, especially during the chorus which features the brilliant line If you cant draw a crowd, draw dicks on the wall. I fucking love it.

Thats about all I love on this album though. Theres something about the piano on this album that I simply cannot handle. Its odd because I certainly dont hate the instrument as a rule and there is nothing inherently offensive about the melodies here either but I cant get into it. I should also probably mention that I feel similarly about the vocals. While I can enjoy some of the harmonies when they occur, I do not care for Bens voice in the slightest.

This is actually another one of those groups Ive always wanted to listen to an album from but never made the time. After listening I cant say Im a fan of the band or this album, but Im still pretty glad I listened to it, and it was actually fairly non-offensive to play in the background.

Final Rating: No Offense Taken/10
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Sylosis - Dormant Heart (on Google Play)

Toumi - Bars Week (disclosure: album is by a good friend of mine but I still think it's fuckin fire)
https://toumi.bandcamp.com/album/bars-week (can be downloaded for free, just put 0 in the pay-what-you-want bit, the download features a couple of extra tracks)
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Buuuuuuuump.
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Thanks for going back for mine. Glad you liked the Minimall EP, their stuff is super-catchy. I agree that the chorus to 'Static' is really memorable. I was also really into Don't Tell Me for a while, what a jam. The main part to Drunken Stars has an interesting like, sailing, maybe Dragon Roost Island-kind of feel that I really like. It's cool that they went a bit darker there compared to the rest of the EP imo.

As far as the Ben Folds Five album goes, guess that's just a difference in taste. I remember you ranking the titular track before, but I thought maybe you'd like some of the other tracks better (glad that was the case, at least). I think the piano and drums, and even the bass at times, are so ridiculously good, and I find the piano to be mixed just right. Ben's got that full, lush style that I guess not everyone's into. Their first 3 albums are excellent as well, but this latest one just shows more maturity; each song is really fleshed out, it feels fuller.
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Long weekend.
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Here's my next 2 noms:

Nerina Pallot - Stay Lucky (2017)
https://open.spotify.com/album/37dNXdmlvmHj2Qmn1h16jY

Chris Christodoulou - Deadbolt OST (2016)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLDf8Bnp1K1KRaROXv8e8W9MMprJ_Xf42
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Lights - The Listening

Speaking of people who used the same artists they did for the title track topic are you the one that made me listen to Siberia? Although that track didnt win, its by far the album Ive played the most since finishing that topic, and Ive been following Lights ever since. Ive always been really impressed with vocalists that produce their own music, and for some reason Im even more impressed when its a woman that does both like Grimes or... Lights. Maybe its a Canadian thing. I remember Drive My Soul being a pretty big hit when it was released, but I thought it was just generic electronica at the time, since I was really into trance and was a bit of an elitist jerk when it came to any other electronic genre. Listening to this and her other albums now, its actually kind of crazy the ear she has for melody. Her production style isnt as complex as many others in EDM genres, but its amazing how well the production fits her vocals, throughout her album history.

Its actually kind of odd since this is her debut album, yet its the one Im listening to last. I can definitely see how her production and songwriting skills have improved since 2009, but I cant deny that Im incredibly impressed with how polished this sounds for a debut. Ive always loved how genuine her lyrics were, especially compared to others in the genre, and its surprising that they were this good back then as well. Sitting smack dab in the middle is Pretend, and despite how understated the beat is, it works wonderfully as the albums centerpiece. The lyrics are just dripping with nostalgia, reminiscent of Running with the Boys on Little Machines. Its a song that really shows off her vocals and lyrical skill, and I just love when electronic artists have the confidence to strip things down rather than letting bombastic beats distract from their... shortcomings. The best part is that she takes it a step further and brings it back to close the album with a reprise of the same track, and its fucking acoustic. The closing version that simply features Lights and a piano is quite easily my favourite song on the album, which is saying something because Im really not an acoustic, piano guy.

The rest of the album is great too, not a single track Id skip but Im totally enamored with Pretend right now. Its really made me realize how talented she is, and I think Im finally going to have to listen to her acoustic records now. While I havent made it all the way through Skin & Earth yet, shes at least 3/3 on albums Ive heard, and thats kind of a big deal. All I want to do is listen to more of her albums right now which is a great state to be in as I get to review her newest tomorrow. Overall great record, thanks for the rec.

Final Rating: Im Listening/10
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I made you listen to Red and Saturday People lmfao

you were not impressed

I only listened to Lights for the first time a year or two ago when I didn't have access to my library and asked my brother to load his playlist onto my Ipod. Both The Listening and Siberia were on there and man I fell in love. Quiet, Ice, Lions! Peace Sign. Pretend. I'm in love with all these songs. I don't know why she isn't playing on the radio, it seems that everybody I've talked to IRL knows about and loves her. I think she's genuinely my favourite artist, which is why I wanted to hear your thoughts. I'm glad you like her too!

Kinda funny that you had heard Lights before but somehow not this album. It's my favourite!

I'm actually putting off Skin & Earth right now since my current new music playlist has her acoustic stuff and yeah there's some great stuff here. A couple are misses for me, but I'm really into some of them. I'm loving Cactus in the Valley's acoustic version, whereas I see I rated the original only a 3/5, which is pretty low for her for me. Maybe I'm a sucker for duets.

Also don't forget to get My Boots sometime which is a single and not on any album (why does this happen???)
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...I got skipped as well.
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Raka_Putra posted...

...I got skipped as well.

Actually, you just never read the rules... one 2017 album and the other can be anything.
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Also skipped. Didn't realize Brave Enough was 2016...

I haven't listened to any 2017 albums though.
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At this point all either of you have to do is repost some albums, given the fact that you were so early on I wouldn't feel too bad about slotting them in before some people's second go around. And even if I didn't... you'd be days away at most.
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I love Lights. Haven't listened to her in a long time and forgot the song that got me into her but glad she's still active
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Ah, it was Banner. From the album Siberia~
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trdl23 posted...

Lindsey Stirling -- Brave Enough
Panic! at the Disco -- Death of a Bachelor

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Lights - Skin & Earth

I was worried about this album. I decided to listen to the debut single Giants a few weeks before the album was released and I wasn't impressed. It was generic radio pop and I felt like it didnt make a lot of sense coming from her. Luckily it happens to be the worst song on the album. While Skin & Earth at times feels like her most accessible album yet, it still has plenty of the things that made Lights previous albums so great.

While all of Lights albums sound unique in their own right, there are a lot more chances taken here and its probably her most diverse album yet. I dont think Ive ever heard her angry on a track before, and thats part of the reason why this album is so much fun and why Savage is such a great song. You hear her do things on this album musically that she hadnt really even hinted at in earlier works and it creates some incredible surprise moments. Especially in the first half with songs like Savage and New Fears, the music is more dramatic than its ever been and I love seeing her stretch out like this. This feels like a different album from her even from a vocal standpoint. Songs like Morphine have her singing in registers shes only flirted with in the past and the result is fantastic. As well as showing off some range, her different vocal deliveries allow the album to stay a little more fresh throughout its length.

Its all these great things that make Giants all the more puzzling. You can hear her influences pretty strongly on this album, and that song seems to be influenced by the worst aspects of modern pop. Other songs like Fight Club which is a straight up house track with club beats could be regarded as derivative, but even then her unique vocals tend to make the songs her own and her lyricism still separates her from the hordes of EDM producers attempting similar crossover tracks.

Its still day 1, but Im liking this album a lot, it could actually be my favourite of hers but Ive also been known to overrate things in my discovery phase.

Final Rating: Fight Club Is Closed, Its Time for Rock & Roll/10
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Oh my! My bad.
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Listened to St. Vincent today, thinking I probably won't keep doing these daily. It's becoming more interesting to listen to each album for a few days and see how my thoughts change over time. I think the hardest thing will be to keep this bumped, since I have no idea how long it will take me to get through each... but I think I'll enjoy it more this way.
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MASSEDUCTION later today. Possibly Blue Lips too.
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Now that I think about it, I'm probably done with any sort of format for this thing now. Really want to get started on that other list and that should take a bunch of my time. I'll still post some quick thoughts on whatever I'm listening to because I'm sure I'll get through all of these at some point. A final tier list would probably be appropriate, if not overdue.

St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION

This album is so much cooler than I was expecting. I've been meaning to listen to her albums for years and this is actually the first thing I've ever heard from her. Very electronic, poppy, but experimental at the same time. Very... cool. "Los Ageless" is fucking incredible and is quickly becoming one of my favourites of the year. It's just a crazy powerful song and I love the fact that they acknowledge it in the sequencing by playing such a slow, understated track after, just knowing that you might need a minute to return to baseline. First 5 tracks are my favourite, but the entire thing is great.
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Bumps.
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New project, vote if you care.

https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/76013149

This next one isn't on the list, but I've been listening to it a lot since Friday... may as well talk about something as I get acquainted with Fever Ray. Some high thoughts.

Tove Lo - Blue Lips

I've been a pretty big fan of hers since the Truth Serum EP, and funny enough it was RayDyn asking a question about a remix here that exposed me to her in the first place. Anyway, I think this might be her best album yet. I think Lady Wood was a bit of a step back from Queen of the Clouds. It had a weak first half and even though the production was improved, it didn't feel as genuine or heartfelt as her first LP. Listening to Blue Lips makes it easier to understand why that was the case. Lady Wood was the beginning of the relationship with all of its excitement and optimism and even within that album there were two halves with the second leaning into a darker sound. This album features the breakup portion of the relationship and features some of the most emotionally affecting music she's ever recorded. Her frank lyrics can get her labeled as raunchy, and though I'll admit that there is no shortage of sex talk on this album either, we also hear her at her most vulnerable. The tone remains fairly subdued and incredibly cohesive throughout. It's interesting to see that each producer was given a portion of the album to work with and their tracks appear consecutively. Each album of hers has been a concept album on some level and I feel like this is the first time she's really nailed it in terms of theme and consistent feel. Really enjoying this.
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