Grunge Music Sissy Slapfight

[Endie]

I loved the Mescal Rite 1: the fusion stuff I like is usually that working with a blend of western and middle-eastern or indian influences, like Michael Green's work with U. Srinivas, "Dream", but that was excellent and very different.

The MIA trrack, funnily enough, did give me a touch of that eastern feeling: it really did seem to reference Bhangra, both in sound and in the dance element.

I have the Babyshambles album: in fact I have both of their albumc, as well as those by the Libertines and their other "post-decay product", the Dirty Pretty Things.  I wish Docherty would stop dicking about and actually concentrate on writing songs.  i also, incidentally, wish he would get rid of that hat.

[stray]

MIA is Sri Lankan/Brit, so yeah, there's this Indian-ish thing goin' on with her stuff. She's fusing a bunch of shit though. Dub, ragga, hip hop, sampling the Clash, covering the Pixies..., and making it all dancable and sing-a-long. She's pretty much THE shit right now imo.

Pete finally did accomplish something with writing on this album, I think. The last one, not even close. The whole burnout thing definitely got in the way there. I'd say that I like Shotter's Nation better than the Libertines albums though.

[Endie]

MIA is Sri Lankan/Brit, so yeah, there's this Indian-ish thing goin' on with her stuff.

Ah, well that would tend to explain it :)  I thought she was from the Carribean for some reason.

[stray]

She's got a little Salt n Pepa thing goin' on in that vid, I guess.

She spoofed an old Bollywood disco song on this album too. Lol, definitely not looking Carribean here: Link

[schild]

That was just fucking dreadful. I'd prefer a 24 hour Tunak Tunak marathon.

[stray]

Well, it was supposed to be funny...

When she's serious about fusing that culture, it sounds like Bird Flu or that Boyz song.

[EDIT]

By the way, just to cause you more pain, Schild, here's the original version of Jimmy Adja: CLICK

You know you want to sing along.

[lamaros]

I dig lots of new stuff, and am willing to take the heat, since people here apparently think Mars Volta somehow sucks despite being an amazing band. MCR and Fallout Boy are both great rock bands doing interesting stuff while maintaining a mainstream writing style.

I've been staying out of this thread because I don't like being a snobby arsehole with every post I make, but I can't believe no one called you on this.

I like Xiu Xiu, TV On The Radio, and The Knife. Let me have it.

[stray]

Nothing wrong with any bands mentioned, in my opinion. Usually the only criticism leveled against bands like My Chemical Romance and Fallout Boy is because some people don't think they should be called "punk". But what-the-fuck-ever. That's just being clique-ish and not actually talking about the music itself. People were trying to tell the Exploited and Social D that they weren't punk in their day either. I mean, for what? Because they were several years too late from the original "scene"?

[lamaros]

You're right. Fallout Boy is a "great rock band doing interesting stuff." 

[stray]

I'm not talking about what Sky said. I'm saying that the main reason they may get frowned upon isn't the music itself, but whether or not pop punk qualifies as punk. It shouldn't matter. What he said is better: They're should just be taken as a rock band, and criticized accordingly....

[Engels]

At the risk of sounding sheltered and ignorant of today's music, I've become quite fond of Lacuna Coil and Silversun Pickups. They are admittedly a bit more pop than Stray's tastes, but I'm more interested in good songwriting than I am in experimental 'tactics' that haven't been tried before. Sonic Youth, bless their hearts, did a lot of experimental stuff that only a mother could love, but managed to actually write a batch of good songs despite their inability to control their instruments' feedback. They are famous for the latter, but only because of the former.

[Sky]

Most impressive show I've seen is a 15 minute abruptly shortened set of the Butthole Surfers burning a stage, followed by Gibby firing a shotgun and getting chased off by cops. Second coolest show was Steel Pulse.

I'm not sure I could name most impressive shows, there are so many levels and eras to think about.

I also had a great Butthole Surfers experience, waaay back in 86. I was a huge fan, they were another in the regular rotation at the half pipe in 85/86. Anyway, Gibby was tripping and had an effects rack at the front of the stage. For most of the show he just sat on a stool in front of the effects rack and messed around. I was in the "front row" (there wasn't really a front row, it was the Lost Horizon bar I've mentioned that had a sunken concrete pit surrounded by steel rails...best metal venue evar). At one point I was asking him to play songs and he launched into every one, to this day I'm not sure if he knew it was an external suggestion or not, heh.

Then at the same venue, I saw Manson play on the first tour behind Portrait of An American Family with Daisy Ramirez on guitar (who fucking rocks). They made us stand outside the venue for an hour in upstate NY january and then an hour inside with the place absolutely packed full (over fire codes, I'm sure). The place was brimming with hostility. Manson played four or five tunes and kept getting shocked from a poorly-grounded mic (which also gave his vocals an even /more/ aggressive edge). Finally, he threw the mic at the sound guy and stormed off stage. The place blew up. It was especially cool for the local musicians, because even though it was a great venue, if you weren't a Syracuse band the owner would stiff you on pay pretty regularly. The place got totally destroyed and the guy sold it. It's never been the same since, but goddamn that was an intense show.

Impressive musically is also tough. Brian Setzer was amazing as a showman and musical virtuoso, but I've seen so many great acts over the years, it's hard to choose.

Best album of the year, I can't even get into. I don't really buy or listen to enough new music to make an informed vote. Hell, I don't even have the new Tool yet and I've only given the new MV a few listens. I do dig the new kids like MCR and Fallout Boy, as I mentioned. I got a nice acoustic album I've mentioned here that was recorded at red rocks this year, Allman and Haynes. Most of the stuff I bought this year is older stuff, Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash at Folsom, Count Basie, Duke, Etta James, Muddy, Luther Allison (amazing), Roosevelt Sykes, Leon Redbone, etc, etc, etc.

[stray]

At the risk of sounding sheltered and ignorant of today's music, I've become quite fond of Lacuna Coil and Silversun Pickups. They are admittedly a bit more pop than Stray's tastes, but I'm more interested in good songwriting than I am in experimental 'tactics' that haven't been tried before. Sonic Youth, bless their hearts, did a lot of experimental stuff that only a mother could love, but managed to actually write a batch of good songs despite their inability to control their instruments' feedback. They are famous for the latter, but only because of the former.

Well, I do like pop. I don't want to admit just how much, but believe me, it can get pretty silly. As for Sonic Youth, my tastes can be a bit contradictory there.. Sonic Youth has written some good pop songs, but I really just like EVOL and Sister. Which are kind of teeter tottering between the experimental and pop oriented periods, I guess. Favorite song is Death Valley 69 though -- and I love the video. Kim Gordon with a shotgun!  

[edit] I seem to have a fascination with musicians with shotguns.

[Endie]

You're right. Fallout Boy is a "great rock band doing interesting stuff." 

Fallout Boy's first album was really good, fun pop, well written, cleverly worded and almost intolerably catchy.  What annoys me is that it's totally acceptable to like well-crafted pop, so long as it is old.  It is fine to say that you like Motown, but laughable to appreciate anything new.

[Signe]

Fallout Boy can be Emotown! 

[Righ]

Best three albums of the year... I probably won't settle on that until some time next year - the stuff that came out in the last few months hasn't had enough plays. It takes listening a few times, taking a break from the album and later going back to it to really get the measure of roughly how good it is for comparative purposes. Candidates:

Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Fish - 13th Star
Rush - Snakes and Arrows
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Fovea Hex - Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent: Allure
Radiohead - In Rainbows

Up there, but a touch shy of top honors:

Riverside - Rapid Eye Movement
Underworld - Oblivion With Bells
Anekdoten - A Time of Day
Kristin Hersh - Learn To Sing Like A Star
The Resonance Association - Failure of the Grand Design
Ex Wise Heads - Liquid Assets
Pelican - City of Echoes

Things still on the 2007 shopping list which will need listening to in order to make the call:

The Aliens - Astronomy For Dogs
Oceansize - Frames
Tangerine Dream - Summer In Nagasaki

And there were a lot of good bands that put out decent albums in 2007, but which just didn't live up to their potential or what turned out to be a pretty good year for music: NIN, Ministry, Dinosaur Jr, Foo Fighters, QotSA, Threshold, Pain of Salvation, Explosions In The Sky, Do Make Say Think, Einsturzende Neubauten, Thurston Moore, Buckethead...

[Righ]

Fallout Boy's first album was really good, fun pop, well written, cleverly worded and almost intolerably catchy.

I would describe something like Spoon or possibly even Arcade Fire in that way... but Fall Out Boy doesn't seem well written, cleverly worded or even especially catchy to me. I find it to be quite mediocre and uninspired.

[UD_Delt]

I'm not sure I could name most impressive shows, there are so many levels and eras to think about.

Easy for me...

Best day of music was the following line-up at Bonnaroo 2003:

Jack Johnson (guest appearance by G. Love), then Ben Harper, then Neil Young.

Best individual show was actually the next day of the same fest and was a midnight show by the Flaming Lips.


Edit: Oh and fuck Fall Out Boy. I fucking hate them. They are quickly moving up my list of most hated bands which is topped by AC/DC, yeah I've already heard the argument about how AC/DC is awesome but I still hate them, fuck them and their big balls.

[OcellotJenkins]

Best day/night of music for me hands down was Phish new year's 2000 at Big Cypress.  After playing an afternoon set, they came back on stage at midnight and played till sunrise non-stop.  Truly an amazing experience.

[stray]

Wow, an AC/DC hater.

You must be the spawn of Satan.

[stray]

Actually, that'd a little too ironic if he was the spawn of Satan.

Hmm, what's the correct insult for a person like that...?

[Signe]

There's no such thing as an AC/DC hater.  I don't believe in UD_Delt.  I think he is an urban myth, like Frank Sinatra.

[UD_Delt]

Yep, he's awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH3FWM2ZCeQ

 

Fuck I almost lost it around the 2 minute mark...


Edit: By the way when did Madonna become Rock & Roll?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/13/rockhall.inductees.ap/index.html

[stray]

She started off in a punk band actually (singing and playing guitar).

[lamaros]

Pelican - City of Echoes

Fuck me I need to pay more attention. Pelican put out another album and I didn't even get the once off t-shirt?! Hydra Head's mailinglist must be getting caught in the filter. :(

Must find money.

[Endie]

Yep, he's awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH3FWM2ZCeQ

I came here to post this.

That said, this one is the best of the shredding series.  The Iron Man bit is brilliant.

[pants]

Looking at that BBC chart depresses me. Its as if the world is slipping back to 1982. Did someone hit the reset button somewhere? Signe, are you contemplating aerobics with legwarmers?

My daughter had her first birthday the other week.  She got a bubble skirt.  Scared scared scared.

[schild]

Just noticed Righ's post. Wanted to comment on Einsturzende Neubauten.

Been going downhill since Silence is Sexy.

[Endie]

Just noticed Righ's post. Wanted to comment on Einsturzende Neubauten.

Been going downhill since Silence is Sexy.

Paging Draconian to this thread.

[stray]

Yep, he's awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH3FWM2ZCeQ

I came here to post this.

That said, this one is the best of the shredding series.  The Iron Man bit is brilliant.

Damn that's funny 

[edit] By the way, speaking of the early Madonna.. She wasn't bad. Kind of had a Chrissie Hynde thing going on. Link

[stray]

Speaking of strange crossovers, lets be glad this one never came to fruition:

[Moaner]

Oh god damnit thank you for this thread.  I had no idea there was a new Underworld album out.  I thought they and Tomato were done.

 

[Righ]

Ok.



That's not really worth it to me. Expensive as fuck.

You can't give an FU to the music industry charging that much.

Now, I am happy with my copy of Burning Empires from VNV Nation that I paid too much for to get it the day after it was released in Germany.

Doesn't do the packaging justice. My copy of the special edition finally arrived. The grey bit on the top right is the hard card slip case. The black bit in the lower middle is the back of the enclosed gatefold. The gatefold is a heavier card than most any album released after 1965. The two vinyl records (both half the main album, in glorious 45 RPM cuts) are in either side of the gatefold in soft plastic lined inner sleeves. Inside the left half of the gatefold is a slip cover of roughly the thickness of a modern exterior album cover which contains the art booklet, which you see top right. The inside of the right half of the gatefold is split in two vertically, with the left half of that being a mounted lyric booklet. The right half is thick card with two cutouts to hold the CD and the companion 'extra' CD. Somebody should get an award for this packaging.

And of course, it sounds much better than the MP3s did, but you'll be able to get the single disc CD version soon enough for that.

[HaemishM]

See, I liked Creep and could have done without the rest of that album. I listened to In Rainbows again, and Nude is a good song. The others are ok, but just don't stand out at all.

I necroed to quote myself.

In Rainbows started to grow on me. I listened to it like 3 times, and after a few weeks, I started wanting to hear the songs again. So I listened a bit harder. And the more I listened, the more I started to really dig the album. So I got Kid A and started listening to it and now I think I really like Radiohead. I just don't think my mind was ready to wrap itself around the songs before. Weird.

[Engels]

In Rainbows started to grow on me. I listened to it like 3 times, and after a few weeks, I started wanting to hear the songs again. So I listened a bit harder. And the more I listened, the more I started to really dig the album. So I got Kid A and started listening to it and now I think I really like Radiohead. I just don't think my mind was ready to wrap itself around the songs before. Weird.

That happens to me with Radiohead, Tool and a few others that are hard to get into at first.