what are you listening to?

[bloop]

I think the vinyl does have a slightly different track order, btw.  Looking for confirmation, but the one currently on what is of a higher quality.

Confirmed:  http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9599/tracklistw.jpg

I found a corrected one now, btw. Still vinyl track order, but they're all there and the lengths check out.

[murlough23]

I think the vinyl does have a slightly different track order, btw.  Looking for confirmation, but the one currently on what is of a higher quality.

Confirmed:  http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9599/tracklistw.jpg

I found a corrected one now, btw. Still vinyl track order, but they're all there and the lengths check out.

They probably did that to maximize the available space on sides of the vinyl. (Oh no, do I have to listen in both orders now to properly evaluate the album?)

So far I haven't heard anything as thrilling as "No Cars Go" or "Power Out", but I'm keeping an open mind.

[bloop]

It doesn't help that one of the first reviews I read on it said, "You could call it their OK Computer. But it’s arguably better than that." 

A ringing endorsement, but a double-edged sword, too, certainly.

[murlough23]

It doesn't help that one of the first reviews I read on it said, "You could call it their OK Computer. But it’s arguably better than that." 

I stopped believing any such claims after Weathered got described as Creed's Joshua Tree.

[bloop]

Weathered is Creed's Minutes to Midnight.

[ewok20t3]

I stopped believing any such claims after Weathered got described as Creed's Joshua Tree.

I remember that. What a joke!

I'm going to wait til the release date to listen to the Arcade Fire album. That would be awesome if it's their OK Computer, but I'd be more than fine if it was only as good as Funeral. As long as it's not their Pablo Honey, I guess.

[murlough23]

When I hear OK Computer, I think "Remarkably cohesive album in terms of both musical accomplishment and thematic subject matter, with most or all of the individual songs standing out on their own merits apart from the work as a whole." That's a tall order for any band. You basically have to engross the listener in a world that you've created and sustain their interest in the theme you're exploring for an entire album, without anything feeling out of place. Just throwing together 12 really good songs is much easier - and that isn't even easy.

[bloop]

Wow, Josh sounds not at all disappointed.  I find it interesting that he sees this as more of an invitation to the general public to join than some sort of anti-hipster screed as I've seen it characterized in a few other places (a theme I'm honestly not all that interested in exploring).

Hmm. I still don't know what to think of it, meaning it could be anywhere from a B-level album to a masterpiece (it's certainly not D or F material).  It's coming together better this go-around.

[murlough23]

The things I usually notice first on any album are how unique/abrasive the vocals are, how much diversity there is to the instrumentation, and which songs are immediately catchy. These are not always the things that stick with me in the long run (i.e. an initially abrasive song can later strike me as catchy, or I can notice the background instrumentation in a song that I first considered plain because the lead instruments were rather ordinary). So it's hard for me to know where I stand with an Arcade Fire album on first listen. I liked this one at first, then on my second listen, I was a little bored with it. I need to listen to lyrics more deeply and pick up some of the subtleties in these songs before I'm even close to making a final call. I probably won't rate it until I've got the physical CD and I've given it a few spins on our upcoming road trip.

[ewok20t3]

I'm listening to The Sundays. Harriet Wheeler has the voice of an angel. I can't figure out if I prefer Blind or Static and Silence.

[Aaron]

I'm listening to The Sundays. Harriet Wheeler has the voice of an angel. I can't figure out if I prefer Blind or Static and Silence.

Welcome to the club, my friend.  Love that band,

[spacebrat311]

Been listening to the new Arcade Fire nonstop. It's at least as good as either of their previous albums so far, but whether it's just the same or better I can't yet know.

Disclosure: I'm one of the few that didn't think Neon Bible was in any way inferior to Funeral, and I may even prefer it by a small margin.

[ewok20t3]

Welcome to the club, my friend.  Love that band,

Yes, they're amazing! I know it's probably Rock & Roll blasphemy, but I think their version of "Wild Horses" is better than the original (which I also love). Which album is your favorite by them? I still need to get Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.

[murlough23]

Disclosure: I'm one of the few that didn't think Neon Bible was in any way inferior to Funeral, and I may even prefer it by a small margin.

Is that what the cool kids supposedly think? I tried Funeral first, couldn't get into it, tried Neon Bible a few years later, and liked enough about it to decide I was wrong to dismiss the band on first listen. Going back and trying Funeral again was tough going at first, but eventually I came to like it a tad more than Neon Bible. I don't consider one to be obviously inferior to the other - they're about the same quality-wise, with my favorite songs mostly on Neon Bible, but Funeral having a better overall flow. I wouldn't look at anyone strangely for preferring either one.

[bloop]

I prefer Funeral, but I'd have a hard time describing what, exactly, makes it the better record. Any attempt would sound pretty vague - the record just sounds like it has a bit more heart.

[murlough23]

I prefer Funeral, but I'd have a hard time describing what, exactly, makes it the better record. Any attempt would sound pretty vague - the record just sounds like it has a bit more heart.

Relatability, or at least a clearer idea of the feelings being expressed coming through to the listener, can be the thing that tips the scales when two records are of roughly equal quality.

[spacebrat311]

Oh good. I've gotten ridiculed for that opinion on more than one other forum.

[murlough23]

What do people think is so horrible about Neon Bible? I don't love everything about it, but it's a respectable record.

(We may wish to split the Arcade Fire discussion off into its own thread.)

[bloop]

Yeah, I haven't met many people who hated Neon Bible who also didn't hate anything Pitchfork-blessed as a knee-jerk reaction (which would include Funeral).

[NinjaRob17]

The Reign of Kindo - This Is What Happens

Pretty similar to Rhythm Chord & Melody, though not quite as good IMO.

[murlough23]

The Reign of Kindo - This Is What Happens

Pretty similar to Rhythm Chord & Melody, though not quite as good IMO.

How'd you get this? I thought they pushed back the release date.

Back to the Arcade Fire CD: When I was in high school (early 90's), I had a gym teacher who would play cheesy 8-track music from the 70's while we were doing our various exercises - Olivia Newton-John and stuff like that. There was a song on that 8-track tape that she'd play over and over that was a total earworm, to the point where I couldn't get it out of my head. "Mountains Beyond Mountains" reminds me of that song, whose title I unfortunately do not know. (I could hum the melody, but I don't recall any lyrics.)

[bloop]

That story makes me want an 8-track player.

Looked it up.  I'll put the RoK up for you if you like.

[murlough23]

That story makes me want an 8-track player.

You'll be ahead of the hipster curve with one of those.

[bloop]

If I was going for that, I'd just skip straight to that thing the RCA dog listens to.   

[murlough23]

LOL. Nice. You did say you had some ancient phonographs once, did you not?

And wasn't there a group that actually released one of their recent albums in 8-track format, just to be ironic? Can't recall who it was now.

Edit: Wikipedia says Cheap Trick and the Melvins did this recently.

[bloop]

LOL. Nice. You did say you had some ancient phonographs once, did you not?

Yeah, The Nutcracker I think, and something else.  Ironically, one of them broke.

[spacebrat311]

How'd you get this? I thought they pushed back the release date.

Back to the Arcade Fire CD: When I was in high school (early 90's), I had a gym teacher who would play cheesy 8-track music from the 70's while we were doing our various exercises - Olivia Newton-John and stuff like that. There was a song on that 8-track tape that she'd play over and over that was a total earworm, to the point where I couldn't get it out of my head. "Mountains Beyond Mountains" reminds me of that song, whose title I unfortunately do not know. (I could hum the melody, but I don't recall any lyrics.)

I doubt this is is, but it reminds me of "Heart of Glass" by Blondie.

[murlough23]

I doubt this is is, but it reminds me of "Heart of Glass" by Blondie.

OHMYGOD THAT IS TOTALLY IT!!!

[bloop]

I <3 that song.

[murlough23]

Others have noticed this too. Apparently it's blatantly obvious to those who know the song well, and no one seems to be bringing it up as a criticism.

[bloop]

I can pretty clearly hear the similarity now that you mention it, but I don't think Blondie would have a case in court or anything.

[murlough23]

I can pretty clearly hear the similarity now that you mention it, but I don't think Blondie would have a case in court or anything.

No, it's not a ripoff. It's close enough to be a likely homage, perhaps intended in an ironic fashion. (Can you think of a better genre for singing about endless rows of cloned houses?) I'm just saying it's not a coincidence that a few of us are noticing it.

Most amusingly, this might be my favorite track on the album.

[bloop]

Oh, new Katy Perry record. My list could use more F's!

[murlough23]

Oh, new Katy Perry record. My list could use more F's!

I was vaguely aware of one coming out. Wasn't sure if I was up for the torture this time around. Ironically I was just thinking about her a few minutes ago after hearing her guest spot on a P.O.D. song, recorded before her mainstream debut (back when I still remembered her as Katy Hudson and had some mild level of interest in seeing her get off the ground).

NP: "This Time", P.O.D.

[murlough23]

Halfway through the new Reign of Kindo (thanks, bloop!) Loving every note of it so far. Unless it takes a serious nosedive in the back half or the lyrics don't hold up well on further examination, this one could be a serious contender at the end of the year.

[bloop]

Yeah, I'm liking this one, too.

[murlough23]

Yeah, I'm liking this one, too.

Glad to hear it. What did you think of their debut?

TROK seems to have upped the ante on their musical complexity this time around. I can see the first track sounding like off-putting cacophonous noise to some folks, but to someone with an ear for rhythm, it's total heaven. Elsewhere, I'm hearing some acoustic stuff that is different for them, and that fits well with their "jazzyish" style.

The downside of liking this album so much is that I won't be able to use the snarky review title that I'd use if I didn't like it: "An Anagram of 'This' Is What Happens."

[bloop]

I remember having a positive reaction to that one as well. Don't laugh, but they remind me a bit of Maroon 5 with a more varied lyrical pallette and more ambitious music.

[murlough23]

I remember having a positive reaction to that one as well. Don't laugh, but they remind me a bit of Maroon 5 with a more varied lyrical pallette and more ambitious music.

I like Maroon5, musically. More so for their first album than their second. TROK definitely writes more intelligent songs and is more musically sophisticated, but M5 is a decent enough comparison for starters if you were going to give someone an indication of what they sound like.

[Aaron]

It's not hard to write a Maroon 5 song.  Just think with your penis.