Tom's 2014 Album Discussion/rec Thread - Topic

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Feb 4 2014 08:41am

Late start on this year, I've only listened to one album from 2014 so far, which is one of my most anticipated of the year:

Morning Phase by Beck.

Okay, so I've listened to it once all the way through (playing basketball at the time, so a little distracted) and again in fragments. I'm going to be giving it another listen all the way through when the CD comes out and I pick that up, so my perspective on this one is bound to change.

All I can really say from the get-go is that is sounds very much like Sea Change. I don't know why I felt like he was going to release one in the vein of Modern Guilt (which I've really been getting into lately), that is, more focused on instant catchiness, guitar-driven, etc. but am happy to see a more introspective album than that, even though those can take a bit longer to appreciate it.

Withholding my rating but I will say I definitely recommend it, some damned good singing by Mr. Beck.

Kamahl16

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Feb 4 2014 06:28pm

Another highly touted release, Have a Nice Life's The Unnatural World.

Overall I found it a bit boring, to be honest. There were some moments I enjoyed but overall not a lot that got me excited. I'll probably give it another listen though and I have to give it props for a damned fine closing track, particularly the final minute or two.

j0ltk0la

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Feb 4 2014 11:20pm

Listen to anything good yet?

Kamahl16

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Feb 5 2014 07:17am

Quote (killgoreisleet @ Feb 5 2014 05:20am)

Listen to anything good yet?

Nah.

"Heart" by XO.

Very quick album, upbeat. Worth a listen for its brevity but it just didn't quite do it for me as far shoegaze goes.

There was this folk album I listened to yesterday that was a fucking beast. Can't remember the name of it or find it on RYM's charts (surprisingly) so I'll hold off on that one.

This post was edited by Kamahl16 on Feb 5 2014 07:17am

Kamahl16

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Feb 5 2014 03:07pm

Vieux frères - Partie 1 by Fauve ≠

French hip-hop. Honestly don't understand the hate (less than 2 stars on RYM), this album had some pretty catchy shit on it and I don't even speak the language. Obviously, if I spoke French I might have gotten more out of it, unless the lyrics were dumb as shit, but as-is I thought it was alright.

Lensherr

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Feb 6 2014 11:34am

The lyric are good on Vieux frères, but I don't like the very fast flow.

Kamahl16

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Feb 26 2014 08:43pm

Bump.

Listening to Beck's new album for the second time (bought the CD just now) and enjoying it a lot more. His voice is very good on this one.

Since my last bump I've heard:

The new Sun O))) and Ulver collaboration -- 3.5 // 5.0, pretty mediocre but that last track was pretty good. Will be listening to it again to see if it is better.

Warpaint's self-titled -- 4.0 // 5.0, good stuff, immediately enjoyable stuff, "shoegaze pop", etc., recommended and a contender for my album of the year to this point.

Shelter by Alcest -- Okay, don't remember a lot other than it was non-abrasive and pleasant sounding.

Piano Songs by Bohren & der Club of Gore -- Eh, more of the same, not bad but they've done the same thing better on prior releases. I guess it tries to be more "ambient" than their other stuff but it didn't hit it off too well with my the first go-round.

This post was edited by Kamahl16 on Feb 26 2014 08:45pm

Grime

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Feb 26 2014 11:31pm

Bonermode over a Beck release and a bunch of shit you probably caught in pitch4rk but "don't remember" listening to or were "bored" with without any constructive reasons as to why.

In essence a cool way to discuss this year's releases but at the end of the day a bigger waste of time than your spamorific What Are You Listening To thread lol. Music sucks.

Kamahl16

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Feb 27 2014 02:05pm

Quote (Grime @ Feb 27 2014 05:31am)

Which ones were pulled from Pitchfork? I guess for the record I don't read the site outside of checking random ratings for old shit out of curiosity.

What the Hell is "Bonermode"?

I think I agree with you it is hard for me to "rate" albums I've heard once because I usually don't have a lot of "topical" criticism, considering I listen to the album in one go and do not usually pull my player out to check the names of individual songs during song transitions (accordingly I can't say song X was awesome and led well into song Y, etc., etc).

Anyway, here's another one I haven't listened to in a while, but forgot to post, the album is Benji by Sun Kil Moon:

Perhaps the most private album I've ever heard, or at least the most recognizably private because it is written in a literal style that sounds like a "confessional" (I've seen someone else write this somewhere online and don't remember where, not trying to plagiarize that person because I had the exact same thought listening to it). What I mean by that is that another album, like Blood on the Tracks might be as private as this one, but you can tell easier on this release because it is so damned literal whereas the other uses imagery to communicate those memories, feelings, etc.

Gave 'er a 4.0 // 5.0 on RYM so let's go with that, one of many I've earmarked for another listen.

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