2005 picks so far?

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MK
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2005 picks so far?

Postby MK » Tue May 31, 2005 12:12 am

Talkin' 'bout new music, not reissues.

I've mentioned Common's "Be" already, but if you like Sleater-Kinney, you should check out "The Woods."

I really like Marianne Faithfull's "Before the Poison," and PJ Harvey really helps. I wasn't that crazy about PJ's last album (which wasn't bad, but a retrenchment, even moreso than Beck's "Guero"), but her involvement here won me back.

Check out another Dave Fridmann production, Low's "The Great Destroyer," from earlier this year. The Lips seem overdue for another album, but in the meantime, Fridmann's having a great year with this and "The Woods."

The self-titled debut of LCD Soundsystem (aka James Murphy of the DFA) is another cool one, sort of a break-out like "The College Dropout" that dispells any notion that it's a 'producer's' record. Probably over-hyped, but if you like indie-rock with dance influences (more like Kraut-rock bands than Franz Ferdinand/Gang Of Four), check this out.

I don't listen to much Spoon, but a friend turned me on to "Gimme Fiction." Real poppy stuff, if you like rock with a sweet edge, try this out.

Coldplay's "X&Y" and White Stripes' "Get Behind Me Satan" coming down the pipeline, and I've heard really good things about the Coldplay album (which intrigues me since I'm not a fan). I think dimeadozen may have some shows from the current tour, which spotlights the new material.

"Demon Days" by Gorillaz is pretty interesting. Danger Mouse produces (remember the "Grey Album"?) and it has some cool guest stars. Pretty uneven but has some cool tracks.

"Guero" and "Devils & Dust" we've mentioned, I've warmed to both. Not great, but still plenty to like about both.

Oh, and Moby's "Hotel" I think I mentioned. It got slagged, it's no 'Go,' or "Play," or "Everything Is Wrong," etc. but give it a chance. If you're in the right mood for mellow, atmospheric sounds, this it it.
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Xenu
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Postby Xenu » Tue May 31, 2005 3:15 am

I don't think I've bought any new music this year, aside from Guero. I wasn't impressed by the new Ben Folds.
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Postby J_Partyka » Tue May 31, 2005 4:23 am

I think the Ben Folds is OK, but it's certainly no Rockin' the Suburbs.

I'm still getting into both the new Beck album and the Eels' Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, which I like more and more. The Eels album can be a downer, particularly if you pay close attention to the lyrics, but musically it's impressively rich and sometimes very beautiful.

I also have been listening to Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out quite a bit, just for fun. It does keep leading me back to the original, though ...

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Postby Stretcher Case » Tue May 31, 2005 3:28 pm

Another vote for LCD Soundsystem which has been in heavy rotation for quite a while. If you're into that kind of stuff, definitely get the DFA Comp #2.

I need to spin The Kills and Demon Days a bit more. I'd agree with your initial take on Demon Days, and unfortunately, I think it may be a victim of "hey, let's hire the best producers in the business and see what happens" syndrome.
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Postby MK » Wed Oct 12, 2005 3:48 pm

So far, it's looking like this for me:
1. LCD Soundsystem
2. Kanye West: Late Registration
3. MIA: Arular
4. Common: Be
5. Spoon: Gimme Fiction
6. The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan
7. Sleater-Kinney: The Woods
8. My Morning Jacket: Z
9. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
10. Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah

Year ain't over yet...
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Postby Rspaight » Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:33 pm

The new Folds didn't bowl me over, either. It's got some good tracks, but a lot of filler. I enjoyed the EPs more. Hell, I enjoyed the Shatner album more, frankly.

The new White Stripes is cool. The new Franz Ferdinand is hooky as hell. The new Liz Phair... well, if you didn't like the last one, don't line up for this one. Bob Mould's new one is good -- better than his last couple.

I'm listening to the new Fiona Apple right now. I'm not sure if I like it or not, but it's sure not boring.

Ryan
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Postby Stretcher Case » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:16 pm

Just saw LCD Soundsystem live last night in Portland. What a pathetic crowd with their "No Ads Here" sign waving in protest of the sponsorship from Sony Playstation. The next thing you know, these Puritans will demand that all musicians live in complete penury, and die in a pauper's grave.

Umm, the show itself?. Really strong performance. You could set atomic time to the drummer. The Juan MacLean was an interesting opener, imagine Kraftwerk gone horribly wrong, and I mean that in a good way.
ALHAJI ADAMU IDRIS IS NOT HAPPY THAT YOU DEMANDED HIS PASSPORT.

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Postby MK » Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:50 pm

Cool, I haven't caught LCD Soundsystem in concert yet, but hopefully soon.

Yeah, Bob Mould and Franz Ferdinand's follow-up are both good too, they'd definitely make the Top 20, maybe 15.

I've heard two songs from the new Liz Phair, don't remember the names, didn't like them. I tried real hard to like the last one, Christgau and I think Tim Riley on NPR went to the mat for Phair on that one, accusing the naysayers of being indie snobs, but I couldn't get into it. "Little Digger" was pretty good and a few songs on the free EP were pretty good too, but the rest, couldn't get into it.
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Postby dudelsack » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:35 am

Not BRMC's new one. That's shite.
The Brazilian Girls album is pretty decent.

I do like the New Pornographers, too.

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Postby Beatlesfan03 » Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:30 am

I got on the Franz Ferdinand train late, but I think I like "You Could Have It So Much Better" better than the first disc. As Ryan said, hooky as hell.

Coldplay's X&Y sort of reminded me of U2's "The Unforgettable Fire" which isn't a bad thing in the least bit. Still like "Rush" better, but this one ain't too bad either.

Doves "Some Cities" was excellent. I can't imagine getting sick of this one, absolutely no one in Cleveland plays it (maybe college radio, but I never hear it).

The McCartney was a pleasant surprise. I'm still working through the Stones and White Stripes.
Craig

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Postby lukpac » Sat Oct 22, 2005 8:43 am

Beatlesfan03 wrote:I got on the Franz Ferdinand train late, but I think I like "You Could Have It So Much Better" better than the first disc. As Ryan said, hooky as hell.


Is it something that you need the whole disc to digest? As I've listened to the clips and just don't get it, I guess.

Not saying A Bigger Bang is any wonder, but...
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Postby Beatlesfan03 » Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:18 am

lukpac wrote:
Beatlesfan03 wrote:I got on the Franz Ferdinand train late, but I think I like "You Could Have It So Much Better" better than the first disc. As Ryan said, hooky as hell.


Is it something that you need the whole disc to digest? As I've listened to the clips and just don't get it, I guess.


Though I don't think it's essential, you might get a better liking of it if you're a fan of 80s new wave. I don't think it would be completely lost on you if you're not.

When the first record came out, I heard all the buzz and sampled some of it and with the exception of a couple of tracks, I couldn't really get into it. As the buzz was building up for the new record, I snagged it over at Pedro's to give it another shot and found myself into it more the second time around.

Not sure if referencing the first Franz record or second one (or both even). Maybe start with the new Franz first and if you get into that, then go back to the first one.

I working through a pretty bad cold right now so I apologize if this makes no sense.
Craig

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Postby Ess Ay Cee Dee » Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:18 am

lukpac wrote:
Beatlesfan03 wrote:I got on the Franz Ferdinand train late, but I think I like "You Could Have It So Much Better" better than the first disc. As Ryan said, hooky as hell.


Is it something that you need the whole disc to digest? As I've listened to the clips and just don't get it, I guess.

Not saying A Bigger Bang is any wonder, but...


So far, I prefer the debut. The new one is a lot of fun, though.

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Postby MK » Sat Oct 22, 2005 12:51 pm

Franz Ferdinand is on SNL tonight if you want to catch them "live." I think they make their albums in an old-fashioned pre-1966 sort of way, a collection of songs with each track shaped like a single rather than an 'album.'

They're usually compared with Gang of Four and Roxy Music, but there's a shot of Kinks in there too, check out "Eleanor" on the new album (you can hear a minute long clip streaming in good quality on their website, http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk may need to search for the pop-up window for it, but the album samples are there somewhere). Actually I just checked, it's at http://www.dominorecordco.com/site/mini ... z_ychismb/

I still prefer the first album, but second is good too. The first two tracks, especially "Do You Want To"is catchy as hell.
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Postby Alexander Keith » Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:30 pm

Pleasant Surprise - New Stones

The New Pornographers disc is my favorite at this moment.
Barry