Albums of 2017

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spiritualized
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by spiritualized »

Actually, and I really don't mean to be controversial here, but the album is VERY good. Never heard any of their songs before, so listened to it with a fresh pair of ears and a slightly biased view in regards to the current affairs they are entwined in.

I must say that, as a French speaking native, I have the advantage or flaw to not pay much attention to the lyrics - this is engrained in us, we can make full abstraction of the lyrics, because from a very young age, we don't understand what is being sung.
So we tend to "block out" any meaning to the song from a lyrical point of view, so we focus on the music.

That's what I think I am doing here. Blocking out any meaning from outside of the music... and inside this bubble, PWR BTTM's Pageant is pretty awesome, with a huge variety in their songs and a melodic quality which makes every song very catchy.
I remember a fairly similar situation with a French band, Noir Désir, whose lead singer killed his then girlfriend. Of course, this was the end of the band and Bertrand Cantat was jailed in a Lithuanian prison as a result, but it never stopped me from enjoying their music to the full. It probably isn't the same situation as I don't know the full details of the PWR BTTM story and I hope I haven't offended anyone by saying all of this. If I have, I apologise to you, but I felt I needed to share my views !
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Harold »

spiritualized wrote:It probably isn't the same situation as I don't know the full details of the PWR BTTM story and I hope I haven't offended anyone by saying all of this. If I have, I apologise to you, but I felt I needed to share my views !
The bare bones of "the PWR BTTM story," as I understand it, is that in recent weeks multiple allegations of sexual abuse and harassment have been made against Ben Hopkins, one of the two primary members of the band. These accusations (which appear to be fairly well-substantiated) would be ugly enough by themselves, but they've taken on deeper layers of significance because PWR BTTM is a band that had been embraced by the queer community for its messages of inclusion and positivity - needless to say, the allegations are a direct contradiction of those ideals. This combination of circumstances made the band's precipitous fall from grace pretty much inevitable.

I'm sure there are others here who can explain all this better than I just did. The situation is somewhat similar (although not on the same scale, obviously) to the Bill Cosby scandal, i.e., as total a disconnect between what an artist supposedly stands for and their offstage actions as can possibly be imagined.
dumbangel
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by dumbangel »

My favourite albums of the year so far (no order) :

Slowdive - "Slowdive"
Timber Timbre - "Sincerely, Future Pollution"
Rose Elinor Dougall - "Stellular"
Foxygen - "Hang"
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prosecutorgodot
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by prosecutorgodot »

So far, this new Roger Waters album is what I wanted Father John Misty's album to be. Now THIS is soulful music.

Edit: Okay the first half of the album is really solid, but the second half is kinda meh.
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spiritualized
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by spiritualized »

Slowdive - Slowdive (8.0)
A return to form from the veteran shoegazers. Not as genre-defining as their two first albums, but they have evolved with gentler, sweeping songs.

Midas - Heavy Moon (7.0)
Completely unknown Dutch indie-rock single artist (ex The Fudge, anyone ?) which has a few knockers on his debut. The record starts REALLY strongly with gems like "TV on Demand". You feel at home with his guitar-driven pop-rock. Recommended.

Pulled Apart by Horses - The Haze (8.0)
Significant of the stoner rock-influenced new Leeds scene. One of the best, with Dinosaur Pile-up

Fufanu - Sports (7.0)
Slightly disappointed on the basis of the tracks I discovered before the release of the album. The singer is Sugarcubes' Einar's son. Not enough Krautrock, too much post-punk.

PWR BTTM - Pageant (8.0)
Yes. See my comments above. If I stick to the music only, this is a bloody good album.

Casey Dienel - Imitation of a Woman to Love (5.0)
Famously the artist who sued Justin Bieber for plagiarism of her song "Ring The Bell" into the smash hit "Sorry". I'll let you decide
. Her 2006 album was much better than this half-cooked release. Unimpressed.

[Ryuichi Sakamoto] - async (4.0)
Not a good release from the veteran ambient master. I didn't find myself carried by the atmosphere of this record and it's supposed to do that. Immerse me. I kept being distracted by external stimuli whilst listening to async.

Bertrand Burgalat - Les choses qu'on ne peut dire à personne(7.0)
Multi-talented French pop "icon", writer, producer, etc... his eclectism shows in this release, with a mixture of pop, bossa nova, electro. Idolising David Bowie, I heard whiffs of Gainsbourg in some songs. Interesting record.

Thea Gilmore - The Counterweight (7.0)
15th album from the British female songwriter, she turns a bit more electronic, add strings and piano to her songs. Already enjoyable on 2003's Avalanche, she succeeded in keeping my interest with her latest.

Afghan Whigs - In Spades (8.0)
Who would have guessed it ? Dulli & co return in form with a huge sound, but short record in 2017. They changed their recipe this time - less guitars, but more agressive. Great comeback.

Charly Bliss - Guppy (9.0)
Record of the month ! Hailed as the new Veruca Salt meets Weezer, Charly Bliss has the power pop of the aforementioned with a very distinctive, cute, high-pitched singer. The guitars are swirling, the rhythm section is powerful. I'm going to enjoy this one in 2017 !
Last edited by spiritualized on Thu Jun 08, 2017 10:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by spiritualized »

Crescent - Resin Pockets (3.0)
Matt Jones, of AMP fame, belongs to the lo-fi Bristol crowd and managed to release a rather good record with 2003 By the Roads and the Fields. This doesn't cut it in 2017. Mount Eerie has taken the lead with mourning, solo male voices and their acoustic guitars. Moving on.

Colin Stetson - All This I Do for Glory (8.0)
I found last year's Sorrow excellent and in a different style, this is on the same level. I don't get the "minimalism" labels, not knowing what they refer to. I like the droning quality of the tracks, with a wide variety between them throughout the album.


EOY 2017 (probably)
Run the Jewels - Run The Jewels 3
Ty Segall - Ty Segall
Cloud Nothings - Life Without Sound
Loyle Carner - Yesterday's Gone
Radical Face - SunnMoonnEclippse (EP)
Moon Duo - Occult Architecture, Vol.1
Blanck Mass - World Eater
Triángulo de Amor Bizarro - Barca quemada + 3 (EP)
Charly Bliss - Guppy

Excellent / Very Good
WIlliam Basinski - A Shadow in Time
Elbow - Little Fictions
The Magnetic Fields - 50 Song Memoir
Laura Marling - Semper Femina
The New Year - Snow
Sorority Noise - You're Not As _____ As You Think
Föllakzoid & J. Spaceman - London Sessions (EP)
Gas - Narkopop
The Moonlandingz - Interplanetary Class Classics
Afghan Whigs - In Spades
PWR BTTM - Pageant
Pulled Apart by Horses - The Haze
Slowdive - Slowdive
Colin Stetson - All This I Do for Glory

Deserves another spin
Kid Koala w/Emiliana Torrini - Music to Draw To : Satellite
Mark Eitzel - Hey Mr Ferryman
Jesca Hoop - Memories are Now
Tift Merrit - Stitch of the World
Ramin Djawadi - Gears of Wars 4
Holy Holy - Paint
Peter Silberman - Impermanence
Vibracathedral Orchestra - So-Called Texture
Rhiannon Giddens - Freedom Highway
Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Navigator
Fischer Z - Building Bridges
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
Father John Misty - Pure Comedy
Aimee Mann - Mental Illness
Pallbearer - Heartless
Robyn Hitchcock - Robyn Hitchcock
Thea Gilmore - The Counterweight
Bertrand Burgalat - Les choses qu'on ne peut dire à personne
Midas - Heavy Moon

Meh
Arovane & Porya Hatami - Organism
The xx - I See You
Wiley - Godfather
Sampha - Process
Thinking Plague - Hoping against Hope
Thundercat - Drunk
HEALTH - DISCO3
Ryan Adams - Prisoner
Jens Lekman - Life Will See You Now
Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked at Me
The Caretaker - Everywhere at the End of Time - Stage 2
Arca - Arca
Perfume Genius - No Shape
Feist - Pleasure
Casey Dienel - Imitation of a Woman to Love
[Ryuichi Sakamoto] - async
Fufanu - Sports

Avoid at all costs
Migos - Culture
Stormzy - Gang Signs & Prayers
Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors
DJ Quik & Problem - Rosecrans
Crescent - Resin Pockets

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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by StevieFan13 »

Bella Porter just released her first album, Luck of the Draw, on Soundcloud and Bandcamp. She's something of a friend of mine (at least in the Facebook sense - Samia is our common link), and her voice is unbelievable. I think you guys might like this.
https://soundcloud.com/bella-rose-porte ... the-draw-1
Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand - Sir Duke (1976)
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bootsy
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by bootsy »

StevieFan13 wrote:Bella Porter just released her first album, Luck of the Draw, on Soundcloud and Bandcamp. She's something of a friend of mine (at least in the Facebook sense - Samia is our common link), and her voice is unbelievable. I think you guys might like this.
https://soundcloud.com/bella-rose-porte ... the-draw-1
I kind of get a Fiona Apple vibe from her. Not her style of music but her voice.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by StevieFan13 »

bootsy wrote:
StevieFan13 wrote:Bella Porter just released her first album, Luck of the Draw, on Soundcloud and Bandcamp. She's something of a friend of mine (at least in the Facebook sense - Samia is our common link), and her voice is unbelievable. I think you guys might like this.
https://soundcloud.com/bella-rose-porte ... the-draw-1
I kind of get a Fiona Apple vibe from her. Not her style of music but her voice.
I hear that.
Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand - Sir Duke (1976)
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PlasticRam
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by PlasticRam »

Beautiful Thugger Girls by Young Thug is possibly my fav album of 2017. Young Thug has so many different deliveries, certainly it's not a boring listen.
I feel like that
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jirin »

Updated list:

1. Vagabon - Infinite Worlds
2. Blanck Mass - World Eater
3. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me
4. Magnetic Fields - 50 Song Memoir
5. Kendrick Lamar - Damn
6. Arca - Arca
7. Avec le Soleil Sortant de sa Bouche - Pas pire pop, I Love You So Much
8. Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors
9. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Tourist
10. Perfume Genius - No Shape

11. Elbow - Little Fictions
12. Laura Marling - Semper Femina
13. Ty Segall - Ty Segall
14. Planning For Burial - Below The House
15. Actress - AZD
16. Sampha - Process
17. Ondatropica - Baile Bucanero
18. The New Pornographers - Whiteout Conditions
19. Jesca Hoop - Memories Are Now
20. Ron Gallo - Heavy Meta
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Listyguy »

Any thoughts on the new Sufjan Stevens album, Planetarium? I'm probably going to listen to it this week.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Nick »

Phoenix- Ti Amo

After four years since their last album, Bankrupt, Phoenix return with Ti Amo, another short and sweet slice of French indie rock. This time though, the band has brought on a little Italo disco to the album, albeit in light flourishes rather than in anything that fully embraces the genre. The album packs several of the band's best pop too, such as the opening tracks "J-Boy" and "Ti Amo". However, there's a certain murkiness to the production here that hampers some of the other songs, depriving them of the richness and depth that they deserve.

Verdict: 7/10 (Good)

Lorde- Melodrama

Speaking of four year absences, Lorde has also returned from the class of 2013 to give us her sophomore album, Melodrama. While four years may be a lifetime in pop music, even more so for a 20 year old, Lorde's album is well worth the wait, and is an overall stronger album than the already great Pure Heroine. There's nothing as idiosyncratically stunning as "Royals" here, but singles like "Green Light" and "Perfect Places" combine Lorde's signature deep yet still feminine voice with killer pop hooks and some immaculate production (courtesy of Fun's Jack Antonoff). Speaking of Antonoff, the man is almost as important to the success of Melodrama as Lorde herself is. Antonoff co-wrote and co-produced every one of the album's eleven songs, and his production choices are nothing short of amazing. Every instrument on the album, from the piano on the ballad "Liability" to the electro-pop instrumentals of "Green Light" feels perfectly calibrated and appropriate, giving the album a certain lushness so sorely missed in much pop music. The lyrics here are more than worthy of praise as well, and cover the tired yet true themes of love, heartbreak, and isolation, though Lorde and Antonoff always have a way to turn these themes into something new and memorable, such as when Lorde turns the phrase "blowin' shit up with homemade dynamite" into a commentary on the destructive nature of love. The album peaks in the first half, as there's really no beating the one-two-three-four-five punch of "Green Light", "Sober", "Homemade Dynamite", "The Louvre", and "Liability", but the second half still has its highlights, such as the aforementioned closer, "Perfect Places". While I may have doubted Lorde's decision to wait four years to release her followup, those doubts are now long over. Melodrama reigns supreme.

Verdict: 8/10 (Great)
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Nick »

Fleet Foxes- Crack-Up

The cover of the new Fleet Foxes album features an image from the Japanese photographer Hiroshi Hamaya, and is in a way, a perfect encapsulation of the album's sound. Much like the dark, forlorn cliffs of Hamaya's photo, Crack-Up feels like the most ominous album in the band's small discography, a much colder take on the comparatively warm sound of the band's first two albums. The album's first song, "I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar", wastes no time introducing the listener to this newfound aesthetic, opening up with Robin Pecknold singing in a low register, almost in a whisper, as he's accompanied by sparse acoustic guitar. After some time the song begins to open up a little, and those signature Fleet Foxes harmonies and bright instrumentation start to appear. But the end result still confounds, avoiding anything resembling a common pop song structure. Framed in this light, the opening track serves as a good primer for the music that follows, as Crack-Up is easily the band's least accessible album to date (there's nothing here that is as immediate as songs like "White Winter Hymnal" or "Mykonos" for instance). Even at the album's poppiest, such as on singles like "Fool's Errand" and "If You Need To, Keep Time On Me", the band still manages to craft something a little unsettling, whether it's in the sudden dramatic chorus of "Fool's Errand" or in the utter sparseness of "If You Need To...".

The highlight of the album is easily the centerpiece "Third of May / Ōdaigahara", a nine minute long multi-part track that stands as one of the best things the band has released. The song contains some of Pecknold's most evocative lyrics as well, singing...

"Oh, but I can hear you, loud in the center, Aren't we made to be crowded together? Like leaves..."

Elsewhere, the song contains cryptic lyrics about firing lines and pools of gold. But if the first part of the song is defined by its brightness, the lush instrumentation and explosive vocals of a pleading Pecknold, then the second part is defined by its darkness, cymbals crash much like the waves on the album's cover as the song devolves into turmoil. But just when the turmoil has reached its peak the song slows down, as if entering the eye of its own storm, giving us a sparse track with bubbling electronic instruments and a trance-like string and piano accompaniment. In this way, "Third of May / Ōdaigahara" captures the inherent contradiction at the heart of the album, the marriage of the bright harmonies and light instrumentation Fleet Foxes have been known for with the indelible darkness of Crack-Up.

Verdict: 9/10 (Excellent)
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by bootsy »

Yeah that Fleet Foxes is pretty damn good for sure.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by JohnnyBGoode »

Update, I don't give albums scores as to me that feels a bit arbitrary & there is often some movement on subsequent listens, but a rough rule of thumb to get on this list they have to be c7/10.

1. Father John Misty – Pure Comedy
2. Laura Marling - Semper Femina
3. The xx - I See You
4. Grandaddy – Lost Place
5. Jay Som - Everybody Works
6. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me
7. Sampha- Process
8. Slowdive – Slowdive
9. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound
10. The Mountain Goats - Goths
11. Fleet Foxes Crack - Up
12. Lorde - Melodrama
13. Rose Elinor Dougall – Stellular
14. Ryan Adams – Prisoner
15. Jens Lekman - Life Will See You Now
16. Elbow – Little Fictions
17. Thundercat – Drunk
18. Bryce Dessner, James McAlister, Nico Muhly, and Sufjan Stevens - Planetarium
19. Allison Crutchfield - Tourist in This Town
20. Hurray For The Riff Raff - The Navigator
21. Julie Byrne - Not Even Happiness
22. Jessica Hoop – Memories are Now
23. Nadia Reid – Preservation
24. Loyle Carner - Yesterday's Gone
25. Spoon – Hot Thoughts
26. Gorillaz – Humanz
27. Real Estate – In Mind
28. Cigaretes After Sex - Cigaretes After Sex
29. Tennis – Yours Conditionally
30. Future Islands – The Far Field
31. Marika Hackman – I’m Not Your Man
32. Amber Arcades – Cannonball EP
33. Alt-J - Relaxer
34. Paramore – After Laughter
35. Sylvan Esso – What Now
36. Ron Sexsmith – Radio
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Nick »

Vince Staples- Big Fish Theory

Vince Staples broke through in 2015 with the critically acclaimed album Summertime '06, an album that I appreciated more than I actually enjoyed. To me, the main problems at the heart of that album were its length (20 songs over 59 minutes) and sparseness. So it was with some trepidation that I approached Staples' latest full length release, Big Fish Theory.

Much to my surprise, Big Fish Theory immediately rectifies both of the problems I had with Summertime '06. Not only is Big Fish Theory incredibly lean (12 songs over 36 minutes), it is anything but sparse. Gone are the murky, minimalist beats of 2015 Vince Staples. In their place are scattered instrumentals, recalling experimental hip-hop, electronica, and grime. This newfound choice in production has given the music of Staples a much fuller, energetic, and ultimately satisfying sound. The darkness found in the lyrics of his previous album is still found here, and while the equally dark music of Summertime '06 may have served as an obvious analogue for those sort of lyrics, the dissonant and chaotic music of Big Fish Theory is somehow even more effective, a less obvious choice that is capable of sustaining one's interest throughout most of the album.

I say "most" because there are occasional portions of the album where the song runs on a little too long, such as on "745". But for the most part, Staples has crafted a satisfying left turn away from his previous style, one that makes me excited to see where he goes from here.

Verdict: 8/10 (Great)
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Nick »

The year is half way over! Time for an update...

Excellent (9/10):

1. Mount Eerie- A Crow Looked at Me
2. Father John Misty- Pure Comedy
3. Fleet Foxes- Crack-Up

Great (8/10):

4. Kendrick Lamar- Damn
5. Lorde- Melodrama
6. Sampha- Process
7. Jlin- Black Origami
8. Thundercat- Drunk
9. Spoon- Hot Thoughts
10. The xx- I See You
11. Neil Cicierega- Mouth Moods
12. Vince Staples- Big Fish Theory
13. PWR BTTM- Pageant
14. David Bowie- No Plan (EP)
15. Slowdive- Slowdive
16. Perfume Genius- No Shape
17. Future Islands- The Far Field

Good (7/10):

18. Arca- Arca
19. Sun Kil Moon- Common as Light and Love are Red Valleys of Blood
20. Priests- Nothing Feels Natural
21. Phoenix- Ti Amo
22. Gas- Narkopop
23. Dirty Projectors- Dirty Projectors
24. Foxygen- Hang
25. Jens Lekman- Life Will See You Now
26. Julia Holter- In the Same Room
27. Cloud Nothings- Life Without Sound
28. The Shins- Heartworms
29. Anohni- Paradise (EP)

Decent (6/10):

30. Gorillaz- Humanz
31. Visible Cloaks- Reassemblage
32. Real Estate- In Mind
33. Japandroids- Near to the Wild Heart of Life

Mediocre (5/10):

34. At the Drive-In- in•ter a•li•a
35. The Flaming Lips- Oczy Mlody

Bad (3/10):

36. Shamir- Hope
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by prosecutorgodot »

Scores don't matter. I hate to say this, but I haven't found any albums I truly love yet so far this year. But I could definitely bump up albums to that level, we'll see. And I'm sure to love a couple by the end. Anyways, here's my favorite 10 records of 2017 so far!

1 | Feist | Pleasure
2 | Paramore | After Laughter
3 | Kendrick Lamar | DAMN.
4 | Algiers | The Underside of Power
5 | Neil Cicierega | Mouth Moods
6 | BROCKHAMPTON | Saturation
7 | Roger Waters | Is This the Life We Really Want?
8 | Lorde | Melodrama
9 | Van Goat | So Far No Good (EP)
10 | IDLES | Brutalism

(all worth checking out *wink wink*)
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jirin »

I would agree, I've found a lot of second tier albums this year but no true top tier.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by BleuPanda »

All 8s or highers so far:
1. The xx - I See You (9.6/10)
2. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory (9.1)
3. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked at Me (9.1)
4. Arca - Arca (8.9)
5. Perfume Genius - No Shape (8.9)
6. Jlin - Black Origami (8.8)
7. Lorde - Melodrama (8.7)
8. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. (8.6)
9. Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up (8.3)
10. Father John Misty - Pure Comedy (8.2)
11. Thundercat - Drunk (8.2)
12. Sampha - Process (8.1)
13. Slowdive - Slowdive (8.0)

I feel like No Shape and Melodrama could easily rise on another listen (a lot of individual songs have grown on me since the last listen). I See You is definitely a standout for me so far, but I'm expecting the back half of this year to be stronger (just look at the upcoming albums through September; these next few months are to die for).
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jirin »

For me right now the 'Very good' tier (~8.5) is seven albums:

1) Vagabon - Infinite Worlds
2) Kendrick Lamar - Damn
3) Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me
4) The Magnetic Fields - 50 Song Memoir
5) Avec le Soleil Sortant de sa Bouche - Pas pire pop, I Love You So Much
6) Blanck Mass - World Eater
7) Perfume Genius - No Shape

No 'great' tier albums this year.

Anyone know if Mount Eerie didn't have a physical release in the US? All I can seem to find are pricey imports.

Also anyone know if Jay Z's album is ever going to stream anywhere other than Tidal? I might be able to hear it by virtue of being a Sprint customer but I don't really want to be forced to download a redundant service just to hear one album.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by prosecutorgodot »

Jirin wrote:Also anyone know if Jay Z's album is ever going to stream anywhere other than Tidal? I might be able to hear it by virtue of being a Sprint customer but I don't really want to be forced to download a redundant service just to hear one album.
I think it's streaming on places like Spotify now? Me personally, I gave up my e-mail for a download on Jay-Z's website.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jirin »

On first listen, Algiers - The Underside Of Power is a major AOTY contender.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jirin »

When I first heard Ron Gallo - Heavy Meta I like it for the energy and melody, but the more I internalize of the lyrics the more it comes off as 'Abuse: The Album'.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jirin »

Why does it seem every folk album that comes out has a minimum of three Child Ballads, and usually three of the same six or seven?

Not that Willie O'Winsbury and Tam Lin aren't fine songs to cover, but aren't folk singers writing new songs?

Speaking of which, Offa Rex - The Queen of Hearts is a really good album. Offa Rex is a Decemberists project with Olivia Chaney.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by DocBrown »

Not new albums of course, but Brian Eno's first four solo records have been remastered at Abbey Road studios and released on double 45 discs. I've listened to all four at least once, and this pressing of Another Green World is the best sounding disc in my collection. For the many Eno fans here I highly recommend these releases.

Also want to second the kudos for Offa Rex above, and mentioned by Rob in the upcoming concerts thread, my favourite album of the year so far, Hurray for the Riff Raff 's "The Navigator." While her prior work was (to my ears) unexceptional alt-country, this concept album explores her Puerto Rican roots and is Beatle-esque in its genre crossing scope. A great listen.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jackson »

DocBrown wrote:Not new albums of course, but Brian Eno's first four solo records have been remastered at Abbey Road studios and released on double 45 discs. I've listened to all four at least once, and this pressing of Another Green World is the best sounding disc in my collection. For the many Eno fans here I highly recommend these releases.
I was already looking forward to getting these - now you have me really excited.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by GucciLittlePiggy »

I certainly have a hell of a lot of listening to accomplish by year's end but these are my ten favorite records so far.

01. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
02. Bryson Tiller - True to Self
03. Migos - Culture
04. Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up
05. Young Thug - Beautiful Thugger Girls
06. The xx - I See You
07. Drake - More Life
08. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory
09. Playboi Carti - Playboi Carti
10. Elbow - Little Fictions
I just wanted to be one of those ghosts
You thought that you could forget
And then I haunt you via the rear view mirror
On a long drive from the back seat...
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Nick »

Just finished my first listen through of the new War on Drugs album. A bit too soon to tell, but this could easily be my AOTY.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Romain »

Gorillaz - Humanz 3 Autotune can transform gold in shit. So what it do when the base is not so good? Try Humanz. And fuck, for me Gorillaz has made two of the best albums of the past 20 years, this one is just not acceptable. Not a single song is really... good. (Best title: She's My Collar )
Arcade Fire - Everything Now Funeral 10/10 ... Black Mirror 07/10... The suburbs 03/10... Reflektor 05/10… guess the note for this one……………. No, not 01….. but a "good" 6,5/10, after all, I enjoy the disco touch, I want to dance all the long. (Best title: Good God Damn)
Alt-J - Relaxer 6,5 Average album by a band I like a lot. Thanks guys for the simplicity of the melodies and the beauty of your music but maybe you relaxe your talent a little too much here. (Best song: In cold blood)
M - Lamomali 8,5 A fabulous album. A lot of Malian (and French) stars give the tonality for all the songs (Fatoumata Diawara, Jain, Amadou & Mariam, Oxmo Puccino, Philippe Jaroussky, Louis Chedid, Mamani Keita, Moriba Diabaté, Kerfala Kanté, Ibrahim Maalouf, Seu Jorge, Youssou N’Dour, Nekfeu, Santigold, Sanjay Khan, Chacha et Hiba Tawaji), a very good fusion of pop culture and traditional Malian music. For sure, one of the album I will listen again and again this year. (Best title: Manitoumani)
Temples - Volcano 8,5 Full of melodies, an ode to joy for me, to an ancient pleasant and carefree time.


Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Tourist 9,5
Elbow - Little Fictions 9
M - Lamomali 8,5
Temples - Volcano 8,5
The Pigeon Detectives - Broken Glances 8,5
Mr. Elevator and The Brain Hotel - When The Morning Greets You 8,5

Birkin-Gainsbourg - Le Symphonique 8
Depeche Mode - Spirit 8
Chilly Gonzales & Jarvis Cocker - Room 29 8
Talisco - Capitol Vision 7
Mick Harvey - Intoxicated Women 7
Max Richter - Three Worlds Music From Woolf Works 7
Alt-J - Relaxer 6,5
Jamiroquai - Automaton 6,5
The Flaming Lips - Oczy Mlody 6,5
Arcade Fire - Everything Now 6,5
Aimee Mann - Mental Illness 6
Foxygen - Hang 5,5
Electric Guest - Plural 5,5
The XX - I See You 5
Bonobo - Migration 4,5
Gorillaz - Humanz 3
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by BleuPanda »

Albums I have ranked an 8 or higher so far:
1. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream (9.8)
2. The xx - I See You (9.4)
3. Perfume Genius - No Shape (9.0)
4. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory (8.8)
5. Arca - Arca (8.8)
6. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me (8.8)
7. Lorde - Melodrama (8.8)
8. Jlin - Black Origami (8.7)
9. The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understand (8.6)
10. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. (8.6)
11. Algiers - The Underside of Power (8.6)
12. Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Navigator (8.5)
13. Laurel Halo - Dust (8.4)
14. Thundercat - Drunk (8.3)
15. The Magnetic Fields - 50 Song Memoir (8.3)
16. Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins (8.3)
17. Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up (8.3)
18. Brand New - Science Fiction (8.2)
19. Father John Misty - Pure Comedy (8.2)
20. Sampha - Process (8.1)
21. Laura Marling - Semper Femina (8.1)
22. Queens of the Stone Age - Villains (8.1)
23. Slowdive - Slowdive (8.0)
24. Mogwai - Every Country's Sun (8.0)
25. Gas - Narkopop (8.0)
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Nick »

Trying a different tier system for ranking albums. Something like...

Excellent
Great
Good
Decent
Poor
Bad

Let's see how much I like it.

Anyway, the year is 2/3rds of the way over, so I figure an update is in order...

Excellent:

1. The War on Drugs- A Deeper Understanding
2. Mount Eerie- A Crow Looked at Me
3. Father John Misty- Pure Comedy

Great:

4. Kendrick Lamar- Damn
5. LCD Soundsystem- American Dream
6. Fleet Foxes- Crack-Up
7. Lorde- Melodrama
8. Brand New- Science Fiction
9. Vince Staples- Big Fish Theory
10. Jay-Z- 4:44
11. Sampha- Process
12. Thundercat- Drunk
13. The xx- I See You

Good:

14. Jlin- Black Origami
15. Spoon- Hot Thoughts
16. Neil Cicierega- Mouth Moods
17. Arcade Fire- Everything Now
18. David Bowie- No Plan (EP)
19. Tyler the Creator- Flower Boy
20. PWR BTTM- Pageant
21. Slowdive- Slowdive
22. Perfume Genius- No Shape
23. Brockhampton- Saturation II
24. Grizzly Bear- Painted Ruins
25. Queens of the Stone Age- Villains
26. Future Islands- The Far Field
27. Haim- Something to Tell You
28. Arca- Arca
29. Sun Kil Moon- Common As Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood
30. Priests- Nothing Feels Natural
31. Phoenix- Ti Amo
32. Gas- Narkopop
33. Dirty Projectors- Dirty Projectors
34. Foxygen- Hang
35. Jens Lekman- Life Will See You Now
36. Julia Holter- In the Same Room
37. Cloud Nothings- Life Without Sound

Decent:

38. Coldplay- Kaleidoscope (EP)
39. The Shins- Heartworms
40. Nine Inch Nails- Add Violence (EP)
41. Anohni- Paradise (EP)
42. Gorillaz- Humanz
43. Visible Cloaks- Reassemblage
44. Real Estate- In Mind
45. Japandroids- Near to the Wild Heart of Life

Poor:

46. Foster the People- Sacred Hearts Club
47. At the Drive-In- in•ter a•li•a
48. The Flaming Lips- Oczy Mlody

Bad:

49. Shamir- Hope
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jirin »

Are people going to consider Hitchhiker a 2017 album or a 1976 album? Seems like another Smile situation where it was technically first physically released one year but doesn't really belong grouped with that year.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by luvulongTIM »

I'm enjoying some of the new Alvvays. I loved how they started off with a dismal 67 on metacritic and rose 10 points. I usually see the opposite happen. Even the newest Arcade Fire started off in the lower 80s.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by DocBrown »

The album i can't stop playing lately is Jade Jackson's "Gilded". Think of a young Lucinda Williams with a whole lot less whiskey and cigarettes. Still some whiskey and cigarettes, just a whole lot less.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by spiritualized »

Been listening to a lot, but not updated this in a while...

Kraftwerk '- 3-D The Catalogue (7.0) Yes it's milking the fans, but good box-set spanning the career of the German über-electronic masters, with more modern arrangements.
Danny Elfman - The Circle OST (5.0) Unexceptional soundtrack.
Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions (8.0) Impressive and yet catchy, DMST never ceases to bring out quality releases.
Sleaford Mods - English Tapas (8.0) I think you have to have lived in England to fully appreciate the record and it therefore limits its appeal, but to me, brilliant stuff.
Jesu Sun Kil Moon - 30 Seconds to the Decline of Planet Earth (6.0) Seventy minutes of not-so interesting folk metal with electronic experimentation. mmm, OK to listen once, but not more.
(Sandy) Alex G - Rocket (8.0) A discovery for me - never heard of Sandy Alex before. A "grower" album.
Omar Souleyman - To Syria, With Love (6.0) The novelty effect has worn off, one should listen to Omar at least once. A third or fourth time tends to dull your interest in the genre as it is so similar from one record to the next.
Part Chimp - IV (8.0) - Sludge, Noise. Good.
The I.L.Y's - Bodyguard (7.0) - Zach Hill project, heavy garage pop. Overall, a good album
Big Thief - Capacity (7.0) - Highly acclaimed this year, but I find nothing truly exciting about Big Thief. Mild Indie Rock, not bad, must listen again.
Mac deMarco - This Old Dog (6.0) Nothing wrong with Mac deMarco, but this acoustic approach doesn't wet my appetite, sorry. Too banal.
DJ Krush - Kiseki (6.0)
Fleet Foxes - Crack-up (6.0)
Papa Roach - Crooked Teeth (7.0)
Grandaddy - Last Place (9.0) Contender for album of the year. Back on form from a 90s favourite - great voice, great and catchy melodies. Better, in my opinion, than anything from Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear.
Mark Lanegan Band - Gargoyle (7.0)
Kane Strang - Two Hearts and No Brain (8.0)
Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly & James McAlister - Planetarium (6.0)
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory(4.0)
Lorde - Melodrama (8.0) - pleasantly surprised, I am not a huge pop music fan, but Lorde seems to have nailed it this year with a definite edge to the pop genre.
Sheer Mag - Need to Feel Your Love(6.0) Don't get the acclaim.
Youth in Revolt - The Broken (6.0)
Laurel Halo - Dust (5.0) I actually dislked this - I can see the beauty as an "art" work, but it just doesn't work for me.
Boris - Dear (7.0)
Algiers - The Underside of Power (6.0)
Balam Acab - Rituals (3.0)
Tyler, the Creator - Flower Boy (6.0)
Jim O'Rourke - Steamroom 36 (2.0) Please Jim, can we go back to writing some music ?
Brand New - Science Fiction (9.0) Much improved from their first album, I can see this placed quite high on the lists at the end of the year
EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring (8.0) Very pleasant surprise for this discovery - noise dream pop if you wish, it works well.
The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding (9.0) Another contender of AOTY. Yes, it smells strangely like the best of the Boss. But TWOD have a knack for immediate hooks while repeated listens will unveil more and more pleasures.


EOY 2017 (probably)
Run the Jewels - Run The Jewels 3
Ty Segall - Ty Segall
Cloud Nothings - Life Without Sound
Loyle Carner - Yesterday's Gone
Radical Face - SunnMoonnEclippse (EP)
Moon Duo - Occult Architecture, Vol.1
Blanck Mass - World Eater
Triángulo de Amor Bizarro - Barca quemada + 3 (EP)
Charly Bliss - Guppy
The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding
Brand New - Science Fiction
Grandaddy - Last Place

Excellent / Very Good
WIlliam Basinski - A Shadow in Time
Elbow - Little Fictions
The Magnetic Fields - 50 Song Memoir
Laura Marling - Semper Femina
The New Year - Snow
Sorority Noise - You're Not As _____ As You Think
Föllakzoid & J. Spaceman - London Sessions (EP)
Gas - Narkopop
The Moonlandingz - Interplanetary Class Classics
Afghan Whigs - In Spades
PWR BTTM - Pageant
Pulled Apart by Horses - The Haze
Slowdive - Slowdive
Colin Stetson - All This I Do for Glory
EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring
Lorde - Melodrama
Kane Strang - Two Hearts and No Brain
Part Chimp - IV
(Sandy) Alex G - Rocket
Sleaford Mods - English Tapas
Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions

Deserves another spin
Kid Koala w/Emiliana Torrini - Music to Draw To : Satellite
Mark Eitzel - Hey Mr Ferryman
Jesca Hoop - Memories are Now
Tift Merrit - Stitch of the World
Ramin Djawadi - Gears of Wars 4
Holy Holy - Paint
Peter Silberman - Impermanence
Vibracathedral Orchestra - So-Called Texture
Rhiannon Giddens - Freedom Highway
Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Navigator
Fischer Z - Building Bridges
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
Father John Misty - Pure Comedy
Aimee Mann - Mental Illness
Pallbearer - Heartless
Robyn Hitchcock - Robyn Hitchcock
Thea Gilmore - The Counterweight
Bertrand Burgalat - Les choses qu'on ne peut dire à personne
Midas - Heavy Moon
Boris - Dear
Mark Lanegan Band - Gargoyle
Papa Roach - Crooked Teeth
Big Thief - Capacity
The I.L.Y's - Bodyguard
Kraftwerk '- 3-D The Catalogue

Meh
Arovane & Porya Hatami - Organism
The xx - I See You
Wiley - Godfather
Sampha - Process
Thinking Plague - Hoping against Hope
Thundercat - Drunk
HEALTH - DISCO3
Ryan Adams - Prisoner
Jens Lekman - Life Will See You Now
Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked at Me
The Caretaker - Everywhere at the End of Time - Stage 2
Arca - Arca
Perfume Genius - No Shape
Feist - Pleasure
Casey Dienel - Imitation of a Woman to Love
[Ryuichi Sakamoto] - async
Fufanu - Sports
Tyler, the Creator - Flower Boy
Algiers - The Underside of Power
Laurel Halo - Dust
Youth in Revolt - The Broken
Sheer Mag - Need to Feel Your Love
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory
Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly & James McAlister - Planetarium
Fleet Foxes - Crack-up
DJ Krush - Kiseki
Mac deMarco - This Old Dog
Omar Souleyman - To Syria, With Love
Jesu Sun Kil Moon - 30 Seconds to the Decline of Planet Earth
Danny Elfman - The Circle OST

Avoid at all costs
Migos - Culture
Stormzy - Gang Signs & Prayers
Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors
DJ Quik & Problem - Rosecrans
Crescent - Resin Pockets
Jim O'Rourke - Steamroom 36
Balam Acab - Rituals

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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Nassim »

spiritualized wrote: (6.0)
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory(4.0)
This made me sad !
EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring (8.0) Very pleasant surprise for this discovery - noise dream pop if you wish, it works well.
Surprised you didn't know EMA! Her pretty good previous album, The Future's Void kinda flew under the radar, but her first one got a lot of acclaim on the Pitchforkesque lists.
She's great at opening albums, The Grey Ship is one of my favourite songs of the decade and Satellites is probably in my top 20 for 2014.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by spiritualized »

Nassim wrote:
spiritualized wrote: (6.0)
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory(4.0)
This made me sad !
Awwww. Sorry. I find I am having a huge problem with today's rap. That has been the case since the advent of Kanye. From his appearance, it's gone downhill. I love all sorts of hip hop. Loyle Carner and RTJ will appear on my EOY list and I swear by anything from A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Beastie Boys, etc...etc... but Kanye, Kendrick, Tyle blah blah blah really oppress me. I can't relate or project on to them and the beats are just not inventive enough or too drowned in "artsy" forms. Staples' album started very well but became less and less interesting as I carried on listening.
Nassim wrote:
EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring (8.0) Very pleasant surprise for this discovery - noise dream pop if you wish, it works well.
Surprised you didn't know EMA! Her pretty good previous album, The Future's Void kinda flew under the radar, but her first one got a lot of acclaim on the Pitchforkesque lists.
She's great at opening albums, The Grey Ship is one of my favourite songs of the decade and Satellites is probably in my top 20 for 2014.
Yeah, I missed on that. Will definitely check out what you suggest, Nassim :)
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by bootsy »

spiritualized wrote:
Nassim wrote:
spiritualized wrote: (6.0)
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory(4.0)
This made me sad !
Awwww. Sorry. I find I am having a huge problem with today's rap. That has been the case since the advent of Kanye. From his appearance, it's gone downhill. I love all sorts of hip hop. Loyle Carner and RTJ will appear on my EOY list and I swear by anything from A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Beastie Boys, etc...etc... but Kanye, Kendrick, Tyle blah blah blah really oppress me. I can't relate or project on to them and the beats are just not inventive enough or too drowned in "artsy" forms. Staples' album started very well but became less and less interesting as I carried on listening.
Nassim wrote:
EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring (8.0) Very pleasant surprise for this discovery - noise dream pop if you wish, it works well.
Surprised you didn't know EMA! Her pretty good previous album, The Future's Void kinda flew under the radar, but her first one got a lot of acclaim on the Pitchforkesque lists.
She's great at opening albums, The Grey Ship is one of my favourite songs of the decade and Satellites is probably in my top 20 for 2014.
Yeah, I missed on that. Will definitely check out what you suggest, Nassim :)
What do you mean by can't relate?
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Moonbeam »

Haven't heard a ton this year, but my favorites thus far are:

LCD Soundsystem - American Dream: 9
Austra - Future Politics: 7.5
Gorillaz - Humanz: 7
Andre Cymone - 1969: 7
Boo Seeka - Never Too Soon: 7
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by spiritualized »

bootsy wrote: What do you mean by can't relate?
Can't connect to those "new" artists as much as I used to with Ice Cube/Nas/ATCQ and even Eminem. Don't get me wrong, I am a white, middle class dude so there is so much "relating" I can do to hip hop artists. Age probably plays a part in it, but I "get" Eminem and NWA's anger and I appreciate the jazz/soul rap far more by considering that the message can be conveyed without the verbal agression that some of today's acts seem to relish.
The message resonated far more in these times than the batch of current stars. WIth retrospect, "resonate" is more accurate than "relate".
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by bootsy »

spiritualized wrote:
bootsy wrote: What do you mean by can't relate?
Can't connect to those "new" artists as much as I used to with Ice Cube/Nas/ATCQ and even Eminem. Don't get me wrong, I am a white, middle class dude so there is so much "relating" I can do to hip hop artists. Age probably plays a part in it, but I "get" Eminem and NWA's anger and I appreciate the jazz/soul rap far more by considering that the message can be conveyed without the verbal agression that some of today's acts seem to relish.
The message resonated far more in these times than the batch of current stars. WIth retrospect, "resonate" is more accurate than "relate".
Oh I understand for sure. I love the era of hip-hop I grew up in the mid 80s/90s so nothing will ever be better for me than that time period. I can relate to some of the new rappers and I do listen to and like some of them. I just separate them from the 'classic' period of hip-hop and just sort of come to terms with today's hip-hop is what it is. Most of it is garbage but there are some gems in there but I know it won't be as great as it once was.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Jirin »

My ability to connect to rap is very conditional. There are things that are extremely common in the genre that are huge pluses for me and other things that are huge minuses.

+
Protest against poverty and unjust treatment
Alliterative meter and flow
Complex melodic loops
Clever disses

-
Glorification of violence
Overuse of grating hard consonants
Misogyny
Ego and boasting
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by spiritualized »

Jirin wrote:
Misogyny
Ego and boasting
I'm with you. These last two eliminates a huge chunk of the rap roster...
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by JohnnyBGoode »

Time for an update, order very provisional, still a lot of catch up, but these are currently the most likely to make my EOY top 50.

1. The National – Sleep Well Beast
2. Brand New – Science Fiction
3. Father John Misty – Pure Comedy
4. Japanese Breakfast – Soft Sounds From Another Planet
5. Laura Marling - Semper Femina
6. Sampha - Process
7. LCD Soundsystem – American Dream
8. Arcade Fire – Everything Now
9. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me
10. The Mountain Goats - Goths
11. Jay Som - Everybody Works
12. The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
13. Grandaddy – Lost Place
14. Alvvays - Antisocialites
15. The xx - I See You
16. Lorde – Melodrama
17. Slowdive – Slowdive
18. Susanne Sundfør - Music For People In Trouble
19. Big Thief - Capacity
20. Kelly Lee Owens – Kelly Lee Owens
21. Fleet Foxes - Crack - Up
22. Rose Elinor Dougall – Stellular
23. Thundercat – Drunk
24. Loyle Carner - Yesterday's Gone
25. Waxahatchee – Out in the Storm
26. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound
27. Ryan Adams – Prisoner
28. Grizzly Bear – Painted Ruins
29. Jens Lekman - Life Will See You Now
30. Elbow – Little Fictions
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by Nassim »

spiritualized wrote:
Jirin wrote:
Misogyny
Ego and boasting
I'm with you. These last two eliminates a huge chunk of the rap roster...
While I do have a problem with Misogyny, ego and boasting can be fun.
It's not like you could find any band/rapper who didn't do it anyway :
Run DMC ?
Because the rhymes I say, sharp as a nail
Witty as can be and not for sale
Always funky fresh, could never be stale
Took a test to become an MC and didn't fail
I couldn't wait to demonstrate
All the super def rhymes that I create
I'm a wizard of a word, that's what you heard
And anything else is quite absurd
Funky 4+1 ?
For the young lady with nice fine thighs
I’m the kind of emcee that make women jet fly
I’m Jazzy Jeff with the most finesse
I’m down with The Five to rock the mic the best
‘Cause I move the groove and I do it cool
And I rock for you and you, I’m sure to rule
Sure I guess it's tamer.
Or it's much nicer when De La Soul boast about behind nice guys on Me Myself and I, or when Phife Dawg wants you to tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram about how nice he is, but that's still boasting.
Or it might be more interesting when PE mixes it with political messages in Bring the Noise.
Or funnier when Beastie Boys have more rhymes than Jamaica got mangos.

Bottom line, I'm fine with that : Kendrick killing the competition on Control, Jay-Z putting Prodigy and Nas down on Takeover, Eminem telling us he can shit it better than 90% rappers out there (which is actually being pretty modest) or El-P rapping he is a warlock of talk and he got a unicorn horn for a...
It's all fine as long as it's deserved, that's it's not all there is about their music and as the songs deliver.

I guess it used to be done mostly in interviews before rap, you could brag about being more famous than Jesus or being better than your rival band, but not really sing about it ; though I guess you can find The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart or Billy Idol being cocky about their seductive and/or sexual prowesses.
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Re: Albums of 2017

Post by StevieFan13 »

Nassim wrote:
spiritualized wrote:
Jirin wrote:
Misogyny
Ego and boasting
I'm with you. These last two eliminates a huge chunk of the rap roster...
While I do have a problem with Misogyny, ego and boasting can be fun.
It's not like you could find any band/rapper who didn't do it anyway :
Run DMC ?
Because the rhymes I say, sharp as a nail
Witty as can be and not for sale
Always funky fresh, could never be stale
Took a test to become an MC and didn't fail
I couldn't wait to demonstrate
All the super def rhymes that I create
I'm a wizard of a word, that's what you heard
And anything else is quite absurd
Funky 4+1 ?
For the young lady with nice fine thighs
I’m the kind of emcee that make women jet fly
I’m Jazzy Jeff with the most finesse
I’m down with The Five to rock the mic the best
‘Cause I move the groove and I do it cool
And I rock for you and you, I’m sure to rule
Sure I guess it's tamer.
Or it's much nicer when De La Soul boast about behind nice guys on Me Myself and I, or when Phife Dawg wants you to tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram about how nice he is, but that's still boasting.
Or it might be more interesting when PE mixes it with political messages in Bring the Noise.
Or funnier when Beastie Boys have more rhymes than Jamaica got mangos.

Bottom line, I'm fine with that : Kendrick killing the competition on Control, Jay-Z putting Prodigy and Nas down on Takeover, Eminem telling us he can shit it better than 90% rappers out there (which is actually being pretty modest) or El-P rapping he is a warlock of talk and he got a unicorn horn for a...
It's all fine as long as it's deserved, that's it's not all there is about their music and as the songs deliver.

I guess it used to be done mostly in interviews before rap, you could brag about being more famous than Jesus or being better than your rival band, but not really sing about it ; though I guess you can find The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart or Billy Idol being cocky about their seductive and/or sexual prowesses.
That's exactly what I was thinking!
Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand - Sir Duke (1976)
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bootsy
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Posts: 1297
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:38 pm

Re: Albums of 2017

Post by bootsy »

Nassim wrote:
spiritualized wrote:
Jirin wrote:
Misogyny
Ego and boasting
I'm with you. These last two eliminates a huge chunk of the rap roster...
While I do have a problem with Misogyny, ego and boasting can be fun.
It's not like you could find any band/rapper who didn't do it anyway :
Run DMC ?
Because the rhymes I say, sharp as a nail
Witty as can be and not for sale
Always funky fresh, could never be stale
Took a test to become an MC and didn't fail
I couldn't wait to demonstrate
All the super def rhymes that I create
I'm a wizard of a word, that's what you heard
And anything else is quite absurd
Funky 4+1 ?
For the young lady with nice fine thighs
I’m the kind of emcee that make women jet fly
I’m Jazzy Jeff with the most finesse
I’m down with The Five to rock the mic the best
‘Cause I move the groove and I do it cool
And I rock for you and you, I’m sure to rule
Sure I guess it's tamer.
Or it's much nicer when De La Soul boast about behind nice guys on Me Myself and I, or when Phife Dawg wants you to tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram about how nice he is, but that's still boasting.
Or it might be more interesting when PE mixes it with political messages in Bring the Noise.
Or funnier when Beastie Boys have more rhymes than Jamaica got mangos.

Bottom line, I'm fine with that : Kendrick killing the competition on Control, Jay-Z putting Prodigy and Nas down on Takeover, Eminem telling us he can shit it better than 90% rappers out there (which is actually being pretty modest) or El-P rapping he is a warlock of talk and he got a unicorn horn for a...
It's all fine as long as it's deserved, that's it's not all there is about their music and as the songs deliver.

I guess it used to be done mostly in interviews before rap, you could brag about being more famous than Jesus or being better than your rival band, but not really sing about it ; though I guess you can find The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart or Billy Idol being cocky about their seductive and/or sexual prowesses.
Was going to respond to that but you said it best Nassim. Misogyny and braggadocio have been in hip hop since pretty much the beginning. It's just a lot more vulgar and frequent pretty much each decade.
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bootsy
Shake Some Action
Posts: 1297
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:38 pm

Re: Albums of 2017

Post by bootsy »

bootsy wrote:
Nassim wrote:
spiritualized wrote: I'm with you. These last two eliminates a huge chunk of the rap roster...
While I do have a problem with Misogyny, ego and boasting can be fun.
It's not like you could find any band/rapper who didn't do it anyway :
Run DMC ?
Because the rhymes I say, sharp as a nail
Witty as can be and not for sale
Always funky fresh, could never be stale
Took a test to become an MC and didn't fail
I couldn't wait to demonstrate
All the super def rhymes that I create
I'm a wizard of a word, that's what you heard
And anything else is quite absurd
Funky 4+1 ?
For the young lady with nice fine thighs
I’m the kind of emcee that make women jet fly
I’m Jazzy Jeff with the most finesse
I’m down with The Five to rock the mic the best
‘Cause I move the groove and I do it cool
And I rock for you and you, I’m sure to rule
Sure I guess it's tamer.
Or it's much nicer when De La Soul boast about behind nice guys on Me Myself and I, or when Phife Dawg wants you to tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram about how nice he is, but that's still boasting.
Or it might be more interesting when PE mixes it with political messages in Bring the Noise.
Or funnier when Beastie Boys have more rhymes than Jamaica got mangos.

Bottom line, I'm fine with that : Kendrick killing the competition on Control, Jay-Z putting Prodigy and Nas down on Takeover, Eminem telling us he can shit it better than 90% rappers out there (which is actually being pretty modest) or El-P rapping he is a warlock of talk and he got a unicorn horn for a...
It's all fine as long as it's deserved, that's it's not all there is about their music and as the songs deliver.

I guess it used to be done mostly in interviews before rap, you could brag about being more famous than Jesus or being better than your rival band, but not really sing about it ; though I guess you can find The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart or Billy Idol being cocky about their seductive and/or sexual prowesses.
Was going to respond to that didn't want to continue going back and forth but you said it best Nassim. Misogyny and braggadocio have been in hip hop since pretty much the beginning. It's just a lot more vulgar and frequent pretty much each decade.
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