[Music] The Grand Music Discussion Thread [3]

[r1cepurin]

They Might Be Giants did lots of fun stuff with the Homestar Runner brothers back in the day!

The really funny thing is that I didn't like H*R when Experimental Film came out. At the same time, it's so crazy to use the expression "back in the day", because it makes me feel very old.

2004 was 30 years ago *cue unnecessary le sad frog*

[Blue Monday]

I love Interpol. Everytime I stumble upon a rarity or B-side I'm blown away emotionally: 'Mind Over Time'

This song is fucking destroying me right now.

Desolate. Stark. Apocalyptic.

If you're keen to listen to some other post-metal stuff like this, SS7, shoot me a PM and I'll hook you up.

[Joy Evangelion]

I love Interpol. Everytime I stumble upon a rarity or B-side I'm blown away emotionally

Case in point: Song Seven Such a dope track. Any other band would've killlled to have it on one of their full lengths.

-----------------------------------------------------------
New New Order slays. Thirty five years of releasing great singles.

Also been listening to the hell out of my favorite record of the year so far, The Most Lamentable Tragedy from America's greatest punk band, Titus Andronicus.

Finally got around to listening to Yeezus too, and I've found myself giving it a couple listens a day. Except I usually skip "I'm in It" because I'm a prude and it totally grosses me out.

[Justacrazyguy]

Thick as a Brick, likely the most well know album by Jethro Tull had evaded joining its companions(the other Tull albums) in my humble collection for some time. I couldn't find it in the stores I usually go to at all. Of course, I could have just used the internet, but there's something about getting the item you want from a store, you know?

So I finally got to hear that sweet vinyl and well, it's fantastic. I had seen some reviews in the internet claiming side two was weak, but I'm happy to disagree. There's not a single bad spot in it!(Except the very end of side one, it drags on a bit).

[Blue Monday]

New Deafheaven out in October: https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/album/new-bermuda

New Loma Prieta out also in October: https://lomaprietaband.bandcamp.com/album/self-portrait

A Regis compilation of remix work - his first solo outing since 2001 - out next month via BEB: https://blackesteverblack.bandcamp.com/album/manbait

[Joy Evangelion]

New Deafheaven kills it. Though unfortunately whenever I go to a bandcamp site I usually read one of those comments and immediately wish I hadn't. :\

So much new great music this year(and some nice reissues too), and most of it is stuff I can see myself listening to heavily for the next few years. Like, there are so many new releases I'll forget somethings coming out entirely(like the new Refused) even though I'd listened to the lead single on repeat. Not a bad problem to have though. And one of the bands I've listened to the most in my entire damn life, The Good Life, released their first new album in about eight years and I haven't even got around to giving it a listen to, for chrissakes.

[Blue Monday]

I hear you, man. There's always so much new music out and I'm so lazy, so it can take me ages to get around to stuff, but everyone does music in their own way I guess seeing as it's such a personal thing.

For me, 2015 has been pretty lite fare so far. The only new release to really grab me by the teeth and blow my mind was Prurient's magnum opus. I like the new Death Cab and Envy as well, but enjoyable as they are they're by no means masterworks, and in addition to the aforementioned, I'm really hoping Burial gets around to releasing that compilation of uncollected material he talked about last year briefly. That shit would rock my world, having HQ versions of 'True Love' and 'Feral Witchchild', et cetera.

New Deafheaven kills it.

I like it a lot, although I can already see that people are going to be complaining that it isn't Sunbather 2.0 (going to be a tough one having to follow that). Actually, during the quiet/mellow part of the song, the guitars sound so much like Envy that it's uncanny. A couple years back I read a post from Geoff Rickly where he pointed out that there was a lot of Envy in Deafheaven's sound. I could never hear it until that moment just then. Pretty cool shit, right down to the damn tone and everything.

Also, how sick is that cover art?

[Joy Evangelion]

I like it a lot, although I can already see that people are going to be complaining that it isn't Sunbather 2.0 (going to be a tough one having to follow that). Actually, during the quiet/mellow part of the song, the guitars sound so much like Envy that it's uncanny. A couple years back I read a post from Geoff Rickly where he pointed out that there was a lot of Envy in Deafheaven's sound. I could never hear it until that moment just then. Pretty cool shit, right down to the damn tone and everything.

Also, how sick is that cover art?

At first I was all, "huh??" about the cover art, and then I was "ohhhh. Nice."

Yea, Sunbather is definitely tough to follow, but the people who'll most give this new one a hard time will probably be people who are just looking for an excuse to dislike a band that's somewhat popular. Though I think it is reasonable if people start saying they prefer the vocal style on Sunbather. Forgot to mention in my last post that those church bells to start the record are a very nice touch.

And speaking of Geoff Rickly, have you been giving any of his work with No Devotion a listen? I'm not ecstatic about it or anything, but since I go wayyyyy back with the guy it's great to hear his voice on some new songs, though every time I listen to it I feel a bit of sadness that Thursday aren't around at the moment.

[Blue Monday]

Do you listen to Beach House? The new one came out on Friday and I'm really digging it. Hazy dream pop stuff which is a logical extension of my shoegaze obsession: https://beachhouse.bandcamp.com/album/depression-cherry

And speaking of Geoff Rickly, have you been giving any of his work with No Devotion a listen?

Huh, I'd never even heard of this project. Let me check them out and I'll get back to you.

;)

[robersora]

^
I'm in love with Bloom, and it seems you've taken my recommendation seriously :) Depression Cherry didn't click instantly with me, but then again, I need to be in a very specific mood to be able to delve into their music.

[Blue Monday]

Bloom is indeed awesome. I think Depression Cherry kicked in for me so easily because the radio station I listen to at work had it as the feature album last week, and they had a few of the tracks on heavy rotation. Pretty infectious stuff.

[Joy Evangelion]

Beach House

Thanks for reminding me these guys existed. I used to listen to their Teen Dream quite a bit back in my early 20s, but when Bloom came out I never gave it a proper listen. But like rober said, I've also gotta be in a certain mood when I listen them. Like, I remember listening to them in 2010 walking home at 2 in the morning and it was very fulfilling. Memories like those are what music is all about.
But yea, "Sparks" is a solid track and I've been jamming to it all week. I was never much into shoegaze before, but it's really been doing it for me nowadays.

Also, regarding No Devotion; they have a full length coming out towards the end of September, and they've released a few tracks in the last year or so. Stay and Addition are decent enough tracks, though they're not quite "Understanding" "War All the Time" or "Fast to the End"

[Dartz]

I have been somewhat raving about the latest offering from Iron Maiden The Book of Souls manages to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience. There're some who've said that it tends to plod along in places because of the 2-disk format, but it otherwise manages to hit the spot. While still being a sufficient evolution on from what's come before rather than being a simple rehash.

There're echoes of older Maiden songs, but then it moves into newer territory. Including a tribute to Robin Williams, and an 18 minute ballad about an airship disaster which gets an entire side to itself.

[Sgt. Griff]

The Rach 2

Admittedly at the start of the year had you asked me to listen through the piece I would have groaned, before I really grasped the musicality of the piece all I could hear was notes upon notes creating nothing from a whole lot. In the end though i guess something clicked after I listened through the second movement, suddenly the complex almost orchestral piano scoring made perfect sense, this grand texture and scope of a piece that had been locked away from me was unlocked and I could see the genius and magnificence behind it. I listened to it almost exclusively for a few weeks until Tchaikovsky caught my ears and I listened to him for a few months alongside other Rachmaninoff pieces like his Rhapsody on a theme by Pagini or his Vocalise for Cello.

I've come back to it now to analyse and learn it to really get an understanding of the theory behind it (especially the harmonization and instrumentation), which will no doubt prove invaluable as I move forward to studying composition at University.

Great piece, 11/10 would recommend.

[Sachi]

I just checked out Symphony X's newest album, Underworld, and I just gotta say THEY'RE BACK, BABY! I wasn't really a fan of Iconoclast, but this new album has brought back all the aspect of the band that had originally appealed to me, such as the emphasis on the neoclassical style as well as showing off Russel Allen's vocal high range. Definitely glad to have given this one a chance!

[MAGI_01]

Been rocking Joe Satriani's latest album Shockwave Supernova and as always when it comes to his works, it is fantastic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeAUOsu39bc

The opening track (Which is the title track) as well as the entire album is dripping with his beautiful melodies and amazing chord progressions.

Splurged on a pair of tickets to see him in February. Expensive as they are quite close to the stage but it will certainly be worth every penny.

[Blue Monday]

https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/album/new-bermuda

[ZapX]

Haven't popped in here in a while...

I just checked out Symphony X's newest album, Underworld, and I just gotta say THEY'RE BACK, BABY! I wasn't really a fan of Iconoclast, but this new album has brought back all the aspect of the band that had originally appealed to me, such as the emphasis on the neoclassical style as well as showing off Russel Allen's vocal high range. Definitely glad to have given this one a chance!

This is good to hear as they've kind of taken a nose dive into repetitiveness in the last decade plus. I'll check it out.

I've come back to it now to analyse and learn it to really get an understanding of the theory behind it (especially the harmonization and instrumentation), which will no doubt prove invaluable as I move forward to studying composition at University.

Great piece, 11/10 would recommend.

Rach 2 is one of my favorite pieces ever, and one that can bring me to tears or goofy laughter when played by certain people. I find that most great classic music is greatly enhanced by your ability to analyze it (either reading the score or in your head). One reason everyone should take a music listening or appreciation class with some basic theory.

So I was listening to some of my 80's playlists and I wonder if I'm committing some sacrilege by preferring New Order to Joy Division. Obviously it's all Ian Curtis' fault, but JD just gets me so depressed and down when I listen to it. It's haunting and gorgeous but it makes me so uneasy I can't listen to it in large bursts. I think New Order's longer history and being older as a group makes them a more satisfying listen as well. I'm sure this has been discussed a lot, but I wonder if anyone feels the same.

[Lavinius]

"This is Mysterious and Pretentious Russian Darkwave Project.
The Music of the Band is Extremely Painful, Emotional and Suggestive.
Practically, There is not Any Information about the Project’s Participants,
where They Live and Who They are…
Nevertheless the Aura of the Occult Germetics has not Prevented DVAR
to Become One of the Most Successful Russian Gothic Project Abroad."

[Blue Monday]

So I was listening to some of my 80's playlists and I wonder if I'm committing some sacrilege by preferring New Order to Joy Division. Obviously it's all Ian Curtis' fault, but JD just gets me so depressed and down when I listen to it. It's haunting and gorgeous but it makes me so uneasy I can't listen to it in large bursts. I think New Order's longer history and being older as a group makes them a more satisfying listen as well. I'm sure this has been discussed a lot, but I wonder if anyone feels the same.

Coming from someone who's been trying to get a better grip on the group over the past few years; New Order have always been more of a singles band to me. Their albums usually only have two or three decent cuts on them and I can leave the rest. Whereas, for Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures is simply sublime. In fact, to draw a random parallel, I kind of feel the same way about David Bowie even; the singles/"best of" are where it's at (Nothing has Changed rules). Oddly enough, for both New Order and David Bowie; their most recent records - Music Complete and The Next Day respectively - are in my opinion their greatest actual albums as a whole, if that makes any sense. I'll also add that I'm very much an album guy too. I'm more likely to listen to whole records as opposed to just hitting shuffle on my MP3 player/computer or something.

As an addendum; 'Ceremony' is the greatest song out of either of JD's or NO's nebulous repertoire.