Hear, hear: NP

[davy]

But yeah, too much techno, not enough metal lately.

Been a pretty big electronica year for me, comparatively speaking.

How has it been in terms of metal? Maybe we switched music lives.

I haven't listened to metal with any regularity since about 2007. These days, when the mood strikes, I rock out to some Danzig or some Slayer, scratch the itch, and move on. While I still respect the genres, I think my death metal and black metal days are mostly behind me. Had a hell of a good time exploring the canon, though.

[Good Intentions]

:'(

[Nick Ink]

I haven't listened to a note of music for two whole weeks. It's not good.

[davy]

:'(

Yeah, I know. I'm not happy about it...that's just the way it is.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

Goldfrapp - Rocket.
Saw it on the tele a couple of times. 1st time was mediocre, second time I was warming. Downloaded it from itunes and it's now easily my favourite song of the moment.

[diesel_powered]

:'(

Yeah, I know. I'm not happy about it...that's just the way it is.

Eh. I haven't listened to electronic music with any intensity since maybe 2007. At this point, I pretty much just listen to DJ mixes for high energy, low attention work music. But what can you do? There's too much music in the world to be unbelievably intensely interested in everything all the time.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

It's been a long time since I've put some Stereolab on. But I've been going through a big Krautrock stage this week so it seems an obvious choice really. I always forget just how amazing they were.

[ellaguru]

This


Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

is a really good singer-songwriter, girl + guitar indie pop album. I guess this is her second album. I haven't heard the first one yet, but I'll be sure to get on that, because this one is pretty impressive.

[elpollodiablo]

The new National record, High Violet, is streaming at NY Times until Apr. 27: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/magazine/25national-t.html

[davy]

Just came here to post that. The Boxer eventually won me over, years after it was released, but this isn't grabbing me at all. I'm pretty disappointed with the way they're handling the drums.

[elpollodiablo]

I'm really digging it, but then I don't really care much about drums. Terrible Love and Little Faith are the standouts for me so far.

[davy]

Well, Boxer was a fucking triumph of drums. The performances were creative and energetic and the production was punchy and very dynamic. This time around, the drums have been pushed into the back of the mix and the production is really flat for some reason.

[edison]

*nitpicking* It's called Boxer! *nitpicking*

I'm curious about this - I thought Boxer was great, but I'll sit this one out until it's actually released.

[elpollodiablo]

...why?

[elpollodiablo]

Also, I closed the tab where the album was streaming, and now when I reopen that page, the little streaming widget isn't there any longer... what gives, Gray Lady?

[DanielBurns11]

Well, The Boxer was a fucking triumph of drums. The performances were creative and energetic and the production was punchy and very dynamic. This time around, the drums have been pushed into the back of the mix and the production is really flat for some reason.

NOOOOOOO! 

*nitpicking* It's called Boxer! *nitpicking*

I'm curious about this - I thought Boxer was great, but I'll sit this one out until it's actually released.

Solidarity!

[davy]

Also, I closed the tab where the album was streaming, and now when I reopen that page, the little streaming widget isn't there any longer... what gives, Gray Lady?

It's still there. Took me a minute to load just now.

And I might've been too hasty about the drum mix in general. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" has them up front, though the production is still pretty flat.

[elpollodiablo]

Yeah, I hear what you're saying. There's nothing as punchy as Brainy on this record. Bloodbuzz OH is still pretty great, though.

[davy]

I've said this before hereabouts, but this album


is really, really good rootsy country stuff. I've had it for about a year and a half now, and it hasn't gotten old yet.

Finally got around to listening to Trouble In Mind this morning, and of course you're right. It's quite wonderful. He's got a nice, creamy drawl, a knack for phrasing, and his songs have this sort of friendly lope to them. I was listening conservatively at first, but all my defenses fell down when "Girl Downtown" came on.

And as luck would have it, he's playing in Athens this week. It's a weird bill, though:

40 Watt Club
presents
Dierks Bentley
& the Travelin McCourys
with Hayes Carll

And I just noticed it was $26 freaking dollars, so...forget it. I don't even know who Dierks Bentley is, let alone how he commands a $26 ticket price in a town like this.

[ellaguru]

Ah, good, I thought he'd be right up your alley. I really like that album a lot.

[edison]

...why?

Just not crazy about the idea of a NY Times stream being my first exposure to a record I've been anticipating for a while, that's all (Plus, I have really quite a lot of other exciting stuff to listen to now, so I can afford to be patient).

[elpollodiablo]

So I'd say in terms of overall quality, this is a better record than Boxer.

I was afraid I'd eat your brains / Cuz I'm evil

[davy]

Wow. I don't see that at all, but I wouldn't be surprised if I'm in the minority on that score before too long.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

I don't think I've ever so much as heard a National song. Weird considering I know many people who love The Boxer
I'm in the middle of a fully engrossing Stereolab binge. Emperor Tomato Ketchup.

[davy]

That's the only Stereolab album I've ever owned.