What is your snowmageddon soundtrack? now playing RAGNAROK edition

[fishjim]

As they moved on they emphasized evolving the "trippy space jam" type of songs rather than the "quirky child-like pop" a la Barrett and I think those were good turn of events because that eventually brought us albums like "Meddle" and "The Dark Side of the Moon".

Meddle & Dark Side are the only Floyds I still spin. "One of These Days," "Fearless," and the last 7-8 minutes of Dark Side through "Eclipse" are still high moments for me.

EDIT: Holy shit, I forgot "Echoes." Probably my favorite Floyd, largely for the lyrics:

http://www.pink-floyd-lyrics.com/html/echoes-meddle-lyrics.html

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

Virus: The Agent that Shapes the Desert

Marinus, get on this thing. Black/jazz/progressive metal as directed by a Norwegian Scott Walker, essentially.

[Andrew_TSKS]

it's ok but the kazoo part kills it for me. without it, I would probably call it a good song. i think roger waters and richard wright were kinda trying to emulate barrett's type of eclectic songwriting because at that time it was all the band was known for, so "Corporal Clegg", "Remember a Day" and "See-Saw" sound very Barrett-ish. As they moved on they emphasized evolving the "trippy space jam" type of songs rather than the "quirky child-like pop" a la Barrett and I think those were good turn of events because that eventually brought us albums like "Meddle" and "The Dark Side of the Moon".

For the record, Barrett is on "Remember A Day" (that strange lead guitar part that swirls all around the song and never really stops being a strange solo), though you're right, he didn't write it. He also plays on "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" (I believe he's the only guitarist on that track) and of course "Jugband Blues" (obviously). But yeah, the song "A Saucerful Of Secrets" probably points the way forward most accurately for them, and I like that stuff a lot, though they actually lose me with Dark Side (and even with about half the songs on Meddle--"San Tropez," "Seamus," and "A Pillow Of Winds" all strike me as pointless trifles). I like the Atom Heart Mother/Ummagumma era of the band though.

[fishjim]

"San Tropez," "Seamus," and "A Pillow Of Winds" all strike me as pointless trifles.

Yes, they are.

[davy]

And as for "The Beginning of the End" and " Dynamite Steps," well, there hasn't been a stronger 2-song closing since "Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer."

But that's one song, isn't it? Slash or no slash, you can't convince me that a song called "Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer" that begins with a voice saying, "Brother Woodrow, would you lead us in our closing prayer" is a two-song medley.

I was stretching the truth to support my claim, yo.

Oh, OK then. If you were serious I was gonna be like, "where's the song division? I will listen again...."

I guess what I really meant was "I Keep Coming Back" and "Brother Woodrow / Closing Prayer." They do kind of bleed into one another.

[Good Intentions]

[Good Intentions]

Marinus, get on this thing. Black/jazz/progressive metal as directed by a Norwegian Scott Walker, essentially.

Listening to this now. Yup, it's a Virus album. I don't hear the Scott Walker -- this has lots more to do with Faith No More and Fantômas and other knowingly weird rock bands from especially the late 90s and early 2000s. There was a patch around the time of their first album where stuff like that was the flavour of the month (lots of people got very excited about that execrable Ephel Duath album, but only for a month or two, and many of them felt very silly afterwards). Only dubiously metal. The frontman name-checks Talking Heads on the metal archives page. Not really my cup of tea -- there are too many 'post's in the genre descriptions -- but all the power to them: Virus have been doing this for a decade.

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

Well toward the end the vocals sort of gain an operatic percussiveness that reminds me of Walker, but yes, it is definitely in line with Faith No More. I haven't really paid attention to Virus before but I am an enormous fan of Written in Waters so, yeah. I fuck with this.

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

It took 2 years but I think Crack the Skye is my favorite Mastodon record now.

I still think Brendan O'Brien should not be allowed to touch anything.

[mixed cats]

I am under the impression that Brendan O'Brien is the person who convinced Matthew Sweet not to call in his lead guitarists for the recording of Blue Sky On Mars and instead just wail on keyboards. BRENDAN O'BRIEN NEEDS TO GET HIT.

[YojimboMonkey]

It took 2 years but I think Crack the Skye is my favorite Mastodon record now.

When they were touring with Dethklok, I think I got to experience that record in the best possible way, them performing it live with some trippy visuals projected on screens all around them.  Still nowhere near my favorite but at least I'm able to enjoy it now.

[ellaguru]

Listening to Akron/Family's 2005 self-titled album. I'd kinda forgotten how great it is.

[Andrew_TSKS]

(Dragged Into Sunlight - Hatred For Mankind)

What does the LPTJ metal contingent think of this record? I think it fuckin' RULES, is why I'm asking. I got sent it as a promo, and it's easy to get jaded about promos and be all "Nothing in this pile will be better than mediocre," but fuck if this isn't fucking awesome. I've been reviewing indie albums all day, I needed this wakeup call. FUCK YEAH.

[fishjim]

TSKS, that cover's given me an earworm of Bongwater's Ann Magnuson on "Obscene and Pornographic Art" singing,

"Hey, what that swan be doing, huh? And WHYYY?"

Except she's singing 'goat' instead of 'swan'. Make her stop!

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

Patrick Stump: Truant Wave

In which former Fall Out Boy lead singer becomes complex pop everything. It is so fucking good

[Johnp]

Patrick Stump: Truant Wave

In which former Fall Out Boy lead singer becomes complex pop everything. It is so fucking good

Thanks for the heads-up. Didn't even know this was due!

[Andrew_TSKS]

Yeah, he released the EP to compensate for the full-length being delayed. I'm super-stoked for both of them. Need to get to downloading.

[davy]

Not even kidding about that Adele album. I don't just sorta like it. Next to the Twilight Singers record, it may be the best thing I've heard in 2011. And it just goes so well with the Twilight Singers record. Play one, play the other, play one, play the other. It's just so EASY.

Really good record.

Plus, I'm watching a concert she did for the Live on Letterman series a couple days ago, and she's totally adorable on stage.

[fishjim]

Not even kidding about that Adele album. I don't just sorta like it. Next to the Twilight Singers record, it may be the best thing I've heard in 2011. And it just goes so well with the Twilight Singers record. Play one, play the other, play one, play the other. It's just so EASY.

Really good record.

Totally buying this. I owe it to her since I've played "Right as Rain" probably thirty times on youtube, and still don't own an Adele album. 

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

Hey Andrew, that Dragged into Sunlight record is completely, completely excellent. Thanks for the rec. Apparently they're coming out with another record this year!

[peacocks]

erm, probably shouldn't listen to girl by suicide at work. At first it is silly but after a while I have to cross my legs.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Hey Andrew, that Dragged into Sunlight record is completely, completely excellent. Thanks for the rec. Apparently they're coming out with another record this year!

Yeah, I know, I'm totally excited about it now that I know. I have a feeling that it will be more well-recorded, which could be a bummer if they go too far with it, but regardless I'll bet it will still be raw as fuck musically. And I'm all about that.

For tonight, though, I'm so burnt on reviewing new music that I've made the executive decision to listen to the entire 5 CD super-deluxe reissue edition of the Cure's Disintegration that came out last year, all in a row. I question whether I'll actually be able to make it all the way through without losing my resolve, but I haven't listened to the whole thing yet, and tomorrow I have to go back to writing about new bands and stuff, so why not spend tonight giving it a shot?

[auto-da-fey]

Jayhawks, Sound of Lies

I've never gotten into this album, and still can't. I guess a Louris-only Jayhawks just isn't my thing.

I do like that cover art, and I'm mildly intrigued by the liner notes that say

"The smell of metal
The hum of a burned-out basement
'GBV's' at the 'R' Bar--pants optional"

which was probably a good show.

[davy]

The Jayhawks magic, to me, is Louris-as-Olson's-side-man.

Which is to say, it's 75% Olson. I can listen to and be totally fulfilled by an Olson solo release, but when I've tried to listen to Louris-only Jayhawks, or even worse, a Louris solo album, I am almost appalled by the blandness.

[auto-da-fey]

I don't want to agree with that, and while I wouldn't go as far as "appalled" . . . basically, yeah. mostly-QFT.