Yeah, this is the first Adrian Younge production I've really had any use for because he's finally working with an artist who pushes against his staid-ness.
― The Reverend, Monday, 6 July 2015 00:53 (eight years ago) link
who's Adrian Younge
the live drumming on this record is pretty appallingly bad, like the worst drumming i've heard on a 'name' record that wasn't shambolic indie rock shit
― some dude, Monday, 6 July 2015 03:19 (eight years ago) link
did you not like the Ghostface album xp?
― Hikikomori Povich (tsrobodo), Monday, 6 July 2015 08:48 (eight years ago) link
lol yeah this is such a weird choice
― insufficiently familiar with xgau's work to comment intelligently (BradNelson), Monday, 6 July 2015 12:04 (eight years ago) link
I thought the Ghostface record was a blast, but campiness flatters Ghostface. Haven't gotten around to the sequel yet though
― Evan R, Monday, 6 July 2015 13:39 (eight years ago) link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Younge
And yeah, some of his fake-vintage stuff comes across as plastic to me, esp the drums
― Evan R, Monday, 6 July 2015 13:41 (eight years ago) link
track examples? i still haven't gotten a chance to listen to the first half, but there were parts in the first half that just seemed like intentionally janky loops.
― lil urbane (Jordan), Monday, 6 July 2015 15:20 (eight years ago) link
if this album is as good as sirens (Which was amazing, if a bit short and bitty), i think it might be bilals best album in a while. i think airtights might be his best, followed by the first one, and then love for sale.
― StillAdvance, Monday, 6 July 2015 23:01 (eight years ago) link
many songs on the record are as good as "sirens" which yeah is incredddible
― insufficiently familiar with xgau's work to comment intelligently (BradNelson), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 03:04 (eight years ago) link
Been listening to a lot of Adrian Younge's productions lately and was looking forward to In Another Life. Those drums sure are hard to get past tho. :(
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 7 July 2015 13:54 (eight years ago) link
i would call the drums a little basic sounding maybe, but i don't think i would have noticed so much if not for the convo in this thread. after one listen today i think it's pretty great, "it's definitely a bilal record" otm
― i'm not a dogg (sleepingbag), Wednesday, 8 July 2015 18:57 (eight years ago) link
production feels less than stellar but the songwriting is lovely
― like a giraffe of nah (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 9 July 2015 19:52 (eight years ago) link
only heard this once, on the train, so not ideal conditions, but the album seems underwritten. i wish he would get someone to write for/with him. nice to hear him screaming a bit though, i miss that side of him.
― StillAdvance, Thursday, 16 July 2015 11:08 (eight years ago) link
and the drums - though a bit shoehorned in - are better than some of the drums on his other productions. at least these have some thwack to them, most of the time they sound flattened, or like theyre stuck on a certain preset.
― StillAdvance, Thursday, 16 July 2015 11:09 (eight years ago) link
First half is pretty good but I think it gets a little aimless near the end. The song I keep coming back to is "Star Now"
― Roland Pemberton, Monday, 20 July 2015 20:27 (eight years ago) link
album gets better the more i hear it, though it does still seem a bit underdeveloped in places, like they could have done more with the songs. the repetitiousness of the drum sound is dissappointing after a while but the last song kind of slays me. and sirens is still amazing. i love bilal to death, but while i like that he just keeps making albums, unlike dangelo, i still think he has yet to make an album deserving of his talent. having one producer is one good idea, but a strong writer would help loads i think.
― StillAdvance, Tuesday, 21 July 2015 10:33 (eight years ago) link
saw him live this evening in london. the relentlessness of younges non-grooves becomes more apparent live, where you just want the drummer to STFU with the breakbeats after a while. i didnt realise how sparse the new album actually is, and not always for the better. his current band are good, though it got samey quite fast to hear virtually every song end in a big rock blow out, like a rock shortcut. i wish bilal took rock's propulsion, speed, and catchiness, rather than just grand 70s heaviosity. airtights revenge worked rock/pop influences in much more subtly. hes still a brilliant performer, and singer, though oddly, he doesnt really give himself much time to relax or stretch out vocally these days, which is a shame.
― StillAdvance, Tuesday, 21 July 2015 22:53 (eight years ago) link
Lemme tell ya that starting the year hearing Bilal do an extended live jam on "Sometimes" is as good a way to get going as you're likely to get.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Sunday, 6 January 2019 17:38 (five years ago) link
what a record
― american bradass (BradNelson), Friday, 4 October 2019 12:29 (four years ago) link
so fucked up on prescription pillsshe'll never trust a man again
― american bradass (BradNelson), Friday, 4 October 2019 12:38 (four years ago) link
my ears weren't ready for this album when it came out
― american bradass (BradNelson), Friday, 4 October 2019 12:53 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epfE8rjLeTs
― american bradass (BradNelson), Friday, 21 February 2020 15:40 (four years ago) link
^^^ really wonderful song
seeing him with Kassa Overall on Sunday; bilal is always great in concert
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Friday, 21 February 2020 16:00 (four years ago) link
i love this. low key
― Thybulle on the Dash (Spottie), Friday, 21 February 2020 18:21 (four years ago) link
Did anyone spring for this Bandcamp-only, all-star, no preview tracks release?
https://bilalxhighbreedmusic.bandcamp.com/
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 11 February 2021 17:12 (three years ago) link
Btw ulysses idk if that was the last concert you saw, but I hope it was a good one.
― change display name (Jordan), Thursday, 11 February 2021 17:13 (three years ago) link
it was a good one (he did sometimes!) but not QUITE the last show I saw. god i miss live music.
― That's not really my scene (I'm 41) (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 11 February 2021 17:37 (three years ago) link
not heard that EP but i love the new song on spotify, in the rain.
― candyman, Thursday, 11 February 2021 18:31 (three years ago) link