Norman Fucking Rockwell just might be one of the best album titles there ever was.
Might be! But I don't think so.
I dunno, every (hyperbolic or not) review I read of this simultaneously makes me want to listen to it and not listen to it. I'll probably get there eventually - I've heard the what I've learned is a Sublime cover, and it's fine - but as someone who doesn't know any of her other stuff (I'm sure I've heard Video Games, but I don't know how it goes off the top of my head) I'm wondering if I can get on board this late in the game. Or if this does something significantly different from/better than the others?
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:37 (four years ago) link
You can definitely get on board any time you like. I've still not heard it (and I'm the dude who started the first LdR/Video Games thread on here...), not found the right time yet. The reviews are great pieces of writing though, I have to say, both the P4K one and Zoladz in The Ringer. But I see no reason why this could not be your first LDR experience? It's never too late.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:40 (four years ago) link
Ha, just had my Amazon robot put it on and they bleeped the title.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:44 (four years ago) link
Ooh, Fiona Apple vibes right from the start. Was not expecting that.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:47 (four years ago) link
I got on board with this album (or, more specifically, with Mariners Apartment Complex/Venice Bitch last year) and I'm a rabid convert now
― Number None, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:48 (four years ago) link
I hate reading the reviews bc they do that thing where what should be a neutral description becomes another excuse to hyperbolize abt the artists “genius” for making some obvious reference or another rather than looking at how those references are interconnected & marshaled to create some kind of effect
― ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:50 (four years ago) link
Nb haven’t read Lindsay’s yet
I kind of see what you're getting at, but: reviews should be "neutral descriptions"? Surely you jest.
xp
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:52 (four years ago) link
Ok, that didn't take long. If the rest of the album is as good as the first two songs are I'm on board. I hear virtually none of the references I've seen popping up, though.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:54 (four years ago) link
and that's ok :)
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 19:56 (four years ago) link
and here's why
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:03 (four years ago) link
Ok, that didn't take long. If the rest of the album is as good as the first two songs are I'm on board.
Sounds like I'm a few traxx ahead of you... If you can make it through all of track 3 without skipping ahead (never mind bailing on the Sublime cover), I commend you!
― One more cup of yogurt for the road (morrisp), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:05 (four years ago) link
And album needs more drums.
...and when the drums do come in, they're so wimpy and almost apologetic-sounding. The instrumentation is v nice overall, but the songs feel almost unfinished with regard to percussion (at least for me).
― One more cup of yogurt for the road (morrisp), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:07 (four years ago) link
I never said reviews should be neutral descriptions I said I’ve already read a bunch of meaningless reviews about like paul’s Boutique that argue the tools the artists use are the point and it was tiresome then
― ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:08 (four years ago) link
I actually really like the subtlety/invisibility of the drums. It allows me to pay attention to other stuff, like the lyrics. Something about her minimally dynamic vocals do the same thing for me.
I didn't realize track 3 was still going until it ended, but I liked it when it was on. I also like the Sublime cover! But I like "Summertime." Though speaking of drums, weird that "Doin Time" features Sublime's drummer and Josh Freese and still sounds like a generic pre-programmed beat.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:10 (four years ago) link
the end of venice bitch should be 20 minutes long
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:13 (four years ago) link
I'm going to give this the teenager test when my daughter comes home from school.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:14 (four years ago) link
Didn't really like "Love Song", and because of that "Cinnamon Girl" sounded like more of the same, but if it is, it's more of the same but better.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:18 (four years ago) link
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, September 3, 2019 3:13 PM (four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
otm
― na (NA), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:18 (four years ago) link
The songs are so uniformly slow & sleepy. She's a good singer, and it's a well-made album, but I wouldn't listen to it again (it's just not my thing).
― One more cup of yogurt for the road (morrisp), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:20 (four years ago) link
odd thing about this album is that it all bleeds together but also there are definite highlights
― na (NA), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:20 (four years ago) link
I think that's one reason I'm enjoying it. It's just kind of floating along, but stuff still keeps grabbing my attention. I don't know, I think I prefer music that doesn't demand you pay attention to it, and the same often holds true for singers.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:23 (four years ago) link
the end of venice bitch should be 20 minutes long― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, September 3, 2019 4:13 PM (eleven minutes ago) bookmarkflaglinkodd thing about this album is that it all bleeds together but also there are definite highlights― na (NA), Tuesday, September 3, 2019 4:20 PM (four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglinkI think that's one reason I'm enjoying it. It's just kind of floating along, but stuff still keeps grabbing my attention. I don't know, I think I prefer music that doesn't demand you pay attention to it, and the same often holds true for singers.― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, September 3, 2019 4:23 PM (one minute ago) bookmarkflaglink
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, September 3, 2019 4:13 PM (eleven minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
― na (NA), Tuesday, September 3, 2019 4:20 PM (four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, September 3, 2019 4:23 PM (one minute ago) bookmarkflaglink
Sounds like you guys should listen to a little band called Tool
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:28 (four years ago) link
I actually really like the subtlety/invisibility of the drums. It allows me to pay attention to other stuff, like the lyrics.
This would be a great thing except for the fact that drums are better than other stuff, esp lyrics. That's just science.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:31 (four years ago) link
this is one of the remarkable strengths of the record - it has a consistent sound and can burble along in the background while reading (presumably loads of dinner parties and after-first-date sofa chats are gonna be soundtracked by it this month)
but you can tune in for a second and catch a hilarious couplet, or subtle weirdness in the arrangement, and appreciate that before going back to background
or pay attention all the way through and follow the developing story of a melody, or the thesis of each song being built out from the crafted gems and jokes in individual lines of lyrics
― quelle sprocket damage (sic), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:33 (four years ago) link
xpost Usually! I'm very pro drum. But mostly in Tool. Speaking of which (xpost again), Tool day was last week, and the album evinced a similar A+ background reaction.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:34 (four years ago) link
back in my day you'd have 1 or 2 songs that were sans drums, maybe also fully acoustic, so the band could show their tender side, the rest of the album would have aggressive breakbeats throughout, you'd all smile at each other while clinking Zimas together and ahhhh now that's an album.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:35 (four years ago) link
I kind of want to hear a Tool album that is only drums.
Speaking of comparisons, I hear a lot of solo John Lennon in this album, is that popping up in reviews?
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:36 (four years ago) link
subtle weirdness in the arrangement
maybe i should listen again, because besides the burbling synths on the singles, i don't really hear weird touches in the arrangement
― normal fucking rockman (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:36 (four years ago) link
playing again now and the hidden-ness of the drums is great, but would also listen to a remix where they were booming and upfront
― quelle sprocket damage (sic), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:36 (four years ago) link
xpost I dunno, I'm up to "Bartender," and can imagine it sung by, say, Joanna Newsom, and she=weird.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:39 (four years ago) link
I think the relative lack of drums kind of *is* a weird arrangement touch!
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:40 (four years ago) link
right, but that's a very upfront decision, not a subtle touch.
― normal fucking rockman (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:41 (four years ago) link
not weird-weird, but for something that can just wash over you, there are LOADS of layers and different players and filigrees mixing in and out. the tail of Venice Bitch changes lead instrument every 6-10 bars, sometimes with (what sounds like) a completely different take from the same player crossing over and playing against the previous one.
― quelle sprocket damage (sic), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:42 (four years ago) link
she's certainly a Lennon fan anyway (there's a John and Yoko-referencing, Sean-featuring song called "Tomorrow Never Came" on her last album)
― Number None, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:44 (four years ago) link
xp fair enough--venice bitch and mariners stand head-and-shoulders above the rest imo
― normal fucking rockman (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:46 (four years ago) link
bartender is certainly a highlight too. gonna check out the zoladz review soon, maybe that'll help me unlock that morass in the middle of the record.
― normal fucking rockman (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:48 (four years ago) link
I liked Bartender a lot. The little stammering vocal tick ... I don't know why she made that choice, but it's a good one.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:49 (four years ago) link
The final track is strong (its melody seems really familiar, but I can’t place it)
― One more cup of yogurt for the road (morrisp), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 20:59 (four years ago) link
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Tuesday, September 3, 2019 3:28 PM (thirty minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink]
i like tool and have seem them in concert!
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:00 (four years ago) link
― One more cup of yogurt for the road (morrisp), Tuesday, September 3, 2019 3:59 PM (two minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
"hope is a dangerous thing..." is one of the peaks
― na (NA), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:02 (four years ago) link
Great line from Zoladz (that she seems to be citing but google suggests is original?): "Sometimes you wanna go where everybody on the jukebox is dead."
― quelle sprocket damage (sic), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:04 (four years ago) link
also word up to tool for #honouringthefire and bringing killing joke through arenas in the u.s. this year s/o to the big homie alex in nyc wish the tour was coming to minneapolis
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:05 (four years ago) link
xpost Wasn't that just a doofy Cheers reference?
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:09 (four years ago) link
― na (NA), Tuesday, September 3, 2019 4:02 PM (eight minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
yeah agreed. the alb is really strong in the beginning and end.
― normal fucking rockman (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:10 (four years ago) link
Josh - Probably, but it's a great NFR!-like line to describe NFR.
― quelle sprocket damage (sic), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:11 (four years ago) link
Not her first song to remind me of this but it reminds me of “wicked game”
― ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:11 (four years ago) link
I can't quite call it her best because the middle faffs around a bit; the first and last couple tracks are new peaks, though.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:12 (four years ago) link
I really tried but the middle of this album just ain’t grabbing me. I think I’ll get rid of Lovesong, Cinnamon Girl and How to Disappear from now on.
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:26 (four years ago) link
Love Song is the one that stunted my enthusiasm, but I think the album recovers.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 3 September 2019 21:34 (four years ago) link