Yeah, that's true. Maybe that's more of a case of production choice that initially seems to be wildly inappropriate turns out to be suitable and then some after all.
― The Hillbilly Chespirito (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 28 September 2019 22:30 (four years ago) link
Albums don't really "date" if they do something interesting, imo. It's the albums that try to ape fashionable sounds or styles - the same DX7 preset, the same compressed snare sound - that age the worst. The gated marshmallow sound of the '80s (for example) is totally dated specifically because everyone was trying to sound the same. That's one reason why a great song like "Dancing in the Dark" sounds very much of its time and "When Doves Cry" still sounds (imo) like something from the future.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 28 September 2019 22:39 (four years ago) link
But no one sighs about a particular Fender Rhodes sound from 1977 -- on the contrary, you'll get scowls if you say, "Billy Joel sounds dated."
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 28 September 2019 22:40 (four years ago) link
Again, y'all have to re-think your preconceptions.
i actually don't have a problem with most New Wave production and most of it doesn't alienate me like this did. and i don't have an issue with the three big hit singles from this album. but when i played this album off of YouTube through computer speakers, the album just felt flat and really lacking other great songs. i was really let down with my recent re-listening and this is after owning it on cassette, back in the day, and i remember playing it to death. i guess overall is, i was expecting to like this a lot more then i did.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 28 September 2019 22:41 (four years ago) link
xpost Yeah, but I'd still say it often comes down the sound of the drums first and foremost. For sure the keys on "Just the Way You Are" sound dated, but maybe just in the context of that contemporaneous style of soft rock schmaltz (that Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" transcends, imo).
I dunno, maybe Kirk put it best:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UYPpOYXYWc
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 28 September 2019 22:43 (four years ago) link
there's no "transcending"! The keyboards on "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" sound like 1973, and what's wrong with that?
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 28 September 2019 22:48 (four years ago) link
again, y'all are wedded to an unexamined idea of transcendence, i.e. Great Music Transcends Time and Space.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 28 September 2019 22:49 (four years ago) link
xpost Nothing, because the song is good and interesting.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 28 September 2019 22:49 (four years ago) link
It'd be one thing if the production was the only problem with this record... but these are just lower-tier songs compared to the previous records. The well began running dry and they dressed up the dregs in Fairlight and Prophet 6 presets.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Sunday, 29 September 2019 00:33 (four years ago) link
Mutt Lange produced much better songs.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 29 September 2019 00:36 (four years ago) link
I think Mutt's AC/DC and Def Leppard stuff has aged super well!
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 29 September 2019 00:52 (four years ago) link
dated always means "old stuff i don't like"classic or timeless means "old stuff i like"subjective takes. i don't like drum machines or up-front synths but i do like harpsichords and mellotrons, which are as rooted in a specific time as any 80s sound. although i do like Heartbeat City, so consistency and nostalgia fight it out and produce unexpected results.
― buzza, Sunday, 29 September 2019 02:55 (four years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Monday, 30 September 2019 00:01 (four years ago) link
i've used the descriptor "dated in a good way" a lot more times than i have used just "dated" as a negative critique.
i like music that sounds "dated" —especially from the 80s— because it sounds like my childhood.
yes, i'm a walking cliche.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Monday, 30 September 2019 17:16 (four years ago) link
"Drive" is stunning!
― Blue Room, Monday, 30 September 2019 23:45 (four years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Tuesday, 1 October 2019 00:01 (four years ago) link
This result is correct not only because Drive is the best song, but also because it deserved to get some competition from the other strong songs on the record. I wanted it to win but I didn't want it to be a blowout.
― Instant Carmax (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 1 October 2019 01:20 (four years ago) link
This album is also good, just finished a listen. I was half expecting to hate this. It turns out it has some good songs on it and doesn't wear out its welcome with 10 quick songs.
I want a Cars poll!
― Bee OK, Sunday, 26 February 2023 05:28 (one year ago) link
tbf we've polled pretty much all the albums *and* the greatest hits
― mookieproof, Sunday, 26 February 2023 05:50 (one year ago) link
That's not really fair, we polled all the Police albums and the recent poll did very well.
I'm just going thru a Cars kick at the moment shot me and maybe I need a break from this place as I'm being attacked on everything.
― Bee OK, Monday, 27 February 2023 18:16 (one year ago) link