i hated Raindrops first listen, and i still think the vocalist is terrible (not that i'd expect anything less from a BJ single), but it has grown on me tons--still kind of retarded, but in a lovable way. listening to the other new songs i think it's going to be the same deal
― een, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 09:17 (fourteen years ago) link
weirdly enough the b-side of 'raindrops' was really excellent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghsq9PnHGRg
i have my suspicions about the presence of sam sparro but excited about the santogold one. both can wait until i don't have a head cold.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 09:55 (fourteen years ago) link
Enjoying this hugely. The Yoko Ono track is the first time I've heard a vocalist manage to match B.Jaxx for turn-on-a-dime maximalism, and the Kelis track is a nice reminder of Kaleidescope/Wanderland/etc.
― etc, Monday, 10 August 2009 21:34 (fourteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NFk3bavv64
okay this is more like what I wanted to hear
― it's like i have a couple worked up vadges under my arms (HI DERE), Monday, 10 August 2009 21:38 (fourteen years ago) link
Didn't think much of it at first but "Raindrops" keeps popping up in my mind multiple times a day.
― Spencer Chow, Monday, 10 August 2009 22:38 (fourteen years ago) link
dont get how raindrops can be a 'grower' -- its so pretty. i mean if yr not over them not making strict dancefloor music at THIS point .... i guess it wasnt that weird of a song
― butthurt (deej), Monday, 10 August 2009 23:15 (fourteen years ago) link
I might agree with that point if I thought "Raindrops" was pretty. I think both "Hey You" and "Take Me Back To Your House" off CIR are much much much much MUCH better.
― it's like i have a couple worked up vadges under my arms (HI DERE), Monday, 10 August 2009 23:44 (fourteen years ago) link
??? 'raindrops' strikes me much more as a kind of ham-fisted, weary attempt to make a strict dancefloor banger, don't get any sense of even attempted prettiness from it. god, even its basic melody is so tedious and tired.
there's some good stuff on the album (tho), 'scars' with kelis, meleka and chipmunk in particular.
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 11 August 2009 10:04 (fourteen years ago) link
Uk Wuk! Promo copy finally! Cracking now!
― EVERYBODY WANNA BOOOOO ME BUT IāM A FAN OF REAL POP CULTURE! (forksclovetofu), Monday, 21 September 2009 15:53 (fourteen years ago) link
This has been on Luisterpaal for a little while but I've honestly been afraid to listen. Crazy Itch Radio did little or nothing for me, and while I love "Raindrops" that is a deeply troubling set of guest vocalists.
― More Butty In Your Pants (Telephone thing), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:38 (fourteen years ago) link
WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE 'LUDES
― unban dictionary (blueski), Monday, 21 September 2009 20:00 (fourteen years ago) link
I like this a lot more than Crazy Itch Radio.
The Yoko Ono track is the first time I've heard a vocalist manage to match B.Jaxx for turn-on-a-dime maximalism, and the Kelis track is a nice reminder of Kaleidescope/Wanderland/etc.
ā etc, Monday, August 10, 2009 2:34 PM Bookmark
"Supersonic"! The Yoko track is complete insanity, but let us not forget that one.
― the smug persian (The Reverend), Sunday, 11 October 2009 07:40 (fourteen years ago) link
I didn't like this very much when I listened :-(
― Tim F, Sunday, 11 October 2009 09:08 (fourteen years ago) link
yah same -- i only listened once & like nothing was grabbing me ... kinda think matt p's review was almost too generous to it, out of obligation
― i got nothin (deej), Sunday, 11 October 2009 09:26 (fourteen years ago) link
do still love raindrops tho
Interestingly, I feel like they're still pushing themselves, still trying to screw their fizzy hysteria tighter and tighter, but it long ago passed the point ("Supersonic", basically) where anything of actual value would be achieved by this.
They seem pretty disinterested in crafting actually good dancefloor grooves now.
― Tim F, Sunday, 11 October 2009 09:37 (fourteen years ago) link
I keep lolling at the cell phone ad that uses "Raindrops" whenever it comes on.
"Supersonic" only works for me when played at deafening volume on headphones; generally when the Jaxx goes into abstract groove territory, I like it a lot more when they go more minimal, a la "Fly Life". Otherwise I really like their take on pop music, which is why I ended up liking Crazy Itch Radio so much despite hating "Hush Boy" ("Take Me Back To Your House" is a top-ten Jaxx track for me).
― as strikingly artificial and perfect as a wizard's cap (HI DERE), Sunday, 11 October 2009 13:07 (fourteen years ago) link
haha why on earth did you hate 'hush boy' out of curiosity?
― i got nothin (deej), Sunday, 11 October 2009 19:23 (fourteen years ago) link
This new one is terrible. The best track is the "Sleep Walk" homage, and that's a problem.
― boring movies are the most boring (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 October 2009 19:24 (fourteen years ago) link
And, yeah, "Take Me Back" is the only thing from their last album that's survived on my iPod.
― boring movies are the most boring (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 October 2009 19:25 (fourteen years ago) link
The Grover voice on the chorus is deeply irritating and the general vibe of the track is too staid to be funky enough to overcome that irritation.
― as strikingly artificial and perfect as a wizard's cap (HI DERE), Sunday, 11 October 2009 19:42 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, "Hush Boy" is awful. Hate the vocals, music isn't anywhere near interesting enough to overcome that.
― the smug persian (The Reverend), Sunday, 11 October 2009 19:46 (fourteen years ago) link
(haha actually if "Supersonic" had a memorable snare in the beat I would probably dig it a lot more)
― as strikingly artificial and perfect as a wizard's cap (HI DERE), Sunday, 11 October 2009 19:50 (fourteen years ago) link
u guys are weirdos .... & there are a bunch of good tracks on that lp .... but whatever i guess this has been gone over before
― i got nothin (deej), Sunday, 11 October 2009 21:08 (fourteen years ago) link
The Grover Fozzie voice on the chorus is deeply irritating excellent
― modescalator (blueski), Sunday, 11 October 2009 21:24 (fourteen years ago) link
really love Supersonic too
i think the best track on Scars is probably one of those mellower Latin/Brazilian-sounding ones at the end - can't get excited about the Kelis and Santigold contribs much at all
― modescalator (blueski), Sunday, 11 October 2009 21:26 (fourteen years ago) link
I like "Hush Boy" much more than the overly cutesy "Take Me Back To Your House", though it did take me a while to warm fully to the former after previous 1st singles had been so startling.
― Tim F, Sunday, 11 October 2009 22:04 (fourteen years ago) link
Like Scars a lot more than I thought I would, but this and Crazy Itch strike me much more as straight pop albums than dance albums. Not at all a bad thing, but there's something about it that feels funny.
Sam Sparro's vocals are annoying on Feelings Gone.
― matt damon & the jb's (the anephric project), Monday, 12 October 2009 01:24 (fourteen years ago) link
Sam Sparro is annoying? Gee golly whiz.
― the smug persian (The Reverend), Monday, 12 October 2009 04:38 (fourteen years ago) link
Well, I enjoyed his album, so I don't typically find him annoying.
― matt damon & the jb's (the anephric project), Monday, 12 October 2009 12:18 (fourteen years ago) link
This album is pretty ropey stuff - why on earth would you go to all the trouble of getting Kelis on a track and then give her something that weedy to work with?
― Matt DC, Monday, 12 October 2009 13:37 (fourteen years ago) link
count me in as another baffled crazy itch lover - this album is beyond dismal though.
― r|t|c, Monday, 12 October 2009 14:24 (fourteen years ago) link
I also love the Robyn track on CIR, esp. the part where it breaks down with the slow horns and ramps back up all klezmery and awesome.
― as strikingly artificial and perfect as a wizard's cap (HI DERE), Monday, 12 October 2009 14:26 (fourteen years ago) link
it really is almost darkly impressive on this the way every appalling guest they bring in is just the most savagely extreme sabotaging of every relevant jaxx element you'd previously enjoyed, one by one. tender guitarry moment - lightspeed champion! rococo tuba romp - paloma faith!
― r|t|c, Monday, 12 October 2009 14:31 (fourteen years ago) link
ha so this is their "fuck you, fans" album?
― as strikingly artificial and perfect as a wizard's cap (HI DERE), Monday, 12 October 2009 14:44 (fourteen years ago) link
okay I'd forgotten that I actually fucking love the song "Scars"
― as strikingly artificial and perfect as a wizard's cap (HI DERE), Monday, 12 October 2009 20:05 (fourteen years ago) link
Am I the only one who LOVES this new album? Top ten placement of the year, easily.
Masterworks, all:
ScarsRaindropsShe's No GoodFeelings GoneTwerkDay of the Sunflowers (We March On)Stay CloseGimme Somethin' True
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 03:01 (fourteen years ago) link
The singles don't stand up to the Remedy/Rooty era (aside from "Raindrops," maybe their best EVER) but those albums were packed with filler as well. I think Scars is their most consistent this side of Kish Kash.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 03:02 (fourteen years ago) link
"Raindrops," maybe their best EVER
whoa, there
― on a top secret challops mission in contraristan (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 03:26 (fourteen years ago) link
ā I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Monday, October 12, 2009 10:02 PM (24 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
haha this post makes no sense -- convinced ilxor is a sock
― i got nothin (deej), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 03:28 (fourteen years ago) link
I'm serious! Most of the filler tracks on Scars hold up just as well as "U Can't Stop Me" or "Don't Give Up" or "Broken Dreams" or "I Want U," if not better.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 04:53 (fourteen years ago) link
There is really no filler imo in either Remedy or Rooty.
― boring movies are the most boring (Eric H.), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 05:02 (fourteen years ago) link
Most of the filler tracks on Scars hold up just as well as "U Can't Stop Me" or "Don't Give Up" or "Broken Dreams" or "I Want U," if not better.
These are all classic tracks, you should be ashamed ilxor.
The idea that Remedy has filler and/or "drops off" in the second half is totally a bizarro myth with no basis in reality.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 13 October 2009 06:13 (fourteen years ago) link
only wack track on Remedy is "Same Old Show"
― on a top secret challops mission in contraristan (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 06:20 (fourteen years ago) link
'same old show' is amazing!
sorta spins me out that remedy is 10 years old.
― racist of the falling leaves (haitch), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 06:23 (fourteen years ago) link
"where did our youth go", etc
― racist of the falling leaves (haitch), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 06:24 (fourteen years ago) link
"only wack track on Remedy is "Same Old Show""
Rev this is the wrongest thing i've think I've seen from you.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 13 October 2009 07:26 (fourteen years ago) link
Sorry, it makes me feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable. My dislike of it is very physical.
― on a top secret challops mission in contraristan (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 October 2009 07:32 (fourteen years ago) link
If that makes sense.
It does, but at the same time I think "Same Old Show" is basically a purified hit of what was so amazing about basement jaxx circa 1999. I sort of feel like they've forgotten how amazing a vibe and friction you can generate just by looping a few carefully selected elements over one another.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 13 October 2009 09:01 (fourteen years ago) link