Im not a big AC fan, but I havent tried that hard. I like their first two albums because they sound more loose and varied to me.
― nicky lo-fi, Friday, 4 November 2016 19:33 (seven years ago) link
in many ways i think this is their mission statement, each record after is a branch off of something on Spirit: extreme high/low frequencies and radio/mixer feedback (Danse Manatee, Centipede Hz), acoustic guitars (Sung Tongs, Campfire Songs), traditional songwriting craft (Feels, SJ), total chaos and noise (Here Comes the Indian), and Disney-esque keyboard lines (MPP, PW).
"Penny Dreadfuls" is my vote. Such an intense, eery song that builds to this fever pitch but doesn't ever fully climax except for Avey's screams toward the end. Spirit has so much amazing sound design and texture stuff too, like the zipper sounds at the end of this song.
― flappy bird, Friday, 4 November 2016 21:25 (seven years ago) link
This is by far my favourite AC album. Probably "Bat You'll Fly".
― jmm, Friday, 4 November 2016 21:41 (seven years ago) link
the MPP-era version of "Chocolate Girl" is one of the best things they've ever done
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW8mxeqg3cA
― flappy bird, Friday, 4 November 2016 22:32 (seven years ago) link
going off the lyrics discussion in the other AC thread, i'd like to post the lyrics for "Penny Dreadfuls," one of the more creepy & sinister songs on this record:
Time'll changeSlip through the dustAs the bus pulls away from waving handsAnd the child starI bought a comic in the mailAnd the sign saidThe stories will shake the sheepFrom off of youSo gather 'roundJust four more stops againWe'll reach our teachers'Hallways in the end
Expect the foulest 'causeDoubt does not allow itI see the driver in the glassThis car moving pastWhile they're standingThere's no standing!
The five-year olds eat defeat,Soiled in the seats when, "Attention!"And short attention spans.The boy who sweats when he's caughtIs touching a palm of a princessWho's cawing, "Where's my baby doll!"Manny the thief, just lost all his teethTo his mama, playing baseball.
Ahh oooh...
Pick a place and settle,Too fast to fright, he pausesAt who fought the likes ofHis older pal.And when they find out who he is,Her eyes were sorry forHer brother who waited away "go time"Her dead costume just flipped her for the fall(?)And watch the pain go through herThe entire body twistedSoldiers in the coldness.
The bully grabs at my hair,And punches they fell toward me,Tells me, "gonna get me now"The driver pushes the gas,The bully's schemes caught fastSo he spins back,Got his attention now.He hits the brakes and we slideAnd his head hits the sideAnd he screams out,“Creeps, I'll take you all!”And then he grabs penny dreadful, and looks on the check fulls,And my head sinks, my friends have left my shore
Then there's the stop where Sarah climbs in, she says,“Darling, where's your heart been”He laughs in his placeShe spits in his face and says, “Bully, you leave my boy aloneEverybody came down just to see me leavingBaby take my hand now can't you see I'm happyWhen the story's mine I think I'll tell it differentIt's a shame to hear the soundWhen the penny hit the groundAnd I want to go back home"When does this bus leave?”
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 15 November 2016 18:44 (seven years ago) link
fun fact, I play music for my son when I'm driving him around and (thus far) this is the only album that's made him cry. he's almost 2.
kinda dig this album, kinda really irritated by it. that first track is so damn unlistenable I almost wrote them off for good after hearing it.
I do find the overall aesthetic of this album interesting. It's almost like they're holed up in their room trying not to bother the neighbors. Then..."AAAAAAAA!! AAAAAAA!!!"
Anyway, "Alvin Row" is my pick. The second half of that is what convinced me to give this band another chance, though (thus far) I haven't heard them do anything else quite like it.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 15 November 2016 18:59 (seven years ago) link
the opening title track grabbed me on first listen, it's still one of the most evocative and affecting pieces of music i've ever heard. such a great theme piece for the record and the AC's body of work: mourning, scary, teeth bared. impossible to listen to on headphones, though.
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 15 November 2016 20:03 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Saturday, 24 December 2016 00:01 (seven years ago) link
would like to know what y'all think of this year's live debut of Alvin Row (albeit only a segment)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDEGm5SzyxI
― flappy bird, Saturday, 24 December 2016 07:33 (seven years ago) link
chocolate girl
― Lennon, Elvis, Hendrix etc (dog latin), Saturday, 24 December 2016 08:32 (seven years ago) link
almost wiped out listening to the title track last week thru earbuds, song sounds great out of speakers but the mixer feedback and frequency made me go crosseyed on the street
― flappy bird, Saturday, 24 December 2016 18:11 (seven years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Sunday, 25 December 2016 00:01 (seven years ago) link
its so good to see this record getting some love. its so original... though difficult sonically it rewards lyrically. arresting!
― meaulnes, Wednesday, 28 December 2016 13:57 (seven years ago) link
It takes dome time for Chocolate Girl to get its groove going but when it does :0
We need to redo this poll to settle the winner, this triple tie wont do
― dance cum rituals (Moka), Wednesday, 28 December 2016 15:54 (seven years ago) link
Holy shit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Oh1UIpmSM
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 7 February 2018 22:20 (six years ago) link
wow that's fantastic
― ufo, Wednesday, 7 February 2018 23:09 (six years ago) link
I'm just now realizing that I may never have seen someone play marimba before. That four-mallet technique is cool.
― jmm, Thursday, 8 February 2018 03:58 (six years ago) link