Boxedjoy otm about Jonny Nash. The collab with Suzanne Kraft really sounds a lot like Alva Noto minus the glitch.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Friday, 1 December 2017 20:57 (six years ago) link
I recently discovered Kraft's 2014 album and was entranced
― sleeve, Friday, 1 December 2017 21:00 (six years ago) link
I found Crow raw and scary and somehow NOT maudlin but accurate and evocative of how grieving fucks with you. fnb, you don't have to share the sentiment but you gotta acknowledge that there's a critical mass of people that heard it different from you.
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Friday, 1 December 2017 21:04 (six years ago) link
i understand where a theory that critics overrate confessional albums by grieving artists is coming from. i definitely think there can be an element of elevating a work like CROW because of its circumstances and presentation. someone else up there said it: Phil just getting this made and out is worthy of "points" - i get that.
and i agree with that! he does get points! to be clear, i'm not on FNB's side here, just saying i could see it as a thing.
(that said, i don't really believe in overrated/underrated. if you rate it, that's how it's rated. nobody gets to set the "true" value of the album, against which other opinions are measured.)
― alpine static, Friday, 1 December 2017 21:05 (six years ago) link
overrated/underrated is an unhelpful idea in criticism generally but it certainly applies on a personal level - at times we all surely think to ourselves 'why does nobody like this?' or 'why do so many people like that?'. agree we shouldn't really be using it on here though and I'm sorry for doing so, even if it was to sort-of defend mt eerie's honour
― imago, Friday, 1 December 2017 21:15 (six years ago) link
Using personal tragedy as a jumping-off point for creating art is a totally viable and useful thing that has made things like Maus and Fun Home and A Year Of Magical Thinking and Carrie & Lowell
I don't think the problem is the process itself
My issue with Crow is that I find it gruelling and not-particularly-useful to me personally as a piece of art
Added to this is the fact that I feel unable to actually access any critical faculties in order to express my why it does nothing for me
Because it feels as if criticizing Crow is akin to criticizing someone's grieving process
― flamboyant goon tie included, Friday, 1 December 2017 23:13 (six years ago) link
and that challenge that it presents to a lot of people - "i can't listen to this" "i can't criticize this" "i can't believe he did this" "ugh this piece of art should be less raw and more about healing" - is very much a part of what makes it so compelling / interesting / "good" (beyond the words and melodies and performance and recording).
xxpost sorry imago, that wasn't directed at you at all. i didn't even know it was you. truth is, i just really struggle w/ ppl who view their opinion as fact. i have a problem with the concept, but not with people using it to discuss music. (i don't know if that makes any sense but w/e)
― alpine static, Friday, 1 December 2017 23:36 (six years ago) link
In liner notes Elverum wrote, "...A crow did look at me. There is an echo of Geneviève that still rings, a reminder of the love and infinity beneath all of this obliteration." I find that one line much more satisfying than most of the album's rambling, seemingly unedited diary style lyrics. It's the stuff therapists are paid the big bucks to listen to, or sympathetic friends and family, not what audiences usually pay to hear repeatedly. But apparently this is what some people want, so you all can look forward to much more of it. So much for striving to to evoke love and infinity.
There is absolutely great art out there about grieving. Not a music example, just something I recently saw is the Patton Oswalt special where he brought up his recent loss. It got a little raw in moments, but the experience was not excruciating, he pulled off a great show.
― Fastnbulbous, Friday, 1 December 2017 23:58 (six years ago) link
results will include live albums, which RYMers LOVE
― President Keyes
rymers have been having the same fucking argument over this album incidentally so it might be appropriate to put aside any condescension for the time being?
― bob lefse (rushomancy), Saturday, 2 December 2017 00:40 (six years ago) link
fastnbulbous you are on some mighty fine goofballs
― brimstead, Saturday, 2 December 2017 01:06 (six years ago) link
Xpost lol I only meant that live albums dominate some of those year lists if you don't filter them out
― President Keyes, Saturday, 2 December 2017 03:23 (six years ago) link
The Mount Eerie album reminded me of an essay I read by a fiction writer (Wells Tower maybe?) about the death of his young child. One of the things he talked about was people trying to find some kind of meaning, which he rejected. There was no lesson. It did not make us stronger.
― President Keyes, Saturday, 2 December 2017 03:33 (six years ago) link
Kamasi Washington also seems absent on most of these lists, perhaps somewhat surprising since the Epic was such a crossover smash and "Truth" is a jam just as decent as anything on the Epic iirc
― niels, Saturday, 2 December 2017 09:09 (six years ago) link
It's an EP though right?
― Doran, Saturday, 2 December 2017 10:01 (six years ago) link
i think Truth will be on track lists, but the rest of the EP didn't do that much for me.
― Frederik B, Saturday, 2 December 2017 10:59 (six years ago) link
Forever Records know what's up
https://forever-records.com/blogs/news/our-top-10-of-2017
― imago, Saturday, 2 December 2017 11:29 (six years ago) link
This is the first thing I've read about that album that's made me want to listen to it.
― Matt DC, Saturday, 2 December 2017 11:52 (six years ago) link
re: Forever Records - that Happy Meals release looks interesting.
― MikoMcha, Saturday, 2 December 2017 11:54 (six years ago) link
Haven’t heard it but their debut from a couple of years back was great in a low-key kind of way
― damian green is people (NickB), Saturday, 2 December 2017 12:12 (six years ago) link
It's dead good if you fancy a bit of kosmische ambient droney type stuff
Happy Meals <3
― paolo, Saturday, 2 December 2017 12:32 (six years ago) link
even though it feels like Happy Meals don't ever say no to a show in Glasgow, every time I've caught them I've been really impressed
― boxedjoy, Saturday, 2 December 2017 13:32 (six years ago) link
Not sure why AOTY didn't include the Norman records list yet, and while they did put Mount Eerie at the top, they are also donating all profits to the Candlelighters cancer charity.
https://www.normanrecords.com/features/albums-of-the-year-2017
I'm sampling stuff from the Classic Rock list right now, which is pretty bonkers, but entertaining.
― Fastnbulbous, Saturday, 2 December 2017 16:34 (six years ago) link
http://www.gorillavsbear.net/gorilla-vs-bears-albums-of-2017/
Gorilla vs Bear always make interesting lists imo
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Monday, 4 December 2017 01:40 (six years ago) link
very cool list, lots to check out
01 YAEJI | EPs02 KELLY LEE OWENS | Kelly Lee Owens03 TOPS | Sugar at the Gate04 ALDOUS HARDING | Party05 LAUREL HALO | Dust06 SHABAZZ PALACES | Quazarz07 PLAYBOI CARTI | Playboi Carti08 FAYE WEBSTER | Faye Webster09 KING KRULE | The OOZ10 MEGA BOG | Happy Together11 TORO Y MOI | Boo Boo12 VINCE STAPLES | Big Fish Theory13 NITE JEWEL | Real High14 YUMI ZOUMA | Willowbank15 ALESSANDRO CORTINI | Avanti16 ALVVAYS | Antisocialites17 FEVER RAY | Plunge18 DEMEN | Nektyr19 MEN I TRUST | Tailwhip EP20 HATER | You Tried21 HOOPS | Routines22 KEDR LIVANSKIY | Ariadna23 JULIA LUCILLE | Chthonic24 ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER | Good Time OST25 JULIE BYRNE | Not Even Happiness26 ANNA OF THE NORTH | Lovers27 SHE-DEVILS | She-Devils28 SZA | Ctrl29 WASHED OUT | Mister Mellow30 EQUIKNOXX | Colón Man31 MOUNT KIMBIE | Love What Survives32 BLUE HAWAII | Tenderness33 HAND HABITS | Wildly Idle (Humble Before the Void)34 BIG THIEF | Capacity35 KENDRICK LAMAR | DAMN.36 SASSY 009 | do you mind37 KARA-LIS COVERDALE | Grafts38 YOU’LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN | Images39 DJ SPORTS | Modern Species40 JLIN | Black Origami41 GRIZZLY BEAR | Painted Ruins42 KELELA | Take Me Apart43 KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH | The Kid44 LUKE REED | Won’t Be There45 ANGEL OLSEN | Phases46 CHOPSTARS x BARRY JENKINS | Purple Moonlight47 MOLLY BURCH | Please Be Mine48 JOHNNY JEWEL | Windswept49 JOSEPH SHABASON | Aytche50 LANA DEL REY | Lust For Life51 DRAB MAJESTY | The Demonstration52 AMBER MARK | 3:33 am53 EXIT SOMEONE | Dry Your Eyes54 CHARLI XCX | Number 1 Angel55 CARLA DAL FORNO | The Garden56 MOLLY NILSSON | Imaginations57 JOHN MAUS | Screen Memories58 NMESH | Pharma59 SUSANNE SUNDFØR | Music For People in Trouble60 RAMZi | Phobiza Noite Vol. 2
― Simon H., Monday, 4 December 2017 01:47 (six years ago) link
She-Devils record was pretty good!
― sleeve, Monday, 4 December 2017 01:55 (six years ago) link
http://www.thefader.com/2017/12/03/best-songs-2017-apple-music-spotify-playlist/tay-k-the-race
Finally, a more diverse/pop-oriented list! And girlpool at 19! Not sure about that #1 though, which i admittedly haven't heard
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Monday, 4 December 2017 02:21 (six years ago) link
Whoops, that link goes right to the bottom. Here's it starting at 101 if you like a countdown
http://www.thefader.com/2017/12/03/best-songs-2017-apple-music-spotify-playlist
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Monday, 4 December 2017 02:22 (six years ago) link
Digging this Mega Bog. Had never heard of them before.
― o. nate, Monday, 4 December 2017 03:18 (six years ago) link
kind of stunned that the Fader picked "Daddy Issues", what a terrible song
― Simon H., Monday, 4 December 2017 03:51 (six years ago) link
I’ve agreed with chris from gvb’s lists wholeheartedly since discovering his blog back in 2005.
A couple of albums from that one which I still haven’t catched on the hype are Yaeji and King Krule and I’ve tried hard. KK I just can’t... I find his drunkard voice and aloof style a bit annoying... Yaeji is way more digestable to my ears but it doesn’t sound that special to me atm.
Happy to see Laurel Halo, TOPS and that Kelly Lee Owens album. Haven’t seen them mentioned that much and they deserve every bit of top love in this EoY lists. I’d definitely add those 3 to my own top 10.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Monday, 4 December 2017 07:43 (six years ago) link
I know only 15 songs of the top 50 in that Fader list. Have some home listening to do.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Monday, 4 December 2017 07:49 (six years ago) link
That TOPS album is sooooo good
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Monday, 4 December 2017 08:43 (six years ago) link
Their last one is also excellent. They need to get more recognition.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Monday, 4 December 2017 08:44 (six years ago) link
The Quietus
http://thequietus.com/articles/23660-albums-of-the-year-2017
― Kibbutzki (Jaap Schip), Monday, 4 December 2017 09:56 (six years ago) link
Here's that Quietus list in full...
1: Richard Dawson - Peasant2: Zimpel/Ziołek - Zimpel/Ziołek3: Fever Ray - Plunge4: The Moonlandingz - Interplanetary Class Classics5: Nadine Shah - Holiday Destination6: Kelela - Take Me Apart7: James Holden & The Animal Spirits - The Animal Spirits8: Princess Nokia - 19929: Lone Taxidermist - Trifle10: Oxbow - Thin Black Duke11: Liars - TFCF12: Lotto - VV13: Call Super - Arpo14: Snapped Ankles - Come Play The Trees15: Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Feed The Rats16: Laura Cannell - Hunter Huntress Hawker17: GNOD - Just Say No To The Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine18: Jane Weaver - Modern Kosmology19: Circle - Terminal20: Rûwâhîne - Ifriqiyya Electrique21: Man Forever - Play What They Want22: Madonnatron - Madonnatron23: Endon - Through The Mirror24: Algiers - The Underside Of Power25: Justin Walter - Unseen Forces26: BNNT - The Multiverse27: $hit & $hine - Total Shit!28: Nicole Mitchell - Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds29: Vanishing - Vanishing30: Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory31: Björk - Utopia32: Arca - Arca33: Thurston Moore - Rock N Roll Consciousness34: Re-TROS - Before The Applause35: Jlin - Black Origami36: Kemper Norton - Hungan37: Chloe x Halle - The Two Of Us38: The Granite Shore - Suspended Second39: The Caretaker - Everywhere At The End Of Time - Stage 340: Teleplasmiste - Frequency Is The New Ecstasy41: Botanist - Collective: The Shape Of He To Come42: British Sea Power - Let The Dancers Inherit The Party43: Al-Namrood - Enkar44: LCD Soundsystem - American Dream45: Visible Cloaks - Reassemblage46: Perc - Bitter Music47: Gazelle Twin - Kingdom Come48: Gary Numan - Savage49: Errorsmith - Superlative Fatigue50: Alan Vega - IT51: Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - The Kid52: Deaf Kids - Configuração do Lamento53: The Inward Circles - And Right Lines Limit And Close All Bodies54: I, Ludicrous - Songs From The Sides Of Lorries55: Japan Blues - Sells His Record Collection56: Powertrip - Nightmare Logic57: Riddlore - Afro Mutations58: Chastity Belt - I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone59: Godflesh - Post Self60: Davy Kehoe - Short Passing Game61: Total Leatherette - For The Climax Of The Night62: Electric Wizard - Wizard Bloody Wizard63: Rainforest Spiritual Enslavement - Ambient Black Magic64: Colleen - A Flame My Love, A Frequency65: J Hus - Common Sense66: Unsane - Sterilize67: Ryuichi Sakamoto - Async68: SZA - Ctrl69: Lee Gamble - Mnestic Pressure70: MXLX - Kicking Away At The Decrepit Walls Til The Beautiful Sunshine Blisters Thru The Cracks71: Siavash Amini - TAR72: Yossarians - Fabric Of Time73: UUUU - UUUU74: Hey Colossus - The Guillotine75: Sleaford Mods - English Tapas76: Sote - Sacred Horror In Design77: Laraaji - Bring On The Sun78: Stormzy - Gang Signs & Prayer79: Laibach - Also Sprach Zarathustra80: STILL - I81: Targ - Bargou 0882: Aquaserge - Laisse ça être83: M.E.S.H. - Hesaitix84: Part Chimp - IV85: Daniel O'Sullivan - Veld86: Mario Batkovic - Mario Batkovic87: Wire - Silver/Lead88: Laurel Halo - Dust89: MHYSA - Fantasii90: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Murder Of The Universe91: Hannah Peel - Mary Casio: Journey To Cassiopeia92: Here Lies Man - Here Lies Man93: Mogwai - Every Country's Sun94; Actress - AZD95: Rose Dougall - Stellular96: Simon Fisher Turner - Giraffe97: Cardi B - Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 298: Akatombo - Short Fuse99: The Bug Vs Earth - Concrete Desert100: Tetragrammacide - Primal Incinerators Of Moral Matrix
― Barnaby, Hardly, Monday, 4 December 2017 10:02 (six years ago) link
sweet list!gonna re-listen to the zimpel/ziołek album right now :)
― nxd, Monday, 4 December 2017 10:03 (six years ago) link
Kelly Lee Owens is #12 on http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/summary/2017/ so hardly overlooked anymore
― niels, Monday, 4 December 2017 10:38 (six years ago) link
I don't know much on the Norman list but what i do know I really like = likely to check out other stuff. Especially seeing Grizzly Bear and James Holden in the top 3, as they're probably my two favourites.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 4 December 2017 11:32 (six years ago) link
The Quietus know what's up
― imago, Monday, 4 December 2017 11:34 (six years ago) link
I really love that Moonlandingz record too, even if it's probably too silly and too British for 95% of ILX
― imago, Monday, 4 December 2017 11:35 (six years ago) link
(full disclosure: it's a cosmic psych-pop fuckaround)
― imago, Monday, 4 December 2017 11:36 (six years ago) link
Are 'Moon' bands the new Black Crystal Wolf?
― FREEZE! FYI! (dog latin), Monday, 4 December 2017 13:36 (six years ago) link
nice to finally see Algiers show up
― Simon H., Monday, 4 December 2017 14:00 (six years ago) link
the moonlandingz record is ok but i was promised motorik and the first track instead gives you gary glitter. they do eventually do a proper motorik beat but i've heard way too many records like this for this particular record to stand out.
― bob lefse (rushomancy), Monday, 4 December 2017 14:15 (six years ago) link
I just assumed it would be Gorillaz-level twatting about.
― Matt DC, Monday, 4 December 2017 14:41 (six years ago) link
Chino Amobi - Paradiso at #1 in The Wire
― Choco Blavatsky (seandalai), Monday, 4 December 2017 15:32 (six years ago) link
^^^this album is wild, holy crow
― Simon H., Monday, 4 December 2017 15:53 (six years ago) link
looking forward to digging into the Wire and Quietus lists this week
― sleeve, Monday, 4 December 2017 15:55 (six years ago) link
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Feed The Rats
This is the most Quietus thing ever. The Call Super album at #13 is fantastic though.
― Matt DC, Monday, 4 December 2017 15:57 (six years ago) link
lol my thought exactly when i saw that artist/title
― call all destroyer, Monday, 4 December 2017 15:58 (six years ago) link