Well, Neko Case's "Middle Cyclone" has one of the best album covers of all time yet clearly has no regard for car or sword safety. Artists be weird, man.
Regardless of how the music sounds, the album cover for Beautiful Trauma is absolutely fantastic. Sort of one of those album covers that makes me want to buy the album based on it.
Probably alone on that, but I stand my ground.
I'm a fan of "innocent until proven guilty" too, but honestly, you should at least accept the possibility of this having happened and take that seriously rather than just assuming it didn't because of conjecture.
Nah, these are at least good enough to keep her fans happy and on the radio for a little while. Plus, she's big enough at this point where she at least has an album or two of forgiveness in the public eye before starting that true downward slide.
I wouldn't be surprised if this album kind of flops but the next album will be labeled as her "comeback" in a way and has a bunch of songs everyone seems to love again.
I'm right there with you. Listening to it now, and it's definitely very glossy and produced, but not to a point where it takes away from any "Beck-ness". I totally get that this isn't everyone's cup of tea, and certainly won't win AOTY, but if taken as a fun dance/party record, it's pretty solid upon first listen.
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if everything that this review hates about it are the things that Beck was going for.
And every time I hear "Up All Night", I like it more. Cliche and right across the plate, sure....but it is fun.
I never considered until reading this that in just a few years, the argument of "Christmas songs: OK before Thanksgiving?" will likely be replaced with "Christmas songs: OK before Halloween?"
I know a lot of fans of bands get angry when some super limited release happens like this, but I find it charming. Even though I will never hear it, I think this is a pretty fun thing to do. I wish more bands did small things like this.
I remember this song coming out last fall sort of, and everyone hated it, and I remember thinking it was kind of dumb and cheesy and cliche too.
Buuuuut now it sounds pretty awesome. The lyrics are still a bit meh and "pop-song-y" but it sounds pretty great. Was the version last year much different? I honestly don't remember anything about it and can't find any versions of it online.
I'll admit that I was a little worried about this release, simply because though I do like his work with the Mystic Valley Band and MOF, his songs on each of those releases were sub-par to what he has produced in the past.
But this sounds different. This rests my fears for this record. It sounds like this final record may be a high point for the band. (hopefully. I suppose this could be the only good song)
They're actually up for Best Alternative Album against Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, the Black Keys, and Broken Bells. I could see them winning that one possibly, although if I'd guess, I'd say either Black Keys or VW.
Discuss!
But they do have access to good records. Jack said that they all were a rare record for free as part of their subscription service. That's pretty generous for $20. Plus a lot of other stuff they get in the package....
And you're right, most won't pay for it if the record is not affordable. That's why those who do get it feel victorious. It's why they're the people who collect rare records. The music of any of those rare records (or any rare record) can be easily obtained digitally. It's all about the physical product.
Concerning this: "And if the sole worth of a record is how much is paid for it, what’s that saying about his cheaper records?" It's not about the quality of the music in this whole situation, it's about the availability of the physical product. His most rare and expensive record/single/EP/whatever could be his worst artistically, but because he's a musical figure people love, and some folks are love collecting everything he has, they will pay enough money and their prize is proudly claiming they have one of the only copies in the world. It's the feeling of victory and triumph which sort of seems stupid on paper, but it means a lot to them.
These are the people he's trying to cater towards and who are giving them crap about it.
I can see what you mean about saying it's more authentic. It's just his opinion, though, now matter how smug it may be. But yeah, I can see how that is annoying.
I also understand what you mean about manufacturing authenticity, but let's not forget the context: Jack White has a lot of devoted fans. A lot of those people probably argue with each other over who is more devoted. Having collectible records that hardly anyone else has helps their case. It's what they desire. Jack saw this and is constantly trying to appease these fans. TMR have invented a bunch of new types of vinyl records which they've kept pretty rare for the reason to please, really, a very small amount of people. It's pretty noble, actually, that he would work so hard to try and do such a thing for so few. All that is to say, these people want those rare records. You can easily get the music from any of those releases online, but it's about the actual thing, and these people want it. It gives those special fans that feeling of victory when they get it. It gives Third Man Records more revenue to keep doing that for fans in the future. Everyone is happy except the folks who didn't get one, but worry not, because there will be another round in the near future with another record they can try to get. And those that get it will feel victorious. Jack is concerned with selling people that feeling over everything else, as to be redundant, that's what all the Vault people want. It's all about the hunt.
I'm not one for that personally, much like yourself I'd assume, but I can understand the feeling easily.
I can see what you're saying about his sound, but that's not a bad thing. It's just something he's going for. Even though he is influenced by loads of old blues musicians, he does have a signature sound, I think. He just likes that sound and wants to try to emulate it, much like any musician hears other musicians and tries to copy them. Often they lead to new path of creativity by trying to emulate someone else. As a pianist, I know that's happened to me before. It's just a style choice, and Jack has the opinion that it's more authentic. Others might say they think that music sucks and some other style is more authentic. It's just his choice, and he explores it...and does it well, I might add. It seems to me to reach that sound he's trying to get, he has to be old, crappy amps and guitars. If he bought new ones, he either couldn't get the sound he's going for or it would most likely take him a lot of studio magic to make it happen, something he's not too fond of.
In terms of manufacturing rarity, you're right that he tries to do it, but he succeeds too. I mean, I can make one CD-R of myself farting for 45 minutes and try to sell it for thousands being the only one available, but of course, no one would want that. Stuff Jack is making are things that people want, and his style of music is friendly to those older folks who grew up in times where nothing was digital. He's a collector and he has a lot of fans who are collectors. There's a big appeal to that lifestyle. He still releases all his records for the everyman to buy, but then he also works his butt off to try and please the collectors by making them things too, in a time when almost no other musicians are making collectible items.
It's not like he's only going to release 500 copies of the new White Stripes album. If he did that, I think everyone would agree he's gone too far. But he's just doing this for singles and stuff. I think he's maintained a fine balance.
One thing about this album people are saying that I find surprising is how it's such a "big switch" for Sufjan fans. Honestly, if you've been following his work, with the BQE, the song he did for Dark Was The Night, and the Vol 8 Christmas EP that leaked last year, it seems like this sound has been developing for a long time now. If you compare it right next to Illinois, then yes, it's incredibly left field, but this transition has been happening for a while now, I think.
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