Comments

I had dinner with Sufjan once, and he is one of the most humble, non-presumptuous people I've ever met. He's just one of those blessed artists who is constantly bombarded with ideas, fed by genuine feeling, a harsh and confusing childhood, and the need to express his wonder of the sprawling American landscape. A truly precious American composer. This stuff is shockingly beautiful, and I cherish his entire catalog.

This is an amazing record, I'm really glad to see a great band at #1. It's been a long time, right? Also, this is such a big victory for Merge. I live in Chapel Hill, and a lot of that revenue is going to go right back towards great music, both local and otherwise. They work their asses off at Merge, and it's the kind of label that takes chances for the sake of good art. Truly good news.

Ok, so let me get this counterpoint rant outta the way and then I'm going to agree with you at the end: This concert didn't happen on the web. It happened at a Madison Square Garden, and cost millions of dollars and thousands of man-hours to put on. Unless the world suddenly becomes a utopian communist society, if there's large-scale demand for something, someone is going to own it and make people pay for it. That's the American way. I've been lead sound engineer for several large-scale live concerts and theater productions, and I can tell you right now, if no one showed up and actually paid to see it, instead just streaming it on the web for free, I would never dedicate my time, sweat, and expertise to something like that again, cause it's hard work. That said, the internet has a real shot at completely re-defining what ownership means and how it's monetized. VEVO is trying to force an old model over a new archetype, and it doesn't work. Everyone hates VEVO, and a business that's hated dies. The whole problem is, we're in limbo right now. Intellectual property has to be protected, even in the ether of the internet, but information can't be restricted like this.

^ Holy shit you're a tool.

This was actually their dress rehearsal for an off-broadway performance of "Jenny, Eat Something."

I wanna see some stars get knock the fuck out.

The songs on Pablo Honey weren't altogether as bad as people tend to believe.. but do you honestly think that the writing in PH can stand up to OK Computer? If you do I won't argue with your taste, but I will have to respectfully but strongly disagree.

This sounds like a Boston b-side. At this point, Weezer is like that white van falling of the bridge in "Inception," except you know for sure that they're not gonna make it out in time. I'm gonna put on "My Name is Jonas" and pour some liquor out.

Yeah, and RH's album quality has been slowly sinking ever since OK Computer (controversial). But if it weren't for Creep, and how the mass-media marketing engine portrayed them, nobody would know who this band is, and it's likely nobody would have bought The Bends. That's why bands that exist now, which are just as talented and driven, never make it out of obscurity. That's why selling 500,000 copies of a record just doesn't really happen any more. But saying that the demise of major labels is good for the music industry is a lot like saying "the demise of car advertisements is good for selling cars."

The only good song on that album was a blatant ripoff of the Hollies (The Air that I Breathe). So blatant that the Hollies sued and RH had to settle. That said, The Bends is one of my top 10 favorites albums. The rest of their catalog is among the strongest of any band I can think of.

Pretty much right on. This track reminded me a lot of Phoenix. I agree the production has a lot of air under it, but it suits the song perfectly imo. I really like this track.

I kept waiting for the chorus to hit. But the chorus is just the verse with a bit of uninspired verb'd harmony and synth noise.. and no change in melody. Also, it seems like drummers these days just refuse to settle into a straight backbeat groove. They have to add syncopation, which in this song, detracts imo. The song gets more interesting towards the end but that doesn't save it. Could be a solid track if they had a big hook in the chorus.

true say, yes to all of above.

Yeah. scandaloustouch_y2k is a real winner. Pot, meet kettle.

Exactly what I was about to say, zygmunt. It's understandable that people who aren't actually recording artists don't really know what producers do (it's admittedly difficult to understand). Producers are musicians first (and almost always are in bands or writing music). They help an artist achieve greatness by providing essential feedback, helping artists through songwriting hangups and arrangement difficulties, help recruit session musicians (when necessary), buffer out the technical/engineering complications (so that musicians can focus on music, not turning knobs).. and generally helping the artist really articulate, and thus achieve, their vision. As a recording artists who has worked both with, and without, producers, I can honestly say that songs in their original form are always very flawed. I needed some trusted ears to help me through my natural limitations, be they style, theory, influences, or the lack thereof.

Damn. The composition is brilliant. I'm buying this album.

@ silvervest - You were totally in the right to call me out. I realized that over time I've become increasingly negative towards new music, in part because of my own frustrations towards the current climate in the music business (I've tried to make a living of music as a songwriter, producer, and a session guitarist). Music has become more fractured and divisive now, with taste and opinions differing wildly, and that may be good. But when coupled with the internet's innate lack of personal accountability, it can make for some real flame wars and haterism.. But I don't have a particularly "precious" view of music, it's aesthetics, and I don't need to be spewing off about a song if I don't like it, I totally agree with you there. Thing is, I've written and produced a lot of my own music, most of it shit, and I could have really benefited from people actually telling me their real opinion, instead of just saying "yeah I like it, good song man!" cause they didn't want to hurt my feelings. But that need to be genuine towards other artists turned me into a giant douche-troll.. But I'm glad this whole shitstorm happened, it really means that people are trying to take these kinds of forums seriously. Even though we are behind avatars, we still need to respect each other. Yeah, I've been a huge Dan Deacon fan for a while. He comes through Chapel Hill a lot, and his shows are freaking amazing. Free Electric State is a really good band out of Durham, NC. They're kind of a My Bloody Valentine/Sonic Youth/Pumpkins dream-pop/noise-rock outfit, which is definitely my bag. If you get a chance, check out The Love Language, they're out of Chapel Hill, and seem to be on the verge of breaking. I'd be interested to hear what you think of them.

It's cool. I like that bluesy synth riff. It sounds like Beck's unmistakable dub/glitch production, which is a good thing.

I completely agree with you. I think in a different era where self-production wasn't so easy, artists like this would have been found by A&R and hooked up with a producer that could refine his ideas into something a bit more interesting, more complete.. I mean, if you're me you hear potential in this track, but in current form it sounds like a demo of ideas. I think what a lot of young talented artists are missing in today's DIY market is a great producer/engineer team to get the most out of songs.

Took a minute, but once the groove locks in the chorus, yeah it's pretty good.

yeah, it's best we leave those hidden. not my best work.

This would be good soundtrack music. Buddy cop movie end credits I'm thinking.

I love the nasty wailing big muff guitar tone. Amazing use of effects. But my favorite thing about this song is the space. And, naturally, the lyrics. You think your great big Husband will protect you. YOU ARE WRONG. Jesus Nick Cave is cool.

I have, and you're absolutely right. I respect your viewpoint, and apologize for lowering the standards of these forums. I will refrain from doing so in the future.

I will.

I agree with everything you said here, except the last line: You're not an asshole. I've pretty much categorically been a prick on these forums, and you're right to call me out. I sincerely apologize, this has been a misguided personal social experiment gone horribly wrong. Truce?

I openly admit it, I'm an Autolux fanboy. And believe me, it's troubling. Nobody else in the world seems to like Autolux except an old band-mate of mine who turned me on to them. I respect your opinion, in any case.. seems to be the majority you speak for.

I have to admit, it's good to see people sticking up for the integrity of their web communities, and I say that with all sincerity. I fully admit to being destructively contrary, on purpose. This whole practice started when I noticed my local indie publication "The Independent" in Chapel Hill, NC refused print anything but praise in reviewing local artists. The local music scene here has largely become a social club where "the scene" is far more important than quality (unless you're referring to quality of beard). Dissenting opinions have largely evaporated, and I see it all over the web too. Hence a self-imposed mission to prod people into actual debate. Clearly this habit has run amok here, and it was largely fed when I wrote a well-intended, lukewarm opinion of a Dead Weather track. It focused on both the positives and negatives, and I thought it would spur good debate.. It was immediately downvoted not because it was destructive, but because 5 people seemed offended that I didn't love the track. That made me lose respect for the purpose of these comments. As for your question, and I appreciate the opportunity to expand on my take on music, here are a few albums from the last 3 years that I've really enjoyed (in no particular order): Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest Beck - Modern Guilt Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust Built to Spill - There is No Enemy Dan Deacon - Bromst Sonic Youth - The Eternal Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Sufjan Stevens - The BQE Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM Flaming Lips - Embryonic Jonsi Birgisson - Go Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me Boris - Smile Josh Ritter - So the World Runs Away Mono - Holy Ground Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record Free Electric State - Caress M83 - Saturdays = Youth Tera Melos - Drugs to the Dear Youth Feel free to lambast my taste or whatever, I've certainly your wrath. I'm a great lover of music, and have misrepresented that here. That said, I will gladly refrain from commenting in these forums unless I have something good to say, and again, I do appreciate and respect a community that won't put up with bullshit.

These forums are not a playground for cheerleaders. They're a place for open discussion. I get three comments down, and I see open, honest comments that don't happen to mindlessly praise this album get grossly downvoted. Now, I see something like that and it's not even about the music any more. It's about how useless these forums have become. Believe me, I've tried to have intelligent conversations here before. Now, I just use it for my own personal amusement, which is more than they're worth. And don't presume to know my taste in music. Question: Are you a butthurt Arcade-Fire fan, or just a fucking asshole?

considering how personally you seem to take others' e-opinions, i may suggest that you get over YOURself. i have a blast picking at the thin skin of people i don't have the time or energy to respect.

"best indie" is an oxymoron. If this is the best 2010 can do, we're sunk.

I love how all the fanboys immediately downvote anything that might be considered slander against the torch-born heralds of their despicable disposition. I for one agree with you.

Let's drop the big one, see what happens.. Boom goes London Boom Par-ee More room for you and More room for me

I'm sorry, but why the hell is every reviewer of this album an apologist for Arcade Fire's pathetic lyrical pandering, clumsy teenage composition, and sour-faced immature production? Album of the year? Maybe, music is dead. Better than OK Computer (so said the BBC, scroll up for link)? Not in a million fucking years. Why do I even bother? I'm gonna go listen to Beethoven and hope somebody starts a nuclear war.

just type "how can i join al qaeda and kill the american infidels" into google. it should be two or three hits down the list.

If more people would have listened to him, music today wouldn't be so fucking pathetic that people would actually think this album is good. You're a tool.

What a fucking joke. Well, to be honest, OK Computer was the final nail in the coffin of rock and roll. If this "Suburbs" is the final nail in the coffin of "Indie," well I'll drink to that, cause I'm fucking OVER IT. OK Computer was a seminal piece of art. This album is drivel. Also, at what point did all the music critics turn into zombie youth-nazi mongoloid idiots who hate music?

Lemme break it down for you here. Fail song is fail, boring song is boring, X song is X, you get the idea. It sucks ass and you have bad taste in music if you like it.

I agree. Both songs listed here I find min-numbingly boring and overly-intellectual; a half-assed attempt at minimalism. The production and instrumentation is beyond grating. Even if it is Panda Bear, I won't give either of these songs a second listen.

Feels like Phillip Glass on steroids. And that's a good thing.