Wow, what a mammoth output to review. Similar to the above, I have neglected to visit many of these records (especially those from the 90s-00s), but I'm partial to St. Dominic's Preview. Listen to the Lion is one of my favorites of all time of Van's. I love the less structured, seemingly stream-of-consciousness in the emulation of the other Morrison, Jim. It appears quite frequently throughout Saint Dominic's Preview. Astral Weeks, His Band and Street Choir are also solid. I must say, I need to revisit veedonfleece and Moondance again to round out my palate. Thanks for the feature!
Yeah, the production always seems to de-fang much of her guitar work. But if you listen to the notes and scales she plays (or better yet, witness it live) she writes and plays some pretty badass songs. In her interviews she has said that she's interested in her guitar sounding like anything but a guitar. In her records it comes off this way, and it sounds a lot less offensive. I prefer her live mixes much more.
While it's not immediately apparent in her studio albums, anyone who has experienced St. Vincent performing live acknowledges the snarly energy and bite. Both in Annie Clark the human and in the St. Vincent performance. She's a fireball on stage.
This album was miraculously not labeled with a parental advisory sticker when I bought it. I also knew where most of the "swearing" occurred in each song and could volume fade when needed. However, when listening more closely to the lyrics than I one day, my dad grabbed the lyrics sheet and read through each song. For some reason I was able to retain the CD even though I received some lecture including words like "slackers" "bad example" and the like. This made me enjoy the album even more deeply than I previously had. While Dookie had its place, Smash always evoked a darker, more rebellious "whatever" vibe.
When I first started going to shows, I wanted the live experience to mirror the recorded sound. I remember being disappointed after attending my very first rock concert because the performance sounded way different from the album. The more shows I attend as I age, I find I am most excited by the live experiences that are different from the album and force me to listen in a new way. More of a performance than a re-creation recorded sound. For some bands, it may help to have a middleground between improvisation and predetermined sound. But if you've got a talented set of musicians performing in a venue with good sound quality, they should do whatever they want as far as I'm concerned.
If I wasn't convinced before, Jonny Greenwood is a technical master. These songs are lengthy and complex, and I watched him cruise through them effortlessly without a mistake to be heard. Beautiful.
Fantastic news! I've been listening to the Undersea EP a lot lately and wondered when more beaituful, infectious melodies would be coming. I hope they do explode--super nice, genuine guys.
Yeah, the allure of large festivals is becoming less and less about exclusivity, but the big names still draw crowds (Lolla, Bonnaroo, Coachella). On the flipside, I find myself seeking out and enjoying more the smaller, more focused festivals that are equally abundant, but typically much less publicized like:
Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee
Woodsist Festival in Big Sur, CA
Mountain Oasis Festival and Moogfest in Asheville, NC
I didn't follow them past their first either--which I was in love with at the time. I always attributed their disappearance to my changing tastes, but you've put it in a new light here. Another band that I listened a lot to at that same time is the French Kicks.
For some reason, that never bothers me with Beck. I never think about it.
Tom Cruise's affiliation with Scientology? That dude's insane as is his "religion". I can't watch any of his films without that as the pretense.
Beck's affiliation? Whatever, he made Odelay and defined how I've heard music since childhood.
Since so nearly all of Beck's albums are stylistically different from one another, it's understood I'll always have trouble comparing his albums. I love Midnite Vultures--when I'm in the mood for it. But I can't justifiably compare it to Sea Change just like I can't compare Morning Phase to any of Beck's previous work other than Sea Change or maybe Mutations.
What resonates with me on this record as mentioned in Tom's review is that settled and patient feeling throughout. The genre jumping is always an exciting and fun piece to Beck's music, but this stepping back and refining (at least that's what i get from it) stands out in its own way--and I really appreciate it here.
Regarding Beck fatigue? Ø [EMPTY SET] Does not compute.
Guys, there's also Cookie Dough flavor "creme" in them! So, no chocolate, certainly no cookie dough, but you do get to taste whatever the legal definition of "creme" is.
The soundtrack for the effect of these things on your intestines would be better soundtracked by Gorguts or Inquisition.
I like that the Oreo package advertises their product as made with "chocolatey" chips as a promise that whatever shit filled ingredient they're actually using will resemble chocolate in some way.
What's worse is that I still want to try them. Tegan and Sara, you're ruining my health.
A comparison which Mr. Deville already made..whoops.
I remember buying the Sea Change cd and listening to it in my car in the Best Buy parking lot. It didn't immediately grab me like his previous upbeat, goofy, party records. It took many drives as slow music on short car trips just didn't do it for me then.
12 years later, this is personally exactly what I would want out of a Beck album. Also, I'll pre-order or buy the record locally rather than Best Buy. Beck was the first musician I cared enough to call my favorite, and it's kinda nice being able to follow the trajectory and changes in my life through his albums.
I miss you Stereogum. Shit got busy. Last time I checked in, Michael_ was fighting with Michael Hanna. DonnyT was in and out. It's been ~4 months. It seems uncannily similar 'round here compared to how it was when I fell off the face of the earth. Has someone been shaking things up? I feel like I'm too far removed now. I've missed all the inside jokes. I'm a shadow of the man I used to be.
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