Could not agree more. Can find very little written about some of his recent archive song. Seems like Sam is getting back to what works best on this song and others recently.
Think people are still plenty into big beards though!
This album does have an interesting dynamic to it. As you said Ryan, the same is true for me. The first two listens I was pretty much lukewarm about it. But then certain songs and sounds started to catch on and new parts revealed.
I now cannot stop listening to it. Just looked at my play count and all the songs are in the 70's. For me, this is definitely a top five and maybe top three album for him.
And for those who said they just can't make it through, the last three songs on the albums at some point really sealed the deal for me. Brings out a lot of Bryan Adams and Bruce Springsteen childhood nostalgia in me.
Well, I guess her voice is back.
Great song and look forward to the whole album. Not looking forward to my wife playing it on repeat 10,000 times before the next single.
Know exactly how you feel Lucas. His words are so real, so true, and bring emotion that is not contrived but rather a picture into Mark's life and his heart. His words truly get into me and stir something that most other artist's words do not.
Certainly Mark has made a fool of himself recently (The War On Drugs) but I imagine much like his songs, his life is very much stream of consciousness and has very little filter. Yet in his lyrics, you can help but see that this man has gone through a lot over the years and that these circumstances continue to shape him and the music that comes from him.
Just listened to the album with Jimmy Lavalle again yesterday and this last line from "Ceiling Gazing" really gets me and I think is a pretty good synopsis of who Mark is:
Laying in my bed, ceiling gazing
Can't make my mind stop from racing
It's not good or bad, it's just how god made me
To lay awake at night, ceiling gazing.
I'm really confused. I thought I was at 'Stereogum' and they covered Independent music.
Oh wait, there is no $$ in Indie....I see the trend, and it's a growing nicely.
Stereogum is stooping to new lows with this one. Sorry, this is bad.
And btw...is it just me or has indie music become 70% rap these days? Think the market is now over inflated.
The sound of a band fading into the mainstream of like sounding crap.
Like em or hate em, at least before Mumford was a bit different from the same old same old most people think is the best of what is available.
Lord Huron is just so underrated. Not sure why they can't get any respect.
Anyone? And don't tell me because they are a Fleet Foxes knockoff. Where are Fleet Foxes now anyway?
Let me apologize for mis-wording my original post. If you knew me, you would know that telling people to DO religious activities is not me at all. My faith is very important to me and just like anything we are passionate about, the natural response is to want to share the experience with others.
So to further my point as it relates to Sufjan, what really gets me is brutal honesty about his struggle. This is why I brought up the Psalms in the first place.
Here is a great quote I read recently about the Bible:
"Contrary to popular assumptions, the Bible is not a record of the blessed good, but rather the blessed bad. That’s not a typo. The Bible is not a witness to the best people making it up to God; it’s a witness to God making it down to the worst people. Far from being a book full of moral heroes to emulate, what we discover is that the so-called heroes in the Bible are not really heroes at all. They fall and fail, they make huge mistakes, they get afraid, their selfish, deceptive, egotistical, and unreliable. The Bible is one long story of God meeting our rebellion with his rescue; our sin with his salvation; our failure with his favor; our guilt with his grace; our badness with his goodness."
I would say Sufjan can relate. And so can I.
As a believer in Jesus, just love the humble honesty Sufjan writes with here. Guess what, none of us have it figured out in this often very cruel life. So many people want to believe that Christians have it all together, don't sin, and live life in a constant state of bliss. Couldn't be farther from the truth.
Speaking of the Psalms, go read them and you will find a lot more honest and troubled words from David.
Thank you Tom! Mark is such an underrated artists. Everyone likely has heard his 2000 album, "Sailing To Philadelphia". But I really love "Kill To Get Crimson" and "Shangri-La".
BTW...Dire Straits album "On Every Street" is easily one of my favorite albums of all time.
Incredible return to form for PJ. Clearly their best album since Yield.
I know a lot of people (talking to all you hipsters) will knock it, but to me this is old school Pearl Jam.
Shall be on repeat now for the foreseeable future (i.e. until "Reflektor" leaks).
Well, I was just a tad bit worried as that big white bus made its approach behind KV.
Risky man...just a bit risky.
Not sure being flattened by the big white bus is the best way to go out after what is sure to be AOTY.
I almost wonder if this is kind of a back-handed compliment. After all, "Afraid of Everyone" speaks to the pressures and fears of being a dad, of which I am 3 times.
This song is absolutely, stunning!!
I am pissed!!
Pitchfork only gave this album an 8.5. That is weak Mr. Jayson Greene!
WOAPD is an instant classic and hands down should have been given at least a 9.0.
Don't get me wrong, I am glad that it is in PF's "Best New Music" category but to me, 8.5 makes it fall in with everything else. This album stands above everything else that is being done right now. It is both innovative and a throw back. It is freaking 70 minutes longs with nary a dull moment on it. What an amazing LP that should be getting much more recognition.
AOTY....book it.
Great review for a masterpiece of an album. One that gets better with each and every listen. One that flows so freaking perfectly it sets a higher bar for everyone else. One that will certainly age quite well over time. One that reminds me why I love amazing music so damn much!!
BTW...does anyone else hear a little Grateful Dead in 'Goldtone'. Crazy good song.
My Monday just got a whole lot better with Futurebirds and now some Kurt Vile!
Nothing like some new truly good music after being reminded once again that a lot of crap fills the airwaves and ends up on the Grammy's.
Had the same issue as well when clicking to post from my Netvibes reader on Chrome. Thankfully my virus software caught it before any damage was done...
It was a toss up between Father John Misty and Tame Impala.
But because the whole album flows masterfully, got to go with Tame Impala's "Lonerism" as best album of 2012.
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