February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 43

Don't worry it'll probably give me new records to stump for on next year's MWE. Haha

 

Only heard 13 of yours @George so definitely interested in your take on the ones I haven't, as well as excited that you're listening to Stones in the Road and New Century Classics.

 

Frou Frou on another list makes me happy!

 

Picked it from the Definitive Albums written by Women thread - took the highest ranking album I hadn’t heard from everyone’s list. I like Imogen Heap’s solo stuff a decent amount, so I imagine I’ll enjoy it!

 

@George really excited to hear your thoughts on a lot of these! You’ve got some great picks

 

I’m surprised that legally you didn’t have to hear Chroma before being allowed to write for AP

 

Should I listen to Shania Twain’s Up! or Come On Over?

 

Genuinely laughed out loud at this.

But yes, I hear it’s the day of Pop-Punk 101 that I missed! Excited to hear it.

I say Come On Over. It’s the bigger blockbuster with, IMO, the better iconic singles.

 

my only cartel exposure is their dogshit wonderwall cover. i haven’t needed to hear more.

 

Come On Over is the correct answer

 

You like power-pop too much not to appreciate “Honestly”, my dude. It’s so pure.

 

lol i’ll check it out. the wonderwall cover really soured me. i’ll throw chroma on my MWE list.

 

I won’t say it’s an all time classic as a record. But that song rules and the album is tuneful and fun

 

@cshadows2887 and I have talked about feeling that not everything has to "age well" and that things being functional of showing the era they were made in isn't necessarily a bad thing, but given everything that's come out about the genre and that fraternity of musicians, Chroma holds up extremely well. Lot of great hooks and just generally solid songs. I think you'll like it!

 

"If I Fail" is a song that I still can't believe didn't end up as a single

 

at the Chroma ten year tour, this is the song I thanked Will for in person. so many long drives belting it at the top of my lungs

 

"Q" and "A" though. I fucking love ambition in a pop punk / emo band.

 

I've heard enough to expect that I'll enjoy it. So, very much looking forward to that one.

 

I’d love to go to the alternate universe where they don’t do the band in the bubble thing and see what became of them

 

Cycles is pretty underrated, but very close to Chroma in quality if you haven’t checked it out. MUCH better than the bubble album.

 

I do like a lot of Cycles. Might have to give it a spin tonight actually, can’t remember the last time I listened

 

Bubble album is so good. It's between that and Chroma for my favourite Cartel album. Cycles would have made a really great EP.

 

I always feel the need to clarify that some of the streaming services have Back To School as the opening song, despite it not being part of the original 11 track release and really not belonging on the album (the label threw it on a re-issue). White Pony is Feiticeira to Pink Maggit.

 

Is this challenge possible if you don’t stream music and only buy it? I’m tempted each year but not sure how to overcome that obstacle effectively.

 

Could you perhaps find albums on Bandcamp that are available for free / available as Pay what you want? Or do you only listen to music that you own physically, and not MP3s?