February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 54

Is that the first Bjork album you've checked out or just the first time listening to Vespertine?

 

first time for vespertine but i’ve also only heard debut and then the most recent two, so the first time for her middle period or whatever in general as well

 

listen to homogenic as soon as you can

 

Homogenic used to be my favourite but I think I prefer the electronic sound and intimacy of Vespertine nowadays.

 

Homogenic is definitely my favourite but the stretch from Post-Vespertine are all high points for different sounds.

 

Can easily accept an argument for any of the first four as her best album.

 

Post is great.

 

Caught back up. Whew.

 

Day 11 is Deftones’ White Pony, which is maybe my favourite listen so far for this month’s choices? Incredible instrumentation and tones, plus the vocals are out of this world, running the gauntlet of sounds, brutal and beautiful together as one.

There’s so much going on here, feels like there’s nothing here that’s “just” a good track, everything is aiming at something bigger, it creates a fantastic atmosphere throughout. Really great, and probably feels like a good nudge to properly listen to Deftones.

 

Ace

 

Day 11: The Four Trees by Caspian

Caspian has easily been one of my favorite bands in the Post-Rock environment since I discovered them and their 2015 album Dust and Disquiet is one of my favorite albums ever. In an attempt to change things up a bit after a pretty consistent run of “normal rock” albums so far, I decided to check out their debut album. First things first, this is definitely a debut. While all the songs are great, there are a few that suffer from being little more than good Post-Rock songs and failed to leave much of an impact. Regardless of that, there are hints all over this album of Caspian’s potential to become the heavy hitters they are today. Ambient breathers are mixed with crushing breakdowns show that they’ve always been a versatile bunch. Electronic elements and guitars that range from acoustic to absolutely crushing, even with some Americana shades as well, are only a preview to the experimentation they would pursue later.

Favorite Tracks: “Crawlspace”, “Brombie”, and “ASA”

 

Paging @cshadows2887. I'm thinking maybe I should just do a Nina deep dive soon, since I've adored everything I've heard from her.

 

FUCK yes. Honestly, hearing "Don't You Pay Them No Mind" for the first time was a life-altering experience for me. I remember exactly where I was in vivid detail. And it kicked open the doors to so many new avenues of music for me.

She really is just one of the greatest to ever do it.

Thank god I bought Sings the Blues blind in college to try and impress a girl who had no interest in me. Haha

 

If you’re looking for a next steps from here, I can heartily recommend Pastel Blues. The final 10 minute track Sinnerman, is probably my favourite song of hers.

 

Sinnerman’s as good as it gets

 

Sold!

 

I’ll also put in an oar for I Put a Spell on You. There are so many good options

 

I have heard that one. I think I listened shortly after MWE last year.

 

I love that her delivery on the title track was a direct influence on The Beatles writing “Michelle”

 

A day behind, but my Day 12 album was Moon Pix by Cat Power from 1998, and this was alright. It's all very restrained and slow, but she's got a lovely voice for this sort of music, and the songs themselves are constructed well. It did perhaps bleed a little bit into one by the end of it, but there's a lot to like here in the right mood or space. I feel like it'd reveal itself quite a bit more with subsequent listens.

 

Coming off two lesser known albums in a row that are great.

 

def an album that reveals itself with many listens, its really good

 

Day 13 was Stones in the Road by Mary Chapin Carpenter from 1994, and this was lovely. An excellent lyricists and storyteller (John Doe No. 24 is absolutely gripping, felt like I was holding my breath throughout), with a great sense of melody.

It's a disarmingly "simple" (not meant in any disparaging way at all!) album, with these wonderfully written little folk / country songs, that grow more remarkable the further in the album you go, as it's all remarkably consistent. Stylistically varied within that sort of genre, she turns her hand to all sort of tracks here, and pulls them off each time. Great stuff.