February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 56

More Adventurous >>>>>>>>

 

He's one of my favorite guitarists, and we even have the same last name (no relation as far as I know), but I'm totally with you on this. It bothers me most on Execution, where Jenny is really at the top of her game, so there's an even bigger gulf between them.

On a side note, I always loved Motion City Soundtrack's cover of "Pictures of Success."

 

Oh yeah, The Honorary Title! That was a good band.

Goo Goo Dolls are definitely first ballot hall-of-famers in this particular category. It happens a lot, though. Was an issue on early CHVRCHES records (they seem to have taken the hint), and it used to bother me with The Menzingers, but Tom May leveled up on the last record.

Oh shit, I had no idea this cover existed! Incredible.

 

That MCS cover is how I originally got into Rilo Kiley, great cover of a great song.

 

Day 17 is Details by Frou Frou from 2002, and as a fan of Imogen Heap's stuff, this basically sounds like an Imogen Heap solo record, so after about 1 minute of the first song, I knew I'd enjoy this.

I know of the other member of the duo, Guy Sigsworth from his work with Bjork (I believe he co-wrote a few songs on Vespertine), so it's not a surprise to hear that the beats here really remind me of Bjork at times here. There's a little bit of a trip-hop sensibility about them too, as well as a more general "adult" pop music that was relatively prevalent in 2002 like Dido perhaps. I can't think of a way to describe this in a way that isn't disparaging to other forms of pop music, which is not my intention!

It's a really enjoyable album, and Imogen Heap's first two records (I didn't really click with Sparks for whatever reason), are on semi-regular rotation, so it's great to hear something that's new from her, but feels very familiar. Probably should have listened to this a long while ago.

 

Day 16: Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
Older Kind of Blue era Miles Davis is a staple in my household, but I’ve never taken a dive into his move to a more rock influenced direction. If this album proves anything, it’s that Davis’ ability both as a musician and collaborator goes far beyond the limits of “classic” jazz. Everyone on this record is killing it, and their ability to work together throughout these lengthy pieces leads to some amazing soundscapes and moods. As with most jazz, this is a dense project that I will need more time with to fully connect, but this first ride was thrilling and showed me just how varied jazz can get.

 

Today's album is Toxicity by System of a Down from 2001, and to be honest I found this a bit irritating. Musically, it's fairly unremarkable sounding heavy nu-metal style music, with little bits of prog rock here too, with a lot of the songs sounding pretty similar instrumentally.

I find Serj's voice and delivery to be pretty irritating too, it's kind of wacky, putting on voices, and then when he does sing relatively normally, he's clearly got a good voice, just a shame to be wasting it doing a lot of silly voices. His delivery also reminds me a bit of Anthony Kiedis from the Chilli Peppers when he does his type of rapping singing.

Lyrically, while I can appreciate that they're political and well intentioned, it just comes across as blunt and really ill-fitting to the beat, cramming in words or just extending them with screams.

Not for me, sorry.

 

Interesting to see a take from someone just now finding this album. I first bought the CD in middle school and was obsessed with it. Relistened to it recently because of some anniversary and thought it held up well, but maybe that’s because of my history with it. Were there any songs that you preferred overall?

 

I’m not sure there was much that particularly worked for me unfortunately. Maybe Chop Suey, but that’s a song I’ve heard hundreds of times anyway and is quite fun.

Broadly speaking, any song where Serj did a wacky sort of voice, I found it particularly tempting to skip. There were some songs that passed by without me forming a negative impression of them, but unfortunately that’s about as high praise as I can give it.

 

Fair, I’ll admit, I never felt comfortable playing their stuff for new people because it is an…acquired taste.

 

I’ve been listening daily but haven’t found time to write my tweets! Need to catch up tomorrow.

 

Definitely get this, that band is certainly not everyone's cup of tea haha. I think the wild vocal changes definitely cross the silliness line at times but in the right context it adds a manic energy to the music and lyrics that's hard to find elsewhere. Although the best song on the album (IMO), Aerials, doesn't really have any of the weird vocal tics; no love for that one?

 

Oh damn I forgot about “Aerials”. I definitely liked that song back when. “Spiders”, too

 

Day 17: Split the Country, Split the Street by Kevin Devine

It’s been over a decade since I first discovered Kevin Devine, and yet I haven’t heard it all. The album's artwork has stuck with me since first seeing it, and I feel similar about the songs. This is a younger, rawer collection of songs than the KD I know. Elliot Smith vibes are strong here, but with a messiness and lyrical focus that sets Kevin apart. Both quiet folk and irate rock provide highlights throughout. As poignant as they were at the time, many of the lyrics feel relevant to today. Both politically and as one of countless individuals who have “been through it”. I thought I already had a favorite Kevin Devine album, but now I find myself excited to dig into this, just to make sure.

Favorite Tracks: “Cotton Crush”, “No Time Flat”!, and “Probably”

 

Day 18: Jolene by Dolly Parton

A classic just like the woman who made it, Jolene is an undeniable record. With a voice that would sound good singing the phone book, Dolly does it all here: Heartbroken, nostalgic, and fully in love. A sense of humor is sprinkled throughout the albums as well, adding to its charm. An amazing piece of a work from an artist who was just getting started.

“When Someone Wants to Leave”, “I Will Always Love You”, “Cracker Jack”, and “Jolene” (duh)

 

Dolly Parton is the greatest harmony singer ever.

 

Today’s album was Leaves Turn Inside you by Unwound from 2001, and I enjoyed this.

It’s a slightly psychedelic or experimental take on a post hardcore album, sounding a bit like Fugazi in parts, but also with plenty of shoegaze or post rock elements and melodies. The songs are mostly long, atmospheric, and multi layered. It mostly is a relatively quiet and slow ish paced album, very rarely getting loud, and having known of them as a vaguely post hardcore / noisy band, I was slightly wrong footed by this.

Slightly disappointingly, the penultimate track “Below the Salt” wasn’t available on Apple Music, which was a bit frustrating, so I guess I couldn’t quite hear the album in full - but I enjoyed this.

 

I have gotten a few days behind, but I’m on February break, so I will be on this shit ASAP

 

Today’s album was Two Hands by Big Thief from 2019, and this is nice. Reminds me a lot of Waxahatchee, that kind of sweet spot between folk and alternative and indie rock music. There’s another specific artist that the singer really reminds me of from a purely vocal perspective, but I couldn’t quite place it, but kept on hearing echoes of *someone* very specific here.

Favourite track here on a first listen was probably “Not”. I can see they have a new album from last week or so, so will hopefully find the time to check that out too.

 

Day 19: Geogaddi by Boards of Canada

Turn of the century electronic/dance music is something that I’m not super familiar with, but I have encountered BOC in playlists and from algorithm suggestions. This album had a bit of a learning curve. For example, through the first half of the album I was somewhat annoyed by the number of shorter tracks I viewed as “interludes”, but by halfway I realized that this album is one meant to flow from track to track instead of each being a contained piece. This album has some amazing instrumentation. The synth lines often provide more impact and emotion than the vocals. Speaking of, vocal recordings are treated as equals to every other instrument, often garbled and buried until they are barely recognizable as human. Consistently, my favorite part of the album was the percussion and some truly danceable beats throughout. I don’t know much about electronic music, but I can hear how this album has influenced more modern artists. Seriously, tell me that those synths in “The Devil is in the Details” don’t sound like something from the Stranger Things soundtrack. Excited to continue to listen to this album, actively and in the background, and further uncover everything it has going on.

Favorite Tracks: “Gyroscope”, “1969”, “Julie & Candy”, and “The Beach at Redpoint”

 

Mulled it over and played it in my head a bit more, and worked out that it’s Laura Stevenson I specifically hear in the vocals. Mystery over.

 

Having more trouble keeping up this year, for a variety of reasons, but here's yesterday's:

 

Week 3
2/14: The Exploding Hearts - Took the rec from this forum…sounded like a bunch of Green Day demos which isn’t always a bad thing but the lack of production hurt it to me a bit

2/15 Bjork- Post- Having never listened to her before, this album blew me away…def would not have been into this in my ms/hs days when it was released so glad I heard it now

2/16 -1975 - A brief inquiry- Loved their debut EP in 2013 then never listened again…after seeing the praise on this site gave this one a try and hated it..pop rock w little substance to me


2/17 - Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary - Could easily have been one of Jimmy Eat Worlds first two albums…a little too long for what it is but would listen again

2/18 - Alt J - The Dream - Keeping w my pattern of one new release each week…some enjoyable tracks here..particularly Philadelphia..nothing groundbreaking

2/19 - Blur - Self Titled - In 1997 I went to The Wall with 20 dollars…in one hand I had 3EBs debut..in the other this album…the salesperson said to go with 3EB..and then I never listened to Blur albums ..:def hear the influence on Arctic Monkeys here…glad I went w 3EB in 97 but this one was a good listen

2/20 - Elvis Costello - In Motion Pictures - took a while to get through those vocals..:not my thing

 

Today’s album was Days are Gone by Haim from 2013, and this was okay. It’s got that 80s style synth pop / synth wave production that was seemingly everywhere during 2013 , and the songs are fun little pop tracks, sung well and energetic.

It’s fine and decent, but nothing particularly wowed me. Just good , solid pop music, that was a breeze to listen to, but didn’t make me want to come back for more.

 

Day 20: Scum by Napalm Death

Not a big death metal or grindcore fan overall, but I’m a huge fan of contemporary music history and knowing the importance of this album in the development of new metal genres led me to check it out. Is it something I’ll be listening to regularly in the future? Probably not, but it is a fascinating listen. For someone listening today, the pieces of death metal and hardcore that the band combined are easy to pick out, but it’s also easy to see why their combination was revolutionary at the time. Breakneck tempos, harsh intelligible vocals, politically charged lyrics, and crushing breakdowns are all here. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that any fan of modern heavy music can recognize parts of this album that have influenced countless bands. Therefore, even if this album may not find its place in my personal library, it’s significance cannot be denied.