February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 55

i always forget the weekend ones

 

Day 14 is Little Seeds by Shovels & Rope from 2016. I don't think I'd heard of this band before, but this was someone's number 1 pick in the Definitive Albums Written by Women thread (can't remember who, sorry!), so added it based on that.

It's pretty fun stuff, an album of dirty, blues-y, southern rock duets that sounds a bit like The Raconteurs and a bit like The Civil Wars. It's good stuff, going from traditional country duets with an acoustic guitar, to more raucous rock n roll tracks. I bet they'd be great fun live. Nothing here that truly blew me away, but very much enjoyed the time I spent with this, a clearly enjoyable album.

 

As you know, easily one of my favorite records ever. In addition to the terrific lyrics, I consider it maybe the greatest piano album of all time. Matt Rollings, in particular, has some of the most gorgeous playing I've ever heard, and then to swap him out for Benmont Tench and John Carroll is just an embarrassment of riches

I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

 

Week 2 :

2/8: Pet Shop Boys - Behaviour - What I expected really..nothing that made me want to go back and listen again
2/9 PJ Harvey - Let England Shake - Really enjoyed this album, probably my favorite of MWE this year
2/10 Haim - Days Are Gone - Also very enjoyable album, will be going back to hit this discography over time
2/11 Eddie Vedder - Earthling - Kind of Cheating since this is a new album, but 3 new albums came out that I wanted to hear Friday (anyway, this one is good, though none of the tracks really sticks)
2/12 Metallica - St. Anger - After seeing all the mentions of this album in others lists decided to hit this one too...at first I hated it, but after more listens I actually kinda love it
2/13 Silverchair - Frogstomp - I had their Greatest Hits in middle school but never really gave them the attention they deserve, totally fits with my 90s grundge love and will have to go back to hear the rest of their discography

 

Trying to catch up after a busy weekend.

Day 12: Clash the Truth by Beach Fossils

I first discovered Beach Fossils back in 2017 with Somersault and never dug into their back catalogue. I was looking for something chill to listen to during a rare quiet moment this weekend, and decided it was time to remedy that. This album is less experimental and jazz influenced than Somersault, but still hits. Throughout the album I was surprised by the drumming, and how it was often the driving force in otherwise mellow drums. In addition to the drums, the album also boasted a variety of dreamy guitar lines that frequently reminded of The Cure. Some songs didn’t hit me as more than easy listens, and the album had a few too many interludes. When all members of the band were locked in, however, the dreamy rock jams they produced were just as engaging as they were vibey.

Favorite Tracks: “Careless”, “Shallow”, and “Caustic Cross”

 

Day 13: Van Halen by Van Halen

Hype music was needed while getting the family ready to go watch the super bowl, and few bands are better for hype than Van Halen. Everyone knows the hits, and while they are definitely the strongest tracks in the album, the deep cuts still keep the energy up. The band sounds like they’re firing on all cylinders despite this being a debut album. Powerful guitars, over the top drumming, and no shortage of iconic “Awwww Yeahs” prove that even after nearly 45 (!), well made party songs never age.

Favorite Tracks: “You Really Got Me”, Jamie’s Cryin’”, and “Atomic Punk” for the newly discovered deep cut.

 

One of the best cover-to-cover hard rock albums ever, imo. Not one song misses.

 

Today is Ys by Joanna Newsom from 2006. This is nearly an hour long , with 5 lengthy pieces, without traditional song structures.

It’s all very ornate and pretty , with plenty of harp playing and general baroque / renaissance fair style music. I’m not necessarily sure it connected with me as a first listen, but I can also appreciate that 5 lengthy songs, without much in the way of hooks is always going to be a difficult listen. She has a nice voice though, can carry a tune well.

 

Finally got caught up today. Please excuse the giant post.

Day 14: A Mineral Love by Bibio
The song “Petals” from this album has been a favorite of mine since I discovered it in college. I never checked out the rest of it before now, as I have a weird worry of not connecting with a whole project after falling in love with a single song. Finally, I decided to take the plunge and was happily surprised. What I found wasn’t entirely what I expected, but instead better. Sure, the dreamy atmosphere, wistful vocals, and playful synth lines from “Petals” was there, but the album incorporated those elements into a large variety of sounds. A Mineral Love is adorned with funky bass lines, horns and saxophone both as accents and in the forefront, and even a decent amount of 90’s pop influence (Why So Serious?). Highly recommended for anyone who wants to hear an impressive mix of folk, electronica, funk, and so much more.
Favorite Tracks: “Town & Country”, “Feeling”, and “With the Thought of Us”

Day 15: Agents of Fortune by Blue Oyster Cult.
Similar to “Petals” from above, this album contains a personal (cowbell filled) favorite song of mine, but I was afraid to see what the rest of it contains. This experiment was less successful. “(Don’t) Fear the Reaper” is a classic for a reason, and stands alone even on its own album. As disappointing as that fact is, this album has some quality cuts of classic rock with a good dose of weirdness mixed in. Classic guitar riffs and upbeat piano cozy up to slightly occult lyrics and horror movie appropriate flourishes hint at the complete uniqueness BOC would develop later in their career. Yes it’s good, but it’s just not what I wanted it to be, and that’s on me.

Favorite (New) Tracks: “This Ain't the Summer of Love”, “ETI”, and “Tattoo Vampire”

 

Can confirm that they're fun live. They were in Butch Walker's orbit for awhile in the late 2000s/early 2010s, so I saw them a couple times at those shows. The guy in the group, Michael Trent, also co-wrote a bunch of two Butch Walker albums.

 

Ok, all caught up now! (This album was wonderful.)

 

Hell yeah

 

Day 16 is Blackwater by Opeth from 2001. I've never really listened to Opeth, but I've seen interviews with Mikael Åkerfeldt, and he comes across as a really thoughtful, intelligent guy, who knows a lot about prog and metal.

This is, I guess, a very heavy prog album, with lengthy tracks, with plenty of diversions and soft stuff, before getting heavy again, with some almost death metal style vocals. The variance in styles is fun, that we can go from light, acoustic style ballads, to really aggressive riffs and vocals in a single song. A lot to take in and a lot to digest, and admittedly I'm not a huge prog fan, so I do find this falling sometimes into the types of things I don't like about prog music, but they're clearly a very talented band and musicians.

 

really love that album

 

This one was hit or miss for me, but with some really high highs!

 

Execution of all things >>

 

I don't think I had made the comparison before, but now that I've heard it it's gonna be hard for me not to think of Blake Sennett as "the wannabe Elliott Smith guy"

 

Sorry Blake, love your work on Boy Meets World!

In all seriousness, I was a big fan of his guitar playing on this record and would probably enjoy his songs in a vacuum. I just tend to get annoyed when bands have a really strongest, distinctive lead singer and spend multiple tracks having a weaker, less distinctive singer take the lead (see also: Goo Goo Dolls).

 

Hah, always a good conversation piece when actors end up in bands (Phantom Planet anyone?). I liked a few songs from Sennett's other band The Elected (and I really wish we got more out of his collaboration with Jarrod Gorbel of The Honorary Title), but totally agree if you have Jenny Lewis in your band, you let her sing.

And damn, Goo Goo Dolls are pretty much the prime example of that, aren't they?

 

I hate that too!