Chorus.fm Record of the Week Club • Page 11

“If This World Were Mine”

 

this is baby making music

 

To me it's a testament to the greatness of the album that they can take all these instantly recognizable songs but they draw them out, and orchestrate them, and pour their heart into them so much that you never compare to the original. They just end up completely distinct songs.

 

just finished

beautiful through and through

 

I'm actually glad the pick came in a little late because this was a perfect soundtrack for a lazy sunday, sitting around painting and drinking tea. good pick

 

perfect album for a beautiful day

 

Sorry I forgot about this thread. Rockin with Smokey Robinson after a busy ass weeeknd at work

 

Yeah this Smokey Robinson album rules. How can it not put you in a good mood? Killer pick!

 

It's really not fair that putting this album on doesn't automatically raise the temperature outside by 50 degrees. It feels so much like a lazy summer afternoon. Smokey's voice is undeniable.

 

Thanks for introducing more people The Blue Nile @OhTheWater - more people needed to hear those classics

 

Of course the alternate take on this is that now when summer rolls around you’ll know exactly what to throw on. Haha

 

I prefer Stevie Wonder's version of My Cherie Amour but it makes this no album no less delightful. “Lazy summer afternoon” is the perfect evocation for these versions.

 

The Smokey Robinson album just puts me in a good mood whenever I put it on. There's something so comforting about it.

 

Classic right here. Been a while since I've heard it. My dad took me to see Smokey when I was in 7th or 8th grade

 

Honestly I think a big part of what makes it such an all-timer is that it came out in the same year as another album, so there was no real effort to place singles. In fact I don't think they even released on off the record. So unlike a lot of Motown records, it's allowed to be cohesive because it's not just crammed full of songs they hoped might hit on radio.

 

Not cutting Smokey off early, just paging @Patterns in Traffic as up next because I may not be on the site at all tomorrow. (And if you want to make your decision today, I may download the album before my trip tomorrow.)

The Smokey pick was awesome.

 

Just noticed you haven't added me to the main post yet.

I've thought of a couple of records I might choose when it's my turn.

 

look forward to your pick @JM95

 

You'll regret saying that when I pick Father of All...

 

oh goddamn

 

My bad, adding you now!

 

On a big Smokey Robinson kick today. Currently listening to Nolan Strong, who Smokey cited as his biggest influence. Smokey's first recording was a cover of this:

 

Want to give Smokey some much-deserved love. I listened to the album on my way to work the other day and it was simply lovely. Admittedly I am not super familiar with '60s and '70s music, and I was expecting some gravelly-voiced blues. Must have been confusing him with someone else.

The tracks didn't differentiate themselves for me too much, but overall it was just a really pleasant, blissful listen. It was a sunny morning drive and I'm pretty sure I just had a goofy smile on my face the whole time the album was playing. Really classic, timeless sounding stuff, and such a smooth voice. Great rec!

 

For my pick, I'm going with something I've been returning to a lot lately after not listening to it for many years. It won't be much of a time commitment!

Army of Me - Make Yourself Naked EP (2009)

Army of Me was a pretty well-known band around the DC area in the early 2000s. I remember downloading a few of their tracks in high school and being really impressed that they were local. They ended up signing to Doghouse and releasing an EP and an album with them in 2006/2007. I was in college at the time and saw them live a bunch during that era. The project is really a vehicle for singer/songwriter Vince Scheuerman, and I have a lot of appreciation for his songwriting. Pretty standard alt-rock fare, nothing fancy, but really has a way with words and melody, IMO.

After their time on Doghouse, Vince started recording solo demos in his bedroom for the next Army of Me record. In his words, it was him, an acoustic guitar, a keyboard, and one microphone. He was eventually convinced to release the demos as is, which became the Make Yourself Naked EP.

It's a quick little 5-track listen, but after revisiting it last week I've been putting it on daily. Just a beautiful set of songs presented in a really stripped down, intimate way. Hopefully some other folks here can enjoy it without the nostalgia goggles!

 

Love an EP pick!