The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 218

The first record @ugman_2000 recommended me this week was The XCERTS- There Is Only You

We were discussing some of our favorite bands, and bands we share in common(We both adore Biffy Clyro, so he's actually my new best friend) He had mentioned that The XCERTS were one of his favorite bands. Their newest record(Hold On To Your Heart) is one of my favorite records of 2018, but shockingly enough I had not checked out their previous output yet. He advised me There Is Only You is a record he prefers to Hold On To Your Heart. This had me very intrigued!

The record begins with a short intro "2.12.12" before going into "Live Like This" From the start of the record, I can tell that this record is a little more fast-paced than their new record. Their new record plays like a 90's alternative band. As with their other record I've heard their singer really carries the record. He has a very sincere, heartfelt singing voice that makes you feel like he means every word he sings. His accent is also a little heavier on this record, which was very endearing. His singing voice reminds me a lot like Kris Roe(The Ataris) and he sings with the same amount of energy and sincerity. This record also featured what I wouldn't call screams, but more yells("Shaking In The Water" "Kick It")

About halfway through the record is one of the strongest tracks "Kevin Costner" which begins like an acoustic track before picking up, and the record ends similarly. This record ends where Hold On To Your Heart begins, with a piano ballad. The difference in this record and song, "There Is Only You" is that it picks up the last minute-minute and a half to finish with a big finish. The vocals and music at the end are dare I say similar to the Hotelier, and Christian Holden?

This band has easily become one of my favorite finds in 2018, and this only cements that further. Thanks for expanding my The XCERTS horizon, @ugman_2000

Favorite Songs: "Live Like This" "Kick It" "Kevin Costner" "There Is Only You"

 

This week I was paired with @Nate_Johnson

He gave me:

Vertical Horizon: The Lost Mile
Superchunk: What a time to Be Alive

I gave him:

Cecil Frena- The Gridlock
Camp Cope- How To Socialise & Make Friends

 

Nice review. I need to check this out as their new record is one of my favorites of 2018 so far.

 

I'm listening to Letter Kills right now thanks to @Patterns in Traffic and holy shit I remember these guys from one of my old Warped Tour comp CDs I use to have. Man, memories.

 

Glad you enjoyed that one I do have to say while this is my favourite Xcerts album the new one is close behind it for me right now.

Live Like This and There Is Only You Are my favourites from that album too. There Is Only You is just incredible live when the rest of the band kicks in.

Each of their albums have a different sound going on so check out their other two when you have time. Their first has more of an indie feel to it and their second more of an emo vibe.

 

The second record assigned to me by @ugman_2000 was Baroness- Blue Record. The first thing I noticed is that all their records have a color associated with them. It makes me wonder if there are different sounds to each record to coincide with the color.

From the start, there is no denying that the band is extremely talented. As someone that plays guitar, there were some truly impressive guitar leads at certain points in this thread, and the music is very well-written. There are a lot of diverse sounds on this record. Some of them worked for me, and some of them were a little too sludgy (is that a word) and the singers vocals weren’t great for me on some songs, despite him having an incredible voice. The record also seems like a “quiet” record in the way it’s produced (if that makes sense) The music and vocals seem very distant even when turned up loud. I’m sure it was intentional, but it was also something that kind of turned me off about the record. It’s a very tough record to rate/review because there are some moments where I was like “this record is fantastic” but some moments where I couldn’t get into the songs at all. It’s one of those surprisingly rare occurrences where I listen to a record and can’t decide if I loved it or hated it(which oddly enough has happened twice this week with the first time being the new Jack White record) I was a little surprised at their choice to have back to back to back almost entirely instrumental tracks towards the end with “Blackpowder Orchard” “The Gnashing”(which had vocals in the last minute only) and “Bullhead’s Lament” but it worked surprisingly well.

The record has influences ranging from the softer side of Corey Taylor(“Steel That Sleeps The Eyes”) Queens of the Stone Age (“Swollen And Halo”) and The Fall of Troy (“A Horse Called Golgotha”)

Overall, I definitely enjoyed it enough to want to check out at least one more record of theirs(maybe you could recommend another to me?) and also to see if the music sounds different based on the color of the record.

Thanks for a fun week of records @ugman_2000 !

Favorite songs: “The Sweetest Curse”, “Steel That Sleeps The Eye”, “A Horse Called Golgotha”, “The Gnashing”

 

And this week I gave @skogsraet 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul and she gave me Primary by Kari Faux

 

Nice review @Larry David but I actually gave you the Purple album which is much more palatable to someone going in new on that band.

I’m not surprised you found that one a bit hard getting into straight away when you’re not familiar with their sound.

Anyway I’m glad you gave them a good try. Maybe give Purple a try sometime and see if it gels a bit more with you.

I’ll hopefully have your album reviews up later today.

 

I'm a moron! I'll listen to that as the other one I asked you to recommend haha

 

Tbf just having colors does get a bit confusing.

Don’t worry about doing a review of it or anything but let me know how you find it whenever you get round to it. It’s a lot less sludgy and has a much more friendly tone to it, especially in the vocals.

 

You are starting to make a habit of this, @Larry David

 

You're right. Probably about time for me to retire, eh?

 

No, no retire, if anything you need to practice more

 

@Larry David you color blind, bro?

 

Nice review. I love Baroness. The artwork on those are incredible. If you like the artwork, check out the Kvelertak albums.

 

Give this a listen @Larry David and see if you like it. Then you’ll know whether it’s worth your time to check out Purple

 

Won't let me play it. What's the song?

 

Try again, I f’d up the link. The songs Shock Me, it was the main single and was nominated for a Grammy for best metal song the other year.

 

Also Purple probably would’ve been more interesting for you to review too as a lot of the albums lyrics are themed around their recovery after the Bus accident the band suffered while touring the UK for Yellow/Green. This was about 10 mins from my parents and it’s a big ol drop where this happened, they were proper lucky.

US band's tour bus in 30ft plunge

Two bus crash band members quit

 

We are due for a new Baroness record.

 

Is it more confusing than KoRn having three self titled albums?

 

I’m really looking forward to see what Gina brings to the new album.

 

...looking at you Weezer.

 

It’s about as confusing as their backwards R