The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 63

It's pretty Canadian, all 3 albums I've recommended in the CMCS this week are Canadian bands. I listen to a lot of Canadian bands. Lol

 

I can’t blame you. Emily Haines and Feist are also in my top 10 this year. Canada is so sick when it comes to music.

 

@WolvesAreCircling182 and myself want to send a huge thank you to everyone for joining and participating in The Chorus Music Club Society. Since November 20th we have grown to 60 strong and recommended over 200 albums, and have had some great discussions! Reading the write-ups is always something I look forward to and I hope you all do as well.

 

FTFY

 

No lies detected

 

I have never listened to Motion City Soundtrack either :)

 

Well I hope I get paired with you because my picks for you will be ridiculously easy.

 

Finally getting around to writing about @JoshShulkin ’s awesome recommendations. Sorry for the length y’all, lol.

inside//outside– inside//outside
Okay, so before I address anything else I want to say that, purely speculating based on the cover, I was honestly expecting this to be heavily inspired by Nine Inch Nails/industrial music lol.

I was proven wrong though, immediately, as the album begins with jazzy horns playing a short, staccato phrase that’s repeated constantly. This creates a really cool sense of tension as frenetic drums interject themselves into the mix, which seem to establish a new, slightly different beat with every measure; just as you think it’s about to settle into a groove it takes another left turn. Synths sneak their way into the mix for a bit, but before you get too used to them, everything but the horns halt in their tracks for a few seconds and an entirely new, more melodic section is introduced. This section lasts maybe 30 seconds before you’re thrust back into the chaos of the previous section. Again, this reprise is brief, as the horns quickly drop out to let the synths have their spotlight—performing a seemingly improvised, chromatic solo, which constantly alternates between sounding dreamy and nightmarish. This cuts back into the more melodic section, then the horns again, and with a few more subtle shifts, increased layering, and building from the drums, the song halts in its tracks and the next begins. This opening track is titled “Anthem”, which is a pretty apt title, and a perfect taste of what’s to come.

With the elements and framework established in “Anthem”, the album continues with “Resonance”, another highlight, at once beautiful and calming, yet with an almost sinister undercurrent. You just can’t get too comfortable listening to this album, which is to its benefit imo, though I feel like that’d be a turnoff for many. “Self-Portrait in Three Shades of Mauve” is a beautiful electronic-tinged Jazz/R&B track, sandwiched between a harrowingly heavy, almost metallic one. There’s really something to keep you interested and on your toes at every turn, in every song here. I could go on and on describing each highlight, but I’ll spare everyone lol.

This was such an awesome recommendation, that’s entirely up my alley right now, as I’m delving more into jazz/r&b/soul and other genres that this explores.

Flock of Dimes– If You See Me, Say Yes
I’d had this album in my Apple Music library for over a year, and had likely heard a few of these songs before, but never contextualized and I honestly can’t say I remember any of it. I’m kinda kicking myself for that. This is everything I could want in a more pop-oriented release; interesting, thought-out song structures and instrumentation... it’s melodically gripping but, above all, very captivating and unique.

Wait, okay, I just went to look up the vocalists name for write-up purposes, and I guess this is the vocalist of Wye Oak? That makes so much sense. Of course I like this. Anyway, tangent over.

Jenn’s voice effortlessly alternates between being the center of attention to taking a backseat, supportive role to the other instruments. She has such a smooth, pleasant tone, and incredible knack for melody. She’s not always singing the most obvious hooks here, but that’s a good thing in my eyes, as the melodies that tend to stay with me are ones that revealed themselves over time.

I need to listen to this one more, for sure, but my early highlights would be Birthplace, Flight, Apparition, and ...To Have No Answer.




Thanks again, Josh! Loved these recommendations. I’m super glad you found something to like about the ones I gave you as well. I was hoping to push you a bit with The Internet recc, although I felt at the same time a lot of that album is influenced and grounded in jazz sensibility. Hopefully you find something that sticks with you in either of my picks. :)

 

@marioeatworld and I got our albums figured out for this week

He will be listening to Doomtree - No Kings

And I will be checking out LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

 

Yup Flock of Dimes is Jenn from Wye Oak

 

Idk how I didn’t know that going in! I got into both totally independently of one another.

 

Wow, I'm so glad you enjoyed those both so much!!! Especially Inside//Outside, I didn't know how that one was going to go over haha. And yeah, I'll definitely be returning to your recommendations in the future, I loved The Internet's album, and I also need to check out Alfa Mist more.

Also your write up was so much more in depth than mine haha I gotta start stepping up my reviewing game

 

The crescendo/breakdown of "Eat That Up, It's Good For You" remains one of my favorite things I've ever seen live. Impossible to not go crazy.

 

Fun fact: @sean_rugy and I, who are paired together for round 4, are actually friends IRL. Isn't that NEAT!?

@sean_rugy spins:
Phish - July 2nd, 1997 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands* (1997)
Foals - Total Life Forever (2010)

*Second set only. If he likes that, then yeah, go for set 1 cause that shit kicks ass too.

I spin:
The Weakerthans - Left and Leaving (2000)
Have Heart - Songs to Scream at the Sun (2008)'


EDIT: Yep, it took all of 5 minutes to change my mind on the Phish show recommendation.

 

After years of pressure I am now contractually obligated to listen to Phish. Not complaining, it was only a matter of time.

 

Time for you to analyze Phish

 

RIP Harris. He was buried in his favorite Phish shirt.

 

I'd kill to hear Left and Leaving for the first time again!

 

Ah nice. I’m in vet school. You all can send me your pets.

 

Fun fact: The way I discovered The Weakerthan's Left and Leaving album is because Aside plays at the credits roll of Wedding Crashers. I've been a fan since.

 

Holy shit, I did not know that. That's one way to do it for sure.

 

Sorry for the massively late review!

I was recommended Ursa Minor by Nana Grizol (recommended by @marioeatworld)

I previously had never heard of the band before, but upon first listen was instantly caught up as soon as the horns in the opening track 'Nightlights 1'. I felt that this aspect of the band was their strongest hook, and gave them something of their own identity. Sound wise they reminded me of 'The Good Nurse' era Five Eight with a little of the vocal stylings and lyricism of Weakerthans.

Although some of the tracks did merge into each other on first listen, upon the third each track was starting to hold their own and I can imagine that further listens would open up the album even more.

In short, I really enjoyed this album, and would definately try some other from the Nana Grizol discography

Favourite song: Mississippi Swells

 

Cynicism by them is one of the best songs I have ever heard

 

Oh man, hearing Cities for the first time? I hope you enjoy! One of my all-time favourites

 

Only Weakerthans song I know, and I found it the same way.