The albums thread - 2014

[spring hall convert]

I have 5 of the albums they've listed between 50 and 100, one of which; Adult Jazz is quite lovely, it reminds me of Aesgeir, the Icelandic chap who has collaborated with John Grant. The St Vincent album is pretty good too. I've got 9 of the albums from 1 to 49 and 3 of their top 10 (Swans, East India Youth, Grumbling Fur) of which only the Grumbling Fur album gets a regular listen. So...I've heard 14 of the Quietus top 100, that's a pretty high score for me compared with previous years!

Bit of a name-drop but I was chatting to the bass guitarist with Fujiya and Miyagi and he recommended that Gazelle Twin album but in my drunken haze I'd forgotten the name of the band. I must check it out now, thanks SHC for the heads-up.

I've got 12 of the top 20. Familiar with 32 of the whole list so even someone who really follows them isn't that knowledgable about the list as a whole. I'd expect to have at least 80% of Pitchfork's list when it comes out.

The Katie Gately album at 7 is well worth a listen as well. One of the most original things I heard all year.

 

[tinycowboy]

Here's a useful website for the latest end of year lists from various sites.

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/lists.php

And they even have an aggregate list with the ubiquitous WoD in number 1 slot.

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/summary/2014/

Blimey - the things some people put in their lists. That NME one used to be vitally important to me, but I'm over it now. I know I should let people get on with liking what they like and letting me like what I like, but I struggle to understand some choices - but I'll let it go (eg I will not bother looking into who thought the U2 album was the best of the year).

 

[spring hall convert]

Blimey - the things some people put in their lists. That NME one used to be vitally important to me, but I'm over it now. I know I should let people get on with liking what they like and letting me like what I like, but I struggle to understand some choices - but I'll let it go (eg I will not bother looking into who thought the U2 album was the best of the year).

Got to be Q hasn't it?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Got to be Q hasn't it?

Was it the official iTunes top 100..?

 

[spring hall convert]

Was it the official iTunes top 100..?

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/l...-2014-20141201/u2-songs-of-innocence-20141201

 

[Whitechapel]

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/l...-2014-20141201/u2-songs-of-innocence-20141201

Jesus, I know music is Subjective but what an absolute pile of shit that list is. It's almost like it's an elaborate practical joke.

War of Drugs not in their top 10? My Krazy Life in there, when I can name at least 10 better hip-hop albums that didn't make the list. U2 first? Taylor Swift and Lana Del Ray in their top 11?

FFS, what's the point in living?

 

[spring hall convert]

Jesus, I know music is Subjective but what an absolute pile of shit that list is. It's almost like it's an elaborate practical joke.

War of Drugs not in their top 10? My Krazy Life in there, when I can name at least 10 better hip-hop albums that didn't make the list. U2 first? Taylor Swift and Lana Del Ray in their top 11?

FFS, what's the point in living?

Lists FTW.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

Mogwai have a new 6 track EP out today (011214), with the lead track called Teenage Exorcists, which goes thusly...

http://www.mogwai.co.uk/news/2182/watch_the_video_for_teenage_exorcists

Looking forward to this and includes a couple of interesting remixes of album tracks.

 

[spring hall convert]

Can you get in a few recommendations for Thu, Fri and Sun of Drill prior to the event?

pt. 1

http://www.brightonnoise.co.uk/preview?p=96838&t=p

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

pt. 1

http://www.brightonnoise.co.uk/preview?p=96838&t=p

Time to bookmark your website- can only go to Sunday, will look forward to your recommendations on that although the evenings kind of dominated by Wire and Swans.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Was it the official iTunes top 100..?

And U2 with half a billion 'sales'?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Looking forward to this and includes a couple of interesting remixes of album tracks.

I may have mentioned this before but Barry Burns and his wife own and run a bar over here. It's a pretty cool place and has an amazing jukebox made up of mixtapes his, mainly Scottish, famous muso chums have made specifically for him. It also sells a number of Scottish craft beers, and Walkers salt-and-vinegar crisps. In a seas of paprika chips, this latter point is important to me.

Not been there for a few months now and this post has reminded me.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

And U2 with half a billion 'sales'?

Yes, exactly.

I may have mentioned this before but Barry Burns and his wife own and run a bar over here. It's a pretty cool place and has an amazing jukebox made up of mixtapes his, mainly Scottish, famous muso chums have made specifically for him. It also sells a number of Scottish craft beers, and Walkers salt-and-vinegar crisps. In a seas of paprika chips, this latter point is important to me.

Not been there for a few months now and this post has reminded me.

That IS cool.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

That IS cool.

http://www.slowtravelberlin.com/das-gift/

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Okay. Where do I begin with Swans? I know little about them but have been advised that I'd most probably like them. Do I start at the beginning?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Okay. Where do I begin with Swans? I know little about them but have been advised that I'd most probably like them. Do I start at the beginning?

Don't get too close. They can apparently 'break your arm'.

 

[spring hall convert]

Okay. Where do I begin with Swans? I know little about them but have been advised that I'd most probably like them. Do I start at the beginning?

No. Give me a few hours I'll send you in the right direction.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

That IS cool.

" We have a wonderful jukebox which holds playlists which have been very kindly created by a whole host of musicians, artists, novelists, comedians and directors, inlcuding Robert Smith from The Cure, Pavement, The Smiths, Interpol, Errors, Mogwai, Irvine Welsh, Susan Phillipz and many more... "

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

No. Give me a few hours I'll send you in the right direction.

Many thanks.

 

[spring hall convert]

Firstly, for back catlogue stuff I tend to go to allmusic for their view. If you don't know it, it's a great site http://www.allmusic.com/artist/swans-mn0000034988/discography

Early Swans (83-86)


Ugly, nihilisitc, malevolevent, grinding, slow, oppresive battery. Swans set out to be the most extreme band in the world and they succeeded. Remarkable, that unlike lots of "extreme" music, it still sounds brutal today.

Gothic Rock (87-92)


Many consider Children of God ('87) to be the best Swans album. It certainly began the process of them peering out from the underground. The involvement of Jarboe was essential to this.

They were hit and miss during this phase - indeed Gira has disowned The Burning World (89), their one and only major label record. However, White Light From The Mouth of Infinity ('91) was the record that got me into them, a great starting place IMHO.



Post Rock (1995-97)
Gira became bored of the LOUDEST band in the world tag and sought to involve more texture based songwriting. The Great Annihilator ('95) is a great transitional album before they nailed this sound on Soundtracks For The blind ('97).



Swans Are Not Dead (2010-2014)
The reformed Swans are the perfect amalgamation of all that previously made them such a special band. The fury of early Swans, the melody of mid-period Swans and the fearsome scope of late Swans. It's very rare for a reformed band to achieve this. In retrospect My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to The Sky ('10) well recieved at the time is a little dissppointing of the context that went after it. It had some of the strongest songs of their career though.