OT: New Music?

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:56 pm

I just love this new concept of recording albums without telling anyone (ala Radiohead, NIN, and now Raconteurs). You never know, at any moment, your favorite band could release an album. BAM!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:26 pm

The more I listen to this new Raconteurs album, the more I believe there's going to be nothing that will dislodge it from my Top 10 of 2008 list nine months from now.

Man, this is a hell of a record.

Another new album that caught me by surprise was "Accelerate" by R.E.M. It's not as good as the Raconteurs' record, but it's still a nice listen. I thought R.E.M. had lost it, as its last album was a mess and the band has seemed pretty rudderless since Bill Berry quit 10 years ago.

But this record strips away a lot of the art-rock tendencies the band has lapsed into since Berry's departure. It's not "Reckoning" or "Murmur," but it's a rock record. Peter Buck definitely is plugged in for this album, although not as much as "Monster," and almost all of the songs are pretty direct and punchy.

"Accelerate" is a nice return from one of my favorite bands of the 80s.

But The Raconteurs' record -- phew, it's blowing me away!

Take care,
PK

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:33 pm

pk500 wrote:Another new album that caught me by surprise was "Accelerate" by R.E.M. It's not as good as the Raconteurs' record, but it's still a nice listen. I thought R.E.M. had lost it, as its last album was a mess and the band has seemed pretty rudderless since Bill Berry quit 10 years ago.

But this record strips away a lot of the art-rock tendencies the band has lapsed into since Berry's departure. It's not "Reckoning" or "Murmur," but it's a rock record. Peter Buck definitely is plugged in for this album, although not as much as "Monster," and almost all of the songs are pretty direct and punchy.

Agreed with everything you said as a huge R.E.M. fan. It's easy to forget how huge R.E.M. was once upon a time when it was pretty much between them and U2 for biggest band in the world.

I like what little I've heard of the record. Not sure if they'll ever completely regain what they lost in Berry, though.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:17 pm

greggsand wrote:I just love this new concept of recording albums without telling anyone (ala Radiohead, NIN, and now Raconteurs). You never know, at any moment, your favorite band could release an album. BAM!

I was pleasantly surprised a week ago when I read that two of my favorite bands Def Leppard and Whitesnake both have new albums coming out at the end of April.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:56 pm

I'm not sure if the REM is getting such "gushing" reviews because the album is that good or the last 3 albums were so bad. Much like U2 a few years ago, the press is definitely rooting for them on this one. REM is probably my 2nd favorite band of all time (besides Pavement). The album is a nice change of pace, but I fear it's losing it's luster with each listen... Rolling Stone called it one of their best albums EVER...

Another REM-nut friend of mine reminded me that REM's charm was also in their "weirdness". I do miss that.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:12 pm

greggsand wrote:Rolling Stone called it one of their best albums EVER...

Tee-hee. It's not even close, as you know! More of a return to form, which is welcome for a band that has been around this long. Nice to see they still have some musical gas in the tank.

greggsand wrote:Another REM-nut friend of mine reminded me that REM's charm was also in their "weirdness". I do miss that.

I remember thinking as I listened to "Fables of the Reconstruction" for the first time, "Holy sh*t, I can actually discern every third or fourth word Stipe is singing!" It was shocking.

Take care,
PK

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:49 pm

I picked up Vampire Weekend and gave it a few spins. I had to overcome my dislike of the name (completely lame) and that they're another hot s*** 20-something band du jour from New York. But, like The Strokes, the hype is somewhat justified. Fun, quirky album that's like the Talking Heads early work, but more accessible. "Oxford Comma" and "A-Punk" are instantly memorable. Not groundbreaking but pretty self-assured for 23-year-olds.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:52 pm

pk500 wrote:
greggsand wrote:Another REM-nut friend of mine reminded me that REM's charm was also in their "weirdness". I do miss that.
I remember thinking as I listened to "Fables of the Reconstruction" for the first time, "Holy sh*t, I can actually discern every third or fourth word Stipe is singing!" It was shocking.

Take care,
PK

Yeah, besides stipe's ramblings (which were odd in itself). REM had all kind weird/bizarre slants to their music. Songs like 9-9, 7 Chinese Brothers, Feeling Gravity's Pull, Swan H, Orange Crush, etc. are just strange rock songs (in the context of rock songs). REM is more known these days for their hits & DIY ethics, but they were anything but "typical".

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:28 am

The garage band for which I sang in college covered R.E.M. It was a lead singer's dream come true: If I forgot some of the lyrics, I could just mumble, and it still would sound like Stipe. I did that on "Driver 8" more than once ...

Take care,
PK

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:57 pm

greggsand wrote:REM is probably my 2nd favorite band of all time (besides Pavement)

Lol, same here.

I thought R.E.M was strange as well. When I was younger and my parents would see Tourfilm, they would be like "what is this about?".

Stipe was definitely a big part of that, with his mumbling and wacky haircuts and the indecipherable songs.

It's funny to think how mysterious and painfully shy he was before, and now he's so out in the open and enamored with the world of celebrity.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:37 pm

AJColossal wrote:
greggsand wrote:REM is probably my 2nd favorite band of all time (besides Pavement)
Lol, same here.

I thought R.E.M was strange as well. When I was younger and my parents would see Tourfilm, they would be like "what is this about?".

Stipe was definitely a big part of that, with his mumbling and wacky haircuts and the indecipherable songs.

It's funny to think how mysterious and painfully shy he was before, and now he's so out in the open and enamored with the world of celebrity.

Yeah, some say the day you could understand what stipe was singing about was the day the band went downhill (not accurate IMO). It was more like the day the band decided to stop touring & become a studio-band. Berry leaving was the nail in the coffin.

On another note: The Raconteurs is pretty cool. Sounds like Jack White fronting the James Gang...

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:45 pm

The Black Keys new album "Attack and Release" comes out Tuesday. Check it out.

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:25 am

Holy crap. Any of you remotely into metal-style music owe it to yourself to check out Opeth, if you haven't already done so. I'm working at home today and have them blasting at me ... stuff is f***in genius. Great playing, great song-writing. (It's not all just "cookie-monster" singing either. There's a lot of great "real singing" and some amazing acoustic portions of their songs.)

Unfreaking-believable. Can't believe I only found these guys a couple months ago.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:01 am

Some genius has taken the songs from In The Aeroplane Over The Sea and made animated shorts for them. If nothing else it's a great reason to listen to one of the best albums of the '90's.

http://www.tomatoes-radiowire.com/

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:07 am

I'm going to the Gigantour in a month to check out acts such as Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Lost Cowboy, and High on Fire. I'm not really even a metal fan, but I wanted to check a metal concert out and figured this would be one of the more over the top ones, and I might even remember some Megadeth tunes. I think my ears are going to be ringing for a day afterwards.

And thanks for the animated AOTS shorts, RV - I'll have to check them out when I get home.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:37 pm

James_E wrote:Holy crap. Any of you remotely into metal-style music owe it to yourself to check out Opeth, if you haven't already done so. I'm working at home today and have them blasting at me ... stuff is f***in genius. Great playing, great song-writing. (It's not all just "cookie-monster" singing either. There's a lot of great "real singing" and some amazing acoustic portions of their songs.)

Unfreaking-believable. Can't believe I only found these guys a couple months ago.

Yeah, I've listened to everything up to Ghost Reveries and really like Opeth. I'll have to catch up on their library.

I just got a chance to listen to Bay Area thrashers Testament's new album entitled "The Formation of Damnation" and it is an absolutely incredible return to form. With all that Chuck Billy had to endure over the past ten years it's great to see this band reunited (with the exception of Clemente)and putting out vintage material. Any fans of the old Bay Area thrash days owe it to themselves to check this baby out.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu May 01, 2008 4:25 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:I just got a chance to listen to Bay Area thrashers Testament's new album entitled "The Formation of Damnation" and it is an absolutely incredible return to form. With all that Chuck Billy had to endure over the past ten years it's great to see this band reunited (with the exception of Clemente)and putting out vintage material. Any fans of the old Bay Area thrash days owe it to themselves to check this baby out.

I still need to listen to this one. Glad to see them (especially Chuck) back out there. Fomr what I recal he had some form of cancer.

Between new discs from Testament, Def Leppard, and Whitesnake it's beginning to feel like 1987 again

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu May 01, 2008 4:31 pm

After just listening to the latest disc from Sabastian Bach I've come to the conclusion that both Skid Row & G'n'R need to reform NOW!!! Both of these bands could make a ton of $$$ touring, even without any new material.

I've really missed hearing new marterial from these two guys. For those who don't know, Axl Rose sings a couple of tracks with Sab on the album.

With STP getting back together, Velvet Revolver needs a new singer. Since that band is now basically GnR without Axl they should just get back together and finish off the new GnR album already.

For fans of Bach, check out Frameshift. Bach sang on "An Abscence of Empathy". Very cool music with him singing. Heavy Metal with a little industrial in there (but not too much).

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Thu May 01, 2008 4:52 pm

matthewk wrote:
ScoopBrady wrote:I just got a chance to listen to Bay Area thrashers Testament's new album entitled "The Formation of Damnation" and it is an absolutely incredible return to form. With all that Chuck Billy had to endure over the past ten years it's great to see this band reunited (with the exception of Clemente)and putting out vintage material. Any fans of the old Bay Area thrash days owe it to themselves to check this baby out.
I still need to listen to this one. Glad to see them (especially Chuck) back out there. Fomr what I recal he had some form of cancer.

Between new discs from Testament, Def Leppard, and Whitesnake it's beginning to feel like 1987 again

FYI: Testament is touring this summer on the ultimate 80s metal tour - Judas Priest, Motorhead, Testament and Heaven & Hell (Sabbath w/Dio fronting). I'm thinking of driving 5 hours to the nearest site to get my head-banging on. \m/

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Sun May 11, 2008 2:40 pm

2 things:

1.Anyone see My Morning Jacket on SNL last night? What Songs did they do?

2.Anyone know where I can see a video of it??

Damn tivo....

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Sun May 11, 2008 2:48 pm

greggsand wrote:2 things:

1.Anyone see My Morning Jacket on SNL last night? What Songs did they do?

2.Anyone know where I can see a video of it??

Damn tivo....

1. Yes. They were 2 brand new songs (first of which was amazing, second was really good).

2. No. YouTube soon maybe?

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sun May 11, 2008 6:01 pm

matthewk wrote:
ScoopBrady wrote:I just got a chance to listen to Bay Area thrashers Testament's new album entitled "The Formation of Damnation" and it is an absolutely incredible return to form. With all that Chuck Billy had to endure over the past ten years it's great to see this band reunited (with the exception of Clemente)and putting out vintage material. Any fans of the old Bay Area thrash days owe it to themselves to check this baby out.
I still need to listen to this one. Glad to see them (especially Chuck) back out there. Fomr what I recal he had some form of cancer.

Between new discs from Testament, Def Leppard, and Whitesnake it's beginning to feel like 1987 again

I know.... except for the Def leppard whitesnake comment

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Mon May 12, 2008 1:54 am

Yeah, the new MMJ is pretty wacky! I'm glad they're more ween & less skynard.

Anyway:

I'm Amazed - http://www.idobi.com/media.wml?vid=449
Evil Urges - http://www.idobi.com/media.wml?vid=450

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Wed May 28, 2008 10:43 pm

Two things to mention here. First, the new Old 97's record is really solid. There's a few softer tracks, but the 2nd half of this album is fantastic. Has a lot of the energy of Too Far To Care.

Second, for those that might be interested, it's pretty easy to find the new Hold Steady album...and it's fantastic.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:02 am

Best new rap album in about 2 years:

Atmosphere - If Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Sh*t Gold