OT: New Music?

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:00 am

pk500 wrote:Axl? Damn, is the "Chinese Democracy" tour sponsored by Old Country Buffet?

Bingo. The real irony here is the fact that he had disappeared for so many years.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:46 am

ScoopBrady wrote:
pk500 wrote:Axl? Damn, is the "Chinese Democracy" tour sponsored by Old Country Buffet?
Bingo. The real irony here is the fact that he had disappeared for so many years.

Also pretty bad when you look considerably worse than Slash.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:17 am

I went to what used to be their final show in Memphis, TN. They are great live....FACT

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:19 am

At least he's finally touring. Maybe that will get him back into shape. He's not 26 anymore. I'm sure many of us are carrying a few extra lbs around, and the older you get the harder it is to stay slim. The sad thing is that most of the older rockers who are still slim probably stay that way due to lots of smoking and drugs.

I'm hoping he doesn't wait another 12 years to release the next GnR album. I still really like Chinese Democracy a lot.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:34 am

F308GTB wrote: Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Night

Nice recommendation. I'd heard a song that I liked and checked out the album after you mentioned it. Good vocals and I like the minimalist approach to the music.

At the other end of the spectrum (and this was possibly mentioned months ago), Rancid's Let the Dominoes Fall is a very good piece of Clashy punk, reminiscent of the classic ...And Out Come the Wolves. "Last one to Die" is a classic punk single, and while the rest is not as catchy as that one, there's a lot of additional goodness here, both the sped up and slowed down kind.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:05 pm

I'll take bloaty Axl over the cornrowed Axl of a few years back. He looks less like a mutant Danny Bonaduce.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:50 am

Purchased the 'Hope for Haiti Now' album on iTunes. Some great renditions of popular songs by some of the artists that participated over the weekend. Timberlake singing 'Hallellujah' is awesome. And of course all for a great cause.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:35 pm

talk about paranoid:

http://www.tmz.com/2010/01/24/slash-gun ... hirts-hat/
"Slash Gear Banned from Guns N' Roses Concert

Posted Jan 24th 2010 7:16AM by TMZ Staff

Guns N' Roses fans were forced to take sides in the legendary war between Axl Rose and Slash -- after security at a recent GNR show banned fans from wearing Slash gear inside the show.It all went down at the GNR show in Canada last Wednesday -- concert security informed fans that they were required to turn their Slash t-shirts inside out .... and leave their top hats outside."

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:48 pm

Just finished listening to the new Vampire Weekend album, "Contra." Is there a more overrated, overhyped band than this one?

I don't think so.

No band could ape Paul Simon's "Graceland" album any more thoroughly than this. I'm surprised Simon hasn't sued the band for copyright infringement -- he'd have a damn good case. Good Lord, I thought Rancid's "... And Out Come the Wolves" was almost a direct copy of early Clash, but this album makes that record sound original.

Nice try, Upper West Side frat boys. But Simon created a classic with "Graceland," and your attempt isn't even worthy of cover band status.

Seriously: If I wanted to listen to "Graceland," well, I'd pull out "Graceland."

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:30 pm

Vampire Weekends first album is a great album. The second is more of the same without any real change and a lot less character.

The hype comes from a delay of peple recognizing their first album which is a fine album. So I think you have the "pro bowl" effect for this one. Sadly, I was hoping for more with their second album as they did little to evolve.

I like a few songs but that's about it.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:31 pm

pk500 wrote:Just finished listening to the new Vampire Weekend album, "Contra." Is there a more overrated, overhyped band than this one?

I don't think so.

No band could ape Paul Simon's "Graceland" album any more thoroughly than this. I'm surprised Simon hasn't sued the band for copyright infringement -- he'd have a damn good case. Good Lord, I thought Rancid's "... And Out Come the Wolves" was almost a direct copy of early Clash, but this album makes that record sound original.

Nice try, Upper West Side frat boys. But Simon created a classic with "Graceland," and your attempt isn't even worthy of cover band status.

Seriously: If I wanted to listen to "Graceland," well, I'd pull out "Graceland."

I dig it, not quite as much as the first one, but I still think they're better than 90% of the bands out there right now. Sure, they have some world music influences and the singer does sound a little like Paul Simon, but they also have a knack for arrangements and structure that many current bands lack. Much like their first album, I think it will be a great summer record once the summer rolls around, and "Holiday" and "Giving Up the Gun" are instantly catchy.

I really don't care if a band is overhyped or not. At the start of the decade the indie music media built up The Strokes, but at the same time, Is This It? turned out to be a pretty great album. Sometimes bands deserve the hype, and I think Vampire Weekend is one of them.

TheCentralScrutinizer · Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:19 pm

Anyone pick up the new Hot Chip yet? Was going to buy it the other night on the AppleTV but didn't get around to actually pulling the trigger. I really liked their last album.

TheCentralScrutinizer · Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:22 pm

Brando70 wrote:
pk500 wrote:Just finished listening to the new Vampire Weekend album, "Contra." Is there a more overrated, overhyped band than this one?

I don't think so.

No band could ape Paul Simon's "Graceland" album any more thoroughly than this. I'm surprised Simon hasn't sued the band for copyright infringement -- he'd have a damn good case. Good Lord, I thought Rancid's "... And Out Come the Wolves" was almost a direct copy of early Clash, but this album makes that record sound original.

Nice try, Upper West Side frat boys. But Simon created a classic with "Graceland," and your attempt isn't even worthy of cover band status.

Seriously: If I wanted to listen to "Graceland," well, I'd pull out "Graceland."
I dig it, not quite as much as the first one, but I still think they're better than 90% of the bands out there right now. Sure, they have some world music influences and the singer does sound a little like Paul Simon, but they also have a knack for arrangements and structure that many current bands lack. Much like their first album, I think it will be a great summer record once the summer rolls around, and "Holiday" and "Giving Up the Gun" are instantly catchy.

I really don't care if a band is overhyped or not. At the start of the decade the indie music media built up The Strokes, but at the same time, Is This It? turned out to be a pretty great album. Sometimes bands deserve the hype, and I think Vampire Weekend is one of them.

Speaking of The Strokes, I'm guessing I'm probably the only one that really dug Room on Fire.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:35 pm

TheCentralScrutinizer wrote:Anyone pick up the new Hot Chip yet? Was going to buy it the other night on the AppleTV but didn't get around to actually pulling the trigger. I really liked their last album.

I did. It's very different from "The Warning," my favorite Hot Chip record. It's darker and more dense. I liked the light, bouncy, dancey Hot Chip better, but this is still an interesting record.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:43 pm

Brando70 wrote:Sure, they have some world music influences and the singer does sound a little like Paul Simon, but they also have a knack for arrangements and structure that many current bands lack.

Some world music influences? I guess Brett Favre has thrown some TD passes during his career, too.

Guess we'll agree to disagree on this record. I think it's derivative pap. The novelty of the first record has clearly worn off for me, as the whole "Upper West Side Soweto" schtick is garbage.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:42 pm

Brando70 wrote:Sometimes bands deserve the hype, and I think Vampire Weekend is one of them.

My wife, kids, and I really love the new Vampire Weekend album.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:21 pm

TheCentralScrutinizer wrote: Speaking of The Strokes, I'm guessing I'm probably the only one that really dug Room on Fire.

Count me in as a fan of that album.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:01 am

pk500 wrote:
Brando70 wrote:Sure, they have some world music influences and the singer does sound a little like Paul Simon, but they also have a knack for arrangements and structure that many current bands lack.
Some world music influences? I guess Brett Favre has thrown some TD passes during his career, too.

Guess we'll agree to disagree on this record. I think it's derivative pap. The novelty of the first record has clearly worn off for me, as the whole "Upper West Side Soweto" schtick is garbage.

I'm not a big fan, but I do admire that they simply didn't cave on the pressure to right a "big hit" on album #2. They basically made an album that doesn't cater to anyone but their own fans. This could have been a real "cash-in while the iron is hot" (cough Kings of Leon cough), but kind of went the other way. They could have remade A-Punk 11 times.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:49 am

Funny this discussion of influences came up. I started listening to Chris Knight, a Kentucky singer/songwriter I heard on Pandora. Picked up his last album, Heart of Stone. His delivery on many of the songs sounds a lot like John Mellencamp, but his soul is more Steve Earle. It's powerful stuff, and when my eMusic allowance reloads next month, I'm going to pick up more.

A few of other recent purchases:

Spoon, Transference -- not feeling it yet, but it also could be one of those albums that grows on me.

Los Campesinos, Romance Is Boring -- I really love this band. They find ways to add a lot of twists and turns, like plays on words or little instrumental flourishes, without cluttering up their songs.

Surfer Blood, Astro Coast -- Good indie power pop. Bright guitars, catchy songs, and one of those albums I suspect I'll be playing a lot as the weather warms up. I won't be surprised if "Swim" winds up as one of my favorite songs of the year.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:13 am

Thanks for the tip on Chris Knight, Brando. I've never heard of him, but if he's anything like Mellencamp, he's worth a listen to me.

I may be late on the train for this one, but I read really good things about Mumford & Sons and downloaded their debut, Sigh No More, last night and am really liking it on second listen. Acoustic rock bluegrass (there's banjo) is the best way I know how to describe it. Good stuff.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:14 am

Thanks for the Knight tip. An Earle-Mellencamp combo sounds like a winner to me.

I really dig the new Spoon record. Bull's eye from the first listen for me. Britt Daniel and Co. always deliver for me.

TheCentralScrutinizer · Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:10 pm

pk500 wrote:
TheCentralScrutinizer wrote:Anyone pick up the new Hot Chip yet? Was going to buy it the other night on the AppleTV but didn't get around to actually pulling the trigger. I really liked their last album.
I did. It's very different from "The Warning," my favorite Hot Chip record. It's darker and more dense. I liked the light, bouncy, dancey Hot Chip better, but this is still an interesting record.

Made in the Dark is the only Hot Chip album I have...I will definitely have to check out The Warning based on your recommendation.

I am also intrigued by the new Midlake album after reading a very positive review from The AV Club. Has anyone else checked out the record (titled Courage of Others)?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:44 pm

Really good calls on Chris Knight (It's NOT Peter Brady from "The Brady Bunch"

) and Mumford & Sons.

The description of Mellencamp's voice with Earle's soul was perfect for Knight. Damn good storyteller, too.

I'm really digging the "folk meets Arcade Fire" sound of Mumford & Sons, too. Keeps the parts of Arcade Fire I really like while stripping the overwrought nature that I don't.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:15 am

pk500 wrote:Really good calls on Chris Knight (It's NOT Peter Brady from "The Brady Bunch" ) and Mumford & Sons.

The description of Mellencamp's voice with Earle's soul was perfect for Knight. Damn good storyteller, too.

My first reaction when I heard one of his songs was, "How have I never heard of this guy?" Next month I'm going to snag The Trailer Tapes, where it's just him on the guitar.

I'll have to check out Mumford & Sons. Hoped they would be on eMusic but they're not, at least not yet.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:46 pm

pk500 wrote:I'm really digging the "folk meets Arcade Fire" sound of Mumford & Sons, too. Keeps the parts of Arcade Fire I really like while stripping the overwrought nature that I don't.

I really can't say enough good things about the Mumford & Sons cd, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite debuts of all time.

I also am really looking forward to downloading the "new" Johnny Cash cd from ITunes after midnight tonight. I grabbed the single over the weekend and, as always with Cash's American Recordings, I can't wait to hear the rest of the album.