OT: New Music?

[JRod]

Mumford ain't my thing, but I get why people like them. I also get why pitchfork doesn't.

Pitchfork is about music not about listening to music there's their thing.

[F308GTB]

Not new music, but new releases - Dylan's early records have been re-released in mono format. They sound really good. Albums now in mono are

Bob Dylan
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
The Time They Are A-Changin'
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde On Blonde
John Wesley Harding

[JRod]

Not new music, but new releases - Dylan's early records have been re-released in mono format. They sound really good. Albums now in mono are

Bob Dylan
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
The Time They Are A-Changin'
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde On Blonde
John Wesley Harding

I'm not an audiophile in anyway. What the difference between mono and what we have now? Just wondering.

[F308GTB]

I'm not an audiophile in anyway. What the difference between mono and what we have now? Just wondering.

Assuming you are talking music only, either wav (CD), mp3 or SACD/DVD-Audio. Default is stereo, 2-channel. So each channel can have it's own sound. Mono on a 2 channel system - both channels play the same thing.

If an album is done well in stereo, it can sound very good. But sometimes it's overdone. Was just listening to Aimee Mann's "I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up for Christmas" and the channel separation on my headphones was just too much. Piano coming from one side, her voice on the other. This created too much separation. On my stereo through speakers, that separation was still there but not as pronounced. Engineers try to mix in stereo to create "soundstage". Think drummer and singer in the middle, guitar on one side, bass on the other. In mono, the stage is flat - all those instruments/vocals are coming from one spot.

If you think of live music, unless you have a stage where the speakers are very far apart (and the production is in stereo) or an acoustic performance with the musicians very var apart, the sound at your listening spot probably won't sound very stereo. I just spent the last couple of Fridays at the opera which is completely non-amplified and natural. Those live performances, with nothing but the singers' voices, musicians' instruments, and the venue created a mono and incredibly satisfying experience. Personally I prefer mono or stereo without so much separation (i.e., minimal engineering such that it sounds more mono).

This link gives you some samples of last year's Beatles releases, and compares mono to stereo. Note that the first song is flipped (it's stereo, not mono).

http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2009/ ... elp_2.html

[greggsand]

Not new music, but new releases - Dylan's early records have been re-released in mono format. They sound really good. Albums now in mono are

Bob Dylan
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
The Time They Are A-Changin'
Another Side Of Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde On Blonde
John Wesley Harding

I'm not an audiophile in anyway. What the difference between mono and what we have now? Just wondering.

Much like most of the Beatles cat, these albums were mixed & mastered originally in mono. So essentially, you are hearing the album the way Dylan & others intended it to sound (and in the way people first heard it on vinyl/radio). That, and the way of these classic albums were pressed to CD 'back in the day' was done so with very little care. Basically they were just 'crapped' onto cd from some tape master the labels had. Very down & dirty.

[Brando70]

Slate's Bill Wyman (the critic, not the bass player) wrote a startlingly brilliant "response" by Mick Jagger to Keith's recent biography. One of the best bits of music writing I've seen in a long, long time. Strike that, some of the best writing of any kind that I've seen in a long time.

http://www.slate.com/id/2273611/pagenum/all/

Thanks for sharing that, Rob. What an amazingly insightful and original way to review Richards' book and present a different perspective on the Stones.

[Brando70]

I have to second Gregg's recommendation for Superchunk's Majesty Shredding and EZ's recommendation for Kylesa's Spiral Shadow.

The new Superchunk is such a fun, energetic record from a band that's made nothing but fun, energetic records. It's funny how they are such a 90s band, make an album that follows the blueprint of those 90s records, and still sounds really fresh and timely. I'll be playing "Digging for Something" and "My Gap Feels Weird" a lot.

Kylesa is a tremendously powerful slab of hard rock that still manages to be tuneful. It's amazing how they can take epic elements of prog, turn them up to 11, and make a song that manages to go on a journey while ending in 4-5 minutes. Great, great stuff.

[ScoopBrady]

I highly recommend Mike Patton's Mondo Cane. Mondo Cane is Patton's homage to the 50's and 60's Italian pop songs that he fell in love with during his time living in Italy. It also showcases just how damn good his voice his.

I also highly recommend Lantlos' newest ".neon" as it is very good. It's a combination post-rock and black metal. Check it out.

[EZSnappin]

I really like the lantlos, too. A nice mix of genres without the turnoff I usually get from black metal (I have treble issues). Mondo Cane I enjoyed but can't see myself turning to it very often. Incredibly well done and sounds great if you're in the mood.

I just picked up the latest from British space/kraut rockers Mugstar. It's called Lime, and if you think a slightly harder-edged Can or Neu mixed with Hawkwind sounds like bliss you'll probably dig it. I think both "Serra" and "Radar King" are up on youtube. Their record from earlier this year (...Sun, Broken...) is also quite good.

[Spooky]

I just picked up the latest from British space/kraut rockers Mugstar. It's called Lime, and if you think a slightly harder-edged Can or Neu mixed with Hawkwind sounds like bliss you'll probably dig it. I think both "Serra" and "Radar King" are up on youtube. Their record from earlier this year (...Sun, Broken...) is also quite good.

Ummmmm...yes please. Definitely will check this out. Thanks.

[GTHobbes]

In anticipation of the Top 10 thread that's due to appear here anytime now, I was thinking of my own -- and then I saw Rolling Stone's Top 30 for 2010. I've only got 2 of the albums on their list (John Mellencamp and Kings of Leon), and really only have interest in 2 others (Neil Young and the Black Keys). Anyways, here's what Rolling Stone thinks is the best of the year:

Rolling Stone's Best Albums of 2010

1. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. The Black Keys, Brothers
3. Elton John and Leon Russell, The Union
4. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
5. Jamey Johnson, The Guitar Song
6. Vampire Weekend, Contra
7. Drake, Thank Me Later
8. Robert Plant, Band of Joy
9. Eminem, Recovery
10. LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening
11. The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards
12. John Mellencamp, No Better Than This
13. Taylor Swift, Speak Now
14. Robyn, Body Talk
15. The National, High Violet
16. Kid Rock, Born Free
17. Beach House, Teen Dream
18. Kings of Leon, Come Around Sundown
19. M.I.A., Maya
20. Neil Young, Le Noise
21. Big Boi, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty ///
22. Spoon, Transference
23. Elizabeth Cook, Welder
24. Maximum Balloon, Maximum Balloon
25. Superchunk, Majesty Shredding
26. Yeasayer, Odd Blood
27. Peter Wolf, Midnight Souvenirs
28. My Chemical Romance, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
29. The Roots, How I Got Over
30. Rick Ross, Teflon Don

[GTHobbes]

Looking back at their list, it's kind've comical that RS doesn't have Mumford & Sons on their list but they do have Taylor Swift. Yeesh.

[pk500]

Any "Best of 2010" list without Deerhunter's "Halcyon Digest" elicits the classic John McEnroe response from me: "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!"

Rolling Stone lost its musical credibility long ago. Jann Wenner sold to the highest bidder, the industry his mag used to cover objectively. Now RS just sucks at the teet of the music business.

[pk500]

Looking back at their list, it's kind've comical that RS doesn't have Mumford & Sons on their list but they do have Taylor Swift. Yeesh.

Agree.

And Vampire Weekend? For f*ck's sake, what a frat boy novelty act with a second album that's a carbon copy of its first. Sorry, "Upper West Side Soweto" boys, but Paul Simon nailed "Graceland" the first time. You've tried to replicate it on two albums and have failed. Time to move on ...

[XXXIV]

Looking back at their list, it's kind've comical that RS doesn't have Mumford & Sons on their list but they do have Taylor Swift. Yeesh.

Its a list....its okay... but my question would be... Where the hell is A7X's Nightmare?

[EZSnappin]

Are we doing a separate top 10 thread? I'd rather keep it here in our rolling depository. I picked my favorite reissues a couple of days ago but just started my countdown today. PK's going to say I CAN'T BE SERIOUS! when it's over.

[greggsand]

ha, was just working on my list last night. prob post it later today. i love end of the year lists. best end of the years lists: 1. Music 2. Movies. 3.... just kidding.

[Pete]

http://features.metacritic.com/features ... t-of-2010/

[pk500]

I don't get the love for The National's album. I really enjoyed "Boxer," but I thought "High Violet" was nothing special. Pretty derivative of "Boxer."

But if critics want to give Matt Berninger an award for having a voice that is a direct descendant of the vocal chords and delivery of Gordon Lightfoot, then I agree.

[greggsand]

I don't get the love for The National's album. I really enjoyed "Boxer," but I thought "High Violet" was nothing special. Pretty derivative of "Boxer."

But if critics want to give Matt Berninger an award for having a voice that is a direct descendant of the vocal chords and delivery of Gordon Lightfoot, then I agree.

Agree with most of that. They are a real snoozer live as well. What I don't get it LCD Soundsystem??? IMO, it's frat-party dance music disguised as being "smart". There's no shortage of bands I can't stand, but I get why people like those bands(kings of leon, for example). LCD has me stumped on a yearly basis.

[greggsand]

here it is:

10. CMG+We Are the Night – Golden Ghosts
9. Girls – Broken Dreams Club
8. Superchunk – Majesty Shredding
7. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
6. Robyn – Body Talk
5. Belle and Sebastian – Write About Love
4. Apples in Stereo – Travelers in Space and Time
3. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
1. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today

[EZSnappin]

I totally missed that The Apples in Stereo had a new record. Need to check that out.

My top 20:

1. Voice of the Seven Thunders - Voice of the Seven Thunders
2. Cathedral - The Guessing Game
3. Kylesa - Spiral Shadows
4. Mugstar - Lime
5. Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
6. Quest For Fire - Lights From Paradise
7. Christian Mistress - Agony and Opium
8. Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky/Look At Me Go
9. Gnaw Their Tongues - L'Arrivée De La Terne Mort Triomphante
10. The Sword - Warp Riders
11. Across Tundras - Old World Wanderer
12. Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit
13. Samsara Blues Experiment - Long Distance Trip
14. Mugstar - …Sun, Broken…
15. U.S. Christmas/Harvestman/Minsk - Hawkwind Triad
16. Ufomammut - Eve
17. Rose Kemp - Golden Shroud
18. Electric Wizard - Black Masses
19. Solace - A.D.
20. Ludicra - The Tenant

Was a hard rock/psych rock/space rock/metal year for me in the end.

[matthewk]

Here's a quick & dirty list of stuff that has stuck in my brain (and ears) as great this year:

1. Flotsam & Jetsam - The Cold - Best thing they've done since Drift
2. In This Moment - A Star-Crossed Wasteland
3. Helloween - 7 Sinners - Would've made my list for the song "Are You Metal?" alone, but the rest is really good too.
4. Crashdiet - Generation Wild - Party like it's 1989! Newer band that sounds like they were born 20 years too late.
5. Zac Brown Band - You Get What You Give
6. Maroon 5 - Hand All Over - Nice change of pace from my usual hard rock/metal/country selections.
7. Bloodbound - Tabula Rasa
8. Coheed & Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow

That's all that really jumped out at me this year. There were a lot of really good discs, like the new Maiden and A7X, but they didn't quite strike me as great, so I kept them off my list.

[GTHobbes]

Just as BackBreaker dominated my videogame year, my Top 10 list in music pretty much begins and ends with M&S, which I played pretty much non-stop after Sigh No More came out back in February, leaving me little time to listen to much else. My abbreviated list would be:

1. Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More (Not just an incredible debut, but one of the best albums ever, IMO)
2. Mumford & Sons, Unreleased cd (made up of these songs available on the net: The Banjolin Song, Feel The Tide, I'll Kneel Down, Sister, To Darkness, Whispers in the Dark, Untitled, and Lover of the Light). Hopefully most if not all of these songs end up on the second M&S album that they'll begin recording in the New Year.

Skipping 3 & 4

5. Kings of Leon -- Come Around Sundown
6. John Mellencamp -- No Better Than This
7. Black Crowes -- Croweology
8. Mogwai -- Special Moves
9. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan -- Hawk
10. Black Mountain -- Wilderness Heart

[fanatic]

My favorites from 2010:

1. Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest
2. Beach House- Teen Dream
3. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
4. The Tallest Man on Earth- The Wild Hunt
5. Sufjan Stevens- The Age of Adz
6. Neil Young- Le Noise
7. The Radio Dept.- Clinging to a Scheme
8. Surfer Blood- Astro Coast
9. Girls- Broken Dreams Club
10. Best Coast- Crazy for You