bigideas

Ok. I heard the same 3 songs again on Sirius XMU today, but I got to hear them through my TV sound system and from beginning to end.

I enjoyed them a lot more.

I am going to get this for $7.99 at Best Buy, and The National album. I have a feeling The National's album is going to be kinda morose and I won't want to listen, but we'll see.

I'm actually thinking of driving an hour away to get the free mask that goes with the purchase of the CD.  I'm sure they will be gone by the time i can get out of work and get there but it would looks sweet on my band room wall.

Where do you see a free mask? Is it an indie record store only type thing?

Best Buy has it for $7.99 with coupon.

I have heard a few songs on Sirius XMU - the single, Panda Bear, Julian C tracks.

Nothing sounds outstanding. I have their debut. I like several songs, but once it gets past the 4 min mark of repeating, I get bored.

At $7.99 though, I almost just want to give it a go.

I haven't heard this one, but they seem to basically do the same thing for every record.

Since she is a singer/songwriter, why not do one record with big arrangements, strings, etc.?

Do one with a large Motown influence.

They may have not really thought a career path out. They just did 1. It was successful. Did 2. And so on...

Hopefully they'll break up the band and Matt can put out a solo record, finally.

What do you mean?

A Wasteland Companion just came out last year.

I bought the first 2. I don't think I hated them or anything, but I am not feeling the desire to hunt down 3. I'm most shocked at how it already has 20+ reviews on Amazon. I guess the actress connection really helps.

You may know all of this but the early B-sides were collected on Dead Letter Office - which also includes the fantastic first EP Chronic Town. 

Is it complete, or is it like a lot of B-sides/rarity compilations that always leave off a few tracks?

Yeah, Deerhunter, The National, Sigur Ros, QOTSA, Daft Punk, Eisley all announced new albums and most seem to be coming out pretty quick.

Michelle has roots in my hometown, I believe. I'm not sure I heard of her until checking the town's wikipedia entry one time.

I still am not familiar with her music.

One local guitar teacher supposedly taught her, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves (new country artist starting to make it big) all from East Texas.

I really need to get the early REM stuff, but I wish these reissues included all B-sides/studio recordings from the era around the albums instead of just a live disc. I'm assuming they had b-sides. Maybe most were picked up in later collections that will be reissued anyway?

Been a while since I listened to TKOL, but isn't there one song that is pretty much just Thom and acoustic guitar, and one that is pretty much Thom and just acoustic piano?

I haven't listened to Amok a lot yet.

One thing about Thom's use of electronic beats - he seems to go for the same sounds. I wonder why he doesn't sample real instruments some - like Airbag and other songs have Phil Selway's drumming chopped up - or an 808 or other beat sounds.

What I've heard so far of Amok is that the beats and other instruments seem to have a fuller, richer sound. The Eraser felt very sterile. It may be because that was mostly a pure laptop album and this involves a full band.

Talking Heads made beat/groove music, but they had choruses and hooks, too. I don't know. I need to listen to Amok some more.

Interesting story.

Won't some of them be Mono and some Stereo?

The two mixes are pretty radically different for some songs.

"Blisters on me fingers!" is only on the Stereo version, and other stuff like that.

Re: the Dr Dog comment - I bought the new EP. Over the years they always have so many extra tracks b-sides and a lot of the time a good deal of those are better than half of the tracks that make the albums. I think choosing the wrong tracks for their albums is one downfall for them.

re: Iron & Wine - I haven't heard anything about that, and only came across one link with a mention of that title.

re: Weezer - I understand not wanting more, but I always hope for a return to greatness. I have tuned out for the last couple albums. I still wish the Rivers Cuomo Pinkerton thing will go down or be released in a more accesible version.

During all of this recent touring has he ever explained why he doesn't play any new songs or release a new album?

Eels have a new one coming out soon.

Am already happy with the new Starflyer 59 - IAMACEO.

Wouldn't think Dr. Dog already has another after and album and recent EP in 2012, but maybe they already talked about it somewhere I didn't see.

Hope the Broadcast album - not recent Berberian Sound Studio soundtrack - comes out this year.

Wonder what happened to the Sunny Day Real Estate reunion album? I figured the Foo Fighters last album/tour put it on halt. Now I'm wondering if the latest Dave project will steal Mendel yet again.

Jeremy Enigk has been at work at another solo album, but not much news.

Eisley has one that should come out this year.

Wish Richard Swift would put out an album, but just like Beck, he is spending time recording others (or touring with The Shins).

U2 is really strange. They had 2 rumored albums in a year and then nothing.

Haven't heard the Christopher Owens (of Girls) solo album yet. Pre-ordered it though.

Would like to hear the new Yo La Tengo and Low, but these are both husband/wife bands that I've bought their last few records of and ended up not listening a ton to them.

Weezer has seemed quiet.

Figure Fiery Furnaces might have something soon.

Quickly scanning the topic, I haven't found these two gems mentioned yet:

 

Damien Jurado - Maraqopa

Woods - Bend Beyond

 

Definitely among the best things released in o twelve imo.

Must've scanned REALLY quick. Ha. I just talked about it above and I think someone else has, too.

Richard Swift just tweeted that Damien booked some time in his studio, so the next one may not be too far off.

Good to see so many mentions of The Shins, as they have been virtually absent from year end lists.

I think it is a whole lot better than Wincing The Night Away.

Some stuff no one has mentioned I don't think:

Damien Jurado - Maraqopa // produced by Richard Swift, friend of Wilco. I believe this was recorded by Damien recording the songs with guitar and vocal live and then Richard playing everything else around it.

Sucre' - A Minor Bird // This is basically the solo album of Stacy DuPree of Eisley and she is joined by her husband, the drummer for MuteMath and Jeremy Larson who recorded/produced it and wrote/played string arrangements on it. I think fans of Bjork and Sigur Ros will at least like some of it. Some of the types of beats and vocals remind me of those that are on Vespertine. And some of the ambience and string use reminds me of Sigur Ros circa the ( ) album.

M. Ward's album really disappeared. I listened to it the other day. It's beautifully recorded, sequenced, and played, but it almost feels like there is a lack of emotion behind it.

of Montreal - I think this is a great comeback after the last 2 mostly disappointing albums. It puzzles me how the same people who complain about some of the long songs have Swans and Godspeed You! Black Emperor on their top 10's. The arrangements on a song like Dour Percentage are almost like an indie white guy's version of how Isaac Hayes and those types of arrangers would do in the 70's - if that makes sense.

I think Melody's Echo Chamber may be my favorite of the year. The only totally new artist I got into - though there is the Kevin Parker/Tame Impala connection. I found about it via the Broadcast band forum.

Check out the MBV Facebook page for fan postings since the year ended. Too funny.l

I had long wanted to hear The Nightfly after seeing it on the best recorded albums in Mix magazine some time ago.

I finally bought it on CD last year.

Is there not a lot of bass on the recording, or was my CD version poorly mastered? It was a cheap one, so it may be the version released in 1990 that I see on Amazon.

In my car stereo that is way too bass-y, you still can barely make out bass lines in the album. There is no low end.

Too hard. I'll just go with what comes to mind.

Sitting By the Riverside - is incredible.

Sitting In My Hotel - is awesome, though I have not heard the full album. Someone made a Kinks comp for me with this on it.

Come on Now -

Ring the Bells

Shangri-La

Waterloo Sunset

And people will not say the early ones since everyone knows those, but they had so many classic songs right off the bat. A lot of them are on a compilation I bought called Well Respected Kinks.

She's Bought a Hat for Princess Marina - I was obsessed with this one for a while.

Strangers - every song Wes Anderson has used like Nothing In this World....too

Village Green

Kinda Kinks is a nice early album. I wish they would have put 2 more originals instead of the covers.

First CD and I'm pretty sure first music that I bought and paid for myself was:

Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

My parents bought me tapes over the years though. I had several NKOTB, MC Hammer, C&C Music Factory, Ghostbusters/La Bamba Soundtracks, etc.

STP Purple was also the first 'rock' album I got. Before that it was the stuff listed above like mainstream pop and rap.

As far as this year goes, I was pleasantly surprised by the new Smashing Pumpkins album, Oceania.

I think it's the best Billy related thing since Adore or Machina era.

One thing I'm really proud of is that he avoided modern recording techniques that so many recent comebacks have - there doesn't appear to be any pitch correction or Auto-Tune on the album. The songs are all pretty decent.

Just like with any Billy album, he doesn't know how to edit, and the album is really long so I've never been able to really 'get to know it.'

Stone Temple Pilots used to be a favorite of mine, and they're comeback album was just too slick for me. I think most of the 90's comebacks are falling under this from what I've heard.

I streamed the first few songs and I just couldn't keep going on. It's not even that it's bad. I don't have as much time to listen anymore and I have the feeling I just wouldn't play this much. I've bought the last 2 Chan records when they came out. There are some good moments, but I can never listen to her records start to finish. At some point, I had heard of Cat Power a lot and saw Moon Pix in a reduced pile rack and bought it. Even recently I tried to listen to it, and just couldn't make it through. I don't know what it is. It's not that I haven't tried either. Not digging the short hair either.

I have bought the last 5 or so Deerhoof records, but I streamed that, too, and figured I probably wouldn't play it much.

I will, however, buy the new Animal Collective. I have streamed it twice and I'm still logging to hear it again.

Has anyone heard lately if they plan to do a New Moon type thing for the later period that NM doesn't cover? Larry Crane archived all his recordings, but I don't know if he has talked about it the last few years.

I only started buying their music with Distortion and then ordered Realism early from Nonesuch and got an autographed poster.

I have wanted 69 Love Songs for years, but for some reason the price on the album seems to fluctuate like the stock exchange on Amazon. Very weird for such an old album.

http://www.amazon.co...24434914&sr=1-2

Someone explain this concerning the Japanese release of Pig Lib. It seems to be the only time the Import is much cheaper than the regular release AND you basically get a free EP!

What gives!

Is this the only place these tunes are available?

I noticed a copy for $5 at Hasting's and about did a double take. I figure maybe it was just old stock they were trying to get rid of and went to Amazon to do some research only to find it cheap there, too.

Is the audio backwards or something? =)