Synthesizer Patel Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 i think i like this new one a lot better than the other, actually. i don't really like the whole build-up to helplessness blues, it would have been much better if it started at the point where the drums kick in, and the other bit was just dropped completely. also i'd prefer it if they sang in french or something, so i didn't have to pay attention to the words. actually, forget that - i just listened to it again whilst typing this - i don't like any of it, the lyrics make me want to punch something. i like the arrangement of this new one eventhough it's a little bit too soaked in reverb, and i made a point not to try and work out what he was saying. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 i actually dig the lyrics to Helplessness Blues and i've never really paid much attention to Robin's lyrics before. it's clearly about his antisocial disorder "If I know only one thingis that everything I seeof the world outside is full of such wonderthat often, I barely can speakYeah, I'm tongue-tied and dizzyand i can't keep it to myselfwhat good is it to sing helplessness blues?Why should I wait for anyone else" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 i don't really know about his personal life, i don't think people should have to know that sort of stuff for the song to work or not work, though. maybe i'm being a bit hard on them. cos i do like them a fair amount, it's just they fall a little short in certain areas for me to really love them. i tend to be a lot harder on things i wish could be a little better in my eyes rather than things i don't care less about. i'm still looking forward to the album coming out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 if the melodies and harmonies move me, i don't need there to be that great of lyrics usually. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vacant Horizon Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 i actually dig the lyrics to Helplessness Blues and i've never really paid much attention to Robin's lyrics before. it's clearly about his antisocial disorder "If I know only one thingis that everything I seeof the world outside is full of such wonderthat often, I barely can speakYeah, I'm tongue-tied and dizzyand i can't keep it to myselfwhat good is it to sing helplessness blues?Why should I wait for anyone else" do you mean anxiety? antisocial is the clinical term for psychopath. if he does suffer from antisocial disorder, then more power to him in being able to be creative with it, although it'd be a miracle. those folks don't get better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brianjeremy Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 ...helplessness blues...i don't like any of it, the lyrics make me want to punch something. I agree with this. I heard Helplessness Blues for the first time yesterday and I literally wanted to punch something. Terrible lyrics...cringe-inducing. Can't wait to hear this other track though. I too have high hopes for this... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 do you mean anxiety? antisocial is the clinical term for psychopath. if he does suffer from antisocial disorder, then more power to him in being able to be creative with it, although it'd be a miracle. those folks don't get better.yes sorry, social anxiety I agree with this. I heard Helplessness Blues for the first time yesterday and I literally wanted to punch something. Terrible lyrics...cringe-inducing. Can't wait to hear this other track though. I too have high hopes for this... is it the snowflake line? that seems to be the one people are getting hung up on...he addressed that on twitter a while back. fwiw, if you look through the first record and EP, there's some lines that are pretty damn bad on paper too tho (like i said, i never really paid his lyrics any attention even on the first record) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vacant Horizon Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 yes sorry, social anxiety is it the snowflake line? that seems to be the one people are getting hung up on...he addressed that on twitter a while back. fwiw, if you look through the first record and EP, there's some lines that are pretty damn bad on paper too tho (like i said, i never really paid his lyrics any attention even on the first record)no prob. i was just curious Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brianjeremy Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 yes sorry, social anxiety is it the snowflake line? that seems to be the one people are getting hung up on...he addressed that on twitter a while back. fwiw, if you look through the first record and EP, there's some lines that are pretty damn bad on paper too tho (like i said, i never really paid his lyrics any attention even on the first record) Nah, I think that it's the overall lameness that permeates the lyrics. Did I mention cringe-inducing? A chill rolls down my back every time I think about it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nodep5 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Some rough stuff here, I thought "helplessness blues" lyrically was beautiful the first time I heard it, almost teary eyed. To each is own. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kalle Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Leaked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 Leaked. terrible 128kbps rip with skips tho waiting for the band to put up a higher quality stream soon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Muzzle of Dan Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 terrible 128kbps rip with skips tho waiting for the band to put up a higher quality stream soon Major bummer. I downloaded this earlier but haven't tried to listen to it yet. Seeing them at the Palladium (LA) in May. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kalle Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 terrible 128kbps rip with skips tho waiting for the band to put up a higher quality stream soon For sure, it's been enough to tie me over to far though, and once I get a nice good quality rip it'll be so great. No opinions just yet but... it sounds pretty amazing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 it only skips once on the first track - montezuma. it's easily good enough for people to tell if they will like it or not - i assume people listen to mp3 leaks on their computer anyway, so it's not like they're going to be that bothered about sound quality if they're willing to do that. i'm a bit 50/50 on this. too many of the tracks start off with acoustic guitar and then build up, it's just really boring across a whole album. battery kinzie, lorelai and grown ocean stand out for me, because they don't do that - but then they stil have that annoying "building up" approach (i don't really know how else to describe it - it's something the national did on their last album too, i think it's the fault of arcade fire & grizzly bear - it's just a really lazy way to construct a song and make it seem more epic and important that it really is). i think i'm a bit tired of this type of music now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 slow builds are pretty much my favorite type of song (see Calexico, The Frames, National, etc.)... so clearly we differ greatly there. and it's not lazy imo, just a personal preference in songwriting style. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 high quality 320kbps rip of this out now...so glad i waited, it sounds way better than the 128kbps. stunning/gorgeous production. total ear candy. to early to say if i like it as much as the first, but i didn't dislike a single song upon first listen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kalle Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Yeah snagged the new rip last night. I'm weary of saying anything too ridiculous about this record just yet but... I had high expectations going into this record and it really has exceeded every one of them for me. I really think they've evolved their sound and songwriting in the perfect way, little to no electric guitars this time around but replaced by strings and even better harmonies than before. And the contrast between The Shrine/An Argument and Blue Spotted Tail in terms of size and reverb is so so great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nodep5 Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 New video and info at subpop site! Video and tune are sweet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brianjeremy Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 The album is pretty good...I'd say they didn't disappoint on their second record. Again, I think I just have high expectation for this release...that said, I can't wait to pick up the LP. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigideas Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 I thought their first album was good, but not worthy of the lavish praise and album of the year honors it received. I thought it was decent, but not too earth shattering. Really, to me, it sounds like My Morning Jacket if they were aiming to reproduce The Beach Boys' "Cabin Essence" but not quite making it pretty much the whole album (talking about their debut). I definitely don't think they suck. Definitely talented, but haven't done anything to knock me out just yet. Haven't heard the leak. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Every Little Thing Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Yeah snagged the new rip last night. I'm weary of saying anything too ridiculous about this record just yet but... I had high expectations going into this record and it really has exceeded every one of them for me. I really think they've evolved their sound and songwriting in the perfect way, little to no electric guitars this time around but replaced by strings and even better harmonies than before. And the contrast between The Shrine/An Argument and Blue Spotted Tail in terms of size and reverb is so so great. Couldn't have said it better. Everything I have heard so far has been outstanding and the video for Grown Ocean is lovely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 File under bands I don't get. I gave it a shot, but everything sounds exactly the same, just like on the first record only, somehow, they made it even more boring. It's like a poor man's Band of Horses. The whole plodding reverb shtick needs to go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nodep5 Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 File under bands I don't get. I gave it a shot, but everything sounds exactly the same, just like on the first record only, somehow, they made it even more boring. It's like a poor man's Band of Horses. The whole plodding reverb shtick needs to go. to each is own. I always wonder how I would feel about the Fleet Foxes if it wasn't for seeing them at Sasquatch a month before their record came out. It was the perfect scene for them. I will say as a huge fan of the Fleet Foxes and a huge (probably bigger) fan of Band of Horses and an average fan of MMJ, I think they all are different to my ears. However I can get behind not feeling a band. I always use Grizzly Bear as an example. I try and try and it just doesn't connect. If I have to try THAT much it isn't working, and that is cool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted April 4, 2011 Author Share Posted April 4, 2011 i'll take FF over Band of Horses anyday... they've only made one great album so far for me (and last one was pretty dull minus 2-3 songs) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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