welch79 Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Like has been said, not quite sure how anyone could call this album terrible. But whatever. This is good. I'd hate to not "get" this album. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marino13 Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 There is some stuff on the album I really like and some not so much. However, with 32 reviews compiled it has scored an 88 on Metacritic, album of the year type reviews. As with the first album, I just don't understand the over-the-top gushing for this band. I admit this says more about me than anything, but this gushing makes me look at the band and their albums through a different prism, and it has an overall negative effect on my opinion of them. I basically had the same thing happen to me with Mumford and Sons (not from critic reviews, but from word on the street). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted May 6, 2011 Author Share Posted May 6, 2011 There is some stuff on the album I really like and some not so much. However, with 32 reviews compiled it has scored an 88 on Metacritic, album of the year type reviews. As with the first album, I just don't understand the over-the-top gushing for this band. I admit this says more about me than anything, but this gushing makes me look at the band and their albums through a different prism, and it has an overall negative effect on my opinion of them. I basically had the same thing happen to me with Mumford and Sons (not from critic reviews, but from word on the street). i can understand that... but i guess myself, i saw the band twice before the debut album even came out and loved them from the first note of that first show this is still probably in my top 3 on the year as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheelco Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 never seen them, I don't gush over them, but man that first album was really good, as was "Mykonos" from the EP (the rest of the EP didn't do as much for me) ... I will be getting this new FF record shortly and am excited, I had kind of semi-forgotten about them Quote Link to post Share on other sites
welch79 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 saw these guys friday night at the ryman in nashville and...man! these boys can play, and robin's voice is ever-so crisp live. honestly, based on what i had read here, i wasnt expecting a spectacular show, but i have to report that this past friday's show stands firmly in my top three live shows. get out and check these dudes out live. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigideas Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 their performance on Fallon was pretty cool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mooney Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I liked their first record enough, saw them at ACL in '08 (and found it a little awkward).....so i was never a fervent follower, so i think i can approach Helplessness Blues from an objective standpoint. This record, in my opinion, is gorgeous. And it it's a huge grower. It took a number of listens to really sink in. It's much better than the first. Saw them the other night in Boston, and it was rather epic. Started off slowly, crowd seated (theater show), and suddenly pockets of people stood up, and the whole place followed. Crowd was amazing - loud, raucous and appreciative after songs, and quiet during them. Still some awkward/funny band audience interactions, but this time it was charming and funny, compared to the "what are we doing here? why are we here?" hesitations of 3 years ago. At first i was like "oh no - will i nod off during this?" - and then it turned into a what will be I'm sure a top show of the year. Sound was amazing, and the live treatment of the songs really brought them to life. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
welch79 Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I liked their first record enough, saw them at ACL in '08 (and found it a little awkward).....so i was never a fervent follower, so i think i can approach Helplessness Blues from an objective standpoint. This record, in my opinion, is gorgeous. And it it's a huge grower. It took a number of listens to really sink in. It's much better than the first. Saw them the other night in Boston, and it was rather epic. Started off slowly, crowd seated (theater show), and suddenly pockets of people stood up, and the whole place followed. Crowd was amazing - loud, raucous and appreciative after songs, and quiet during them. Still some awkward/funny band audience interactions, but this time it was charming and funny, compared to the "what are we doing here? why are we here?" hesitations of 3 years ago. At first i was like "oh no - will i nod off during this?" - and then it turned into a what will be I'm sure a top show of the year. Sound was amazing, and the live treatment of the songs really brought them to life.totally the same as my experience in nashville. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scalzunfield Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I liked their first record enough, saw them at ACL in '08 (and found it a little awkward).....so i was never a fervent follower, so i think i can approach Helplessness Blues from an objective standpoint. This record, in my opinion, is gorgeous. And it it's a huge grower. It took a number of listens to really sink in. It's much better than the first. It's going to be the slowest grower yet. I can't listen to the new one in the car because I get sleepy almost immediately. In fact, I still have no idea what's after about track 4 or 5. I just cannot seem to get into it. Any suggestions on tracks during the latter half of the album that perhaps have some more excitement? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Plumplechook Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 It's going to be the slowest grower yet. I can't listen to the new one in the car because I get sleepy almost immediately. In fact, I still have no idea what's after about track 4 or 5. I just cannot seem to get into it. Any suggestions on tracks during the latter half of the album that perhaps have some more excitement? The last track 'Grown Ocean' is my favorite off the album. Love this performance on the Jools Holland show (UK) from a couple of weeks ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mooney Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 It's going to be the slowest grower yet. I can't listen to the new one in the car because I get sleepy almost immediately. In fact, I still have no idea what's after about track 4 or 5. I just cannot seem to get into it. Any suggestions on tracks during the latter half of the album that perhaps have some more excitement? i hear you, but i'd keep at it for a bit (for as long as you can take it i guess) I *like* how this time the songs have more room to breath and open up. But in terms of something more immediate (and later in the record), i really find "Lorelei" to be one of the best things they've done. Also - really give "The Shrine/An Argument" a try. That's one of the ones that open up into new avenues. I really love when it seems like there are two or three songs in one (and say what you want about the weird acid jazz freakout at the end - it's...interesting). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cooperissup3r Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 This is good. I'd hate to not "get" this album. i don't think you would hate to not get it because you wouldn't like it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rareair Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 i can understand that... but i guess myself, i saw the band twice before the debut album even came out and loved them from the first note of that first show this is still probably in my top 3 on the year as well i saw them at the ryman a couple of weeks ago and it was amazing. the harmonies echoed perfectly in there and the crowd (and band) were way into it. easily will be in my top 5 concerts of 2011. EDIT: just saw welch79 and completely agree. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 What the hell, I can't find my helplessness blues disc anywhere, I don't remember ever losing a CD before. Must have fallen out of my work bag. I hate re-buying CD's, especially ones I just bought a week ago! It's good for me to hear some of these reviews, I was on the fence about seeing them at Red Rocks but sounds like it's well worth it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
welch79 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 It's going to be the slowest grower yet. I can't listen to the new one in the car because I get sleepy almost immediately. In fact, I still have no idea what's after about track 4 or 5. I just cannot seem to get into it. Any suggestions on tracks during the latter half of the album that perhaps have some more excitement? i really dig side c which is the cascades into lorelei into someone you'd admire. but then again, side a's pretty damn great too: montezuma into bedouin dress into sim sala bim. shit. just listen to it all. i don't think you would hate to not get it because you wouldn't like it. i don't get what you said...much less what you think i thought when you thought i was thinking what i thought. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigideas Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Does anyone think Lorelai sounds similar to Dylan's 4th Time Around?The beat and guitar work are very similar, as if it was a song they liked and then decided to give one of their songs it's arrangement. The jazz freak-out is pretty cool, but then I remembered how they spoke of Kid A in the liners to their self-titled and now it's hard not to think it's an idea taken from The National Anthem. I still like it though. The biggest question the album brings to my mind is how it and Midlake's The Courage of Others have very common influences and sounds, yet one is universal praised and one is universal panned. I like Helplessness Blues a lot more, too, but I'm not totally sure why. I haven't listened to Courage in a while, but I want to say it seemed too repetitive, like it really only had an EP's worth of ideas. Midlake seems very self contained and it may be to their detriment to not have ANY outside help or ideas. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cam Jones Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 This new album is basically what the first album was.. but there is nothing wrong with that. I love it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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