going to go a little free flowing here as i listen to the album...
1:00
best opening minute of any album we've listened to. maybe any album i've ever heard. i am scared because i feel that it can only go down from here.
2:32
if it can be compared to anything, the sound of the opening tune can be compared to the talking heads doing a grace-land thing by trying to incorporate all sorts of aboriginal rhythms with geeky, societal un-angst and guitar riffs that sound like computers.
14:56
i really enjoy how much the music just breathes. the lyrics serve a purpose and disappear into the driving rhythms while all the songs build and build and build. the music never stops moving and i find myself wondering if/how much the guys from Phoenix listened to the Feelies...
26:45
lead guitars buzzing like working insects. acoustic guitars bashing away like violent femmes. it's very...moving. but it's all moving in the same direction and at the same pace and with the same purpose. a good album as one, unbroken piece of music. no individual songs are very impressive.
33:30
"raised eyebrows" is the best track on the album. the single track that i'll pick out. i love the clumsiness, the '60s raucus rock feel of it, the blitzing punk pace underneath a charming and whimsical melody.
35:00
wow. even more peppiness and rambunctiousness. this album is ending stronger than it started.
"You remind me of a TV show. That's okay, I'll watch it anyway."
<3
END
really cool album. i like this a lot. BUT. there are some really cool musical flourishes in some of the songs that hint at what might be bigger, better, more interesting and diverse songs. yet those flourishes remain as flourishes and never really become part of the music (i'm looking at you, end of "crazy rhythms). it reminds me of how i feel when i listen to new weezer and think, "okay that's an edible pop treat, but where is the meaty main course i'm looking for?" clearly this album is better than anything weezer post-pinkerton (maybe post-green), but it gives me the same feelings of quasi-disappointment.
additionally, i love "paint it black" and i really dig the feelies' cover of it, but it seems to stand out from the rest of the album. like some sort of bonus track.
so i absolutely love this album. yeah, its very simple harmonically. but thats what keeps it 'punk' and 'velvet underground-y,' and thats what also enables some of the awesomely simple melodies. these are all weird, nervous, and cool dudes, and this totally comes across in their music (i wouldnt be at all surprised if 'the boy with the perpetual nervousness' is autobiographical). i think the arrangements are amazing. the way the songs build and how the tension is created is totally unique to me. this album has actually been a very big influence on how i think about arranging songs.
sure, there are some problems with the songs, as schnitzel pointed out. i'd also say that the vocals have a flat emotional range (and probably a small range of notes as well). but they lyrics are awesome. and i kinda forgive them for their musical 'flaws,' because they are just so weird, and this just kind of adds to the weirdness. they had zero desire to put on any kind of costumes and make it huge. these guys are way too nervous and socially awkward, and thats what makes them so unique.
'moscow nights' is probably my favorite right now, but it changes. this is one of those albums i've listened to 100+ times.
i also must mention that they've reunited and i've seen these guys live a few times, and they are absolutely the fastest band i've ever heard. the rhythm guitar playing and drums can only be described as both musical and athletic.
their next album ('the good earth,' released about 6 yrs later) is phenomenal as well. Its a little poppier and cleaner sounding, but still weird, and more harmonically and melodically adventurous. one of those albums that grows on you - and boy did it grow on me. it sounds a little like they'd been listening to REM (interestingly, REM lists the feelies as a very big influence on their early sound).
pitchfork's top 100 of the 70's + top 100 of the 80's, considered, scrutinized, explored, assailed, defended, appreciated and deprecated, fussed over, held up high, kicked to the curb and held back up again. education by fire and a middle finger to disdain. tea, anyone?
lol look at these nerds. lol 1980!
ReplyDeletegoing to go a little free flowing here as i listen to the album...
ReplyDelete1:00
best opening minute of any album we've listened to. maybe any album i've ever heard. i am scared because i feel that it can only go down from here.
2:32
if it can be compared to anything, the sound of the opening tune can be compared to the talking heads doing a grace-land thing by trying to incorporate all sorts of aboriginal rhythms with geeky, societal un-angst and guitar riffs that sound like computers.
14:56
i really enjoy how much the music just breathes. the lyrics serve a purpose and disappear into the driving rhythms while all the songs build and build and build. the music never stops moving and i find myself wondering if/how much the guys from Phoenix listened to the Feelies...
26:45
lead guitars buzzing like working insects. acoustic guitars bashing away like violent femmes. it's very...moving. but it's all moving in the same direction and at the same pace and with the same purpose. a good album as one, unbroken piece of music. no individual songs are very impressive.
33:30
"raised eyebrows" is the best track on the album. the single track that i'll pick out. i love the clumsiness, the '60s raucus rock feel of it, the blitzing punk pace underneath a charming and whimsical melody.
35:00
wow. even more peppiness and rambunctiousness. this album is ending stronger than it started.
"You remind me of a TV show. That's okay, I'll watch it anyway."
<3
END
really cool album. i like this a lot. BUT. there are some really cool musical flourishes in some of the songs that hint at what might be bigger, better, more interesting and diverse songs. yet those flourishes remain as flourishes and never really become part of the music (i'm looking at you, end of "crazy rhythms). it reminds me of how i feel when i listen to new weezer and think, "okay that's an edible pop treat, but where is the meaty main course i'm looking for?" clearly this album is better than anything weezer post-pinkerton (maybe post-green), but it gives me the same feelings of quasi-disappointment.
additionally, i love "paint it black" and i really dig the feelies' cover of it, but it seems to stand out from the rest of the album. like some sort of bonus track.
....and we're back!!!
ReplyDeleteso i absolutely love this album. yeah, its very simple harmonically. but thats what keeps it 'punk' and 'velvet underground-y,' and thats what also enables some of the awesomely simple melodies. these are all weird, nervous, and cool dudes, and this totally comes across in their music (i wouldnt be at all surprised if 'the boy with the perpetual nervousness' is autobiographical). i think the arrangements are amazing. the way the songs build and how the tension is created is totally unique to me. this album has actually been a very big influence on how i think about arranging songs.
sure, there are some problems with the songs, as schnitzel pointed out. i'd also say that the vocals have a flat emotional range (and probably a small range of notes as well). but they lyrics are awesome. and i kinda forgive them for their musical 'flaws,' because they are just so weird, and this just kind of adds to the weirdness. they had zero desire to put on any kind of costumes and make it huge. these guys are way too nervous and socially awkward, and thats what makes them so unique.
'moscow nights' is probably my favorite right now, but it changes. this is one of those albums i've listened to 100+ times.
i also must mention that they've reunited and i've seen these guys live a few times, and they are absolutely the fastest band i've ever heard. the rhythm guitar playing and drums can only be described as both musical and athletic.
their next album ('the good earth,' released about 6 yrs later) is phenomenal as well. Its a little poppier and cleaner sounding, but still weird, and more harmonically and melodically adventurous. one of those albums that grows on you - and boy did it grow on me. it sounds a little like they'd been listening to REM (interestingly, REM lists the feelies as a very big influence on their early sound).