but ANYWAY, sorry to hijack this guys, great job musically keep it coming :)
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 4 February 2009 19:57 (fifteen years ago) link
hey, that's why i am posting the results here and not on another website.
― miss precious perfect (musically), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:02 (fifteen years ago) link
for me they're all style no substance
i can totally see why some people might like them, and the dudes have fine voices for sure, but it's just not something i'm able to engage with at all.
i basically agree completely w/ u here, i'm just trying to get to the bottom of why - even though we seem to be on the same wavelength re their music - i find them "pleasant" and you find them completely detestable. also i wasn't breaking your <3 for skeletal lamping and your hate for FF down solely to the structure of the music, i just thought that you might be conflating the respective structures with blandness and non-blandness.
― your infinity in you is mad lifted (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:02 (fifteen years ago) link
it's fine to dislike f. foxes (and i have the same issue with them that you do re: songwriting) but i don't think repping of montreal instead is some kind of paradigm shift.
or put another way, i think of montreal are incredibly boring but i don't tell everyone this whenever they are mentioned on a thread. ppl are pretty aware of your dislike of f. foxes, k3v. i'm not sure you want to be copping the lex's ILM posting style in this regard.
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:02 (fifteen years ago) link
27 - Alphabeat - Fascination111 points, 7 votes, 2 #1 votes52 in P&J, 47 in p4k
Is it wrong of me to love "Fascination"? Their schtick would annoy if the hooks weren't so strong. The way the chorus lifts into the "Wo-ah Wo-oh-ah" bit is pretty magical.― Tim F
i just saw the Fascination video. hated it (and them) for the first 30 seconds but was completely won over by the end! the band's puppy-dog sincerity would make them very punchable if the music didn't follow-through with its complete lack of irony - pretty rare for such an obvious 80s throwback. the groove is undeniable and the build-up during the 'say the word' bit is absolutely glorious. great song!― jabba hands
― miss precious perfect (musically), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:03 (fifteen years ago) link
to be fair lex has like 3 years of anti-indie trolling history, whereas kevin's hating of fleet foxes has occurred in like two threads over the course of a few months
― your infinity in you is mad lifted (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:03 (fifteen years ago) link
The Fleet Foxes song reminds me most of the sixties revival bands that occasionally come out of Liverpool. It's a bit better than straight Merseybeat, I can hear that the folk, Appalachian, gospel or whatever influences are there, and there are some nice moments - but it's been done before, doesn't amount to more than the sum of its parts, and so is too close to pastiche to be worth my time (xp obviously)
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:06 (fifteen years ago) link
xpost i feel like it's more than two threads but this is true--i guess i just don't get why one would use this message board to neg something more than like once or twice.
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:07 (fifteen years ago) link
"Fascination" should be much higher - BLISS BLISS BLISS.
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:09 (fifteen years ago) link
Fascination: agree with what Tim and jabba hands say. I really, really don't like those first thirty seconds - not one for simplified upbeat hooks, me - and I wish there was a bit more going on there. But it develops really nicely after that when it gets a bit more complicated. I was going to say that both 'Boyfriend' and '10,000 Nights' are far better, but on second thoughts that's probably just because they have much stronger starts. Good band.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:13 (fifteen years ago) link
i've been meaning to listen to alphabeat for a while now. "fascination" is a fine, fine song
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:20 (fifteen years ago) link
Gang Gang Dance I like. I really like the drums in the first half - lots of nice triplets and the percussion track interacts with the other strange elements really well. It brings to mind the Cassie track a little bit for that reason, the busyness of it. I'm most enjoying the laid-back dance tunes here. Not my usual sort of thing, so this poll is great news for me
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:25 (fifteen years ago) link
It's only just struck me, but has anyone ever noticed the similarity between 'White Winter Hymnal' and certain passages of the Habanera from Carmen? (Check out this from about 1.23-ish in)
― Frank Sumatra (NickB), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:51 (fifteen years ago) link
this has to have been said before, but alphabeat remind me of a more upbeat new pornographers. "fascination" in particular is reminiscent of "the bleeding heart show", though the former is much better imo
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 4 February 2009 20:58 (fifteen years ago) link
They're weirdo kids TV presenter types that's for sure. About as sexy as Steps.
― Frank Sumatra (NickB), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 21:05 (fifteen years ago) link
Didn't know both 'Fascination' nor 'Until we bleed' before this thread, but love them both dearly already. Especially Fascination sounds like Katrina & The Waves warped into 2008 somehow. Nice!
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 21:05 (fifteen years ago) link
26 - Ida Maria - Oh My God116 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote66 in P&J, 79 in p4k
― miss precious perfect (musically), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 21:14 (fifteen years ago) link
Well, #26 has broken the careometer, hasn't it?
― Special topics: Disco, The Common Market (grimly fiendish), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 21:52 (fifteen years ago) link
it's a pretty great song
― your infinity in you is mad lifted (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 21:53 (fifteen years ago) link
I rated "Oh My God" high on my ballot, having only just heard it for the first time a day or two before, thanks to the nomination thread. It remains headsticky and sharp, a great example of milking a ton of energy out of a limited premise and very few lyrics. The drummer deserves bonus credit here, although clearly the center of this thing is Ms. Maria, whose Nico von Bjork style is a kind of guaranteed win. Good song.
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 21:55 (fifteen years ago) link
I quite liked it too
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 21:56 (fifteen years ago) link
The other stuff of hers I've checked out doesn't crackle as well, but "Oh My God" does set the bar kind of high...
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 21:59 (fifteen years ago) link
Sorry to be negging everything in this thread, but "Fascination" is completely killed by it's flat, lifeless production. The tune and performance are fine, but sonically, it just seems....there. Something like that really needs to jump out of the speakers to be effective.
― The Reverend (rev), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:03 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah, the rest of the album is decent at best, but this song is a force of nature. xp
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:03 (fifteen years ago) link
25 - Erykah Badu - The Healer117 points, 9 votes, 1 #1 vote110 in P&J
― miss precious perfect (musically), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:07 (fifteen years ago) link
;_; why didn't I vote
― nosotros niggamos (HI DERE), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:08 (fifteen years ago) link
..."Fascination" is completely killed by it's flat, lifeless production...Something like that really needs to jump out of the speakers to be effective.
Have you only ever heard it via Youtube? Because it sounds amazing in my car.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Rev - Huh - I think it's pretty punchy but I guess I sorta see what you mean. I could maybe live with the piano being a little louder, and the drums sometimes. But lots of things jump out of the speakers to me, mainly in the vocals! "WOAH OH WUH UH OH!"
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:10 (fifteen years ago) link
And goddamn, the way the chorus roars back in after the whole "the word is on your lips" section - that right there is all I really ask of music from the Beatles to ABBA to this here. Flutters my heart, it does.
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:12 (fifteen years ago) link
The problem with that Ida Maria song is there's so little to it and her shtick is so limited that it goes from Oh My God (this is great!) to Oh My God (STFU) within about three minutes.
― Holy Suffering Gobi Desert Clit Nun (Matt DC), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:13 (fifteen years ago) link
I first heard it on mp3. xps
― The Reverend (rev), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:13 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm not sure it's something I would go for even if I didn't think the production was poor. A bit white-bread for my tastes. (n/sfj)
― The Reverend (rev), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:15 (fifteen years ago) link
I guess my problem with the production is that it sounds like everything is crammed into the mids, with no high or low end or space between instruments.
― The Reverend (rev), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:17 (fifteen years ago) link
"it sounds like everything is crammed into the mids, with no high or low end or space between instruments."
not that it should change your dislike, but I think this is not only true but very deliberate.
― Tim F, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 22:18 (fifteen years ago) link
"Fascination" feels like one of those songs which at first sound great, but pretty soon you forget about them. A lot of instant, ear-grabbing hooks, but it kinda lacks the sort of melodic and sonic sensibilities that make an evergreen pop song. A fun piece of fluff nevertheless.
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
24 - Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)120.5 points, 12 votes3 in P&J, 23 in p4k
Single Ladies will still be played years from now in chick-flick ads and at weddings to introduce the bouquet toss-dmr
So Single Ladies is one of those singles that suddenly makes sense as being amazing aaages after it gets released I think.―I know, right?
― miss precious perfect (musically), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
wooooo erykah badu
― tricky, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:02 (fifteen years ago) link
Wow, 24? I thought for sure this would rank higher. Top 12 at least.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:03 (fifteen years ago) link
hey musically once you stop for today can you post the results so far in list form?
― your infinity in you is mad lifted (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:03 (fifteen years ago) link
single ladies is pretty divisive on ilm
I found Alphabeat till I heard fascination on the radio earlier for the first time in forever and it just clicked why it was so fun. So i'm happy it placed. xpost.
was the healer actually a single? because for an album track, i think that 24 doesn't seem too bad.
― sheeeeeeit foxes (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:04 (fifteen years ago) link
I'd have thought that Single Ladies was a dead cert for the top ten, if not the top five. Not, like, three places above Alphabeat.
― Holy Suffering Gobi Desert Clit Nun (Matt DC), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:06 (fifteen years ago) link
Right. The home of contrarianism.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:06 (fifteen years ago) link
ah idk about that - i mean the haters say that's it's just a retread of b'day tracks and it can be certainly read as that, because it basically is. the rest of us, i think, thing that's a b'day track as a massive pop single
― your infinity in you is mad lifted (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:07 (fifteen years ago) link
yeesh - the rest of us, i think, thing that it's a b'day track as a massive pop single
― your infinity in you is mad lifted (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:08 (fifteen years ago) link
I rated "Oh My God" high on my ballot, having only just heard it for the first time a day or two before, thanks to the nomination thread. It remains headsticky and sharp, a great example of milking a ton of energy out of a limited premise and very few lyrics. The drummer deserves bonus credit here, although clearly the center of this thing is Ms. Maria, whose Nico von Bjork style is a kind of guaranteed win. Good song.― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, February 4, 2009 9:55 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, February 4, 2009 9:55 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark
Okay, I like 'Oh my God', but Nico von Bjork?! What kind of comparison is that? Is it even related to this song?
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Forgive me, I'm just trying to find a way to convey the various indie-cool affectations she's cramming into her vocal style - she totally runs the map from the "birth of the flattened cool" to scrunched-up pixie with odd enunciation. There are probably much clearer and more contemporary references but I don't really keep up with the music of today.
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:15 (fifteen years ago) link
oh, I forgot to add my 2c about Single Ladies.
i have heard "get me bodied"i have listened to "get me bodied" many times"get me bodied is one of my favorite songs"single ladies," you are no "get me bodied"
it grew on me and all but still, i am annoyed that get me bodied was saved for the kitchen cleanout singles blitz during the waning days of the b'day promo and wasn't given a proper release.
oh well.
― miss precious perfect (musically), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 23:18 (fifteen years ago) link
23 - Vampire Weekend - A-Punk121 points, 11 votes40 in P&J
― miss precious perfect (musically), Thursday, 5 February 2009 00:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Hopefully "Oxford Comma" ranked too, because "A-Punk" shouldn't be the only representation Vampire Weekend gets.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 5 February 2009 00:21 (fifteen years ago) link