Ariel Pink

Wait, it's only noticable on some songs, like Plastic Raincoats and Lipstick are really noticably quieter, but white frekles and four shadows are not

Because the leaked version is brickwalled to shit

Why?

xpost nah that doesn't make sense, b/c plastic raincoats is noticably quieter than white freckles

Oh, now I get it. Sorry. You meant the leaked version is actually quieter than the Spotify version, right?

Judging by the leaked version, the Spotify version must sound terrible then

From Stereogum:

"raptor jesus | Posted on Nov 18th +10
Do you like joy Doris? Do you like to smile? Grin? Giggle?

As a comparison point, I’m constantly reminded of The Fiery Furnaces’ “Blueberry Boat” as another album I’ve heard that’s long, all over the place, joyous and maybe a little off-putting by the odd lyrics. I think “pom pom” is 100% more accessible than “Blueberry Boat” but they both have those moments in the songs where they flip the script and never look back.

The first time I listened to the album, I thought “Jell-O” and “Nude Beach A Go-Go” were jokes and filler tracks. Then days later, I found myself humming the melodies and singing the lyrics. Now, I consider them essential tracks and easily the most fun songs on the album. Every time “Jell-O” starts now, I scream right along with Ariel with that huge cartoonish “YEEEAAAHHHH!” Same with the “Yeah!” at the end of “Nude Beach A Go-Go” SO MUCH FUN!

But it’s not all FUN! “Four Shadows” / “Not Enough Violence” / “Picture Me Gone” invert the fun times, creating this beautiful balance between light and dark. I’m usually overwhelmed and exhausted after hearing “Not Enough Violence” but then “Put Your Number in my Phone” sweeps in and takes me back to a happy place.

How about that break down in “Sexual Athletics” where right when you think it’s going to break open, the TV channel gets switched and it’s like Ariel’s doing a Spiritualized verse with, one of my favorite lyrics, “All I wanted was a girlfriend all my life… but she’s too sexual.” Then the drums kick in and it’s like an Animal Collective song. Lots of covered ground in that song alone.

But really, there’s a quick litmus test, do you like “Black Ballerina”? Because I think it’s one of the best songs of 2014 easily. If not, then… I don’t know what to tell you. Also, if you aren’t smiling while listening to this album, something isn’t working."

Comparing pom pom to Blueberry Boat is o_O

xpost no I mean a selction of songs on the spotify are very quieter than the leak *and* the rest of the spotify songs. someone went in and did this to a selection of the songs but not all, my q is why?

alright lets get this over with *rolls up ears*

I like a lot of pink's music, have listened to his stuff for a long time, seen him live quite a bit etc etc and I don't like this album at all. To my ears, there's nothing that interesting sonically. At first it was weird how John maus-y this was but then I realized that it's probably what happens when you apply pink's aesthetic to a solo project

Although I was singing white freckles while making coffee this morning so who knows

i just A/B'd them tanooki, i'm not hearing it.

I like a lot of pink's music, have listened to his stuff for a long time, seen him live quite a bit etc etc and I don't like this album at all. To my ears, there's nothing that interesting sonically

totally agree. felt the same way about mature themes (liked that one at first but grew very tired of it almost immediately). just not very interesting.

yeah I wasn't too into mature themes either but for whatever reason, for me, Live It Up really coheres into something that's instantly compelling

there's always been something, at the very least like one track in an album, that's made me go "holy shit!!!"

For whatever reason, he's been able to achieve, at times, a completely unique atmosphere that I actively want to exist in, but there's really nothing on pom pom that does that, and, to take it a step further, there's nothing on pom pom that seems like it would be rewarding if I were to stay with it in an attempt to understand what I'm not understanding

just listened to this album and it kinda blew away my expectations tbh. the kid is talented.

he's 36

have some respect

I feel similarly. I don't really feeling like revisiting this. I'm over the wacky Ariel stuff for the most part and the "good" songs don't hold a candle to something like "Among Dreams" or "Strange Fires."

It's interesting that Doldrums really isn't that silly at all. I'd like to see it get some recognition so many years on.

It's too lo fi for that to happen

the doldrums is his saddest record, there isn't anything like "hardcore pops are fun" or "jules lost his jewels" or "are you gonna look after my boys?" it's just straight up isolation sickness. the title track is one of my favorites and underrated i feel...

Yeah as I said i miss his more personal sincere stuff
But i got used to Pom Pom and I try not to compare those 2 different periods.
Both are great (though not perfect) imo, for different reasons.

did anyone see him on his first apparently "disastrous" tours in 2004/2005?

Did he play live alone back then?

i think it was a mix, but there's an LA Weekly feature from 2005 that says he played with a band that was under-rehearsed because he couldn't pay them

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/6553-the-doldrums/

Different I said?
Amazing how most things didn't change..
Change the low score and remove some lo fi references and..magic!

his band was really really good when I saw them in 2010

I saw him around 2006 (I think) and it was great! I've still got the super-faded t-shirt from that tour.

I got into him when I saw the video for "Kate I Wait" in 2005. Saw him a year or two later on the tour where he had a different band in every venue. At the show he alternated between having the band back him up and karaoke-ing to his backing tapes, using a Tascam 4-track on stage.

My friends in LA were at a show of his last night and I saw some clips and it was sort of the same. Mix of live band and backing tapes.

I listened back to Mature Themes and think the new one is WAY better. The production is better and the songwriting is too as a result. Songs that maybe started out as tangents are fleshed out with tighter vocal arrangements and stuff. Some songs on his old albums had a few good ideas but they were perhaps front-loaded and once the initial idea is spent sort of seem superfluous. The new record feels like maybe they used that approach for writing the material but the final mixes and arrangements are nailed down.

"Four Shadows" is my favorite song on this. I love that time signature change into the chorus, as well as those "Things that go bump in the night" backing vocals.

Does someone else sing a line on "Negativ Ed"? Sounds like a guest singer for a line or two...

I really wanted to hate the new one, but it really is the best he's done in a long time. Before Today was boring, didn't even bother with Mature Themes.

I mean, holy shit, this shit is awesome.

undiscovered ariel pink track, guess one of the ones he made when he was 8 years old:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmmWYyIlBs0

I'm really happy about Pom Pom. There are at least 6 songs on here that are as good as anything he did in his more lo-fi days. I think A.P. is going to survive the transition to Hi-Fi, unlike other bands who have tried, and promptly fell off (The Clientele, anyone?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkOsSBMKguY

Anyone went to see him live?
Should I go?

definitely go. he is one of the worst frontmen i've ever seen, but his band is TOPS and the songs are amazing. and his singing is in tune

Lol now I'm confused..

he doesn't bound around the stage or anything, really it depends on what/if any drugs he scored before the show. i'm so fucking bummed i missed him due to weather last week because judging by the setlist he got some good shit (pom pom in its entirety plus half a dozen oldies & 3 song encore. they even did round & round)

you should go! he might be dead in a year

saw him in 2010 in nyc and lucked out an a great setlist/performance. such a great show when he's on

can everyone stop saying he'll be dead with a year on this thread plz

friends who went to a show of his last month said it was great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8xjeft2ydQ

Feel like "Any Downers" by Zappa has a real strong presence on the new Ariel Pink, particularly the first half of the album.

psyched

http://pitchfork.com/news/62104-ariel-pink-shares-new-track-hall-of-screams-putting-out-collaboration-with-dev-hynes/

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/359954/26691571/1448252947580/IMG_3178a.jpg

Ariel Pink produced an album that came out last Friday:

https://play.spotify.com/album/0o3MmKQ304daCZGvHhLG8a?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

It's decent.

More info: http://www.allmusic.com/album/phases-mw0002923916

Ariel sings lead on this new song by the charlatan Michael Collins aka Drug Dealer or whatever. it's good

http://pitchfork.com/news/67374-hear-ariel-pink-on-drugdealers-new-song-easy-to-forget/

miss these days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8alD4uGj6rQ

youu could play this and ppl would ask "what's that" and you could tell them and they wouldn't be filled with disgust.

i mean, except for the interlude at 1:40

'everytime i die at miyagis' is one of my very favourite songs

haha i had forgotten how stupid the interlude in this one was. immature spoken word Ariel Pink interludes would be a good poll

doubt many ppl irl know that he's verboten now, tbh