Owen Pallett -- In Conflict

oh hey, i keep meaning to ask if an owen has ever read the obscure cities because i think of those books every time i hear that line
http://www.theobscurecities.com/home/

it's fun to listen to the live youtubes posted on the fansite because the arrangements are necessarily different. before one of the 'song for five and six' versions, he mentions that this album is not so 'loopy'. I guess that's all I meant with my post. it's not so loopy, and I really like that.

It has taken me quite some time to fully take in the multi-dimensional immensity that is this album. I shied away from reading this thread, too, knowing I would eventually come by here to share my thoughts, regardless. 'In Conflict', I feel, is a near perfect* album, a rare, all-encompassing monolith that is there with me always, looking at me, reflecting on me.

I've seen some people up here try to compare it to Heartland. Whether In Conflict ranks higher or lower. I did this at first, but it is such a futile attempt, for they truly are apples and oranges. Where Heartland, in all its beautiful glory, is a mythical tale, something to gaze at in amazement, yet from afar, as something outside of both the narrator and the creator, ’In Conflict’ is almost its diametrical opposite. It is so close, so personal, too much at times. And that is so very tricky, which is why it's even more amazing that Owen pulls it off. Narrates you into this highly personal world and makes you feel at home, too.

There is no denying that some of ’In Conflict’'s themes especially hit home so hard because I find myself dabbling with similar situations and questions, phase of life-wise. Being around the same age helps, too. I wouldn't dare call the tales of ’In Conflict’ autobiographical (as pointed out by Owen in an interview I read, and I understand why), but highly personal? Hell yes. And relatable. Not just in a ’I can see that’ kind of way, but in an ’omg yes - *cries*' kind of way.

The children theme hits home hard. I know not of another piece of music that goes through desire, grief and acceptance as emphatic and uplifting as the opener on this album.
I keep thinking of Moloch, the god of propitiatory child sacrifice, too. Referring to sacrificing something of the highest known value - a child (or ’children’), yet being offered a supreme sense of solace and acceptance for that.

I suppose that is it: hope. There is so much hope on this album, such gracious, relentless kindness, that it takes you a while to realize it really is this sincere and bare, that you aren't being fooled. The display of intimacy and honesty is just immense.

I’ll refrain from singling out songs, specific melodies, or quotes; there are so many that already are latched onto my soul for either very important reasons or no reason at all. As a whole though, this album is everything I could wish for and so much more. Compared to Heartland, it is so much more mature because it is so much more bare, inescapably honest. Both in sound, composition and lyrical themes.

I could not wish for a more beautiful new Owen Pallett album. Owen, if you are reading this, thank you so, so much. Your new album hasn't changed my life; rather has it made a whole lot of things more clear and more bearable and injected with a before severely lacking amount of hope and kindness, and done in such an immensely beautiful way, with such amazingly beautiful music. It's just two stupid words, but believe: thank you. This album has conquered my heart in so many ways already, and it's not nearly done conquering more of me.

* there is one single thing that bugs the shit out of me: those two dull chord punches at the very end, I just do not get them! For someone who so meticulously composes his music, this can't be an incident, it is planned. Yet they throw me off every single time, it feel so off, so confusing. If confusion was intended, I will gladly accept that: I have no problem being thrown off my balance beam for the sake of a shake up or confusion. But please let it not be dreaded randomness.

do all formats end that way, even though they have different closing tracks? I'd guess that it wasn't random.

Xpost, beautiful post LBI

Yeah that's a great post that sums up many of my feelings about the album so far, LBI. There's not just little phrases that strike me as I can relate (I think I'm close to Owen's age/circumstances), but little details in the instrumentation or Owen's delivery that somehow hit those same feelings. The musical version of relating to something, maybe. Almost through my third listen now and I just want to keep listening. Shame Owen's not coming to my city anytime soon because I am very curious how these songs translate to the stage.

Yes, lovely post LBI.

Thanks guys. It was just scratching the surface, not even found the right words for the compositions themselves. A mighty album.

Oh and DL, I thought you wrote a magnificent review for tQ, seeing how very hard it is to 'approach' this album in writing.

FYI fgti, every time I listen to "The Riverbed" my face melts a little more; please keep an eye out for the invoice for my medical bills

Has anyone called / texted / faxed / googled / whatever the phone number he sings, yet? I know it's short, with no area code, but does it do anything?

JESUS CHRIST YOU POSTED THAT LITERALLY 49 SECONDS BEFORE I DID

Question: has anyone tried dialling the number on The Secret Seven yet?

(Not that I think Owen has set up some secret ~Paul's Boutique~ ansaphone hijinx, but, you never know. I'm not dialling long distance to Canada to find out, though.)

I mean, I know there's an ILX hivemind sometimes but that is freaky.

Psych!

Is In Conflict going to win the end of year albums poll on here? I can kind of see it happening now.

Seeing Arcade Fire tonight. I did not even know until yesterday that Owen Pallett is opening. Talk about a pleasant surprise! This turned a 'yeah, that should be fun' show into something much more. I hope they have the 2-disc vinyl at merch.

Great show! And that includes arcade fire. I don't know what label fuckery keeps In Conflict out of the merch table, but fuck it I'll buy it online.

Also, goddamn this Santa Barbara noise ordinance. I'd rather hear Styxx's show from my bedroom at midnight and be able to see a show I'm actually interested in at an irresponsible Monday hour.

Wonderful show on Friday in Minnesota. One of the highlights was when Owen asked for any requests and someone suggested The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead. It was a lovely moment seeing him doing the first song I ever heard by him, almost 10 years ago now.

yeah I tried yelling "Heartbreaker" by Mariah Carey during that part and he didn't fuckin' play it, what a shithead

I did this email exchange with Owen when the album came out for Hazlitt, it's finally online:

http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/hazlitt/feature/black-notes-owen-pallett

that was great, thanks.

that piece makes me wanna get drunk with dude

^^ totally. Thanks for sharing that.

Just got tickets for the Ottawa show on this coming weekend. Excited!

Way too late to this album but it's astounding - top 5 for me this year. Hivemind OTM.

top 2 or 3 depending on whether I want both Jute Gytes in there haha

xp sell your tickets, it is such a snooze fest esp with that live band

:O

lol this is an in-joke right

PRIMUS SUCKS etc

No way; I saw a photo taken from backstage once and he's not even actually playing music, he's just playing DOOM on his violin while he plays a WAV file

lol

tbrr though I had the priv of seeing him twice (twice!!) this year and it was v magnificent, like unexpectedly so, I mean you know it's gonna be *good* and stuff but

I am bummed I could not see the LA date, but such is life.

"pooen poollett"

5 results (0.33 seconds)
Did you mean: poon ballet

well *someone's* got a new DN waiting for them

i saw him in chicago he was lovely & enchanting

Video:
https://www.nowness.com/story/owen-pallett-in-conflict

Dunno if it's the cold weather but I'm really starting to appreciate this now. 'Chorale' is gorgeous.

i mean like it's year end lists so you're a herb by definintion for even complaining but it is kind of bumming me out some of the really mediocre albums that are getting high placement on lists over this

yep. it's blates among the very best of the year, any way you look at it. and it seems to get better and better with each listen too.. maybe the latter is a possible reason it's not seeing as much end of year action as other stuff which is good on first listen but nothing much to return to.

46th best-reviewed album of the year according to AOTY

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/13445-owen-pallett-in-conflict.php

The fastest way that I can know a EOY list is useless at a quick glance is if it does not contain In Conflict but does contain the new Jack White.

^^ This. Or that dull as ditch water Beck album.

What if I told you Jack White played a major part in the production of In Conflict?

xpost

You can substitute Beck for White, sure--I'm picking on Lazaretto because a) I've heard it, and b) i liked White's last record, meaning that the inclusion of this horrible one on so many lists feels lazy to me. I'm sure the Beck album benefits from a similar "we can't *not* include this" mentality among Rolling Stone types, though.

"I'm sure the Beck album benefits from a similar 'we can't *not* include this' mentality among Rolling Stone types, though."

This is why I mentioned in the EOY list thread that I was surprised the indie types weren't doing the same with that Spoon record.

Not to derail this thread though...

Given't a shit about year-end lists when I get to play Queen Elizabeth Hall with my cool band and a sextet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ndk2akCdpE

man i gotta see you live