hop along: painted shut

Cardinal > Painted Shut, but I know I'm in the minority on that

both albums are incredible. haven't heard big thief, but if it's at all similar to the other two i'll be ecstatic

What i like about this album is it isn't really Math Rock/Emo (which i'm generally aesthetically averse to) but it has the sick chops of one of those album and some of the tricks, deployed to play, like, an Alanis album or something

to me, the Big Thief album is like the midway point between Cardinal and Painted Shut, tbh.

i never super-connected with Painted Shut and i don't really know why. i listened to it several times and saw them live once. they're good and she's awesome. just didn't totally take over my brain like i guess i expected it to.

yeah this never clicked for me either, dunno why because on paper it should be my favorite record of 15

Cardinal though. man.

you guys got me listening to Cardinal again for the 8 billionth time since February

and i'm in tears, partially because THOU didn't place a single record in the metal thread poll but also because OMG THIS ALBUM

The Big Thief album didn't do anything for me and Pinegrove are just OK imo, this is still godhead tho

I hated seeing them live though cause the weirdly thrashy bro crowd drowned out every word by screaming along. i really just wanted to hear Frances, dudes

I'm not sure if there's been discussion of Mannequin Pussy (I know, I know...), but their vibe is the closest thing I've found this year to Hop Along--a bit poppier, and the vocals aren't as impressive, but still bad ass. They're from Philly, too.

https://mannequinpussy.bandcamp.com/track/denial -- this one has a mini-"Sister Cities" vibe

Did I say poppier? Scratch that, much of the album is brutal, but the melodic moments SOAR

big thief is filling the hop along shaped hole in my heart quite nicely post od-ing on painted shut. but it's not AS good imo. PS is my favourite rock album of decade so far for sure

i listened to this album for the first time in at least a year today. it is a remarkable achievement

god, it's so good

^^

So hard to pick a favorite track, Powerful Man is probably the catchiest (or Well-Dressed?), Happy to See Me is the most poignant, but Sister Cities is just a fuckin jam

this is one of those albums that, when i put it on i start to feel a tingling on the back of my neck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf3H30pQ9ms

new album bark your head off, dog out april 6

OMG

AAAAAAAAAAH

good song!

I am up for this

Let's fucking go!

hell yeah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drOJXFTUhP4

was just about to post this...they really stick the landing on this one

there's basically no way this album isn't going to absolutely rule

Ha, was also just coming here to post this. I never quite got into the previous album somehow, but the two preview singles for this (especially Not Abel) have been amazing

I'm mad that Alfred dissed her vocals over at TSJ (though "How Simple" doesn't really showcase her range)

holy crap, this comes out in two weeks

hoping for an NPR stream next week

These songs remind me of Vs-era Pearl Jam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IbBU4QXxD4

maybe i should make a thread for the new record

yes please

this album is already a winner

most anticipated thing ever

hoping for an NPR stream next week

― Simon H., Thursday, March 22, 2018 1:07 PM (one week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ask and ye shall receive

hell yes

"somewhere a judge" is so good

god she works miracles with that voice. Somehow she makes it sound beautiful and elegant even even during the parts of these songs that would customarily call for more braying or over dramatic delivery... Seems like a small thing, but it puts such a different spin on these songs. Like, so much of this music is usually about the sensation of spiraling out of control, but she reverses that script. This is sooooooooo good, one of the best things I've heard this year.

i'm not sure if there's a run as great as the first three songs on painted shut but it might be more consistent? "look of love" is kind of astounding

album feels less like a step forward from painted shut than a step sideways but i'm not complaining

There's a loose, session-y vibe to these songs that reallllllly flatters her. Like "Fox in Motion" and "One That Suits Me" make me thing she could hit the park out of a Memphis album if she wanted to

for sure, she's so good at gliding through the cracks in the music (and in her voice), and that'll probably clarify itself even more when less compressed audio is available

maybe i wish there were more moments of melodic drift like on "what the writer meant"

that's probably my favorite song but honestly every song has at least a moment or two that knocks the breath out of me

fox in motion -> one that suits me -> what the writer meant

^^^ that's the stuff

That's the stretch to beat. Like, on any album this year. Fucking remarkable.

the guitar playing is on another level this time

First three tracks on this are nice but once the album hits "Not Abel" it takes off and doesn't look back, just one high after another. Wasn't expecting to get Nina Nastasia vibes from this but some of those strings are transcendent

this is a good album but going forward anyone who comments on her voice should be obligated to make a similar comment about the equally noteworthy dude of pretty much any indie rock dude because for christ's sake, you'd think she sounded like diamanda galas instead of a slightly more rough jenny lewis

I.....do not think the average indie rock vocalist, male or female, is equally noteworthy/distinctive, and I listen to an embarrassing amount of contemporary indie rock. it's not just the sound of her voice, it's her phrasings and lyrics, too.