HAIM

Don't really get this group. Find them very MOR.

This album is downright fizzy. I'm surprised how similar it is to the first one except everything has a futuristic sheen.

i'm finding these songs kinda amazing???? i'm such a sucker for midtempo wannabe soft rock hits

yeah, i'm liking this waaaay more than DAYS ARE GONE

I'm not there yet. "Little of Your Love" is so goddamn annoying I think it's tainting the rest of the songs for me.

none of the songs really do the thing that made the DAG singles so great, but this works much better as an album - it's more consistent and there's no weird missteps like My Song 5 and I'm enjoying it much more than I thought I might. I'm glad they've successfully branched out their sound a bit even though the production seems a little overworked sometimes

yesca

what's wrong with MOR :)

My Song 5 is one of the best tracks off the debut, everyone is wrong

The whole sad tuba thing is a weirdly misplaced bit of levity, otherwise I don't completely hate that track.

My Song 5 is one of the best tracks off the debut, everyone is wrong

― sick, fucking funny, and well tasty (katherine), Friday, July 7, 2017 11:57 AM (twelve minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

have always thought this

Yup

otm -- three consecutive side closers

― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn),

this is not a bad thing

When I saw them a few years ago My Song 5 was the highlight of the show. It's so ridiculously heavy live.

ufo otm except that i like "my song 5" and yes it rules live

i concur about 'found it in silence' but what are those chugging strings ripped off from? it's doing my head in.

actually i think it's this

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

my first-listen impression is that there are impressive songs some of which are among their best ever but it does not flow quite so seamlessly as an album

is anything supposed to in the streaming age?

Sure, what's the purpose otherwise of continuing to present groups of songs as albums?

To maximize the number of streams.

Reaffirm an artist's brand. That sort of thing.

This is description, not criticism or endorsement.

You could argue that it might matter less to how you are choosing to listen to the music but that's a different argument.

yeah, I don't disagree with that.

even looking at this in a cynical purely-commercial sense it is artists like haim who are supposed to be continuing to affirm the importance of the album as a unit/medium of artistic expression rather than a platform to rack up a bunch of streams (which they're not likely to do anyway)

this is a weird tangent bc i think it flows way better than the last one

well, albusm were a platform to flaunt singles-plus-filler for many years too and remained so, especially in the CD era.

Albums can have gestalt and structural integrity and all the rest of it, and they can also be singles plus filler. It doesn't matter to me at any rate.

Albums must be organized around a concept, preferably one about a dystopian future where rock is outlawed

otm

Albums must be organized around a concept, preferably one about a dystopian future where rock is outlawed

― President Keyes, Friday, July 7, 2017

forward this to Laurie Anderson's lawyers

"found it in silence" sounds like trailer music for a swashbuckling sea adventure

yesca

what's wrong with MOR :)

This album sounds great, whether delighting in the constant syncopation (both percussive and vocal) or luxuriating in the harmonies and arrangements. Unfortunately, that doesn't cover up the fact that there are no memorable songs, just a lot of call and response repetition of things that don't really deserve that much repetition. Very disappointing as 'Days are Gone' is probably my favorite album of the last 5 years. Maybe it's a grower.

the title track and "you never knew" are both wonderful

So far, "little of your love" is a standout track for me, although Batmanglij production tricks are a little superfluous.

yesca
what's wrong with MOR :)

It's boring as shit.
― yesca, Saturday, 8 July 2017 03:30 (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

what are you doing here

After about 4 listens, I'm really liking this. The first one was a grower, too! For me at least.

Really like the syncopated vocals on the title track but honestly this is a huge meh for me after days are gone. The strongest songs here would be the weakest ones in there.

Yeah after a weak first few listens this is growing strongly. I feel like it doesn't hit the highs of Days Are Gone but it's more consistent (sorry to trot out that old saw)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNkzhHG0Prs&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNkzhHG0Prs

DYING

god their voices sound so good

that fucking rules

Should I listen even though I loathe the original?

I knew they had to be Shania Twain fans, first record has several vocal moments that seemed accidentally inspired by her. Seems it wasn't an accident after all.

Danielle is pretty into texmex then. When I saw them live she even sang some Selena and she does a very fine job imitating her voice:

https://youtu.be/zX9cKnYRwf8

Album is great - I've started skipping the first three tracks and starting with "Ready for You".

Re "boring": it kind of is! That doesn't stop it being awesome though.

tasty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z87GTqLcNRU

someone at some point should call out how corny this whole Blood Diamonds rebrand is. lots of people sell out for money without getting all defensive with an in-name copyright symbol

is that what bloodpop is? jeez, i was wondering.