album feels less like a step forward from painted shut than a step sideways but i'm not complaining
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Monday, 2 April 2018 15:00 (eight years ago)
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
― Evan R, Monday, 2 April 2018 15:03 (eight years ago)
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"
― lowercase (eric), Monday, 2 April 2018 15:08 (eight years ago)
that's probably my favorite song but honestly every song has at least a moment or two that knocks the breath out of me
― Evan R, Monday, 2 April 2018 15:13 (eight years ago)
fox in motion -> one that suits me -> what the writer meant
^^^ that's the stuff
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Monday, 2 April 2018 15:15 (eight years ago)
That's the stretch to beat. Like, on any album this year. Fucking remarkable.
― Evan R, Monday, 2 April 2018 15:18 (eight years ago)
the guitar playing is on another level this time
― lowercase (eric), Monday, 2 April 2018 15:23 (eight years ago)
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
― Evan R, Monday, 2 April 2018 18:07 (eight years ago)
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
― aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Friday, 6 April 2018 15:38 (eight years ago)
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.
― Simon H., Friday, 6 April 2018 15:45 (eight years ago)
like is it sexist more generally that male voices don't receive as much scrutiny, yeah, but I don't know how you can write about these guys and not bring up the subject
― Simon H., Friday, 6 April 2018 15:48 (eight years ago)
I generally enjoy J@yson Greene's reviews, but I'm not hearing Rod Stewart here – yet.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 6 April 2018 15:52 (eight years ago)
yeah that review was good, this isn't subtweeting it, it's just every single piece I've read
― aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Friday, 6 April 2018 16:30 (eight years ago)
i idk why i'm so mean each time i come to visit
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Friday, 6 April 2018 16:32 (eight years ago)
drummer in this band is so good that i miss him when he's not playing
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Friday, 6 April 2018 16:34 (eight years ago)
i find her vocals way more interesting than diamanda galas tho
― flopson, Friday, 6 April 2018 18:43 (eight years ago)
although tbh the best thing i've _read_ about it is the word 'serrated' in the op of this thread
― flopson, Friday, 6 April 2018 18:47 (eight years ago)
not ready to say whether this is better than painted shut, but it's certainly excellent, some curveball productions and the band has improved to the point that frances can save her more dramatic vocals for the most emotional parts of the song. tho i do kind of miss her softLOUDsoft acrobatics.
― stormzy daniels (voodoo chili), Friday, 6 April 2018 19:19 (eight years ago)
scratch "productions," write "arrangements" instead
"one that suits me" just kills me
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 7 April 2018 01:00 (eight years ago)
this album sounds great!
― niels, Saturday, 7 April 2018 10:03 (eight years ago)
I think "Prior Things" is the standout for me. They have a knack for closers.
― Simon H., Saturday, 7 April 2018 10:56 (eight years ago)
Wow the Nina Nastasia vibes are otm
― Evan, Saturday, 7 April 2018 16:12 (eight years ago)
one that suits me, somewhere a judge, what the writer meant are the standouts.
also the other songs.
― stormzy daniels (voodoo chili), Saturday, 7 April 2018 17:53 (eight years ago)
Nina? Ok gotta check this out than silently judge everyone who stans for this but doesn't support the Divine Ms. N
― The Desus & Mero Chain (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, 8 April 2018 01:40 (eight years ago)
not striking me as as good as painted shut SO FAR but i will persevere
― flopson, Sunday, 8 April 2018 02:34 (eight years ago)
Ums it's not overt but I was definitely hearing it at some point midway through the album.
― Evan, Sunday, 8 April 2018 13:46 (eight years ago)
still digesting this. the singles really pop in the context of the album. i was a little underwhelmed with How Simple when it first came out, but now I really appreciate the melody and i've been singing it to myself since listening to the album this morning. Prior Things is a badass closing song that's gonna kill live, and it's the only song on the record that has a "holy shit" vocal moment like the "common kind" refrain in Waitress" or the chorus of The Knock.
― stormzy daniels (voodoo chili), Monday, 9 April 2018 18:10 (eight years ago)
how can I explain it?having been seen,what would that mean?
i can’t explain it,having been seen!what would that mean?
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 17 April 2018 17:43 (eight years ago)
at first i was like "this isn't as good as painted shut" but as with that album i cry literally every time i hear it so who can say
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 17 April 2018 17:44 (eight years ago)
new thread imminent
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 17 April 2018 17:50 (eight years ago)
it would be fun if it included a poll imo
― Simon H., Tuesday, 17 April 2018 17:52 (eight years ago)
i thought it might be too early, but i'll set the date for a few months from now!
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 17 April 2018 17:53 (eight years ago)
+1
― Simon H., Tuesday, 17 April 2018 17:54 (eight years ago)
we need a painted shut poll tho
― bhad bhabie...you gon' hurt your bhack (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 17 April 2018 18:01 (eight years ago)
hop along: bark your head off, dog
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 17 April 2018 18:03 (eight years ago)
also lol i thought about that right before i made the new thread vc
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 17 April 2018 18:05 (eight years ago)
we have a great wanting in commoncommon commonbut none of this is gonna happen to menone of this is gonna happen to mewithin my lifetime!!!!
― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, 29 January 2020 14:40 (six years ago)
great tune!
― cajunsunday, Wednesday, 29 January 2020 18:44 (six years ago)
this new Frances Quinlan album is beautiful
feels like the opposite of Joanna Newsom's work post-Mender, where by singing more "nicely" she lost (imho) a lot of her transcendental forceQuinlan's never sounded "better," in scare-quotes, but the prettiness of the way she's singing gives these songs a tenderness and openness i appreciate a lot
― sean gramophone, Thursday, 30 January 2020 17:41 (six years ago)
In my 15-odd years of semi-lurking and occasional content-free posting, one of the most consistently rewarding parts of visiting this site is getting to see Brad's enthusiasm and passion for music. So many bands/songs that I probably wouldn't have given a second thought to that have become mandatory listens based on the Brad stamp of approval. :)
Anyway, this record is the latest. "Texas Funeral" in particular. Holy shit. But yeah, also in general, just wanted to say thanks to Brad for being the best stranger on the internet.
― cwkiii, Sunday, 1 March 2020 17:14 (six years ago)
otm.
― by the light of the burning Citroën, Sunday, 1 March 2020 17:52 (six years ago)
agreed.
― husked, tonal wails (irrational), Monday, 9 March 2020 15:02 (six years ago)
brad = 2013-2015 ilm mvp imo and we should like to take the opportunity to thank him for being sootm
still listening and loving this band
― Half Japanese Breakfast (outdoor_miner), Saturday, 7 May 2022 19:13 (four years ago)
10 years old this sunday
― gestures broadly at...everything (voodoo chili), Friday, 2 May 2025 16:18 (one year ago)
oh god
― ivy., Friday, 2 May 2025 16:51 (one year ago)
i do feel like my life can be described as “before and after painted shut”
― ivy., Friday, 2 May 2025 16:52 (one year ago)
and when i'm old, i'll only see people from my pastand they all will be happy to see me
― gestures broadly at...everything (voodoo chili), Friday, 2 May 2025 17:05 (one year ago)
we all will remember things the same
;_;
― ivy., Friday, 2 May 2025 19:51 (one year ago)
frances quinlan has a new project called parts workhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h54KXzWNv1Q
― harper valley paul thomas anderson (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 30 September 2025 12:10 (eight months ago)