Might have heard part of the last album but this is the first new thing i’ve bought in forever without really knowing what it would sound like. Seems great so far.
― geoffreyess, Tuesday, 20 February 2018 03:38 (six years ago) link
(Just realized I have used the word scabrous twice in this thread, which is probably overselling her scabrousness. But she was pretty murky, kind of industrial. I love the new stuff too.)
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 20 February 2018 04:17 (six years ago) link
The timbre of her voice on this record in particular reminds me a lot of mid-90s Kylie.
― monotony, Tuesday, 20 February 2018 06:10 (six years ago) link
i've been thinking the exact same thing, Will!
― joshywinty (josh), Tuesday, 20 February 2018 06:13 (six years ago) link
Yeah, spot on. Put this on and after a few songs my girlfriend asked "uh...are you listening to a Kylie Minogue album?"
― triggercut, Tuesday, 20 February 2018 07:22 (six years ago) link
it hadn't occurred to me but she really does sound so much like Kylie
this album is excellent & so is her band. i was surprised to learn that Rage of Plastic and Time are both covers, they're so thoroughly transformed. Time is especially a highlight
here are the originals:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH39LembpDQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1L-YQK756g
― ufo, Tuesday, 20 February 2018 14:08 (six years ago) link
Kylie, yes, but Olivia Newton-John more.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 20 February 2018 14:15 (six years ago) link
alfred otm. also this record is glorious
― Maconie Youth (NickB), Tuesday, 20 February 2018 23:12 (six years ago) link
I'm obsessed with Mad As Hell at the moment. It kind of reminds of Don't Talk To Me About Love by Altered Images which is one of my favourite songs ever. The rest of the album is slowly growing on me.
― kitchen person, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 23:49 (six years ago) link
Loved the last album.But this one?
The singles were coming out, and I wasn't completely convinced, but...Hearing them, partnered with "Incidental Boogie", "L-Over", etc etc + the ultra-fantastic "Rage of Plastics"... makes this album feel like a goddamn subtle(ish) self-possessed wonder.
Playing it over and over again.
― mr.raffles, Thursday, 22 February 2018 04:28 (six years ago) link
Yeah, I played the shit out of Half Free and was lukewarm on "Mad As Hell" at first, but LOVE this album and couldn't possibly overrate it
― flamboyant goon tie included, Thursday, 22 February 2018 15:17 (six years ago) link
Same!
What I really want to do is play "Rage of Plastics" over and over again, but I always end up listening to the whole thing.THAT's how I know this is super good.
― mr.raffles, Thursday, 22 February 2018 17:04 (six years ago) link
mad as hell giving me heart vibes
― nxd, Thursday, 22 February 2018 17:17 (six years ago) link
Vocally I'm getting Ida No vibes more than anything else
― J. Sam, Thursday, 22 February 2018 17:33 (six years ago) link
Exactly ! I also hear Kylie now that she’s been mentioned but my first thought was Glass Candy.
― AlXTC from Paris, Thursday, 22 February 2018 17:40 (six years ago) link
Mad as Hell actually reminds me of Blondie of all artists.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 22 February 2018 17:58 (six years ago) link
Hope you had help it get to the top 77 2017 poll, we need to get at least one song represented in next year’s poll.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 22 February 2018 17:59 (six years ago) link
I still hear Gwen stefani in her timbre but also a deep reverence for doo wop (Glenda Collins maybe?). Still prefer half free tho
― kolakube (Ross), Thursday, 22 February 2018 18:10 (six years ago) link
Rage ofPlastics sounds like black velvet to me
"Incidental Boogie," an excellent Eno-worthy title, is my ear worm.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 22 February 2018 18:14 (six years ago) link
"Incidental Boogie" is terrific. Probably my #2 after "Rage...".
As for the singing... while she doesn't (I don't think) have the natural ability or range of Billy Mackenzie, I def hear a touch of him in her more adventurous or dramatic note/performance choices.
― mr.raffles, Thursday, 22 February 2018 19:33 (six years ago) link
Yeah I love this album. "Pearly Gates" is my current jam, but it's all good -- one of those records that ends too soon so I just put it on again.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 22 February 2018 20:58 (six years ago) link
pearly gates is great but we can all admit it rips "regulate" right?
― na (NA), Thursday, 22 February 2018 21:02 (six years ago) link
I think you meant "and" not "but" -- part of what makes it great!
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 22 February 2018 21:06 (six years ago) link
fair enough
― na (NA), Thursday, 22 February 2018 21:10 (six years ago) link
"Time" reminds me of some of the extended grooves on Remain in Light.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 22 February 2018 21:13 (six years ago) link
I disliked it at first because it evoked a lot of white art funk that I find stale but the last two minutes are sultry!
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 22 February 2018 21:14 (six years ago) link
White art funk for sure, but it's got verve. And it does turn into a proper live jam at the end.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 22 February 2018 21:18 (six years ago) link
I figured out what "Rage of Plastics" reminds me of, even sonically: a jam from Approximately Infinite Universe-era Yoko.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 22 February 2018 21:41 (six years ago) link
whoa this album is good, i'd never listened to U.S. Girls before
― alpine static, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 19:59 (six years ago) link
I had, but I didn't give this album a full play until a couple nights ago. As I mentioned to Soto on fb, there's nothing else that not only sounds like this right now, but there's nothing even coming from the same place and her brain is tapped into a wholly different timeline than everyone else. I LOVE THIS RECORD.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 21:26 (six years ago) link
^ otm
― kolakube (Ross), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 21:58 (six years ago) link
It is quite good. Need to listen to the older stuff now.
― circa1916, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:11 (six years ago) link
great record, i'm too old to keep up with the buzzing stuff these days but this is really good
― ziggy the ginhead (rushomancy), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:51 (six years ago) link
I mentioned this in my review but what it reminds me of more than anything is From the Choirgirl Hotle
― aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Thursday, 15 March 2018 12:37 (six years ago) link
s/Hotel
excellent review katherine. Re Tori aspects- I wish I could see the Tori similarity but I can't
― kolakube (Ross), Thursday, 15 March 2018 15:35 (six years ago) link
it's partly musical -- "Velvet 4 Sale" really, really reminds me of "Liquid Diamonds" or "Cruel," or jumping ahead things like "Give" -- and partly the lyrics; "Pearly Gates" would fit right in with "Body and Soul," "God," etc. (less optimistic though)
― aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Thursday, 15 March 2018 15:38 (six years ago) link
i can see a similarity in the drum tempo to liquid diamonds for sure. definitely agree there's a thematic kinship as you pointed out in the review
it's an interesting one to consider, thanks
― kolakube (Ross), Thursday, 15 March 2018 15:41 (six years ago) link
I like this record a lot but I'm not entirely convinced by the assertion that there's nothing much sounding like this now.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 15 March 2018 15:48 (six years ago) link
Besides the other vocal similarities/influences mentioned above, my wife made an I think astute association with early '80s Stevie Nicks. The whole album feels referential to that era, where disco and postpunk and new wave were all sliding around together. But it also doesn't feel retro. Interesting record with a lot of good songs.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 15 March 2018 16:09 (six years ago) link
there have been a couple of times when a track off this has come up on shuffle and I’ve been like wow, jenny hval has really upped her game oh wait
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Thursday, 15 March 2018 16:33 (six years ago) link
I just came out of their Vancouver concert and you best believe that Time is just as incredible live as you think it would be
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Monday, 26 March 2018 05:43 (six years ago) link
Oh I was there too! And it was so good! And the band is still so new, I can’t even imagine how amazing they’ll be in a year
The full band versions of “Mad As Hell” and “Window Shades” were heavenly
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Monday, 26 March 2018 16:58 (six years ago) link
Can't believe I forgot about that show
― tinnitus the night (Ross), Monday, 26 March 2018 17:44 (six years ago) link
Saint etienne definitely seems a fair reference point for rosebud
― tinnitus the night (Ross), Monday, 26 March 2018 17:45 (six years ago) link
going tonight
― just noticed tears shaped like florida. (sic), Monday, 26 March 2018 20:24 (six years ago) link
Also going tonight in Seattle. First time seeing her since 2008.
― Yelploaf, Monday, 26 March 2018 23:50 (six years ago) link
there's a Yelploaf now?
― just noticed tears shaped like florida. (sic), Tuesday, 27 March 2018 00:12 (six years ago) link
Yes, I've been here (by other names) since '03.
Anyhow, really enjoyed the show. She and her band, The Cosmic Range, seem primed for festival stages. I don't think it's the best vehicle for her, though. Street clothes, fronting a 7 piece band which vamps liberally... not the move. She danced out into the crowd for the last song and smacked me on the elbow. I didn't turn at first but she did it again and said something like, "Why so sad?"
Why indeed.
― Yelploaf, Thursday, 29 March 2018 00:13 (six years ago) link