Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

yeah, i typed a couple thoughts about that and deleted them, ha. weird and kind of revealing of the way they approach life

love to be the first say the emperor has no clothes when he probably does and they're probably wonderful clothes but hey whatever what if right

but if you're wrong, and they had no clothes, just think about how good that would feel

or, conversely, imagine taking music advice from someone who is like "i don't know! we'll see how everyone else reacts?!?!?!!??!"

3.5 isn't no clothes, it's, The Emperor looks pretty good, really, but the outfit needs something to pull it all together. (And that something is Spud Infinity obv.)

whatsa gonna taaaaaaaaaake

Just looked the up the review; it’s OK, if very much in the “describe each song” mode.

this band is obviously good. publications should err on the side of overhyping them and any other good band.

whatsa gonna taaaaaaaaaake

― the world's undisputed #1 fan of 'Spud Infinity' (Karl Malone)

lol -- this is on chez Soto as I type.

xp Yeah, I like when reviewers sound excited about good music, and make you excited to hear it. It’s also totally possible to do that without lapsing into “hyperbole.”

(Also, it’s just so clearly at least a 4-star record on the RS scale)

I used to have a list in my head of all the 3.5 star albums I was mad about. I've forgotten most of them, but I know one was the Pogues' If I Should Fall From Grace With God.

would our culture be healthier if people put more stock in critical consensus?

that isn't rhetorical. i'm not sure. it feels like when i was younger, art "mattered" more.

today there is no shortage of great music but it feels marginal to the zeitgeist

For what it’s worth, the reviewer said on the popcast he’d probably give it a four now and maybe he’ll give it a 4.5 a year from now … or something like that … on the popcast. I notice a lot of reviewers, like the sound opinions guys, being really cautious about hyperbole while also seeming to admit they absolutely love half the album

― xheugy eddy (D-40), Monday, March 7, 2022 6:27 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

Found this episode especially obnoxious because Caramanica ostensibly wanted to have a discussion about what other smart people he respects hear in this band and yet he barely gave Sodomsky a chance to talk and kept going back to annoying explanations like how the band isn't actually special but is simply filling some collective space that he thinks exists in indie rock because he doesn't listen to indie rock I guess?

Caramanica was awful.

The smarm repelled me.

Found this episode especially obnoxious because Caramanica ostensibly wanted to have a discussion about what other smart people he respects hear in this band and yet he barely gave Sodomsky a chance to talk and kept going back to annoying explanations like how the band isn't actually special but is simply filling some collective space that he thinks exists in indie rock because he doesn't listen to indie rock I guess?

i am feeling really good about my innate ability to never listen to podcasts. holy moley that show sounds terrible

The ones where Caramanica plays more of the host role with "the whole crew" (Jon Pareles, Lindsay Zoladz, Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz) are generally good.

mr big from sex and the city thief

mr big from eightball and mjg's classic 'comin out hard' lp thief

The Notorious B.I.G. Thief

This piece finds a new(?) double-LP comparison: Stephen Stills’ Manassas (which I’ve never heard of).

Oh I have that Manassas album! Haven’t played it in years and the only song I remember of it is Johnny’s Garden though.

Quite obscure album to bring up tbh

that's a pretty song...a pity Stills has to sing

my Dad was always a huge Nel Young and CSNY fan, insisted Stills only decent non CSN or CSNY project was that Manassas record.

Nel.

I fuck w that Manassass record. It is remarkably solid for a Stills-helmed double lp (but tbh I can’t really speak to much of his non-CSN(Y) or Buffalo Springfield work)

This album still smacks and at the weekend I took my guitar into the garden and played passable renditions of 'Spud Infinity' and 'Red Moon' to my long suffering neighbours

years later, like an epitaph
we read it and we cry

After a very busy and amazing weekend, last night I had a very intense dream about Promise Is A Pendulum

Heh. Awakening six minutes ago, I had "No Reason" and its flute part in my head.

last night i drank a beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd7n2U6V9o0

excellent radio session, including a very energetic version of "red moon and the highest-quality recording of the rock "dragon" so far

whoa that version of dragon is excellent

yeah it's really something

that little breakdown near the end of "Red Moon" is awesome! :)

here's a question that may hurt, a little. the snake's poison. what are the WORST TWO songs?

if i had to boot two, i would first boot Dried Roses. then, with much hesitation, i would show Sparrow to the door. i would apologize to them both

sparrow is fine but sooooo slooooow

some repetition, too. is that one of your two? are you supporting me at this difficult conversation at the door? because i gotta say, Sparrow, i do like the 'she has the poison inside her, she talks to snakes and they guide her' stuff a lot

I've grown to really like/appreciate "Sparrow," though I guess it's the song I would miss the least if it had been omitted

https://i.imgur.com/SVwCvBi.png
https://i.imgur.com/HiRE0EZ.png

i do think that "sparrow" is impressive lyrically, and idk if i would voluntarily cut anything on the album, but i do have to be in a specific mood to really appreciate that song

I love “Sparrow” but it’s my One Song Too Many on this record. Just brings the whole record to a grinding halt. I tend to skip.

But I really liked it as a single (or whatever that prerelease was), it’s just misplaced here.

does anyone else have a second? i feel naked in calling out Dried Roses

Pry "Sparrow" from my cold dead hands

what would you offer in its place. WE DEMAND BLOOD

It hurts to say, but I would offer a whole "Flower of Blood." It's cool we don't actually have to make these choices tho!

(I think the trip-hopiness of that song doesn't gel with the general vibes of the album as well as most other songs)

I guess "Dried Roses," why not. Glad not to have to lose any, though (as J. said)!