Chvrches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moD5muTQcwY

I've just read one review of the new album which states that Chvrches have managed to do what a lot of recent UK synthpop artists haven't, and that is to make a great second album. I can't argue with that, and it's about fucking time!

The dude-vocalist song in the middle is actually good!

eh, I could live without it

That Bieber cover is weak compared to the original, but the album is GREAT.

the one with the guy singing sounds like a chromeo song

I'm loving this album a hell of a lot, sounds perky as fuck after listening through the latest New Order.

I'm finding that, aside from "Empty Threat" (which I'd say is among the 2 or 3 best tracks on here), the energy wanes a bit too much on the second half of the record. The good stuff here is so good, though, that I feel kind of churlish even complaining.

'Down Side Of Me' is stunning. 'Empty Threat' is fun.

'Make Them Gold' is obnoxious.

"Empty Threat" and "Bury It" are the ones I like best that weren't pre-released.

Also I was happy to see Lauren discuss her appreciation for emo in this podcast as it sort of explains why I was compelled to make a playlist entitled "Pvrvmvre" over the weekend.

ok im late to the party on this but 'leave a trace' is A+

This record seems to inhabit a very heightened emotional position that is both extremely euphoric and rushy (even down to the trance synths on one song), but that at the same time you can imagine soundtracking moments of peak self-indulgent adolescent misery, it's at exactly the kind of emotional tenor that I guess people see in Fall Out Boy records or whatever.

Album is way way better than I thought it would be, if you skip the dude song it's near perfect.

I even like the dude song!

Liked the first one but not hearing the superiority of this one at all, just seems like more of the same but with nothing really jumping out.

I'm afraid to listen to this because I don't think chvrches and I are on the same page about what the chrvches record should be (basically, I just want 12 more "Science/Visions")

definitely not much of a Science/Visions vibe on this new one. Much more focus on the vocals, much less on the music. It makes for some strong pop tracks, but I do miss the more techie aspects of the first one.

After giving this a few more listens and then going back to the debut, I have to say that I vastly prefer the new one, and I speak as someone who really, really liked the debut album. I'm enjoying the smoother sound, improved songwriting and the vocals are much stronger.

'Make Them Gold' is obnoxious.

― KevRus, Tuesday, September 29, 2015 10:38 PM (5 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Can't agree, it's one of my favourite things they've ever done and should be a single.

Yeah, it's fair to say that this is one of my favourite albums of the year - I keep getting several of the songs from this record lodged in my head at random. Chvrches have become my favourite new UK synthpop artist for a very long time.

this is all i listen to right now, this album is so good. it will be my number one album from 2015 as i can't see anything replacing it.

i guess there's nothing wrong with recycling melodies (certainly the brill building songwriters did it all the time), but it's weird to see a band emerging from this particular taste culture doing it this baldly.

also, this album is really boring, but i guess the lack of discussion here means ILM knows that.

I like it but there's not very much to say about it.

all i can say is that it's one of the few albums i bought on itunes that i just deleted after a few days. it's "pleasant," but so lightweight that it's almost... unpleasant? it's certainly redunant; if i feel like a chvrches fix, i'll just listen to the previous album.

I didn't like the previous album much but like this more. It feels like there's a little more subtlety in the arrangements, and the vocals are stronger. I can understand why it could seem redundant to some, but it's nothing but an improvement to me. There isn't really that much to say about it though, it's solid but unspectacular.

I can't forget how much it reminds me of Tegan and Sara.

I liked the previous album, I like this album more, and no doubt I'll like their next record too. This and Ten Love Songs are my two favourite albums of the year.

I like it but there's not very much to say about it.

Yeah. This is in my Top 10 this year, much prefer it to the debut, tune after tune, but what's there to say? If the quality of an album is judged by the number of posts then ILX must love Amanda Palmer.

I once started writing a post which began talking about Lauren's love of anatomical imagery and man as machine and machine-made music and then I remember writing something about how this album is what must have been going through Data the Android's circuits in that episode he learned to feel love, and then I caught myself and logged off, what I'm trying to say is some times no discussion beats the alternative

Fantastic album anyway, top five for me for sure.

I like this fine, but I don't feel passionate about it the way I did their debut.

I like the new album, but apart from "Leave a Trace" the first album had more songs overall. I just picked up the Under the Tide 12" last week, and the "Alucard Session" versions of "The Mother We Share" and "Gun" are something else!

'Leave a Trace', 'Keep You On My Side', 'Make Them Gold', 'High Enough To Carry You Over', 'Empty Threat', 'Bury It' = all absolutely superb.

I liked the previous album, I like this album more, and no doubt I'll like their next record too. This and Ten Love Songs are my two favourite albums of the year.

― Turrican, Wednesday, 11 November 2015 18:23 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This seems strange to me, I'm not particularly for or against Chvrches but the ambition and vision driving Ten Love Songs seems so much more impressive to me.

It's not strange at all - it's possible to like both for different reasons.

"Keep You On My Side" is one of the best songs of the year - the chorus is really intense and when it crosses over into Latin Freestyle for a few bars it becomes almost overwhelming.

This is the best damn new band. What I'm about to say is gonna sound kind of shitty, but I actually mean it.

I love this band, I love her voice, I love the instrumentation... but, damn, it hurts to actually spend time with this band, for this woman is so gorgeous that it's frustrating to know she actually exists, and that I can never be with her.

I felt the same way about Nina Persson from the Cardigans when I was 10. I got over it, though.

Chvrches are a wonderful band. I just wish that chick were ugly or something. Eh, I know, this is a shitty post. There must be other people here who know what I mean.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

What's up, Doc?

at lest my Data comment isn't the most awkward thing in the thread anymore

haha isnt that the same dude that revived the sundays thread to write some creepy shit abt harriet wheeler? cmon son

I felt the same way about Nina Persson from the Cardigans when I was 10. I got over it, though.

a happy prognosis then!

oh man that really didn't need to be said

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CTqm2tWVEAATFVR.mp4

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CTqm2tWVEAATFVR.mp4

what? i just wish people that made good music weren't so good looking, sometimes. it can be distracting.

also, yeah, that was dumb of me to post, lol

Particularly given Lauren Mayberry's thoughts on the matter, motivated by emails like this.

^ i'm aware of those things. pretty sure what i said was coming from a completely different angle, from which i was pretty clearly goofing. ok. assume the worst of me, though.

i do regret what i said, though.
but, i just don't know... it kind of seems like a valid feeling to have sometimes about great-looking people in good bands? yeah, what i said came out really badly, and i regret posting it. still, is it that hard to understand that when people are super-attractive in really good bands that it can be kind of distracting from the music???

but i already knew this woman gets a TON of shit. it's disgusting.

i accidentally trolled again. sorry. i felt the weight of the pile on, so everyone either move on or speak constructively to my posts. i'll leave, now.

It's ok. When people of either gender are extremely talented and accomplished and good looking and likable all at the same time it does feel unfair and causes me to feel envious of them. You're describing something similar but since you're attracted to her your envy doesn't take the form of wanting to be her but wanting to be with her. Unfortunately you have to keep it to yourself because this attitude, once expressed, is objectifying (considering her primarily in terms of your desires) and if Mayberry read it she'd be more weirded out than flattered, most likely. I don't think what you said is on a continuum with the sexist emails she described, however. That's my exegesis.