Post a controversial music opinion

I was thinking it would sound less atmospheric and more twiddly idk

i'm of the opinion that, much like john's plastic ono band, phil spector being around during the sessions for that one had absolutely fuck all to do with how good the album turned out.

― ''can be prusuaded to show gayness'' (Austin), Wednesday, March 15, 2023 12:00 PM (seven minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

based on what?

this would jibe with that opinion for sure

While in California, Lennon recorded demos for the upcoming album; the demo for the mournful “My Mummy’s Dead,” was used as the master take. Formal recording sessions began September 26 at EMI Recording Studios (not renamed Abbey Road Studios until later). Though Spector was credited as producer, he didn’t actually turn up at the sessions until October 9, and even then his attendance was inconsistent.

I was about to say! I'm not sure Spector did much to POB.

it's interesting, so McCartney obviously didn't like what he did on Let it Be but both Lennon and Harrison brought him in to work on their post Beatles stuff, interesting dynamic

if the textures were as varied as the songwriting ATMP would be a much more interesting album but spector (I assume) sanded it all off to bleh

he couldn't ruin or salvage plastic ono band which is just a miserably conceived and well executed piece of shit (yoko's alternative is pretty good though)

other than that how was the play, mrs. lincoln?

Spector is pretty easy to hate but I think his talent was legit, even if by the time the ‘70s rolled around the glory days were through. His big hits of the ‘60s, the Xmas album…it’s all fantastic. One sees why so many folks wanted to work with him.

Peak Spector moment for me: keitel’s head hitting the pillow as Be My Baby starts up in the opening scene of mean streets.

lol i was just being flippant because thread i had zero basis. had no clue about his truancy during the sessions! that's funny.

(ftr, i love the "atmospheric" sound on plastic ono band so kudos to all involved, even spector. i just assumed he had little to do with it because it's so sparse and had gotten his name on it as more of a power move than an actual production job.)

ums- i've always thought about that too! especially when let it be naked came out. very confusing.

Sleaford Mods is a long running prank on music critics.

bands that are long running pranks on music critics: a controversial music opinion spinoff thread

my nomination: ac/dc

Sleaford Mods is a long running prank on music critics.

This is how I feel about Clipping.

Clipping is great though.

the Lord is testing me

Lorde is a good one

my sweet Lorde

When I think about “Spector’s influence on solo Lennon” I’m thinking less of POB (despite Spector’s credit) and thinking more of Imagine (produced by Spector) and Mind Games (indebted to his production style)

yeah I can hear Spector in Mind Games for sure

Spector's peak as a producer/writer was Death of a Ladies' Man.

Despite the fact that there is little to convince me that Spector had any technical prowess, and I am adamant that “wall of sound” era recordings have an outsized level of estimation insofar as Spector’s “genius”, I have to acknowledge that whatever he was doing was an effective bed for some blazing vocal performances

When I think of the contemporaneous Bacharach/David recordings, my favorites are always the ones that feature more low-key delivery— “Raindrops”, “This Guy…”, “San Jose”, “The Look Of Love”, “Walk On By”, “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again”. Would the moments where Dionne gets shouty in her delivery (“Don’t Make Me Over”, “I Say A Little Prayer”) be improved had they been produced by Spector instead of Bacharach/David? Probably!

The argument is kinda moot for me tho because I’m such a much bigger fan of Stax and Motown production. Aretha and Jerry Wexler, that’s recording genius, to me

yeah i'd agree the motown and stax stuff is a level above, they hit a similar vibe to spector but i think had more respect for individual musicians

Spector is important and the WOS needed to happen but I can’t say that it always serves the songs best. Having said that, i’ll crank Be My Baby up loud and it sounds terrific.

Death of a Ladies Man is great and in that case the sound fits with the songs very well. Never understood why it’s so underrated.

We play the Xmas album over the holidays and it’s always a rush to turn it off before his creepy spoken word bit at the end.

Ah, Death of a Ladies Man was the first Cohen album that wasn't folky at all.

"There were lots of guns around in the studio and lots of liquor, a somewhat dangerous atmosphere."

.

Sleaford Mods is a long running prank on music critics.

I beg to differ, lol, speaking as the 14th post on the OG thread

I get prime-period Fall vibes off of this? very intrigued but it is largely incomprehensible, not that that's an issue for me

― sleeve, Thursday, February 27, 2014 1:45 PM (nine years ago) bookmarkflaglink

the guy really knows how to swear, I respect that, and I also love the silent bob type drinking beside him who I assume presses the buttons

― sleeve, Thursday, February 27, 2014 1:50 PM (nine years ago) bookmarkflaglink

oops sorry this is the challops thread, forgive my reflexive defense

All challopsers are required to accept challenges to duels!

It should be against the law to export Sleaford Mods records beyond their little island.

Someone on Twitter once called them "The Streets for football hooligans" and I've never forgotten it. I'm not even sure it's accurate, I've heard like five Sleaford Mods songs (which was five too many), but I still think it's funny

It should be against the law to export U2 records beyond their little island

There's a remix of a Sleaford Mods song that I like, but I think it's the remix that made it palatable.

I'm into their ambient remix album, 'Sleaford Moods' (ducks)

exporting records beyond their little island must be an alternate dimension beach boys album xpost Horrible 70s album titles like I've Got My Own Album To Do

my controp for the evening is that i don't think sleaford mods suck.

(on the technicality that i've got no opinion on them because i know nothing about them and have never knowingly heard their music)

SMs are what punk dads answer when asked if they listen to any "new stuff"

carly rae jeps also a critc prank

Aruba, Jamaica / ooh I wanna take ya
exporting records / beyond our little island
Key Largo, Montego / baby, why don't we go?

xp

Sleaford Mods are pretty terrible tbh. They're part of a venerable and profoundly corny UK tradition of miserabilism, stodgily reiterating what a shithole this country (as if we're not all aware of and suffering from its many problems) is without offering anything in the way of transcendence. Half Man Half Biscuit are ten thousand times more valuable than they ever could be. I listened to the new Slowthai album yesterday and that was unrelentingly, self-indulgently, cornily miserable too. The worst bit is that loads of critics and fans essentialise important UK music as this now

carly rae jeps also a critc prank

OTM

i like grace slick's voice even as deployed in the great society (the grebt society, call it by its name) :(

my controversial opinion is it's boring to compare every English group who talk sings as if they have anything to do with each other

I love Carly Rae Jepsen, tho maybe to add to the challops of this thread, I genuinely believe that “Comeback” is better than any of the other songs on Dedicated or Dedicated Side B.

I think that one reason I hate SMs, tho, is also that I frankly don’t care for the bands they supposedly sound like— I’m one of those who has never understood why The Fall are so good and important.

Now we're getting to the good stuff!

Mind you, I don’t hate The Fall, I just don’t get the hype

I have listened to five Sleaford Mods songs now. It reminds me of LCD Soundsystem more than anything, but cleverer in the lyrics and stoopider in the production. I like old crank lyrics like Cathal Coughlan but I like it less when it's the English doing it. It's fine? I know they're popular and I am happy for Rough Trade that they have a meal ticket band

I think I conflate Sleaford Mods and Idles (have only really heard a tune or two from each).

I have listened to five Sleaford Mods songs now. It reminds me of LCD Soundsystem more than anything

lol ... this makes me feel otm re my aversion to LCD Soundsystem, which is like dork rock for dudes who code who are too cool for They Might Be Giants which is the ur-dork rock for dudes who code

the emperors new clothes routine is so myopic and tired

I had to grow a little older before “losing my edge” sounded funny and not obnoxious