"What are you listening to" 2015 thread

[cartman]

Impressive performance by a bunch of middle schoolers.

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[Chief Rum]

This is probably the right thread to announce I have caught on to something I presume everyone else has known for years: full album replays on youtube.

This makes getting through my day much easier and allows me to sample whole albums from some bands I wouldn't have otherwise, and also listen to old favorites of man.

Some of the albums I have listened to in the past few weeks that I think are very impressive. You'll see from the following that I definitely listen to more alternative rock.

--Pretty much any Arcade Fire, even Reflektor which has grown on me. Prior to youtube, I only knew The Suburbs and some of their biggest hits from Funeral.

--Muse and Coldplay both have GH albums, and they are terrific. I knew Radiohead had a couple of GH albums but hadn't listened until now, and the first one is one of my favorites (yes, I know Radiohead is best listened by album as a concept band; OK Computer and The Bends are excellent).

--The Bones of What You Believe by Chvrches is very listenable.

--Really impressed with Of Monsters and Men and My Head Is An Animal.

--Listening to the most recent albums by Capital Cities and Bastille completely turned me around on those bands after their first hits didn't quite hit with me on radio.

--I already owned Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons, so I knew how awesome that album is, but I haven't been able to get into Babel despite multiple listens.

--I enjoyed both of the recent albums by The Kongos and The Neighborhood.

--The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs are hit or miss for me, but they have some really good songs.

--I like both of Phantogram's most recent albums. Similar sound, I also like Metric.

--I already owned Imagine Dragons' Night Visions but giving it regular listens on youtube has really grown my appreciation for that album.

--I didn't truly give The Black Keys appreciation until I listened to El Camino. That album rocks, and that's a rocking duo.

[britrock88]

Any issues with Spotify filling that need for you? I don't mind having Spotify sending that pittance of a royalty the bands' way, as opposed to the zero I assume they get from YouTube.

[nol]

Any issues with Spotify filling that need for you? I don't mind having Spotify sending that pittance of a royalty the bands' way, as opposed to the zero I assume they get from YouTube.

Don't worry, you can still give them a pittance by listening on YouTube :)

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[stevew]

This is probably the right thread to announce I have caught on to something I presume everyone else has known for years: full album replays on youtube.

This makes getting through my day much easier and allows me to sample whole albums from some bands I wouldn't have otherwise, and also listen to old favorites of man.

Some of the albums I have listened to in the past few weeks that I think are very impressive. You'll see from the following that I definitely listen to more alternative rock.

--Pretty much any Arcade Fire, even Reflektor which has grown on me. Prior to youtube, I only knew The Suburbs and some of their biggest hits from Funeral.

--Muse and Coldplay both have GH albums, and they are terrific. I knew Radiohead had a couple of GH albums but hadn't listened until now, and the first one is one of my favorites (yes, I know Radiohead is best listened by album as a concept band; OK Computer and The Bends are excellent).

--The Bones of What You Believe by Chvrches is very listenable.

--Really impressed with Of Monsters and Men and My Head Is An Animal.

--Listening to the most recent albums by Capital Cities and Bastille completely turned me around on those bands after their first hits didn't quite hit with me on radio.

--I already owned Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons, so I knew how awesome that album is, but I haven't been able to get into Babel despite multiple listens.

--I enjoyed both of the recent albums by The Kongos and The Neighborhood.

--The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs are hit or miss for me, but they have some really good songs.

--I like both of Phantogram's most recent albums. Similar sound, I also like Metric.

--I already owned Imagine Dragons' Night Visions but giving it regular listens on youtube has really grown my appreciation for that album.

--I didn't truly give The Black Keys appreciation until I listened to El Camino. That album rocks, and that's a rocking duo.

I pretty much have all these CDs. Kinda crazy.

You may like
The 1975
Charli XCX
TV On the Radio
M83
St. Lucia

[timmae]

Saw a Kongos concert a while back.. those are some weird dudes.

[korme]

This is probably the right thread to announce I have caught on to something I presume everyone else has known for years: full album replays on youtube.

This makes getting through my day much easier and allows me to sample whole albums from some bands I wouldn't have otherwise, and also listen to old favorites of man.

Some of the albums I have listened to in the past few weeks that I think are very impressive. You'll see from the following that I definitely listen to more alternative rock.

--Pretty much any Arcade Fire, even Reflektor which has grown on me. Prior to youtube, I only knew The Suburbs and some of their biggest hits from Funeral.

--Muse and Coldplay both have GH albums, and they are terrific. I knew Radiohead had a couple of GH albums but hadn't listened until now, and the first one is one of my favorites (yes, I know Radiohead is best listened by album as a concept band; OK Computer and The Bends are excellent).

--The Bones of What You Believe by Chvrches is very listenable.

--Really impressed with Of Monsters and Men and My Head Is An Animal.

--Listening to the most recent albums by Capital Cities and Bastille completely turned me around on those bands after their first hits didn't quite hit with me on radio.

--I already owned Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons, so I knew how awesome that album is, but I haven't been able to get into Babel despite multiple listens.

--I enjoyed both of the recent albums by The Kongos and The Neighborhood.

--The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs are hit or miss for me, but they have some really good songs.

--I like both of Phantogram's most recent albums. Similar sound, I also like Metric.

--I already owned Imagine Dragons' Night Visions but giving it regular listens on youtube has really grown my appreciation for that album.

--I didn't truly give The Black Keys appreciation until I listened to El Camino. That album rocks, and that's a rocking duo.

Chief, it seems we have similar tastes. Very cool.

Please check out Bleachers. I had recently become into one of their singles and got around to listening to their album. It's pure 80s pop and it's fucking great. Not what I expected at all but it's awesome. I feel like John Cusack and Molly Ringwald are going to walk out at any moment.

[Qwikshot]

Amazon Prime Music has been nice...I've been able to grab things I wouldn't normally buy or listen too.

[Qwikshot]

I got my wife vinylmeplease and they delivered the new Father John Misty album, inside the album sleeve was a free digital download of the album. So I'll be listening to that quite soon.

[britrock88]

I got my wife vinylmeplease and they delivered the new Father John Misty album, inside the album sleeve was a free digital download of the album. So I'll be listening to that quite soon.

Were you on board at the very beginning, in time to get the Diarrhea Planet album? They're fun.

[Lathum]

Not sure if I posted this ever. Bruce is from my hometown, my Mom went to HS with him and my Dad knows his whole family, does a song about the town sometimes in concerts.

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[MikeVic]

I'm sure I'm late to the party with this, but I hadn't heard of this group before. This performance on SNL has me listening (and watching) this on loop. What a voice, and you can just see the frickin' passion!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_sNNTpORtDQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Young Drachma]

So excited for that sophomore alabama shakes record.

[britrock88]

I'm sure I'm late to the party with this, but I hadn't heard of this group before. This performance on SNL has me listening (and watching) this on loop. What a voice, and you can just see the frickin' passion!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_sNNTpORtDQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You only missed one album cycle. :) But they are tremendous.

(BTW, here is the breakout single from last time around...)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Le-3MIBxQTw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[JonInMiddleGA]

Listening to? Not much lately, frankly. A very transitional period for the active rock genre, lots of decidedly alternative stuff clogging the airplay charts.

It is, however, an amazing time for new melodic rock.

Level 10 features Russell Allen & Mat Sinner

Eclipse is back with a new album

Serious Black features Roland Grapow (Masterplan, ex-Helloween) along with members/former members of Blind Guardian, Edenbridge and others.

Lande/Holter has a new concept project themed around Dracula

Soto (the band) features of course Jeff Scott Soto surrounded by a new cast. Heavier than what he's normally associated with.

Revolution Saints is downright stunning at time. That's likely a one-off project with Deen Castronovo, Jack Blades, Doug Aldrich.

There's Sweet/Lynch (Michael & George, respectively). A bit mellow but interesting at times.

[Young Drachma]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yA-ee9M_jhE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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Any K-Rap fans? hehehe..

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Any K-Rap fans?

Would you settle for, hell whatever you call it, rapcore? Or something? :)

I loved the hell outta the Yelawolf single "Til It's Gone"

Somewhat excited at the potential of the new Hollywood Undead (after a hell of a long delay between the first track being revealed in Oct 2014)

And I kinda like the rappier stuff I just heard earlier today from the upcoming ep by From Ashes To New.

[Young Drachma]

Jon checking out rapcore, haha... Love it. The K-Rap was mostly a joke.

Though I have enjoyed this band Of Mice & Men, which is probably considered light for most metalheads, right? But I liked it nonetheless.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2DhtMdz1XnQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Young Drachma]

This is probably the right thread to announce I have caught on to something I presume everyone else has known for years: full album replays on youtube.

This makes getting through my day much easier and allows me to sample whole albums from some bands I wouldn't have otherwise, and also listen to old favorites of man.

Some of the albums I have listened to in the past few weeks that I think are very impressive. You'll see from the following that I definitely listen to more alternative rock.

--Pretty much any Arcade Fire, even Reflektor which has grown on me. Prior to youtube, I only knew The Suburbs and some of their biggest hits from Funeral.

--Muse and Coldplay both have GH albums, and they are terrific. I knew Radiohead had a couple of GH albums but hadn't listened until now, and the first one is one of my favorites (yes, I know Radiohead is best listened by album as a concept band; OK Computer and The Bends are excellent).

--The Bones of What You Believe by Chvrches is very listenable.

--Really impressed with Of Monsters and Men and My Head Is An Animal.

--Listening to the most recent albums by Capital Cities and Bastille completely turned me around on those bands after their first hits didn't quite hit with me on radio.

--I already owned Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons, so I knew how awesome that album is, but I haven't been able to get into Babel despite multiple listens.

--I enjoyed both of the recent albums by The Kongos and The Neighborhood.

--The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs are hit or miss for me, but they have some really good songs.

--I like both of Phantogram's most recent albums. Similar sound, I also like Metric.

--I already owned Imagine Dragons' Night Visions but giving it regular listens on youtube has really grown my appreciation for that album.

--I didn't truly give The Black Keys appreciation until I listened to El Camino. That album rocks, and that's a rocking duo.

That Phantogram record was my jam last year. So good.

Here's a list of favorite albums (higheredmusiccritics.blogspot.com) from 2014 that some folks I know put together (I'm included) and it's super diverse, random and eclectic if people are looking to add a lot of stuff to their list.

[Fidatelo]

Is it wrong that I'm totally digging the latest Marilyn Manson record?

[Chief Rum]

I pretty much have all these CDs. Kinda crazy.

You may like
The 1975
Charli XCX
TV On the Radio
M83
St. Lucia

Thanks for the recommendations, steve. I have given most of these a listen now. Some of this is a little too techy for my tastes, but I probably need to give them multiple listens.

I was already a little familiar with M83, CHarli XCX and TV On The Radio. M83 in particular has some great songs.

[Chief Rum]

Is it wrong that I'm totally digging the latest Marilyn Manson record?

Although my post above is filled with more melodic alt rock bands, I have had plenty of harder edged listening periods in my life, and I actually think Marilyn Manson is a decent listen for that sort of thing. I haven't heard his latest, though. I am more NIN and Deftones hard edge when I go that route.

[Chief Rum]

Chief, it seems we have similar tastes. Very cool.

Please check out Bleachers. I had recently become into one of their singles and got around to listening to their album. It's pure 80s pop and it's fucking great. Not what I expected at all but it's awesome. I feel like John Cusack and Molly Ringwald are going to walk out at any moment.

Thanks, korme! I gave this a listen. What an odd retro sound. I'm not sure I caught it enough, so I'll have to listen to it again to see if anything sticks (multiple listens are sometimes required). Totally that 80s feel to it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Jon checking out rapcore, haha... Love it.

I actually do pretty well with what I just label as "party rock". From Hollywood Undead (with or without Deuce) to relative unknowns like Atlanta-based Almost Kings. And the Body Count album was among my favorites of 2014.

Though I have enjoyed this band Of Mice & Men, which is probably considered light for most metalheads, right? But I liked it nonetheless.

Yeah, they're on the light end of things but for radio-friendly fare they're fine by me. From the last album I preferred "Would You Still Be There" to the current track you shared but it's decent enough to make my playlist cut.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Is it wrong that I'm totally digging the latest Marilyn Manson record?

Not at all afaic.

"Deep Six" is some of his best work ever afaic, insanely catchy song. The album on the whole is a bit ... scattered at times. "Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge" seems to have been pretty universally hated (or at least "meh'ed" ) as far as I can tell

[Chief Rum]

I just listened to The Chvrches The Bones of What We Believe again, for probably the 10th time in the last three months. It's really excellent.

[Grover]

The new Noel Gallagher's HFB album is a step up from their first effort.

I dig it.

[Easy Mac]

Enjoying Panda Bear's new album. Seems like a nice synthesis of Person Pitch (a near perfect Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys album) and Tomboy (a bit too dancy for me).

Like the new Father John Misty, seems to be a step up from his prior album, but I'd prefer to have another Fleet Foxes' album.

For whatever reason, I've had Run the Jewels 2 from last year on repeat, even though outside of Kanye, I don't know that I've made it through a rap album in years.

[Easy Mac]

Trying out the new TIDAL service, even though the marketing is a joke. Yes, musicians are such an oppressed group that we need a twitter campaign to make sure they get more money.

That being said, I honestly can't tell the difference in sound quality in the brief amount of time I've been listening. I took their test and got 4/5 right, but I'm also 99% sure I was completely guessing. I'm not willing to spend enough money to upgrade my sound systems (i.e. bluetooth speakers and $30 headphones) to where I might be able to tell a difference.

I am liking the new Sufjan Stevens. A nice return to the Michigan album.

New Death Cab for Cutie is more of the same. OK as background music, but I'm not going to go out of my way to put it on repeat.

New Modest Mouse is just meh.

I'm enjoying the album from The Districts. They seem to be doing a good job of grabbing a few indie influences and meshing them into an enjoyable sound.

[britrock88]

I'm with Easy Mac on Sufjan--love him in any form, so happy to have a new album and not wait any longer.

Father John Misty is interesting... I've had friends call him "the biggest wanker on the planet" and "the next Warren Zevon." His lyrics are very wry, the musical arrangements are interesting (the mariachi feeling on "Chateau Lobby No. 4," for example). I'm not totally sold, but I like it enough to come back to it.

[britrock88]

Have we talked about Tuneyards before? I want to hate them... because of "tUnE-yArDs," because it seems like the group fits the trope of liberal arts grads appropriating world music, so on...

Then I watched them live in performance and was blown away. These guys are obviously skilled. The set-up of two saxophonists, a bassist, and the lead singer/percussionist/looper is super creative. It's organized chaos musically on a certain level. This is a rare case where watching how the sausage is made totally builds your taste for the sausage.

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/58201265" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/58201265">tUnE-yArDs &quot;Gangsta&quot;</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/austincitylimits">Austin City Limits</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

[Easy Mac]

I concur about them. She comes across as someone who I want to hate, but the music overcomes it.

[muns]

Figured I would post this here.

So at the institution I work at, an alumni and a current student made a music video in our residence halls. Besides me being beyond annoyed with my security office for knowing nothing about this (For gods sake they were able to shut down an entire floor and a laundry room for filming) I thought it was professionally done. Prob not the music most people listen to here, but Chris is being mentored by Nelly, and has been hosting shows on BET. Will be interesting to see where his career goes.

Chris Bivins - Boyfriend ft. Jordan Szarko and Mike Adonis - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8N1a1oRCN0)

[path12]

Courtney Barnett. Over and over and over. So good.

[britrock88]

Courtney Barnett. Over and over and over. So good.

True, too. Not at all disappointed with the LP.

[britrock88]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv-FOSJIwrU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[korme]

Caught this guy on 'SNL' - didn't know anything about George Ezra before Saturday. Guy is unique.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VHrLPs3_1Fs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[ISiddiqui]

Lots of great albums in a short while came to my door it seems! Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly", Bjork's "Vulnicura", and Sufjan Stevens' "Carrie + Lowell". It's hard to decide which one to listen to (I probably like Lamar's the best though)!

[path12]

I need to listen more to the Lamar disc, I've liked what I've heard so far. Also excited to pick up the new Godspeed You! Black Emperor that came out this week.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the Sufjan one. I've liked most of his stuff but just hated Age of Adz or whatever it was called and now am gunshy.

Oh, and someone mentioned the Run the Jewels a few posts ago. That has been in heavy rotation for me going on four months now, I also went back and got the first one which is excellent as well.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Courtney Barnett. Over and over and over. So good.

Kinda idly but I actually ran across her for the first time yesterday.

Not my thing, just too light to hold my attention very long, but between the accent & the quirky video (the one with the clowns) for whatever the current single is, I'd put her above the curve within her niche.

[chinaski]

Jason Isbell, nonstop. Southeastern is one of the best albums ive heard in the last 15 years.


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[Easy Mac]

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the Sufjan one. I've liked most of his stuff but just hated Age of Adz or whatever it was called and now am gunshy.

Nothing like his last album. Back to the more acoustic/folky sound.

[ISiddiqui]

I need to listen more to the Lamar disc, I've liked what I've heard so far.

The thing that's excellent about Butterfly is that while it's got fantastic singles (i, King Kunta, Blacker the Berry), it is a fully realized album. The songs flow very well.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the Sufjan one. I've liked most of his stuff but just hated Age of Adz or whatever it was called and now am gunshy.

Well, I liked Age of Adz myself (I tend to enjoy bursts of electronic noise - I'm a massive fan of Yeezus), but Carrie + Lowell is probably his most stripped down album yet. Makes Michigan and Illinoise seem busy. Kind of Seven Swans like, but more sad and pensive.

Oh, and someone mentioned the Run the Jewels a few posts ago. That has been in heavy rotation for me going on four months now, I also went back and got the first one which is excellent as well.

Fantastic album. I'm right there with you on that one!

[Fidatelo]

I found the new Kendrick album to be a total letdown. I'm not sure more than one or two tracks interested me enough to bother listening to more than once.

[CU Tiger]

Jason Isbell, nonstop. Southeastern is one of the best albums ive heard in the last 15 years.



totally agree.
2 years later it still gets probably 3-4 listens a month.

[stevew]

Really like that Tegan and Sara album "Heartthrob". I know it's older but I just got into it.

I really want the new Kendrick but $14.49 for digital is absurd. I buy a ton of stuff but $6.99 is usually my max.

[nol]

I liked this Kendrick album better than his first one, but I was already a fan of Flying Lotus (not sure how many of the tracks he actually produced, but most of the album is in line with his style) going in.

Jamie xx has an album that's supposed to come out this summer, and that will be a good one with songs like "Girl" and this one:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TP9luRtEqjc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Also been listening to a lot of Future this year.

[Qwikshot]

Were you on board at the very beginning, in time to get the Diarrhea Planet album? They're fun.

Sadly didn't get that one, I ordered it for my wife.

The Sufjan Stevens' "Carrie + Lowell" is free on Amazon Prime, the first song made me weep the first time I heard it...perhaps learning the back story made me feel an empathy. This was a guy trying to reach out in the only way to a mother who was essentially absent and the imprint on his childhood. When he signs about his brother had a daughter and the brightness of that relationship...it's just amazingly confessional but not in a goth/emo-like way, but in a real, this is real way.

We have a record store near us, brand new opened by a high schooler of all people...I'm going to see if they have Townes Van Zandt (Live at Old Quarter).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Since I haven't shared the link in a while (IIRC), here's the link (https://jonsthreecents.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/ready-to-rock-weekly-playlists-126/)to my weekly blog post that contains both my weekly Spotify Top 40 and my YouTube currents playlists (just short of 200 songs).

Of all those hard rock (and related) songs, my current favorite track isn't really even a hit. That'd be one from The Bloodline, a band out of Chicago formerly known as Dirge Within. Now on vocals is Travis Neal, better known for being the new vocalist for Hinder ... until he was rather abruptly dumped without much explanation shortly after the release of their latest album.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vucTnFPhBlo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Grammaticus]

Here is some sweet rap music for ya.



<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uMK0prafzw0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[path12]

Kinda idly but I actually ran across her for the first time yesterday.

Not my thing, just too light to hold my attention very long, but between the accent & the quirky video (the one with the clowns) for whatever the current single is, I'd put her above the curve within her niche.

Well I know you and I generally listen to different things (only current metal I can listen to for very long is Mastodon) but if you get a chance listen to Avant Gardener from her first EP. It might be my favorite song of the decade so far.

The video Britrock posted has it as the first song. It's solo though and I think the song is better with the full band.

[path12]

Well, I liked Age of Adz myself (I tend to enjoy bursts of electronic noise - I'm a massive fan of Yeezus), but Carrie + Lowell is probably his most stripped down album yet. Makes Michigan and Illinoise seem busy. Kind of Seven Swans like, but more sad and pensive.

I loved Yeezus too and am generally a fan of electronic noise (I joke to my music club that eventually my genre is going to be 'industrial ambient'.) But yeah, that one really didn't work for me.

But with the comments here and the fact I really did love the state discs I'm going to have to check this out tomorrow.

[path12]

Jason Isbell, nonstop. Southeastern is one of the best albums ive heard in the last 15 years.


<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NaUCDqWzy1k?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Saw him perform with his wife at a small club here last year. Great show.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Well I know you and I generally listen to different things (only current metal I can listen to for very long is Mastodon) but if you get a chance listen to Avant Gardener from her first EP. It might be my favorite song of the decade so far.

The video Britrock posted has it as the first song. It's solo though and I think the song is better with the full band.

If you handle Mastodon, have you tried Crobot? They're a little hit & miss with me but the latest (well "next" really) single is pretty tasty.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_YJ41TS-iOo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[path12]

I'm literally laughing out loud during this because all of a sudden it is 1977 again and I'm a sophomore in high school. Thanks for that, I did enjoy that song.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Whatever I'm listening to won't be much of the new Halestorm album. Once was definitely more than enough. Ye Gods what a catastrophe of an album.

It wasn't the whole "Nashville influence" we all feared. Nope, it's a mix of medicore songs & utterly bewildering production choices that dooms this to one of the most disappointing collections I've ever heard.

It's "You are witnesses to the birth of Halestorm Mark II" bad.

[Grover]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UzVQKRKE4Zw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I love her voice, so very much. Have been very into her music for about three years. She's getting better and better all the time.

She's not too bad to look at either.

[bob]

Really enjoyed that - thanks for sharing...

[Marmel]

So I just subscribed to Google Play music and I'm looking for some recommendations. I mostly listen to 90s alternative and 70's 'classic rock'

What modern artists might I enjoy listening to?

[stevew]

The if you like X you might like Y things are great on that site. Also you can just search by 10's alternative if you want.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Random selection whose 'modernity' may or may not be good for you:

Wolfmother
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
The Killers
fun.
Jack White
Kings of Leon
Muse
Cage the Elephant
Of Monsters and Men
Mumford and Sons (though if you've heard one song, you've heard them all)
The New Pornographers
Neko Case
Silversun Pickups
Vampire Weekend
Belle Brigade

[B & B]

While this certainly isn't 'new' its a track I just stumbled upon and couldn't shake off.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZYU9588BI44" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[stevew]

I know it's about a year old but that Sia "1000 Forms of Fear" record is absolutely great.

[Julio Riddols]

The new Ghost song (and the other new songs that you can hear in live performances on youtube) is outstanding. It sounds like they have rediscovered that they're better off just writing solid songs.

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[JonInMiddleGA]

The new Ghost song

Interesting you bring that one up. It's quite possibly the first Ghost song I've ever liked.

[Julio Riddols]

When you read the comments people leave after listening to the track, it seems like a lot of people have the same reaction. I think they might have themselves a future classic in this upcoming album if what I have heard off it so far is any indication.

[bob]

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I love her voice, so very much. Have been very into her music for about three years. She's getting better and better all the time.

She's not too bad to look at either.

She put out a new EP on soundcloud today....

SoundCloud - Hear the world’s sounds (https://soundcloud.com/alexwinstonofficial)

[Easy Mac]

Recent releases I've liked:

Kacey Musgraves - I don't like country, and I generally just can't get into female singer-songwriters. This one came pretty close to getting a repeat listen, though. At times it sounds like what I imaging a solo, countryfied Stevie Nicks might sound like.

Leon Bridges - Enjoyable, even if it seems like an imitation of Same Cooke a bit too much. Probably the best throwback R&B album I've heard in a while.

St. Lucia - actually from 2013, but I came across him the other day and finally got around to listening to the album. Pretty close to a perfect album if you love music made from around '84-87.

Banditos - A nice bit of Southern Rock that calls back to Skynyrd, but a bit like Alabama Shakes if Brittany Howard's voice didn't overshadow everything else.

Hot Chip - If you've liked a Hot Chip album (indie dance) in the last decade, you'll like this one. No need to re-invent the wheel when you've kept it spinning this long.

Dawes - Smooth, easy listening. Just far enough away from folk not to make it redundant of everything else out there.

John Moreland - I keep telling myself this is Southern Rock, due to my dislike of country. Either way, this is probably my favorite album of the year.

Tallest Man on Earth - It sounds like if a weepy Bob Dylan made an album with late 80s Tom Petty (not named Traveling Wilbury's).

[britrock88]

Boy, I've gotten behind on music discovery lately. But Hot Chip, Dawes, and TMoE are in my mental queue.

[stevew]

Anyone picked up Depression Cherry by Beach House yet?

[Julio Riddols]

I can't listen to anything but Ghost with a little Alabama Shakes/Faith No More peppered in.

[Sweed]

Jason Isbell, nonstop. Southeastern is one of the best albums ive heard in the last 15 years.


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I came into this thread to mention Jason Isbell. I'd never heard of him 'til last December and first listened on a friends recommendation. Since then I've been to one of his shows(great live performer) and his Southeastern album has been listened to more times than I can remember. It's one of the best albums I've ever heard.

His new album "Something More Than Free" is also very good, he is such a great songwriter.

[britrock88]

Anyone picked up Depression Cherry by Beach House yet?

Caught it on NPR First Listen. Unobjectionable, but a bit of a one-trick pony, as I remember.

[CU Tiger]

I came into this thread to mention Jason Isbell. I'd never heard of him 'til last December and first listened on a friends recommendation. Since then I've been to one of his shows(great live performer) and his Southeastern album has been listened to more times than I can remember. It's one of the best albums I've ever heard.

His new album "Something More Than Free" is also very good, he is such a great songwriter.

I've like Isbell since his DBT days, but...
Southeastern is probably one of my Top 10 if not Top 5 albums off all time.
It is genius level work.

Something More than Free is a good album, and were it not for Southeastern I would likely love it. Still somehow I couldnt help but feel disappointed after listening to it and despite numerous additional tries, I usually switch over to Southeastern half way through a listen

[corbes]

Alabama Shakes

So I'm late to this party (my wife informs me that you can't listen to our local top-40 radio station for more than a half hour without hearing 'hold on') but, hey, thanks to the above-named tipsters for this one.

[Julio Riddols]

So I'm late to this party (my wife informs me that you can't listen to our local top-40 radio station for more than a half hour without hearing 'hold on') but, hey, thanks to the above-named tipsters for this one.

Their new album "Sound and Color" is crazy good.

[thesloppy]

I can't listen to anything but Ghost with a little Alabama Shakes/Faith No More peppered in.

Heh. Meloria is really good. I'm going to catch them for the third time next month, and I'm excited to hear all the new stuff. I can't recommend the live show enough, lots of cheesy fun.

[Julio Riddols]

Heh. Meloria is really good. I'm going to catch them for the third time next month, and I'm excited to hear all the new stuff. I can't recommend the live show enough, lots of cheesy fun.

The acoustic sets they have been doing are great fun to watch on youtube. Papa plays a kazoo quite well.

[thesloppy]

The acoustic sets they have been doing are great fun to watch on youtube. Papa plays a kazoo quite well.

I made my buddy take his kids up to the Seattle promo, and he said there were a bunch of kids there, which makes me laugh. The younglings love that poppy black metal.

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[thesloppy]

Speaking of good shows, I saw (big) Melvins/Big Business last night for like the dozenth time, and I seriously can't recommend that line-up enough. You get two crushing drummers, a yeti on base, and a pudgy, 50-year old Sideshow Bob in a wizard mumu laying things on as heavily as they can. What's not to love:

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[Sweed]

I've like Isbell since his DBT days, but...
Southeastern is probably one of my Top 10 if not Top 5 albums off all time.
It is genius level work.

Something More than Free is a good album, and were it not for Southeastern I would likely love it. Still somehow I couldnt help but feel disappointed after listening to it and despite numerous additional tries, I usually switch over to Southeastern half way through a listen

Yeah, Southeastern is genius and I was afraid anything Jason put out after would likely be a let down. But that's the problem when you release a classic. I think, like you, I'd be hard pressed to find 5 albums I've liked better over my lifetime.

Something More Than Free is not as good as SE but I still listen to it a lot. I think it's because I find Isbell to be such a great lyricist and even though the album isn't SE it does deliver those great Isbell lyrics again, at least for me.

Since finding out about Isbell I've listened also to some of his older stuff from DBT days and some from maybe shortly after. Not quite sure of the timing on some of them but there are some classic good songs there too.

[Young Drachma]

Anyone picked up Depression Cherry by Beach House yet?

Yeah, new Beach House LPs are always slow to grow on me. But I'm looking forward to seeing them live next week.

[Young Drachma]

The stuff I've come back to consistently this year, copied from Last.fm because I don't really have a list:

Creepoid (Cemetery Highrise Slum), Screaming Females (Rose Mountain), La Luz (Weirdo Shrine), Kamasi Washington (The Epic), And So I Watch You From Afar (Heirs), Speedy Ortiz (Foil Deer), Gardens & Villa (Music For Dogs), The Sidekicks (Awkward Breeds), The Wonder Years (No Closer To Heaven), Heartless Bastards (Restless Ones), Lower Dens (Escape From Evil)

[HerRealName]

I love the new Titus Andronicus record. It's an hour and a half but that includes an intermission, a couple other brief musical interludes, and 'Au Lang Syne' for some reason I can't decipher but, when the filler is cut out, it's an awesome concept record.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Although I could do this sort of thing nearly every week, that I've done it so rarely in this thread hopefully buys me a little tolerance for it.

What I won't be listening to on purpose very much is the new Shinedown album. I don't know wth its supposed to be but its certainly not much of a rock album. THe most frequent comparison that came to mind while listening through it was "Elton John outtakes". Even when they drift into light alt-rock it's not even good at being that. 3 decent to relatively good songs, the rest isn't even good enough to be called pablum. Closest I can come is maybe up-tempo "adult rock", the modern equivalent to elevator music. Just a virtually complete shit sandwich.

edit to add: The other comparison that came to mind -- not musically/stylistically, but in terms of being utterly awful -- was Scorpions "Eye II Eye". This just misses being THAT terrible



On a more positive note, everything I've heard from the forthcoming new Queensryche album is utterly amazing. Todd LaTorre not only exceeds all reasonable expectations, he might just be one of the best replacement vocalists in rock history. Absolutely amazing stuff so far.

[Ironhead]

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[Easy Mac]

Ryan Adams - 1989 (https://play.spotify.com/album/6WCWxMMBOvsAQl1SLUTMup)

edit: If I'm listing the standout, I think it has to be I Know Places. He transforms an otherwise meh song into something fairly good.

Overall, I'd say he does a better job with the less single worthy songs, although his versions of Bad Blood and Wildest Dreams are probably better. I was kind of hoping he would country-punk up Shake it Off, that song is dying for a good punk-ish cover. Also sad he couldn't do more with How You Get the Girl, which may be my favorite track on the original album.

Also, since I'm on the subject, I'm more than willing to argue with anyone who doesn't agree that Shake It Off is the most perfect pop song since Hey Ya.

[Lonnie]

Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit (https://open.spotify.com/album/7FqHuAvmREiIwVXVpZ9ooP)

Metalcore band going for more of straight rock album. Some catchy tunes on this one.

[timmae]

I toured a studio in Seattle a few months back and came across Windowpane. Awesome metal... I also just went to a show by Naked Raygun. Man their stuff is fun, if a bit old. Also love SOB by Nathaniel Rateliff. Have that one on repeat.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Concert review from Saturday's Brothers In Arms tour (Otherwise / Like A Storm / Seasons After / First Decree)

Concert Review 10/10/15 – Brothers In Arms Tour | Jon's Three Cents (https://jonsthreecents.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/concert-review-101015-brothers-in-arms-tour/)

[stevew]

That new CD by the Weeknd is pretty good. Lots of hellacious grooves.

[Chief Rum]

A lot of you I think seem to like bands that are more indy and off the beaten path than I do, so this stuff may not be to your taste.

But I really enjoy the new Imagine Dragons album Smike + Mirrors (the one that came out earlier this year), which surprises me because it didn't catch me the first time or two through.

I also have really grown to love Mumford and Sons new album Wilder Mind, which got the band a lot of heat for going full production, instead of their trademark acoustic sound.

I am still getting into the swing of Of Monsters and Men's new album Beneath The Skin, but they have a handful of really great tracks on that one. I don't think it's on the same level as their breakthrough My Head Is An Animal, but it's a good listen.

I haven't bought the new Chvrches album Every Open Eye yet, but I have the three tracks they pre-released and I like (but don't love) all of them. Their breakthrough album Bones of What You Believe is currently one of my favorite albums in years, so I'm looking forward to giving the new one a listen (some of their best stuff from the first album were other tracks they didn't release as singles).

[murrayyyyy]

That new CD by the Weeknd is pretty good. Lots of hellacious grooves.

Been preaching this all year.

Been trying to get into Alessia Cara as of late just because I really like "here" but I think her music is meant for 17 year old girls.

Alessia Cara - Here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKp2CrfmVfw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKp2CrfmVfw)

[Scoobz0202]

Man card at risk but the queen is back.

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[Radii]

Man card at risk but the queen is back.

I'm with you, I can't wait for her new album.

[JonInMiddleGA]

To be honest the name of the band meant nothing to me but apparently Crazy Town was kind of a thing about a decade or so ago. And this song apparently features the late DJ AM on one of the last tracks he recorded before his death.
So in case it's of interest to anyone here, I'll share. (I was mostly just reminded of Hollywood Undead and like the song okay on that basis.)

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[stevew]

Butterfly basically defined the sounds of the douche brah movement

[JonInMiddleGA]

Butterfly basically defined the sounds of the douche brah movement

I was juuuuust coming back into music around 2000-01 after taking much of the 90s off. The post-grunge bands brought me back but apparently that song escaped my notice, I don't recognize it at all even after pulling it up today.

edit to add: Sounds kind of like the forerunner of what generally call "party rock" , which basically didn't come into my willing listening -- aside from occasional Eminem or Kid Rock -- until about 2009-10 with H.Undead's "Everywhere I Go"

[QuikSand]

So, I continue to spend a good deal of time with Spoon's latest album, They Want My Soul.

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For a pretty long time now, if you applied fire ants and asked me what is my favorite suite of songs, in sequence, from a single album... I would have confidently responded with songs 2-6 on OK Computer. I love that set, it builds up to a massive climax (for me, at least) at the end of Let Down and then Karma Police is more or less the cigarette, I suppose.

Anyway, I get a pretty similar and comparable chill with tracks 2-5 on Soul, maybe even including the opening cut as well. Rainy Taxi grew on me, Do You is catchy but not vacant, and I think Knock Knock Knock is a goddamn masterpiece. To extend the vulgar analogy, I guess I lose it along with the caustic guitar overplay in Knock. I really love that song, but it's 10x better at the end of the album sequence, in my view.

Have my daughters hooked on both Do You and Knock, too. #betterdrivetime

[timmae]

Spoon is some good stuff, no doubt about it.

I have Macklemore's "Downtown" stuck in my head. So damn catchy.

[stevew]

Another new Beach House album?

[nol]

All the indie/alternative pop people in the thread should give the new Grimes album a listen.

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[Butter]

New Deerhunter album is pretty good.

Also, the latest Chairlift single I am playing like 4x a day. In addition to the ridiculous rotation on SiriusXMU.

[britrock88]

the ridiculous rotation on SiriusXMU

Sigh @ this. Sometimes it feels like an indie Top 20 station. I guess they feel like Blog Radio covers the variety component?

[timmae]

The Struts "Could have been me" has been on altnation quite a bit lately and is a great tune. Saw them in concert last night... Holy shitballs. I thought it was the second coming of Mick Jagger with equal parts Black Sabbath Ozzy leading the group. Amazing live show. Just amazing. If you like fun rock and roll check them out.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The Struts "Could have been me" has been on altnation quite a bit lately and is a great tune. Saw them in concert last night... Holy shitballs. I thought it was the second coming of Mick Jagger with equal parts Black Sabbath Ozzy leading the group. Amazing live show. Just amazing. If you like fun rock and roll check them out.

You have GOT to be kidding, right?

That's the single most offensively "whatever it is it is NOT active rock" song I've heard in a very long time. Literally, that a station would play that song & claim to be a rock station offends me to my core.

Note: I'm not dissing you for liking it, not giving anybody shit for enjoying them. I'm simply insisting that the word "rock" not be applied to whatever the fuck they're doing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Incidentally, as of the end of the month, Mediabase (charts based on actual radio airplay) will no longer track "Rock" as a format.

That's the name that was given to what was generally referred to as the (Mainstream) Rock chart.

The few stations remaining will be folded into the Active Rock format chart.
Things had gotten so lean for mainstream that it literally took as few as 2 spins anywhere in the country to crack the top
50.


edit to add: The impact? Remains to be seen honestly. Active has taken a horrific turn toward being all over the place formatically over the past year or so particularly. A better option IMO would have been to move stations off the Active panel into the Mainstream panel, reflecting the airplay of both formats more accurately. Instead, honestly, current rock is so dead at radio that they punted & just trimmed it back to one chart. The biggest impact initially appears likely to be that a format that has already become stale & staying on the same singles far too long will become even moreso. The stations being shifted in tend to be incredibly slow to move on anything, that's an extra 100-200 spin count for songs that are frequently six months (or more) old. Means everything likely becomes even more stale.

[timmae]

You have GOT to be kidding, right?

That's the single most offensively "whatever it is it is NOT active rock" song I've heard in a very long time. Literally, that a station would play that song & claim to be a rock station offends me to my core.

Note: I'm not dissing you for liking it, not giving anybody shit for enjoying them. I'm simply insisting that the word "rock" not be applied to whatever the fuck they're doing.

I can certainly see why you'd say that... no doubt. I'd like to see what kind of genre you'd place them in. Especially if you haven't listened to their full release yet.

[timmae]

dola: I did say "rock and roll" Jon... you may have thought I was referring to something other than what I was.

[johnnyshaka]

One-man band, Steve Hill...saw him live at a small venue a few months ago and he was phenomenal.

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[corbes]

José González performing "Let It Carry You" Live on KCRW - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbNE4tdrERQ)

[JonInMiddleGA]

I can certainly see why you'd say that... no doubt. I'd like to see what kind of genre you'd place them in. Especially if you haven't listened to their full release yet.

I'd have to shoot myself before getting through an entire album, based on the three songs I've heard.

I do apologize, however, for reacting to the post about "Could Have Been Me" with the venom earned by their current single "Kiss This". The newer track being played on anyone claiming a rock monicker sends me into such a blind rage that I can't quite focus properly.

They're somewhere between alternative & a throwback style that would fit better with AC if they backed off a few decibels. Despite the hype machine they have going, they truly stand out to me as one of the least deserving of airplay bands I've heard in all the years since I returned from a largely music-free decade or so.

"Hate" might be too strong a word ... but not by much.

[cartman]

Never have been a big fan of Disturbed, but I really like this cover they did of "The Sound of Silence".

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[JonInMiddleGA]

Never have been a big fan of Disturbed, but I really like this cover they did of "The Sound of Silence".

Bobaflex did a better cover, just fwiw.

[Young Drachma]

Another new Beach House album?

I tweeted last night that I didn't like Depression Cherry at first. Then I came back to it later this year and I like it a lot more. Thank Your Lucky Stars sounds more "Beach House" to me, but I don't know that I've gotten into it yet. It might be too melancholy.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Working through my year-end top album list and am struck by a general thought (which I may have had last year as well)

I think too many artists are weakening their album by going to 10 songs when they only had 6-8 good ones, or to 12 when they had 8.

It diminishes my impression of the overall product when they water the album down that way, I'd prefer fewer tracks of higher quality.

[Julio Riddols]

I remember when 13-15 tracks seemed commonplace.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I remember when 13-15 tracks seemed commonplace.

To be clear, I don't have a problem with it if a band can pull it off. I just find it rare to the point of being extremely notable that anyone can.

I honestly don't think I recall an era like that.

Back In Black? 10 tracks.
Powerslave? 8 tracks.
Screaming For Vengeance or Point of Entry? 10 tracks.
Tooth & Nail? 10 tracks

Alter Bridge Fortress is probably THE best album I've heard in at least 20 years and it pushed the edge of the envelope with 12 songs.

[Julio Riddols]

I'm thinking of stuff from the mid 90's mostly.. Pantera/Fear Factory/Korn/Marilyn Manson etc.. Bands back then seemed to pack close to an hour on every disc. Sometimes it was only 10-12 tracks, but it was always at least 10.

I've been kinda disappointed with the change back to 8-10 track records, which often barely scrape a half hour and change.. Feels like less for the money, and it doesn't seem like turnaround times have gotten a lot faster (2 years or so seems normal).

Its a different era now for sure, I think the move to heavy digital distribution and the renaissance of sorts that vinyl has seen is why we have gone back to shorter releases/fewer tracks. I guess it doesn't bother me either way if the quality is where it should be.

EDIT - I just found out that listing Pantera up there was a mistake, as their longest release seems to be 12 songs. Part of me wants to think I imagined this time of copious tracks, but I have too many discs in my collection from that time frame to let that part of me be right.

[QuikSand]

I'm stretching my imagination to think how talentless, or more likely "way off the mark," you'd need to be to do a version of Sound of Silence that's no good. The base material is so damned strong, it's a can't miss. That vid above is fine, but it's hard to identify what they are adding to an already brilliant song.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Its a different era now for sure, I think the move to heavy digital distribution and the renaissance of sorts that vinyl has seen is why we have gone back to shorter releases/fewer tracks. I guess it doesn't bother me either way if the quality is where it should be.

I'm not seeing any shortening though, at least not across the hard rock spectrum.

So far (with a few still to go) I've gone through 106 albums for my year-end process. Avg number of tracks is 11.06, easily 80% or more are at least double-digits in tracks and that's with intro tracks/segues/etc not being counted in those figures.

The lack of quality tracks was/is my gripe. Time and time again I have albums start out making a strong impression only to destroy that completely the deeper into the album I go.

edit to add: And I have the EPs in a separate category so they aren't included in that one way or another, but there are actually fewer of those this year than last for me (about 20 instead of 25), so full length outnumbered those shorter ones at least 4:1. Unaccounted for are true "singles only" projects but there's less than a dozen of those that aren't associated with a forthcoming album/ep.

[JonInMiddleGA]

My annual Albums of the Year list is FINALLY complete.


2015 Albums of the Year | Jon's Three Cents (https://jonsthreecents.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/2015-albums-of-the-year-3/)