Official 2015 Alt Music/The Lounge Thread
- Thread starter FrostBite
- Start date
Red Shield
Global Domination
This thread...
Sufjan Stevens, Mini Mansions, Pond, Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld
Sufjan Stevens, Mini Mansions, Pond, Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld
I think the grander the concept, the better the Titus Andronicus album. It's been proved by The Monitor being a seemingly impossible Civil War themed album that simultaneously has a linear narrative of a failed move from New Jersey to Boston and remains a punk album despite most songs being 6+ minutes & involving pianos, strings, bagpipes, etc... with multiple movements within each song and the structure within each song often entirely flipping on its head during the composition. It's amazing that, with all the risks it takes and odds stacked against the imagined concept of such an album, it still ended up being the best rock album of the decade thus far.
And while I love their first album, a drone-laden, grimy, moody, atmospheric album and their last, a stripped down straight punk album (although bookended by a manifesto & a blues anthem and centered by a sonically adventurous song delving into the lead singer's eating disorder), The Monitor remains the shiniest jewel in the discography for the risks it takes and succeeds at and the way the band is able to hit those heights and elevate to one of those higher levels to become something timeless and everlasting.
All that said, the new album hits & possibly surpasses the previous efforts with knocking a gigantic concept out the park. This time out, they're delivering a 90+ min punk rock opera about manic depression that has characters meeting their doppelgangers, traveling through time, fighting mystery beasts and falling in love. There are Pogues & Daniel Johnston covers (& the final song is a majestic Johnston tribute in spirit) that help navigate this rocky trip that Patrick Stickles invites us along in his turbulent mind and, yet again, the band is justified in the risks it takes as it splashes us in these waters we might never otherwise navigate in music. The lyrics are immaculate (and Patrick helped expand on many of them already: http://genius.com/albums/Titus-andronicus/The-most-lamentable-tragedy ), the music is incredible and the concept is novel & engrossing. Songs like (S)he Said/(S)he said & Dimed Out & Fired Up are nothing short of amazing. As always, it remains very punk based, so it might not be everyone's speed, but it's definitely one of the best albums of the year & gives Titus 2 undeniable entries into best of the decade already.
I'm not going to link it b/c it leaked a full month+ early (officially out 7/28) and, as a touring band that just jumped to a new label (whose early press copies are probably why it's out already- wtf Merge?), they're going to to need as much support as they can get. But you internet savvy people already know how to find it without me saying so and I suggest anyone who does support by eventually copping or at least see them live and/or cop some merch b/c they're the only band currently worthy of demanding your attention. Also here: http://www.mergerecords.com/presskits_mrg527 you can find a song by song breakdown of the concept by the band w/ the press kit pdfs.
Honestly album of the year.
And while I love their first album, a drone-laden, grimy, moody, atmospheric album and their last, a stripped down straight punk album (although bookended by a manifesto & a blues anthem and centered by a sonically adventurous song delving into the lead singer's eating disorder), The Monitor remains the shiniest jewel in the discography for the risks it takes and succeeds at and the way the band is able to hit those heights and elevate to one of those higher levels to become something timeless and everlasting.
All that said, the new album hits & possibly surpasses the previous efforts with knocking a gigantic concept out the park. This time out, they're delivering a 90+ min punk rock opera about manic depression that has characters meeting their doppelgangers, traveling through time, fighting mystery beasts and falling in love. There are Pogues & Daniel Johnston covers (& the final song is a majestic Johnston tribute in spirit) that help navigate this rocky trip that Patrick Stickles invites us along in his turbulent mind and, yet again, the band is justified in the risks it takes as it splashes us in these waters we might never otherwise navigate in music. The lyrics are immaculate (and Patrick helped expand on many of them already: http://genius.com/albums/Titus-andronicus/The-most-lamentable-tragedy ), the music is incredible and the concept is novel & engrossing. Songs like (S)he Said/(S)he said & Dimed Out & Fired Up are nothing short of amazing. As always, it remains very punk based, so it might not be everyone's speed, but it's definitely one of the best albums of the year & gives Titus 2 undeniable entries into best of the decade already.
I'm not going to link it b/c it leaked a full month+ early (officially out 7/28) and, as a touring band that just jumped to a new label (whose early press copies are probably why it's out already- wtf Merge?), they're going to to need as much support as they can get. But you internet savvy people already know how to find it without me saying so and I suggest anyone who does support by eventually copping or at least see them live and/or cop some merch b/c they're the only band currently worthy of demanding your attention. Also here: http://www.mergerecords.com/presskits_mrg527 you can find a song by song breakdown of the concept by the band w/ the press kit pdfs.
Honestly album of the year.
Adam3000
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I enjoyed the individual songs on the Titus Androdicus album, but personally it became incredibly tiresome and somewhat annoying to digest as a whole. Actually, after 5 songs I was ready to turn it off. But the thing is, I'm not really a fan of that band. So the fact that even I enjoyed the songs speaks volumes. I can imagine that a fan of the band or the genre will be like 
I can't say that I would give it high marks personally, but I imagine there will be plenty of people calling it album of the year material
I can't say that I would give it high marks personally, but I imagine there will be plenty of people calling it album of the year material
Adam3000
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Halfway through the year, this is where my list is sitting:
9.5 or above
Sufjan Stevens "Carrie & Lowell"
9.0 or above
Jamie xx "In Colour"
Bjork "Vulnicura
8.5 or above
Alabama Shakes "Sound And Color"
Kendrick Lamar "To Pimp A Butterfly"
Tobias Jesso Jr. "Goon"
Matthew E. White "Fresh Blood"
Natalie Prass "Natalie Prass"
Viet Cong "Viet Cong"
8.0 or above
Lower Dens "Escape From Evil"
Colin Stetson & Sara Neufeld "Never Were The Way She Was"
Waxahatchee "Ivy Tripp"
Courtney Barnett "Sometimes I Sit And Think..."
Jessica Pratt "On Your Own Love Again"
Sleater Kinney "No Cities To Love"
Father John Misty "I Love You Honeybear"
Panda Bear "Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper"
Biggest surprise of the year: Alabama Shakes
Song of the year: 3 Jaimie xx songs battling it out right now....Gosh, Loud Places, Girl
9.5 or above
Sufjan Stevens "Carrie & Lowell"
9.0 or above
Jamie xx "In Colour"
Bjork "Vulnicura
8.5 or above
Alabama Shakes "Sound And Color"
Kendrick Lamar "To Pimp A Butterfly"
Tobias Jesso Jr. "Goon"
Matthew E. White "Fresh Blood"
Natalie Prass "Natalie Prass"
Viet Cong "Viet Cong"
8.0 or above
Lower Dens "Escape From Evil"
Colin Stetson & Sara Neufeld "Never Were The Way She Was"
Waxahatchee "Ivy Tripp"
Courtney Barnett "Sometimes I Sit And Think..."
Jessica Pratt "On Your Own Love Again"
Sleater Kinney "No Cities To Love"
Father John Misty "I Love You Honeybear"
Panda Bear "Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper"
Biggest surprise of the year: Alabama Shakes
Song of the year: 3 Jaimie xx songs battling it out right now....Gosh, Loud Places, Girl
Red Shield
Global Domination
You didn't listen to Mew's new album that came out in April?
Anybody fukk with Phox at all? Absolutely in love with the singer though I'm pretty sure she loves coochie. Their sound is so beautiful and her voice is unique as fukk. They low key sound better live with it being a bit messier. I love it
They were in Cincy 2 weeks ago, but I just discovered them like a few days after that show. So salty. Great music though
They were in Cincy 2 weeks ago, but I just discovered them like a few days after that show. So salty. Great music though
porque
Boricua Guerrero
Adam3000
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New Beach House single from their follow up album after 2 indie classics in a row
Song is
Musically, pretty interesting
Melodically, not their best work. 'Acceptable' I guess
Looking forward to the full album
Song is
Musically, pretty interesting
Melodically, not their best work. 'Acceptable' I guess
Looking forward to the full album
New Beach House single from their follow up album after 2 indie classics in a row
Song is
Musically, pretty interesting
Melodically, not their best work. 'Acceptable' I guess
Looking forward to the full album
Song is shoegaze as fukk. give me an album of this please.
Red Shield
Global Domination
love shoegaze.. the album don't come out until August tho
