Music: Last Album You Listened to and Rate It II

[Shareefruck]

I'm not sure what place genius has in these proto-punk bands, or what that word would be invoking in this context.

For me, musical genius just boils down to the ability to tap into a perfect, rich, intangible, and nuanced sweet spot, no matter how meticulous or technically detailed/well thought out/imaginative the effort put into it is. So in that light, I wouldn't see any reason to exclude these genres. But I also don't comprehend being able to hit that sweet spot simply by giving people a light-heartedly fun and infectious time. Hard to describe, but I just think there's more to it than that (even in punk), personally.

But anyways, I let this gone off the rails for no reason-- this is hard to discuss because I realize I'm basing everything solely on something that exists only in my own head.

 

[Hippasus]

For me, musical genius just boils down to the ability to tap into a perfect, rich, intangible, and nuanced sweet spot, no matter how meticulous or technically detailed/well thought out/imaginative the effort put into it is. So in that light, I wouldn't see any reason to exclude these genres. I've just never had that deep mark hit by the type of music I was describing, personally.

But this is hard to discuss because I realize I'm basing everything solely on something that exists in my own head.

But I think I disagree if you're suggesting that certain bands are geniuses because of their meticulous craft, and that punk makes up for not being crafty geniuses by simply being infectious/fun and simple way. If it were as simple as that, I don't think I'd respect the punk aesthetic as much as I do.

I wasn't suggesting anything, just asking what you think. I like proto-punk a lot, so I am just interested in what makes it extra-good. You used the words tribal, primitive, and minimalistic before in describing The Stooges. Maybe that is the sort of genius you had in mind apropos of that band.

 

[Shareefruck]

I wasn't suggesting anything, just asking what you think. I like proto-punk a lot, so I am just interested in what makes it extra-good. You used the words tribal, primitive, and minimalistic before in describing The Stooges. Maybe that is the sort of genius you had in mind apropos of that band.

Damn, you replied before I properly gathered my thoughts and edited it down into something less reactionary

 

[Hippasus]

Damn, you replied before I properly gathered my thoughts and edited it down into something less reactionary

Oh shoot. Let's re-edit this whole conversation.

 

[Shareefruck]

Let me try to get this down again.

FWIW, I was reading your line "I'm not sure what place genius has in these proto-punk bands" as though your view was that genius comes from prepared craft and punk is the opposite of that. I don't think I agree with that. Punk/proto-punk is simpler, but I think its craft (the good ones anyways) is just as nuanced in its own way. Sometimes I don't hear the nuance though, and I just hear straight-ahead infectious fun, which feels like a shallow version of it to my ears.

If you asked me to pinpoint what nuance there could be in proto-punk/punk beyond straight-ahead infectious fun, I wouldn't be able to nail it down..... but I do think it's there, and I don't think that's all there is to it in the case of a band like The Stooges.

 

[Hippasus]

Let me try to get this down again.

FWIW, I was reading your line "I'm not sure what place genius has in these proto-punk bands" as though your view was that genius comes from prepared craft and punk is the opposite of that. I don't think I agree with that. Punk/proto-punk is simpler, but I think its craft (the good ones anyways) is just as nuanced in its own way. Sometimes I don't hear the nuance though, and I just hear straight-ahead infectious fun, which feels like a shallow version of it to my ears.

If you asked me to pinpoint what nuance there could be in proto-punk/punk beyond straight-ahead infectious fun, I wouldn't be able to nail it down..... but I do think it's there, and I don't think that's all there is to it in the case of a band like The Stooges.

No, I wasn't meaning to suggest that about proto-punk, or that genius comes from prepared craft. I hesitate to call The Stooges more nuanced than New York Dolls, but I am not terribly familiar with the band The Stooges. I've heard a couple of their albums, and I recalled you liked them. From what I heard I have them as somewhat similar to each other from amongst proto-punk bands, but perhaps I am off-base on that.

 

[Shareefruck]

oh, then I misunderstood completely

 

[Know Your Enemy]

I like the headspace you're in, this was me 5 years ago. excellent blend. Check Blockhead - Music By Cavelight and RJD2 - Deadringer, although I wouldn't be surprised if you already have, RJD2 is pretty well known, Blockhead album was a big sleeper though, more instrumental but still a work of art in the similar vein.

This was more my headspace about 2 years ago, I just hadn't given these albums a firm rating yet. I was blown away by Pretty Lights about 5 years ago and have been a big fan ever since. He's is the reason why I warmed up to - and eventually became a fan of - electronic music.
And yeah, I've heard Deadringer, but I think it's time for another listen soon. Wasn't aware of Blockhead however, so thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Know Your Enemy]

Rolling Blackouts by The Go! Team (2010). 3.5/5
Wise Up Ghost by Elvis Costello and The Roots (2013). 1.5-/5
Sounds of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel (1966). 2.5+/5
The Wayward Bus by The Magnetic Fields (1992). 2+/5
Osmium by Parliament (1970). This band might become of my all-time favorites. Can't wait to hear more by P-Funk. 3.5+/5

 

[The Gongshow]

Twenty One Pilots - Blurryface 8/10
The 1975 - I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it 9/10
Twin Atlantic - Free 8.8/10

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Death - Leprosy

8/10

 

[Hippasus]

Rock:

The Stooges - The Stooges 450 (not twice)
The Stooges - Raw Power 400 (not twice)
The Stooges - Fun House 375 (not twice)

Punk:

Siege - Drop Dead 525

200: distasteful and pathetic
300: mediocre or subpar
400: average, but decent
500: very good
600: superb
700: transcendental

 

[Know Your Enemy]

Rock and Rollin with Fats Domino (1956). 1+/5
At the Rock House by Roy Orbison (1960). 2-/5
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963). 3.5/5
The Temptations Sing Smokey (1965). 2.5-/5
That Stubborn Kinda Fellow by Marvin Gaye (1963). 2/5


5/5: Mind-blowing Masterpiece
4.5/5: Flawless, but not mind-blowing
4/5: Great
3.5/5: Very Good
3/5: Good
2.5/5: Positive
2/5: Underwhelming
1.5/5: Tasteless/Dull
1/5: Poor
0.5/5: Awful
0/5: Equivalent to Trap music

 

[plank]

Seeing how everyone else has their own unique rating system, I've devised my own. From now on I will use this uncomplicated but innovating way to score my album reviews.

10. Comaneci
9.9 Gretzky
9. Average
8. Not Their Best
7. OK
6. Masterpiece
5. No Opinion
4. Perfect
3. Average
2. Sublime
1. Unparalleled
0. Mostel

 

[Hippasus]

Seeing how everyone else has their own unique rating system, I've devised my own. From now on I will use this uncomplicated but innovating way to score my album reviews.

10. Comaneci
9.9 Gretzky
9. Average
8. Not Their Best
7. OK
6. Masterpiece
5. No Opinion
4. Perfect
3. Average
2. Sublime
1. Unparalleled
0. Mostel

You must be a Devo fan.

 

[The Gongshow]

Billy Talent 3 8.8/10

 

[Kensu]

The Doors - The Doors (1967)
psychedelic rock

favorite track: Soul Kitchen (honestly, I don't even know with the keyboard being in almost every song)

oh how 10 years have changed, 13 year old me would of loved this. Outside of 3 songs this really isn't the album I once thought it was. That keyboard is insufferable, I hate Ray Manzarek.

2/5

Pharoah Sanders - Karma (1969)
spiritual jazz, avant-garde jazz

favorite track: The Creator Has a Master Plan

5/5

Chico Buarque - Construção (1971)
mpb

favorite track: Construção

peaked my interest into more South American music now.
3.5-4/5 (need to revisit)

Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth (1980)
post-punk

favorite track: N.I.T.A.

well that was disappointing

2.5/5

Le Tigre - Le Tigre (1999)
dance-punk, indietronica

favorite track: Deceptacon

2/5

araabMUZIK - Electronic Dream (2011)
trance, instrumental hip hop, trap

favorite track: Streetz Tonight (I guess?.. lol)

0.5/5

John Talabot - ƒIN (2012)
balearic beat, deep house

favorite track: So Will Be Now...

3.5/5

throughout the month I'll probably look more into South American/Japanese music.

 

[kihei]

Chico Buarque - Construção (1971)
mpb

favorite track: Construção

Let me suggest a few other Brazilian albums:

Djavan/Ao Vivo

Milton Nascimento/Club da Esquina

Cibelle/The Sound of Dried Electric Leaves

Antonio Carlos Jobim/Brasileiro

Seu Jorge/Cru

Pauol Moura/Rio Nocturne

Baden Powell/Afro Sambas

Carlinhos Brown/Alphagamabetizado

Gilberto Gil/Live in Tokyo

Zelia Barbosa/Songs of Protest

Caetano Veloso/Caetano Veloso

 

[Mikeaveli]

8/10:
El-P - Cancer 4 Cure (fav. track - "Tougher Colder Killer")
Danny Brown - XXX (fav. track - "30")

7/10:
Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered. (fav. track - "untitled 02 | 06.23.2014")

 

[Shareefruck]

Madvillainy by Madvillain - 3.5 (Great)
Mm... Food by MF Doom- 3.0 (Very Good)
The Unseen by Quasimoto - 2.5 (Good)
Shades of Blue by Madlib - 2.5 (Good)
Operation Doomsday by MF Doom- 2.0 (Positive)
Vol. 3-4: In India by Beat Konducta - 2.0 (Positive)
Vol. 1-2: Movie Scenes by Beat Konducta - 2.0 (Positive)
Vaudeville Villain by MF Doom - 1.5 (Neutral)
Venomous Villain by MF Doom - 1.0 (Negative)

 

[kihei]

Chasing Yesterday/Noel Gallagher 7.5/10

Certainly not spectacular, but a good, solid outing from Gallagher that easily surpasses his somewhat tentative initial solo release in 2011. Lots of hooks, a few surprises, and his voice gets better with age. Nothing terribly of the moment, but that's made up, for me anyway, by Noel's craftsmanship.

 

[Know Your Enemy]

Elton John (1970). 2/5
Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane (1967). 4-/5
Idlewild South by The Allman Brothers Band (1970). 3.5+/5
Love to Love You Baby by Donna Summer (1975). 2+/5
From Genesis to Revelation by Genesis (1969). 2.5-/5

 

[crump]

Coltrane - A Love Supreme 5/5 +(just gets better every time I hear it)
Johnny Winter - And (studio) 3/5 (losing some luster with age)
Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out the Lights 3.5/5 (beware beware of the bearded lady)

 

[Shareefruck]

Roxy Music is really growing on me. They're fantastic.

For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music - 3.5 (Great)
Roxy Music by Roxy Music - 3.5 (Great)
Viva! by Roxy Music - 3.5 (Great)

Do they have many other albums worth digging into (or any standout Bryan Ferry solo albums for that matter)?

 

[Hippasus]

Roxy Music is really growing on me. They're fantastic.

For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music - 3.5 (Great)
Roxy Music by Roxy Music - 3.5 (Great)
Viva! by Roxy Music - 3.5 (Great)

Do they have many other albums worth digging into (or any standout Bryan Ferry solo albums for that matter)?

If I had to pick two it would be their first two, which you already rated. As albums, IMO everything up to Avalon, except maybe Manifesto (haven't heard Viva! or anything more recent than Avalon). You probably already know this but Brian Eno does keyboards on those first two albums. Stranded, Country Life, and Siren are IMO good. I think they were one of the original glam rock bands, along with David Bowie.