Don't know if you guys know about Foals over in the States. Their new album What Went Down is a very very good album. Give it a go.
I hadn't really listened to them before other than the big song of their last album, but I just listened to the new album, and while it's nice, it feels to me like a slightly bland version of several other current bands. Or maybe a less interesting updated version of Doves. It might be a good album to play as background music when I'm working or something, but it didn't really connect with me. Solid songwriting, but with nothing to set it apart from the crowd.
Don't know if you guys know about Foals over in the States. Their new album What Went Down is a very very good album. Give it a go.
I hadn't really listened to them before other than the big song of their last album, but I just listened to the new album, and while it's nice, it feels to me like a slightly bland version of several other current bands. Or maybe a less interesting updated version of Doves. It might be a good album to play as background music when I'm working or something, but it didn't really connect with me. Solid songwriting, but with nothing to set it apart from the crowd.
Wow, bland is the last thing is describe as, but each to their own. They've been going for a good few years now. They have been very 'peak and troughs' with their albums. First one, Antidotes, is good, and they're a great live band.
Don't know if you guys know about Foals over in the States. Their new album What Went Down is a very very good album. Give it a go.
I hadn't really listened to them before other than the big song of their last album, but I just listened to the new album, and while it's nice, it feels to me like a slightly bland version of several other current bands. Or maybe a less interesting updated version of Doves. It might be a good album to play as background music when I'm working or something, but it didn't really connect with me. Solid songwriting, but with nothing to set it apart from the crowd.
Wow, bland is the last thing is describe as, but each to their own. They've been going for a good few years now. They have been very 'peak and troughs' with their albums. First one, Antidotes, is good, and they're a great live band.
Basically, the way I judge bands these days is if hearing their songs makes me want to pick up my guitar or bass and play along or not. None of their songs on this album did that for me. They've obviously got a pretty strong following though, as they had good numbers on Spotify. And I didn't hate them by any means, they just didn't spark my interest. I'll give Antidotes a listen some time.
Jeff Lynne just released a new "ELO" album called Alone In The Universe. I bought it on my lunch break yesterday and haven't stopped listening to it since.
While I will admit it's nothing groundbreaking when set against ELO's earlier body of work, Alone In The Universe does create a warm and inviting mood with the opening track "When I Was A Boy" and maintains it throughout. For me, it's as if Jeff Lynne has invited me in for a cup of tea and an afternoon of stories about the good ol' days as told through song.
Jeff Lynne just released a new "ELO" album called Alone In The Universe. I bought it on my lunch break yesterday and haven't stopped listening to it since.
While I will admit it's nothing groundbreaking when set against ELO's earlier body of work, Alone In The Universe does create a warm and inviting mood with the opening track "When I Was A Boy" and maintains it throughout. For me, it's as if Jeff Lynne has invited me in for a cup of tea and an afternoon of stories about the good ol' days as told through song.
I can't say much for Post 80's ELO output but I'm a huge fan of their 70's stuff and some of their 80's. I saw them live a few years back and while it was Lynne-less, it was easily one of the best shows I ever saw. Your recommendation sparks some interest in this new album as Lynne always makes things interesting.
So I'm listening to my country music playlist on Spotify and without a doubt it confirms what I've known for a while. I prefer to drink whiskey because that's the drink of "men", at least according to the legends.
My preference of Jim Beam (as my regular) is slightly more complicated. If I listen to Hank Jr. it's what he sings abou: also bubba Sparxxx drops in a few lyrics.Real talk I prefer Jack, but I developed taste for Bourbon before I met Jack.
So what are some drinks that you like because of music?
So I'm listening to my country music playlist on Spotify and without a doubt it confirms what I've known for a while. I prefer to drink whiskey because that's the drink of "men", at least according to the legends.
My preference of Jim Beam (as my regular) is slightly more complicated. If I listen to Hank Jr. it's what he sings abou: also bubba Sparxxx drops in a few lyrics.Real talk I prefer Jack, but I developed taste for Bourbon before I met Jack.
So what are some drinks that you like because of music?
I like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
This will require time and thought, and research for dates of things. I have a feeling things are going to lean early ’90s for me. But I know one that will definitely be on the list:
I might need to go off the top of my head for top 5 of the 90s.. Just put it out there. Because it's a toughie.
The The - Dusk, 1993 A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory, 1991 Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish, 1993 Beastie Boys - Check Your Head, 1992 Weezer - Pinkerton, 1996
I'd say my 5 are reflective of my current mood.. I think The The probably always makes my list, if I was put on the spot to make a top 5. It is one of my favorite records, although it gets little critical love.
Any of these are also easily good enough IMO to make it, again depending on my mood: Urge Overkill - Saturation, 1993 Cheap Trick - (second s/t album), 1997 Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile, 1999 Weezer - s/t, 1994 Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde, 1992 Massive Attack - Mezzanine, 1998 Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space, 1997 DJ Shadow - Endtroducing..., 1996 Pulp - Different Class, 1995 Beck - Midnight Vultures, 1999 Jeff Buckley - Grace, 1994 Mr. Bungle - California, 1999 De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead, 1991 Supergrass - In It For the Money, 1997 Supergrass - I Should Coco, 1994 Portishead - Dummy, 1994 Liz Phair - Exile In Guyville, 1993 Depeche Mode - Violator, 1990 Basement Jaxx - Remedy, 1999 Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby, 1998 Garbage - s/t, 1995 Radiohead - OK Computer, 1997
Some of these artists I would even consider other records.. Beck had two albums that were much bigger than the one I included, and I love both of those records. I could've easily included Pulp's This Is Hardcore or other stuff from Massive Attack.. Nirvana made fine albums, I do think In Utero is quite good. There were grunge SONGS that I dug a lot, and I still spin some of them. I love my hard and heavy rock, but I was not a huge grunge guy in the 90s. Was more of an Anglophile. Shoegaze & Britpop were awesome.
And, no question about it, the 1990s were the golden age of hip hop.
Plus, there were plenty of comp releases in the 90s that were great.. I'm thinking Zappa live albums, Beatle comps.. amazing movie soundtrack albums. Might not qualify here.
Lush - Split (1994) Soundgarden - Superunknown (1994) REM - Out of Time (1991) The Pursuit of Happiness - Where's the Bone? (1995) Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (1995)
Sonic Youth — Goo (1990) Sugar — Copper Blue (1992) Lucinda Williams — Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) Weezer — Weezer (Blue Album) (1994) or Pinkerton (1996) Social Distortion — White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996) Fugazi — Repeater (1990) or Steady Diet of Nothing (1991)
The The - Dusk, 1993 A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory, 1991 Liz Phair - Exile In Guyville, 1993
Good call on these. I wasn't sure about including hip-hop, but Low-End Theory is one of my faves. I like some of the others on your list too, but these could end up on my list.
A very good album, but I tossed it out because it's only my distant third-favorite of their albums. Louder Than Love and Ultramega OK are soooo much better IMO.
A very good album, but I tossed it out because it's only my distant third-favorite of their albums. Louder Than Love and Ultramega OK are soooo much better IMO.
Truth! ;)
Minority opinion, I'm sure, but I have to say- as a follower/fan of Soundgarden.. I think Superunknown is the worst of their original 80s-90s run. I really like the early, rougher stuff. Badmotorfinger is good with great moments (led by "Rusty Cage".) Aside from "The Day I Tried To Live", Superunknown is where they lost me.
Then they tightened up the songwriting and went "full-Zep" to swing for radio hits on the next record (some of which I liked). Some good tunes there, but ultimately disposable stuff- I found myself longing for their earlier, messier sound.
I remember liking the Audioslave record when it came out. But I haven't listened to it since then. Some of Cornell's solo stuff.. I remember some moments among mostly mellower, pedestrian (or worse) tunes. IMO with that voice, he needs to rock.
There was a Chris Cornell solo record done with Timbaland I think? Good god, no.. what a disaster. And Trent Reznor had some real choice words for it in an interview when that came out (They patched things up- I saw the Soundgarden/NIN tour a few years ago).
I saw and enjoyed the tour, but skipped the reunion album.
Lush - Split (1994) Soundgarden - Superunknown (1994) REM - Out of Time (1991) The Pursuit of Happiness - Where's the Bone? (1995) Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (1995)
* My favorites. Not yours. :)
Not necessarily- good picks!
Lush was great. I have a best of comp, and I am familiar with their albums. Great band.
It was a tossup between BadMotorFinger and Superunknown. I was in a band in the 90s and our setlist drew pretty heavy from Superunknown, so it's special to me, regardless of what the purists think is "better" (so nyah! :) )
I'd also throw PJ's "Vs." album in there for good measure.
1. Radiohead - OK Computer 2. Pavement - Brighten the Corners 3. Beck - Mutations 4. Pulp - Different Class 5. Nirvana - In Utero
Honorable mentions: Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, Sleater-Kinney, Fugazi, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Blur, Spiritualized, Oasis, Primal Scream, Modest Mouse, Mogwai, Yo La Tengo, Cibo Matto, Sean Lennon, Green Day, Weezer
Dang, I forgot about Cake. Comfort Eagle is probably their best album, and doesn't qualify, but I love Fashion Nugget and Prolonging the Magic too.
A few more possiblilities: Dinosaur Jr. — Where You Been (1993) Afghan Whigs — Gentlemen (1993) Ben Folds Five — Whatever and Ever Amen (1997) Soul Coughing — Ruby Vroom (1994) Paul Westerberg — 14 Songs (1993)
I had to look at the song lists for BadMotorFinger and Superunknown. For some reason those two albums blur together for me, but I think I actually prefer BMF.
I thought about Modest Mouse, but their best stuff came out after the ’90s, so I put them back on the shelf.
The old stuff is really good, but The Moon & Antarctica (2000) is probably my favorite of theirs—just a deeper album to me. And I don't really count compilations for lists like this.
The new record by the Monkees, Good Times, is great. Like, not just decent for a bunch of older guys getting back together because of an anniversary, but genuinely good. The songwriters' fingerprints are all over it, but it works... a typical Monkees record was all over the place musically, anyway, so sounding like XTC here and Death Cab there really doesn't feel out of place. And hey, it turns out I've been waiting for Mickey Dolenz doing a passable Andy Partridge imitation my whole life... who knew?
And thanks to old tapes and new technology, we get new vocals from both Davy Jones (to be expected) AND Harry Nilsson (a surprise and a treat), so yeah, there's that.
Kick in the extra buck or so for the Deluxe edition... the second version of "Me and Magdalena" is terrific in a completely different way than the "official" one, and I think I may even like it a little better.
Comments
While I will admit it's nothing groundbreaking when set against ELO's earlier body of work, Alone In The Universe does create a warm and inviting mood with the opening track "When I Was A Boy" and maintains it throughout. For me, it's as if Jeff Lynne has invited me in for a cup of tea and an afternoon of stories about the good ol' days as told through song.
My preference of Jim Beam (as my regular) is slightly more complicated. If I listen to Hank Jr. it's what he sings abou: also bubba Sparxxx drops in a few lyrics.Real talk I prefer Jack, but I developed taste for Bourbon before I met Jack.
So what are some drinks that you like because of music?
(Not really.)
Drinks I've drunk because they were mentioned in music:
Van Halen (with Hagar) - "Cabo Wabo" - "...we drink mescal right from the bottle..."
Eagles - "Tequila Sunrise" - <-should be obvious
Concrete Blonde - "Mexican Moon" - "...two Tecates and lime..."
George Thorgood - "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" - To be honest, I can do without the last part...
Jimmy Buffett - "Margaritaville" - truth be told the song didn't have shit to do with me drinking them, but give the man a little credit.
I do like Thorogood though, even though I prefer John Lee Hooker’s version.
Top 5 rock albums of the 90s?
This will require time and thought, and research for dates of things. I have a feeling things are going to lean early ’90s for me. But I know one that will definitely be on the list:
Nirvana — Nevermind (1991)
The The - Dusk, 1993
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low-End Theory, 1991
Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish, 1993
Beastie Boys - Check Your Head, 1992
Weezer - Pinkerton, 1996
I'd say my 5 are reflective of my current mood.. I think The The probably always makes my list, if I was put on the spot to make a top 5. It is one of my favorite records, although it gets little critical love.
Any of these are also easily good enough IMO to make it, again depending on my mood:
Urge Overkill - Saturation, 1993
Cheap Trick - (second s/t album), 1997
Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile, 1999
Weezer - s/t, 1994
Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde, 1992
Massive Attack - Mezzanine, 1998
Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space, 1997
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing..., 1996
Pulp - Different Class, 1995
Beck - Midnight Vultures, 1999
Jeff Buckley - Grace, 1994
Mr. Bungle - California, 1999
De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead, 1991
Supergrass - In It For the Money, 1997
Supergrass - I Should Coco, 1994
Portishead - Dummy, 1994
Liz Phair - Exile In Guyville, 1993
Depeche Mode - Violator, 1990
Basement Jaxx - Remedy, 1999
Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby, 1998
Garbage - s/t, 1995
Radiohead - OK Computer, 1997
Some of these artists I would even consider other records.. Beck had two albums that were much bigger than the one I included, and I love both of those records. I could've easily included Pulp's This Is Hardcore or other stuff from Massive Attack.. Nirvana made fine albums, I do think In Utero is quite good. There were grunge SONGS that I dug a lot, and I still spin some of them. I love my hard and heavy rock, but I was not a huge grunge guy in the 90s. Was more of an Anglophile. Shoegaze & Britpop were awesome.
And, no question about it, the 1990s were the golden age of hip hop.
Plus, there were plenty of comp releases in the 90s that were great.. I'm thinking Zappa live albums, Beatle comps.. amazing movie soundtrack albums. Might not qualify here.
Lush - Split (1994)
Soundgarden - Superunknown (1994)
REM - Out of Time (1991)
The Pursuit of Happiness - Where's the Bone? (1995)
Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (1995)
* My favorites. Not yours. :)
Sonic Youth — Goo (1990)
Sugar — Copper Blue (1992)
Lucinda Williams — Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)
Weezer — Weezer (Blue Album) (1994) or Pinkerton (1996)
Social Distortion — White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996)
Fugazi — Repeater (1990) or Steady Diet of Nothing (1991) Good call on these. I wasn't sure about including hip-hop, but Low-End Theory is one of my faves. I like some of the others on your list too, but these could end up on my list. A very good album, but I tossed it out because it's only my distant third-favorite of their albums. Louder Than Love and Ultramega OK are soooo much better IMO.
Minority opinion, I'm sure, but I have to say- as a follower/fan of Soundgarden.. I think Superunknown is the worst of their original 80s-90s run. I really like the early, rougher stuff. Badmotorfinger is good with great moments (led by "Rusty Cage".) Aside from "The Day I Tried To Live", Superunknown is where they lost me.
Then they tightened up the songwriting and went "full-Zep" to swing for radio hits on the next record (some of which I liked). Some good tunes there, but ultimately disposable stuff- I found myself longing for their earlier, messier sound.
I remember liking the Audioslave record when it came out. But I haven't listened to it since then. Some of Cornell's solo stuff.. I remember some moments among mostly mellower, pedestrian (or worse) tunes. IMO with that voice, he needs to rock.
There was a Chris Cornell solo record done with Timbaland I think? Good god, no.. what a disaster. And Trent Reznor had some real choice words for it in an interview when that came out (They patched things up- I saw the Soundgarden/NIN tour a few years ago).
I saw and enjoyed the tour, but skipped the reunion album.
Lush was great. I have a best of comp, and I am familiar with their albums. Great band.
This is why I had trouble in school.
I'd also throw PJ's "Vs." album in there for good measure.
1. Radiohead - OK Computer
2. Pavement - Brighten the Corners
3. Beck - Mutations
4. Pulp - Different Class
5. Nirvana - In Utero
Honorable mentions:
Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Beastie Boys, Sleater-Kinney, Fugazi, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Blur, Spiritualized, Oasis, Primal Scream, Modest Mouse, Mogwai, Yo La Tengo, Cibo Matto, Sean Lennon, Green Day, Weezer
A few more possiblilities:
Dinosaur Jr. — Where You Been (1993)
Afghan Whigs — Gentlemen (1993)
Ben Folds Five — Whatever and Ever Amen (1997)
Soul Coughing — Ruby Vroom (1994)
Paul Westerberg — 14 Songs (1993)
I had to look at the song lists for BadMotorFinger and Superunknown. For some reason those two albums blur together for me, but I think I actually prefer BMF.
I thought about Modest Mouse, but their best stuff came out after the ’90s, so I put them back on the shelf.
Lonesome Crowded West
and Building Nothing out of Something - a compilation
I've enjoyed most of their stuff since 2000, but none of it is their best, imho.
Tim Taylor of Brainiac - Hissing Prigs in Static Couture
And thanks to old tapes and new technology, we get new vocals from both Davy Jones (to be expected) AND Harry Nilsson (a surprise and a treat), so yeah, there's that.
Kick in the extra buck or so for the Deluxe edition... the second version of "Me and Magdalena" is terrific in a completely different way than the "official" one, and I think I may even like it a little better.