Is anyone gonna buy both Porcupine Tree and Spoon?

[3-LockBox]

Or is there something else you think will be a bigger Rave Recs favorite topic of discussion than these two? Beck? Bloc Party? Eels? Andrew Bird? Any big supergroup releases on the horizon?

Beck--never got him

Bloc Party?

Eels?

Andrew Bird--Does he have a new release? Bowl Of Fire was great.

Supergroups? The Rolling Stones has a release slated for later this summer, as well as a tour. (what a bunch of geezers) I haven't heard a good Stones album since Tatoo You, and that wasn't a great one.

[Dusty Chalk]

...no.

I got both Electrelane and Porcupine Tree, does that count? Maybe not, Electrane, not so simple. I'm trying to think of the "simplest" alternative band I listen to. Buzzcocks, perhaps?

[Stone]

What, you mean the latest The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower isn't on everyone's wish list?

[Mike]

Well I got me the new Porky Tree which I quite like, but I don't see it making any new friends it's the usual heavy/fast slow formula from them, soundwise it's not as easy on the ears as earlier albums.

As for Spoon I don't know much from them apart from a few tracks on comps from the last album which sounded good although I never picked it up in the end.

I didn't bother with the Beck I just didn't feel encouraged to buy it and from reports around here I ain't missed much. Bloc Party is a definite for those that haven't heard it yet, it's a slow burner which will feature high on my year end list.

Eels, yes it's on my wishlist I've always liked them. The new Coldplay sounds pretty good too from stuff I've heard on the radio, maybe I'm in the minority but I liked their second more than their debut.

The one I'm really looking forward to though is the next RR Rotation Sampler always good for latching on to new sounds.

Cheers
Mike

[shokhead]

PT was kinda boring and didnt do much for me.

[Davey]

As for Spoon I don't know much from them apart from a few tracks on comps from the last album which sounded good although I never picked it up in the end.

Yeah, the new one seems brilliant so far, but I've only listened to about half. Really seems to be channelling John Lennon to very good effect. The opener may be the best thing he's done so far, "The Beast and Dragon, Adored". Love it. Only goes 4:18 but seems kind of epic in nature. Really pulls you along and holds you with its dark and moody tension. The lyrics seem to be somewhat autobiographical...

I got a feelin it don't come cheap
I got a feelin oh and then it got to me
It took its time a-working into my soul
I got to believe it come from rock and roll

Nice choppy guitar soloing toward the end and that insistent piano. Very cool, and that's just the opener! But still lots of Elvis Costello and ELO and the like in the music which may not endear them to much of the PT crowd.

Anyway, I'll try to remember to stash some Spoon in your CRSV10 package. Great band.

Don't you think that Bloc Party mastering sucks? Great songs but the engineers should be fired. Not that it's all that unusual today. That PT is pretty loud and crappy sounding too, isn't it? At least from some of the comments I've read elsewhere. Like Slosh said in another thread, the Spoon guys use too much compression too, but it still sounds very good. Could be better with less compression, but who ya gonna call?

[Mike]

Anyway, I'll try to remember to stash some Spoon in your CRSV10 package. Great band.

That would be great if you can, much appreciated.

Yeah that Bloc Party doesn't sparkle much it's kind of like listening to an mp3 in places, but I've heard much worse. I suspect the raw unmastered tapes sound pretty good with that ryhthm section but it's the old compression problem again.

And PT doesn't fare much better some of the quiter tracks sound ok but it's mastered way too loud as usual and sounds pretty harsh in places. Seems like once bands hit the big time or start being pushed by the labels all sense goes out the window.

Cheers
Mike

[Davey]

And PT doesn't fare much better some of the quiter tracks sound ok but it's mastered way too loud as usual and sounds pretty harsh in places. Seems like once bands hit the big time or start being pushed by the labels all sense goes out the window.

Boy, ain't that the sad truth. Somebody posted a screenshot from Deadwing over at the Hoffman site where there's a big thread about the album annd it does look pretty bad with some severe clipping. I'll steal the image link and post it below...if it doesn't show up just go to post #61 in the thread at http://stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=52303 but like you say, it's certainly not uncommon today to see even much worse than this

[Davey]

I got both Electrelane and Porcupine Tree, does that count? Maybe not, Electrelane, not so simple.

Whadaya think about the new Electrelane? Had a chance to digest much of it? Incredible recording. The drum sound is some of the best I've heard in ages. Reminds me of those early Kraftwerk recordings we've talked about before where the drum kit seems so full of life. Lots of air and space and real skin and metallic sounds. And the bass really sounds like a bass. I'd like to see some pictures of the recording setup and which room Albini used at Electrical Audio. He really captures the sound of a band in motion. Haven't totally warmed up to the album as a whole, but some of their jamming this time is stellar, especially when they add in some cello and piano and trumpet. Gives it almost the sound of a small orchestra at times. Kind of wish they would exploit that power a little more and really let loose and get explosive like their underlying metal sound sometimes hints at. Seems too subdued, and too dark overall. It does have a pretty unique sound, but it's kind of like they aren't sure where to take it. Some of the songs run together without a clear direction, for me as a listener. I'm left thinking to myself, isn't that just a continuation of the last song? Which was already a tad too long? Hehehe, just being overly critical. It does sound very cool and I like it a lot, but was just hoping for something to fall in love with. Isn't that always the way? The way music mimics life?

Boy, this place sure has gone dead lately, huh? Seems like only a small handful of us post stuff anymore. Guess it's kind of silly to write all this when no one will see it but me and (maybe) you. Oh well, pathetic as it seems I still enjoy having my thoughts archived on some obscure audio geek server, running somewhere in the virtual world. Not all my thoughts, though. Some of them I'd like to have back

[Davey]

Wow, just stopped by amazon.com to check out if anyone had said anything good about this new Electrelane album (which I'm really getting into the last coupla days) and there's zip nada nilch except for a couple three editorial things. But Deadwind was on my previous viewed panel so I clicked on it and there's already 58 user reviews and almost all 5-star. So I clicked on over to the Spoon page and hit Gimme Fiction and there's only 12. Wow, thought this one would have fans really energized. They do seem to be getting a bunch of high profile coverage in the press from what I've heard. Haven't actually seen it myself, though. Looks like Deadwing is winning by a knockout at this round.