So...anything good in 2012 yet?

[ForeverAutumn]

BarryL bought me the newest Kathleen Edwards disk for my birthday. It's quite different from her previous disks which had her earning comparisons to Lucinda Williams. This new album is much more upbeat and melodic than previous albums...and that's a good thing. After two spins I'm really enjoying it.

Kathleen Edwards' 'Voyageur' is the acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter's fourth album, and her first since 'Asking for Flowers' (2008). Produced by Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) and Edwards, 'Voyageur' is less of a departure than it is a journey, and like any transforming trip, it demands that we let go of any preconceptions about the destination. 'Voyageur' evokes a spectrum of overwhelming feelings within the atmosphere of a lucid dream. Edwards' characters speak to the grief, loneliness, shock, and confusion that come with endings as well as the hope and irrepressible joy that accompany new beginnings, but the stories are told with a seductively quiet strength. Aided by the musical support of fellow travelers Justin Vernon and Norah Jones, 'Voyageur' features standout tracks such as "Change the Sheets," "Mint," and "A Soft Place to Land."

...these artists:

Ben Folds Five
The Shins
Andrew Bird

I'm also looking forward to those releases, along with this one:

ROADRUNNER RECORDS are delighted to announce the signing of STORM CORROSION.

STORM CORROSION is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the current music scene’s most innovative and multi-talented artists; Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth.

Full story here

[Jim Clark]

I'm blanking big time. Had very high hopes for the Big Pink follow up but I really don't care for it much at all. that first one though...

Chairlift came to me on a recommendation but I'm not diggin' that one either.

This is a massive departure from last year. I heard a shins single on XM that got me all excited though.

jc

[Duds]

ooooohhhhhh nice, that one could be interesting!



I'm also looking forward to those releases, along with this one:

ROADRUNNER RECORDS are delighted to announce the signing of STORM CORROSION.

STORM CORROSION is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the current music scene’s most innovative and multi-talented artists; Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth.

Full story here[/QUOTE]

[MasterCylinder]

YES !

As of yesterday, in a weak moment, I ordered a new 7 - piece set of Ludwigs.....................2 up, 2 down, 2 basses and a matching snare.

This will be the sixth kit I've had in my life, three of which I no longer own.



The next great event for 2012 is that my daughter had better graduate college in May !!!

[ForeverAutumn]

YES !

As of yesterday, in a weak moment, I ordered a new 7 - piece set of Ludwigs.....................2 up, 2 down, 2 basses and a matching snare.

This will be the sixth kit I've had in my life, three of which I no longer own.



The next great event for 2012 is that my daughter had better graduate college in May !!!

Congratulations on both. You own three kits? Are they all set up? Where do you keep them?

I'm trying to get Hubby to buy a new kit. Something a bit quieter than the one that he has now. The current kit is insanely loud! If he doesn't get one before then, I'm thinking that I might have to do myself a favour and buy him a new kit for our 20th anniversary (in two years).

I know all about those weak moments. My guitar collection came very close to growing by one more on Wednesday night. If Hubby hadn't been there to talk me down who knows what might have happened.

[MasterCylinder]

Congratulations on both. You own three kits? Are they all set up? Where do you keep them?

I'm trying to get Hubby to buy a new kit. Something a bit quieter than the one that he has now. The current kit is insanely loud! If he doesn't get one before then, I'm thinking that I might have to do myself a favour and buy him a new kit for our 20th anniversary (in two years).

I know all about those weak moments. My guitar collection came very close to growing by one more on Wednesday night. If Hubby hadn't been there to talk me down who knows what might have happened.

I own an original custom-ordered set of Gretsch USA from 1977; this June, I will have had them for 35 years............it would take about $5K to buy these now.
I also have a set of Yamaha electronics for special occasion.
The new kit will be double-bass which is what I had in college.
None of these are set up............the Gretsch and the Yamaha are in cases and the Ludwigs have not yet arrived.........when they do, they will take their place in the daughter's abandoned bedroom.

So you and hubby are looking for "quiet drums" huh ?...........I'm intrigued.
He must currently be playing birch shells, no ?

If you buy him some drums, you better be totally certain you know what he wants.
Just sayin'.

[ForeverAutumn]

So you and hubby are looking for "quiet drums" huh ?...........I'm intrigued.
He must currently be playing birch shells, no ?

If you buy him some drums, you better be totally certain you know what he wants.
Just sayin'.

QuietER. Emphasis on the "er". Even he finds them too loud to play in the house. He's done everything he can to dampen them. I don't know what they are made of. He's had them since he was a teenager.

Our plan is to eventually build a soundproof music room in the basement.

[MasterCylinder]

QuietER. Emphasis on the "er". Even he finds them too loud to play in the house. He's done everything he can to dampen them. I don't know what they are made of. He's had them since he was a teenager.

Our plan is to eventually build a soundproof music room in the basement.

QuietER will probably have to be made of 100% maple.
Unfortunately, maple drums are generally pricey, but not always.
For the best maple drums for the money ..............check out the following :

Gretsch Catalina Maple (a.k.a. Maple-Cats),
Mapex Meridian
Crush Sublimes

Happy shopping !

[Mike]

BarryL bought me the newest Kathleen Edwards disk for my birthday. It's quite different from her previous disks which had her earning comparisons to Lucinda Williams. This new album is much more upbeat and melodic than previous albums...and that's a good thing. After two spins I'm really enjoying it.

I'm enjoying the Kathleen Edwards too, I picked up her debut years ago and then missed out on a couple of releases. On a similar vein I like the latest Gretchen Peters - Hello Cruel World much more mainstream but still good.

So far from what I've picked up 2012 is leaving me cold with one exception.

Lana Del Ray - Born to Die, lots of promotion this side of the pond but not doing much for me.

Black Keys - El Camino, absoloutely loved the last one, this one lacks soul.

Chairlift - Something, another 80s retro sound with nothing memorable.

Air - Le Voyage Dans La Lune, probably works ok as a soundtrack....enough said

First Aid Kit - Lions Roar, Emmylou Harris meets The Fleet Foxes, all rather strange considering they hail from Scandinavia.

Nada Surf - Can't even remember what it's called, but dull anyway.

So that leaves my best of 2012 so far which is Shearwater - Animal Joy, a bit like Richard Thompson meets The Decemberists which can't be bad.

Cheers
Mike

[ForeverAutumn]

I'm enjoying the Kathleen Edwards too,
Cheers
Mike

Hey Mike. Great to see you here! I'm happy to hear that you even know who Kathleen Edwards is. She has a small following here in Canada, but even most Canadians have never heard of her, so to find that someone overseas knows of her is very cool.

If you like her, you should definately give the new CD a try. It's very good IMO.

[LeRoy]

BarryL bought me the newest Kathleen Edwards disk for my birthday. It's quite different from her previous disks which had her earning comparisons to Lucinda Williams. This new album is much more upbeat and melodic than previous albums...and that's a good thing. After two spins I'm really enjoying it.

Thanks for this tidbit. I never have heard of her but I think I am gonna have to order some of her music. I like Lucinda Williams music so should K.E. should be a sure bet to like.

Thanks!

[ForeverAutumn]

Thanks for this tidbit. I never have heard of her but I think I am gonna have to order some of her music. I like Lucinda Williams music so should K.E. should be a sure bet to like.

Thanks!

I don't like Lucinda, but I do like Kathleen so YMMV. You may want to check out some samples first. There's quite a bit on YouTube.

[Jim Clark]

This is kinda random, given the age of this thread, but I'm coming around quite a bit more on Shearwater's Animal Joy. while I won't disagree with Davey's assessment on the quality of recording I mainly have been listening during workouts and the sound quality is not significantly less than anything else I listen to while lifting. Think I'll head over to Vinyl Renaissance this weekend and see if they have the big discs.

jc

[Davey]

Been listening to the recent Ekstasis by Julia Holter quite a bit and it's definitely got a lot of appeal for fans of strange and ethereal ladies. Pretty well recorded NYC show on youtube below ... the Für Felix song starting a little before 14 minutes in is one of the highlights on the new record.

[jonnyhambone]

^ I'm liking that Julia Holter a lot too. LP sounds really nice too - good headphone album, 45 rpm w/ lots of dynamics and layers.
'Nother quirky female vocalist, Fiona Apple's new one is really great - very stuck in my head lately.
Mt. Eerie put out one of my favorites I've heard from them, Clear Moon. As usual, great production and sound on this and a seamless blend of introspective folky 'indie-rock' (?) and what he calls Black Wooden Metal - acoustic based droning slo-mo doom. Very poetic, beautiful stuff.

[Davey]

^ I'm liking that Julia Holter a lot too. LP sounds really nice too - good headphone album, 45 rpm w/ lots of dynamics and layers.

Yea, the CD isn't bad either, though somewhat limited in dynamics (see below for those interested - also Fur Felix up at song of the day). Good to hear about the vinyl. She reminds me of Laurie Anderson at times, but with the use of drones it takes on the feel of something by Sheila Chandra, both very inventive and fun artists. And of course the inevitable Kate Bush comparisons, but less so for me. Surprisingly addictive.

Thanks for the heads up on Mt. Eerie!



foobar2000 1.1.8 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2012-07-04 14:58:37

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Analyzed: Julia Holter / Ekstasis
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
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DR8 -0.10 dB -11.48 dB 5:25 01-Marienbad
DR9 -0.10 dB -12.58 dB 6:16 02-Our Sorrows
DR9 -0.10 dB -11.56 dB 3:58 03-In the Same Room
DR9 -0.10 dB -12.87 dB 8:20 04-Boy In the Moon
DR9 -0.10 dB -12.81 dB 4:11 05-Für Felix
DR8 -0.10 dB -10.70 dB 6:23 06-Goddess Eyes II
DR10 -0.10 dB -13.09 dB 3:31 07-Moni Mon Amie
DR9 -0.10 dB -13.76 dB 6:13 08-Four Gardens
DR8 -0.30 dB -10.91 dB 3:40 09-Goddess Eyes I
DR8 -0.10 dB -12.33 dB 8:55 10-This is Ekstasis
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Number of tracks: 10
Official DR value: DR9

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 701 kbps
Codec: FLAC
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