Need music recommendations | 1 year challenge

[Arkuski]

Originally Posted by noname219

Day Forty-One - January 10th, 2014
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Mother's Earth Plantasia by Mort Garson (recommended by Arkuski)

1. Plantasia
2. Symphony for a Spider Plant
3. Baby's Tears Blues
4. Ode to an African Violet
5. Concerto for Philodendron & Pothos
6. Rhapsody in Green
7. Swingin' Spathiphyllums
8. You Don't Have to Walk a Begonia
9. A Mellow Mood for Maidenhair
10. Music to Soothe the Savage Snake Plant
(just listen to it entirely, it's about 30 minutes)

Love the track titles. And it's your birthday Arkuski, so I needed to review something from you. I gotta say, you have ecclectic choices so far.

An out-of-bound album. There's nothing I know that ressemble this. Although the moog kinda make it sound like late 70s progressive electronic, the theme and bubbly textures make it unique. Songs like Plantasia or Music to Soothe the Savage Snake Plant brought back memories of A Link to the Past, so I really wondered if it had a direct influence on video game composers in general. The melody near the middle of Rhapsody in Green is wonderful bliss to my ears. The change in tone at 1:35 is so greatly composed, I really wished it went on for longer. The melodies are sometimes cute, sometimes spacey, but always superb. Perfect music to cheer me up.

My rating : ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Glad you liked it! Plantasia always makes appearances on /mu/ sharethreads and the first time I heard it I was really surprised at how wonderful and quirky it is.

[noname219]

Day Forty-Three - January 12th, 2014
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American Love by Bad Rabbits (recommended by Crazyjayde)

1. We Can Roll
2. Can't Fool Me
3. Dance Moves
4. Get Up and Go
5. Take It Off
6. Dirty
7. Fall in Love
8. Doin' It
9. Sayonara
10. Royal Flush

Impressive modern synth funk/neo-soul album with an incredibly skilled singer (among the best current vocalist I've heard).

I have no choice to make a comparison with Stick Up Kids. They have tone down the high-pitch synth sound that kind of bugged me in their EP. It's less aggressive, sounds less predominant. A good move if you ask me. There was less experimentation, less instrumentation and the compositions were simpler (poppier). They still kept the same energy and their chorus are as explosive as before. They probably wanted to attract a larger audience so that's why they went for a more mainstream production. Their lyrical themes are even more geared towards sexuality, which fits with the ambiance, but it's slightly overdone and pointless. Everything ooze sex on this record already... but, because they manage to keep a light catchy atmosphere, at least you don't feel exhausted after.

My rating : ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

[Crazyjayde]

Great summary, goes right to the point. No need to be exhaustive since those are day by day reviews, but it would be perfect if you could expand the length of the reviews a bit.

[Jonlovesddr]

why won't you do any of my recommendations HUH

[noname219]

Originally Posted by Crazyjayde

Great summary, goes right to the point. No need to be exhaustive since those are day by day reviews, but it would be perfect if you could expand the length of the reviews a bit.

I prefer the reviews to be short and concise. I don't want to write more than necessary. When I feel like I wrote everything I have in mind, I just stop there and move to another album. The last one I wrote was about 130 words, I'll try to average from 100 to 150 words.

Originally Posted by Jonlovesddr

why won't you do any of my recommendations HUH

It will happen, I just don't know when.

[Crazyjayde]

Quite the coincidence to see this review as I was about to find a copy of American Love. I'm sure you'll agree that this change of stylistic direction is a natural progression to their earliest effort, and while they've acquired recognition from the public eye, I'm left wondering if these guys really are on the right track. I think I preferred the more unsophisticated, vibrant approach.

[noname219]

Their stylistic change is not that apparent. Their energy is a bit more focused, less scattered. Their textures improved by a notch though.

Btw, did you hear these montrosities : http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Stic...+REMIX/5319340

[Crazyjayde]

Had the misfortune to download these for free on their tumblr. Those types of releases should not exist (thinking of Morbid Angel). Although there were some fun covers available there too. (Deftones & The Smashing Pumpkins I believe were the most interesting)

[noname219]

Day Forty-Four - January 13th, 2014
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The Garden of Brokenness by William Basinski (recommended by EzExZeRo7497)

1. The Garden of Brokenness

First adventure with Mr. Basinski. I haven't heard The Disintegration Loops yet, and I have no point of reference with his career. It's all about the repetition of the same piano loop, with slight modifications over a long period of time. Well chosen, doesn't get gratting. Plus some droning cozy effects in the background. All of this moving at a snail pace with important pauses. Thoughtful and introspective. In the middle of the listen, I felt nothing was happening anymore. Maybe that's not a bad thing. Maybe that's the point of the record, to make you appreciate those moments of silence.

My rating : ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

[noname219]

Day Forty-Five - January 14th, 2014
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Come on Primates Show Your Teeth! by Frog Pocket (recommended by GammaBlaster)

1. Mull Fhuar
2. Rig of the Jarkness
3. Lady Hunter Blair
4. Windy Goule
5. Kelpy Staircase
6. Bo'arigh
7. Eye Mountain
8. Dungeon Hills
9. Mial Leath
10. Heavy Gruts
11. Fog Pocket
12. Wild Overtone Wind

A bit samey with some other breakcore artists, less beat driven and smoother, intersected with ambient tracks. The harsher tracks are better, usually ending in strong build-up apocalyptic sections, Rig of the Jarkness is extremelly noisy and Heavy Gruts incorporates new elements not present anywhere else. Even if electronic + classical music is something that was done in the past, it's an incongruous duo but it works well every time. If it wasn't for the insane amount of filler tracks, it could get a better rating.

Btw, happy birthday late GammaBlaster!

My rating : ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

[noname219]

Day Forty-Six - January 15th, 2014
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Passagem by Naomi & Goro (recommended by L.B.D.D.)

1. Days of May
2. Southern Cross 7
3. Gabriela
4. Silent Clouds
5. Soup Song
6. Rua Caminhoa (Instrumental)
7. No Return
8. Ran Into a Bookstore
9. 3 de Marco (Instrumental)
10. I See Me Passing By
11. Good Night Song

A bit different today, I'm listening to a bossa nova record. The last time I listen to bossa nova was... well, I don't remember actually. Passagem has a classic bossa nova formula, piano+accoustic guitar+female voice+smooth jazz compositions. The only song of exception is Soup Song, which is a bit poppier. Nothing groundbreaking or offensive, it's gentle, sweet and I liked the cute female vocals.

My rating : ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

[noname219]

Day Forty-Seven - January 16th, 2014
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Giant Steps by John Coltrane (recommended by Jonlovesddr)

1. Giant Steps
2. Cousin Mary
3. Countdown
4. Spiral
5. Syeeda's Song Flute
6. Naima
7. Mr. P.C.

It's like, the randomizer has a conscience and knows what to select based on the feedback I receive. So here you go, Jonlovesddr, finally getting to review a recommendation from you.

It's not my first time with John Coltrane. I heard A Love Supreme some time ago, a pretty nifty album, more innovative than his previous works. More than Giant Steps ? Sure. Although it's still unpredictable seing how the album evolves. Starting dynamically with the Giant Steps with probably one of his best solo, and getting softer by the track, until it reaches the slow laid-back soundscapes of Naima, finally ending with the energetic effervescent Mr. P.C.. Very well executed hard bop, with probably a hint of what's coming up next in terms of stylistic changes.

Best album of January so far.

My rating : ★★★★★★★★☆☆

[Fission]

Originally Posted by noname219

Day Thirty-Seven - January 6th, 2014
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Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory by Dream Theater (recommended by yo man im awesome)

1. Regression
2. Overture 1928
3. Strange Déjà Vu
4. Through My Words
5. Fatal Tragedy
6. Beyond This Life
7. Through Her Eyes
8. Home
9. The Dance of Eternity
10. One Last Time
11. The Spirit Carries On
12. Finally Free

My rating : ★★★★★★★★☆☆

edit : some mistakes fix

late but definitely a well deserved 8 for this fantastic album. i would have bolded the dance of eternity and beyond this life personally.

[yo man im awesome]

new music recommendation:

Animals as Leaders: Weightless

[noname219]

Day Forty-Eight - January 17th, 2014
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The Secret Melody by Mononome (recommended by Xayphon)

1. Forever Is Wasted
2. Many Dreams Ago
3. To Break a Broken Heart
4. Fools Rush In
5. Endless Nights (The Secret Melody)

A short EP by musician mononome, similar to DJ Shadow. Each song shares the same structure : sampled vocals, a horns section over a hip hop beat. Some trip hop influences in To Break a Broken Heart and a particularly well chosen opera-like vocal sample. Sometimes you can hear melodic piano (Endless Nights), soulflul accoustic guitar (the intro of To Break a Broken Hearth) or the crackling sound of a vinyl disc playing in the background. Warm and urban. Bonus points for the artwork cover.

My rating : ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

(hesitated between 7 or 8, maybe I'll bump it)

[noname219]

Day Forty-Nine - January 18th, 2014
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///Codename: Dustsucker by Bark Psychosis (recommended by t-rogdor)

1. From What Is Said to When It's Read
2. The Black Meat
3. Miss Abuse
4. 400 Winters
5. Dr Innocuous / Ketamoid
6. Burning the City
7. INQB8TR
8. Shapeshifting
9. Rose

And I thought Bark Psychosis was a death metal band.

What a nice surprise.

My rating : ★★★★★★★★★☆




























Very few records struck me as strongly on first listen as this one. Just the right amount of everything. Experimental sections, as in Miss Abuse keep you on your toes. It's hard to predict what will come next. The quality of the compositions, melodies, textures and instrumentation is goddamn amazing. I especially loved the more accessible 400 Winters and Shapeshifting - with an unlikely foggy guitar solo. Similar to Talk Talk's Laughing Stock, probably because of the jazzy drumming and faint ethereal vocals, except more heartwarming as a whole. The only negatives are that small pause in The Black Meat and maybe Dr. Innocuous / Ketamoid... other than to create a pause, I didn't put my finger on the purpose of its existence.

Still, a strong 9.

[t-rogdor]

Nice call on the Talk Talk comparison, they're both first wave post rock. Solid to Strong 9 is about what I'd rank it myself. Not quite a 10 (because, let's be honest, what albums are honestly a 10?) but still fucking amazing in composition, being an eclectic mix of genres while having its own sound.

nice review

[noname219]

Honestly, I hate the idea of a perfect 10 in the sense that there's no flexibility behind the rating. It makes people think that you found an album perfect in every possible way.
I can name some that are close enough, and probably deserves to be at the top, but I don't think I'll give any 10 for this project. Especially if I never heard them before.

[Crazyjayde]

Imo, a perfect 10 has to grow on the individual first, I'm assuming it's out of the question here.

[noname219]

I agree with that, although there's a slim possibility of someone giving a 10 if he/she/they like the genre already.
I like most post-rock, so it's easier for me to justify such a high rating.