Need music recommendations | 1 year challenge

[rayword45]

I remember my experience with this band.

*listen to Beast and the Harlot on GHII* "Fuck yeah this is awesome!"
*listens to other stuff* Wow... This is really... Eh.

[Tibbers]

Igorrr - Hallelujah

[noname219]

Originally Posted by Arkuski

jeez can't wait to hear your thoughts on Floral Shoppe after that review

Day Ten - December 10th, 2013
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Floral Shoppe by Macintosh Plus (recommended by Arkuski)

1. ブート
2. リサフランク420 / 現代のコンピュー
3. 花の専門店
4. ライブラリ
5. 地理
6. ECCOと悪寒ダイビング
7. 数学
8. 待機
9. て

I have the impression that trying to encapsulate a specific era of music is "easier" (for the lack of a better word) than trying to do something completely new. Not that it doesn't necessarily mean there's no effort involved, it's simply demonstrative of how a lot of past musical styles that received attention fall into a comfort-zone for newer artists. Of course, every artist has incorporated influences in their own workflow, it just happens some are more attentive on how those influences should affect their output. However, I found that the most interesting musicians aren't those who copy exactly what was done in the past but, those who interpret in their own words a particular style in order to bring nostalgic elements. In other words : "how can you improve it?"

So, the question I had in mind while listening to this album : is it trying to reach that particular goal ? What's the point in trying to make the 90s new again ? Or, am I even asking the right questions ? From what I've understand, the concept behind vaporwave is to accelerate capitalism to make it dissolute. Basically, the worst enemy of capitalism is itself. Something like that. Alright, fine. Does it make any sense ? I have my doubts. How can you work against something by strengthening its values ? This whole concept (accelerationism) is a funny questioning about capitalism, except it doesn't make much sense to me.

Note that I said nothing about the music yet because, in this case, it serve as a messenger only. On its own, it has no purpose and becomes an orphan, much like an empty shell. It has its merits, is enjoyable most of the time and the funk and jazz influences are stylish. リサフランク420 / 現代のコンピュー (track 2) is quite relaxing and the end is a complete and chaotic deconstruction. I also liked the sudden tempo changes, in 花の専門店 (track 3) and in ライブラリ (track 4), it does bring dynamism. ECCOと悪寒ダイビング (track 6) and 数学 (track 7) are two other pleasant ambient tracks.

The thing I haven't said : I didn't know what was the "goal" behind vaporwave while I was listening to this. I thought it was a tribute to the cheesy music of the 90s, that's all, end of the line. The fact that I didn't discern the concept of accelerationism before I read some articles is what really make its rating suffer. After all, that's the sole point of vaporwave.

My rating : ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

[L.B.D.D]

5/10 wrecked

[noname219]

I gave it 5 pink stars, it's not that bad.

[L.B.D.D]

that's an F

HeHhh

[moches]

Originally Posted by L.B.D.D

that's an F

HeHhh

actually speaking as a music critic (das right !!!) a 5/10 is usually dead average, close to a C

this is how I'd think of it personally:

9/10 - A
7/10 - B
5/10 - C
3/10 - D
1/10 - F

with everything in between being able to fit into either grade around it (i.e. a 6/10 could be either a B- or a C+ depending on how I feel)

[noname219]

Added this into the OP :

1-worst
2-very bad
3-bad
4-poor
5-correct
6-good
7-very good
8-excellent
9-near perfection
10-masterpiece

[DossarLX ODI]

Avalon Vales by Lauren Bousfield

[L.B.D.D]

Originally Posted by noname219

Added this into the OP :

1-worst
2-very bad
3-bad
4-poor
5-correct
6-good
7-very good
8-excellent
9-near perfection
10-masterpiece

there we go

everybody has their different levels of good/bad so that scale rly helps us understand your rating

[t-rogdor]

that's honestly a pretty fair review. to be honest, there's no "ultimate goal" in vaporwave. the vague anti-captialist statements you might have heard about the genre mostly came from Internet Club, who was nothing more than another Eccojams Derivative bedroom producer and happened to be a marxist fuckwit. so when/if you review Eccojams, try and remember the the politically charged bits you might've heard about were well into vaporwave's lifespan and not at its core. if anything, it's more like "chopped and screwed for white kids"

[Crazyjayde]

Thanks for the clarifications trog. I, for one, couldn't get around the pseudo-political discourse of the genre and how it came to life.

+1 for Igorrr's Hallelujah and Lauren Bousfield. Plenty of albums I'm supposed to listen to have been suggested. It's as if I don't really have to make any effort.

[Coolboyrulez0]

ooo hallelujah is superb cant wait to see nonames reaction to it

[noname219]

I've already listened to it. Won't say anything before the review.

[noname219]

Forgot to respond :

Originally Posted by t-rogdor

that's honestly a pretty fair review. to be honest, there's no "ultimate goal" in vaporwave. the vague anti-captialist statements you might have heard about the genre mostly came from Internet Club, who was nothing more than another Eccojams Derivative bedroom producer and happened to be a marxist fuckwit. so when/if you review Eccojams, try and remember the the politically charged bits you might've heard about were well into vaporwave's lifespan and not at its core. if anything, it's more like "chopped and screwed for white kids"

Hmm. It was easy for me to fall for that idea, there was a shitton of articles that mentioned this when I googled "vaporwave". I guess when people are trying to define a new genre, they're making false assumptions to compensate with a lack of sources. I'll be prudent and not generalize reviews on some lousy concepts next time.

[Arkuski]

I liked the review!

It's so strange how defining vaporwave completely transcends the music itself. If you want to critically analyze an album like Floral Shoppe, it's almost a requirement to discuss the vaporwave scene and how that supposedly builds into the music. If you just wanted to talk about the music, you'd realize there isn't much to talk about.

Don't worry though, I think Eccojams is the superior album and I think you'll like it more. Also, last night I listened to 情報デスクVIRTUAL and Laserdisc Visions, both of which were fairly strange. Anyone else have preferred releases from Beer on the Rug?

EDIT: I didn't realize t-rog had Eccojams on his list as well. You can replace my Eccojams with Mr. Meeble - Never Trust the Chinese so that all of my choices are on the shortlist.

[EzExZeRo7497]

Little suggestion, you should tally up the scores for the albums recommended by one person and have an average, that'd be interesting to see.

[L.B.D.D]

in b4 somebody has 1/10

[noname219]

Day Eleven - December 11th, 2013
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Sonic Temple by The Cult (recommended by freakysnots)

1. Sun King
2. Fire Woman
3. American Horse
4. Edie (Ciao Baby)
5. Sweet Soul Sister
6. Soul Asylum
7. New York City
8. Automatic Blues
9. Soldier Blue
10. Wake Up Time for Freedom

The Cult (not to confuse with The Cure) is a hard rock band (earlier post-punk/gothic rock) from UK that gain relative mainstream success in the United Kingdom and in United States as well. They are still active today and are working on their tenth LP. Sonic Temple was the follower of Electric, which marked a stylist change in their career.

From the start, the first songs hit like a ton of brick. It's straightforward, they don't fuck around. They can create some solid infectious hooks, like in Sweet Soul Sister or in Fire Woman. The guitarist (Billy Duffy) does the job well, he has some excellent hard rock solos, shredding a minute before the end in American Horse, havng some cool short passages in Fire Woman or pulling off some sweet riffs in Sweet Soul Sister or in Sun King. He doesn't disappoint. The vocalist, Ian Astbury, has a powerful voice, a very strong presence, emblematic of the music. Some screams here and there, he really made me think about Glenn Danzig.

On the bad side, all of the songs follow the same pattern and shares the same ideas. After the first 5 songs, I found it a bit repetitive. There are bridges with a few new elements, Soldier Blue have a piano section for the only time (if I heard right), Sweet Soul Sister has a nice short bass passage and there's even an appearance from Iggy Pop in New York City. Overall, the first half is stronger, but not by much.

If you love hard rock, you won't be disappointed, but if you're unfamiliar with the style, listening the album in one session will probably be a bit tiresome.

My rating : ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Originally Posted by EzExZeRo7497

Little suggestion, you should tally up the scores for the albums recommended by one person and have an average, that'd be interesting to see.

Not sure if I should do this. Erh, will see how the project turn out after a few more reviews.

I'm adding a ranking on the first post too.

edit :

1. Room(s) by Machinedrum - ★★★★★★★★ (8)
2. Entities by Pomegranate Tiger - ★★★★★★★ (7)
3. Sonic Temple by The Cult - ★★★★★★★ (7)
4. The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance - ★★★★★★★ (7)
5. Nuojuva Halava by Ous Mal - ★★★★★★ (6)
6. City of Evil by Avenged Sevenfold - ★★★★★★ (6)
7. Digital-Dance by Software - ★★★★★★ (6)
8. Certified Air Raid Material by edIT - ★★★★★★ (6)
9. Floral Shoppe by Macintosh Plus - ★★★★★ (5)
10. Weapon in Mind by Maria Mena - ★★★★★ (5)
11. Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy by Mindless Self Indulgence - ★★★ (3)

[AlexDest]

Actually could you take out this album that I recommended: Happy Birthday! by Modeselektor