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Heaper's Hangout Album Club

Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
edited 2015-04-13 23:23:51 in General Media
I wasn't sure what category to put this in.

The idea is pretty self-explanatory really. Once a week someone picks an album, then everyone in the album club listens to it, and shares their thoughts. It can be a favorite album, something that came out recently that you like, something obscure, whatever. We'll say I'll start actually picking the albums if I get at least four people signed up. You don't have to pick your album until your number actually comes up.

I was thinking we'd assign everyone who signs up a number and then roll a virtual dice to see who gets picked, to that end, I'll be keeping a list below.

  1. Planet Jane
  2. Panurge
  3. thenamelesssamurai
  4. Section
  5. Corvidium
  6. MetaFour
  7. SF
  8. Sunn Wolf
  9. Pyridrim
Tagged:
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Comments

  • OdradekOdradek
    My dreams exceed my real life
    I'd be up for it.
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    alrighty
  • thenamelesssamuraithenamelesssamurai

    Count me in.

    Also, just to throw this out there, do you want this to be something we could all do together, i.e. listening to the album at the same time on plug.dj or would you prefer not to do something like that?
  • OdradekOdradek
    My dreams exceed my real life
    Also we should probably make it a rule that the album is easily accessible in some way or another, through some streaming service or such.
  • thenamelesssamuraithenamelesssamurai

    Panurge said:

    Also we should probably make it a rule that the album is easily accessible in some way or another, through some streaming service or such.

    If the album isn't availble, I don't mind getting it one way or another and uploading it to mediafire so people can listen to it, if it becomes a problem.
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    Panurge said:

    Also we should probably make it a rule that the album is easily accessible in some way or another, through some streaming service or such.

    Most things are on Spotify nowadays.

    I was assuming people here would *ahem* find their own methods.
    thenamelesssamurai said:

    Count me in.

    Also, just to throw this out there, do you want this to be something we could all do together, i.e. listening to the album at the same time on plug.dj or would you prefer not to do something like that?

    That would probably be hard to consistently schedule.
  • Section42LSection42L
    We can do anything if we do it together.
    I would go for this idea.
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    alright well that is all the convincing I needed
  • thenamelesssamuraithenamelesssamurai

    Planet Jane said:


    thenamelesssamurai said:

    Count me in.

    Also, just to throw this out there, do you want this to be something we could all do together, i.e. listening to the album at the same time on plug.dj or would you prefer not to do something like that?

    That would probably be hard to consistently schedule.
    Fair enough.
  • CorvinaCorvina
    Vampire Lady of Corvidia

    (The other Jane)
    Can I join?
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    NO.

    (yes)
  • MetaFourMetaFour
    For once, or maybe twice, I was in my prime.
    I'm in.
  • SF_SorrowSF_Sorrow

    I'd like to join too
  • Section42LSection42L
    We can do anything if we do it together.
    I'm suddenly wondering if Sredni would like to participate. He obviously has other issues ATM, but there are possible ways around those for something as relatively minor as this.

    I wonder if Naney could ask him.
  • CalicaCalica
    Sup bitches, witches, Haters, and trolls.
    what's wrong with sredni?
  • thenamelesssamuraithenamelesssamurai
    edited 2015-04-11 21:30:58

    Calica said:

    what's wrong with sredni?

    Not 100% sure on the reasons but IIRC, various problems means JHM doesn't have internet at the moment.
  • sunn wolfsunn wolf
    aye I'll do it
  • OdradekOdradek
    My dreams exceed my real life
    Idea: The first time we roll virtual dice to pick the person. The next time, same deal, but we remove the person who picked the first album from the list. We keep doing this until we have a set order we can just cycle through.

    If anyone new wants to join after the cycle is established, they can just go as soon as possible and get added to teh cycle.
  • CalicaCalica
    Sup bitches, witches, Haters, and trolls.
    rollermine and feepbot both have procedures that let you choose one from a list.  rollermine has a feature that lets you put a list into a random order
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    I was just gonna use the D&D roller.

    But I like Panurge's idea.

    So Calica are you in?
  • CalicaCalica
    Sup bitches, witches, Haters, and trolls.
    nah, i'm just providing support
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    alright

    in that case I'm gonna make our first dice roll in a few hours. Pick your albums, people!
  • OdradekOdradek
    My dreams exceed my real life
    Planet Jane said:

    alright


    in that case I'm gonna make our first dice roll in a few hours. Pick your albums, people!
    You remembered to add the people who came in after Corvidium to the list, right?
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    haha, of course
  • CorvinaCorvina
    Vampire Lady of Corvidia

    (The other Jane)
    Panurge said:

    Idea: The first time we roll virtual dice to pick the person. The next time, same deal, but we remove the person who picked the first album from the list. We keep doing this until we have a set order we can just cycle through.


    If anyone new wants to join after the cycle is established, they can just go as soon as possible and get added to teh cycle.
    Good idea!
  • Section42LSection42L
    We can do anything if we do it together.
    Corvidium said:

    Panurge said:

    Idea: The first time we roll virtual dice to pick the person. The next time, same deal, but we remove the person who picked the first album from the list. We keep doing this until we have a set order we can just cycle through.


    If anyone new wants to join after the cycle is established, they can just go as soon as possible and get added to teh cycle.
    Good idea!
    Seconded.
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    About to roll the first dice!

    image

    Alright so SF you're up first. Please provide your album.
    Planet Jane said:

    I wasn't sure what category to put this in.


    The idea is pretty self-explanatory really. Once a week someone picks an album, then everyone in the album club listens to it, and shares their thoughts. It can be a favorite album, something that came out recently that you like, something obscure, whatever. We'll say I'll start actually picking the albums if I get at least four people signed up. You don't have to pick your album until your number actually comes up.

    I was thinking we'd assign everyone who signs up a number and then roll a virtual dice to see who gets picked, to that end, I'll be keeping a list below.

    1. Planet Jane
    2. Panurge
    3. thenamelesssamurai
    4. Section
    5. Corvidium
    6. MetaFour
    7. SF
    8. Sunn Wolf

  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    gaiz
  • SF_SorrowSF_Sorrow

    currently getting schoolwork done, I'll pick something by then
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    ok
  • SF_SorrowSF_Sorrow

    awh, I always feel weird whenever I'm picked first for anything 'cause I get nervous about presenting myself and trying to please everyone

    so I'm deciding to start all of this with a well-acclaimed album that probably half of you already listened to,

    image

    Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun

    'cause it's one of the first albums that really struck with me when I was discovering the music that I like, and I've fell in love with it again a month or so ago

    so yeah
  • ButtwangsButtwangs
    BE ATTITUDE FOR GAINS
    c-can I join?
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    sure!

    we already rolled for the first person, but I will add your name to the list.
  • Section42LSection42L
    We can do anything if we do it together.
    I had somehow never listened to SFS’s album in full before.

    It’s quite good, of course. It’s actually more shoegazey than I somehow remembered it was from the bits I had heard.

    I’ll definitely be keeping this album in my collection.
  • OdradekOdradek
    My dreams exceed my real life
    I'm not sure this album is for me.

    It's all really pretty and textured, but there's nothing to latch onto.It's like watching footage of beautiful helicopter shots of landscapes for hours. Maybe I just don't know enough about music to really see what's being done here, or maybe I'm not in the right frame of mind.
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    I didn't quite know what to think of it.

    It seemed very mindfully pretty. It didn't quite click for me but I didn't dislike it either.
  • Section42LSection42L
    We can do anything if we do it together.
    I liked the album, but I can understand those criticisms.

    I honestly would’ve liked it it there were more offbeat semi-chaotic moments like “Hjartaõ Hamast”, or if the shoegaze elements I mentioned were a bit more pronounced.
  • MetaFourMetaFour
    For once, or maybe twice, I was in my prime.
    I haven't heard this album before. Only Sigur Ros I've heard before is Takk... and whatever tracks Zudak and Saeglopur played on Mumu Player. (Ahh, good days.)

    Post-rock is very hit-or-miss for me, but I'll try to give this album a fair shake. First impressions: 

    "Intro": I liked that effect at the beginning. Like one of the tracks was skipping.
    "Svefn-g-englar": Rather bored me. I didn't care for the guy's voice.
    "Starálfur": Oh, those strings are nice. And I like this new singer. There's so much more going on in this song. I like it.
    "Flugufrelsarinn": Organ and reverb-y guitar. This must be the shoegaze influence Section mentioned. Wait a second, this has verses and choruses? You're liable to get your post-rock license revoked if you keep this up, Sigur Ros. (Props for not going all crescendocore like I was expecting, though.)
    "Ný batterí": Brass band, with one guy who keeps making fart sounds with his horn. Darn it singing guy, I'd much rather keep listening to the other musicians than hear your... Huh, wasn't expecting those drums. Oh, there's the crescendo. And it doesn't sound like every other post-rock crescendo in the universe, oh frabjous day!
    "Hjartað hamast": Digging that funky Wurlitzer or Fender Rhodes or whatever. Not liking that they buried it and the bass under all the static and vocals. The chorus soars rather nicely, though.
    "Viðrar Vel Til Loftárása": Slow piano music. Always a good sign of things to come! And just when I was about to write the song off, there's some very nice slide guitar. Or maybe it's a pedal steel. Either way, it's nice.
    "Olsen Olsen": That quiet bit at the beginning sounds like vocals. Like the start of a Julianna Barwick song. I like that flute, not so much the rest of the song. Oh, and that waltz-y ending.
    "Ágætis Byrjun": I can't think of anything to say.
    "Avalon": Bluuuuuuuuuh.

    I'll give it another listen tomorrow. Maybe my opinion will improve, or I'll have some big-picture insight.
  • eriophora ziaeriophora zia
    I have cut a caper with the dancing mad god
    Panurge said:

    I'm not sure this album is for me.


    It's all really pretty and textured, but there's nothing to latch onto.It's like watching footage of beautiful helicopter shots of landscapes for hours. Maybe I just don't know enough about music to really see what's being done here, or maybe I'm not in the right frame of mind.
    This is sort of why I enjoy a lot of post rock, actually. There's a meditative aspect that doesn't require you to latch onto something specifically. You appreciate the overall view. It's something that you can listen to right before you go to bed and feel a little better with a more peaceful mind.

    I generally do not listen to post rock because it resonates with me, exactly, so much as because I'd like to resonate with it and get into a less turbulent mindset. 
  • SF_SorrowSF_Sorrow

    well, if the rest of you are going with a collective shrug, I'm okay with moving on to the next person early

    I will take this as a beginner's lesson, and plus I'd like to see what albums you all have picked
  • sunn wolfsunn wolf
    ii have listened to this album before, it was years ago though and i don't remember it too well. i remember finding it a good enough listen without it grabbing me particularly

    this time round, i wasnt overly enamoured by the opening 2 tracks, which surprised me because they are 2 of the best known tracks from this album. for me the orchestration and self-consciously big and soaring-sounding progressions somehow managed to make the tracks sound grandiose and twee at the same time and i wasnt really feeling it tbh. probably it was quite something in 1999 but it sounds to me now like a by-numbers soundtrack to an ITV series about the coastline of cornwall or something. sorry sigur ros, i think these tracks have just dated a lil bit. there are some interesting sounds buried in there but they are buried, beneath all of the big weepy-happy chords

    i was also surprised by some of the better moments later on. 'Flugufrelsarinn', even though it eventually gave way to big booming chord changes, started out sounding vaguely like a slightly less countrified Earth, which was kinda cool, but they kinda spoiled it by layering too much into the track and moving into a big melodramatic 'chorus' (?) about 4mins in which ruined the vibe i was getting off it

    this was a theme, i thought. often the tracks start well but have too much thrown at them (and go on just a bit too long) and end up doing too much at once. i mean, it is beautiful, and well-crafted, but it's trying very very hard to be soaring and epic and uplifting i think. this also happened in 'Olsen Olsen,' 'Ny batteri' and also in 'Hjartad hamast' which i thought had some great godspeed-worship guitar drenched all over it at the beginning. once, the big strings and orchestra thing worked for me, which was at the end of 'Vidrar vel til loftarasa', which was a pity because i didnt care for the first part of the song at all, but i think they really nailed the big expressionist maximalist thing towards the end and i also like how it just kinda descended into chaos

    i liked 'Avalon' as an ending piece. it didnt outstay its welcome or overdo the bombast

    ok i think it was an okay listen and there are some really interesting sounds and ideas thrown in there but a) i think it's showing its age and b) i think as a listen i just prefer stuff that is more minimalist or melancholy so it's probably more a matter of taste than anythig else.

    weird note: i thought it would be good album to do work to but it was incredibly distracting.
  • OdradekOdradek
    My dreams exceed my real life
    SF_Sorrow said:

    well, if the rest of you are going with a collective shrug, I'm okay with moving on to the next person early


    I will take this as a beginner's lesson, and plus I'd like to see what albums you all have picked
    I'd give it a few days to TNS and Pyridrym can respond if they want to.
  • CrystalCrystal
    edited 2015-04-16 14:34:24
    Munch munch, chomp chomp...
    SF_Sorrow said:

    well, if the rest of you are going with a collective shrug, I'm okay with moving on to the next person early


    I will take this as a beginner's lesson, and plus I'd like to see what albums you all have picked
    Yeah, what Panurge said. And even a collective shrug (which I don't quite agree with) is still something.

    I mean I intend to listen to it this weekend, too, and have this thread bookmarked, but don't quite count myself as I'm still learning and don't always know what to say.
  • thenamelesssamuraithenamelesssamurai
    edited 2015-04-16 16:57:35

    Panurge said:

    SF_Sorrow said:

    well, if the rest of you are going with a collective shrug, I'm okay with moving on to the next person early


    I will take this as a beginner's lesson, and plus I'd like to see what albums you all have picked
    I'd give it a few days to TNS and Pyridrym can respond if they want to.
    I've had work 3 days in a row, so today is the first day I actually have free time. I'll listen to it by tonight.
  • sunn wolfsunn wolf
    i thought about it somemore and heres a tl;dr for the ppl who didnt read the big wall of text (everyone):

    well crafted, pretty, no subtlety. 5/10
  • Sredni VashtarSredni Vashtar
    “I'm surprised. Those clothes… but, aren't you…?”
    This needed to happen and I approve heartily in absentia. When I get back I will involve myself and it will be good.
  • MetaFourMetaFour
    edited 2015-04-17 00:32:05
    For once, or maybe twice, I was in my prime.
    sunn wolf said:

    well crafted, pretty, no subtlety.

    Hey, I read your wall of text. But I can't disagree with the teal deer version.

    I gave it another listen and my opinion didn't really change. The parts I liked ("Starálfur", just about all the parts with brass) I liked more. The parts I didn't like before, still bored me—which robbed the big, dramatic parts of a lot of their power. 
  • thenamelesssamuraithenamelesssamurai

    This is actually the first Sigor Ros album I listened to all the way through, with my only exposure being whatever Zudak and Saeg played. When this album did something I liked, I liked it a lot. "Ný batterí"and "Hjartað hamast" were my favorite tracks on the album and it was worth listening to just for those tracks. However, most of the time the album didn't grab me. There was at least one thing cool that I enjoyed on every track I listened to and the sound design, with regards to the musical texture was well done in some places, but for the most part It kind of went in one ear and out the other. I'd like to listen to it again at some point and analyze it a bit deeper, but it isn't something I'd put on for casual enjoyment.
  • Section42LSection42L
    We can do anything if we do it together.
    I'm glad that I'm not the only one who really liked "Hjartað hamast". The other track that you listed is pretty good, too. I’ll add that I actually liked the epic sweep of "Svegn-g-englar" for some reason, maybe because it being the first track on the album lent a sort of freshness to its sound. 

    Upon further reflection, I am pretty conflicted about the album on the whole. It was indeed better than I was expecting, and I am pretty intrigued by their sound as a whole. On the other hand, I can’t help but think this sound is pretty limited in utility. I also can’t help but think of how well Stereolab used minimalism on Emperor Tomato Ketchup and Dots and Loops to create the sort of epic sweep that this album uses everything but the kitchen sink to try to conjure. 

    I would like to listen to this album again sometime soon just to see which side of my inner debate wins out.
  • Salix BabylonikaSalix Babylonika
    https://i.imgur.com/IoGc2jA.jpg
    I don't want to come across as though I disliked it, I didn't, and honestly think that music that goes primarily for aesthetic beauty gets a bad rap.

    However, it just didn't totally fill that niche for me. I have heard other post-rock records that I liked better.
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