Best Decade Tournament 2010->: Finals 9/18-9/20

[ABNorman]

"Rattlesnake" was okay; a little better than some of the other stuff I've heard off the new album. I'm still pretty disappointed that Annie's decided to go this route with her music. She had a lot of promise with the first couple albums, and there were hints of a more interesting direction in the third one, but now it's just trite.

This "Prince Johnny" song is really limp sounding, which I think may be what I'm trying to get at when I try to express my dislike for St. Vincent's current musical track. There's no energy here, which wouldn't be an issue if there was something else compelling to make up for it, but it lacks there as well. The melody is dull to the point of near nonexistence, and the beat is weak.

I got onto the St Vincent train with this album, so I'm coming from a completely different direction. I've yet to delve properly into her earlier stuff, but based on this album, and the live clips that people have posted, I've booked my first non-Pearl Jam concert in a coupla years. Our tastes are pretty vastly different, so I hope this doesn't mean I won't enjoy the earlier albums as much.

[ABNorman]

Neil Halstead- "Digging Shelters"

Nobody's pick should get bottom-paged.

[Brett]

You'll probably like the early albums just fine. The arrangements are a little more "traditional" pop with lots of strings and woodwinds and stuff. I've heard them likened to "Disney" soundtracks a bit, but they're still quite quirky. I like Actor the most. To me, it just feels like she's following the recent trend of detached pop music that's meant to be piped over the radio or across mall PA systems. Sure, there's still a bit of the edge that she acquired through live performances and her previous album, but I don't feel anything in this music.

[Norah]

That was a sweet song, Jorge.

[bada]

Too bad Felicity is off the air.

[Heathen]

Don't believe the title of the thread, Durdencommatyler is up.

[epilogue]

"Rattlesnake" was okay; a little better than some of the other stuff I've heard off the new album. I'm still pretty disappointed that Annie's decided to go this route with her music. She had a lot of promise with the first couple albums, and there were hints of a more interesting direction in the third one, but now it's just trite.

This "Prince Johnny" song is really limp sounding, which I think may be what I'm trying to get at when I try to express my dislike for St. Vincent's current musical track. There's no energy here, which wouldn't be an issue if there was something else compelling to make up for it, but it lacks there as well. The melody is dull to the point of near nonexistence, and the beat is weak.

I got onto the St Vincent train with this album, so I'm coming from a completely different direction. I've yet to delve properly into her earlier stuff, but based on this album, and the live clips that people have posted, I've booked my first non-Pearl Jam concert in a coupla years. Our tastes are pretty vastly different, so I hope this doesn't mean I won't enjoy the earlier albums as much.

Her live performance is one of the most electric and perfect things I've ever experienced. It's like chewing on lightning, watching her live. Your whole body will be rattling and shaking and recouping for days afterward. She's a fucking force of nature on stage. It's beyond beyond.

[epilogue]

Oh gracious, it's my turn? Fine, fine...

[Jorge]

Too bad Felicity is off the air.

I didn't make fun of your unbelievably shitty pick so back off

[epilogue]

The Mynabirds - Wolf Mother

[Heathen]

of couuuurse

[epilogue]

platy is on the clock. Has until 11am est.

My turn:

Broken Bells - The High Road

I didn't think I knew this song. Then I listened to it and I totally know that song. But I didn't know the name of it or the band. This is awesome. Nice grab.

[Jorge]

Hey Stip, italicize my name please

[epilogue]

of couuuurse

Oh just you wait Ms Heather Heathen. I haven't begun to nauseate and disappoint.

[epilogue]

I that song you posted, Jorge.

[Jorge]

I it too. Thanks.

[bada]

Too bad Felicity is off the air.

I didn't make fun of your unbelievably shitty pick so back off

I watched that show Jorge. I watched it hard.

[Jorge]

Me too. Ben was a dreamboat.

[epilogue]

I that song you posted, Jorge.

Not entirely sure how I dropped an entire from that post. Sorry, Jorge.

[Brett]

"The High Road": I know the chorus for this song, but not the rest. That's weird, and I can't think of where I've heard it before. The video game noises are kinda neat, and the chorus is pretty strong, but the connecting verses leave a lot to be desired, as does the weak outro. Not a bad tune, overall.

I like the droning noisiness of the Yellow Swans track. Like a lot Heathen's mix, it's something that's rather nice on its own, but I'm not sure if a full album of it would hold up well for me. "Going Places" is also a great name for a song that doesn't really "move" so much as swell and envelop everything in sight.

"Digging Shelters" is pretty, airy folk music from a member of Slowdive it appears. Nice acoustic guitar core, and Halstead's voice is perfectly suited to this style. Some of the arrangements are a little cliche, with the one-finger piano playing and "emotional depth" violin, but an enjoyable song, altogether.

"Wolf Mother" has got a pretty minimal backing arrangement, with some swelling horror movie synths, some bass-heavy piano, thundering drums and some handclaps. It's a bit brooding at first, and then becomes kind of bluesy later on, with some guitar added in. Nothing special, but I can see why it appeals. I feel the singer's voice must be rather thin, though, to constantly be double-tracked like that.