Red Mosquito

I really connected to All Hands, so I listened to it twice yesterday and once again this morning. It's a really great record. I'm already wanting to spin it again. I have a crush on this record much like the one I have on The Center.

One thing I'm noticing is that the bones, the foundation of what I'm responding to in S-K's music is on full display in both All Hands and The Center. Those basic qualities (the vocal arrangements/performances, the lyrics, the melodies, how the words work with or against the melodies, the frankness and directness, the pop-punk bounciness) line up completely with each other. They are very complimentary records in that sense.

The things that really separate them are production, mixing, and musical arrangements. The arrangements being the least of the three differences, I think. Or at least the least obvious and/or interesting to me personally. Obviously, my tastes/sensibilities share similarities with Annie Clark's. That's partly why I adore St. Vincent and why she's one of my favorite artist out there today. It makes so much sense to me then that I'm in love with The Center. It's the fundamental qualities that I like about S-K, shown through the lens of Annie Clark's sensibilities.

Though I wouldn't change a thing about All Hands, there is no doubt in my mind that had Annie produced it, it would be a better album for me. It may still grow into my favorite in the S-K catalog. I'm still too new to this band right now. It's ridiculous to pick an all-time favorite. I haven't even heard all of their stuff (lol). But the muted, lo-fi, "low budget" quality to the sound/production of All Hands holds it back a bit for me. And I wish it was fuller and more lush. Again, not necessarily in arrangements per se, but in the recorded sound.

Anyway, I'm really loving getting to know S-K. I wish I'd done this sooner.

Yikes, not sure what I think of this album. Overall, not loving it. There is some great music in this album, but it's in bits and pieces. I don't think there is one song I love throughout the entire album, but I like some moments. The chorus on many of the songs is terrible.

swan wrote:My new rankings that nobody asked for:

1. All Hands on the Bad One
2. One Beat
3. The Woods
4. Dig Me Out
5. The Hot Rock
6. Call the Doctor
7. The Center Won't Hold
8. No Cities to Love
9. Sleater-Kinney

I think I'm just going to digest Center, All Hands, and One Beat for a while. I don't want to over-do it. Those, along with The Woods and No Cities should keep me busy for a good long while.

BUT when I'm ready I'm going to go in your order here, swan. So, I'll make Dig Me Out the next one. I think our tastes here are similar enough that I'll trust this list.

tragabigzanda wrote:I appreciate Joe’s post because at least now he can understand why others might feel disappointed in the new direction, and that we’re not just trying to get a rise out of you. Everything that you’ve identified as weak points for AHOTBO are my favorite elements of this band! And the guitar interplay, which you didn’t specifically call out.

Oh totally. And for the record, I hope no one ever thought that I wasn't taking other opinions seriously or that I felt attacked or played with or anything like that. I know there was some playful ribbing but I never thought anyone was being mean or "out to get me" here. Nothing like that.

I was taken aback, at first, by your comment about wanting a different producer than Annie to explore this "new sound" (but I think even I can admit that was more out of rabid fanboi loyalty than any totally objective reasoning). However, now I totally get what you meant. It's all about taste/aesthetic/sensibility and what we each respectably key into. And we're just attracted to and moved by different things. I totally get now why Annie's involvement ruffled you and the product rubs you the wrong way. And to a different extend KD's comments make a little more sense to me as well. Though, I still think I see things differently, I get the general thrust of what he's saying.

As far as guitar interplay goes, yes! I should have mentioned that quality specifically. I'm still getting used to these sounds/songs and how they work. So I can't totally identify that particular quality with any authority or confidence. But I do love that aspect of S-K's music in general and it's certain a strength of theirs. Good call.

Again, I need MUCH more time with all of this. But so far I'm not feeling the lack of guitar interplay on The Center the way you (and others) are. Yet. The guitar work on Center is one of the things I like most about it, honestly. But let's give all of this time. This been a healthy and enjoyable binge but a binge none-the-less. I need to calm down and digest before I get too wrapped up and committed to any of these opinions.

All Hands is a little too low-fi for me. It's an enjoyable listen, but doesn't have much staying power beyond that.

I will say hearing Carrie Brownstein, of all people, singing the line "everyone I know is funny, but jokes don't make us money" is pretty rich.

Monkey_Driven wrote:All Hands is a little too low-fi for me. It's an enjoyable listen, but doesn't have much staying power beyond that.

What's your S-K sweet spot?

durdencommatyler wrote:

Monkey_Driven wrote:All Hands is a little too low-fi for me. It's an enjoyable listen, but doesn't have much staying power beyond that.

What's your S-K sweet spot?

One Beat and The Woods. Dig Me Out is pretty great too.

It's been fun revisiting their catalog these past two weeks.

Monkey_Driven wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

Monkey_Driven wrote:All Hands is a little too low-fi for me. It's an enjoyable listen, but doesn't have much staying power beyond that.

What's your S-K sweet spot?

One Beat and The Woods. Dig Me Out is pretty great too.

It's been fun revisiting their catalog these past two weeks.

One Beat is solid, too. I'm excited to dig into it more.

durdencommatyler wrote:One Beat is solid, too. I'm excited to dig into it more.

One Beat is really good, maybe the 2nd or 3rd best in their catalog.

darth_vedder wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:One Beat is solid, too. I'm excited to dig into it more.

One Beat is really good, maybe the 2nd or 3rd best in their catalog.

I was going to listen to that one again but decided to put on All Hands. And then I couldn't stop listening to All Hands!

durdencommatyler wrote:

darth_vedder wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:One Beat is solid, too. I'm excited to dig into it more.

One Beat is really good, maybe the 2nd or 3rd best in their catalog.

I was going to listen to that one again but decided to put on All Hands. And then I couldn't stop listening to All Hands!

All Hands, One Beat, Dig Me Out, and The Woods all kinda rotate for me. Not too far off from how I view No Code, Vitalogy, Binaural and Yield. All could rotate between 1 and 4 pending on my mood.

darth_vedder wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:

darth_vedder wrote:

durdencommatyler wrote:One Beat is solid, too. I'm excited to dig into it more.

One Beat is really good, maybe the 2nd or 3rd best in their catalog.

I was going to listen to that one again but decided to put on All Hands. And then I couldn't stop listening to All Hands!

All Hands, One Beat, Dig Me Out, and The Woods all kinda rotate for me. Not too far off from how I view No Code, Vitalogy, Binaural and Yield. All could rotate between 1 and 4 pending on my mood.

Nice. I've lived with The Woods and No Cities the longest. And I haven't visited either of those as often as I should have. But something about The Center has clicked so hard with me that I'm dying to consume more of their stuff. I'm in full tilt for this band right now and I'm loving it. Can't wait to give more real attention to One Beat.

Listening to All Hands right now, this is right up my alley.

darth_vedder wrote:Listening to All Hands right now, this is right up my alley.

durdencommatyler wrote:

darth_vedder wrote:Listening to All Hands right now, this is right up my alley.

I think Dig Me Out and One Beat are slightly better though. Again, those 4 I mentioned would be the SK albums I go to most often. The Hot Rock isn't so bad either.

At this extremely early stage, I'd rank the ones I've heard:

1. The Center Won't Hold
2. All Hands on the Bad One
3. No Cities to Love
4. One Beat
5. The Woods

But, again, it's way too early for me to feel confident in that ranking. And I've only heard One Beat one time.

man, to see The Woods in the last position of any list is just an atrocity.