The Album Review Club - *** Christmas Break Playlist (next album 7/1/26) ***

Can't believe in amongst all the negative or downbeat reviews that even Roads isn't getting much more love and attention. This makes my doubt people are listening properly ;)
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Not really. Why decompose music in that way? It’s meant to be enjoyed as a whole.
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I’m not decomposing. On my favo(u)rite records I’ve never once cared about the “quality” of the singing relative to the musical (and sometimes though not always lyrical) qualities. Vocalists obviously can add value. But it’s not necessary for me to love a record. Whereas I can listen to a lovely voice like Beth Gibbons or Billie Holliday or Annie Lennox and unless the tunes behind them are right, I don’t enjoy them. I mean my favo(u)rite band of all time is New Order and Bernie can’t sing for shit. But I also like Pet Shop Boys, and Neil Tennant’s very good singing ability (IMO) adds value (also because he can project sardonically and ironically, like Morrissey).

I’d just as soon watch a show like “The Voice” as rub a cheese grater across my arm. But if there were a Battle of the Bands show in genres I like, I’d probably like it.
 
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threespires said:
When she sings the refrain in Roads, which in many ways is the centrepiece of this album, it’s simultaneously the most broken and defiant sounding voice in the world. Maybe that’s where I was and that’s why I love this.

So back to where I started this review, was this album therapy? Possibly. Even now I sometimes find myself curling up in a fetal position when I listen to parts of it! Life is complicated, life can be dark, it can be fragile, it can sometimes drag you to the edge; but life is beautiful, full of unexpected twists and turns and life is precious.
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Dummy - Portishead

I'm sorry, but this is one album where I simply cannot disassociate the original write-up from what I'm listening to for the first time. I have no actual reference, I have no association, to what I've read prior to listening to this album. When this album was released, 32 years and 2 days to the day - I had just celebrated 3 years of marriage and 3 months of moving into our first and only home where we started and raised our family.

I can't say I've lived through the same pain and grief that threespires describes here. I lost my Mom 3 years ago, and it hurt like hell, but at least I had my spouse there with me to help me through that time. But what if I didn't have that rock during that time? How would that have gone for me if other things were falling apart? Honestly, I can't even think of that. I think about what that period would have been like without her support, and going though such relationship challenges, and I come back to this song "Roads":

"I got nobody on my side
And surely that ain't right

Ohh, can't anybody see
We've got a war to fight
Never found our way
Regardless of what they say"

This song alone brought me to tears. It wasn't about anything going on with me, it was about one of our own was likely feeling in hearing this and going through the crap back then feeling alone.

Do I like the tunes? Yes, "Glory Box" is a fantastic closer just as "Mysterons" starts the album off with its eerie sound. Two strong bookends there.

Do I fully understand this album yet? No, and I'm not sure I fully will, but I certainly plan to listen to it again, and if I ever really need it (and I hope I don't), I know something like this is out for me. "Sour Times" and "Numb" that would be, indeed. It's an 8/10 for me. Oh, and the vocals here are strong as hell. *

* this review was not brought to you by the letter "R", because that wouldn't be fair or accurate to either artist
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
I’m not decomposing. On my favo(u)rite records I’ve never once cared about the “quality” of the singing relative to the musical (and sometimes though not always lyrical) qualities. Vocalists obviously can add value. But it’s not necessary for me to love a record. Whereas I can listen to a lovely voice like Beth Gibbons or Billie Holliday or Annie Lennox and unless the tunes behind them are right, I don’t enjoy them. I mean my favo(u)rite band of all time is New Order and Bernie can’t sing for shit. But I also like Pet Shop Boys, and Neil Tennant’s very good singing ability (IMO) adds value (also because he can project sardonically and ironically, like Morrissey).

I’d just as soon watch a show like “The Voice” as rub a cheese grater across my arm. But if there were a Battle of the Bands show in genres I like, I’d probably like it.
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I assumed NO would be exhibit A for your point and as we were barrelling down the autostrada yesterday me and elder son stuck Low Life on and had a discussion about BS's voice. Whilst neither of us would claim he's the greatest conventional singer in the world the question in hand was could we imagine these songs without him singing or would we enjoy them as much? The answer to those both were no. Our take was simply that, irrespective of his technical qualities he is/was the 'right' singer for NO for a whole raft of reasons and that we couldn't divorce the music and the voice. So I think a different perspective from yours? We then got onto the question of, given that we consider Tom Chapman an adequate replacement for Hooky (recognising the songs wouldn't exist without Hooky), could we ever envisage an adequate replacement for BS? In theory the answer should be yes as he's not a great singer and there are plenty of better guitarists but we were not convinced at all. We decided this question was too hard so we moved onto whether whether the food and drink culture of Italy was sufficient compensation for having to tolerate it's mostly appalling contemporary music?
 
mrbelfry said:
Can't believe in amongst all the negative or downbeat reviews that even Roads isn't getting much more love and attention. This makes my doubt people are listening properly ;)
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Broadly speaking I think we have a preference for rock on the the thread, but the idea is to nominate albums that you really like so that's what I do.

Though I'm not surprised by the general reception, I must admit I'm surprised that particular song didn't cut through a bit more.
 
threespires said:
Broadly speaking I think we have a preference for rock on the the thread, but the idea is to nominate albums that you really like so that's what I do.

Though I'm not surprised by the general reception, I must admit I'm surprised that particular song didn't cut through a bit more.
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This has actually done better than I thought. Some of the posters who I thought wouldn't like it found some positives in it and scored accordingly. It still remains to be seen if there's an album that can break into the Champions League spots
 
Out on blue 6 said:
This has actually done better than I thought. Some of the posters who I thought wouldn't like it found some positives in it and scored accordingly. It still remains to be seen if there's an album that can break into the Champions League spots
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It was doing well until hit by a couple of late torpedoes.

Champions League places in a table of 130+ would be top 26, so let's see.
 
bennyboy said:
Happens most weeks.
Folk that love and know the nomination put in their high score straight away.
The lower scores always come later on
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Yes, that is the pattern most weeks. I think there was one week where it was inverted but I can't for the life of me remember what the album was.
 
Big Joe Corrigan said:
Is anymore allowed to suggest an album, or have I missed the boat? Not sure how this thread works.
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You've certainly not missed the boat because all are welcome on here.

We have a list of nominators that we work our way down - you can see the current list on page #1 that runs until early October for the current round. I'm happy to add you if you'd like to join in.

All we ask is that people who are nominating get involved in the weekly discussion/reviewing. There are no hard and fast rules, and many people miss weeks, but participation is appreciated if you are going to nominate.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Dummy - Portishead

I'm sorry, but this is one album where I simply cannot disassociate the original write-up from what I'm listening to for the first time. I have no actual reference, I have no association, to what I've read prior to listening to this album. When this album was released, 32 years and 2 days to the day - I had just celebrated 3 years of marriage and 3 months of moving into our first and only home where we started and raised our family.

I can't say I've lived through the same pain and grief that threespires describes here. I lost my Mom 3 years ago, and it hurt like hell, but at least I had my spouse there with me to help me through that time. But what if I didn't have that rock during that time? How would that have gone for me if other things were falling apart? Honestly, I can't even think of that. I think about what that period would have been like without her support, and going though such relationship challenges, and I come back to this song "Roads":

"I got nobody on my side
And surely that ain't right

Ohh, can't anybody see
We've got a war to fight
Never found our way
Regardless of what they say"

This song alone brought me to tears. It wasn't about anything going on with me, it was about one of our own was likely feeling in hearing this and going through the crap back then feeling alone.

Do I like the tunes? Yes, "Glory Box" is a fantastic closer just as "Mysterons" starts the album off with its eerie sound. Two strong bookends there.

Do I fully understand this album yet? No, and I'm not sure I fully will, but I certainly plan to listen to it again, and if I ever really need it (and I hope I don't), I know something like this is out for me. "Sour Times" and "Numb" that would be, indeed. It's an 8/10 for me. Oh, and the vocals here are strong as hell. *

* this review was not brought to you by the letter "R", because that wouldn't be fair or accurate to either artist
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What an interesting and 'kind' review, if that's the right word. Thanks.
 
mrbelfry said:
Can't believe in amongst all the negative or downbeat reviews that even Roads isn't getting much more love and attention. This makes my doubt people are listening properly ;)
Click to expand...
Or by the time Roads has popped along they have had enough of the quirky musical battering? I've just listened to Roads in isolation, it's OK, but once again didn't light my fire.
 
I think the less is more rule applies here. Several people have mentioned it, me included, but what's with all of the little sounds and record scratches in between the music? And when did somebody, somewhere, decide that this enhanced music rather than detract from it? That's a question that needs answering in the wider context.

That said, there is a record scratch sound on the next album I plan to nominate, but it is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it affair.
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
I’d just as soon watch a show like “The Voice” as rub a cheese grater across my arm. But if there were a Battle of the Bands show in genres I like, I’d probably like it.
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There's no need to fear these things, they are not music and they have no power. I can scientifically prove this...

Me and Mrs Spires once took my brother to the 'X-Factor Live Tour', at the MEN as was (I've done far worse... I've taken him to the swamp). Our eldest child was in the womb at this time and as I was clearly unable to fit him with ear defenders I had nightmares that this would cause untold harm and at some point I would catch him listening to jedward and would have to ask him to live the house before he'd even finished primary school. Fast forward a few years and the only thing I have to worry about is he nicks my soldering iron for his pedal mods and haven't seen my bass for weeks. But we can sit in a cafe and discuss JD, NO, DM in depth and who in times like these would be the best band to release a contemporary cover of Facist Groove Thang (we are veering towards Yard Act).
 
Out on blue 6 said:
This has actually done better than I thought. Some of the posters who I thought wouldn't like it found some positives in it and scored accordingly. It still remains to be seen if there's an album that can break into the Champions League spots
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I agree, I don't think it has been that negative or a downer on it. It is a different type of album, and most recognise that. I also don't think it is unfair pointing out it focuses on 'ambiance' over conventional song formats, that's not necessarily a criticism.
 
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