The Album Review Club - Week #192 (page 1292) - 3ft High & Rising - De La Soul

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I missed this (Sadly).
It's sat about fourth from bottom in the chart which is an absolute tragedy.
It's up there with the most important albums of the modern post R&R era.

"We are the music makers" is my personal favorite. Absolute banger when played through a gutsy HIFI.

Nice to see a break from the mass of pop music in the thread.

I recall liking that more than most.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Haha my next pick is two weeks and the album I'm nominating has a small seasoning of Radiohead - I'm interested to see what he thinks seeing as he never got round to reviewing my last pick. The upcoming album is much more straightforward than that last pick though

Wasn't your last pick Soul-Junk? I reviewed that. In fact I think I said that while I didn't love it (and everyone else hated it), I did admire it.

I'd bet I have among the highest average scores of the reviewer base here. I even gave The Incredible String Band above a 2. Granted I did a number on "Songs Of Faith And Devotion" for which I have never been forgiven, and no one will nominate Leonard Cohen again.

 

[mrbelfry]

Wasn't your last pick Soul Junk? I reviewed that. In fact I think I said that while I didn't love it (and everyone else hated it), I did admire it.

It was. I must have missed it. Last I remember you were going to make your wife listen to it. I apologise for my poor memory. I'm glad you didn't hate it

 

[Coatigan]

Haha my next pick is two weeks and the album I'm nominating has a small seasoning of Radiohead - I'm interested to see what he thinks seeing as he never got round to reviewing my last pick. The upcoming album is much more straightforward than that last pick though

Your last pick was even more a 'dusty' recording sound than this one, so if that was the biggest annoyance, it probably would have got a 1.

 

[mrbelfry]

Your last pick was even more a 'dusty' recording sound than this one, so if that was the biggest annoyance, it probably would have got a 1.

Yeah apparently I like things to sound like crap

 

[RobMCFC]

I'd bet I have among the highest average scores of the reviewer base here.

Au contraire, Mr Fog.

#	Member	#Votes	Total	Avg
1	manccity1	45	324.5	7.211111
2	mrbelfry	31	222.5	7.177419
3	threespires	103	733	7.116505
4	Black&White&BlueMoon Town	57	402.7	7.064912
5	GoatersLeftShin	106	735	6.933962
6	BlueHammer85	134	895	6.679104
7	Mancitydoogle	136	887.5	6.525735
8	RobMCFC	143	926.5	6.479021
9	mancity2012_eamo	61	394.5	6.467213
10	OB1	119	763.5	6.415966
11	LGWIO	56	355.5	6.348214
12	Coatigan	115	725.5	6.308696
13	FogBlueInSanFran	101	635.14	6.288515
14	journolud	133	828.5	6.229323
15	Prague/KnaresboroughBlue	45	279	6.2
16	Saddleworth2	78	469	6.012821
17	BlueMoonRisin'	4	23.5	5.875
18	GornikDaze	82	479.5	5.847561
19	denislawsbackheel	43	251	5.837209
20	bennyboy	134	679.5	5.070896
21	BimboBob	101	503	4.980198
22	SouthamptonBlue	44	198	4.5

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Au contraire, Mr Fog.

#	Member	#Votes	Total	Avg
1	manccity1	45	324.5	7.211111
2	mrbelfry	31	222.5	7.177419
3	threespires	103	733	7.116505
4	Black&White&BlueMoon Town	57	402.7	7.064912
5	GoatersLeftShin	106	735	6.933962
6	BlueHammer85	134	895	6.679104
7	Mancitydoogle	136	887.5	6.525735
8	RobMCFC	143	926.5	6.479021
9	mancity2012_eamo	61	394.5	6.467213
10	OB1	119	763.5	6.415966
11	LGWIO	56	355.5	6.348214
12	Coatigan	115	725.5	6.308696
13	FogBlueInSanFran	101	635.14	6.288515
14	journolud	133	828.5	6.229323
15	Prague/KnaresboroughBlue	45	279	6.2
16	Saddleworth2	78	469	6.012821
17	BlueMoonRisin'	4	23.5	5.875
18	GornikDaze	82	479.5	5.847561
19	denislawsbackheel	43	251	5.837209
20	bennyboy	134	679.5	5.070896
21	BimboBob	101	503	4.980198
22	SouthamptonBlue	44	198	4.5

Wow, really? I'm actually really, really surprised.

Well, you a-holes better get on the stick and start posting some better stuff :)

I note I missed 40 some-odd records and 6 of the top 10 records -- perhaps that's WHY they were top 10.

 

[Coatigan]

Au contraire, Mr Fog.

#	Member	#Votes	Total	Avg
1	manccity1	45	324.5	7.211111
2	mrbelfry	31	222.5	7.177419
3	threespires	103	733	7.116505
4	Black&White&BlueMoon Town	57	402.7	7.064912
5	GoatersLeftShin	106	735	6.933962
6	BlueHammer85	134	895	6.679104
7	Mancitydoogle	136	887.5	6.525735
8	RobMCFC	143	926.5	6.479021
9	mancity2012_eamo	61	394.5	6.467213
10	OB1	119	763.5	6.415966
11	LGWIO	56	355.5	6.348214
12	Coatigan	115	725.5	6.308696
13	FogBlueInSanFran	101	635.14	6.288515
14	journolud	133	828.5	6.229323
15	Prague/KnaresboroughBlue	45	279	6.2
16	Saddleworth2	78	469	6.012821
17	BlueMoonRisin'	4	23.5	5.875
18	GornikDaze	82	479.5	5.847561
19	denislawsbackheel	43	251	5.837209
20	bennyboy	134	679.5	5.070896
21	BimboBob	101	503	4.980198
22	SouthamptonBlue	44	198	4.5

Is that giving or receiving?

 

[mrbelfry]

I've taken a quick listen of Rumours on my Samsung with cheap headphones for @Mr Grumpy . Firstly there is loads of hiss all over Songbird. The Chain starts with someone sitting down or something. Plus the guitar probably needs a fret dress or something. The electric guitars are also distorted. That's just on two songs ;)

I joke - its a very nice sounding album but if Is This It sounded like this it would be a lot less enjoyable to me.

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Au contraire, Mr Fog.

13

FogBlueInSanFran

101

635.14

6.288515

He's not even top 10. Glad Rob had this handy so I didn't have to re-look up who enjoyed Soul-Junk more than him (knowing one who is typing this...), as if "everyone hated it". ;-)

Edit: I see we both liked it about the same, and it certainly wasn't helped not being on Spotify in the US for either of us.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I've taken a quick listen of Rumours on my Samsung with cheap headphones for @Mr Grumpy . Firstly there is loads of hiss all over Songbird. The Chain starts with someone sitting down or something. Plus the guitar probably needs a fret dress or something. The electric guitars are also distorted. That's just on two songs ;)

I joke - its a very nice sounding album but if Is This It sounded like this it would be a lot less enjoyable to me.

Begs the question:

Is one's equipment, environment, and state of mind, of vital importance to these reviews?
I suppose it's both yes and no.

On one hand, Your experience is yours alone. The above factors are static and you have no other reality to work from. What do you care?

On the other hand, Your experience is not going to be the same of others with differing factors, so your opinion can only ever be relevant for you. Everyone else's experience will be different.

I will offer an example where (in my experience) the above factors affect the experience.

Harry Styles: Harry's house.
My kids play this album a fair bit in the car or at home in the kitchen etc. In that environment, and with the car stereo/smart speakers blaring away, i really enjoy the album. Great fun and energetic easy listening.

However, transfer same album to my home stereo or headphones and the album falls apart.
It doesn't stand up to critical listening, the mastering is meh, the musicianship is not the best, Harry's voice doesn't hold up. It feels a bit "dead".

In the kitchen, i give it high 7. Good
In my study, it gets a low 5, Could be better.

Which is the correct score?

 

[BlueHammer85]

Begs the question:

Is one's equipment, environment, and state of mind, of vital importance to these reviews?
I suppose it's both yes and no.

On one hand, Your experience is yours alone. The above factors are static and you have no other reality to work from. What do you care?

On the other hand, Your experience is not going to be the same of others with differing factors, so your opinion can only ever be relevant for you. Everyone else's experience will be different.

I will offer an example where (in my experience) the above factors affect the experience.

Harry Styles: Harry's house.
My kids play this album a fair bit in the car or at home in the kitchen etc. In that environment, and with the car stereo/smart speakers blaring away, i really enjoy the album. Great fun and energetic easy listening.

However, transfer same album to my home stereo or headphones and the album falls apart.
It doesn't stand up to critical listening, the mastering is meh, the musicianship is not the best, Harry's voice doesn't hold up. It feels a bit "dead".

In the kitchen, i give it high 7. Good
In my study, it gets a low 5, Could be better.

Which is the correct score?

6

 

[Coatigan]

Begs the question:

Is one's equipment, environment, and state of mind, of vital importance to these reviews?

Absolutely. I would add timing to that too. It matters, very much.

 

[bennyboy]

Begs the question:

Is one's equipment, environment, and state of mind, of vital importance to these reviews?
I suppose it's both yes and no.

On one hand, Your experience is yours alone. The above factors are static and you have no other reality to work from. What do you care?

On the other hand, Your experience is not going to be the same of others with differing factors, so your opinion can only ever be relevant for you. Everyone else's experience will be different.

I will offer an example where (in my experience) the above factors affect the experience.

Harry Styles: Harry's house.
My kids play this album a fair bit in the car or at home in the kitchen etc. In that environment, and with the car stereo/smart speakers blaring away, i really enjoy the album. Great fun and energetic easy listening.

However, transfer same album to my home stereo or headphones and the album falls apart.
It doesn't stand up to critical listening, the mastering is meh, the musicianship is not the best, Harry's voice doesn't hold up. It feels a bit "dead".

In the kitchen, i give it high 7. Good
In my study, it gets a low 5, Could be better.

Which is the correct score?

Gave Rush an 1 listening on my phone speaker.
Put on my cheap Bluetooth headphones on and listened.Still a 1.
Put on my more expensive headphones on.Still a 1.

 

[threespires]

The Biggles: Radio star being one such example where Trevor Horn mastered his voice

I highlight this not to be a pedantic arse but simply to share that my first thought on reading this was to envisage Christopher Biggins earning a living as a Buggles tribute act. My second thought was Vic Reeves doing a sketch where he played Christopher Biggins undertaking said tribute act. My third thought was Bob Mortimer in said sketch would play a down on his luck Paul Morley who is reduced to advising Biggins. I haven't decided who would play Claudia Brucken. I suspect I need to get out more.

 

[RobMCFC]

Is that giving or receiving?

Giving.

 

[mrbelfry]

I highlight this not to be a pedantic arse but simply to share that my first thought on reading this was to envisage Christopher Biggins earning a living as a Buggles tribute act. My second thought was Vic Reeves doing a sketch where he played Christopher Biggins undertaking said tribute act. My third thought was Bob Mortimer in said sketch would play a down on his luck Paul Morley who is reduced to advising Biggins. I haven't decided who would play Claudia Bruken. I suspect I need to get out more.

Your mind works in mysterious ways

 

[Coatigan]

Giving.

I am surprised at that. I don't think I gave anything less than a 3, and I struggle to think of giving that low either. Must give a lot of 6s then.

 

[threespires]

Your mind works in mysterious ways

I know you post this very well aware of it's irony :-)

 

[Saddleworth2]

Au contraire, Mr Fog.

#	Member	#Votes	Total	Avg
1	manccity1	45	324.5	7.211111
2	mrbelfry	31	222.5	7.177419
3	threespires	103	733	7.116505
4	Black&White&BlueMoon Town	57	402.7	7.064912
5	GoatersLeftShin	106	735	6.933962
6	BlueHammer85	134	895	6.679104
7	Mancitydoogle	136	887.5	6.525735
8	RobMCFC	143	926.5	6.479021
9	mancity2012_eamo	61	394.5	6.467213
10	OB1	119	763.5	6.415966
11	LGWIO	56	355.5	6.348214
12	Coatigan	115	725.5	6.308696
13	FogBlueInSanFran	101	635.14	6.288515
14	journolud	133	828.5	6.229323
15	Prague/KnaresboroughBlue	45	279	6.2
16	Saddleworth2	78	469	6.012821
17	BlueMoonRisin'	4	23.5	5.875
18	GornikDaze	82	479.5	5.847561
19	denislawsbackheel	43	251	5.837209
20	bennyboy	134	679.5	5.070896
21	BimboBob	101	503	4.980198
22	SouthamptonBlue	44	198	4.5

I'm not having that. It has to be calculated on weighted average placements with No1 getting 1000 votes. Thats only fair. I fear your spreadsheet has become corrupted.


Edit. Note to self. read the bloody thread properly prior to making idiot comments.