journolud
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We’re also off to Gothenburg in May, a few days there after attending a wedding in Varberg
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The Album Review Club - Week #195 (page 1310) - A New World Record - ELO
- Thread starter RobMCFC
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BlueHammer85
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We’re also off to Gothenburg in May, a few days there after attending a wedding in Varberg
Awesome, Gothenburg is lovely.
I’m there in May also. Doing the Half Marathon.
journolud
Well-Known Member
If this was a boxing match the referee might have stepped in after the forst few blows had landed to put Sleep Token, and us, out of our misery. As it was the bleeding heart liberal in me was hoping to find some nice consoling words to say as it was carried out on a stretcher. And then we find that @Southampton Blue has put forward a patsy primed to take a fall...
Leaving aside whether the whole exercise is a cynical one, from whatever the band represents to the reasons for nominating it I did think that there were glimmers, and only glimmers of a half decent album here. The opening salvo, to go back to the tortuous analogy, suggested a seven stone weakling deseprately pummeling a barrel chested opponent in the hope of making an impression before settling down to take what's coming. Or something like that.
It's a confused mess to be honest. And a shame. I didn't mind the singers voice, sounded a bit like Eddie Vedder. But the stylistic changes were clumsy and unnecessary. Where it works such as on Aqua Regia it's actually OK but almost as though it wanted to undermine itself that is followed by Vore and listening to that I almost felt like it was me on the ropes.
Another problem this album had for me is that for reasons I can't really explain I had recently segued from watching Fail Army videos on YouTube to videos of the worst X Factor auditions and I kind of listened to this through that sort of filter. So in the moments of worst excess and second rate rapping, or whatever it was, I was imagining the disdainful and dismissive looks of Simon Cowell and his various friends. Yeah, I know, it's not a good way of reviewing an album and I have weaned myself back off those particular clips. I wonder how much different I would have felt if I'd been watching reaction videos instead. Although I can't exactly imagine many jaw dropping moments this would have inspired.
Anyway, I digress. Are You Really OK is actually OK. My son said this was EMO and of the various styles on the album this is the bit they do best. But if I was to compare it to the intensity and angst of say the Manchester Orchestra's A Black MIle to the Surface which we reviewed previously then it falls well short.
It's obviously popular judging if they can play Coop Live but it's essentially well, not great, not good. I'll give it 5 and I think that's a bit generous.
Leaving aside whether the whole exercise is a cynical one, from whatever the band represents to the reasons for nominating it I did think that there were glimmers, and only glimmers of a half decent album here. The opening salvo, to go back to the tortuous analogy, suggested a seven stone weakling deseprately pummeling a barrel chested opponent in the hope of making an impression before settling down to take what's coming. Or something like that.
It's a confused mess to be honest. And a shame. I didn't mind the singers voice, sounded a bit like Eddie Vedder. But the stylistic changes were clumsy and unnecessary. Where it works such as on Aqua Regia it's actually OK but almost as though it wanted to undermine itself that is followed by Vore and listening to that I almost felt like it was me on the ropes.
Another problem this album had for me is that for reasons I can't really explain I had recently segued from watching Fail Army videos on YouTube to videos of the worst X Factor auditions and I kind of listened to this through that sort of filter. So in the moments of worst excess and second rate rapping, or whatever it was, I was imagining the disdainful and dismissive looks of Simon Cowell and his various friends. Yeah, I know, it's not a good way of reviewing an album and I have weaned myself back off those particular clips. I wonder how much different I would have felt if I'd been watching reaction videos instead. Although I can't exactly imagine many jaw dropping moments this would have inspired.
Anyway, I digress. Are You Really OK is actually OK. My son said this was EMO and of the various styles on the album this is the bit they do best. But if I was to compare it to the intensity and angst of say the Manchester Orchestra's A Black MIle to the Surface which we reviewed previously then it falls well short.
It's obviously popular judging if they can play Coop Live but it's essentially well, not great, not good. I'll give it 5 and I think that's a bit generous.
mrbelfry
Well-Known Member
You loved it?Well how wrong was I...
Loved what?You loved it?
The Z&A gig, yes. Put this one into a different context/perspective.
Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
When I was in Oslo they had some very strange rules about buying alcohol - only from certain outlets and only at certain times of the day/week. We passed a long queue waiting to enter a shop. The Norwegian I was with said, most of the country buys its alcohol on a Friday and then consumes it until they are falling down drunk over the weekend. True story but i didn't know whether to believe it or not. All the Norwegians I met seemed so sensible.Newfoundland in February - was like being an extra in March of the f**king Penguins (I know wrong pole).
Norway is indeed even dearer, don't know if it's the same now but Newcastle University used to be full of Norwegian engineering students determined to consume their entire life's alcohol allocation in three years at British prices. Good fun but completely mad.
Never been to Finland but would like to.
BimboBob
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Sweden has similar. Anything over 5% I think has to be bought from a government controlled shop. With weird opening hours.When I was in Oslo they had some very strange rules about buying alcohol - only from certain outlets and only at certain times of the day/week. We passed a long queue waiting to enter a shop. The Norwegian I was with said, most of the country buys its alcohol on a Friday and then consumes it until they are falling down drunk over the weekend. True story but i didn't know whether to believe it or not. All the Norwegians I met seemed so sensible.
threespires
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If this was a boxing match the referee might have stepped in after the forst few blows had landed to put Sleep Token, and us, out of our misery. As it was the bleeding heart liberal in me was hoping to find some nice consoling words to say as it was carried out on a stretcher. And then we find that @Southampton Blue has put forward a patsy primed to take a fall...
Leaving aside whether the whole exercise is a cynical one, from whatever the band represents to the reasons for nominating it I did think that there were glimmers, and only glimmers of a half decent album here. The opening salvo, to go back to the tortuous analogy, suggested a seven stone weakling deseprately pummeling a barrel chested opponent in the hope of making an impression before settling down to take what's coming. Or something like that.
It's a confused mess to be honest. And a shame. I didn't mind the singers voice, sounded a bit like Eddie Vedder. But the stylistic changes were clumsy and unnecessary. Where it works such as on Aqua Regia it's actually OK but almost as though it wanted to undermine itself that is followed by Vore and listening to that I almost felt like it was me on the ropes.
Another problem this album had for me is that for reasons I can't really explain I had recently segued from watching Fail Army videos on YouTube to videos of the worst X Factor auditions and I kind of listened to this through that sort of filter. So in the moments of worst excess and second rate rapping, or whatever it was, I was imagining the disdainful and dismissive looks of Simon Cowell and his various friends. Yeah, I know, it's not a good way of reviewing an album and I have weaned myself back off those particular clips. I wonder how much different I would have felt if I'd been watching reaction videos instead. Although I can't exactly imagine many jaw dropping moments this would have inspired.
Anyway, I digress. Are You Really OK is actually OK. My son said this was EMO and of the various styles on the album this is the bit they do best. But if I was to compare it to the intensity and angst of say the Manchester Orchestra's A Black MIle to the Surface which we reviewed previously then it falls well short.
It's obviously popular judging if they can play Coop Live but it's essentially well, not great, not good. I'll give it 5 and I think that's a bit generous.
Has Mrs Belfry hacked your account Journo? (With apologies Mr B if she only looks at the successes rather than failures)
I listened to it again last night with a view to looking for the positives, to see if my suggestion that my 5 was over generous was just me being impacted by SB's reveal and the stick it's getting. Unfortunately it pretty much confirmed it. The main thing it could have had going for it i.e. the genre melding/hopping is sufficiently poorly executed that it feels like once the idea for the genre hopping was in place, they/he didn't feel any need to actually execute the idea well. It's this that gives it the sense of cynicism and at times it actually feels a bit insulting to the listener that more musical/compositional effort wasn't put into it, the idea being enough. Maybe there's a ceiling to the artists talent that means it's unrealistic to expect more, maybe they see the broader 'lore' as more important than the detail of the music. Either way I over marked it.
Given he goes poundshop Craig David at times, I also missed a trick with my review. It could have started ... "Took it for a spin on Thursday" but that said, I'm not sure "by Saturday there was acrid smoke all over the kitchen as I melted it down in the oven at 220 C" actually scans that well, so maybe not.
GornikDaze
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Which still begs the unanswered question… why are they headlining Download this year? I know most on this thread are probably more the Glasto Galmping type, but it’s very worrying that our greatest rock festival has seemingly gone down the portable shitter.Has Mrs Belfry hacked your account Journo? (With apologies Mr B if she only looks at the successes rather than failures)
I listened to it again last night with a view to looking for the positives, to see if my suggestion that my 5 was over generous was just me being impacted by SB's reveal and the stick it's getting. Unfortunately it pretty much confirmed it. The main thing it could have had going for it i.e. the genre melding/hopping is sufficiently poorly executed that it feels like once the idea for the genre hopping was in place, they/he didn't feel any need to actually execute the idea well. It's this that gives it the sense of cynicism and at times it actually feels a bit insulting to the listener that more musical/compositional effort wasn't put into it, the idea being enough. Maybe there's a ceiling to the artists talent that means it's unrealistic to expect more, maybe they see the broader 'lore' as more important than the detail of the music. Either way I over marked it.
Given he goes poundshop Craig David at times, I also missed a trick with my review. It could have started ... "Took it for a spin on Thursday" but that said, I'm not sure "by Saturday there was acrid smoke all over the kitchen as I melted it down in the oven at 220 C" actually scans that well, so maybe not.
Rant over - having a tooth out this afternoon and I have lots of nervous energy!!
Sleep Token: Take me back to Eden : Album review, Mr Grumpy, 18.03.25
If one were to look in the dictionary for the definition of "Contradiction", This album should be in the footnotes. I've swung all ways whilst listening to it and reading the opinions of others.
Schizophrenia permeates through all levels. The singing, the recording, the instruments, the words, the mixing, the genre, etc. Everything!
The recording is actually pretty good...until it falls apart on the thrash metal interludes where it breaks down. The singer has got an interesting voice and a great range but then has an inflection which pokes one in the eye unexpectedly and of course, the auto-tuning switcheroo doesn't do him any favours (and I'm not sure he needs it tbh).
When the music allows, you can get some really decent instrumentation, then it gets murdered by noise.
Songwriting hits a high note and then trips itself up by over extension, some songs feel like they are actually two welded together.
But, of the many oddities and faults it has, i actually quite enjoyed it mostly. In fact, those oddities, changes in direction, etc are it's high point and what cannot allow me to dislike it.
It's not dull or boring or monochromatic as "is This It" was.
"Are you Ok" is genuinely excellent in all aspects. Chokehold is decent as well, and i liked the title track.
Low point is obviously DYW... But online thoughts suggest this is the album's best. Contradictions.
It tries to be different, interesting, experimental, unusual, and i like it precisely for that. I found it no problem to listen to it 3 times as per the norm.
I couldn't help think that had the band had a different producer, it could have really been a great album. A better producer may have dialled down its worst excesses and promoted its best.
As for score, i flip flopped all over the place on it. Are you OK would be 8 territory, but DYW... a 4.
I think it should be a 7 but feels like a 6, so i'm going to split the vote and go for 6.5. Flawed but enjoyable. I don't get some of the more vitriolic reviews though. It is not garbage in any manner.
But then again i thought "Is this it" to be a dumpster fire. What do i know?
If one were to look in the dictionary for the definition of "Contradiction", This album should be in the footnotes. I've swung all ways whilst listening to it and reading the opinions of others.
Schizophrenia permeates through all levels. The singing, the recording, the instruments, the words, the mixing, the genre, etc. Everything!
The recording is actually pretty good...until it falls apart on the thrash metal interludes where it breaks down. The singer has got an interesting voice and a great range but then has an inflection which pokes one in the eye unexpectedly and of course, the auto-tuning switcheroo doesn't do him any favours (and I'm not sure he needs it tbh).
When the music allows, you can get some really decent instrumentation, then it gets murdered by noise.
Songwriting hits a high note and then trips itself up by over extension, some songs feel like they are actually two welded together.
But, of the many oddities and faults it has, i actually quite enjoyed it mostly. In fact, those oddities, changes in direction, etc are it's high point and what cannot allow me to dislike it.
It's not dull or boring or monochromatic as "is This It" was.
"Are you Ok" is genuinely excellent in all aspects. Chokehold is decent as well, and i liked the title track.
Low point is obviously DYW... But online thoughts suggest this is the album's best. Contradictions.
It tries to be different, interesting, experimental, unusual, and i like it precisely for that. I found it no problem to listen to it 3 times as per the norm.
I couldn't help think that had the band had a different producer, it could have really been a great album. A better producer may have dialled down its worst excesses and promoted its best.
As for score, i flip flopped all over the place on it. Are you OK would be 8 territory, but DYW... a 4.
I think it should be a 7 but feels like a 6, so i'm going to split the vote and go for 6.5. Flawed but enjoyable. I don't get some of the more vitriolic reviews though. It is not garbage in any manner.
But then again i thought "Is this it" to be a dumpster fire. What do i know?
Just out of curiosity, Which two?... I have two of the 8 artists you mention down as possible future nominees myself and from some on that list I think depending on the album you pick, you might be surprised at the response.
I am no metalhead, but I do like a bit of metal here and there. When it comes to the heaviest of metals though, this is (generally speaking) how I tend to like them. Alloyed. And maybe partially covered in glitter.
Seen these guys live with a group of pals, a freebie gig that I had nothing to lose by going to, and I quite enjoyed the entertainment. Yeah I felt some was cheap tricks and some designed very much to entertain. Whoever used the eurovision comparison, that's what it felt like, and that was ok, we all were fine with it. Since revisited one or two songs as well, liked them, and had it on my list to circle back to. So my context is slightly different here to others listening to it cold.
And the album does have a few good songs. But overall, it doesn't deliver the care-free entertainment I expected. It almost takes itself too seriously, unlike the show. It does have some good quality bits and genre sampling. But it feels almost too sterile. Might as well have been produced by an x-factor panel.
I mentioned Zeal and Ardor previously, a band I really like, which in my mind I had kind of equated this to. I.e a metal band with genre (gospel and slave-chant) splicing, that kind of forcefully enriches and at the same time dilutes its own weight of the metal component. I don't mind a gimmick either, as long ss it is honest about what it is. But having now seen them live as well, man was that a harsh comparison. ZA have passion and intent behind those influences that can really be felt live (not as obvious on the album) and pull them off on both. Sleep token, feels like entertainment live, feels a bit token and on the album. Guess it maybe was produced for commercial purposes, to sell as a product. Which then is telling that they filled the hydro, while ZA were in the back room of the garage with a capacity of circa 700.
To sum up, a well pulled off album from a commercial and production point. Some decent metal elements, some decent other elements, but overall a bit of a swing and a miss. Interesting enough to listen to in small portions, entertaining live if you let it. Would say a middle of the road 5 is fair, with a point added for having enjoyed a gig, and a point deducted for the fucking autotune on the album.
Seen these guys live with a group of pals, a freebie gig that I had nothing to lose by going to, and I quite enjoyed the entertainment. Yeah I felt some was cheap tricks and some designed very much to entertain. Whoever used the eurovision comparison, that's what it felt like, and that was ok, we all were fine with it. Since revisited one or two songs as well, liked them, and had it on my list to circle back to. So my context is slightly different here to others listening to it cold.
And the album does have a few good songs. But overall, it doesn't deliver the care-free entertainment I expected. It almost takes itself too seriously, unlike the show. It does have some good quality bits and genre sampling. But it feels almost too sterile. Might as well have been produced by an x-factor panel.
I mentioned Zeal and Ardor previously, a band I really like, which in my mind I had kind of equated this to. I.e a metal band with genre (gospel and slave-chant) splicing, that kind of forcefully enriches and at the same time dilutes its own weight of the metal component. I don't mind a gimmick either, as long ss it is honest about what it is. But having now seen them live as well, man was that a harsh comparison. ZA have passion and intent behind those influences that can really be felt live (not as obvious on the album) and pull them off on both. Sleep token, feels like entertainment live, feels a bit token and on the album. Guess it maybe was produced for commercial purposes, to sell as a product. Which then is telling that they filled the hydro, while ZA were in the back room of the garage with a capacity of circa 700.
To sum up, a well pulled off album from a commercial and production point. Some decent metal elements, some decent other elements, but overall a bit of a swing and a miss. Interesting enough to listen to in small portions, entertaining live if you let it. Would say a middle of the road 5 is fair, with a point added for having enjoyed a gig, and a point deducted for the fucking autotune on the album.
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threespires
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Just out of curiosity, Which two?
Richter and Frahm, though there's an Eno album that occasionally cross my mind too. Out of the three I'm most likely to nominate Richter at some point I think.
I meant to respond to your comment re. Spaceman, I've not yet seen the film or listened to the soundtrack. Typically Richter's music in a piece of film or TV bodes well, but maybe unfairly in this case I'm a bit suspicious of Adam Sandler.
I liked Spaceman tbh. A little quirky and perhaps this may throw those who struggle with the out-of-the ordinary, but it was an enjoyable film and (as the genre works best regarding) premise.Richter and Frahm, though there's an Eno album that occasionally cross my mind too. Out of the three I'm most likely to nominate Richter at some point I think.
I meant to respond to your comment re. Spaceman, I've not yet seen the film or listened to the soundtrack. Typically Richter's music in a piece of film or TV bodes well, but maybe unfairly in this case I'm a bit suspicious of Adam Sandler.
Adam Sandler actually did well in it. (I'm not his biggest fan either).
The soundtrack is low key. You are not going to find a #1 hit here (It is a OST after all) but I have it on my favourites for when i am working. You'll find the last track on it polarising. You might like it, i don't. It doesn't fit with the album but, it does fit with the film, but this is an OST, er....
If you do nominate Frahm, i hope it is a certain album (i won't name it) which is brilliant (again, it has a outlier track buried in its guts which doesn't fit but hey ho). A 8/10 for sure.
FogBlueInSanFran
Well-Known Member
It will be interesting once we get to a record we REALLY disagree about.I don't get some of the more vitriolic reviews though. It is not garbage in any manner.
But then again i thought "Is this it" to be a dumpster fire. What do i know?
Italy for me.My favourite country in the world - beaches, pools, best architecture and historic buildings, can't beat it.
I have not had a bad trip there ever.
Rome,Florence,Milan,Bari,Naples,Pisa for the leaning tower site,Bologna and Venice.
In Venice get a map and visit as many churches as you can.
threespires
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Italy for me.
I have not had a bad trip there ever.
Rome,Florence,Milan,Bari,Naples,Pisa for the leaning tower site,Bologna and Venice.
In Venice get a map and visit as many churches as you can.
Ditto.
I would suggest having a crack at Sicily too if you get the opportunity. Some fascinating cities/towns and sites and the architecture has influences from all over the place. Avoid driving a hire car in the Palermo rush hour but apart from that it's fab. Sardinia is nice enough as well but not on par for me personally.
OB1
Well-Known Member
5/10.
OK on some songs but I cannot stand max axeman vocals.
OK on some songs but I cannot stand max axeman vocals.