The Album Review Club - Christmas Break Until 8th January

Still better than the alternative, the Chemocal Brothers.

Not really something to joke about but what can you do? My wife has just, in the last few weeks been diagnosed with breast cancer, a few weeks after her sister was. Now in the waiting stage for treatment plan.

Wishing you all the best Rob. We take consolation currently in the excellent treatment available and being in Macclesfield having the newest branch of Christies on our doorstep
Wishing you and your wife, sister in law, Rob, and all battling that terrible disease the best. Hoping all goes for the best and the needed care is there to get better.
 
Ha ha. That’s made me laugh. How many people would walk out of the specialist’s office in terror if they were told they had to endure three weeks of Radiohead?!
Not many. They are one of the most popular bands in the world mate. Just look at the 'best album ever' league tables.
They are a poptastically brilliant group :-)

Get better soon mate and keep drinking lots of water :-)
 
Still better than the alternative, the Chemocal Brothers.

Not really something to joke about but what can you do? My wife has just, in the last few weeks been diagnosed with breast cancer, a few weeks after her sister was. Now in the waiting stage for treatment plan.

Wishing you all the best Rob. We take consolation currently in the excellent treatment available and being in Macclesfield having the newest branch of Christies on our doorstep
I'm sorry to hear that mate. Fwiw my wife was diagnosed a couple of years ago and it also seems to run in her family. Touch wood, she got the thumbs up after a small op and a course of radiotherapy. She is due her second annual mammogram next week so fingers crossed. She has private health ins but decided to go with the NHS throughout and I have to say for the important things they were spot on. Its the worry that gets to you but hopefully your wife will be through her treatment quickly and all will be well. Best wishes to you and your family.
 
So @mrbelfry coined a couple of good summary points — it lacks weight and I don’t believe it. I agree, but I’ll be a bit nicer: 1) it could have used an edgier producer to blow off the glitter and add a few thumbtacks, pointy-end up; and 2) even though I don’t believe it either, it didn’t really bother me when I let my brain float away from the fact that this is a married couple.

I’ll add another — I have a pet peeve against records named only after the band, and especially when they aren’t debuts. Imagine if Charles Dickens’ first novel was called “Charles Dickens” or Monet’s first painting was called “Monet.” You’re supposed to be creative, you two — you’re artists, right?

Anyhow, as for the comments about “Closer”, I’d rather talk about the opener “Honey” which is a catchy, hooky little sumabitch, and moved into my “One Only” playlist (I.e. one song by every artist until I find something I like better by the artist). The slow ones like “Is It Over?” and “Closer” I found distracting from the energy of the jumpier stuff, and they were okay enough. But I much preferred the run of “I Don’t Know”, “You Got It” and “Morning Sun” along with the terrific opener, and “It’s OK.” But even typing these pedestrian titles is evidence that there’s a vagueness or lack of commitment that hangs over this, and it does fade as it goes some (“In Love” e.g. could be one of a million bands). Or maybe we have to face the fact that married couples are, you know, a little boring when they’re happy.

But its sound-a likes carry weight for me at least — I hear a smidge of New Order, and a little Metric, and a dash of Ivy (a band I’ve brought up before) and a pinch of Sleater-Kinney (another I’ve mentioned) and even the teensiest bit of Split Enz, and all of that is good, but I felt it stood on its own as original enough — though it’s less deep than all those bands, and one could argue that none of them are really that deep (SK aside, who have a lot more to say about relationships). Oh yeah — and Silversun Pickups. I could go on.

What is clear is that I liked this more than most of you. It’s tight, it bounces, it’s dancy, it has some good hooks, and while the instrumentation seems pretty straightforward, I like Eden Boucher’s voice. Or maybe it appeals to me because it comes as a breath of fresh air after so many nominations this summer I haven’t enjoyed much. An 8 is too high, just because it lacks gravitas and humo(u)r, but as I fully expect I will return to it and did enjoy all three chances I got to hear it, and actively wanted to hear it again, it clears the 7/10 hurdle by a modest amount. Best is that I have another new band to explore — gosh, imagine if some of their other records actually have something to say.

PS. I think I speak for all of us when I say cancer can go and fuck itself. Keep fighting, thread mates and loved ones of thread mates!
 
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THREAD NOTICE

Some may remember a few weeks ago that @Saddleworth2 was proposing a new in-between rounds idea or even a new thread. Well, this idea has been developed between the two of us via PMs and we've roped in @threespires as well for reasons that I'll explain when the new thread launches in a few weeks.

I'll say more later, but in summary the thread will look at the evolution of Rock & Roll from the early days of the 20th century to the present day, taking it one year at a time (don't worry, we won't be spending too long on the period upto 1960!) I'm hoping that it will be a fun thread that we can all learn from. I think it will be fascinating to discover see who were the true pioneers and influencers, who changed music and when it all happened.

The point of mentioning it now on this thread is that at the end of this round, I'd like to move the album club onto a two-week cycle. That is how the new thread will be running, and I'm hoping it will give the two threads, along with the playlist thread and the Blue Moon Cup, room the breathe.

Of course, I'm all for democracy, and if people see this as a negative thing, I'm more than happy to put in the work to keep this thread running as it is now.

The choice is yours - anybody who is currently on the nominators list gets a vote, so just let me know what you all think.
 
THREAD NOTICE

Some may remember a few weeks ago that @Saddleworth2 was proposing a new in-between rounds idea or even a new thread. Well, this idea has been developed between the two of us via PMs and we've roped in @threespires as well for reasons that I'll explain when the new thread launches in a few weeks.

I'll say more later, but in summary the thread will look at the evolution of Rock & Roll from the early days of the 20th century to the present day, taking it one year at a time (don't worry, we won't be spending too long on the period upto 1960!) I'm hoping that it will be a fun thread that we can all learn from. I think it will be fascinating to discover see who were the true pioneers and influencers, who changed music and when it all happened.

The point of mentioning it now on this thread is that at the end of this round, I'd like to move the album club onto a two-week cycle. That is how the new thread will be running, and I'm hoping it will give the two threads, along with the playlist thread and the Blue Moon Cup, room the breathe.

Of course, I'm all for democracy, and if people see this as a negative thing, I'm more than happy to put in the work to keep this thread running as it is now.

The choice is yours - anybody who is currently on the nominators list gets a vote, so just let me know what you all think.
All good with me Rob.
 
So @mrbelfry coined a couple of good summary points — it lacks weight and I don’t believe it. I agree, but I’ll be a bit nicer: 1) it could have used an edgier producer to blow off the glitter and add a few thumbtacks, pointy-end up; and 2) even though I don’t believe it either, it didn’t really bother me when I let my brain float away from the fact that this is a married couple.

I’ll add another — I have a pet peeve against records named only after the band, and especially when they aren’t debuts. Imagine if Charles Dickens’ first novel was called “Charles Dickens” or Monet’s first painting was called “Monet.” You’re supposed to be creative, you two — you’re artists, right?

Anyhow, as for the comments about “Closer”, I’d rather talk about the opener “Honey” which is a catchy, hooky little sumabitch, and moved into my “One Only” playlist (I.e. one song by every artist until I find something I like better by the artist). The slow ones like “Is It Over?” and “Closer” I found distracting from the energy of the jumpier stuff, and they were okay enough. But I much preferred the run of “I Don’t Know”, “You Got It” and “Morning Sun” along with the terrific opener, and “It’s OK.” But even typing these pedestrian titles is evidence that there’s a vagueness or lack of commitment that hangs over this, and it does fade as it goes some (“In Love” e.g. could be one of a million bands). Or maybe we have to face the fact that married couples are, you know, a little boring when they’re happy.

But its sound-a likes carry weight for me at least — I hear a smidge of New Order, and a little Metric, and a dash of Ivy (a band I’ve brought up before) and a pinch of Sleater-Kinney (another I’ve mentioned) and even the teensiest bit of Split Enz, and all of that is good, but I felt it stood on its own as original enough — though it’s less deep than all those bands, and one could argue that none of them are really that deep (SK aside, who have a lot more to say about relationships). Oh yeah — and Silversun Pickups. I could go on.

What is clear is that I liked this more than most of you. It’s tight, it bounces, it’s dancy, it has some good hooks, and while the instrumentation seems pretty straightforward, I like Eden Boucher’s voice. Or maybe it appeals to me because it comes as a breath of fresh air after so many nominations this summer I haven’t enjoyed much. An 8 is too high, just because it lacks gravitas and humo(u)r, but as I fully expect I will return to it and did enjoy all three chances I got to hear it, and actively wanted to hear it again, it clears the 7/10 hurdle by a modest amount. Best is that I have another new band to explore — gosh, imagine if some of their other records actually have something to say.

PS. I think I speak for all of us when I say cancer can go and fuck itself. Keep fighting, thread mates and loved ones of thread mates!

In an attempt to suss what they are about I listened to another of their albums Impossible Dreams. It's arguably gone too poppy but have a listen to tracks 2 and 3, there's no way they've not been listening to NO and DM (which might get them an extra point from me!).
 
THREAD NOTICE

Some may remember a few weeks ago that @Saddleworth2 was proposing a new in-between rounds idea or even a new thread. Well, this idea has been developed between the two of us via PMs and we've roped in @threespires as well for reasons that I'll explain when the new thread launches in a few weeks.

I'll say more later, but in summary the thread will look at the evolution of Rock & Roll from the early days of the 20th century to the present day, taking it one year at a time (don't worry, we won't be spending too long on the period upto 1960!) I'm hoping that it will be a fun thread that we can all learn from. I think it will be fascinating to discover see who were the true pioneers and influencers, who changed music and when it all happened.

The point of mentioning it now on this thread is that at the end of this round, I'd like to move the album club onto a two-week cycle. That is how the new thread will be running, and I'm hoping it will give the two threads, along with the playlist thread and the Blue Moon Cup, room the breathe.

Of course, I'm all for democracy, and if people see this as a negative thing, I'm more than happy to put in the work to keep this thread running as it is now.

The choice is yours - anybody who is currently on the nominators list gets a vote, so just let me know what you all think.

I genuinely think and have before as well when similar suggestions have been made, that this thread would suffer from a two week format. I think the weekly routine is well oiled and slowing it down might derail that.

That is just my opinion, not resistance or a complaint, a demand or a warning. More than happy to go with whatever is decided and give it a go. Only shareing my thoughts as asked.
 
I genuinely think and have before as well when similar suggestions have been made, that this thread would suffer from a two week format. I think the weekly routine is well oiled and slowing it down might derail that.

That is just my opinion, not resistance or a complaint, a demand or a warning. More than happy to go with whatever is decided and give it a go. Only shareing my thoughts as asked.
It's a perfectly reasonable viewpoint and I am of the same opinion - i.e. that we will go with the majority.

I'm voting for the change to the two-week format because I'm excited about what is to come in the new thread. However, it might not be something that everybody enjoys and I want to keep these threads as open and enjoyable as possible.
 

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