The Album Review Club - Week #147 - (page 1942) - Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan

Coatigan said:
I very much get what you mean, and agree on some of the songs, which I did say there was filler and generic there.

Incedentally I think 9/15ths is hill slide, that due the accent has got written down as hell at various lyric generating sites. One of my top tracks on it actually. The whole album covers what it feels like to fall apart, with that song being the steepest bit, followed by Machines which is an acceptance and a reset.

I will come back on the Foos comparisons later on, I thought whoever mentioned STP earlier had a point.
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I only got into the Foos relative recently (2014) and bought a few of the albums then. Just listening to Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace now and that has a lot more variety (and acoustic songs) than the current Biffy Clyro offering.
That's not a failing on BC's part, just my own personal preference.

I think posters on here probably know by now that I almost always prefer my rock mixed up with acoustic instruments, although I've got a sneaky feeling that somebody is going to nominate something next round that I really like that doesn't have any acoustics on it! Just a hunch - I was going to put the poster's name here, but I'll leave them and everybody else guessing - it's just based on info collected as part of my top 100 bands poll :)
 
Coatigan said:
I very much get what you mean, and agree on some of the songs, which I did say there was filler and generic there.

Incedentally I think 9/15ths is hill slide, that due the accent has got written down as hell at various lyric generating sites. One of my top tracks on it actually. The whole album covers what it feels like to fall apart, with that song being the steepest bit, followed by Machines which is an acceptance and a reset.

I will come back on the Foos comparisons later on, I thought whoever mentioned STP earlier had a point.
Click to expand...
Oh Sir that was me! *waves hand in air enthusiastically
 
Didn't do a lot for me I'm afraid. It was ok but I thought it sounded a bit generic. Simple rhythms and melodies. Very clean sound.
Love Has A Diameter sounded like a re-written version of With Or Without You by U2. (Which I've always though was a great song)
Yes, as mentioned a lot of Foo'y stuff also.
It didn't offend though (well maybe the lyrics of 9/15ths did) so a 5/10 from me.
Sorry.
 
My mate, his Mrs, who has little interest in music generally, goes mad for Biffy Clyro. To such an extent that while she can barely be arsed going to the local pub was quite happy to travel to Milan on the promise of seeing them live. Apparently there is lots of screaming girls at their gigs which suggests they have something but I’m not sure it’s something I would want.

I had slight but not major preconceptions that these might be a heavier version of Coldplay or U2 and am quite happy to conclude that isn’t the case. I must be one of the few contributors to this thread who has no real idea what Foo Fighters sound like, although I guess they are a bit like Nirvana only evolved?

No matter. Circumstances dictate I’ve only been able to listen to this a couple of times so apologies to whoever put them forward. I’ve been away since Friday and these reflections are from last week. I’d of liked another listen at least to confirm my thoughts.

It was heavier than I expected but not at all bad in places. I’m strangely partial to a Scottish accent in song although lyrically I thought there were attempts at grand themes that didn’t quite hit the mark. Still it zipped along quite nicely and was good accompaniment to a drive through the rolling hills of Derbyshire although nothing stood out.

It did though rather peter out over the last few tracks as it took, if I remember right, a more reflective tone. It bordered turgidity to be honest which was a shame.

These are a band I’ve been on the edge of listening to in the past during my “I fancy listening to something new” phases but always put off. I can say I’ve listened to them now but I suspect from some of the comments here that there are Biffy Clyro albums I would actually enjoy more. It’s possible I might even like the Foo Fighters.

This feels a bit like a 5 but I’m giving it 6 because I think there is something there I’ve not given myself full opportunity to appreciate
 
Apparently they headlined download and were poorly attended.


Louder Than War...

And it seems those unhappy with tonight’s choice of headliner make themselves known. By the time Biffy Clyro arrive on stage, the crowd has thinned considerably, with it barely reaching past the sound desk. It’s their loss however.
 
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I must say that I've never been drawn to listen to Biffy Clyro. I did see them live about five years ago when they headlined a night at Reading and the my main memory of them was how long it took to build their stage set! I think we got bored by their set and left early.

This album is ok and would probably grow if I had more time to play it but I do not believe greater familiarity would materially affect my scoring of it.

The Foo's comparisons are inevitable and my love of the Foos has certainly grown over the last few years - to the extent of having to get tickets for the Taylor Tribute (if Stewart Copeland stands in for Neil P...) - and I long gave up turning my nose up at bands that sound as though they are copying one of my favourites, so I find it an album that I am happy to have on while working. I am almost tmepted to buy it just for the first track, which winningly rehashes things done so many time before.

Ultimately, it's got to be a 6/10.
 
I‘d heard quite a few Biffy Clyro singles as my wife insists on having Radio X on in the car,but not one of them has made me want to listen to a whole album.I was therefore intrigued as to how it sounded.
The lead singers voice is very distinctive and quite likeable, the playing is good and most of the songs ok ,but nothing that I would want to listen to again.
i get the comparisons to the Foo‘s who I don’t mind but if I want to listen to
whatever Grunge is called these days, my go to is Pearl Jam or Nirvana.

5/10
 
Well, as I’ve said, so many have already written most of what I was going to write. So rather than repeat them, I’ll just say I respect a band going through a transitional stage and working through a disparate collection of things to find themselves. I’m not sure they should always commit such a search process to “vinyl”, but that would be like arguing the journey doesn’t matter, just the destination. There is a thematic linkage here but it’s kind of hard to “feel” pain in the abstract unless there are identifying touchstones (unlike Cornell’s or Cobain’s pain, just e.g.). After six (!) listens, though, a lot of the songs grew comfortable and stuck in my ears, though nothing like “Bubbles” has. Unlike @Coatigan I didn’t really find the last few songs climactic; I liked the first three better along with “Semi-Mental” which had a nice Helmet rip. I did find “Living” really interesting and unusual, as if Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne and early-80s Trevor Horn were having a threesome. Anyhow, that’s about the extent of my originality — lots of Fooeyness, and not at all bad, just not quite as juicy nor as moving as it could have been, whether thrashing or balladeering. I’ll go 6 for the opposite reasons as Ms. Mitchell which was well-done but not my genre. This IS my genre decently done but not groundbreaking or differentiated enough for a better score. Leans a tad more 7 than 5 though.
 
Mon The Biff!

Always had a soft spot for Biffy Clyro - heard a few of their hits before ‘Many Of Horror’ which was absolutely huge

This Album exactly as I suspected - generic Radio X thrash rock/pop - but that’s good enough for me

‘Who’s Got A Match?’ Was the released hit I’ve heard before, enjoyed ‘Living is a Problem’ and ‘Semi-Mental’

‘Folding Stars’ is catchy and sweet, same for the acoustic ‘Machines’

Totally get the comparison with Foos, also reminds me of Jimmy Eat World - recommend ‘Bleed Eat American’ if you enjoyed this - but there is a British/Scottish feel here which I warm too.

Anyway, a very comfortable 7/10 from me
 
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