The Album Review Club - Week #194 (page 1303) - Ants From Up There - Black Country, New Road

FogBlueInSanFran said:
Awwwww. Besides me, there must be a FEW here who would enjoy a horn and banjo played with purposefully out of tune chords for five minutes. And this is on the second catchiest song on the record.

Come on, live a little!

Well, you're going to get them all if I have four turns; it's just a question of the order :)

Incidentally, I already wrote the review for the safe one and the most unsafe one.

Guess it will depend on my mood next week.
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Get all that and indeed I had a similar choice myself. This was not one I was going to go for this week, that was much 'safer'. But given the two that preceded it, and me jumping forward a week, I made a decision on the day and thought softening/changing it up a bit was the thing to do, so things don't get too samey here. Other choices included a dutch jazz album (but Rob bloody went and ruined that one on the day), and I just don't think you guys are ready for Crawler yet, although one day that Will happen.

Threespires is bang on about mood and context, the Midnight Synth album being the one for me that worked as a counterpoint cleanser that week, but wouldn't really revisit. And others I felt I didn't get much out of at the time but left open to exploring more, and with time learned to like.

Re yours, my comment wasn't all that serious. I like post-punk, I'm intruguedby your unsafe one, that's really all there wasto that. Be fun whatever you go with. As long as it doesn't have any country, obviously!
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
If you do Tom Waits, then no one will bat an eye when I do The Residents. Or Throbbing Gristle. Or Einsturzende Neubaten.
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Haha, feel sure we've had a conversation about Blixa on here somewhere. Go for one of the early ones, you know it makes sense!

If we do a 'greatest reinventions' playlist theme, Tom Waits will definitely be getting a run out.
 
threespires said:
Haha, feel sure we've had a conversation about Blixa on here somewhere. Go for one of the early ones, you know it makes sense!

If we do a 'greatest reinventions' playlist theme, Tom Waits will definitely be getting a run out.
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Don't think there is much of a queue for themes just now pal!
 
I try and make my nominations a little bit obscure at least.
I couldn’t care about the scores but at as long as someone gets something out of it I'm happy.
In fact despite being high up on the scoring charts i found the Revolver nomination to have been the most pointless nomination so far.Sorry to whoever nominated it but it is only an opinion.
A good round is not on the scores but something that gets you involved listening weeks after.
So if you get at least one person listening to the group you nominated forever after,mission accomplished.
Noticed scores of 6.5 and the likes recently.
Could i have made my Rush score 0.5 instead.lol.
 
bennyboy said:
I try and make my nominations a little bit obscure at least.
I couldn’t care about the scores but at as long as someone gets something out of it I'm happy.
In fact despite being high up on the scoring charts i found the Revolver nomination to have been the most pointless nomination so far.Sorry to whoever nominated it but it is only an opinion.
A good round is not on the scores but something that gets you involved listening weeks after.
So if you get at least one person listening to the group you nominated forever after,mission accomplished.
Noticed scores of 6.5 and the likes recently.
Could i have made my Rush score 9.5 instead.lol.
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bennyboy said:
I try and make my nominations a little bit obscure at least.
I couldn’t care about the scores but at as long as someone gets something out of it I'm happy.
In fact despite being high up on the scoring charts i found the Revolver nomination to have been the most pointless nomination so far.Sorry to whoever nominated it but it is only an opinion.
A good round is not on the scores but something that gets you involved listening weeks after.
So if you get at least one person listening to the group you nominated forever after,mission accomplished.
Noticed scores of 6.5 and the likes recently.
Could i have made my Rush score 0.5 instead.lol.
Click to expand...

I like to imagine that, a few weeks after, you all saw the light with Mike Skinner and now go round singing about money stuffed down back of tvs. If not, just feel free to leave me with my delusion.

I agree in principle re. less well known stuff but I'm thinking of nominating something that maybe a third or so of people on here will own, on the basis that it'll still make for interesting discussion both about the album and it's impact/aging for those who are very familiar with it and for the people who aren't what they feel about it's distinctive sound and style. The scoring might happen pretty quickly but I'd hope the dialogue and tangents fill the week.
 
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bennyboy said:
I try and make my nominations a little bit obscure at least.
I couldn’t care about the scores but at as long as someone gets something out of it I'm happy.
In fact despite being high up on the scoring charts i found the Revolver nomination to have been the most pointless nomination so far.Sorry to whoever nominated it but it is only an opinion.
A good round is not on the scores but something that gets you involved listening weeks after.
So if you get at least one person listening to the group you nominated forever after,mission accomplished.
Noticed scores of 6.5 and the likes recently.
Could i have made my Rush score 0.5 instead.lol.
Click to expand...
It's nice to have a mix of stuff in terms of famous and popular vs. obscure, old and new, but so far I think I have avoided picking any records on the Colin Larkin Top 1000-plus and plan to continue that streak until I do my "possibly unsafe" one which is firmly on many "best of" lists.

I do care a little on the scores but not that much -- I think of them as reflective of enjoyment -- and I do try to find records I think might be broadly appealing as opposed to off-putting. I was pleased so many liked The Tubes and Roxy Music's Siren (though I wasn't surprised by the latter); both records mean a lot to me. The rest I've picked so far (including the next one) are really just music I enjoy that I think others might too.

I definitely am considering nominating a record I hate at some point just so I can smash it. Hope there aren't too many Eagles fans on here . . . . :)
 
threespires said:
@FogBlueInSanFran depending on which one you pick I reckon you've got at least 3 or 4 votes of 8 plus in the bag and for anyone who doesn't get it they'll at least get some ideas for what to do with some of the accumulated crap in their garage.
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Ha ha I don't think I can go there. You've gotta give them credit for invention though.
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
It's nice to have a mix of stuff in terms of famous and popular vs. obscure, old and new,
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You Could argue this album is all of the above. It is old, from the 90s, yet it is also new, from '21. It is popular, or well at least the band is, but it is obscure because it isn't one of their big albums. Don't say I'm not good to you all!
 
Back to this album and moving away from Coat's food analogy and inspired by mention of Einsturzende Neubaten, I'm now onto a power tool analogy.

You don't need 8 types of power sander in your toolbox, a belt sander and possibly a mouse sander will do for most people unless your are a carpenter. This is a bit how I feel, in a positive way, about Jimmy Eat World and this album exemplifies that feeling. I'm not too fussed about the sub-genre they seemingly fall into, there's some that make me go meh (dashboard confessional) or actively get annoyed (those tits that showed with Boys of Summer that you can actually take a song with no redeeming merits whatsoever and actually make it even worse). But it's good to have someone in that space you get on with for the times when it might come in handy. For me this is where Jimmy EW comes in, I like them more than the (admittedly limited number of) other bands of a supposedly similar ilk I've heard and whilst I might not need loads of this type of music they can serve a purpose nicely.

This pick has fairly intelligent lyrics that are introspective without being whiny. Jim Adkins, whatever his vocal limitations might be, doesn't make you want to slap him for being self-absorbed though I would admit the duration is at threshold of how much I'd want to listen in one sitting. That said, as Coat pointed out there some nice use of harmonies that elevate the vocals at various points. I like the contrast between the opener and the immediate pace change with the second track which has a nice poppy vibe and from then on it's sprinkled with some decent songs and no really crap ones. The bass is placed nicely in the mix and there's a bit of light and shade in terms of the richness of the sound they make. They risk a sense of repetitiveness at times but just about manage to skirt round it; when they seemed to be running out of steam a bit the title track comes to the rescue. It's confirmed the feeling I had based on other tracks I was familiar with, that of it's type these are are good fit for me personally. For all I know, there may be better emoish belt sanders* out there, but I'm not an emo-carpenter so I'm quite happy with this lot fulfilling the purpose in my toolbox.

(*Based on stuff people have nominated in the playlist Brand New might be useful as a second mini-sander.)
 
So, having done my listens and decided within 0.5 of a mark what score it's getting, I've watched the video. Initially two things strike me:

1. That white tele thinline that JA is playing is a very pretty looking guitar.

2. There's a couple of tracks I thought were dangerously close to coming off a bit twee when listening to the album and I did think that seeing 50 something (or thereabouts) blokes perform them might tip them over the edge but actually it has the opposite effect. The earnestness (without being po faced) with which these now middle aged men play them actually makes them work better. In fact, broadly speaking there's a low key likeability about the performance that I think works really well for the songs and it would have been very in keeping with the times in which they recorded the performance.
 
threespires said:
So, having done my listens and decided within 0.5 of a mark what score it's getting, I've watched the video. Initially two things strike me:

1. That white tele thinline that JA is playing is a very pretty looking guitar.

2. There's a couple of tracks I thought were dangerously close to coming off a bit twee when listening to the album and I did think that seeing 50 something (or thereabouts) blokes perform them might tip them over the edge but actually it has the opposite effect. The earnestness (without being po faced) with which these now middle aged men play them actually makes them work better. In fact, broadly speaking there's a low key likeability about the performance that I think works really well for the songs and it would have been very in keeping with the times in which they recorded the performance.
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I need a nice f hole….
 
threespires said:
I like to imagine that, a few weeks after, you all saw the light with Mike Skinner and now go round singing about money stuffed down back of tvs. If not, just feel free to leave me with my delusion.
Click to expand...
Some of us saw the light the first time around, and I still give that selection a listen more than others, so "MIssion Accomplished". You can pretend you didn't hear that if that helps.
threespires said:
I agree in principle re. less well known stuff but I'm thinking of nominating something that maybe a third or so of people on here will own, on the basis that it'll still make for interesting discussion both about the album and it's impact/aging for those who are very familiar with it and for the people who aren't what they feel about it's distinctive sound and style. The scoring might happen pretty quickly but I'd hope the dialogue and tangents fill the week.
Click to expand...
After Coatigan's selection, I only fear you for an overlap. Don't let me down. Holding off on write-ups until then.
 
threespires said:
Back to this album and moving away from Coat's food analogy and inspired by mention of Einsturzende Neubaten, I'm now onto a power tool analogy.

You don't need 8 types of power sander in your toolbox, a belt sander and possibly a mouse sander will do for most people unless your are a carpenter. This is a bit how I feel, in a positive way, about Jimmy Eat World and this album exemplifies that feeling. I'm not too fussed about the sub-genre they seemingly fall into, there's some that make me go meh (dashboard confessional) or actively get annoyed (those tits that showed with Boys of Summer that you can actually take a song with no redeeming merits whatsoever and actually make it even worse). But it's good to have someone in that space you get on with for the times when it might come in handy. For me this is where Jimmy EW comes in, I like them more than the (admittedly limited number of) other bands of a supposedly similar ilk I've heard and whilst I might not need loads of this type of music they can serve a purpose nicely.

This pick has fairly intelligent lyrics that are introspective without being whiny. Jim Adkins, whatever his vocal limitations might be, doesn't make you want to slap him for being self-absorbed though I would admit the duration is at threshold of how much I'd want to listen in one sitting. That said, as Coat pointed out there some nice use of harmonies that elevate the vocals at various points. I like the contrast between the opener and the immediate pace change with the second track which has a nice poppy vibe and from then on it's sprinkled with some decent songs and no really crap ones. The bass is placed nicely in the mix and there's a bit of light and shade in terms of the richness of the sound they make. They risk a sense of repetitiveness at times but just about manage to skirt round it; when they seemed to be running out of steam a bit the title track comes to the rescue. It's confirmed the feeling I had based on other tracks I was familiar with, that of it's type these are are good fit for me personally. For all I know, there may be better emoish belt sanders* out there, but I'm not an emo-carpenter so I'm quite happy with this lot fulfilling the purpose in my toolbox.

(*Based on stuff people have nominated in the playlist Brand New might be useful as a second mini-sander.)
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Joseph raises some interesting observations over both posts! There are indeed some clever lyrics there, and I like how they are sometimes left loosely 'awkward'.

I was once coming back from a City game with a friend in his car, it was a sunday. We had this album in the cd player, but he kept trying to put on some shitey phone-in radio thing where livid fans phone in straight after the game before they've had time to calm down, to demand mancini is sacked because he lets kolarov take free kicks. I kept switching to the album, to avoid that pish, and serenading him with song. Since then 'on a sunday I'll think it through, on the drive back I'll think it through. What you wish for won't come true, live with that, with that' became a bit of our private anthem to a certain type of game. Sky harbour is a great song to finish off on too.

Interesting what you say about seeing them at that agperforming it, and I guess it highlights how I feel about it. There are loads of albums (and indeed books and films) that young me liked, and this me still likes although with full awareness that it is mostly a throwback because I liked them then. But with this one, I don't fully feel that. I don't need that background explanation that it worked then, I feel it has aged ok and still can hold its own and is still somewhat relevant. The fact they can rerelease it and it doesn't feel like when other bands do it where I find myself thinking, you guys are too old for this - play your age, is telling.

I'll avoid the sub-genre/lable discussion just now, it doesn't really add anything, but I see what you are saying with that, broadly agree. Highly intriguing that you brought BN into it. Given I swapped my last playlist nomination out on the other thread, to avoid it being too similar this week (and to not bore bimbo), but I feel that is a discussion for another time/post. One we should by all means have.
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
After Coatigan's selection, I only fear you for an overlap. Don't let me down. Holding off on write-ups until then.
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Don't fear the overlap, egged on by Roberts Belgium jazz comment and Coat's Dutch jazz near miss I will invariably at the last minute change my mind and pick something odd that I think brilliantly illustrates the impact of coltrane changes, then bore you all rigid with tales of my childhood failure to transition from clarinet to sax* and end up with the first album getting a 3.x average.

* you can part the clothes on the rail in a wardrobe to accommodate the bell of a clarinet much easier than that of a sax. This is important when you are trying to master techniques that no one else in your house wants to tolerate. On such details are dreams dashed on the rocks of cruel fate (and absolute lack of talent).
 
Coatigan said:
Joseph raises some interesting observations over both posts! There are indeed some clever lyrics there, and I like how they are sometimes left loosely 'awkward'.

I was once coming back from a City game with a friend in his car, it was a sunday. We had this album in the cd player, but he kept trying to put on some shitey phone-in radio thing where livid fans phone in straight after the game before they've had time to calm down, to demand mancini is sacked because he lets kolarov take free kicks. I kept switching to the album, to avoid that pish, and serenading him with song. Since then 'on a sunday I'll think it through, on the drive back I'll think it through. What you wish for won't come true, live with that, with that' became a bit of our private anthem to a certain type of game. Sky harbour is a great song to finish off on too.

Interesting what you say about seeing them at that agperforming it, and I guess it highlights how I feel about it. There are loads of albums (and indeed books and films) that young me liked, and this me still likes although with full awareness that it is mostly a throwback because I liked them then. But with this one, I don't fully feel that. I don't need that background explanation that it worked then, I feel it has aged ok and still can hold its own and is still somewhat relevant. The fact they can rerelease it and it doesn't feel like when other bands do it where I find myself thinking, you guys are too old for this - play your age, is telling.

I'll avoid the sub-genre/lable discussion just now, it doesn't really add anything, but I see what you are saying with that, broadly agree. Highly intriguing that you brought BN into it. Given I swapped my last playlist nomination out on the other thread, to avoid it being too similar this week (and to not bore bimbo), but I feel that is a discussion for another time/post. One we should by all means have.
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I am too thick to work out which Joseph I'm being compared to but most of them are wrong un's Barton, Stalin, Goebbels etc so I can't see it's a good thing!

To your main point I think when older folks play their original material it is often either hugely enjoyable in a "rage rage against the dying of the light" kind of way or basically a bit dispiriting . It's a minority of the time where one of those two things don't come into it at all and the age of either music and performer are irrelevant, especially in rock or pop. I don't know the dynamics of the original performances of these songs but in this case i don't get a sense of either of those two extremes - just a relatable band in terms of age (to me) playing their songs.
 
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